Small projects... big satisfaction

Working on some smaller projects

The last few days I have been working on  some smaller projects... and enjoying every minute of it.

First Project:    February's block for the And Sew On BoM. 

This is a paper pieced Block of the Month group, by Kristy at  Quiet Play.  She designed the blocks, and  offers the pattern for free during  the month it is the featured pattern. (After that, it is available in her Craftsy shop. ) I love her designs and style .. and  everything she sews!  For more details, hop on over to her blog and her  Flickr group to see other beautiful blocks and projects. 

 Kristy's February block... a Seam Ripper. She  called it, "You Little Ripper." 

This is my "You Little Ripper" block for February:

February's And Sew On  block  -  'You Little Ripper'

Do you want to see my January and February blocks together?

My January and February blocks... And Sew On BoM
(I made my own ruler)

I can't wait to see the block for March!

Second project: ' Test sew' some patterns for Kristy,  Quiet Play , from  her  new Just My Type collection.   Her numbers and punctuation  pattern set will be in her Craftsy store soon!  The alphabet is available now.

The @ sign

Number 8

Third project:  Gather all the fabrics and hardware together,  to test out a new bag pattern by Samantha, of At Home With Mrs H !  I love the bags that she designs!  I hope to start sewing on it tomorrow...  After she has it available in her Etsy Shop, I can tell you about it in a blog.   

Oh, and I guess I should do a little lots of  cleaning and cooking for the weekend, too!

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linked up at  Can I  Get a Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

I *heart* paper piecing!

Paper Piecing Projects... I adore them!

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, but I think that we can celebrate love and PINK and red and hearts during all of February, don't you?

Before Valentine's Day is here, I wanted to share a really quick, but cute, mug rug that features a heart. I think I have been seeing hearts everywhere, since this month we have been encouraging ANYTHING  Hearts for our  February project in the  Across The Pond Sew Along!

My Simple Heart Mug Rug starts with a simple paper pieced heart pattern.
I found this Simple Heart pattern   , 4 in x 4 in ,    at 
Block of the Day  by Quilt -Pro  Systems.   
Link here:  Block of the Day   Simple Heart
(It is FREE     ,  and you can sign up to get emails of a new pattern every day.)

Simple Heart Mug Rug    

• I  wanted  to make the mug rug a little bigger, so I pieced 3 strips ( 2 in tall by 4 in wide) together , and sewed this patchwork to the heart block.   This makes a block of approximately  4 in tall by 7 1/2 in wide.
•  I added  Pellon FF 987 to the back of my heart block 
•  I cut the backing to be 1 inch bigger than my block, on all 4 sides. ( I really like to  make the binding come around from the back, in my little mug rugs.  It lays nice and flat.)    
• I layered my quilt sandwich 
• I machine quilted a few lines to echo the heart shape around the heart , and then vertically on the patchwork side, at 1/4 in apart 
• I ironed my binding to the front side and machine stitched it, using my walking foot

Simple Heart is paper pieced , with a touch of machine quilting

Ready to enjoy a cup of latte or hot chocolate in no time !

If you get time to make  anything  with a heart theme,   upload your picture to our
 Across The Pond Sew Along   Flickr  Group, with the other beautiful and fun projects already there!
I am so inspired by your talents and creativity!
This group is supportive and relaxed... even if you can only make something every once in a while, join us!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to:

•   Sew Cute Tuesday  @ Better Off Thread
•  Across The Pond Sew Along @                                                    http://www.flickr.com/groups/2154636@N22/

I *heart* Hearts

More Hearts for Across The Pond Sew Along

I just love  pulling  out all the pink and red fabrics and having some fun with them in Februrary!

I am loving the Heart theme for our Across The Pond Sew Along this month.
Amy,  of  eamylove@  Amy Made That! launched February's theme:  hearts.

Amy made this Cupid's Arrow table runner , a modified herringbone pattern

There are a lot of ways to include "hearts" into a project... Check out a a few more ideas with me.....

Amanda,  The Patchsmith, has designed a Valentine Coaster, and offers it  to everyone as a free pattern!  Isn't she a love!!

The Valentine Coaster    by Amanda,  The Patchsmith  

I saw how cute these were, and whipped up a coaster with my fabrics. This is a fast and easy pattern, and it showed me exactly how to sew up this smaller patchwork for my background.

The Valentine Coaster  by Susie of Susie's Sunroom

I ran across another free pattern for making a Fabric Heart Bookmark  at Sew Many Ways.

Fabric Heart Bookmark 

I found this delightful  tutorial pattern for a Fabric Heart Bookmark at Sew Many Ways.  

I have been adding fabric with hearts to a regular pattern, so it can be featured in February , and still used year- long. 
I  made the Triple Zip Pouch in the Triple Zip-Along, and added the applique heart on the front.  
And recently, I  made a Cathedral Window Pincushion, and used a pink fabric, with hearts , and a black fabric with red and pink "love" words.

The Triple Zip Pouch  and  Cathedral Window pincushion

Wait a minute.... what is that up there on the far right???

Meet Valentine!!

It was easy to make a bird pincushion fit the theme by using  some heart  fabrics!   

See the machine-sewn heart stitches around the wings....

So grab something that you like to make,   and put in some hearts fabrics, and send your picture to me or our Across The Pond Sew Along group to share with everyone!!

Oh yeah,  she's going to fit right in with  the rest of the girls!!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up to:        Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways
                             Sew Cute Tuesday @ Better Off Thread