April Block of the Month...Finally!

Before we start a little confession...I'm officially behind own my on BOM. I haven't made these blocks yet, things are just to crazy to have found the time. Getting ready to sell your house is hard work.

I thought I would show you the mock ups of the blocks and provide instructions so you can get to work on yours. When I've finished my blocks I will post them. Hopefully this is soon.

I have used my method of making flying geese in this block. If you need instructions go here.

 So first is the planned block. 

 Next is the scrappy block.

You can download the instructions here.

B.O.M. is Going to Be Late

Just a quick note to let you know that this month's B.O.M. will be late. We are in the process of trying to sell our house. I hope to have everything ready to post by the 25th. So be sure to check back.

April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop

Today is my day on the April Showers Mug Rug Blog Hop. I had several ideas on just exactly how to make my mug rug. I finally decided that I wanted to combine my two favorite crafts...quilting and counted cross stitch. First I charted my designs on graft paper. I have a favorite alphabet that I wish I could say is completely my design, but instead I found it in an old issue of "Cross Stitch and Country Crafts". I'm not sure what issue(if you really want to know email me and I will try to find it). Here is my roughed out charts, as you will see I made changes as I went along.

I chose two fabrics for each design and selected floss to match. I stitched the designs and cut around the designs, leaving one half inch beyond the stitching.

Then I assembled them into my mug rug tops.

 I had originally planned to make one two sided mug rug, but I decided I wanted to be able to see them at the same time so I made two. I layered the rugs, batting at the bottom, then the backing right side up and finally the pieced top right side down. I pinned around the entire unit using my even-feed or walking foot, leaving the space between the arrows unsewn so that I could turn the whole thing right sides out.

Then I trimmed the edges even with the top and cut some of the corner off diagonally about one eighth of an inch from the stitching. I carefully turned the entire piece and hand stitched the openings closed. Then I quilted the two mug rugs and finally they are finished.

 I hope you like them!

If you would like to see more of today's mug rugs, I have included a list of today's participants. Many thanks to Erin and Madame Samm!

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts

Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter

Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts

Marsha @ Quilter in Motion

Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch

Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter

Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts

Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life

Gwen @ Get More Done...Today

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!

 

My Jessica on the Printed Bolt

As you probably know if you read my blog, my daughter Jessica was honored to be chosen as one of the ten finalists of "The Printed Bolt Repeat" fabric design contest. The good news is that she survived the first challenge and has now moved on to the second challenge. This time the contestants were asked to pick a career and design a fabric using some tool from that career. Jessica chose Financial Advisor and as an tool she chose a pie chart.  Here is her design.

 If you would like to know more about why she chose this career and her design process go here.

To see the other fabrics and vote for your favorite(of course, I hope that is Jessica's) go here. 

Just Thought I'd Let You Know...

...that I have a block in the top 100 of the Accuquilt Contest. This is mine.

If you would like to cast your vote go here.

I'm Still Here!

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. I have been battling a persistent inner ear infection which has pretty much brought my sewing to a halt. I also spent some time with my children and grandson in California. It was wonderful! Since I always love to include a picture in my posts, here's some lovely blooms from my son's garden.

 I'm feeling much better now and thought I would remind you about the April Shower's Mug Rug Hop. It started Monday so go back and check out those days too! My day is tomorrow and I'm almost ready. So I will see you again tomorrow.

MONDAY, APRIL 8: Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy

Patty @ A Stitch in Time

Jenny @ Squawk That

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio

Lisa @ In The Boon Docks

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin: the project girl

Beluah @ Sowing Stitches

Karen @ Bungalow Bay Quilts

DeAnna @ Georgia Girl Quilter

TUESDAY, APRIL 9th

Gina @ Sew Much and More

Sharon @ Vroomans Quilts

Theresa @ Bumbleberry Stitches

Jennet @ The Feathered Nest Studio

Patti @ A Yankee in Queen Liz's Court

Gene @ Gene Black - Alabama Artist

Susan @ Susan's Scrappy Domain

Bente @ I Like to Quiltblog

Deb @ Quilting & Other Craft Therapy

Megan @ AnnieOak Designs

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th

Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles

Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv

Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana

Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles

Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts

Judy @ That Other Blog

Regena @ The Distracted Domestic

Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things

Denise @ My Whittle Adventures

Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n

Marica @ ~Englating~

THURSDAY, APRIL 11th

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts

Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter

Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts

Marsha @ Quilter in Motion

Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch

Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter

Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts

Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life

Gwen @ Get More Done...Today

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!

FRIDAY, APRIL 12th

Bobbie @ From This to That

Leslie @ Les Quilts

Kristen @ Meadowbrook

Lavonna @ ZellerWear

Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse

Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy

Martha @ Living Life

Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones

Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!

Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger

MONDAY, APRIL 15th

Cathy @ Cate's Linens

Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections

Martina @ Sunshinequilting

Judith @ Frimart

Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken

Linda @ Sew Nicely

Kris @ krislovesfabric

Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter

Carol @ Just let me Quilt

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts

Marisa @ Passion et Couture

TUESDAY, APRIL 16th

Cathi @ Quilt Obsession

Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

Heidi @ Nutz4Redwork

Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives

Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet

Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche

Pauline @ Stekje

Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy

Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff

Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches

Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns

Eleni @ That Other Blog

Wednesday, April 17

Jen @ Quilter in the Closet

Marjorie @ Marjorie's Busy Corner

Elita @ A Pieceful Perspective

Green @ So Sew Green

Mara @ Greco Mara

Wendy @ Why Knot Kwilt?

Gmama Jane @ GrandMama's Stories

Debby @ Debby Kratovil Quilts

Britt-Inger @ Hill Valley Quilter

Connie @ Freemotion by the River

Beth @ Words and Stitches

Kathy @ iHeartSquishy

Thursday April 18

Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches

Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling

Mary @ NeedledMom

Sherry @ Peanuts Patchwork

Fredrika @ Feltfree på Åsly

Shauna @ Welcome to Shauna's World

Sharon @ Dancing thru Threads

Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!

March Block

Today is the March 20th so it's time for another block. This month's block requires a technique called a partial seam. Here are some instructions on how to do this technique.

Now for the blocks. This is the version with purchased fabric for this project.

 This is my scrappy version.

 The instructions are available here.

If you ever have any questions concerning this block or others I have designed please feel free to contact me!

I thought you might like to see the first three block together. 

 I will be adding sashing, tan on the more organized set and I'm not quite sure yet what I will be using for the scrappy set. What do you think would work?