Some Bloggy Hoppin Fun!

My exciting news for the week is that I have a block appearing in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks vol. 8 that's hitting news stands this month!

This is my little block called Citrus Rainbow.  It's Block #753 and can be found on page 50 of volume 8 (Right in the middle of the issue conveniently located by the pattern pull-out page).

It's pretty easy to make ~ wedges are cut from strip sets either by using a wedge ruler, or the wedge templates are included in the pull-out pattern section of the magazine.

I thought I'd share one of the things I like to do to play with layout design choices using a single block.  This can be done easily by anyone, even if you don't have design software on your computer...or like me, you don't want to take way more time to learn how to load this block in the software than it would to actually play with designs...or like me you once knew how to do that, but would need to take an entire day to figure out how to do it again...

...So anyway, first you just copy about 16 copies of the little block shown in the magazine.  (You can either copy it multiple times, or scan it once and plop 16 of them on one page and print that page out).  Then you cut them out so you have 16 little paper quilt blocks to play with like the ones shown above.   

Now you have what my grand daughter calls quilt puzzle pieces, and it's time to play...

By just laying them out in different orientations you can easily experiment with different looks...

...and combinations of row and column settings.  These are just a few ideas.  Try laying them out on colored paper and leave gaps between blocks to get an idea of how sashings and/or borders would look with the block. 

**Don't forget to snap a photo of any combinations that you like, especially if you're changing them around to a lot ~ it's easy to forget that really cute design that you liked, but now can't remember what you did (ask me how I know that). 

Then when you're done with them, the kiddos will spend hours "designing" with their quilt puzzle, allowing you time to actually start cutting out your fabrics...Win - Win!

Now for some Bloggy-Hoppin fun!  Head over to the Spring Water Designs website and peruse the   patterns.  Then come back and leave a comment on this blog post letting us know which is your favorite Spring Water Designs pattern (Hint: you can view some pattern designs on the home page, or the patterns, or kits pages on the website).  On Sunday the 17th, one name will be drawn from the comments to receive a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks vol. 8 magazine, and Two more winners will be drawn to receive a copy of their favorite Spring Water Designs pattern :)

Don't forget to follow along on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily November 11th - 15th at The Quiltmaker Blog to see other great blocks, ideas, and even more give aways!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

100 Blocks Blog Tour Starts Today!

I'm excited to share that I'm taking part in the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour that runs this week ~ My day is Thursday, so stop back by here then to see my block and get in on my give away!
 

The magazine hits the news stands by November 19th, but if you can't find it, you can also get a copy Here in my web store...that is if you don't win one in a give away :)

Make sure you hop on over to Quiltmaker's Quilty Pleasures Blog to see today's Blog Hop Hosts and see all their wonderful blocks and inspirations ~ and enter all the give aways!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

I'm Featured...Aaaand on the Cover!

I'm so excited, I have a quilt featured in Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Magazine! ...Aaaand, it made it on the front cover!  (The quilt at the top of the three pictured on the cover is my Sicilian Sunrise quilt!) 

Remember when I made my little Sunrise Block, and it was in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Magazine vol. 6?

 

 And then I made it again in another colorway.

Well here it is again, set into my Sicilian Sunrise quilt :)  The fabrics for this one are called Bella designed by Amanda Murphy for Blend Fabrics.

The the nine blocks are set with a pieced sashing to make the ribbon-look that ties all the blocks together.  My good friend Starlyn sacrificed her own sewing projects to help me piece these blocks at a Sew-In one day so I could make my deadlines that month ~ How's that for a good friend!

Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine is on sale on the news stands starting Today!  To kick this off, I'm giving away one free copy to a lucky winner :)  Leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw a random name on Friday to win the magazine.  

...Aaaand, hop on over to Quiltmaker's Blog today, to see some sneak peeks, and for another chance to win a free issue there too!  

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Sunrise Block in Other Colors

So as promised, here's my Sunrise Block from Yesterday's Post in another color grouping :)

The complete directions for making the block are in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 6, but here are a few pictures to give an idea of how I put this block together...

Done :)

Don't forget to go back and comment on Yesterday's Post to be entered in the Give Away!  And check out the 100 Blocks Blog Tour going on through tomorrow at The Quiltmaker Blog Quilty Pleasures for more inspiration and prizes :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

I'm so excited to share that I have a block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 6!  I've never been in this publication, so I was so flattered to be invited to submit a block, and to have it accepted!  This is  the latest issue in the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks series and should be hitting news stands on November 14th. (You can pre-order copies Here). 
  

This is my little block ~ It's called Sunrise (It's block #598).  This version is made with the Kate's Garden fabric line designed by Kate Knight for Quilting Treasures fabric company.

Here is an easy design layout idea using nine blocks, and setting them together in three rows of three.  I like the "motion" that setting these blocks together creates.  You get a kind of pinwheel secondary block by setting them together.

...And here is the same setting just with adding sashings between the blocks ~ bright and fun :)  Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you the same block in another colorway!  

Until then, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win your own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 6!  I'll be picking two winners on Sunday, November 11th ~ one winner will receive an issue of the magazine from Quiltmaker, and one winner will receive a Spring Water Designs pattern pack from me :)  Visit our Spring Water Designs Website to see our current line of patterns. 

Become a follower here on the blog, and join in on the fun on our Facebook Page to keep up with all the upcoming news, announcements...and the occasional Free Pattern :)

And be sure to follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily November 5 - 9th at The Quiltmaker Blog Quilty Pleasures for some wonderful inspiration from designers and lots of giveaways!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

A Day of Smiles :)

I'm smiling while chain piecing today on my new acquisition...

This little lady joined my growing sewing machine family a couple weeks ago.  (My house is actually starting to look like an old sewing machine rescue center).

I bought her from a friend ~ it was her mother's machine.  I got it mainly for the really nice wooden cabinet that it's sitting in, but found that once I cleaned and oiled up the machine, she really sews very nicely :)

So today her and I stitched up my row for this month's Row Robin for the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild.

...And I'm smiling as I'm ironing on this new ironing station that my hubby made from an old bookcase that I had in the basement to go in my new sewing space down there. 

...And while sewing I'm drinking my tea from this little mug that came in the mail yesterday ~ that's making me smile too :)

Don't forget to check out the Quiltmaker's Blog for Day 2 of the 100 Blocks Blog Hop, and come back here tomorrow for my day on the Hop and my Give Aways :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn