Doggone Good!

Just look as these puppies, practicing sit and stay! With happy little tails, they're behaving so well, resisting the temptation to grab those toys - they're so Doggone Good!

I've had so much fun creating not only the dog blocks but the whole dog-themed wall hanging. I just love the addition of the dog bones and tennis balls!

Of course, this is all due to National Dog Day last month. It all started with the Good Dog block, 

and grew from there to this adorable Doggone Good wall hanging. 

Notice the lettering? It's something that doesn't have to go on Doggone Good, as here's a picture without it, before the quilting.

Personally, I think the words add that extra little punch and really bring on the smiles. Those words can be applied using applique, or TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) (affiliate link). I've used this product before for my Second Life of Quilts project with great success. And this time was no different - printing, cutting, and pressing was fast and easy for perfect results.

 

Now, who do I have to thank for all of this dog love? My grandpuppy, Po. Born in Paraguay when my son was in the Peace Corps, he's one terrific and very lucky dog. And he always wears bandanas - they make him even more adorable!

With the good dog vibes from Po, I thoroughly enjoyed making the Doggone Good quilt, which somehow includes just about all the necessary quilt skills possible: curved piecing, applique, and paper piecing. None of it is extremely difficult, and actually, it's pretty cool that all of those skills combined to produce these adorable dogs. 

Ultimately, I'll be sending this Doggone Good wall hanging to my son, to decorate his new space in North Carolina, and as a birthday present to Po. It's a nice size, approximately 16.5" x 48", perfect for wall with a narrow space. I could see Doggone Good decorating a lot of vet clinics too!

If you're interested in a Doggone Good wall hanging for a fellow dog lover, the pattern is available at a special pattern launch price, now till October 28. Grab it while dogs still have my heart, cause the very next day, October 29, my love shifts to cats for National Cat Day!

Happy Quilting

 

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My Favorite Patterns

Liberty

Since I was a little kid, I've always been fascinated by the Statue of Liberty, finally visiting her a few years ago. And she did not disappoint! With that in mind, I'd like to introduce another wall hanging to add to my patriotic collection - Liberty.

The final version did end up slightly different than the in-progress picture from last week, with the removal of the smaller HST's at the edges.

As I said, I certainly didn't set out to make another patriotic wall hanging pattern when I started playing with the new half square triangle dies from Crafters Edge. Guess I was having too much fun cutting and sewing HST's as these dies make perfect HST's.

These new HST dies should be available soon, but in the meantime, you can get your hands on a brand new Crafters Edge Crossover II cutting machine at 25% off during the whole month of July - that's an awesome sale!

After playing with different settings for my dark blue and light aqua HST blocks, I pulled out one of the numerous patriotic prints from my stash - bingo! The ideas for a new patriotic wall hanging started taking shape, and in a day or so, Liberty was born.

Finished Liberty came out to be the perfect size for an alcove near my front door, measuring in around 38" x 38". It looks as if that spot was made for her - love it!

 

Can you tell I had a great time quilting Liberty? Stitching some art deco style quilting in the aqua triangles, reminiscent of the Empire State Building, adds an additional New York reference.

Straight lines at various angles add interest to the dark blue areas, and celebratory ribbon quilting accents the patriotic print.

As for Liberty herself, I added a few simple lines to give shape to her face, crown, and robe. Those quilting detail lines are included in the pattern.

With a few HST's (die cutter not necessary), a couple rectangles and squares, plus a grand applique, Liberty can honor your wall too. From now until July 5, the Liberty wall hanging pattern is available at a special Fourth of July sale price - take advantage of this special sale while you can!

Happy Fourth of July!

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My Favorite Patterns

Hold It Together - It's Paperclip Day!

Did you know today, May 29, is National Paperclip Day? I'm celebrating the humble paperclip, that indispensable office supply, with my delightful Hold It Together wall hanging.

Silly, I know, but I had a blast making this wall hanging full of fun, colorful paperclips. Take this wall hanging as seriously as you want!!

Some may see the humor in the Hold It Together statement in regards to paperclips. Some may see it as a representation of our busy lives. And of course, there's always the statement it makes regarding our past year of shelter-in-place. Any way you view it, Hold It Together is charming! 

Made with applique paperclips and lettering, the arrangement can be however you want. I chose to link the paperclips around in a circle, but they could be formed into a chain, or even a heap - the possibilities are endless! The Hold It Together pattern includes the full size paperclip and lettering applique templates - just print, trace, and fuse.

Now for some closeups. I went a bit wild on the quilting, doodling all sorts of designs. I think the craziness adds wonderfully to the mood of this quilt.

More closeups to show how all the areas are so different.

Here's a super close-up shot.

The border has simple piano keys, leaving all of the attention on the pretty quilting in the center.

Don't you just love how black attracts all sorts of fuzz? Seems like removal is never-ending, though nothing that a lint roller won't take care of. I think I'll be able to hold it together!

Happy National Paperclip Day!

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Lucky Clover

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and I couldn't resist making a new wall hanging, full of clover and chains of green. Introducing Lucky Clover, featuring that forever elusive but very charming four-leaf clover.

Celebrating not only that special March 17 day, but with the freshness of all that green, Lucky Clover is welcome sight for spring. 

Ready to see the whole Lucky Clover wall hanging? Here it is, laying in a field of green grass, and the only clover present in this backyard - hubby does a fantastic job of maintaining the grass.

 

This 48" x 48" beauty also hangs beautifully, as seen on our fence.

While I was finishing up the quilting, adding a few clovers in the stippling, 

hubby was outside, pulling a clover look-alike, oxalis, from our side yard. Later, he told me how he found it so ironic that I was quilting clover, and he was pulling (what he thought was) clover. He detests both weeds!

Me, I tend to see the beauty in all living things, and don't stress too much over a few weeds. But hubby is happier to see them in fabric than in his lawn!

Maybe this wall hanging can be interpreted as having the clover under control with the interlocking chains. Though those chains look complex due to all the weaving and twisting of colors, they're really easy to put together.

And all of that white thread in the white background plus the straight lines of the chains made for a great pattern on the backside - check it out!

I just love it when there's back art!

Interested in making your own Lucky Clover wall hanging to celebrate St. Pat's Day, or to usher in spring? The beginner friendly Lucky Clover pattern is available in my Etsy shop at a special launch price now thru March 20, the First Day of Spring. See how this all ties together?? 

Even Winston wants a bit of that Lucky Clover!

Wishing you lots of luck and happy spring!

My Favorite Patterns

Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo!

 Look who's playing peek-a-boo in the pumpkin patch!

 

Yes, a little black kitty, possibly the brother or sister of the Pumpkat Patch kitty. 

Or maybe it's the same kitty - who knows? Sure looks like the pumpkin patch is a great place to be, especially for the Hello Fall Blog Hop hosted by Carla of Creatin' In The Sticks. If your a new visitor - Welcome!

A little more about Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo. The idea for this cute kitty and pumpkin wall hanging has been hiding out in EQ for about 2 years, with many, many versions. Finally, this year after a few more changes, I have found that kitty playing peek-a-boo in the pumpkin patch!

Isn't he so cute, peeking out from between the pumpkins? And I just love how his tail curls around and hugs the pumpkin - oh so cat-like!

With my love of kitties and fall colors, Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo combines the best of both. I am so happy Pumpkat Patch has a friend to hangout with, as this was designed as a companion piece to the table runner. 

Will they get along? I should think so, as the overall design of maple leaves and pumpkins set on a cream background provide the pumpkin patch setting. Plus the quilting is identical on both, with triple crosshatching in the background, and brown veins in the leaves and pumpkins. In the border, Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo has a few more quilted maple leaves to chase and play with.

Measuring approximately 34" x 40", the fat-quarter friendly Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo wall hanging pattern is available in my QuiltFabrication Etsy shop at a special price during the four days of the hop. With detailed diagrams and instructions, Pumpkin Peek-a-Boo is suitable for the confident beginner quilter and above. 

Need more fall projects? Be sure to visit the other quilters to see what they've created to celebrate fall. 

Monday, September 21st

Just Let Me Quilt

Websterquilt
VroomansQuilts
Karen's Korner
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
QuiltFabrication.com
Karrin’s Crazy World
Seams To Be Sew
The Joyful Quilter
Kathleen McMusing 

It's quite the fabulous line up of fall projects, now thru Thursday, with the full list at Creatin' In The Sticks. I hope you enjoy them all!

Happy Quilting!

My Favorite Patterns

Reindeer Wreath

Welcome to Christmas in July! I'm going to celebrate Christmas this year with a Reindeer Wreath full of Santa's crew, and featuring Rudolph front and center!  Check it out at https://www.etsy.com/listing/833335670/reindeer-wreath-christmas-wall-hanging

Yes, Rudolph and the gang make up this fun wreath of deer appliques of black and white checks, set in red to match Rudolph's nose! Holly and berry quilting motifs complete the wreath idea.

This adorable quilt is newly designed for the Christmas in July Then and Now blog hop, hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.  See https://www.justletmequilt.com/2020/07/christmas-in-july-then-and-now-blog-hop_27.html

I've teased everyone plenty over the last week or so, especially with the Tips and Tricks for Fusible Applique tutorial, https://www.quiltfabrication.com/2020/07/tips-and-tricks-for-fusible-applique.html. Has anyone noticed the deer are looking to the right in this quilt? Due to a last minute layout change, the deer I used for the tutorial was set aside and new heads made looking right. It was definitely the right decision!

 

Though the holly and berries look like a freehand design, they were actually quilted with paper templates. With the templates, I could lay out the design on the quilt beforehand, even adding a few extra leaves or curls here and there to fill empty space. Check out this short video, https://youtu.be/eShxHm087kU showing the quilting with paper templates, which can be done with either a domestic or longarm machine - easy peasy!

 

 

Being that the Reindeer Wreath is just so charming  - I had to make a pattern! Not only is the pattern beginner friendly, with a full size reverse deer template, detailed instructions, and quilting ideas, but it is also at a blog hop special price right now through Friday, August 7. Get the pattern now at https://www.etsy.com/listing/833335670/reindeer-wreath-christmas-wall-hanging so there's plenty of time to finish for Christmas enjoyment!  

Since this is a Christmas in July Then and Now theme, and I've covered the now - let's move onto some then. These are just a few of my past favorites:

Peppermint Candy table runner

O'Tannenbaum table runner

and an all-time favorite, Winter Feed at https://www.etsy.com/listing/571014522/winter-feed-wall-hanging-bird-feeders

I certainly do like a lot of red for the Christmas holiday! Of course, I've made several others for Christmas, but there's too many to list here - check out my Etsy Winter page see some more. 

And don't forget to stop by all of the other quilters sharing their Christmas Then and Now projects:

                                                                                July 31

Just Let Me Quilt

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Den Syende Himmel

Quilt Fabrication

Sew Many Yarns

Just Sew Quilter

Shirley C.

Kathy's Kwilts and More

For a full list of the entire week, visit Carol at Just Let Me Quilt:  https://www.justletmequilt.com/2020/07/christmas-in-july-then-and-now-blog-hop_27.html 

 And thanks again, Carol, for a another fun blog hop!

Happy Quilting and Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Patterns