New BOM for 2012--Wooly Wishes!

With all the excitement of getting my new website, posting my new BOM was a bit delayed.  In celebration of the fantastic up-grade of Ewe's Quilting, we're having a sheep-themed BOM, filled with fanciful sheep, simple applique and corny sheep puns.

Here's Wooly Wishes.....

Last year's BOM was a lots of work piecing all those blocks and sashings, so this time around, we're taking it easy.  You probably have all the fabric you need to complete this quilt in your stash!  The blocks are only nine inches square, so it will probably take you longer to audition fabric than to actually put it together.

The first two blocks are already up.

Here's January's block, "Happy New Year to Ewe"......

For pattern and templates, click here!

Feel free to embellish and add your personal style!  Notice there is lots of room around each block for quilting--you can try an assortment of background fills you haven't had a chance to try for other quilts.

February's block is "Happy Valentine's Day to Ewe".....

For pattern and templates, click here!

The bowstring will need to be sewn in either by hand or machine.  I can see Nichole Webb's Bottoms Up Hearts quilted in the background--just love her work!

Hope you'll stay with us to finish this whimsical quilt!  Feel free to post your best sheep pun and I'll reward he winner with a plaid fat quarter!

So Exciting!!

My very first tutorial is making an appearance on Timeless Treasure's Blog, Sew Timeless!!  My sister-in-law is Monica Lee, a fabric designer for Timeless Treasures who creates charming fabrics like.....

Puppies!!

Comes in this lovely teal or orange

And cutie kitties with an orange or white background!

 Aren't they darling??  Then there are these.....

Flying kites

Love stripes!

Paradise for neighborhood kids!!

Feel very fortunate to have gotten a chance to make project using Monica's fabrics!  It's quick and easy, so please check it out and maybe even make your own!  

Commemorative Quilts

 Guess there are lots of reasons to make a quilt:  enamored with the fabric, the challenge of the pattern, celebrating a new baby or a "special" birthday or commemorating an event.  I've made my share of quilts for all of the previously mentioned reasons, but this post is going to focus on a few of the commemorative quilts I've made.

Made this quilt for a friend's special birthday.  Everyone at the party signed their name so she could wrap herself in their good wishes for years to come.

This technique also worked for a baby shower.....

And a close up of one of the blocks....

Now the little guy has a lasting keepsake of all those who came together to celebrate his coming into the world!

The latest commemorative quilt I made was for Love Apple Quilters 30th anniversary....

Thirty Years Stitching Together

Each heart is named after a particular aspect of the guild that makes it so special.  Both the appliques and the quilting are Love Apples.  Was thrilled to find the fabric in the borders--they look like teeny-tiny love apples, too! 

Commemorative Quilts are on Quilting Gallery this weekend!  You should stop by and vote for five of your favorites.  "Thirty Years Stitching Together" is one of the entries.

Serendipity!

It's no secret that I love the Ten Minute Table Runners!  I first found them at The Village Quilter and everyone I've gifted one seems to enjoy it.  Of course, I haven't had the time to make one for myself, but I have at least two waiting in the wings.  (The irony boggles the mind, doesn't it?  Can't pull off a ten minute project!)  Guess mine will be all the more special when they are done!

 
A dear friend enjoyed a recent trip to Hawaii and her birthday is this month, so I thought I'd make one for her.  Picked out some fabrics from my stash that would have a Hawaiian feel in her favorite colors.  Assembled the runner and looked for the perfect button embellishment.

The first choice was a pink button....

 

Sort of was lost on the fabric, but I liked the color.  Decided to keep looking.....

It looks okay, but wasn't exactly what I envisioned.  

Then the serendipity part of the project!  I accidentally dropped the buttons and they landed on each other!  I slid them into position and....

Lovely!!

 

And, the had the same number of holes that lined up perfectly!

Guess it seems I'm making a big deal out of buttons, but this event sort of drove home to me how the littlest thing can inspire!  I'm looking at the world in a whole new way:  seeing new color combinations, design opportunities and thinking a little bit outside the box.  Will keep you posted!