Peppermints in July

Getting ready for the  Christmas Holidays

I recently tested a pattern for a delightful Christmas / winter holidays quilt.  And I was so happy that I got to quilt and finish it before July. 

Look at what I have all ready for  the Christmas season! 

Peppermints  #106     Pattern by Summercrafter   Susie's Sunroom

 Peppermints Quilt    design by Elaine  Perez   Summercrafter  (pattern here)

 Quilt Details:      
          Size:  60 "  x 76 "
         Block size:  16 " x 16 "

          Fabrics:   Gingerbread men , houses , winter birds, snowflakes,  and presents fabric from my stash

                            Cream tone on tone background fabric 
        Batting:   Warm and Natural
       Quilting:   Aurifil 50 weight thread, cream

Peppermints Quilt   by Susie's Sunroom

 I chose some warm  and rich " Gingerbread " toned  fabrics for my version of the quilt. 

Elaine , and  Debbie S, another pattern tester, used colorways of red and aqua and white for their Peppermint quilts.

Quilt by Debbie S.
Photo courtesy of Summercrafter blog

Elaine's Peppermint Quilt
photo courtesy of Summercrafter blog

Elaine's pattern is easy to follow with her directions and detailed diagrams.  It was fun fun fun to make!   You can get the pattern as a pdf file, or a paper pattern!   I  didn't want to stop making the blocks, once I started! I ended up making  4 extra  blocks, and a label  for the back of the quilt!

The back side    

Elaine's block inspiration:

A wrapped peppermint candy

Can you see the wrappers on each end of a  candy block?
There are 12 different quilt blocks !

I really love the star block!

I quilted "in the ditch"  around  each piece of candy.  And then I got adventurous, and used the Zig- Zag decorative stitch on my Topaz 30 sewing machine, in the largest size.  I outlined each block (on the front side.)    You can see the details on the back of the quilt, below.... it gives the quilt a nice texture!

Zig -Zagging around 

Add caption

And now, some more  eye "candy" .....

Gingerbread fabrics in the blocks

I used Gingerbread houses fabric for the border

The Peppermint candy block

                                

"Yep, this passes the softness test!" 

Be sure to go on over to the Summercrafter pattern store to see her other patterns! They are all  really so cute!!

This has put me in the mood to make more Christmas projects early.  Have you started any holiday projects  yet?

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:   Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

"This is a good chin rest, Mom ! " 

Farming

Farm Girl Vintage Blocks

Bee in My Bonnet Sew Along

Well.... I couldn't resist joining in with everyone sewing these ADORABLE   Farm Girl Vintage blocks!!     { My book  came from the  Fat Quarter Shop.  Thanks, Amy !!}

In reality, I was hooked early, when I saw pictures of the hen and that barn block...  Then, when  I actually got my  real book, I saw that I wanted to make many , many projects in the book.   

The Farm Girl Sampler Quilt

Sew, this summer I will be making these 6 inch blocks,  whenever I can.  I am jumping in late with the  Farm Girl Vintage  Sew Along , but it will be fun to "catch up" with the blocks, with no real deadline pressures.

Amanda, The Patchsmith, also began making the FGV  6 inch blocks.  Have you seen her "Block A Day" 2015 collection yet?    I am in love with her fabrics and scraps and how she combines them!  

While we are talking about beautiful fabric combinations.... Amy,  at  Amy Made That, has her own FGV book, too,  so I am sure we will be seeing her FGV blocks on her blog soon!      When I get  slowed down , I look at their blocks and projects,  get inspired and energized,  and can't help but go find some fabric for the next block I need to work on!

My Farm Girl Sampler Quilt -
Fabrics to be used-   various pieces from my fabric stash and scrap piles-
    
     Ginghams
     Happy Go Lucky    Bonnie and Camille   Moda
     Aunt Grace Classics    Judie Rothermel  
      Aunt Grace Christmas  Judie Rothermel  
     Hannah Bella   by Robyn Pandolph  SSI
     DS Quilts Collections    Denyse Schmidt
     Lazy Daisy Baskets Small    Darlene Zimmerman  Robert Kaufman
     Paula Barnes  Marcus Fabrics
      Mirabelle  Fig Tree & Co.    Moda    charm pack
     ***   anything that reminds me of 1930's fabrics, small flowery prints, or  make- me- happy prints!   ( I am not excluding anything that makes me smile!)  And I am "finding" charm packs I have hoarded  lovingly stored away!



First Farm Girl Vintage Block:     Crops     page 23   (size- 6 1/2 " )

Crops Block  page 23    Susie's Sunroom   #CropBlock

This is a fast and fun block!  I had a few scraps leftover....

So I decided to make various little blocks with the  leftovers.

The  second mini 1 1/4 " block didn't turn out to be even.  I'll save it , in case I can use it later.  Maybe I can make a mini quilt from the leftovers.  

Crops Block  and some leftovers  ( a 4 " square and a 1 1/4+ " square)

Second FGV Block:   Baby Chick Block     (page 10)    ( size 6 1/2 ")

Baby Chick Block     Page 10    Susie's Sunroom    #BabyChickBlock

Another delightful block to make!  The hand embroidery  was relaxing.




Linking up at:    

I'm off to my sewing room!

Tweet! Tweet !

It's Little Birdies.... not Social Media!

I have been "twittering around" lately.... with paper pieced bird patterns, that is!!

Want to see the blocks?

Bird Block 1:  Coloured Finch     design - from  issue 5  (Ap-June 2015 ) Paper Pieciing 1/4 " 
                                                     digital magazine  by  QAD Publishing  { here}

Coloured Finch      made by Susie's Sunroom

Block info:      Coloured Finch   QAD Publishing

Size:   10 1/2 "  x 10 1/2  " unfinished

Fabrics:       Summersville Spring   Charm Pack by Moda-   scraps

                   Art Gallery Cherie Telegrammes Nuage -   background

I wanted to make this little chubby bird scrappy, and the leftovers from my
Spring Petals Table Topper { Summersville Spring} ( see here  ) were perfect !  

I plan to feature this Finch on the front of a tote bag, using  Brussels Washer Linen Yarn Tied Black.  (see below)

Bird Block 2:     Geometric Bird   Paper Pieced  by Kristy  of Quiet Play   { here }

Geometric Bird        made by Susie's Sunroom

Block info:    Geometric Bird    by  Quiet Play
Size:     121/2 "  x 12 1/2 "  unfinished
Fabrics:    various stash turquoise fabrics,  including Mixmasters Dot to Dot 

I plan  to add a sash border,and make a pretty  pillow with the little  geometric bird.

You'll want to hop on over to both pattern shops to see all of the patterns these talented designers have made!  I could  get " lost "  in both of them for a year!!

Quilt Art Designs
Quiet Play

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linked up at:   Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!  @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  and
                       Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs    and
                          Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabric Studios

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Watercolor Sea Horses

Summer Sea Horses

A few months ago, I had  fun testing out some new  quilt patterns that were designed by my friend, Elaine, of Summercrafter blog.

The first quilt I'd like to share with you is a delightful little quilt with sea horses!  This is a perfect project for summer. The quilt is made by  piecing using Half Square Triangles and corner units.  

Quilt Pattern:    Watercolor Sea Horses        by    Summercrafter

                         -pdf file  ( immediate download after payment)  HERE

Watercolor Sea Horses quilt pattern 

My Watercolor Sea Horses Quilt:

Watercolor Sea Horses     by Susie's Sunroom

Quilt Dimensions:     48" x 54"

Fabrics:   Spring House   by Moda  Stephanie Ryan
           I used a charm pack and some yardage 
              Michael Miller  Fairy Frost    for the backing
Batting:   Warm and Natural

Thread:   Aurifil  50 weight for piecing together - white
              Aurifil  50  weight for quilting top - Color Me Happy  light green 3320


This is the  finished flimsy quilt top .   Can you see all of the little blocks in this picture?

The flimsy top piece

I love the rows of waves on the top and the bottom of the quilt!  
Elaine's pattern is very detailed, with excellent graphics and directions. 

Quilting details: 
-  variegated light green ( from the Color Me Happy collection)  Aurifil thread for the quilt top.
First, I quilted around each seahorse figure. Then, I  decided to quilt "Curvy Organic Lines" ,  to give the illusion of water currents and movement.
   

The quilting thread is light in this section of the quilt.  You can see a hint of green near the bottom edge of the picture

I kept the width of the up and down pathway at  about 1 1/2 inches.  

Painters tape and pins help mark off the 1 1/2"  wide vertical columns
 for quilting the organic curvy lines 

 The sea horses seem to be floating up and down in the water, don't they?   Elaine told me that the quilting reminded her of "sea weed" !

The Back:

I pieced together some of the leftover strips , to insert in the middle of the yellow and white Fairy Frost fabric .  And then made a little label.   

The pieced backing

                                                     

This little sea horse quilt is staying in my family!  
Note to self:    This would make an awesome baby quilt.

By the way..... Summercrafter has 3 new quilt patterns in her "My Shop".   They are all  on sale now!

*** click on  “MY SHOP” on the beach, in the upper right margin and it will take you there. Use the code “FINALLY” and get 10% off! ***

I'm off to my sewing room!

PS

My husband had this suggestion-   " Your quilt  back looks like a raft floating in a big pool."

" You need to have a lady in a bathing suit , with a big hat , laying on the raft!"

Linking up at:   Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts   and
                       Sew  Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways   and
                         Fabric Frenzy Friday @  Fort Worth Fabric Studio  and
                        Can I Get a Whoop Whoop @  Confessions of a Fabric Addict