Last Day for the Big Sale and a Little Spoiler....

I have been cutting fabric like crazy this week.... Hope you enjoyed our little sale... if you didn't go to Quiltcon at least you got a chance at some amazing (if I do say so myself) fabric at a great price. Sale is still on until Midnight Eastern tonight. You can read about it here.

After cutting fabric all day I have been pretty tired but I did come home early and make the second month blocks for the Patchwork City BOM and I just wanted to share this one with you... sorry it is a spoiler but honestly it might be one of my favorite blocks I have ever made.

I made a little tutorial for the BOMers on how to get those points crispy crispy.... and I heart every single one of those fabrics.

Have a super weekend... I am attending Stitches West ... yeah Yarn!

Winter Break Sale 20% off

Hey Everyone,

I decided we all needed a break... the ports are backed up with all kinds of merchandise so while we wait why not get some awesome things coming your way. Here is a coupon code for 20% off everything in the shop including our already marked down Clearance section the only exceptions are clubs, gift certificates, and BOMS Sale is on until Friday at Midnight Eastern. If you are coming in to the shop just mention Gimme a Break when you check out.

Love in My House Tutorial

I'm Back :)

And it is still technically Monday... woo :)

Here we go... now remember I said that this is a free wheeling sort of tutorial. So here are a few basic supplies:

A mini Charm Pack
1/4 yd of Navy for Background
1/4 yd of White for the house

1. Cut 20 mini charms into 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" rectangles and lay them out in five columns of four pieces in a way that is pleasing to you. I decided to use the grey and blues and put a tiny bit of the yellow in.

 

 

 2. Sew the four rows together end to end as shown above.

 3. Layer the top row over the second row so that 3/4" of the second row is showing under the top row and the two strips are offset by 1 1/4".

4. Top Stitch 3/8" away from the bottom of the top strip connecting the two strips together.

 

5. Layer the third strip under the second strip, the top of the third strip should line up along the bottom of the top strip but under the second strip, and the end of the strip should line up with the end of the top strip.  If you look at the picture it isn't as confusing as it sounds. Top stitch just as you did before. Continue with the fourth strip the same way lining up the end with the second strip.

6. Square the roof to 3 1/2" by 9 1/2".

7. Sew three heart fabrics together with a 2 1/2" square of white to create the heart block.

8. Cut two 5 1/2" squares then cut them in half diagonally once. This will create a total of 4 triangles. Fold to fins the center of the long side and lightly press a crease.

9. Match the pressed crease on two triangles to the center seam on opposite sides of the heart block, and stitch. 

10. Repeat step 9 for the two remaining sides of the heart block. Square to 7 1/2".

11. Stitch a strip 2 1/2" by 7 1/2" to the left side of the heart block.

12. Create the yard by stitching together four green mini charms and one of the left over 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" pieces from the roof pieces, or cut another one if needed. Trim to 9 1/2" in length.

13. Stitch the lawn to the bottom of the house :)

14. Match the top of the house to the top of the last row of the roof fabrics so that the roof is layered on the outside of the house block. Pin to secure and flip the block over to the right side.

15. Lift the edge of the roof strip that is above the last row so that you can sew under it to attach the house to the roof. We want the edge of each of the roof pieces to be free.

 Here you can see the stitched are hidden under the edge of the strip of shingles above.

16. Make the chimney by cutting a 1 1/2 by 2 1/2" piece of the background and the chimney fabric, and a 2 1/2" by 7 1/2" strip of background. Sew the chimney between the two background pieces.

17. Stitch the roof to the chimney section.

18. Stitch a 4" by 9 1/2" strip of background to the top of the chimney section. Trim the height of the block to 16 1/2". Then stitch a 4" by 16 1/2" strip to each side of the block and square the whole block to 16 1/2".

20. If you would like to add a door (I decided not to) you can use one of your 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" pieces and raw edge applique it to the block over the top of the walkway :)

Don't forget to go check out Sally, Brooke, and Tammy's projects too... If the other girls do one I will be sure to let you know :)

Thanks for having a look see :)

Talk soon.

Love a Challenge... an Annual Party

Each year these super fun girls:

Get together to make a little something something... out of a mini charm pack of  Vanessa Christensen's latest fabric collection. This time it is Color Theory I guess we are all feeling a little rebellious since both Sally and I cheated a little bit. It was supposed to be a finished project but instead I made a block... I will explain why but first here is a picture:

It is a house...with a heart... now let me just say that heart's are not my favorite motif and I did not do it because the challenge always lands on Valentines day. I did it because my mother was here in the house on Hospice when I made it.... I wanted to express that "There is love in my house" right now, today, a lot of love! That was Wednesday at lunch time... Wednesday by dinner time she was gone. Now let's not be sad. Let's celebrate the love in our house.

Today my husband and I spent 7 hours on the road and a couple at my mom's house moving things. Bringing home some of my mom's earthly treasures. Deciding what to do with the rest. I promised a tutorial for this block but it will not happen until Monday now... I am sorry about that. I will post links to everyone's projects on Monday too.

This will be the first of a series of  tutorials of house blocks. Each one will express something that is in my/your house. They won't be super formal or anything like a perfect pattern because I want it to be free flowing and fun. This block started out as a nebulous idea and I started with the roof... then just added on pieces as I went until it seemed done. It is 16" but I am not going to guarantee any of the others will be that size. Like I said free flowing. I have no idea how big the quilt will be I might make 4 blocks I might make 20... and I don't know when the next one will be... a month-ish.

I got the idea to do a house project from my friend Andrea who owns an awesome Art Studio called A Work of Heart here in San Jose. She has an on going house project... you can see some of it here on the walls in this picture:

If you are local and haven't been to AWOH you should go and take a class... so much fun!

Anyway... see ya Monday with a tute!

Hugs to you all and thanks so much for your prayers and good wishes. If you didn't get a personal answer it is because you didn't have an email attached to your blogger account. I do appreciate them all though, so much!

How about some pretty pictures?

I got to the shop today for the first time in a week and a half... wanna see my pretty pictures?

Folk Song by Anna Maria Horner

I could rhapsodize over this one all day long! Look at that gorgeous sophisticated palette! I adore every single piece!

Hello Bear by Bonnie Christine

Trying out a new picture format for fun... isn't this totally precious? I love it and all of it's low volumes too :)

Fabric Friday...

All of our knit fabrics are on sale 30% off until Monday at Midnight Eastern.

And we are giving away the Popover Poncho Pattern, and enough of Maureen's Suntracks knit to make it, on her blog this weekend. You have to go to her blog to enter. 

So many things to show you. I am hoping to get back to some regular blogging this week.