February One Block Wonders Link Up Party

Well I was able to get the link up party together, but without data it takes so long for everything to happen......it's been so frustrating.

I will be leaving the link up viewing party open till March 11th and hope that by then our data plan has reloaded for a new month. I am working on a more permanent solution to the limited data issue, but unfortunately that is taking some time too.......

I have seen some of the blocks made this month already and there are some very lovely projects being made!!!!

Don't forget this months prizes.......

is donating 20 Custom Maple labels.....these are amazing to add to your projects 

and you have 2 more days to save 5% on an order using

"HOBBYROOM"

 and

 is donating a FQ Bundle of Bugsy

totally adorable fabric line.....

So if you haven't started head over to my Craftsy Pattern Shop and download the block pattern and get at least one block sewn to link up for your chance at these awesome prizes!!!

........Well.....get sewing 

or get posting your awesome projects....

don't miss your chance to win one of these fantastic prizes..... :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Delay

I am so sorry, but I just wanted to let everyone following along with the 

One Block Wonders 

know.....

There will be a delay at the end of the month with the link up and a delay for March on the start up.

I live in rural Ontario and already have horrible internet, spotty service, slow speeds, pricy bandwidths and packages....and my son has been home from school and eaten through our months allotment....so now we are at a snails pace. 

I can't do anything...this has taken over 15 minutes to load type and upload....sorry everyone, will get up and running as soon as I can.....

Thanks for your understanding :)

February One Block Wonders Update

I managed to sew all my blocks and get them together into the cutest quilt top ever....

I am so loving this RJR Fabrics, Bugsy line. 

I wasn't sure the white print would stand out enough, but with the red print for the centre X, I think it worked out great! Now I just need to see if I have enough fabric to finish this off the way I have envisioned.......that and have the time to sew it together..... ;) 

2 more weeks till the LinkUp Viewing Party

Full Quilt Patterns for each month will be available for purchase at my Craftys Pattern Shop! October  thru January are already posted. February's will be posted soon.

So how about you.....how is your February block coming along?

Don't forget ......Prizes this month

FQ Bundle of Bugsy

20 custom Maple Tags

 If you haven't checked them out you should! I love my labels!!!

Double Duty Days (DDD)

Binder Clips

Ok I can take no credit for this post......

I was scrolling through my FB feeds and came across Ioleen's post (Back Home Quilter) 

of this YouTube video.....

Brilliant is all I can say!! 

I have a bunch of these Binder Clips and never thought to use them in most of the ideas presented in the video......enjoy and you're welcome!! ;)

Short and sweet post today....
Now go and find some clips.....

 One More......

Did you know that you can use your Frixion Pen on paper???

So if you wanted to divide up a pattern but didn't want to ruin the pattern, you could use your frixion pen and iron it off. 

I use plastic sheet protectors and Zwipes or China Markers....but it is great to have another option in a pinch!!! White markers would work too, but they rub off to easily!

Sorry I was taking these at night....not sure if you can see, but I drew yardage boxes and when I'm trying to figure out how many units I can get in a specific amount of fabric I sometimes do it old school.

Frixion Pen here

Touch of heat and it's gone!!! Too cool, guess paper is a type of fabric too.

Fridge Soup Sewing......

When I have produce in my fridge that I needs to be uses up, or it is going to go bad...I call it fridge soup....lol. For lack of a better name, it works....because every soup will be different and the only common denominator is the Fridge....so Fridge Soup!!

Well, I'm coining a new HobbyRoom phrase now too....Stash Soup.....Sewing my stash.....it feels so good, and like a good soup or stew in the fall and winter months.... it's comforting......

As some of you will be aware I've been saving for and am now the proud and pleased owner of an Innova 22" Navigator  with Lightning Stitch. I purchased it from The Quilting Bee in Fonthill Ont., and I can't be happier with the whole process. Never did I feel any pressure, they answered all my questions (and I'm sure I was not their easiest customer, coming off my original bad experience with a previous long arm purchase, I had lots of questions and reservations), They had me down to use a machine (quilting a project I brought with me, at no charge) and were just nice, you just know that they love what they do!! The purchase, delivery and set up were fantastic too.  They are always available for teaching and training, I just need to call and set up an appointment. They truly want you to succeed and enjoy your journey.  Now I just need some time to get on the machine, and read the manuals, because I know myself, if I don't have some practical experience I won't retain what they teach me. It will also give me a chance to have a list of my own questions to ask.

All of that said to add, I have put myself on a spending freeze....and that is why I am sewing Stash Soup....and I'm telling you, to keep me accountable. So other than threads, and background solids, maybe a tool or two for the new machine....the bank is closed for rest and recuperation....lol. 

To finally be sewing with some of the fabrics that have been sitting here for far too long....it's a good thing too....

So this is what My Stash Soup looks like this week:

I signed up for the Splendid Sampler, I hope to at least do some of the blocks.... I'm super busy, but I'm going to try....I couldn't resist this project though....and if you have seen the original pattern, YES, I totally sewed the block together wrong. My HST were wrong and I didn't feel like ripping so I made my own originally improvised pattern....

Why I'm super busy.... the One Block Wonders and ......I have 2 ongoing collaborations with The Quilting Bee featuring  Free Spirit Fabric, fabrics! Happy to say the first project is quilted and on display at The Quilting Bee and the pattern is being tested right now. So hopefully will have that posted in my Craftsy Pattern Shop in the next month. The second is still being made...pattern to come.

This is the start of the second size for the Bliss Medallion,  I'm testing my own pattern using my stash...

and I'm loving it.....all this lovely fabric had just been sitting in my cubby wall....

Pink fabric is: Crazy Love by Jennifer Paganelli

Blue fabric is: Lark by Amy Butler   both of these and the background white are from FreeSpirit Fabrics

Orange is: Lazy Day by Riley Blake

Green is: a wild card...I sadly don't know, so if anyone knows please leave a comment and tell me. 

Two more rings to go.....

Have a Great Week everyone....

One Block Wonders February Block Xs and Os

Xs and Os

I hope everyone is enjoying the BOM...sure would love to hear more feed back...dare I say, even if it is constructive criticism!! Just want to make sure I am on track and not missing anything in the instructions or visuals! 

Well here's to another great month....all about love this time (being as it's Valentine's in 9 days)! So let's start sharing some love right now....January's Winner.....of 

$30.00 Gift Certificate is....

Julie

You all have seen the sneak peak of the Hugs version this month's block, in Mon Ami, 

donated by Rita from 

and her year long discount code

"WONDERS"

Saves you 20%

who is also Sponsoring a $40.00 Gift Certificate for a lucky participant in February.

Shauna

was the lucky winner of the FQ Bundle to be able to make her own mini of this month's block, if she chooses!!

is Joining in the fun too!! If you haven't checked them out you should....such great custom tags, etc, in wood....love them.

They are donating 20 Custom engraved Maple tags to a lucky sewer this month....

as well as a discount code

"HOBBYROOM"

saves you 5% off your order Feb 1-28, 2016

I'm also excited to share

RJR Fabrics 

is donating a FQ Bundle 

of their new line Bugsy to one lucky participant!!

If all this doesn't encourage you to get sewing.....

Here is the tutorial and alternate version of this months block.......

Xs and Os 

Find the written pattern Here, in my Craftsy Pattern Shop
The pattern is free for the month of February.

Bugsy by RJR Fabrics

1/4" seam allowance

Press seams open....but I'm not there watching, lol....so whatever your preference is, but I think open is going to work the best... ;) *see below comment

Basically this is a nine patch, once some prep work is done!

Step 1: 

You will be sewing on the line for the smaller background squares and 1/4" on either side of the line for the larger squares.

Step 2:

Place your 2 large squares right sides together and stitch a 1/4" on either side of the diagonal line you drew or like me on the two lines you have made with your ruler.

Cut the block diagonally from corner to corner down the centre of your two sewing lines.

and trim one of the blocks to size. The other block is extra!!

(I keep a bin and I'm collecting all my extras....someday it will become a lovely scrappy quilt)

I love using the 1/2 square triangle Trimming ruler for this!!

Step 3:

Place a background square on a corner of your Fabric 3 right sides together, lining up the raw edges, and stitch along the line. Then sew the second square on the opposite diagonal corner. (chain piecing these makes it go quicker) Repeat this process with the Fabric 4 squares too.

Trim a 1/4" seam allowance and press the background square open. Trim your blocks. Do check, sometimes things get off and a few "off" blocks can make a difference.

When all is right with he world no trimming is necessary.....

 When all is not right with my sewing world I need to trim.... 

 My world is right about 50% of the time, lol

 Prep work is over and now on to the fun part of constructing your block!!

Follow your colouring sheet for block placement (colouring sheets are available in our FaceBook Group)

Now you will have noticed here that I did not press my seams open, good for you for catching that!! All was well with this plan until I started sewing the blocks together and started getting double bulk because my seams were going the same way. *So do as I say not as I did.....I will be pressing the rest of mine all open!! lol

Mini with 4 blocks connected:

Hugs Version:

Just rotate the corner blocks...all other steps remain the same.

Inspiration:

How fantastic does this mini  look in the Mon Ami line from Moda....

Bugsy by RJR Fabrics,  I'm loving this combination

 a Mini with Bugsy

I want to thank RJR for allowing me the wonderful opportunity 

to be a fabric ambassador* from time to time 

and so glad I had a chance to work with the new Bugsy line .....seriously adorable....

in stores in February!!

*Being a fabric ambassador : Sometimes I am sent fabric which I get to make pretty things with  and blog about it. Sometimes there is even an extra bundle for a give away....I am not told what to make or what to say....(my words are always my own......)