Soulful HOOP QUILT Dreamcatcher

May 24, 2017

Hoop Quilts Pattern now available. (PDF Download or the Printed Pattern)

Every once in a while, a project really Wows you. I mean, yes... I love almost every project I sew for one reason or another. And, sure, I always fuss over everything saying "I love it!". But when sewing becomes your work, it takes something really special to knock your socks off.

Well, guys, this is the one.

When Maureen Cracknell emailed me saying her new line, Soulful for Art Gallery Fabrics, had a mandala theme, I was suuuuuuuuper excited. We get comfy in our comfort zones (right?) and I have been tending to stick with vibrant, saturated tone-on-tone fabrics lately. I knew that Maureen's collection would be softer, more muted and completely bohemian. Something completely different from my norm lately.

A HOOP QUILT with the Soulful collection would be perfect. And when I saw the main mandala rich raisin colored print, I was hook, line and sinker.

I arranged the center HSTs in yet another of the endless possibilities for 16 HSTs. This one a nice block X. Then I debated adding some extras for accents. I had some lovely cotton crochet lace and a few small cotton crochet doilies. I couldn't decide for the life of me which one looked better. In the end, I decided to appliqué the doilies. I was worried the lace would not curve properly and lie flat - and since this hoop was being displayed at spring Quilt Market (trade show), I didn't want to take any chances.

But I couldn't give up on that lace. Don't worry! The tiny voice in my head told me to take this HOOP QUILT to the next level with the cotton crochet lace. I wrapped the hoop in the Deepest Purpose Soulful print. Then I used the left over binding, combined with the lace and some Pure Elements solid to complete the streamers hanging below the hoop to make the dreamiest of dreamcatchers.

Here she is hanging in Maureen's booth at Quilt Market. (Don't mind the yellow lighting - it was impossible to get good lighting in that convention hall!)

So beautiful! Don't you want to take a nap in that little dream world?

So I know I say this every time... but I am completely in love with this HOOP QUILT. Soulful and the hoop concept married for the perfect combo. Dream on!

Hoop Quilts Pattern now available. (PDF Download or the Printed Pattern)

Picnic 2 HOOP QUILT

May 11, 2017

Hoop Quilts Pattern now available. (PDF Download or the Printed Pattern)

If you follow me on Instagram, you've been seeing all the Hoop Quilts I've been making over the past few weeks. I've been churning them out to prepare for Spring Quilt Market (an industry trade show) in St. Louis in a couple weeks. Lucky for me, Hoop Quilts are fun and fast to put together. I made a companion hoop to the original Picnic Hoop Quilt.

Remember the original? This is it below. I really can't tell you how much I love this little Add It Up print from Cotton + Steele. It's such a great background print and highlights the feature fabrics.

Booth HOOPS use HSTs made from set of Melody Miller's Picnic 5" squares and they look great together. Especially hung on this massive tree at our hometown ball park. These two hoops will hang together as a set at Quilt Market. They are the 18" and 23" size.

Picnic 2 hoop uses yet another arrangement of 16 HSTs. There are so many possible combinations to play with.

Stay tuned for a few more HOOPs to show!

Chocolatier Block of the Month #5 (Double X 1915 and Nine Patch Star Quilt Blocks)

May 1, 2017

Time is to kick off little league baseball and wander through fields of green. Lime and Kelly Green blocks are the perfect color for May. Everything around my town has sprung into a vibrant green color that so much Life. Month 5 of the Chocolatier Block of the Month Club is here and ready to go.

Today, the Month #5 Block Pattern for Chocolatier is now available. Check your emails and mailboxes!

2 blocks for this month. We have the Double X 1915 and the Nine Patch Star this month. Block #2 includes a verrrrrry basic paper piecing unit. Don't worry if you haven't tried paper piecing before. This is a basic block and was intentionally chosen as a great way to start. All the instructions are given in the pattern - with references to YouTube tutorials if you like. If that block causes you stress, the second block for this month keeps it simple with HSTs.

Block #1 Double X 1915.

Block #2 Nine Patch Star.

Fabric is Cotton Supreme Solids by RJR Fabrics for my version of the BOM. Find my color selections listed here.

SHARE with US! I'd love to see what you make.
There are several ways to share your participation in the BOM. I hope you'll join in the fun of quilting along online with us.
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