Projects for Canada Day 2015

I'm posting this today just in case you want to do something quick for Canada Day. Maybe a mug rug that you can use all year . . .

Here are a few links to get you started:

• Canada Day cross stitch motif
• Canada Day Mug Rug
• Quilt Block
• Canadian Flag

The following links are to previous posts I wrote for Canada Day:

• Canada Day 2010
• Canada Day 2011
• Canada Day 2012
• Happy Canada Day 2012

Enjoy!!

A Touch of Spring

I'm tired of winter! Maybe these flowers will help chase away the winter blues. These photos were taken at my friend's house last Friday. I love the gray vase below. Perfect for the table.

Don't forget to check out a few sites with free patterns / tutorials at the bottom of this post.
Enjoy!!

Here are a few patterns to welcome spring into your home:

• Colorful Fun Daisies
• Flowers to Applique
• Flower Fun Wall Quilt
• Rainbow Flowers Applique Block
• Flower Applique on Pinterest
• Tutorials for Flower Quilt Blocks (I haven't looked at these yet)
• Petal Pillow Tutorial

Enjoy!

Flying Geese

A few days ago, my sister sent me a link to view Ricky Tim's dimensional one-seam flying geese quilt block. I'm not into traditional piecing as most of you know, but I thought that this method of piecing the flying geese, was interesting. If you are a follower of The Quilt Show, then you have already seen this. I must confess that I have that site bookmarked but haven't been there for awhile. I believe I need to check out the latest posts.

Enjoy!

Spring - I Hope!

Believe it or not, my crocuses are starting to bloom! It's a wonder considering the cold temperatures we have had this month. I had my summer tires installed on the car yesterday so I hope we have seen the last of the snow!

Here are some Spring projects to think about:

• 3-D Folder Flowers Table Runner
• Amish Tulips Quilt
• Peeping Out Quilt Block
• Flower Power
• Crocus in a Pot
• Pixie Garden Quilt (BOM)
• Crocus Wreath
• Spring Posies Quilt Block Tutorial
• Circle of Violets
• Spring Tulip Place Mat

Enjoy!

Exploding Pineapples

We had a very interesting program about exploding pineapples, at the Cabot Quilt Guild, on Tuesday evening. Of course, as quilters, you know right away that I didn't mean the actual fruit exploded! I'm talking about a very simple method to make perfect Pineapple blocks. Karen Hellaby is the author of Sew Simple Pineapple and Pineapple Plus. This YouTube Video shows you how to make the blocks in her books.
Here's a couple of projects two quilters presented using this technique.

Colourful Plants

I guess by now you realize I'm not at home these days but travelling across this wonderful country of ours. My house and garden are in good hands so I don't have to worry about that. I do miss my own plants but I'm compensating for that by visiting other gardens and nurseries. I liked the various colours in the plants below. Check out the sites listed at the bottom.

Here's a few photos from a flower shop along the way:

• Elaine Quehl
• Garden Maze Quilt Block
• Imperial Garden Quilt
• Rise and Shine (idea)
• Sunflower Craft Pillow
• Poppies & Posies (ideas)

Enjoy!

Spring 2011

Today we had sunshine! I took a quick look around my back garden. Armed with my camera, I captured some of the bright greens of early spring! The first photo will eventually grow into soft orange Day Lilies. The Periwinkle are just beginning to bloom. Soon there will be a carpet of these flowers underneath the Globe Cedar. I can't wait for the tulips to bloom as I don't remember their colour. These haven't bloomed in a couple of years and I have no idea why.

Well, here are some flowers that will bloom all year long (if you make them):
Blooming Lovely
Spring Posies Quilt Block Tutorial
Spring Buttercup Block
Dandelion Quilt
Scrappy Spring Tulips Baby Quilt
A Freshness of Spring (for inspiration)
A Spring Scene (applique)
Flower Power
Leaves of Green    
Many Thanks Quilt
Circle of Violets (this site has lots of small projects)
Spring Tulip Place Mat   
Tulip Garden

Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

How to Quilt (click on heart)

I'm not into making things for these 'special' days but I did find a few things that might interest some of you. I know it's rather late for this year, but just think - you now have a whole year to make something special for next year!!




Hearts in Motion
Valentine Heart Block and another one here and here
Heart Quilt Block (part of a seasonal & holiday series of wall hangings)
Valentine Quilt Patterns
Pieced Heart Fabric Postcard
Valentine Heart Quilt
Mosaic Hearts
Ideas from eQuilt Patterns
Hugs & Kisses
Valentine Pennie Pockets 
Heart Pattern Links (a couple of the links don't work) 
Happy Valentine's Day (my last year's post)

Enjoy your day!

Birds

This post is dedicated to our feathered friends. Here's a red bird I did a few years ago for a show. It's done in silk.
Hummingbird Quilt Pattern  - paper piecing
Bird House Patterns
Blue Jay
Rooster
Darting Birds Quilt Pattern
Birds of a Feather Quilt Pattern
Free Bird Quilt Patterns
Bird Feather Quilting Motif 
Novelty Quilt Patterns with birds

Snow

Yesterday, the grass across the road was green! Yes, green for January 12 - a first. Today St. John's got the tail end of the snow storm that came up the eastern seaboard. Here's the large tree on the front lawn. The next two photos of my back yard were taken just after dark. The globe lights shine through the snow. It's interesting to see the difference with and without the flash.

You will find lots of free snowmen quilt patterns here and here.
Build a snowman, make a Quilt! from Husqvarna
Snowman quilt and more.
Snuggle Snowmen Quilt Tutorial
Snowman Quilt pattern

Textile Tutorials

I've made a list of textile related tutorials for you to check out.

1. Texture Magic Videos from Superior Threads
2. Making Paper Cloth
3. How to make a Fabric Leaf
4. Making Fabric Wings
5. Transferring Patterns to Fusible Fabric
6. Fabric Flower Embellishment
7. Tyvek Beads
8. Thread Painting
9. Fat Quarters - Brand new to Quilting Series (for beginners)
10. Hollow Cube Quilt Block 

Please note: I haven't watched all these tutorials yet.

Christmas Row by Row - August Block - The End!

The Gingerbread Man (corner block) is available for the Christmas Row by Row quilt. This is the last block for this quilt. I hope you have had fun collecting the blocks! If you make this quilt or part of it, I'm sure the folks at Far Cat Patterns would appreciate a photo. I'd love to see one too!

Block of the Month

I've been searching for free Block of the Month patterns. Not that I'm going to do one but someone out there might be interested. However, in my searches I usually come across the unexpected. Then I save the site in One Note for future reference. You never know what you will find.
The Quilter Community has an alphabet pattern that is nice. All the blocks are ready for you to use.
For those out there with a sweet tooth, try Sweet Treats offered by the Quilter's Guild of Plano.
Snowbound, twelve months of snowmen, is the latest from Bunny Hill Designs. However, once all the blocks are posted. they will be taken off the 'free' page. Check out the tutorials as well.
For stitchers, here are some 'Flowers of the Month' patterns, a Country Calendar, Veranda Views and Under the Sea.
Just For Baby has applique blocks to make a quilt. To get the patterns, click on the text above each block. On the same web site check out the Floral Sampler and Magic Vine.
The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild has been very busy with their BOM's!  So have the Blue Mountain Quilters.
State Flower Quilt Blocks will be available until December 31, 2010.
One Piece at a Time has some wonderful applique blocks with tutorials. Scroll down to get all the Florabunda blocks to date.
I sat down to do a quick blog post! Time sure flies when you are having fun and I thought I was going to put away the things I purchased on my trip. Guess that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Folk Art Christmas Sampler - BOM

I just discovered another Block of the Month Christmas Quilt Sampler from Angie's Bits 'n Pieces. This BOM will run for five months starting in July. The quilt layout is the first thing given to you so that you can start cutting the background blocks and sewing the sashing strips. Just click on the download now for the folk art Christmas. Check out Angie's blog.

Happy 4th. of July to Our Southern Neighbours

Happy 4th. of July! My daughter and American husband are living in Chicago. They just started a new business, Forte Framing and Gallery. I've never experienced a 4th of July holiday but I hear there are lots of fireworks and other celebrations. I've found a few free patterns dedicated to the American 4th of July holiday, however, I realize these can't be completed for this year but maybe it will get you thinking for next year! Better still, why not design youe own simple wall hanging or placemats! Use my research as a jumping off place to give you a few ideas but take that next step and put together something original. It's easy to take someone elses pattern but with a bit of thought I'm sure you can do your own thing! 

Table Topper
Flag Block (scroll down)
Three Paper Pieced American Flags
Fireworks Quilt Pattern
Happy Flag Day
Shooting Stars Quilt
Independence Day Quilt
Fourth of July Placemat

Cobblestones

I just transferred pictures from my digital camera and remembered I did not post the cobblestone quilt blocks that were made by the Eastern Edge Quilters. These blocks will be made into a quilt by our outreach committee and then donated to some charity here in St. John's.
To make your own 'Cobblestones for Charity', visit the Victoriana Quilters. The quilt was designed by Kathleen Solomi who gave permission for her pattern to be used. This is a very easy block to make. I made several for the outreach program at guild.

Christmas Tree

I finally finished decorating my living room Christmas Tree! Here's a picture of it. Three smaller ones to go. My tree skirt is a purchased panel that I put together years ago. My daughter has a crazy quilted one that I made her from scraps of clothes from when she was a young child.

I just did a quick search for more free stuff on the web related to Christmas trees.
Here's a short list:
Miniature Christmas Tree Quilt Pattern
Christmas Tree Quilt Block
More free Christmas quilted stuff
Traditional Tree Skirt
For the stitcher
Sew have some fun!