Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 13 Blog Tour Day

Welcome! Today is my day on the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour. 

If this is your first time visiting, please take a look around to see my current projects, tutorials and current patterns. 

Quiltmaker is hosting giveaways every day this week on their blog - Quilty Pleasures - so be sure to hop over there too! You will also find the list of other designers who are featured today.

I have been blogging since 2009 and this is the third time I've participated in the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. It's a joy to be doing it again:)

Here is my block - Joyful Brellies. I was inspired by the season to create a block full of umbrellas for April showers - even though we probably had more snow here than rain in April!

The block is really 4 smaller blocks repeated - which means you could easily make one quarter of the block to get a cute 6 inch brellie block:)

I loved using Pat Sloan's The Sweet Life line to make this block. I am a big fan of Pat Sloan and the enthusiasm for quilting that she shares for quilting online. I was happy to be able to showcase her fun fabric in this block.

For the blog tour I made my block into a pillow and changed up the color placement. This time I made all of the umbrellas the same color - and the backgrounds too! The fun polka dot print contains all of the colors of the fabrics I used. 

This could be a fun bridal shower or baby shower gift. You could also make several of these blocks into signature blocks by having guests sign the umbrellas then put the blocks together into a quilt.

To make the block into a pillow I added 2 1/2 inch strips in the polka dot fabric to each side of the block. Then I quilted the pillow top to make it firmer so it would keep its shape better.

I used the envelop method to make the back, cutting one 16 1/2 x 13 inch panel and one 16 1/2 x 9 panel. I added hems and then sewed the three layers together with the pillow front on the bottom right side up, followed by the longer panel with the hemmed edge towards the middle of the block right side down, then the shorter panel right side down with the hemmed edge overlapping the other panel. 

I sewed all the way around the outside edge, back stitching  where the panels overlap and then clipping the corners. Turn right side out and put your pillow inside. Then enjoy!

There is a little bit of embroidery on the block to make the umbrella handles. It's pretty easy and really helps to define the umbrella. You could always add the stitches with your sewing machine;)

On to the giveaway! 

Giveaway is now closed - winner has been contacted by email and will be announced soon!

I invite you to read the comments for inspiration on how others use the blocks in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazines:)

Quiltmaker is giving away one copy of the Volume 13 issue at each blog stop.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me

 your favorite way to use the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

 (quilt, runner, wall hanging, pot holder? ) 

Inspire others to enjoy the blocks too!

My giveaway will be open until Friday, May 6

Thanks for visiting!

Sign up for my newsletter to keep up with my quilting creations!

With Joy,

Sarah V.

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Happy Canada Day Giveaway

Happy Canada Day!

To Celebrate I'm giving away 1 pdf copy of my Liberated Churn Dash Quilt Pattern.

Just leave a comment to enter.

I'll leave the giveaway open until Tuesday, July 2nd

 to give everyone enjoying the long weekend a chance!

. . .and there is a SECOND chance to win a copy and other prizes too, 

over at a great Canadian blog, 

The Needle and Thread Network. 

Enjoy and Good Luck!

Sarah Vee

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Pumpkin Patch Block - Glorious Autumn Block Party Day

 

Welcome to my block day of the Glorious Autumn Block Party.

I'm glad you're here!  If you started over at the Quilting Gallery site, then you've probably already read a bit about me. I'd like to thank Michele for putting all of this together. She has great vision AND great execution!
 While you're at my blog, feel free to check out my tutorials page.

 Now, onto my block!

My block is called Pumpkin Patch. 

I used scraps when I was first designing this block and figuring out the pumpkin part of the block. You can make your block using scraps and make each side of the block with different fabrics, or use one fabric for each colour for a more controlled look.

Click here for the pdf pattern for my Pumpkin Patch Block.

I have one tip I'd like to share here with constructing the block to make sure you don't miss it! The tiny little corners to create the pumpkin unit are only 1 inch square. When you go to join the side strips to the pumpkin unit, I recommend putting the pumpkin unit on top when you guided them through your sewing machine. Your little half square unit may not be perfectly square, but by using the side strip as your guide, you should be able to keep the seam and block straight. And it's okay if you're pumpkins don't have perfectly angled corners - pumpkins aren't all perfectly the same anyway!

I've had fun making some of the pieced blocks that have already been featured in the block party. You can go back to the main Glorious Autumn Block Party page to find all of the blocks.

There will be 2 more blocks featured this week and many more before the party is over in December. AND there's special quilting deals too!

This week's blocks to come:
 Wednesday, Sept. 26
Jessie - Harding Hill Designs
http://hardinghilldesigns.typepad.com/


Thursday, Sept. 27   
Amy - Butterfly Angels   
http://butterflyangels.wordpress.com/






 
Be sure to post your finished blocks to the flickr pool:
 Glorious Autumn Block Party flickr group

My Giveaway!

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win 3 of my patterns:

Primitive Joy Wallhanging or Tabletopper

Liberated Churn Dash quilt

Eat with Joy! placemats

I will be picking 3 winners around noon EDT on Tuesday, October 2nd.

Please be sure to leave your comment on the blog post {if you are reading this in your reader, please click over to my blog to leave your comment. Thanks!} Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are a winner. Let me know what you plan to make with these blocks - or if you NEED a plan!

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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New Pattern Giveaway

I'm happy to say that I finally finished my pattern for the Liberated Churn Dash QUILT!

It's been tested for accuracy and up for sale right here.

I'm giving away one copy of the pattern to one lucky commenter on this post!

It is a downloadable pattern, so with no shipping, the giveaway is open to all of my readers.

Leave a comment telling me what kind of project(s) 

you are working on this summer. 

They can be quilt related - or not!

Comments open until NOON {EDT} Lucky Friday, July 13th

You can get a second chance by blogging about the giveaway with a link back to this post and leaving another comment.

Do you Facebook? You could link to this post and leave another comment for another chance.

Giveaway is now CLOSED! Thanks for entering!

Good Luck!

Sarah Vee

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Playdate in the Scrap-Applique Playground!

 Welcome to Sew JOY Creations and to Kay Mackenzie's book around tour!

I've had a  playdate with Kay before; you can read about it here.

But THIS one is where all the FUN is at! 

When I first read about Kay's newest book on her blog, I gave out a little squeal

 {maybe not so little!} 

 When she asked me to participate in the book around - I was already sorting my scraps!

 This book is great fun even if you're not an applique fanatic - yet!
 Kay provides several techniques on how to create patchwork with your scraps and then projects to make with them. As always, she provides great tips and instructions on how to applique with ease.

 Kay said I didn't have to make an entire project from the book, BUT

The VOICE of this book is so 

happy,

encouraging and

Playful!

 - I already KNEW what I wanted to make!

{don't you want a Studio sign for your space, too?}

Then, life happened.

 I had all my letters traced out and ready to go, but ran out of time. 

Maybe it sounds better if I say I had another idea?!

This is kind of a 2-in-1 deal. 

I got a sign for my sewing space

 AND 

a sewing machine cover!

I took some generous artistic license and played with the letters from "Studio" to create "Play" {does my "P" look like it could be an upside down "d" to you?}

 I quilted the front "Play" panel and decided I should do the same to the back. 

Let's just say it's a cozy fit!

Do you see the selvages?

I used up a collection of selvages that I had stashed away with the fat quarter I used for the back of the cover. I didn't quilt these side panels and I'm glad too - you can see in this photo I need someplace with give to ease everything into place.

I had CUT my background piece and remembered AFTER the fact that I was going to use the spools and such as an explanation point. 

That's how I ended up with 2 projects!

 I LOVE my special little sign! Luck would have it that 3 spools and some scissors could make Sew JOY so special!

As you can see, I found this book and Kay's guidance very inspirational. 

I'm sure you will too!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

NOW CLOSED!

Kay is giving away one copy of Scrap-Applique Playground at each book-around stop.

OPEN TO CANADIAN AND U.S. comments ONLY due to shipping costs.

Comments are open until tomorrow night, Sunday, June 10th at 7 p.m.

Please make sure I can contact you!

 If you're not sure if you are a no-reply commenter, 

leave your email address in your comment.

IF you are reading this as an email, please click over to the blog to leave your comment. Thanks!

You can get a copy of Kay Mackenzie's Scrap-Applique Playground at 

your local quilt shop,

 through online retailers like Amazon,

 through Kay's publisher's site, http://www.shopmartingale.com,

or purchase a signed copy from Kay's site http://www.kaymackenzie.com

PLUS there are still more stops on the book around tour with chances for you to win a copy!

Click over to All About Applique to find out who else has a playdate with Kay!

I hope you enjoyed your visit and are inspired to play with some scraps too!

Sarah Vee

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Celebration Giveaway!

Here it is - my 500th post!

Thanks for reading and commenting. 

ON to the Giveaway!

 This kit is part of the package. It includes the pattern for the wallhanging you see here and the fabrics. You will need some fusible for the applique, batting and backing fabric.

 

This *collectible* set of erasers - because they're cute and fun!

 

And this little notebook with blank pages to doodle or write in.

 

The drawing on the notebook looks like embroidery stitches. I thought this would be a neat place to keep track of ideas when you're out and about!

My giveaway is open to everyone - I will ship anywhere! Gratitude has no postage limits! 

Leave a comment by the end of Victoria Day, Monday, May 21st.

Tell me what you are Celebrating in Your Life!
{big, small, anything and everything Counts!!!}

*Make sure I have a way to contact you. Put your email address in your comment if you're not sure!!!*

You can get extra chances to win by leaving separate comments if 

• you are a follower of my blog {Feedburner counts too!}

• you receive my newsletter

Thanks and Good Luck!

Sarah Vee

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January Poll and a Giveaway

I've been getting lots of visitors lately checking out my Liberated Churn Dash tutorial.
Welcome! 
I want to publicly thank Kathy Mack of Pink Chalk Fabrics who linked to my tutorial on her Facebook Wall. {and in her newsletter! - sign up at her blog}

Do you use Facebook?
I've put up a little poll in the sidebar for you to share where you go online for quilting inspiration.
I haven't jumped on the Facebook bandwagon yet, {I guess it's more like a virtual wave} and am wondering if I'm missing something.
I hope you'll share and get something out of the results of the poll too.


New Tools for 2012

I did a little after Christmas shopping and got some new supplies to try out this year:

• an iron shoe (suggested by Vickie for use when fusing applique)
• basting safety pins - bigger is better! LOL! I used these when finishing up my latest big quilt
• D rings - which I almost tried out already when I found Ariane's link to t-shirt belts
• machine quilting needles - which kept hopping out of my machine until one finally broke. These ones have since been replaced with Schmetz ones - so far so good.
• A Sullivan's Edge ruler - that Pat Sloan helped to develop. It definitely does sharpen your blade!
• embroidery scissors - too cute to resist! A cash register impulse buy - and very pointy.

My Tool Giveaway

No it's not going to be one of the above - in fact it's not going to be a REAL tool at all!

I finally took some time to make another block from Kay Mackenzie's book, Easy Applique Blocks. I actually used some wool charm squares that I got {for myself} last Christmas!

I modified the design a little bit - leaving the ribbon off and well, not putting the rotary cutter ON a block. Instead my plan is to make it into a tree ornament. You can hang it on your Christmas tree or somewhere else in your sewing space.

Yes, You!
I made one to keep and one to give away- and haven't taken a photo of either!

Leave me a comment telling my your favourite new tool you received/bought lately - or something you would like to get soon!

I'll pick a random winner from comments on this post on Friday, January 27th.
Maybe I'll even post a photo before then!


With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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100 Blocks Giveaway Day - Jolly Holly Fun!

Welcome to Giveaway Day! I am really happy to be included in this issue of 100 Blocks. I may have even squealed when I saw that my block made it to the cover!

Jolly Holly - block 362

I wanted to do an applique block with a pieced backing.  I thought the buttons were a fun way to add berries without having to applique too many circles! Of course, I had to add the buttons to my submission, but you wouldn't add the buttons until after your quilt was done. Right?!

I also wanted my block to be fun for the quilter who is still shy about doing applique. 

I finally found a happy home for this City Girl Holiday fabric by Kitty Yoshida. I fussy cut the middle to feature the beautiful poinsettias and framed them in gold. I'm planning to make a few of the Christmas blocks in this issue with more of this fabric to create a little sampler for me.

When I was designing this block in April there was no snow or mistletoe around to inspire me. When it came time to put something together for this blog tour, the Fall weather made it a little easier for me to find inspiration. 

Do you enjoy hearing the familiar Christmas carols when you're out shopping? Maybe you would like a visual reminder of a favourite. . .

 It's not quite finished yet, but you get the idea! I think it's a really fun idea to Deck my Hall with this wallhanging:)

And - you can get the letter templates NOW!

You can purchase the templates for my letters and make your own Jolly Holly quilt:)
You will need the magazine for the block pattern and the holly template.
You can sign up for my newsletter in the sidebar where I'll let you know when my pattern is done.

Giveaway Time!

Leave me a comment telling me your favourite type of quilt block to make - pieced, applique, mixed? to win a copy of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 4.

My giveaway will be open until midnight EST Fri. Nov. 11th.
I use the Random Generator to pick a winner.

Please make sure you leave an email address in your comment if you are a *no reply blogger*.

Good luck to all!
I hope you are enjoying the blog tour. Be sure to check in at Quilty Pleasures for tour stops each day and extra giveaways.

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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House Cleaning my Blog with a Giveaway

 I finally got all of these blocks and pieces put together. Then I rotated it when I put it back up on the design wall and really like it this way!  

I needed to clear off my design wall to start this -

A Christmas quilt! This block is the middle block. It's the basket block I designed for the Layer Cake Quilt Along with one minor change. I changed the handle to have curves as I didn't have to make it out of 2 10 inch squares so I had enough fabric to make the 2 7/8 inch square.

What blocks are going around the basket?  Here's a hint!

The blog tour starts November 7th and my date is November 9th. There are lots of new to me designers in this issue. I looking forward to seeing their blocks. Of course, there will be a giveaway of an issue of the magazine on my blog tour date. You don't want to miss out so you might consider following me if you don't already!

I've been tidying up my blog to get ready for the tour - kind of like cleaning the house before company comes:) I put a linkbar across the top of my blog to make it easier to click around and find my stuff. I also put the sign up box for getting my new blog posts sent to your email box directly above my posts. 

What else would you change or add?

I also noticed this morning that I have reached that magic number of 100 followers!

Thank you so much for following my blog. 

I really enjoy sharing my quilting adventures with you.

Let's Celebrate with a Giveaway Today!

I have one kit assembled to make my Selvage Pillow Cover. The kit includes the foundation, selvages you see in the photo above and the backing fabric {the stripe fabric on the right}

Leave me a comment on this post to win the kit AND a copy of the pattern.

For a second chance, leave me a second comment that you are a follower:)

Make sure you leave 2 comments for 2 chances!

Comments are open until Sunday night, October 23rd, 7PM EST.

I will ship internationally.

Make sure I have a way to contact you - leave an email address in your comment if you are a 'no reply' blogger!!!

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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Another Applique Giveaway

{Edited to remove link to this giveaway post}
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO JANET R.




While I was creating my pillow cover from one of the designs in Kay's new book,
I knew I wanted to have a giveaway of something I made.

But, I want to keep the pillow cover!

So, I went through the book and chose another block that I really like.
Heart in Hand.
A very traditional block.

I just recently finished making this needlekeeper.
It was the March challenge project from Pat Sloan's Happiness Key mystery.
{You can find the free pattern for this at Pat's website here}
And it made me think of the perfect way to use the Heart and Hand block!

A needlekeeper for you!
Now, I did make an 'oops' while constructing it -
I made it open on the right side instead of the left.
oops.
But it still works!

Please leave a comment on this post to be in the random draw to win this needlekeeper.
**The needles will NOT be included!**

This giveaway is open to anyone and everyone.

Please make sure I have a way to contact you -
leave an email address in your comment if you're unsure.


Comments will be received until Thursday, March 31 at 9 P.M. EST.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATS TO MARCIA W.

My desktop computer is still not home, but I am reading your comments! Normally I reply to each of you, but time and circumstances don't allow. I WILL email you if you are the winner and announce it here on the blog:)


Good Luck!
With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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