Wheelbarrow Blooms for April Quilt Block Mania

Let's start the spring season with a little gardening, compliments of Quilt Block Mania! Cheer up the yard with my bright and happy Wheelbarrow Blooms. 

Add in all the other adorable gardening blocks for a very happy quilt!

Here's the links to all, free for the month of April.

Garden Bunny by Carolina Moore
Garden Basket by Crafty Staci
Creating a Quilt Garden
Bollenstreek by Patti's Patchwork
Wheelbarrow Blooms by QuiltFabrication
Spring Has Sprung
Oriental Lily by Inquiring Quilter
Watering Day by Robin Kinley Designs Etc.
Mushroom by Memory Barn Studio
Ladybug by Patchwork River Quilting
Gardening Days by The Quilted Diary
Texas Bluebonnets by Emerald Falls Quilts
Gardening Nutcracker by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Seed Packet by Patchwork Breeze
Garden Fences by A Piece of Quiet Quilts
Watering Can with Flowers by Appliques Quilts and More
Evening Primrose by Wild Plum Lane
Spinning Tulips by Studio B

A little about info about my block. The center motif of Wheelbarrow Blooms is all applique. Gather up bits and pieces to make the wheelbarrow and flowers. For the background, use a fat quarter. I find it helpful to make the background square a bit bigger to start because applique tends to cause shrinkage. When all the stitching is done, then trim the block to size and piece in the corners. The result will be a perfect 12.5" x 12.5" block ready to go in a quilt!

The Wheelbarrow Blooms block is a free download pattern until May 5. In downloading the pattern, you agree to not share the file with others, but direct them to the QuiltFabrication.com/Wheelbarrow Blooms post - thank you! Now go ahead and click on the download button below for the PDF file. 

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Coco Loco for March Quilt Block Mania

 What's a beach vacation without a fancy drink? Interested in a Coco Loco?

Looks very tropical, right? The computer generated picture doesn't do it justice -be sure to scroll to the bottom to see it in fabric!

And look at the fun my fellow Quilt Block Mania designers had this month, dreaming up different fancy drinks. Don't they all look fantastic???

Here's the links to all:

Tropical Drink by Carolina Moore of Always Expect Moore
Pink Lemonade by Crafty Staci
Mardi Gras Hurricanes
Milkshake by Patchwork Breeze
On the Rocks by Patti's Patchwork
Coco Loco by QuiltFabrication
Hot Coffee To Go
Christmas Cocktail by Inquiring Quilter
Sip Happens by Robin Kinley Designs Etc.
Unicorn Lemonade by Memory Barn Studio
Friendly Mule by Patchwork River Quilting
Margarita by Emerald Falls Quilts
Bartending Nutcracker by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Raspberry Lemonade
Mod Martini by A Piece of Quiet Quilts
Pina Colada by Appliques Quilts and More
Lemon Drop by Studio B

In January, I took a short vacation in Hawaii to celebrate my birthday. That trip is probably responsible for Coco Loco. The block just screams of relaxing by an oceanside bar!

Making a Coco Loco from a bar tenders perspective is pretty easy. The Coco Loco block though, is more for the intermediate quilter who's comfortable with foundation paper piecing. To make assembly easier, I've included aligning tic marks on the umbrella portion for matching up the parts - you're so welcome! And if there's some shrinkage in the block size, it can be made up in the beige 'counter' or 'table' at the bottom. Nothing like allowing for some wiggle room!

Sorry, but the Coco Loco block is no longer a free download. I'll keep you posted of it's status. Updated 4-2025. 

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Sad News for Joann Shoppers

I'm sure you've heard the news by now. Joann has filed for bankruptcy (again), and will be closing more stores. Like over half - approximately 500 of 850. To read the press release and find out what stores are closing, click Joann Closing.

Now I know some of you quilters may be aghast that I shop at Joann. Where I live, it seems to be a taboo subject to mention. Who can resist a store within five miles, and 4 others within a 30 minute drive. Though I'll admit there was some quality missing in their fabric lines, you sure couldn't beat the selection and price!

I always loved stepping into the store and seeing the current display of seasonal fabrics just screaming 'take me home'! Having based most of my quilts around the seasons, these displays were absolute candy!

Of course, I can't leave out the fairly large selection of other prints available in a wide array of colors. A half yard here, a yard there, and I've got myself a wide selection of fabrics to play with. I was always searching for blenders, or for prints that hit a certain theme. I'm not known for buying a designer or fabric line. I'd rather select for myself.

Most of us quilters are about the fabric. But there's also the pins, needles, cutting tools, thread - all the additional items used for our craft. And batting! Joann had lots of choices there and usually on sale. I'll miss that.

For now, one store 30 minutes away will remain open. For how long, who knows? Not sure where I'm going to go when I need thread or batting. Heaven forbid that I have to turn to online shopping! I like to actually SEE the fabric. Guess I'll frequent the quilt shop close by, but it's just not the same.

So, a sad Adieu, Joann! Thanks for all the fabric and memories (especially Black Friday sales!). Maybe a buyer will step up and bring the store back. If not, I'll miss you.

Anyone else out there share my sentiments? Leave a comment!  

Happy Quilting

Feel free to tell others about QuiltFabrication and become a follower yourself through any or all of the following: direct delivery of posts to your inbox (sign up below), or by following on Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube.

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