Tessellating Birds Pattern

This is my "Forever Project."  

It's all done by hand with English Paper Piecing.

 At my last count, I have 166 birds sewn in place.

I like to use freezer paper for my foundations.  I can iron it onto the back of the fabric, and it stays put while I baste it in place.

I sew them into groups of 4.

Then sew those groups together.

Here's a picture of a mini quilt I made with my tessellating birds.

You can get the pattern from Craftsy or Etsy.

Mini Block of the Month for Quilt Guild

I've been working all Summer to come up with a Block-of-the-Month for the Sew Small Quilt Guild.  Here it is!  There are twelve different 4-inch blocks, eight 2-inch Shoo Fly blocks, and one 8-inch block in the center.  It finishes at 33" square, and there are a total of 556 pieces.

The plan, is to make the center block and the eight Shoo Fly blocks the first month.  Then make two 4-inch blocks for the remaining 7 months.  And, if anyone is able to keep up, they could have the top finished by the closing social.

Row By Row Experience 2015

Stylish Fabrics Bernina, in Logan, Utah, is participating in the Row By Row Experience again this year.  It's so fun to see all of the new faces in the store!  I got to design the row pattern again this year, and here it is.  It's the Bear Lake Monster!  Isn't SHE stylish!

June 21 through September 8, you can come into hundreds of quilt shops across the USA and into Canada, and ask for a FREE row quilt pattern.  Be the first in your area to make a quilt using at least 8 rows, and bring it to your local shop, and you could win a prize of 25 fat quarters!  Win an additional prize if you use the row pattern from that shop.

This year, we have lots of kits cut, and we got the license plate, too.

THE BEAR LAKE MONSTER ROW PATTERN is now available on Craftsy for $3.95.  Here's the link.

Patriotic Quilt Project

Here's a great way to show your patriotic side!  

The Patriotic 3-D Banner

The stars are actually made with 3-D bowtie blocks.  
I'll show you how...

First, cut 5 squares of the same size -- I cut 2 1/2" squares.  If you were making a bowtie, you'd cut 3 squares for the bowtie and 2 squares for the background.  To make diamond stars, you'd cut 4 blue squares for the background, and one white square.  I'll show you how to make the star.

Lay a blue square down with its right side up.  Fold a white square in half, with wrong sides together.  Lay this on top of the background square, with the raw edges at the top and sides even.  Then lay another blue square on top of it with the right side down.  Sew one side (either side will work).

Fold the 2 blue squares out of the way.  Repeat the layering process, sandwiching the same folded white square between two more blue squares, with right sides together.  Sew the other side.  

 
When you open the blue squares, you should have what looks like a bridge.

Open the white piece and bring the two seams together at the center, nesting the seams with the seam allowances going in opposite directions.  Pin together.

Bring the white raw edges even with the blue raw edges, and pin in place.  Be sure there is at least 1/4” of white in the seam allowance, that is not folded, or you will get puckers.  Sew all the way across, pivoting at the center seam if needed.  Open it up to reveal a diamond star in the middle.

As you can see, it's pretty easy!  Get the Patriotic 3-D Banner pattern as a pdf download from Craftsy or Etsy. 

Vintage Memories Block-of-the-month

This has been a really big project for me!  It took me 5 weeks to piece, and about 30 hours to quilt on the HandiQuilter at the store.  It's so big, it will be hard to find a good spot to hang.  But I LOVE it!  You can click on the picture to see a bigger image.

Denim Stars Baby Blanket

I just finished a flannel and minky baby blanket from my Denim Stars quilt pattern.  It's done in a quilt-as-you-go method, and batting is optional.  I didn't use batting in this one.  It will be nice for a summer baby blanket.

Here's the front.

And here's the back.

Christmas Gifts For Friends

Here are some Christmas gifts that I've made for the ladies I work with.  They're for keeping your notions in.  I've made 11, including the prototype.  They really took a lot of time!  I will make a pattern for them to sell... later.

I also made some Dresden plate candle mats for my Visiting Teaching sisters.  On the card is a quote from Pres. Thomas S. Monson:

As we strive to place Christ at the center
of our lives by learning His words, by
following His teachings, and by walking in
His path, He has promised to share with
us the eternal life that He died to gain.
There is no higher end than this, that we
should choose to accept His discipline and
become His disciples and do His work
throughout our lives. Nothing else, no other
choice we make, can make of us what He can." 

This candle mat will help them remember to keep Christ at the center of their lives.