CHRISTMAS IN MAY? JOIN THE "CHRISTMAS RAPPERS THIS WEEK, IN AN AWESOME BLOG HOP

 

                                           
Actually, the last few day in April - April 29th - May 12th

 

















Now is the time to prepare for those awesome projects for Christmas.  This book is amazing by two AMAZING WOMEN.  IF you like reverse applique or paper piecing, this book is for you, actually there is something for everyone.  The quilting techniques are in this book to help you.  This book is sold on Amazon, I went and found the book months ago when I heard about it.

WON'T YOU JOIN US TOMORROW THROUGH MAY 12TH?

THERE WILL BE A GIVEAWAY :Two (2) winners will receive one (1) Bundle of nine (9)Island Batik Fat Quarters + 3 spools of Aurifil thread
         

tHERE ARE SOME AMAZING RAPPERS IN THIS HOP THEY JUST OOZE CREATIVITY:

• Joan Kawano, Moosestash Quilting, https://www.moosestashquilting.com. April 29
• Linda Pearl, One Quilting Circle, https://onequiltingcircle.com/. April 30
• Kathy Bruckman, Kathy’s Kwilts and More, http://www.kathyskwiltsandmore.blogspot.com/. May 1
• Bea Lee, Beaquilter, www.beaquilter.com . May 2
• Sherry Shish, Powered by Quilting, http://poweredbyquilting.com . May 3
• Jennifer Strauser, Dizzy Quilter, http://dizzyquilter.com/ . May 4
• Barbara Gaddy, Bejeweled Quilts, www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com . May 5
• Nancy Myers, Patchwork Breeze, www.patchworkbreeze.blogspot.com . May 6
• Vicki Schlimmer, Vicki’s Crafts and Quilts, http://knitbug2.blogspot.com/ . May 7
• Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail, https://quiltinggail.wordpress.com . May 8
• Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde, http:// www.creativeblonde.co.uk . May 9
• Maryellen Mcauliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine, http://www.marymackmademine.com/ . May 10
• Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese, https://fortheloveofgeese.com . May 11
• Maria Hrabovsky, Maria Michaels Design, http://www.mariamichaelsdesigns.com/blog/. May 12

APRIL SHOWERS TRULY DID BRING MAY FLOWERS! April Showers Topper

It has been raining so much this month that I am sure the mosquitoes will have a field day this year.

Here is a little topper I designed a few years ago.  This was taken off the craftsy site when Craftsy did their purging.

Here it is using the beautiful Island Batik Fabrics.

Today I put the binding on three quilts.

I can only show you one.

If you have been reading my post, you will remember that this quilt is made from the scraps of another quilt.  I used the Accuquilt Go orange peel die to make the shapes.  I also used Aurifil 50 wt. thread.

I have yet to quilt the other quilt but it is sandwiched.

I love this Oriental fabric from Inchworm Fabrics.

I have really made some headway this month in all of the quilts I have an obligation to make.  I always worry about meeting deadlines but I think I am going to make it.

I have two quilts that need to be quilted (this is not counting the UFO's), yes, I have plenty of those.

IF LIFE HANDS YOU SCRAPS, MAKE A QUILT!

For several days last week I have been cutting the excess fabric off the back side of my quilt top.  It is applique and I cut out the bulk of the fabric.  I would show you but it is for Island Batik Fall/Winter catalog.  It took me six hours one day and about two the next.  

Wasn't a fun job but someone had to do it.

So Saturday when it was raining and raining outside I decided to do something non sitting down and sewing.

Hummmm

Why not cut up some of my Island Batil scraps?  So the story begins!

Half square triangles using the Accuquilt Go Cutter!

You think it would have made a dent in my scraps (this is me shaking my head no).

Then that evening and this morning I have been making these flying geese.

Look at the points?

Look how even they all turned out...

Just look!!

Now most of you know I love my Accuquilt Go Cutter but the Qube is the best idea since sliced bread.

I never thought I would be interested in the Go Qube, I have the 8" but I tell you having the half square triangle on one die is ideal for projects such as these.

I am not just saying this because this Go Qube was given to me by Accuquilt through Island Batik.

I loved it so much that I went and purchased the companion sets.

I originally purchased the corners but then Gene Black convinced me to buy the angles as well.

What are friends for, right?  They get you in trouble every time (smiling).

As I was in my Island Batik Scraps I noticed that I had all of these strips from one inch to two and a half inches.....

What to do?

What to do?

Hummmm  stay tune, the light bulb just went off in my head.

READY SET GO!!

The month of April Island Batik Challenge is to make a square (QUBE) baby quilt using the Accuquilt Go Dies.

Look who is playing in my grandson's room and on his bed no less!!

The month of April Island Batik Challenge is to make a square (QUBE) baby quilt using the Accuquilt Go Dies.

Time to take them outside!

Mr. Brown Bear has had enough of the photo shoot!

44" x 44"

Maybe next time I will take a straighter picture???

This is my inspiration for this quilt.

I have had this design made up for several years but last year I made it with Island Batik fabrics.

I kept thinking that it would make an adorable quilt.  I am talking about the hearts that border the runner.

I used the 5" stash Builders by Island Batik, just perfect for cutting with the Accuquilt Go cutter!

  

So when I received the Accuquilt Go Qube, I saw that it had the half squares and I have the circle die (which is not shown nor included in the 8" cube) would be perfect to make the hearts.

Unfortunately, my circle die grew legs and walked off!!  I used the small circle and cut them in half.

I used the rectangles for the 3 rows of 20 each (sewn together randomly)

Here you see the half square triangles with the half circles on top of them.  I glued them down just a thin strip across the straight edge, just enough to keep it in place while I was sewing....and as you can see, I did not take the half circle all the way to the raw edge.  If you chose to you can just use the whole circle.

Anyways, I sewed the half squares together, in this case, ten half squares to a row, 4 rows.

White Island Batik foundation fabric for the half squares as you can see in the picture above or on the quilt.

A two and a half inch strip x 40 inches long for the half circles to be blanket stitched onto.

 After sewing the 2 1/2" strip to the half squares and the glued half circles, I flipped up the half circles and then blanket stitched.  In this case, I waited until I had the whole quilt top together and just blanket stitched through the top, batting, and backing.

For the complete quilt you will need:

A row of hearts (ten each row) 4 rows

A 2 1/2" strip in between each row (six total)

Then a row of rectangles (20 each to a  row)  (3 rows total)

2 1/2" side border

4" top and bottom border

I did something I have never done before and that was use my embroidery designs on my sewing machine to quilt this quilt.  I used the hearts and the curvy line.

This quilt was so much fun but I have to confess, quilting it using my embroidery designs on my machine took longer than actually constructing the top....still fun

I used Hobbs batting 80/20 Bleached Cotton batting

This beautiful Aurifil Thread

Now it is time I go pick up my grandson from Preschool, hope you have an amazing day!