Promise Me Fabric Tour

Happy Wednesday and welcome to my first blog post of the new year. I am thrilled to be today's stop on the Promise Me Fabric Tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. Here in Kansas, we started this week off with a giant snow storm, so I am thrilled to be sharing such bright and happy fabrics today! I have some very special projects lined up...all created with the new Promise Me fabric collection designed by Michal Marco for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my quilt designer hat and playing with these gorgeous prints. This brand new fabric collection (shipping to quilt shops this month) has a truly wonderful focal fabric with all sorts of gardening tools and accessories, lovely roses, pretty daisies and bees, strawberries, clover (with teeny tiny ladybugs), and florals…all done in a soft, cheerful color palette. These pretty prints make my heart sing!

I knew when I saw these prints (months ago) that they would be great for a pair of pillows, so that was my plan...and I decided to use a couple blocks from my Farmstead Finds quilt pattern. I used my strawberry block and my daisy block to make the pillows, adding a patchwork border and hand-dyed rick rack from Lady Dot Creates to each one. These are definitely going to brighten my front porch this spring!

...and as I do for most Poppie Cotton fabric tours, I created a couple project bags and a pretty little pincushion. I made a large strawberry block project bag - that measures approximately 14" x 14"...and a large patchwork project bag that measures approximately 12" x 14", featuring the focal fabric at the bottom. I added a couple special zipper pulls (isn't the Poppie Cotton Strawberry Pull adorable??). I also used the fabulous roses printed on the fabric selvedge to make tags for the bags. 

After I created the project bags, I foundation paper-pieced a house block (my own design) for a 4" x 6" pincushion. I added a pocket under the window to hold a pair a small scissors...and I used a 1/4" button for a doorknob. I lovingly refer to it as my "Strawberry Cottage" pincushion. Doesn't it make you smile?!

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 Promise Me fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop - Promise Me is shipping to shops this month.

I am already working on project ideas for future Poppie Cotton fabric releases - just wait until you see what they have in store for this year! Plus, I will have a new ThermOWeb project tutorial posted next week (on the ThermOWeb blog on Monday)…so, be sure to stop back soon...

Poppies Patchwork Club Fabric Tour

Happy Monday - I am thrilled to be today's stop on the Poppies Patchwork Club Fabric Tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I have some very special projects to share...all created with the new Poppies Patchwork Club Fabric Collection designed by Lori Woods for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my quilt designer hat and playing with these gorgeous prints. This brand new collection (shipping to shops now) has lovely bunny and sewing machine motifs (with tiny tomato pincushions!), delightful florals, and fabulous blender fabrics (including a fun stripe)…all done in a happy color palette. As usual, for my projects, I didn't start with a pattern(s) - I just played in my studio. I knew when I saw these prints (months ago) that they would be great for a set of pillows, so that was my plan...and I just started cutting and sewing...

First, I made three pillows - one 14-inch, one 16-inch and one 18-inch. These combine traditional piecing and appliqué - and I backed each of them with Farmhouse Favorites - Gingham Picnic from Poppie Cotton. In my dreams, one day I will have a larger studio with a comfy stitching chair or two and these pillows would be on display. These fabrics give me a warm, cheerful feeling...and the added sewing motifs, along with the bunnies and florals are a selection of my favorite things. I took several photos of these pillows on my front porch rocking chairs...and it made me wish I had an outdoor bench where I could photograph all three together...which also made me think, I should have made a bench pillow...

18-inch

16-inch

14-inch

In usual Belinda fashion, after my pillows were complete, I just *had to* make a smaller project or two with some of my leftover fabric. We all know I love machine appliqué, so for this collection's pincushion (I seem to make a pincushion with each Poppie Cotton collection), I did an small appliqué bunny - and it turned out just as I envisioned. I trimmed my pincushion with Hand Dyed Cotton Lace from Lady Dot Creates - the color is "Firefly" and it was a perfect match! I also wanted to use some of the pretty Cotton Tail stripe and Peter Rabbit prints, so I created a couple small rounded zipper pouches. I embellished these with coordinating 3/4" rick rack. They are the perfect size for sewing and stitching tools and will be a cheerful addition to a project bag.

I have a plan for the Beatrix prints that I have left - the focal print (adorable bunnies with sewing machines and pincushions - photo below)…I love this print so much that I saved every scrap. I usually start with a fat quarter bundle and try to use as many prints in a collection, as possible for my project - I cut as conservatively as I can, so I can get the most out of each piece. I wanted to have one more thing made for this fabric tour, but just couldn't get it done with my schedule. I will share it in the next week or two...

Beatrix-Cream from the Poppies Patchwork Club 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 Poppies Patchwork Club fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop - Poppies Patchwork Club is shipping now.

I am already working on project ideas for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in April (I somehow missed getting the memo on the March release) - it is using the fabric collection Hollyhock Lane (click on the link to see a preview). Plus, I will have a new ThermOWeb project tutorial posted later this week (on the ThermOWeb blog on Wednesday)…so, be sure to stop back later this week...

Project Potpourri

Hi friends - happy Wednesday! Thank you for visiting...and you are here on a great day...I'm going to share a handful of finishes that have come out of the studio recently...well, maybe a few more than a handful...I have been creating daily! We all know that I like to work in quite a few mediums...and I wear numerous creative hats. Today's photos include a plethora of project bags, quilted pillows, needlework finishing, an embroidered pin pillow, an appliqued wall hanging, stitch starter ruler sleeves, mug rugs, tote bags, needle and scissor keeps, and even a tomato and a pumpkin!...and that is just a selection of projects. Some of you may be wondering why there isn't much cross stitch...well, the truth is, I am stitching a couple new design models in the evenings and you will get to see those soon (well, as soon as I get them complete - there are only so many hours in a day!). So get ready for loads of eye candy and I'll be back at the end for a few final notes...

How was that for a variety? I hope you saw something that inspired you  to finish your next project!

I want to take a moment and thank everyone that sent me lovely comments and messages regarding my new website, my new quilt patterns and my class schedule. While it is hard to make time to reply to each and every message, I want you to know how much I appreciate the uplifting messages and comments. In a world that can often be negative, your kind words of support and encouragement mean so much to me. Thank you!

I am headed back to my mile long to-do list today - I will be busy in the studio. I am working hard before we take our vacation in a few days! I am very excited to take a road trip with my husband and refresh my my creative spirit. We have some wonderful things planned while we are in Fredericksburg, TX...and a good friend reminded me that I will be VERY close to The Tinsmith's Wife (how could I forget that?) in Comfort, TX (where another dear friend told me we must visit!), so that may be happening. As always, I will take TONS of photos and share a few with you.

Until my next post - create something that brings you joy! 💗