Friday, March 15, 2024

St. Patty's Day


This is a festive St. Patty's Day design that I made a few years ago. It's a fun fusible applique design and I really enjoyed making it. I bet if you dig thru your fabric, you can find some green.... leprechaun green fabric. I made my leprechaun with a white beard, but a red/orange beard would be very cute too! I used fabrics from my Marcus Fabrics stash. (Scrap Heap and Shadings, both by Laura Berringer) 

Following the pattern directions, I traced out the design onto the paper side of my fusible web and then ironed it onto the back side of my fabric that I choose for the applique design. After I had it press on, I then cut the pieces out. Following the placement page in the pattern I then peeled off the paper and positioned the design onto my rectangle piece of background fabric. I then pressed everything into place. I traced two sets of the gnome/leprechaun. 


The second set I ironed onto a fun green towel from Dunroven House.



I worked on both projects at the same time to reduce the number of times I would be changing thread color for the applique. When I make an applique mug rug, I like to layer the top, batting and batting all together before I do the stitching around the design. I like that when I'm doing the buttonhole stitch around my design, I'm also quilting my mug rug at the same time. You can do additional quilting if you'd like besides outlining the design. I just find it to be a great time saver. Like I said before, I'm really pleased with how my St. Patty's Day gnomes turned out. They will add a festive touch to my kitchen for the month of March.


I hope that you have a fun St. Patrick's Day, even if you're not Irish. Shhhhhh.... I'm not one bit, but I was once told that everyone's a little bit of Irish on St. Patty's Day. I'm not sure if I'll drink any green beer but I might go all out and drop some green food color in a glass of white wine.....

Happy St. Patty's Day,

Cindy & Josephine

Lucky Gnome pdf pattern can be found on my website and also in my Etsy Shop.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Sweet Bea Bunny

Spring and Easter are right around the corner, and I thought it would be fun to draw up some new designs for spring. I'm in love with Sweet Bea Bunny. Did you know if I had a girl, I wanted to name her Beatrice. I loved the idea of having a little sweet Bea. But as fate had it, I was blessed with all boys, and I wouldn't have it any other way. That's where the inspiration for the bunny's name came from. 
I usually use Dunroven Towels for my applique, but I decided to use something a little different this time. Not everyone has Dunroven Towels on hand to easily purchase, so I used a couple of tea towels that I purchased some time ago from Target. My point being, you can applique my designs on anything that you desire, an apron, a quilt block, on a simple table runner, anything your heart desires! So let me show you how I make this sweet bunny.
I trace the design onto the paper side of my sheet of flexifuse. (or heat n bond)

I then group the shapes with the fabrics that I will use for that shape. As you can see, I'm doing two bunnies, one with pink ears and one with coral ears. I then iron the shapes onto the back side of the fabric.

Then cut all the shapes out using a sharp scissor.

Iron the bunny shapes onto your towel, or whatever project you are making. Follow the manufacturer's directions for fusing the shapes in place. 

I then pick out the stitch that I'm going to use to sew around the design. I play around with the sizing until I find one that I think will work best. If I'm making more than one of the same design, I make note of the stitch and settings that I am using. I sometimes take a picture of my machine's settings for reference later.  
I'm making a gray bunny and a brown bunny, I think they are going to be pretty darn cute!

I used a dark brown thread to stitch around all of the edges.

I used a black floss and stitched french knots to make the eyes on the bunny, you can also use tiny black buttons. I used my sewing machines backstitch to stitch the whiskers. You can also use DMC floss and hand stitch the whiskers. I then used some white buttons from my button jar for the flower centers.

~ Sweet Bea Bunny ~

Didn't my Sweet Bea Bunny turn out cute! Such a fun design for spring and Easter. This sweet bunny can be on display all spring and summer if you'd like! I've got spring fever really bad and have started my garden seeds in the house. I'm pretty pleased to announce that they are starting to sprout! I had troubles with baby bunnies last year in the garden, they were able to squeeze thru my wire fencing for the garden. I'll have to add a smaller grate wire fence this year to my garden fence to try to deter them. Baby bunnies are so cute, but not so cute when they get in the garden. Those little buggers wiped out my beans, spinach and cabbage last year! Little stinkers! I replanted twice! I have high hopes the garden will do better this year. 

This cute iron on applique pattern can be found in my Etsy Shop and also on the website as a PDF download.

Hope that you have a wonderful day and find some time to do some quilting,

Cindy and Josephine

Thursday, February 29, 2024

March's Blocks!

Happy March! The temperature has been crazy here. We went from a 60-degree day down to below zero in a 24-hour period! As I write this, we are slowly warming up again giving us hope that spring is right around the corner. I've bought my garden seeds and I plan on getting them started indoors. I'm on the hunt for my grow lights, they are somewhere in the house... hmmmm where did I put them! I have a garden I would like to totally dig up and redo, I've been kicking around what I would like to plant in that space. It's gone from a shade garden to 100% sun with the loss of an oak tree. Along with my garden plans, I am excited about the arrival this month of a new granddaughter! We can't wait to meet her! Such an exciting time... I had all boys so it's so much fun to have granddaughters. I am enjoying spoiling them both! 

Now onto this year’s block of the month in case you are just joining us, it’s sorta a mystery and I am encouraging everyone to use fabric from their stash. You will want the same background color for the quilt to tie it all together but, other than that the sky’s the limit. So, to begin with go dig thru your fabric stash and look for the following.


Fabric Requirements
Blue background fabric- 2 yards
white fabric (snowman faces) - 1/2 yard
green (trees) - 3/4 yard
pieced border - red- 3/4-yard, pink - 1/2-yard, light green- 1/2-yard, light blue- 3/4-yard
orange- snowman noses
scrappy hats- 10 plus fat quarters or a combination of fat quarters and fat eights in a variety of colors such as red, blue, yellow, pink, green, purple. 

Now let's get stitching!

Snowman Hat Rectangle- Sew a background 2” square onto the top two corners right sides together corner to corner. Trim excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam. Press.



Trace 2 noses onto the paper side of the Heat N bond fusible web. (Or whatever fusible brand you prefer) Iron onto the back side of the orange fabric. Cut out all the carrot noses. Iron on carrot nose onto the snowman block using the quilt on the front cover for placement. Applique stitch using orange or brown thread around the raw edges of the carrot design. I like to use a small buttonhole stitch.

We will wait until the quilt is completed and then quilted before we put on the snowman faces, which will use either buttons or yo-yos.
 
Tell your friends! Spread the word! Post the button on your blog!

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  


If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! 

I'm now off to my sewing room to do some sewing, I'm working on some new applique ideas, working on some patterns and also making baby blankets in between it all.

Have a wonderful day,
Cindy and Josephine

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

February's Snowmen!

 

 

Happy February! It's first false spring here in Minnesota. It's unseasonably warm here this week. It's supposed to hit 50's today. I should take Josephine for a walk, but she had a bath the other day and she's looking so nice that I hate to chance her rolling in something disgusting at the park. It's crazy warm, I've even cracked open a couple of windows to air the house out. I suddenly have spring fever and it's too soon! Toooooo sooooooo....... although it's been glorious to finally see the sunshine and blue skies. We had several days of gloom and fog the previous week.

With my spring fever comes the urge to clean and straighten up my sewing room. It's very much needed. I'm sure I will be distracted by the pretty things I will find as I clean, lol! 

Now onto this year’s block of the month, it’s sorta a mystery and I am encouraging everyone to use fabric from their stash. You will want the same background color for the quilt to tie it all together but, other than that the sky’s the limit. So, to begin with go dig thru your fabric stash and look for the following.


Fabric Requirements
Blue background fabric- 2 yards
white fabric (snowman faces) - 1/2 yard
green (trees) - 3/4 yard
pieced border - red- 3/4-yard, pink - 1/2-yard, light green- 1/2-yard, light blue- 3/4-yard
orange- snowman noses
scrappy hats- 10 plus fat quarters or a combination of fat quarters and fat eights in a variety of colors such as red, blue, yellow, pink, green, purple. 

Now let's get stitching!

Snowman Hat Rectangle- Sew a background 2” square onto the top two corners right sides together corner to corner. Trim excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam. Press.







Trace 2 noses onto the paper side of the Heat N bond fusible web. (Or whatever fusible brand you prefer) Iron onto the back side of the orange fabric. Cut out all the carrot noses. Iron on carrot nose onto the snowman block using the quilt on the front cover for placement. Applique stitch using orange or brown thread around the raw edges of the carrot design. I like to use a small buttonhole stitch.

We will wait until the quilt is completed and then quilted before we put on the snowman faces, which will use either buttons or yo-yos.
 
Tell your friends! Spread the word! Post the button on your blog!

 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  


If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! 

Have a wonderful day,
Cindy and Josephine

Friday, January 26, 2024

Llama Love

 


We've had some really cold days here in Minnesota, but I guess it's typical weather for us. I love warming the house up with the smells of fresh baked goods! I've been craving Tri-level Brownies. My absolute favorite brownie recipe! I've been making these since 1983 when I first was given a Better Homes and Gardens Cookie book by my grandparents. This is a wonderful recipe and I bet you might have the ingredients on hand. I tell myself these are healthy since there's eggs and oatmeal in them, lol! I'll do anything to justify having a treat!



I thought it would be a great time of year to revisit one of my favorite designs and the story that inspired me to draw it up. I have a niece who is in love with llamas, so I certainly had her in mind when I drew this design up. My dad- way back in the day worked for the Llama Registry in Minnesota after he retired. He loved it, he also worked with my sister there. Another reason why he loved working at the registry! I thought of the sweet memories and stories he'd share when I stitched this up. It's a fun design to make. I was able to get it done in an afternoon. I made my llama's white and cream, but you can have fun and make yours any color combo! There are so many different types and colorings for llamas. 
Something I wanted to share that is a little different then I normally do is, instead of sewing with brown or black thread. I used a cream/tan variegated cotton thread for a softer edge on the design. I really like how it turned out.



I hope that you have fun with this pattern. I sure had fun making it. I have PDF patterns available in my Etsy shop and also on the Quilt Doodle website.  It is a great project to work on for Valentine's Day. Well, I hope that you enjoy the recipe!

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Cindy & Josephine

My clearance sale is still going on in my etsy shop under the clearance tab, check it out! 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Valentine's Projects

 


Looking for a cute project for Valentine's Day? I bet you even have fabric in your stash that you can use to make some cute Valentine projects! 
These are quick and easy mug rugs that
will be fun to give to your family and friends!



Don't forget to check out my Sale/Clearance tab in my Etsy shop, I've got some great deals posted! 

Happy quilting!
Cindy and Josephine

Monday, January 1, 2024

Welcome January

 

It’s 2024 and hubby and I stayed up and watched the ball drop. For me it’s officially the new year when the ball drops in New York City and I hear Frank Sinatra singing ‘New York, New York’. The fireworks in our neighborhood at midnight are just a bonus! It’s always fun to watch the fireworks display at Buck Hill every year from our own front yard…. oh!! and it finally snowed here in Minnesota! We woke up to a snow-covered yard Sunday morning, it was very pretty. I have also awakened this morning to my New Year's cold. It seems as soon as the holidays are over, I relax and come down with my annual holiday cold. I was planning on going over to visit baby girl but I'm rethinking it, I don't want to get little munchkin sick. I may be spending the day wrapped up in a quilt with a movie.

Now onto this year’s block of the month, it’s sorta a mystery and I am encouraging everyone to use fabric from their stash. You will want the same background color for the quilt to tie it all together but, other than that the sky’s the limit. So to begin with go dig thru your fabric stash and look for the following.


Fabric Requirements
Blue background fabric- 2 yards
white fabric (snowman faces) - 1/2 yard
green (trees) - 3/4 yard
pieced border - red- 3/4-yard, pink - 1/2-yard, light green- 1/2-yard, light blue- 3/4-yard
orange- snowman noses
scrappy hats- 10 plus fat quarters or a combination of fat quarters and fat eights in a variety of colors such as red, blue, yellow, pink, green, purple. 

Now let's get stitching!

Snowman Hat Rectangle- Sew a background 2” square onto the top two corners right sides together corner to corner. Trim excess fabric leaving a ¼” seam. Press.




Trace 2 noses onto the paper side of the Heat N bond fusible web. (Or whatever fusible brand you prefer) Iron onto the back side of the orange fabric. Cut out all the carrot noses. Iron on carrot nose onto the snowman block using the quilt on the front cover for placement. Applique stitch using orange or brown thread around the raw edges of the carrot design. I like to use a small buttonhole stitch.

We will wait until the quilt is completed and then quilted before we put on the snowman faces, which will use either buttons or yo-yos.
 
Tell your friends! Spread the word! Post the button on your blog!


 Each month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  


If you don't have a printer, you can purchase a PRINTED copy of the monthly patterns.

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! Make sure to post your blocks so far! This month I am having a giveaway for some fabric from my Birds and Bees fabric line. Check out Instagram and Facebook for the details! Help spread the word about this year's BOM for a chance to win this lovely fabric bundle from Marcus Fabrics. Post about it on your blog, share on instagram or Facebook, the BOM icon can be found on my sidebar, make sure to link it to my blog or website for a chance to win this beautiful fabric.



 
Happy New Year,
Cindy and Josephine