Fun Things to Consider

A KEEP BUSY LIST

During this time of isolation it is good to occupy our minds with some mystery quilts and a few free patterns maybe.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been taking notes of some of the interesting places on the web that I have landed on and I thought I would share with everyone 😀.

I'm looking forward to starting a couple of these and I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Let me know what you think .... are you going to tag along?

Have fun!

Melissa's Mystery Quilt-Along
Three Color Mystery
Starts March 30th
Melissa's Mystery Quilt-Along

Lisa Bongean/Primitive Gatherings
Free Patterns and Tutorials
https://lisabongean.com/free-quilting-patterns/

Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville
Mystery-Medallion Style
Starts March 30th
Unity Quilt Along

Grand Country Quilters
Stay at Home Stitch Along Mystery Quilt - 63” x 81”
Fabric requirements (fat quarters) and cutting instructions were posted March 28th
Another clue next Saturday
Grand Country Quilters

Quilted Twins
Amazing selection of free scrappy patterns (be sure to scroll down)
Quilted Twins
also
Quilted Twins Mystery Quilt
First clue was March 28th
Not applique or a sampler

Lynette Anderson
Free Patterns
Wool, embroidery and traditional

'til next time,
QB

Scavenger Hunt

COMMUNITY TOGETHERNESS

A local gal posted on Facebook the other day about the organizing of a town-wide scavenger hunt that people could incorporate into their daily walks, bike rides or even their little driving excursions .... all of course ensuring that a safe distance was maintained between individuals.  The scavenger hunt is over a number of days, so there would be no need for clusters of people to go at the same time.

There has been an overwhelming response from the community and many households have participated ..... sports jerseys hung in windows, flamingos on lawns, wreaths on doors, etc. etc. ..... People need to go around and find the items and match them up with the streets that they were found on.

Since I had put a quilt out on Worldwide Quilt Day on March 21st, it really wasn't a stretch for me to do the same for the scavenger hunt.  Just a minute ago we had a mom and her two little boys walk by, stop, and look at the quilt (from the street) and then mark it off on the list that they had printed out.

I LOVE this quilt .... it was a quilt along from 2016 by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings fame and it was called The Magic of Christmas.  This was the first quilt that I made using the starching method and the pieces are REALLY small in some of those blocks.  Blocks finished at 6" x 6".

Yes, you keen eyed quilters out there ..... I know .... it is still a flimsy 😁.... but I'm really stumped on how to machine quilt this little beauty.  You know how it is .... you are really super happy with how your quilt top turned out and you don't want to ruin it by choosing the wrong quilting design?  I will someday make a final decision and get it finished.

The instructions are no longer available for free on the Primitive Gatherings website but I'm sure you could contact them to see if the patterns are available for purchase.  You might not get a response right away as I had received an email yesterday advising that emails and answering phones may all be slowed down for a while.

I thought that this was the perfect quilt for the Scavenger Hunt as it matched the front door perfectly and I wanted to share in the community togetherness.

This is one way of how this small town is keeping people connected.  What other stories of community engagement have you heard about or are doing?  Share your stories .... maybe other communities can incorporate ideas for their own areas - rural and urban.

Thanks to Jen for putting this all together for everyone!

'til next time,

QB

Chocolate Bunnies!

New Pattern!

It seems to have taken a bit to get this all put together .... a few interruptions with everything that is going on and a bit of a sinus infection that knocked me around for a few days last week.  Not to mention income tax organization and preparation!  Even with the extension to filing dates it just feels right to get it done and move along.  Just trying to keep some semblance of routine with all that is going on around us.

Enough about that though .... I’m so excited to unveil my newest pattern .....

CHOCOLATE BUNNIES!

Last year I started to play around with these little bunnies so it was just a matter of waiting for the perfect fabric colors to come along to finalize the idea I had formed in my brain.  I can now see these little bunnies being used everywhere .... on wreaths, decorating little Easter bags, little swags ... and on and on.  They are so easy to make ... if you don’t like blanket stitch appliqué, do raw edge appliqué and if you don’t like that just glue them on!  Use wool instead of cotton!  So many ideas.

Anybody that knows me, knows that I am not an Easter decorating person.  I'm a Halloween gal through and through 😊.  Somehow this bunny thing took over and the colors of this collection, Regency Sussex, by Christopher Wilson-Tate for Moda, just clicked for me.

The little cotton bunnies in the photos were made a very long time ago .... every once in a while I will trip over the paper templates stuck between pages of a book .... at least I think that is where I saw it last 😕.  I look at those little arms and ears and I'm shocked to think that I actually had the patience back then to make one .... actually two .... of these little creatures.  Amazing!

The decorated wooden eggs were inherited from my step-mom and they fit nicely with the Chocolate Bunny decor.

PDF patterns are available so that you can purchase, download and start creating right away.  You can definitely make this using scraps that you have on hand .... at least 5"x5" squares are needed for the half square triangles.  Your bunnies can be made in whatever colors your heart desires .... even purple, pinks and blues!

The website has a very limited number of kits available.  The kit includes everything except the fusible web, glue, thread and batting - everything you will need is in the kit .... even those cute little tails.

The website also has a very limited number of the Regency Sussex charm packs on hand which gives you the option to choose your own background, bunnies, backing and border fabric ..... and tails of course 😀.

The little bunnies on a stick (dowel) are the cutest!  And those little tails 😉- yup, that sealed the deal for me ..... I LIKE TO DECORATE FOR EASTER!

Do you decorate for Easter?  Let me know what your favorite decorations are.

On a side note ..... I think I have the commenting option fixed on this blog!  You can comment now .... don't be shy .... say hello!

Here is the link to this week’s newsletter.

'til next time,

QB

Worldwide Quilting Day - March 21, 2020

FREE SHIPPING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

on all orders over $50.00

During this unprecedented and concerning time I know that many of us quilters are hunkering down and getting some of our UFOs to the finish line and placed into the stack of "soon to be quilted" pile.

I also know that some people (like me) need more of a distraction during trying times and working on a UFO just doesn't cut it.  A new intriguing project (and new fabric) is sometimes just what I need to kick my mind into creative mode and put my troubles off to the side and my mind into a different zone.

So far this week I have started three new patterns and will be pulling the fabric for those in the next few days and I have participated in a mystery quilt along on Instagram (#pickledpinkmysterydollquilt) by Betsy Chutchian.  I know .... there is pink in there .... I never use pink!  If you are on Instagram pop over and get the instructions .... I learned a couple of new techniques and that is always a good thing 😀!  If you are not on Instagram let me know and I can give you some direction.

There are so many options out there for us quilters right now ... a quick search on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, quilting blogs and lots and lots of websites offering quilt alongs of all kinds.  Quilters have lots of options for new projects and most of us now have some time to dedicate to our addictive lifestyle.

QuiltBitz is here for you if you need a shipment of fabric, a bit of inspiration, or some help with a project.  Let me know what you need!

Please stay busy and do what you enjoy.

'til next time,

QB

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

SALE!

BLACK AND GREY SELECTIONS

$13.28 PER YARD

(WORKS OUT TO $3.32 PER FAT QUARTER)

FROM MIDNIGHT MARCH 17 TO 11:59 PM MARCH 18 (CST)

TWO DAYS OF SAVINGS!

URBAN FARMHOUSE

BY LISA BONGEAN FROM PRIMITIVE GATHERINGS

LAYER CAKES AND YARDAGE AVAILABLE

 

STILETTO

BY BASIC GREY FOR MODA

YARDAGE AVAILABLE

STAY HEALTHY AND HAPPY QUILTING!

'TIL NEXT TIME,

QB

FRIDAY THE 13TH

SALE

On now until 8:00 a.m. CST March 14th.

13% off some of the most popular collections

$13.92/YARD

YARDAGE AND BUNDLES

THAT CALCULATES TO ONLY $3.48 A FAT QUARTER!

INDIGO GATHERINGS

by Lisa Bongean, Primitive Gatherings for Moda

BEST OF DAYS

by Janet Rae Nesbitt, One Sister for Henry Glass fabrics

LANCASTER

 by Jo Morton for Moda

REED'S LEGACY

by Jeanne Horton for Windham fabrics

WINTER WONDERLAND

by Anni Downs for Henry Glass fabrics

Happy shopping and quilting!

(REMEMBER:  arrangements can be made for FREE delivery to Brandon or pickup at the Studio)

'til next time,

QB

Spring Dreams - FREE PATTERN

SPRING DREAMS - FREE PATTERN!

I'm very excited to share a free pattern with everyone today!

Quite a number of years ago I designed a few patterns for the Moda Bakeshop and this bright, beautiful quilt was one of them.  Over the years the Moda Bakeshop has had to drop some of the patterns to make room for all the new ones that they add.

I have been contacted by a few people that have seen this photo and were not able to find the pattern anymore . . . 

So here it is!

Click on SPRING DREAMS - FREE up at the top of this page and then click on the arrow in the upper right corner of the document to expand it into a printable PDF so that you can make it too.  Enjoy this beautiful free pattern.

Over the years I have received photos from all over the world from people who have made this bright quilt.  I love seeing these photos!  So if you do make this, or even just a table runner or smaller quilt, please send me a photo - I can't wait to see what fabrics and buttons you use 😀.

Have fun with it and keep dreaming of an early Spring!

'til next time,

QB

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Anna's Stars Update

Quilting Done ..... Binding is Next!

I have finally completed the machine quilting on the little Anna's Stars quilt and I'm pleasantly pleased with the results.

I have started watching machine quilting videos while I am quilting in the studio ..... my machine just happens to be facing towards the computer monitor and I can have the Youtube videos set to play and play and play.

So I was watching a few of these videos last week as I was meandering the body of the quilt and I thought that I should try and break out of my "always meandering" habit.  You know the one where you just can't put the effort into thinking about how to do something new and what would really fit into that space conversation that you have with yourself.  Plus it takes time to figure it all out and you could be done meandering in the time it takes you to plan and plot what to do.

But .... I did it!  I plotted .... I planned (just a little) .... AND I DID IT!!!! I broke away from the meandering 😁.

Not only did I break away from the meandering, as you can see in the above photo, I also stitched in the ditch (which I never do), I did little bow ties in the one border and I did wishbones in the outer border.  

BUT, and this is very important, I made sure that I used thread that blended really, really well on the front of the quilt and also on the back of the quilt so that everything looks fantastic .... at least to me!

So, let me be a lesson to everyone that is scared to branch out from the meander ---- you can DO IT!!!  I'm proud of myself for the moment 😆😆, at least until I have the next quilt under the needle and I'm faced with a whole new blank canvas to work on 😲.

'til next time,

QB

Oh, Deer, It’s Turkey Tuesday!

Deer and Turkeys

Doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is we can glance out the window and see all kinds of wildlife walking down the street.

The girls like to watch the goings on but never seem to get too excited.  They have seen this type of activity ever since they were babies .... so nothing new for them.

I may be seeing a bit more of this wildlife in the next week ... hubby is installing my new wall cabinets in the studio and I will be moving into the dining room for a few days.  Income tax, pattern writing and binding are all on my list of to-dos while I’m banned from the studio.

No sewing for me for a bit .... how about you gals .... what are you working on?  Income tax done 🥴?

‘Til next time,

Marlene