Riley Blake Design Modern Farmhouse Blog Tour

Riley Blake Designs new fabric, Modern Farmhouse, is full of beautiful designs and colors.

There's a bit of sparkle in some of the fabrics and the buffalo checks add just the right touch.

The fabrics are 100 per cent cotton and feel as wonderful as they look.

Modern Farmhouse by Simple Simon & Company for Riley Blake Designs is great for

 quilting, apparel and home decor. The text print features positive messages.

Rise and Shine

55" x 55"

The rooster and tractor are ready for their day on the farm!

It was hard to catch the gold sparkle in this fabric, but trust me, it's gorgeous!

Wake up!

Ready to roll! 

The quilting was by Quilted Works and as usual, they did a wonderful job.

I love the green, pink, and black combo of fabrics.

I used my favorite scalloped border in black sparkle flowers on "Rise and Shine".

The wind was really whipping around, but my trusted crew handled it well.

You can find the pattern for "Rise and Shine" HERE

For more fun with "Modern Farmhouse" check out these blogs:

2/20 - Paisley Roots

2/27 - A Bright Corner

Thanks for stopping by!

Lumbar Valentine Pillow With Crafter's Edge LOVE Die

February is the month of showing the ones we love how much we care.
A Valentine lumbar pillow would make an excellent gift for someone with a bad back,
 especially with the word "LOVE" on the front to remind them that you care.

It's so easy to make using the Crafter's Edge "LOVE" fabric die!

The cutting edges are not sharp!

Pillow size: 12" x 20"

Supplies used:

Crafter's Edge "LOVE" fabric die

Heat n Bond Lite Iron-on Adhesive

Heat n Bond Fusible Interfacing

Oliso Mini Project Iron - This iron is great for projects like this!
Aurifil Thread

Four fat quarters - one white, one pink check, one solid pink

12" x 20" lumbar pillow form

Cutting instructions:

Cut 1 - 7" x 15" white, center block

Cut 1 - 7" x 15" interfacing

Cut 2 - 4" x 7" check fabric, border

Cut 2 - 4" x 21" check fabric, border

Cut 2 - 13" x 13", pink, back

Sewing/applique instructions: seams are sewn at 1/2"

*Tip: Use a heat resistant applique sheet to arrange your applique before applying it to your fabric. This helps avoid mistakes in placement. Just lightly press the pieces in place on the applique sheet and let cool before removing. Iron on right side of fabric following manufacturer’s directions.

*Tip: Ironing Heat n Bond Fusible Interfacing to the back of an applique block can help keep the threads from showing through fabric and make stitching small pieces easier.

Step 1: Center Block applique - Prepare the applique patterns using iron-on adhesive; follow package directions. Iron adhesive pieces to wrong side of fabrics following package directions. 

Step 2: Cut out applique pieces with the iron-on adhesive's protective paper facing up. That way the design will be facing the right direction when you iron it on your fabric.

Step 3: Peel off paper liner from the backs of applique pieces. Place applique, adhesive side down, on right side of fabric. Press according to package directions until entire piece is bonded. Let cool.Sew around edges of applique using a straight, zig-zag, or blanket stitch.

Step 4: Border - With right sides together, sew a 4" x 7" check fabric strip to each side of center block. Press seams towards border. With right sides together, sew 4" x 21" check fabric strip to top and bottom of center block.

Step 5: Pillow Back - Fold under 1/4" on one side of each 13" x 13" pink square and press. Fold again and press.

Step 6: Sew along edge.

Step 7: Place right side of front pillow facing up. Place right sides of hemmed pillow backing face down on front pillow. 

Step 8: Line up outside edges with hemmed edges overlapping. Pin to hold in place. Sew around all outside edges with a 1/2" seam.  

Step 9: Double stitch at folds. Clip corners. Turn inside out; press edges.

Step 10: Place a pillow form inside and you're ready to gift it to someone you love!

Happy Valentine month!

Words To Grow By Block Of The Month February

It's a new block of the month, Words To Grow By, with Sew Incredibly Crazy.

I'm really excited to get this one started...so many fun blocks!

The February block is by Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy.

That mouse is such a cutie!

JOY

Our Words To Grow By BOM blocks are free during the month they are released.

After that, the blocks can be purchased from the designer for a small fee.

Valentine Sew Along With Therm O Web

There's a sew along happening over on the Therm O Web blog today and tomorrow 

with free applique patterns. You can use these sweet Valentine 8 ½” x 8 ½” blocks in projects

we’ll release on February 14^th. You could even use them in pillows or treat bags!

We have some fun free blocks for you to sew during our Valentine Sew Along…two 

from me today, two from Carla, Creatin' in the Sticks, tomorrow. 

Love Bird

Love Bunny

Here's what I used for my applique designs:

“Love Bunny” and “Love Bird” applique patterns

Heat n Bond EZ Print Lite Sheets

Oliso Iron

I love this mini Oliso iron!

It's never too early to show some Valentine love!

Turning A Beach Ball Into A Pincushion

Actually, turning a beach ball into a pincushion isn't all that hard,

especially since I used Crafter's Edge Beach Ball die and Crossover II.

The package comes with full instructions on making the ball and

two sizes of fabric dies...3" x 4" and 2.25" x 3". I used the smaller one.

One edge of the fabric die is smooth and needs to be placed on the fold.

The cutting edge is not sharp, but can cut up to six layers.

I cut one folded layer at a time so that I was accurate with the placement.

The pressure knobs are easily adjusted to cut the type of material you are using.

Instructions are included to help with this.

The Beach Ball die didn't require iron-on fleece, but I used it for the pincushion.

Therm O Web's Heat n Bond is my favorite for this type of project!

Cut six fabric shapes and six iron-on fleece shapes.

Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the fabric section.

Be sure to cover it with a protective cloth when ironing it.

Follow the directions that come in the package to sew the sections together with a 1/4" seam.

Don't forget to leave an opening about 1 1/2" on the side to turn it inside out.

The directions say 1", but 1 1/2" works best because of the fleece.

A funnel helps to get more of the nut shells in the pincushion instead of on the 

counter, but you can also stuff the pincushion with Polyfil. Either one works quite well.

There's a large variety of nutshells out there, so choose the one you like best.

Once you're finished filling the pincushion, stitch the opening closed by hand.

The fabric die comes with a small circle to add to the Beach Ball project, but

adding a button and wrapping embroidery thread around it made it more of a pincushion.

It was so easy and went together fast.

Thanks for stopping by to see my pincushion!