splendid sampler ~ block 35

Have you been following this amazing Splendid Sampler quilt-a-long? There's something for everyone, that's for sure.  I still shrug my shoulders when I try to figure out how I was lucky enough to be invited to design a block for this epic venture by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson.  Well done, ladies!  My hat is off to you.

I was asked to design a block for the "embroidery" category.  Perfect.  I love any excuse to pull out my boxes of floss.  But I was mindful that not everyone will be embroidering their blocks.  So I came up with something that would look equally nice with or without stitchery.  (How about using an interesting stripe to replace the embroidery?)

My "splendid" thing is a wishful garden.  If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that the few times I've mentioned gardening are usually to lament over my disappointing failures in the horticulture department.  I live in Zone 3.  If you're not familiar with climate zones, 0 is the arctic circle, so I'm not very far south from that!  LOL!  Anyhow, my beloved English cottage garden is pretty much impossible here.  I was getting sorta good at growing things for a little while, but then I became a mom and ... well ... gardening will forever take a back seat to my family and sewing ;).

However, I can stitch up rows of flowers in no time that will forever be in bloom (and will never need to be weeded)!  I went a little old school here with some traditional crazy quilt stitching, but I like how they look less crazy, more orderly in four straight rows.  And what a lovely thought to have a strawberry patch at the end of every garden path.

I hope you enjoy making this block, with or without embroidery.

You can find the free pattern for this and all Splendid Sampler blocks here. Also, find both piecing and embroidery tutorials on YouTube by Penguin and Fish here!  xo k

garden path slim case ~ a little summer project

Hexagons. 

They just never get old, do they.  Especially when they're Engish paper pieced. ;)  Here's my latest pattern featuring a mere 33 hexagons and measuring in at just 1/2" each. 

If you're intimidated by little, please don't be!  I hear that comment so often from quilters.  For some reason, many very skilled sewists and quilters shy away from smaller sizes because ... well, I'm not exactly sure why.  I suppose for cutting and machine piecing, accuracy is more important - or rather - smaller pieces are less forgiving.  I understand that. 

But when it comes to EPP, the technique is indential to larget pieces.  And as far as I'm concerned, smaller seams are faster!  LOL!  (Although yes you have more of them in a larger project she said speaking from experience. ;)

Anyhow, I made this case last summer when I was on a holiday in Palm Springs.  It was published in Love Patchwork & Quilting (Issue 28) last December and now it's finally available in my shop here. (PDF only)

I designed it to fit pencils, but I deliberately didn't call it the "Garden Path Pencil Case" because it can be used for so much more ... makeup brushes, sewing notions like scissors, rulers, etc., lunch utensils for the office ...

When I was deciding on prints for the feature hexagon path, I found the prettiest FQ cheater panel in my stash by Atsuko Matsuyama.  It was the easiest thing to cut out a few hexagons that looked scrappy by coordinated perfectly.  Love that.

I couldn't NOT add a few embroidered knots, but you don't have to if you don't want to.  Totally optional.

The closure? Easy peasy lemon squeezy - a simple snap.  No zippers, no magnets, no button holes ... just the most basic, utilitarian snap. 

Oh, and by the way, this little case would make a great teacher gift. ;)

quilted bags & gifts ~ a giveaway

I'm really happy about this news.  Akemi Shibata's book is finally available in English and I happen to have a spare copy to give away.  Zakkaworkshop kindly asked me to help as one of the English editors and I'm really proud to have been involved in bringing this lovely book to the English-speaking part of the world.  It has so many beautiful and fun projects.  I've already made two (including the coolest bag I've ever made ;) and I plan to make more cute things.

Ok.  To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment here stating your favourite season. That's it!

Happy Sunday, all!

xo k

PS:  Zakkaworkshop - along with selling the book in their online shop - will also be selling all the cool hardware that is used in this book.  I'll let you know when!