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). :)

Exploring Creativity: Color Combinations

This post is a part of the Exploring Creativity series. You can read all about it HERE. And HERE is the post sharing the pattern for this month, My First Alphabet.

 Last week I thought a lot about what phrases I wanted to make most with the My First Alphabet pattern. I shared some ideas on Instagram and in the Facebook group. Thanks for sharing your ideas too! I love them!<3 p="">

Today I want to share my fabric pull, and chat about what works and what doesn't so much in regards to fabric choices and this pattern. Because no one wants a ho-hum finished project, and trust me, I've had those before.

First I want to direct you to THIS POST. I wrote this as part of the Celestial Star Quilt Along I hosted back in 2014. The post is pretty detailed in the discussion of Color & Design, so I'm not going to cover all of that again here. If you want to see how I applied that information in designing my Celstial Star blocks, you can read about that HERE.  The posts are geared toward the Celestial Star pattern, but the information can be applied to any pattern or design concept.

If you don't want to read those, here's a quick summary:

• Hue is color. Value is the light or dark of that color. Contrast in hue and/or value helps to make your design POP! The higher the contrast, the more the design will stand out. The less contrast, the more the design will blend in with the background or surrounding elements.
• The easiest way to see the contrast between fabrics is to take a picture of them next to each other in black and white. If they look the same in the picture, then there isn't a lot of contrast, and when you use them next to each other in a design with high detail, or smaller pieces (like the My First Alphabet pattern) then it will be harder for your eye to read the words, or distinguish between the two prints in the final project.
• Whatever you decide to do, do it on purpose! There are no right or wrong answers! If you want a soft design, do it on purpose! If you want a design that POPs! do it on purpose! Both are correct if that's what you want! :)

These things are especially important if you want your word or message to be easily legible. You can see some fantastic examples of how people have done this in the Instagram hashtag #fbpMyFirstAlphabet, and there are even more examples if you scroll through #fbpPatterns!

Here are my two projects that I have decided to make:

The first one is one I saw an image of a few years ago. I wish I had the source so I could share it. If you know where it came from, will you share with me so I can share it with everyone? thanks!

Not the best mockup. But this way you'll be super impressed with the finished result. ;)

First line:     BELIEVE IN
Second line: YOURSELF

 But the BE and YOU are a different color, so it also says BE YOU. I love that! I love that in order to believe in yourself, you must be you! and only in being you can you truly believe in yourself!

I've been wanting to make this mini for quite a while now! But I just can't decide on which fabric to use for the rest of the words. I want to use this orange for the background and white for BE YOU. But I don't know about the rest. I was thinking this blue print, but I don't know that I want that on my wall.... I'm just not excited about it.

(The orange and blue prints are by Carolyn Friedlander.)

So then I pulled these prints, the blue for the background with a yellow for the rest of the phrase, still using white for BE YOU.

I wasn't sure which yellow to use, what do you think? My hubby gave me his input already, and I think he's right. But I'd still like to see what you think? ;)

I'm actually not sure I'm sold on the blue either... so, maybe I'll change directions entirely and use a low volume (value) print for the background and something bold for the letters. What would you do? I'm struggling! lol.

My second project is this quote by Thomas S Monson. (You can find his address here.)

I decided that I want to make this one really pretty! :) I am going to use the print on the bottom for the words, with white as the background. Then I'm going to border it with a bunch of appliqued flowers, and use the yellows as kind of a shadow border to separate the flowers from the letters since they are similar prints/colors. The top teal print will be the binding. I really love these colors and prints and think this will be gorgeous!! :)

All prints are Anna Maria Horner.

So now that I have my plan in place, next up is printing out the pattern pieces and cutting fabric!! and of course making it. 

I'll share some more tips next week! Until then, be sure to link up your finished projects below! They can be new or old projects!! You can link up blog posts, instagram posts, whatever! I'll pick a winner for the giveaway in my newsletter on September 30th. (You can find out all the details here.)

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Would you like to join in, but don't yet own the pattern? You can find it by clicking the button below.

Happy Quilting & Happy Creating!

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!!!         

Exploring in September: My First Alphabet!

 Are you ready???

 For the month of September, I will be exploring the My First Alphabet pattern, and I invite you to join me!!

Both the letters pattern AND the numbers pattern are marked down 15% OFF in my shop!

Sale ends Tuesday 6 September 2016 at midnight PST. 
Sale is over. Thanks everyone who shopped over the weekend!

Don't know what is going on??? You can read all about my Exploring Creativity event HERE. 

Also to let you know, I have updated the My First Alphabet pattern!!! FINALLY! and included new formatting for easier printing of multiples of the same letters. I have even updated the dreaded "S" pattern! It has far fewer sections and only 3 pieces to it! No more "swear word S"! Yes, I was paying attention to every comment about the dreaded "S". For those of you who have already been using the pattern, I KNOW you'll be happy for the update! ;) (See at the very end of this post for details on how to get your updated version of the pattern.) Seriously though, I can't wait for you to see the difference!!

Ps. I DID update the Numbers & Punctuation pattern too. So if you are sending in proof of purchases for the update, be sure to send both so I can pass them both along to you. :)

Have you already made something(s) with this pattern???

Link up blog posts or images in the linky at the end of this post. 

If you want to share on Instagram, use the Hashtag #fbpPatterns, #fbpMyFirstAlphabet, AND #fbpExploreCreativity. If you've already posted the picture, you MUST repost the image so it is fresh in your feed and in the hashtags.

You can also share in my Facebook group HERE.

At the end of the month I will pick one project to share in my newsletter! 

You must read the newsletter to find out if it's your project. If it is, contact me and you will receive a $10 credit to my shop AND a $25 credit to Llama Fabrics on Etsy! 

Disclaimer: Unused credit towards fabric does not carry over and must be used in one purchase. Shipping not included. Any unused amount will be forfeit and cannot be used at a later date.  If the prize isn't claimed by the time the next winner is announced the following month, prize is forfeit and can no longer be claimed.

To pick a winner, I will be choosing from the hashtags on Etsy (be sure to use all three so I don't miss your post!), the linky on my blog, and Facebook. I know some of you don't use Instagram or Facebook, so I want to make this available for everyone!

Do you want to join in the fun?!! Not signed up for my newsletter yet??? (remember, I will be announcing the winner to my "official Creative Explorers" in my newsletter only! So don't miss out!)

I'm really excited to get started with projects that have been on my to-do list for years! As well as explore new possibilities and new projects. And I especially can't wait to see what you make!!

If you have any questions, please let me know!

And just so it's clear, because I don't think I mentioned this previously. I won't be doing in depth tutorials or paper piecing tutorials for each of these patterns. Instead I will share tips or tricks that I come across during the month are specific to each individual pattern only. If you would like some tutorials on paper piecing, you can find some on my blog here:

• Paper piecing tutorial, Piecing the letters l, o, v, and e (using My ABC's pattern, but the techniques transfer well to this pattern too.) :http://fromblankpages.blogspot.com/2015/03/tutorial-paper-piecing-letters-l-o-v.html
• There are a lot of great tutorials on different topics that are a part of the Celestial Star QAL, but here is the tutorial specific to paper piecing: http://fromblankpages.blogspot.com/2014/07/celestial-star-qal-paper-piecing.html
• This tutorial is older and I don't necessarily use all of these techniques anymore, but maybe this will work better for you. http://fromblankpages.blogspot.com/2012/05/two-stars-squared-paper-piecing.html

Stay tuned for more blog posts. Until then,

Happy Quilting! and Happy Creating!!

Link up your projects below:

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Have you already purchase the pattern??? 

No need to purchase it again. Here's what you need to do to get the update, based on the purchase platform you purchased it from.

If you purchased the pattern on

• Craftsy: simply log in to your account and download the updated pattern.
• Fromblankpagespatterns.com: You should have received an email with a link to the updated pattern. If not, login to your account on my site and you can download the updated pattern.
• Etsy: Unfortunately Etsy doesn't update PDF's for past purchases, even when I update them. Contact me with your Etsy account name and email, and the date you purchased the pattern and I will email you the updated pattern. Don't know how to find when you purchased it??? Login to your account, hover over "you" in the top right corner, a drop down menu will appear. Click on "Purchases and Reviews". Scroll down until you find your purchase, and you can see the date of purchase there.
• Fromblankpages.bigcartel.com: My Bigcartel shop is no longer open. BUT I do have a record of all purchases on there. Contact me with your name and email and date of purchase I can look it up for you, and email you the updated pattern.

 I will not go searching for your purchase for you. If you don't remember where you purchased it from, look on Etsy and Craftsy first and if you can't find it, contact me. Do not contact me if you know you didn't purchase it. If you do not have proof of purchase I cannot and will not email you the pattern. (and as much as I LOVE to help you, please don't waste my time looking for something that isn't there - like a purchase that wasn't made. Thanks!! But if you did make it, then it's not a waste of time to help. just so that's clear.) ;)

Announcing a New Monthly Event: Exploring Creativity!

Hi!! Welcome to September!!

I am so excited to share with you a new monthly event that will begin this month! I've been scheming this up for quite a while now, and I'm excited that it's finally coming together! Before it officially begins, I want to tell you how it came about and share some details!

Over the course of this year I've thought a lot about what it is exactly that I love so much about quilting and running my business. As I set new goals, I want to make sure that I set ones that I am passionate about, will enjoy working towards, and ones that hopefully you will enjoy the end results of!

I found that some questions are more difficult to answer. What is it that I have to offer this amazing quilting community? What is it about me that is worth sharing with the world? I still don't understand how others would answer this question about me, but after long contemplation, it became clear to me. Two words that have been a part of my soul my entire life! 

 Exploring & Creativity

So here it is: my place and personality in this quilting community is a "Creative Explorer". And my purpose is to share that journey of exploration through the patterns that I create.

And thus my slogan was born:

As a partially self-taught quilter, I do not claim to be a perfect quilter or follow all the rules, and I'm ok with that. I am still learning, as we all are!


What I can do, however, is design. And create patterns that stimulate creativity and open the doors of exploration. Exploring color schemes, design possibilities, and more. Designs that can be made with as little or as much creativity as you want to give them! I feel blessed to have found this perfect niche where I can feel like I have something I can contribute to this ever growing community of talented men and women!


And this is how I found my goal, to use patterns as the vehicle of creative exploration, with the end result of finding my own unique style and create my most beautiful work! And my goal is to help you to do the same as you join me, if you will, through the on going process of learning new techniques and lessons that will carry over from one pattern to the next, that can be gained from one project to influence many projects to come! A journey where we together can discover our own unique styles, and build upon them to create our most beautiful work!

And thus an event was born!

Exploring Creativity
One pattern at a time
One month at a time!

Each month, at the beginning of the month, I will announce a pattern that I will be exploring during that month. Most of the time this will be a pattern that is currently available, which I will be improving and updating prior to the beginning of the month. If you have previously purchased the pattern, you will be able to receive the updated pattern. If you haven't purchased it yet, there will be a short flash sale when the pattern is announced. Then throughout the month, I will share my creative process with you, including tips, tricks, shortcuts, ideas, answer questions, share my progress and finished projects with you.

Throughout the month, I will invite you to join me and share your creative process as you explore the specified pattern, and share what you make, ask questions, share what you've learned, your frustrations, your successes, etc. I will be by your side as you create your most beautiful work through your own unique style!

By the end of the month, we'll hopefully both have learned something new, experienced success and fulfillment, and have at least one new beautiful project!

AND.... to make it extra fun! At the end of the month, I will share one of your finished projects in my newsletter. The creator of the chosen project will win a $10 store credit to my shop as well as a $25 credit to a specified fabric shop! Both sponsored by me, as my gift to you!

 
Here are a few more details for the giveaway:

• The finished project must contain the spotlight pattern for that month, but may also contain other patterns as well.
• The finished project can be old or new, but must be shared (or reshared) during the specified month.
• Project can be any size or shape or product. i.e., a bag, pillow, pouch, mug rug, pincushion, quilt, mini quilt, notebook cover, basket, etc. If you make it, and it's finished, it counts. 
• Projects can be made for swaps or other purposes. The end destination does not matter, only that you made it.
• Project must be linked up or shared some place where I can find it. If you blog about it, link your exact blog post to my blog linky (Which will be contained in the announcement post for that month). You can also share it on Instagram using the specified hashtag(s), or in my Facebook group. (All of this information will be found in the announcement post.)
• Store credit is only valid in specified shops.
• Winner will be announced in my newsletter only (so be sure to sign up, and tell your friends to sign up). 
• Winner must contact me to claim prize. If prize is not claimed before the winner for the following month is announced, prize is forfeit, and can no longer be claimed after that time.
• AND just to be clear. You can participate as much or as little as you want during the month. This is low commitment. To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is share a finished project during the month. If you made it a year ago, that's fine, just make sure you reshare it so it is a fresh image. :)

I realize that in the process of self-exploration, which is required when exploring our own creativity, the process can be intimidating and scary. That as we experiment and through trial and error, we might create ugly things, and we might create amazing things! But to say just one thing on this matter, I want to let you know that above all, I want my blog and this creative space to be a safe space! A place where we can share our beauties and our uglies. And we need not fear judgement or criticism. Where we can laugh and cry together over our successes and failures! I won't hesitate to share my mistakes, and I hope you won't be afraid to as well. Because through our mistakes we learn the greatest lessons of all!

And as I know many of you are like me, where quilting is our therapy, and well, therapy is not always pretty. So feel free to be open, and we'll get through this together!

 So enough rambling. Let's begin the party! I will announce this months pattern in a following post.

Updated to add:
I'll add a running list of each months patterns, so you can follow along.

• September 2016: My First Alphabet