Purrfect fun!

Paper Piecing fun!

Some of you may recall that our cat , Whiskers, is my main only helper and chief inspector...

Whiskers "on the job" 

Inspecting the bag handle

Now, meet my latest project obsession....

Silhouette Cat  #1 block     design by Janeen of Quilt Art Designs   {click here}
~ a 10 inch finished block

Janeen , of Quilt Art Designs, has created some amazing paper pieced cat silhouette blocks that  perfectly capture so many kitty mannerisms.   

What's the big deal, you may be asking? 

 Well look....

Silhouette  Cats  @ Quilt Art Designs

I found my Cat #1 pattern in the latest version of-

          QAD   ' Paper Piecing 1/4 "  ' digital magazine issue 4 (Jan - Mar 2015).   

 The other 11 patterns  are in her Craftsy shop.


( Have you  noticed that I added a little  triangle of white fur on the cat's chest?  
Just have to make her look like Whiskers!)  Stay tuned to see what I make with this ( or will it be "these" ) block (s).

"That doesn't look anything like me!"

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:       Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs  and
                            Can I Get A Whoop Whoop @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Christmas Blocks Part 4

A Stocking Block

Remember where I left off ?

Paper Pieced Christmas Blocks-  
              by Janeen at  Quilt Art Designs 
            ~ Christmas Hat and Candy Cane in " Paper Piecing 1/4 "  " digital magazine

Now , for the next block.....
                                                         the Christmas Stocking {here}

Christmas Stocking-    with  minky -like dimpled fabric

It  's only 6 inches square, but so cute with the minky fabric trimming!

I have four blocks so far... to make into a table runner or table topper.  (For next year, most likely !!)

Four Christmas Patterns  ~ designs by Quilt Art Designs              made by Susie's Sunroom

I hope to make one more....  hmmmm.....
                                      will it have any minky in it??....

(I should be baking Christmas cookies , instead of sewing!!)

I'm off to my sewing room!

Christmas Blocks Part 3

Making a  Christmas Table Runner

The clock is ticking away towards Christmas Day.... 

Is its meter really picking up speed, or is it just my imagination....

 I left off here earlier this week:

Santa Hat    and Candy Cane   paper pieced blocks 

Blocks:      Santa Hat    and      Candy Cane  paper pieced blocks

Christmas Paper pieced patterns - designs by Janeen  at  Quilt Art Designs

       There are oodles of Seasonal patterns found~

                           in  ' Paper Piecing 1/4 " '  digital magazine  {click here}  issue 3

          ( Issue 3 has fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas  and winter patterns)

New block:  Christmas  Bell   {click here}

Bell pattern           design by Janeen  Quilt Art Designs    

The three blocks so far:

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

Stay tuned for more blocks....  I am madly rushing around to  'finish things' ... so I can sew this evening!!   There's s a rumor going around  that some Minkie  may be used again....

Anybody else feeling hurried?

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:   Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict   and
                         Fabric Frenzy Friday @  Fort Worth Fabric Studio      and
                        TGIFF  @ Things I Make  and
                        Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Christmas Candy Cane

Christmas Block
                                                               

Every time I find a little bit of time, I try to squeeze in some time to make something new for the holiday.  
Are you looking for a quick project, too?
                                                     

Candy Cane pattern
from  Paper Piecing 1/4" digital magazine

This little  paper pieced block measures 6 inches, and is quick and easy to make.

Candy Cane block      design by Janeen at Quilt Art Designs
from the Paper Piecing 1/4" digital magazine  issue 3

I am thinking of making a table runner ... adding the Santa Hat and  then picking out another Christmas block from Quilt Art Designs ( to be determined yet!)

Santa Hat   

Quilt Art Designs  blog  currently has  a free  daily Christmas pattern---one per day, that is free for the day it is released!   After their release, then the patterns  are available in her Craftsy shop.  

Check out the stocking pattern ....  I am thinking of making that one to add to this project...

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:   Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Pattern provided by QAD Publishing

Christmas Candle

Paper Pieced Christmas Candle

I had fun starting to make a few Christmas decorations. The Across The Pond Sew Along "girls"  have found some really cut projects to share with you, starting December 1 !
(The Patchsmith will be launching a new FREE pattern, too!!

I wanted to make this Christmas Candle block the moment I saw it!    It is paper pieced.
Christmas Candle pattern ~
                    by Janeen,  from Quilt Art Designs' paper piecing magazine

" Paper Piecing 1/4"   Digital Magazine "

I knew that I wanted to  be very organized before I began sewing the candle.  There are a lot of pieces in the pattern.
After I chose my red and gold fabrics, I got out my colored pencils,  and assigned  pencil colors to each fabric.  Labeling fabrics and coloring the pieces can really minimize my  "human operator" errors !

Work in progress..... Christmas Candle   design by Quilt Art Designs

I tried different background fabrics.... and decided to use this black and white geometric.
I was hoping it would give a feeling like the candle was sitting in front of a church stained glass window...
My hubby suggested adding a candle flame to it.  I found some woven gold  fabric and fused it on.  (ironing with a cooler iron and  a silicon sheet)

Christmas Candle block  by Quilt Art Designs  

The unfinished block is 6 1/4 inches x 6 1/4 inches.  This is a great sized block for making tea towels or pot holders or mug rugs.   I made mine into a mini wallhanging.

Christmas Candle      made by Susie's Sunroom

The green sash ( 1 1/2 " wide ) , and black binding gives it a "Christmas Eve at church" feel...

There are more fall holiday patterns in  this Paper Piecing 1/4" Digital Magazine.  Go on over to Janeen's Quilt Art Designs blog  to see more  patterns!

I'm off to my sewing room!

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

Fall Leaf Tea Towel

Fall Leaf Paper Piecing

I am really excited to tell you some bloggy news ...  
                                        Susie's Sunroom has a advertiser!

I am pleased to introduce : 


  Paper Piecing 1/4"  Digital Magazine     

Paper Piecing 1/4" is a digital magazine, filled with  patterns, and more! 
 You can find  "  articles about creative artists with modern and innovative ideas for you to try .  There will be  paper piecing blocks for those new to paper piecing as well as those looking for something of a challenge. "

     

Click here to go to the Paper Piecing 1/4" magazine

Janeen,  a talented artist and paper piece pattern designer,   will be providing me with some of her awesome paper pieced patterns , from  her digital magazine !
And I will be sharing projects and ideas with you! 

Since the  patterns are digital... you know what that means?!   Yep .... instant download gratification when the mood hits you to make a pattern !      (You'll want to go on over to  Paper Piecing 1/4"  magazine  and Quilt Art Designs  blog to see all of the paper piecing patterns there!!) 


Now that brings me to a fun project that I made in an evening...                                

Falling leaves are drifting around everywhere. I love watching them drift off of the trees , while I sew.
When  I saw this   6 inch Leaf paper pieced  pattern , I knew that I wanted to make a block immediately!

Leaf 6 "   out Quilt Art Designs  Paper Piecing 1/4 " digital magazine  Issue 3

I went to my modest little fabric stash and dug out some fall colored fabrics.  
I decided to choose some ' more  traditional fabrics" , and even use a homespun fabric for the background.    I wanted to see what  "mixing it up" a bit would look like  ...a modern pattern design made with traditional fabrics!

Leaf 6 "   pattern from issue 3  Paper Piecing 1/4"

This pattern would be perfect for anyone new to paper piecing! 

I liked how the leaf block turned out, and decided to make it into a tea towel .  I  found my muslin fabric, and used my "go to"  tea towel  pattern.  (Remember my appliqued apple towel?)

My leaf towel in the kitchen

In my powder room

I really like mixing modern and traditional ...  and sometimes  throwing in some primitive.
How about you?  Do you ever "mix it up"  ??

I'm off to my sewing room!

I am linking up at:    Paper Piecing Party @ Quilt Art Designs  and
                               Sew Darn Crafty @ Sew Many Ways  and
                               TGIFFriday @ Quokka Quilts