Love Birds

Meet the Parrots!

These love birds love hanging out together - some kissing - and some back to back. 

I know that I have been using prints a lot more lately. I am trying to challenge myself to go out of my solids comfort zone. But for this one.... I could not resist digging back into my stash of solids to make this graphic lineup of love birds.

It is also quite unusual for me to leave a lot of negative space in my piecing. But for this quilt, I thought the effect of one row of birds was what this quilt needed. And the row of birds could also be used to make a table runner instead of a quilt!

Of course, the quilting is my usual organic wavy lines using my walking foot. I really got in the groove with this one and love how the waves turned out! I used plain white Gutermann thread both on top and in the bobbin. I chose to bind this little quilt in black - to match the eyes and to provide a strong frame.

The backing is Makin' Waves in Ink from the True Colors collection by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics, which you can view here. The boldness of this print is a great contrast to the front. 

The "Love Birds" baby quilt finished at 40" x 48"

and was the 32nd use of my 2nd edition of 100 labels

ordered from Ikaprint.

This new pattern is called Love Birds and you can find it listed here in my shop.
The pattern provides instructions for making BOTH.....
a Baby Quilt size 40" x 48" and a Table Runner size 14" x 38"

Don't FORGET!

Use coupon code SEWFRESHFAN15

to save 15%

on pattern purchases

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts

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Forest Friends pattern release

Introducing Sew Fresh Quilts new pattern – Forest Friends! I am so excited to have completed both the Twin and Baby size versions of the Forest Friends pattern in time for a Friday finish! First and foremost, I want to thank those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the release of this pattern. All your encouraging comments here on the blog as I have shown the progress of the blocks as they were being made and over on Instagram and Facebook. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! The response has been overwhelming!

Quilt layout shown is TWIN approximately 59” x 75”

American Eagle block

Quilt layout shown is BABY approximately 31” x 39”
With Golden Eagle alternate block

Canadian Beaver block

Quilt layout shown is BABY approximately 31” x 39”
With Canadian Beaver alternate block

Deer block

Thank you also to Michael Miller Fabrics!!! These Forest Friends quilt projects have been generously sponsored by Michael Miller Fabrics. The quilt tops are made entirely from Michael Miller's signature collection Cotton Couture solids. And the backing is Aviary in aqua.

Aviary in Aqua by Michael Miller Fabrics

I loved working with the cotton couture and could not get over how soft those cottons are! And the Aviary backing? Gorgeous! Loved how well it blended in with the choices from the front and added a beautiful brightness to contrast with the woodsy feel of the front of the quilt. I am just so happy with these finishes!

Deer Hoof Prints and Bear blocks

Forest Friends is a sampler style design with a woodland theme and features animal quilt blocks made using traditional piecing methods. No templates. No paper piecing. Only simple straight line sewing and diagonal seams. Easy to follow instructions are provided for every step of the way! The Forest Friends pattern includes material requirements lists for both the TWIN and BABY size settings and charts for each quilt block, to make either a single block or a set of four blocks at once.

Fox #1 and Bear Paw Prints blocks

The Forest Friends quilt pattern consists of the following sized quilt blocks. The American Eagle, Canadian Beaver and the Love Birds blocks all finish at 8” x 13”. The Deer, Bear, Squirrel and both Fox blocks each finish at 8” x 8”. The Deer Hoof Prints, Bear Paws Prints and Canoe Paddle blocks all finish at 4” wide. This allows for a variety of settings in which your blocks can be used to make cushions, place mats, table runners, wall hangings or quilts from baby to big. Adding wider sashing and borders will also help you to adjust this pattern up to the size you desire.

Deer Hoof Prints and Fox #2 blocks

Love Birds block

The Forest Friends pattern gives instructions for making all of the individual quilt blocks and provides additional information for the sashing and borders to make the above settings in BABY or TWIN size. But it is up to you to choose whether to use the layouts shown previously or to design your own setting to suit your particular application. Here are some other examples of how these blocks can be used. Don't be surprised if a quilted version of them are shown here on the blog in the coming month. Christmas is a comin'!

Forest Friends table runner 14” x 50”

Deer Tracks table runner 13” x 35”

Patriotic table runner 14” x 47”

Bear table runner 14” x 53”

Forest Friends with Canoe Paddles table runner 19” x 59”

Love Birds table runner 11” x 51”

Forest Friends Welcome door banner 15” x 37”

 

"Forest Friends" in TWIN Size finished at approximately 59" x 75"
and was the 64th use of my 100 labels

ordered from Ikaprint.

"Forest Friends" in BABY Size finished at approximately 31" x 39"

and was the 65th use of my 100 labels

ordered from Ikaprint.

The Forest Friends 46 page pdf quilt pattern can be purchased in my pattern store here.

NOW...

There has to be a GIVEAWAY!!!

To celebrate the pattern release,
 I am offering 3 free FOREST FRIENDS to my friends!
And one for each of THEIR friends!

First chance to win is to enter the contest using the RaffleCopter below.
Second chance to win is to head over to Instagram here and tag a friend.
Third chance to win is to head over to Facebook here and tag a friend.

You can tag as many friends as you like! Each will count as an entry.


Follow the instructions on the RaffleCopter.com widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway is open internationally.

Winner will be randomly chosen on December 1st and notified by email.

Be sure to leave your email address on the RaffleCopter widget.

If you purchase the pattern
and then happen to win in the contest,
You will be provided with a full refund!!!!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts

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Birds on a Wire

Hello everyone! Today I would love to share with you the news of my very first AccuQuilt guest blog post, featuring my "Birds on a Wire" easy applique design. This fun project utilizes the GO! Bird die and can be used a wall hanging or as a super cute table runner.

The applique birds were fun and easy to make. You'll find that this GO! Bird die is the perfect size for using your charm squares. Or using up some of your small scraps!

From my front yard, I will often see a row of birds resting along the power line. And I knew this GO! Bird die would be ideal for transferring this picture to fabric. The backing, binding and bird fabrics are all from the Robin's Egg collection by Island Batik.

I used a tight zig-zag stitch to appliqué my birds onto the background. Then I quilted this runner with my walking foot in organic wavy lines along the length, using plain white Guetermann polyester thread on top and in the bobbin.

For the backing I chose this print because of the colours and the texture. Reminds me of a blue alligator, but I love how it makes that binding pop!

"Birds on a Wire" finished at approximately 10" x 42"
and was the 55th use of my 100 labels

ordered from Ikaprint.

For the complete instructions on how to make your own "Birds on a Wire" project,

please check out my

AccuQuilt guest post here!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with 

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”