Garden Path Pillow

Often I have many projects in the works. Ones I make to share, patterns I have for sale, projects for a booth display, and designs slated for a magazine. It's the magazine features that kill me because I have to keep them a secret until they are published. It's alway exciting when an issue comes out with my project in it so I can finally share it with you! 

The April/May 2016 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts is now on the newsstands and features my Garden Path pillow.

This modern pillow design is made using my Sketchbook fabrics and Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements. Perfect for adding a fresh new look to your home (or patio) the Garden Path pillow will be a fun addition to your home. 

The staff at McCall's liked this pillow design so much they put together a free Garden Path Baby Quilt for you. Find the free pattern here.

Free Garden Path baby quilt from McCall's Quick Quilts

What a cute idea, right?!? This makes a perfect, uni-sex baby quilt and has nice open space to show off some pretty quilting. 

I am affiliated with FW Media Craft of Quilting and you may be interested to find kits for several of the projects I have had featured in McCall's and other FW Media magazines like Calliope featured in Modern Patchwork Winter 2016 issue which is also made from Sketchbook fabrics and Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements and blenders. 

Shop Kits at Craft of Quilting

Quilt Market Week!

That's right, it's Quilt Market week! All my projects are done and I am just putting the finishing touches on last minute details, checking my to-do lists, and packing things up. Something tells me I have forgotten something, but that might just be nerves. I need to trust in all my prep work and planning and let it all go now. Time for some fun!

This is my third time at Market with a booth. I will be displaying quilts and sewing projects made from my newest Art Gallery Fabrics fabric line--Coastline. 

This is just a little sneak peek into some of the projects I made with Coastline fabrics for my Quilt Market booth. Be watching my social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Periscope) for updates and full reveals during Quilt Market. It's gonna be pretty exciting!

A lot of exhibitors and attendees of the show have buttons to give and collect. Personally I haven't gotten into collecting buttons so I did not have any made. I still wanted to have a takeaway from my booth (other than promotional postcards) and came up with a fun Take & Make packet that attendees can takeaway from my booth. 

I have a glassine envelope takeaway that contains 7 English paper-piecing paper templates and 7 fabric rectangles to take and make either a Hexie Doilie or Hexie Clutch project. Once you English paper-piece the hexies together you can decide which project to complete. A fun little project for traveling and I have 72 envelopes prepared with either Gossamer or Sketchbook fabric swatches in each of the colorways. Supplies are limited so if you are going to Quilt Market, stop by booth #1322 and pick one up as a token of my appreciation. 

Not going to the Market? Well, because I love you too, I have made a free PDF pattern download of this project. You of course will have to cut out your templates from the full-size paper-piece pattern provided and supply your own materials, but you can also enjoy a bit of handi-work paper-piecing as well. Find the pattern on my Free Patterns page.

Stop by the booth and say "hi" if you're going to Market. If not, keep watching on social media for Market updates.

Sketchbook Blog Tour Day 5

Today is the last day of the Sketchbook Blog Tour and Alexis Wright is posting today from My Sweet Sunshine Studio. Alexis has sewn the Rose dress from Violette Field Threads and I am in love with how it turned out! She used the cotton Tiny Dancer Midnight and Doodlie Meander prints. Doesn't her daughter look amazing? I love this cut on her--how perfect!

Photo courtesy of Alexis Wright of My Sweet Sunshine Studio

See the My Sweet Sunshine Studio blog post to learn more about Alexis and this outfit. Thanks so much Alexis for being such a BIG part of the tour. I am looking forward to seeing you again at fall Quilt Market. 

Photo courtesy of Alexis Wright

Yesterday Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew posted on the Sketchbook Blog Tour. If you missed out on any of the days or want to see the full list of bloggers, click here. Tomorrow I will post a full recap of the tour along with announcing the winner of the 10 yards of Sketchbook fabrics. Yup, that's right, you still have time to enter the drawing for the free fabric. Sign in to instagram and REPOST any of the Sketchbook blog tour images. Use the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway in your repost and you're entered into the drawing! Drawing ends Saturday August, 22nd at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

To wrap up my series on sewing with French seams I have one more project for you. This one doesn't use French seams but I feel fits the series because the construction method creates clean finishes to the edges without the use of hems (on the body of the bag). I took the common folded Market Bag construction and added a self-lined feature to the construction for a new twist on an old favorite.

These are super fun to make! Download the free Market Bag PDF pattern from my Free Patterns page for the full instructions on how to make a bag.

SELF-LINED MARKET BAG

Large bags like these are great for for taking with you to the store or Farmer's Market. They would also make a great, reusable alternative to paper gift bags or gift wrap! Show off fun prints and make several to use and give.

Sketchbook Blog Tour Day 4

Only today and tomorrow left on the Sketchbook Blog Tour. Have you entered the giveaway for 10 yards of Sketchbook fabrics yet? Drawing ends Saturday August 22nd at 9:00 a.m. EDT.

To be entered into the drawing for 20 - half-yard cuts of Art Gallery Fabrics Sketchbook fabrics you will want to follow the tour on Instagram and repost a picture of your favorite project. Include the hashtag #SketchbookTourGiveaway in your repost and your name is in the drawing!

Snickerdoodle Stew

Photo courtesy of Snickerdoodle Stew

Jessica Stewart from Snickerdoodle Stew is our talented day 4 blog tour blogger. Jessica made this sweet dress for her daughter using the Tiny Dancer Fall, Woodblock Berry, Ink Outburst Fresco and Delineament Sepia cotton prints. The leggings were made from Air Brush Flight knit. I just love seeing this fresh face and this pretty Izzy & Ivy Designs Brooklyn's Boho dress. Don't you just love this combination?!! See Jessica's blog for more pictures of her beautiful daughter in this outfit. I love your work--thanks for being part of the tour Jessica! 

Photo courtesy of Snickerdoodle Stew

Yesterday the oh-sew-talented Elizabeth Whitehurst from Cotton Belle Boutique posted about the sweet dress she made her beautiful daughter and tomorrow the tour will end with Alexis Wright from My Sweet Sunshine Studio. Seriously, I can't wait for my (soon-to-come) granddaughter to be big enough to make clothes for--all these children's outfits are so darn cute!

Dress Up Your Closet

A change in season usually means a time to go through closets and dresser drawers and re-organize your wardrobe. Have you ever thought to give a little attention to how those hangers look as well? Cloth hanger covers not only dress up and unify mismatched hangers but add some padding to help reduce shoulder creases and create a non-slip grip for blouses that tend to slip off regular hangers. You can even color code for the different seasons! 

You will find the full instructions and pattern for Cover Up on my Free Patterns page. This easy-to-sew pattern uses French seam construction and you can make a bunch of covers in a snap! No hems to turn and no raw edges or loose threads to get on your clothing. The pattern is customizable so you can quickly draft a freezer paper template for any size hanger. The freezer paper template can be used over and over again.

I will see you back here tomorrow with the final day blog tour pictures and another French seam construction tutorial and project. Are you excited to start some sewing? What are you going to make first?