Fabric Tuesday, what have you been crafting?

Fabric Tuesday 87!

Yay!  Best day of the week :)

Usually I like to at least tell you what I've been working on even if I don't have pictures...but I (Megan) have some very exciting news and some projects I've been working on that I plan to share later this week!!!  

Here are some great link-ups from last week:

Dave's Surf Shop from My Quilt Diet...

Potholder's from A Quilter's Table

Pincushion from Charm About You

Retro Flowers Quilt from Knotted-Thread

Sherbet Pip's Quilt by Mary

Link up fabric projects you've been working on!  

You can link more than one, just please make sure they are all fabric! :)  

See here for more information on Fabric Tuesday!

HST Doll Quilt from Plum and June

Happy Monday! :)  Sometimes the simplest quilts are the most interesting!  I love this doll quilt by Beth from Plum and June.  And it's her first go at HST...I would not have guessed! Stop by Plum and June, I was just going through her last few posts and saw some really sweet baby quilts!  I love this quilt she entered into the blogger's quilt festival and this simple patchwork quilt...cute stuff.  Thanks again Beth! 

I finally tried making Half Square Triangles and now I know what all the fuss is about!  They really are fun and easy to put together.  Whoever came up with the right sides together, draw a line down the middle, sew two lines, and cut was genuis! 

I used this charm pack from the "big order" from months ago that I had regrettably prewashed.

Made one and squared it:

Made many more and squared them:

Then I just started arranging and rearranging and mixed in some of the now completely gone solid yardage that I had in my stash (actually, I had to cut some off one of my WIPs - Yikes!) 

And, the Sun and Water Blocks doll quilt was born (have I mentioned that my kids name the quilts???)

I'm again not sure this is exactly my aesthetic but I guess my aesthetic is growing.  And I really enjoyed the HST method so I think when my new fabric order comes, I'll make another one. 

This was another doll-sized, stroller-size quilt.  I like making this size because it can be done in a few nap times, allows me to experiment with new techniques, and it is actually the most practical size for me right now - great for the stroller and floor for the baby AND great for my older girls for their dolls and for gifts for other little girls who love getting things for their dolls.

Bloggers Quilt Festival: Kenna's Blooms

My quilt for Bloggers Quilt Festival this year is called Kenna's blooms, after my oldest daughter. I am really pleased with how this quilt turned out, so pink, flowery and girly.  

I used Basic Greys Hello Luscious. How I LOVE this line.

I am definitely a flowery girl, Megan is a more modern girl...(that may change when she finds out what kind of baby she is having)

 Because I was on a serious deadline to get this quilt finished, I just did a quick stippling in the more solid blocks, and a flower on the big print square (which you can't really see) I wish I had more time, I really would have liked to play with the quilting more.

 Kenna's blooms is available in our etsy shop. It is a very simple pattern with a lot of chain piecing. I love the overall effect of all the chains meeting the larger block.

Same pattern with darker prints, you can see the pattern more boldly.

Head over to fresh poppy (our other very neglected blog) to see Christmas Forest, pretty cute! 

Our new patterns available at our etsy shop.

Enjoy the tour, 

Thanks Amy

Tutorial: Fly with Me Quilt Block

As promised I (Megan) have a tutorial to share today!  Yay! :)  It is always best to promise a tutorial, that way I actually (usually) follow through.

I am going to use a quick and easy method for creating flying geese.  The math for flying geese has always thrown me, so if I've needed a specific size it stressed me out to try to get it right!  But I finally figured out the trick!  Yay! I think I've been resistant in the past because it doesn't give a "pretty" number (ie 2 7/8") in the end.  But at least it is one simple formula every time.  So this is the formula.  You should add 7/8" to what you want the finished size of your "sky" squares.  You should add 1 1/4" to what you want the finished size of your "geese" squares.  Confused?  I'll show you here:

Finished sizes I wanted for Momma Geese (larger) was 2" x 4".  So for the sky I cut the pieces 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" and for the momma geese I cut the pieces 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".  For the Baby Geese (smaller) I wanted the finished size of 1" x 2".  So for the sky I cut the pieces 1 7/8" x 1 7/8" and for the baby geese I cut the pieces 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".  See below for cutting requirements:

Each geese square uses four sky squares; yielding 4 flying geese.  Giving a total of 12 flying geese each for Momma and Baby.

If you have not seen or used this method before prepare to be confused, slightly enlightened, confused again and then AMAZED! :)  At least that was how I felt the first time I tried it :)  Start by drawing a line from corner to corner on each sky piece.  Sorry for the awful photo.

Next take two sky pieces and place them in opposite corners of the same geese piece.  They will overlap a little in the middle.  Sew 1/4" on each side of the line.  Cut down the line.

Press the two sky triangles at the top out, the piece will kind of look like a heart.  Take another sky square and place it on the remaining corner of the geese piece.  Sew 1/4" on each side of the line, cut down the line and press out.  Repeat on all pieces until you have 12 Momma Geese and 12 Baby Geese!

Amazed!! Fancy right??

Piece the geese on top of each other, two rows with 6 Momma Geese and one row of the Baby Geese.

Piece together side to side....

Add the borders to each side and you've got one Fly With Me Quilt Block, 12" x 12".

I am using this block in our Block of the Month series, June's theme is Flying Geese!

Hope you enjoy the tutorial and block!  Feedback on tutorials are so great and let me know if you see any problems, please! :)  Also if you use this tutorial please link back to our site, we really appreciate it!