I love the colors.
I love the pattern.
I love the quilting.
I love, love, love it.
Someone asked me about the pattern and colors so I thought I would share it here. When I went to hunt down
the good pics, I remembered it was featured in the April May 2013 QUILT magazine. So here are their nice styled, color corrected pictures from 2013.
The background could be anything but I used 9900-182 Porcelain (4 1/4 yds.)
Pick your favorite 12 colors, add background of your choice.
The possibilities are endless. Choose all shades of greens and browns for trees, blues and greens with a little white on top for snow capped mountains, 30’s prints for a retro quilt or just a combination of all your funky favorite fabrics as a scrap buster!
You probably know that Moda’s layer cakes are my favorite cut of fabric. If you don’t know about layer cakes, they are 10″ squares of an entire collection totaling 42 squares. Layer cakes are so versatile and can be sewn together as is for a quick easy project or cut into all different sizes.
Designer royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Feed The Children.
Be sure and follow Kathy Schmitz. She will be teaching Scissor Happy in an upcoming Martingale University video class. For more information on the class information, click here.
Vintage or New? The quilting is outstanding and makes this new quilt have the look of a vintage piece. I may have forgotten to mention that you may need a hunk of additional fabric to go with your layer cake if you want to make this quilt.
No matter if you already have a stack of precut Layer Cakes in your stash or if you need a good reason to head to your local quilt shop to replenish your supply, rest assured the patterns in this book offer layers of fun! Thank you to the uber talented Moda designers for sharing their creativity and given to a very worth while charity during these crazy times.
Today is Laurie Simpson’s turn to share a quilt block. Please visit Laurie’s blog to learn about her block and download the pattern.
I showed a while back that I keep the patterns and blocks in a notebook. Now my notebook is overflowing so not all the blocks fit and it is getting time for me to finally decide how I am going to set this fish mash of blocks together.
Block 36
Shown above is my version of Laurie’s block along with the blocks that didn’t fit in the notebook. If you look close I was able to sneak in a piece from a new collection by Corey Yoder, Springbrook which will be in stores Jan. 2021. Sorry to tempt you, but that is a perk of working at Moda, I guess!
I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my progress. Not all blocks are pictured, but man have we all come a long way.
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3
Magic 8″ pattern- my version
Block 7
Block 7
Block 8
Block 9
Block 12
Block 14
Block 15
Block 17
Block 16
Block 19
Blockheads 3- block 20
Block 22
Block 23
block #25
Block 34
All of the blocks patterns are always available as downloads on the Moda Inspiration and Resources page. To see them all so far, click here.
How is your progress? Just remember it is a marathon not a sprint and to enjoy the process.
The Fat Quarter Shop is getting ready for a free block of the week sew-along called Sewcialities! They’ve asked 18 designers (me included) to each contribute two blocks that can be made in three different sizes, 3″, 6″, or 9″. You’ll get one block a week for 38 weeks. The fun starts Friday, September 25th, and runs through June 25th, 2021! June 2021 will be here before we know it!
The blocks are all pieced, and each one is rated for difficulty. The Fat Quarter Shop will be using the “Homestead” fabric line by April Rosenthal. I love that each block is 2 fabrics. I am making the 9″ blocks and they go together very quickly.
At work, we have been playing with Bella Solids lately. Michelle White and Carrie Nelson were creating different color ways and I fell in love with one of the color assortments and thought it was perfect timing to use for my version of Sewcialites. We had all kinds of great names for the colors and this one Michelle named Mellow Rainbow. I don’t know what it is but it reminds me of my youth and the colors of the 70’s and 80’s.
Mellow Rainbow- Bella Solids
204 PLUM
218 INDIGO
135 MARINE
234 EVERGREEN
232 SAFFRON
292 AMBER
294 PERSIMMON
298 CAMEO
106 EARTH
I usually don’t use all solids but I have made the goal to work on my precision piecing on this quilt. If you are off the least little bit when using solids it shows more, but I am not scared.
Of course, you can also pull from your stash. You can find all the information you need on the Jolly Jabber blog. So many sizes to choose from. Get that triangle paper ready if you choose the 3″ size.
During the pandemic, several different people on social media starting having outdoor quilt shows by showcasing one of their quilts in their yard or on their front porch, etc. Jenny Doan starting doing this also and I thought I would do the same each weekend.
I dug this schoolhouse quilt out of my stack to symbolize the return to school, even though it was virtual.
Several of you have messaged me wanting this pattern so I decided to do a quick blog post
so I can share it with everyone.
The pattern does have templates for the roof, so be sure and set your printer to actual size.
Choose 6 fat quarters and 3 1/2 yds background of your choice.
I made mine using 6 different Bella Solids.
I also want to make it using denim, blues and greys.
I know my neighbors probably think I am crazy but I have enjoyed my own little quilt show.
My blog post would not be complete without a mock up of a little red schoolhouse quilt.
Yesterday started the local in-school learning after 3 weeks of remote classrooms. When I submitted this block 9 months ago, I did not have a name or description. There was no Covid yet. Things were normal. Fast forward and the name of the block and description fits today’s landscape. My kids, friends, students and teachers are all coming together as we try and begin a normal school year, so I am wishing all of them a safe adventure.
COMING TOGETHER
During this time of isolation I look at this block and can’t help but think about how much I miss coming together with my friends and family. I just want to hug everyone’s neck including my mailman, but I can’t. I look at the big shapes as people and that someday we will all be joined socially together again.
To download these instructions, please click here.
Read more…….
I have not decided what layout I am going to do. I have an assortment of block sizes but the majority of them 8″ and 4″.
So many decisions!
We are already on block 35, I better decide my layout so I can plan what size blocks to make the rest of the way.
One thing I love about the Blockheads is the access to so many patterns and the inspiration from the designers and the amazing Facebook group. The blockheads project started out to be a sampler quilt but I am love so many of the blocks that I plan on using some of the designs for a complete quilt. I decided to play with this block in a couple of different layouts.
I combined the 8″ and 4″ blocks to make a row quilt. This one looks very Scandinavian cross stitch depending on what colors you use. Wouldn’t it be yummy in grey and reds?
This layout combines a 12″ block and 2-6″ blocks sewn into rows and then repeated. I love all the secondary designs this layout and block creates. SQUINT, tell me what you see.
At first I saw lots of white doves throughout, then it was Santa beards and the one I can’t get out of my head is a clown face. (I will help you on that one- the 2 small plus signs are eyeballs and the white area is the clown’s facepaint smile.
Okay maybe it is just me, but this is how I entertain my self.
Do you see any secondary designs?
I hope you have fun making this block your own. Please visit each of the designers listed below for their take on the Coming Together block.
This is what our family always called our Charlie’s Angels picture. The picture was taken one summer of my mom, my sister and myself. I was about to be a freshmen in high school, Angie was about to leave home and would be a freshmen in college. When she left for college I got her room. In her closet was a piece of paper that she listed what she wore each week. This list lasted for an entire month, every month. She worked to not wear the same thing for an entire month. She did not have a large wardrobe but she would make new things just to make sure she kept it fresh.
Fast forward…. my sister graduated with a home ec teaching degree and went on to get married and have 3 sweet sweet boys. The first year that Angie and Joel were married they decided to make a quilt as a wedding gift for some friends using the quilt as you go method. Angie lived in Lubbock and I lived in Dallas so we mailed the blocks back and forth so I could help piece the blocks. Joel helped quilt them and I remember he had the most beautiful small stitches, 12 to the inch just as he had been instructed.
A few years later Angie’s family moved to Ft. Worth which is about 30 minutes from me, so we got together often. At the time we both had 2 kids each under the age of 4. It was a miracle we got anything done. I even joined a quilting friendship group there in Ft. Worth so we could get together often. We did many block swaps, made things for arts and craft shows and even gift shops would sell our wares.
My sister passed away in 1989 at the age of 31 which was 31 years ago. I tell you this story because I have finished several of her unfinished quilt tops and shared them with her family. I have one more quilt top to complete.
We did a friendship swap for the square in a square block and she pieced the pink sawtooth stars to complete the designs. Each of us had the same swap block and would create completely different quilts.
I have had this quilt top for 31 years. I cannot believe that. I hadn’t completed it because I was on a mission to find enough of the navy fabric for the fourth border (shown in upper corner) I did not have to have the exact fabric just something that matched. Believe it or not this is such a rich deep navy that I had a hard time making a match.
I finally found a navy plaid that was close enough and finished the top. My quilter often has a sale on quilting during her birthday month so I was going to be ready.
I took the quilt outside to get some pictures and poked a hole in my finger.
All this time I did not realize that the back of the quilt still had the names pinned on the blocks.
Many of the swap blocks were hand pieced. Each block had to use tan in the middle, greens, then pinks and cheddars and navy on the outside. There was a plan.
I guess this is a good reason to leave your selvedges on since I can now identify the border as a Cranston Print Works/ V.I.P fabric. I don’t really recommend leaving selvedges on.
I looked through the names trying to remember each person in this particular swap. I was thrilled when I came across this block with our good friend Roxi’s name on it. After my sister passed away Roxi and I continued our friendship and that makes this quilt top even more priceless.
I am kind of sad to finish this quilt top knowing that it is the last piece of Angie’s work that I have. The quilt will go to a good home and I will always have the memories of each of the quilts.
Quilts tell a story and they last long after we are gone!
It is finally finished. I had made the goal to share this before the first pumpkins were out and I think I made it.
When I asked some of my friends to join me in the Sisterhood of Scraps project, I was very honored that Barbara Brackman said YES. She shared her Orange Zig Zag antique quilt that had been on my bucket list to make. There was no time like the present to reproduce her version.
I am in love and I can cross something off my bucket list.
I am ready for the pumpkins.
Aren’t all the shirtings so yummy?
Shirtings are generally a reproduction fabric but I am seeing more and more new styles of shirtings with the popularity of low volume styles growing in popularity.
This is what I can do all day every day!
Play with Fabric
These are just a few of my lights for this quilt. I really tried to get some bold stripes, tickings and other vintage inspired pieces. I added some dots since I think 100% of the quilts I make have dots in them.
Fig Tree and Co. has the yummiest collection of fabric, All Hallow’s Eve and I was hoarding the Orange, stock #20354-11 from this collection. This fabric was the perfect piece to use for this quilt.
These are available late 2020 and would be terrific Christmas gift to yourself!
Here is a page example from the book courtesy of Electric Quilt. I own her original book and can’t wait to get my hands on this one. This book is great for designing, as a resource and historical information.
Today is Jen Kingwell’s turn to share a quilt block pattern. The name of her block is Proposal and it has a great story behind it. To get the pattern and learn more about the block, visit Jen’s blog, HERE.
Using Jen’s inspiration for her block, I decided to use all lights to represent a diamond. My Diamond is not perfect and since there is all different qualities of diamonds I left the imperfections!! Another thing I learned while pulling fabric for this one is I must love white/cremes with tan or grey dots.
If you follow me on Instagram of Facebook then you probably have seen some of the pictures of my only daughter’s wedding. I wanted to share another story which seems fitting on the topic of proposals. My daughter has always been a city girl but she met and fell in love with a country boy. He proposed to her by carving the words into a tree on their land. The night he was planning on proposing she was late coming home from work which also meant she was tired and probably a little cranky. He insisted on going for a ride and he had something to show her. While she wanted to wait until the morning, but she went ahead and this is what she saw. (picture was taken in the morning)
I had help along the way. Do you sew in your swimsuit?
So when it came time to make her a quilt for her wedding, I could think of no other pattern than a tree block. I sent blocks out to some of their friends and family for messages and well wishes.
I think they were pretty surprised! For a few days this was their wedding quilt, now we call it the Babymaker. No pressure!!
Just in case you are wondering I used a tutorial from Amy Smart for this block. You can find the info HERE.
Visit each of the designers listed below for their take on the Proposal block.
Today is Janet Clare’s turn on the Moda Blockheads series. Her block is very clever. I love how creative she was with the sizing of the block. To download the pattern instructions, visit Janet Clare’s blog.
I had fun making this block and couldn’t help but be inspired by my recent trip to Alaska for my daughter’s wedding. The whole family was secluded to one massively huge house with the most incredible view. Priceless!
Mr and Mrs Kearney
They stayed and honeymooned in Alaska and my daughter sent me this pic of a quilt shop they saw. I just had to share!
Visit each of the designers listed below for their take on the ZIG ZAG block.
And here are the details if you want to make your own version using Bella solids.
photo courtesy of Martingale Publishing
