Made It: A Quilt for Mom

Well, blogging everyday hasn't been a thing, but I have a good reason for it... Last week I traveled to sunny St. George, UT to visit my sisters and my mom! It was such a wonderful trip!!! I missed out on the crazy blizzard here in North Dakota - don't worry, I didn't cry about it. lol. And my husband was absolutely amazing with the kids while I was away! I told him that they all seemed to do better without me. But he adamantly reassured me that they prefer having me home. ;) haha. 

We stayed at my sisters house, and I just love her family! Her kids are getting so big! (as is always the case when you don't see them often enough). I was also able to visit with some of our very good friends from when we lived in Iowa, as well as some of our best friends (that I served with while on my mission) and Neil got to know after we got married. My heart was so full!! I don't think anything beats being with the people you love! Although eating at my favorite restaurants and getting out and being able to hike around was also very refreshing and refueling for my soul!

I bought my tickets to fly out to Utah a few months ago, and in the meantime my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and moved in with my sister. When I realized that I would get to see her while I was there I knew I needed to make her a quilt!!! This was 2 weeks before I left... so from planning and designing what I would make, paper piecing 12 blocks, completing the quilt top, basting, quilting, and sewing on the binding, it was definitely a miracle that I was able to do all of that in such a short amount of time! (I attached the binding before I left and was going to sew it on the rest of the way while I was there. I got it half way finished on the flight out there, and then I didn't pick it up at all while I was there - so I brought it back home with me. duh! I did show her, but I didn't want to leave it unfinished.... now it is completely finished, so now I need to mail it out to her. good grief. lol. my husband just rolled his eyes at me when he saw it still in my bag.) 

Anyway, here it is...

I used my Taurus pattern. For the outside edges I pieced all the outer sections as single white pieces. It's hard to tell in the photo, but I have a darker and lighter grey that twists between the blocks going down the quilt.

When I think of my mom I instantly think of red, orange and yellow. Not my usual color palette, but I'm happy with how it turned out!

This was my first idea, but the more I looked at it, the less I liked it... though I do still actually like it a lot. I don't know if the border of the image shows up, but this design would have simply gone down the left third of the quilt (not right on the edge, but not centered).

Maybe I'll make it with this layout another day.

My mom started her chemo on Monday, so please keep her in your prayers if you will!

Expiring SOON!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!! Christmas definitely snuck up on me, but the past few days have been absolutely fabulous! I hope they have been for you as well!!

I have been bombarded with promotional emails over the last week, and I don't want to add to the overwhelming mass marketing going on right now, but I DO want to let you know that there are only a few days left to grab the Zodiac BOM pattern!!  

It is expiring on December 31st at midnight!

All of the patterns have been released and are now available! I also updated the Aquarius pattern a little, and I hope it goes together a little more smoothly. (I didn't get any complaints about it, but it didn't meet my own expectations, so hopefully this is better!)

What are others making?!

Be sure to join the Facebook group to see the amazing creations that everyone is making!

You can also check out all the hashtags on Instagram to see the blocks being shared on there as well!

#fbpZodiacBOM, #fbpAquarius, #fbpPisces, #fbpAries, #fbpTaurus, #fbpGemini, #fbpCancer,#fbpLeo, #fbpVirgo, #fbpLibra, #fbpScorpio, #fbpSagittarius, #fbpCapricorn

I am seriously so impressed!! Everyone is so creative and talented! and these quilts will be gorgeous!! And look close! Because these aren't just being made into quilts! I love the creativity!


Here's what I'm making!

I have been working on hand quilting my Aquarius mini quilt all year long! I've been working on it every Thursday night while I wait for my oldest at cub scouts. It's been a slow process, but I am ALMOST done! If I can I'm going to do whatever it takes to finish it before the year is over! I think I can make it! :)

I don't have a design wall, so I haven't been able to hang up all my blocks together. Instead, I've been using Photoshop to put all my blocks together. It's not perfect, but it's been a fun way to see the quilt grow. I'm ready to sew it all together.... except now I don't know if I want to add sashing. too many decisions.

I am also going to make this Gemini/Taurus quilt. I have all the templates printed and cut out, and my fabric assigned. So hopefully this will be a quick finish this year, well, next year. 

I'm going to use fabrics by 1canoe2.  I can't wait to get this pieced together!

AND.... I have a long list of quilts that I want to make with these patterns! There are just so many possibilities! I love it!


What's still to come!

Hosting this block of the month has been a huge learning curve for me, and unfortunately due to unexpected life events, some of the things I had hoped to do didn't happen. BUT that doesn't mean they won't happen. I still have them on my to-do list, and I have a few other things I'm adding as well!

A quick overview of what you get:

• 12 patterns in 3 sizes each (9 inch, 12 inch, and 18 inch finished block sizes)
• lots of coloring pages
• cutting templates
• assembly instructions
• fabric requirements
• access to a video tutorial that includes all of my tips and tricks for using cutting template
• coming soon: video tutorial for my techniques and tips for paper piecing

What I'm adding:

• sashing ideas, sashing ideas, and more awesome sashing ideas!

Originally I was going to only include some very basic sashing ideas. But then I started writing up the instructions for them, and came up with some pretty awesome design ideas! For everyone who purchases the Zodiac BOM pattern before the end of the year, will receive ALL of the new sashing instructions and patterns. They will really be a great way to expand the pattern possibilities!! Just check these ones out!

 Here are two examples of sashing ideas that will work with the Aquarius pattern! (as well as a few of the other blocks). I whited out the actual block so you can see exactly where the sashing is! On the left, the design is one sashing thick, while the design on the right is two sashing thick (and a different pattern). It's a fun way to expand the block design as well as grow the size of your quilt!

 Here's the Aries block with the sashing. This one shows the sashing two thick between the blocks. This creates an amazing weave pattern!

I'll be creating sashing patterns like this for all of the blocks! And these will be sent out for free to everyone who purchases the Zodiac pattern by Saturday night!

What happens on January 1st?!?

On January 1st, each of the 12 Zodiac patterns will be sold as individual patterns. That means you will be able to purchase only 1 pattern, or any combination of patterns, without having to get all of the patterns. (Each pattern will still include all 3 sizes).

Each individual pattern will still include:

• The individual pattern in 3 sizes (9 inch, 12 inch, and 18 inch finished block sizes)
• coloring pages
• cutting templates
• assembly instructions
• fabric requirements for the individual block
• access to a video tutorial that includes all of my tips and tricks for using cutting template*
• coming soon: video tutorial for my techniques and tips for paper piecing*

*videos will become public whether you purchase the pattern or not.

 What will be different:

• Patterns will be priced as individual patterns, not at the bundled price
• Sashing pattern swill be an inexpensive add on, you can pick and choose which ones you want. You'll even be able to use these as individual patterns independent of the Zodiac patterns!

Anyway, I just want to let you know of the changes! If you've been wanting to grab all of these patterns, now's the time to do so!!

And if you happened to fall behind with your blocks this year, don't fret!! There is no deadline. And I know that a few people are just starting now! So you're not alone if you want to start up again. I'm hoping to make at least a few more projects with them as well this year! So we can still quilt them together! And of course I'm always here if you have any questions!

As always, Happy Quilting! & Happy Creating!!

And I hope you have a happy and safe new year!!

Zodiac BOM: Libra Block

I totally forgot to share my Libra block on Thursday. If you follow me anywhere else on social media, or read my newsletter, then you've probably already seen it, but I want to share it here anyway. (Because I'm on a blogging role!) ;)

 Prints are by Sandi Henderson and solids are Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman. 

I love how this block turned out and I really love the design. Here it is with my other blocks.

Only 3 more blocks!!! I can't believe it! 

I kind of had a hard time coloring this one on repeat. While I enjoy playing with these, I think I was kind of in a creative rut when I made these. Here's what I came up with. Everyone in my family liked a different one best, so I'm sharing them all. 

 I was trying to go fall with this one... :/

 Then I gave it one more go and came up with this... this one I love! I want to snuggle in it right now!

Which one is your favorite???

I think this design is definitely one that I would have to plan out in grey scale first, and then add color. I really LOVE the repeat design, but it's definitely a little more tricky to get it just right. Value seems to play a strong roll in this one!

You can still purchase the Zodiac Block of the Month pattern! But only until the end of the year... Sometime in December I'll be expiring the pattern, and I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet... though I do know the patterns will still be available after that, but not in the bundle that they are in now (which is a real steal of a deal!) Anyway, just letting you know in case you wanted to snag it while it's available.

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!!!

Zodiac BOM: Virgo Block

Today I want to share with you the Virgo block from the Zodiac Block of the Month series I'm doing this year.

So far it's been AWESOME!!! I LOVE seeing what everyone makes! I've learned a lot through the process, and I'm tempted to do another BOM next year... though we'll see. If I do, I will definitely be doing it a little bit differently than I did this year. I'd love to hear your thoughts though... would you be interested in another BOM next year?

Anyway....

Virgo was last months block, and I LOVE it!! Unlike most of the previous blocks so far, this one has some really large sections - great for larger fussy cut designs. I was excited to use this flower/plaid print in this section. One of my first ever favorite fabrics! I've had this one in my stash since the beginning!

Here's a quick mandatory repeat mock-up! ;)

I had such a fun time playing around with this block!!! This is definitely my favorite design that I came up with. I could seriously spend hours playing with these coloring pages! So many possibilities!

Are you a fan of rainbow designs? Or are you totally sick of them?? I used to think they were just ok. But seeing the finished project with a perfect rainbow is way too awesome to say no to! ;)

If you haven't joined in yet, it's never too late!!! You can find the pattern in my shop!

If you haven't already, be sure to join the Zodiac BOM facebook group! There are a lot of beautiful blocks in there! It's fun to see what everyone is making!

If you're on Instagram, be sure to tag your blocks with #fbpZodiacBOM and #fbpVirgo (or whatever the name is of your pattern). :)

Zodiac BOM: Leo Block

I didn't even realize that I missed posting the last of the Zodiac BOM blocks! So over the next few weeks I'll be catching up on those that have been released already. :)

Leo was the block released in July.

 

As you can see, there are a lot of sections in this one, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how simple it was to put together! and you'd think there would be a lot of points to match up, but there aren't!!! This pattern will definitely be one to impress the neighbors with! They'll think you're a pro! (which you probably already are!!) ;)

Here is my block for my sampler quilt:

  

I had fun fussy cutting the center to create the butterfly! I'm happy with how it turned out! And I absolutely LOVE the henna garden! (I wish Sandi Henderson's recent line had come out earlier so I could have included it in my quilt!! Oh well. Hopefully I'll pick up some of the prints soon... )

 

Here's a little mock up I made with my block on repeat. If I were to make an entire quilt with this block, I'd definitely add more variety in color, but I like the effect of this.

Or how about these mock-ups I colored?

 

 I like the border design on this one. It'd be fun to play around some more with this. And as with all of the Zodiac BOM blocks, I've really been drawn towards this concept of the colors fading out towards the bottom. What do you think?

I love playing around with the design options on these! If you like to color designs like this, each pattern includes a number of coloring pages that you can print out and play around with! Including these 4x5 block repeat sizes! Definitely therapeutic. I need to do more of this! ;)

Here is my sampler blocks together including the Leo block:

Getting closer!!

Thanks for letting me share my block with you! If you'd like to purchase the Zodiac BOM pattern, you can find it in my shop!

Have a great weekend!!!