Halloween Star - NEW Quilt Pattern

Greetings friends - happy Friday. This VERY early morning, I am back with another brand new quilt pattern release. Those of you who follow my blog and my Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour posts will recognize this quilt. I had a lot of messages asking for a pattern for this design...so without further ado, here is "Halloween Star!"

“Halloween Star" is machine appliqué, along with traditional piecing and assembly...and the pattern is available in both digital and paper format. It measures 25.5" x 25.5" and works perfectly for a wall hanging or table topper. The pattern contains basic machine appliqué instructions, appliqué template, and comprehensive/detailed instructions with color diagrams...AND is super quick and easy to create. This 9-page pattern is designed to use pre-cuts or scraps and small pieces of fabric...or would work great with your favorite fabric collection. This project is suitable for beginners or those wanting to dabble in appliqué....and is perfect for seasonal sewing and gift giving! It is easily adaptable to a larger size by adding borders or additional fabric squares.

The fun advantage to this quilt is you can use different fabrics for different effects - here are a few suggestions:

• Christmas fabrics for a holiday quilt
• Red, white and blue fabrics for a patriotic quilt
• Traditional fabrics for a primitive quilt
• Modern fabrics for a more abstract quilt
• Juvenile fabrics for a baby quilt

I hope to make several samples of this adaptable quilt to show off some of the options!

The cover model was created with Sweet Tooth by Amanda Cocoron for Poppie Cotton (which is new in quilt shops!) along with Jailhouse Stripes in Blondee Yellow (also from Poppie Cotton) for the binding. It uses HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive (paper backed fusible web) and HeatnBond Fusible Fleece (you could use batting, but fusible fleece makes it easier). I also added a couple hanging tabs, so I could use a wrought iron quilt hanger for display. 

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1753958787

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1753961725

I hope you will spend a little time in your sewing space making a "Halloween Star" quilt that fits your personality and decor...just think, if you start now, it will be ready before Halloween (or Christmas, if you make a "holiday star" quilt)! I do have a very sweet "mom-to-be" in my life, so I may need to make one with juvenile fabrics for a baby quilt...

For now, I am back to my design table and sewing studio - I am finishing up two more quilt patterns for the upcoming Cottage Charm Fabric Tour (stop back on Friday, July 5th)...plus I have a new cross stitch model in the works in my stitching nest...and I am in the process of sewing some patchwork project bags for my Etsy shop. So many projects and deadlines and so little time...❌❌❌

Made with Love

Greeting friends! Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today. I find myself sitting down to write this post shortly after midnight. Yes, we are still on a night schedule at our house - and yes, it is still challenging. Really (if I am being honest), life as a whole is extremely challenging right now. These late nights have been hard on me mentally, but good for my productivity - no interruptions in the middle of the night is definitely good for getting things done. In fact, I have been so productive, that I finally made the tough decision to start selling many of my one-of-a-kind sewing creations and models. I have been slowly adding single pieces to my Etsy shop...this will give me room to create more! I have a few favorite items that I am holding on to, and I have gifted MANY pieces over the years, but my pile has been steadily growing...and in this difficult economic climate (running a small business isn't always the best financial decision, as my husband has been reminding me), I decided it was time to part with some of my special pieces. Many of the totes and zipper bags have sold (but there are still a few, as of this writing) and I have now started posting my one-of-a-kind pincushions. I am still thinking on my pillows and quilts. I just know I can't use them all...and the joy is in the creating, not the storing...so it is time to do a little spring summer cleaning...and I am hoping I can find good and loving homes for my creative works. If you are interested in any of my special "made with love" pieces, keep an eye on my Etsy Shop: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com - I am adding pieces as time allows.

I have also been working on and listing more Stitch Starter Ruler and Sleeve Sets and I have some patchwork project bags in progress that will be listed later this week. 

On the designing front - for quilters and sewists, I am putting the finishing touches on several new quilt patterns (including my Halloween Star Quilt)...and for my cross stitch fans, I have three new cross stitch models in the works. It has been harder to balance it all lately - I find myself working on projects that pay the bills and not the creative endeavors/new designs I want to explore...which is another reason life feels so challenging right now. It is all making me a bit emotional and frustrated.

I do have new Poppie Cotton pieces to share a week from Friday (July 5th) for the Cottage Charm Fabric Tour...here is a peek at this new fabric collection I snapped before I cut into it...

...and I do have a new Therm O Web project tutorial in thought progress for July. I just got the schedule and themes for next month, and my post will be on the Therm O Web Blog on July 17th...

I will finish up this post on a happy note...here is a fun, short video/Reel I created with some of my special pincushions...this is the version I have on my YouTube channel, but for the best version (because of the music and video timing), view my Reel on Instagram. I have to change music for YouTube to follow copyright guidelines.

Have a happy and creative week!

On-the-Go Stitching Portfolio

Greetings friends! It is new project tutorial day - time to share my June project created for Therm O Web with you! I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials to share with you on the Therm O Web Blog. Each month, I share a new project and you give you my tips and tricks for using their adhesives and interfacings. For the month of June, the blog is focused on projects for travel, camping, summer appliqué, and scrappy solutions. I created a brand new project that was posted yesterday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "On-the-Go Stitching Portfolio." My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos (and you can find a short video on my YouTube channel and Instagram page. This is a fun, summertime project...and works great for organizing and traveling with a handwork project. I chose some cheerful colored fabrics from the Waved collection by Erin Borja for PBS Fabrics. I hope you will stop by the Therm O Web Blog and check out my project and tutorial...

This is an afternoon project that can definitely be a scrap buster! You can use your favorite fabrics and/or fabric scraps to create your own portfolio. This stitching case will easily fit in a project bag or tote or purse and can even hold a half-sheet (5.5" x 8.5") pattern. For this post, I used HeatnBond products (Fusible Fleece, Medium Weight Interfacing, E-Z Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets, and Lite Iron-On Adhesive Tape)...plus, I give you some pro-tips in my post. I also used gingham ribbon and wool blend felt. Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list.

To find the ribbon and wool blend felt, along with other supplies/tools listed, visit my On-the-Go Stitching Portfolio Supply List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!)

Are you familiar with HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets? I use these for almost every project I create with appliqué. HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets are paper backed, iron-on, sewable, double-sided adhesive for bonding fabric without extra weight or stiffness - and the best part?? - they measure 8.5" x 11" to fit in a standard inkjet printer - NO TRACING INVOLVED! The templates I provide for each of my projects are printed on 8.5" x 11" paper, so you can print the templates directly on the HeatnBond Lite Adhesive sheets and skip the tracing step. I always have these stocked in my sewing studio!!

If you have questions on any of the Therm O Web or HeatnBond/SpraynBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

You will have to visit the ThermOWeb blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:

https://blog.thermoweb.com/on-the-go-stitching-portfolio-featuring-heatnbond

I hope this project gets you excited to create something special and unique...

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project will be available in July (I don't have the date yet)...and I am working on another fun project for summer...

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...

Twinkling Tree Farm - NEW Pattern

Greetings friends - happy Thursday! I am back today with a brand new quilt pattern release. If you read my post yesterday, then you had a sneak peek of this new holiday quilt, created with a brand new fabric collection from Poppie Cotton called "Prairie Christmas."

“Twinkling Tree Farm" is machine appliqué, along with traditional piecing and assembly. It measures 24.5" x 24.5" and works perfectly for a wall hanging or table topper. The pattern contains basic machine appliqué instructions, appliqué templates, and comprehensive/detailed instructions with color diagrams...AND is super quick and easy to create. This 12-page pattern is designed to use pre-cuts or scraps and small pieces of fabric...or would work great with your favorite fabric collection. This project is suitable for beginners or those wanting to dabble in appliqué....and is perfect for seasonal sewing and gift giving! It is easily adaptable to a larger size by adding borders or additional fabric squares.

The cover model was created with Prairie Christmas by Amanda Cocoron for Poppie Cotton along with Country Confetti (also from Poppie Cotton) for the appliqué background and binding. It uses HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive (paper backed fusible web) and HeatnBond Fusible Fleece (you could use batting, but fusible fleece makes it easier).  The stars above the large trees are cut from Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design (Bronze). I also added a couple hanging tabs, so I could use a wrought iron quilt hanger for display. 

Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1732456348

Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1746647893

I hope you will spend a little time in your sewing space making a "Twinkling Tree Farm" quilt that fits your personality and decor...just think, if you start now, it will be ready WAY before Christmas! I am thinking it would be fun to make this quilt in woodland fabrics (without the stars) for year-round use.

For now, I am back to my design table and sewing studio - I am working on my "Halloween Stars" quilt pattern that was so highly requested...plus I have a new cross stitch model in the works in my stitching nest. So many projects and so little time...🪡🧵✀❌❌

Prairie Christmas Fabric Tour

Happy Wednesday - welcome to my stop on the Prairie Christmas Fabric Tour - thank you so much for dropping by for a visit. I am thrilled to be sharing these wonderful holiday fabrics from Poppie Cotton! I have some very special projects lined up, created with the new Prairie Christmas fabric collection designed by Amanda Cocoron for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my quilt designer hat and playing with these farm village Christmas prints. This brand new fabric collection (shipping to quilt shops this month) has a truly wonderful country vintage feel. The entire collection is filled with perfect details and the sweetest little motifs! These charming holiday farm prints feature a village spruced up with Christmas decor - there are scenes of people ice skating, a red tractor and a red barn with farm animals...there are pine boughs, pine cones, Christmas trees, holiday ornaments, snowflakes and stars…all done in a combination of greens, teals, reds, pinks and cream. The tiny details in this collection truly inspired me! 

To start, I created a wall hanging that doubles as a table topper with pine tree appliqué blocks. I am calling this new design "Twinkling Tree Farm." The trees are machine appliqué, using a blanket stitch and I used all of the prints in this wonderful collection. This small quilt measures 24" x 24" and works perfectly as a small wall hanging or a table topper for my kitchen table. I used a fat quarter stack with each of the prints from this collection (a 5" precut pack would be suitable for the variety, plus a couple fat quarters)...and I used Country Confetti for the background and binding. The stars appliquéd above the large trees are Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design in the color Bronze. I created this design while playing around in my studio and I am in the process of writing the pattern (it is almost complete).

Next, I made the cutest patchwork project bags - one small and one with a boxed bottom. I used each of the prints, cutting 2" squares (1.5" finished). I added color coordinated zipper pulls...I also added a fun selvage tag to the boxed pouch. I have a pile of fabric squares left on my studio table, so I plan to make a few more of these sweet little bags...

Finally, I created my usual pincushion. I knew I wanted to use little triangle scraps to make a mini tree. This pincushion measures 5" x 7.5" and is stuffed with fiberfill and sawdust shavings. I appliquéd 1" squares and 1" finished half-square triangles to create the tree. It is topped with a wool blend felt star, cut from the color Pampas from Benzie Design. I trimmed it with Hand Dyed Rick Rack from Lady Dot Creates and added a bunch of color coordinated decorative pins. This made the sweetest pincushion/bowl filler to add to my growing collection!

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Prairie Christmas fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Prairie Christmas is shipping this month.

I am already have my projects completed for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in July - it is using the fabric collection "Cottage Charm" (this is a wonderful collection - click to see a preview). Plus, I will have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog on June 18th - it is a summer-themed stitching portfolio…so, be sure to stop back here on June 19th for more details...