The Canadian Sampler

Click on the image to be taken to Sew Sisters for all the details

Hi All!!

The Canadian Sampler has started at Sew Sisters.....

I was so honoured to be asked, to join in with 19 other quilters, to design a block for this lovely sampler celebrating Canada's 150th birthday!!!

Each designer was asked to create a block inspired by Canada, and what a great collection of Canadiana came together. Inspired by Canada's weather with snowflakes and a toque; Canadian nature with maple leaves; Canadian people.....Inuksuk, grain elevator and EH!.......

All in red and white, what is more Canadian than that!!!

Here's the list of the clubs designers, that I will update the links on as the year progresses!

Click here to read more about the quilt and see who created each block!!

• Berene Campbell from Happy Sew Lucky 
• Brenda Miller from Among Brenda's Quilts 
• Christine Baker from Fairfield Road Designs
• Daphne Greig from Patchworks Studio 
• Elaine Theriault from Northcott Fabrics & Crazy Quilter on a Bike
• Felicity Ronaghan from Felicity Quilts
• Irene Dewar from Brambleberry Cottage Quilts
• Jean Boyd from Patterns by Jean Boyd
• Jennifer Houlden from Quilts by Jen
• Kathy Schwartz & Lori Suss from Highway 10 Designs
• Krista Hennebury from Poppyprint 
• Leanne from She Can Quilt
• Mary Elizabeth Kinch 
• Michele Foster from Aiming for Accuracy Pattern Co.
• M-R Charbonneau from Quilt Matters
• Nellie Holmes & Christine Baker from Upper Canada Quiltworks
• Sandy Whitelaw from Upstairs Hobbyroom  (you are here)
• Sherri Sylvester from Thread Riding Hood
• Stacey O'Malley from SLO Studio
• Judy Baldwin from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop

This quilt was quilted by Cheryl Smith from Magpie Artworks.

My inspiration....

You can head over to Sew Sister's and read all about it.....
because I'm one of the first two blocks featured !!!

January's Block

May Blooms..... One Block Wonders BOM

May Blooms

One Block Wonders quilt block samples and quilts have seen an increase in production, yeah!!

Only to be halted by a lack of proper thread colours and border fabrics...oops....

RJR Cotton Supreme Solids

Not to worry.....the orders are in and hopefully by the time this post goes live, all will be back on track!

I am trying to get ahead so when the really good summer weather hits (oh, when is the really nice summer weather going to hit???), I won't fall behind and leave you all hanging, while I am hanging out poolside, ;)!

I may fall behind on the actual full version patterns, but I don't think anyone will mind that, 

they will get posted as soon as possible, over in my Craftsy Pattern Shop!

Before we move on to May's block, 

let's finish up a little business from April!

Thanks again to our sponsors from last month, 

Our winners are.... 

Jean

$30.00 Gift Certificate

Liz

 FQ Bundle of Urban Scandinavian

Here is this months block and I think its a cute, fun one. 

Our Sponsor this month is

Featuring Cotton Supreme Solids

What Shade Are You?

May Blooms Quilt Block: 

May Blooms Finishes Link Up (Follow the link to see the finishes for May!!)

Constructing Your Block:

You can find a HST tutorial here if your need a refresher.

The full size pattern will be available soon in my Craftsy Pattern Shop, I'm sorry for the delay, the full patterns for the One Block Wonders BOM are usually available before the month ends, but an illness has slowed me down and I have fallen behind! Will update this post when the pattern is available! (Just a reminder the block pattern is free and available for the month it is posted and then is removed and a full quilt pattern is available for sale)

You might have something that looks like this........

 Or maybe this.......

Or maybe even like this....

Mine is still a work in progress It's actually finished and I will share more as I get it done this month!!

Well I hope you are thoroughly inspired and ready to sew....

Can't wait to see!!!!

Don't forget our 

#OneBlockWondersBOM or #OneBlockWonders2015

and if you want to join our FaceBook Group here

April's One Block Wonder BOM....Diamond Path

Finishing up with March:

 I'll announce last months winners in a separate post this time, as I have the link running until later today!
So you may still have enough time to link your block if you got one sewed together.....

Great prizes are being sponsored by 

April's block is finally here.....Diamond Path.....

I fell in love with this one....hope you feel the same way. It's another easy sew and jelly roll friendly ...if you have one laying around that you have been wanting to use!!
But I have to be honest...insert goofy grin here...I was having so much fun with this one, I actually forgot to take pictures  as I was making the blocks/quilt!! Totally "Loopy" of me! And this quilt is totally done...quilted and bound (pictures to come)!!!
So I had to cut out and make an extra lone block, just for the tutorial...oops.

This months sample is sewn in P&B Textiles Urban Scandinavian, with Bella Suede

Just love blue and white together and the pop of red just works so well....but it could have been yellow, orange or any other colour.....

I can't wait to see how you interpret this month's block, or maybe you will be inspired by the blue and white......?

Before I get to the tutorial though,  let's talk about this month's sponsors, and the fun prizes being offered for our next link up party!!!

Rita from

is sponsoring a $30 Gift Certificate 

as well as the on going discount you can use for the whole year of our BOM

and 

is sponsoring a FQ Bundle of Urban Scandinavian

Another great month with awesome sewing rewards!!

Diamond Path 

(You can find the full pattern in my Craftsy Shop, here)

What you will need: 8 different prints/fabrics, plus your accent and your background fabrics

Cut on your drawn line or down the centre to separate into 2

Trim

and press open

Now lay out your pieces and start construction: (I am so sorry about these pictures, should have checked them, and it's too late now...)

In chain piecing fashion I worked across the block joining the prints to the BG. Pressed the seams. There are only a few seams that actually line up in this block and they only happen when putting blocks together, so sewers choice on how you want to press your seams.

When your column are made, you can then start joining them together.

And that's it...your first block is together. It is such a fast block.

What happens when you put 4 blocks together you ask.....

I heard you.... ;)

Here's what your mini could look like.....

or maybe this

or maybe even like this....

Have fun 

and look for the next post with our March winners in it!!!

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......)