Sweet 2016: the Mystery Begins!

Our dessert this month is effortlessly chic and comes in all tantalizing hues from deep dark red to the lightest speckled vanilla. This makes it the perfect starter block as you’re thinking about your cake dome colour scheme, background and borders. These can be difficult to settle on, so our classic must have sweet comes in to help us with at least one decision—do you like yours brightly jewel toned or softly pastel? 

Me? I haven’t decided yet, I’ll let my fabrics tell me which way to go. I’m glad I have my domes and cake stand scheme decided on —I opted for 'silver' service because it felt so right and colours really pop on grey chambray which is what I’m after.

What about you?

This is where we are up to in Part 1

I'll be making my macaroons and sharing my progress as I do right here on my blog. If you're taking part in this Mystery, be sure to join my Facebook Sweet 2016 Group where we're all getting together to show what we've created. 

Haven't joined yet?! What's stopping you! 

---it's just $3.95 per month---

Hazel & Little Hazel: Part 2

My exciting new Mystery BOM 'Sweet 2016' starts on February 14th - Valentine's Day- and with Hazel and Little Hazel and Oma's Blues  both due for a block release on the 15th, I've decided to release Part 2 a few days early. If you are downloading the pattern from my blog

CLICK HERE NOW FOR HAZEL 

CLICK HERE NOW FOR LITTLE HAZEL

When I designed Hazel I thought about releasing the 8 Point Star block as 1 Part and leaving it at that - but I know that many people in my BOM Group are new to 8 Point Stars and star blocks can turn into one of those blocks people decide they just won't do because they can be a bit of a hassle. This is why I broke this central block down into three parts - it really IS achievable, you just need to approach it in a step by step method - and not rush any single part of the process. Which brings us to Part 2: the second and third rounds. 

How gorgeous are my Fassett's?!

You know how I'm always talking about the importance of preparation? Well it just keeps proving itself over and over as the key to good block construction. Have your fabrics prepared, cut them out accurately and then, for Part 2, set them up into 'units'. A 'unit' consists of Template C & D from the 2nd and 3rd row coming together to create 1 unit. Now, if you just sewed in the second round and then added the third round, you wouldn't have the precision and neatness that you will have from doing it this way. Create units and sew down to connect unit to unit, not around. 

First sew your 'unit' of C & D together, and then when all your units are ready, sew them together, stitching down. Lastly, following the inside curve, attach your constructed round to your existing star block, lining up your seams neatly.

and you'll see that each star point will line up with every second unit seam - just like this

 and it's as easy as that! See you all for Part 3 next month!

-----

I don't know why it took me so long to move my BOM Group over to Facebook - it's the best Group related decision I've made. It's now so easy to answer questions, read comments and connect with everyone who is uploading images of their progress shots. I am in love with all the Hazel Stars from Part 1 out there and I've loves seeing you all pick fabrics, progress and share your tips and techniques each month. It's an inspiring place to be and for that, I have you to thank. What a great community!

With all the comments flying around over there, my blog feels a little quiet lately - my visits have increased but readers are choosing to comment over on FB. Someone has informed me that I can 'stream' my FB comments here on the blog and it's something I'm working on in an effort to connect both worlds - my blog and my Group activity. This has been my goal since I started blogging in 2007 and I'm still surprised that there still isn't a platform that allows you to blog and connect all in one place. Wishful thinking? Yes, so far. Why hasn't anyone thought of such a place?? We're inching closer but it's still annoying to me to have to visit two separate sites when in my mind they are 'one' and belong together. Still, I shouldn't complain. Technology has done so much for my quilting - and ability to share my love of quilting, just 10 years earlier and I wouldn't have shared any patterns at all - it would have been impossible.

I wonder what the next ten years of technological advancement will mean for quilting?

Hazel & Little Hazel are my current Free BOMs  

You can join my BOM Group my clicking here now. It's full of fabulous, talented women sharing their work, ideas and inspirations as they make my quilt patterns. Join us and our friendly, supportive community today. 

OR 

Wait until the 15th of each month and download the available pattern right here directly on my blog. The choice is yours. My old Yahoo Group has closed due to limitations on the platform. If you haven't come over to the new group, now is a good time.

WOW: Fabric Fun

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I've been having some fabric fun - sorting through my stashed beige 'pastry' shades and also indulging in a spot of chocolate shopping - the fabric kind of course. I picked up some brown mixers that I think will come in handy for the blocks ahead as I have so few browns in my stash. I have no idea why? These new ones fill in the gaps for now. I'll be picking and choosing, ummming and ahhhing on a block - by- block basis. How gorgeous is this print below? It looks like mousse at the top and choc squares below....mmmmm!

My new Quilt Along Sweet 2016 launches this week and I'm really excited about it. Today I'm working on the first block so I can show it off - but I've been interrupted and have things to do - you know how it is! Luckily it's completely do-able and a lot of fun so I hope to have it finished later this afternoon. I'll show you more soon. If you haven't signed up already, do it now !

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

A Fresh Start for February!

It's been on my wall for a few months now and this is what I've finally done with my own version of the panel - I gave my tree a trim and re-arranged a few things, and now that I'm satisfied, I'm packing it away into a WIP box. One day, I'll return to it. But for now, February 2016, it's time to focus on my next BOM - which starts next week and is a quilt along. I'm just in the mood for some prettiness and fabric play and I'm looking forward to a month of frivolity and I make my Sweet 2016 blocks to show off. I didn't plan on making Hazel myself, but couldn't stop myself. And like Hazel, I was happy to release Sweet 2016 and move on to my next BOM but now that I've picked up some new fabrics,  I'm suddenly planning on making these blocks myself because they're completely irresistible.

So today, I'm clearing my design wall. Hazel comes down and my applique arranged tree comes down and Sweet 2016 goes up.

It's going to be a gorgeous February!

My 'Little Hazel' Quilt Top

Oh how I wish I had more Fassett fabric to turn my 'Little Hazel' into 'Hazel' but Little Hazel will have to do, and nicely too I think! These colours match my sofa perfectly and Little Hazel is an ideal quilt throw size. Oh I love it, I really do.

Remember, Hazel and Little Hazel are my current FREE BOMs available over in my BOM Group on Facebook (link here) join in and make your own. It's gorgeous, even if I do say so myself.

I'm just thinking about whether to add a tiny slip of green in before finishing off with my print border. I'll decide after looking at it up on my wall for a few days. I think going straight into the print fabric might be too much, but maybe not. I'll see how it settles on my eyes.

But then again, looking at it now below in the image, I do like it. 

Maybe I should stop complicating things and just follow the pattern!

And this is all I have left of this gorgeous Fassett print. I'm so pleased to have it off the stash shelf and on the design wall in blocks I'm going to get so much use out of. 

Phew! With the top done now, I can focus on a guilt free delicious adventure in fun - of course I'm talking about Sweet 2016 and if you haven't joined my Mystery Applique BOM - then why ever not?! It's only $3.95 per month and I can tell you, it's fabulous! Think of it as a monthly fabric party. I'm mixed delicious up with gorgeous and turned it into a monthly surprise. Go on, treat yourself.

You can join my BOM Group my clicking here now. It's full of fabulous, talented women sharing their work, ideas and inspirations as they make my quilt patterns. Join us and our friendly, supportive community today. 

OR 

Wait until the 15th of each month and download the available pattern right here directly on my blog. The choice is yours. My old Yahoo Group has closed due to limitations on the platform. If you haven't come over to the new group, now is a good time.

WOW: Hazel Taking Shape

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 I've been busy! 

What do you think? I'm really in love with Hazel, and made up in Fassett's, it's bold and striking.This quilt is no shrinking violet - which is funny given that I originally envisioned it in soft, gentle colours. I'm loving seeing what fabrics you choose over in the Group too. The range of fabrics and schemes is great, with something from all styles on offer. I can't wait until Part 2 is released on February 15th and you all move onto your star rounds. I've had to finish my own Hazel early as I've been making 'samples' to photograph and show as block tutorials right here on the blog. This takes so much time - much longer than actually making the blocks, so I decided it was best to do it 'all at once' whilst I had the chance. 

Now I can see that the green really works and I'm happy with the balance of fabrics (I originally repeated the stripe fabric as the 8 Point Star background - but removed it because it changed the mood completely. Now I think it all zings! Today I'll be finishing up my blocks.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

LE? Oh Yes, You Can!

Every finished Love Entwined quilt (and the number of these is steadily growing) started with just one stitch. But I know, that for some of you, taking on the whole quilt has felt, well, a bit daunting.
But it doesn't have to be. Love Entwined is a 'once in a lifetime' quilt - beautiful, intriguing and perfectly accomplished. If you missed it the first time around as a free BOM, you can still start your own wonderful version, wherever you are in the world, and join us in reviving the spirit of the mysterious original.

Making LE in 2016 is easier than ever. How? Now, instead of having to consider the whole quilt all at once - you can tackle it block by block. It makes it easier to manage. Consider it a BOM 'on demand.' It starts when you do and arrives by email each month. And, once you're ready to make a start. there's a committed Love Entwined Group you can join to share your progress pics, share ideas and ask advice. Whatever step you're up to, someone's done it before you. Now is a great time to start your own Love Entwined.

Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet 

SUBSCRIPTION - start any time

Pay $9.95 (USD) per month for 14 months 

and receive an installment each month, delivered to your email in-box