January Monthly Color Challenge Entry for Patterns by Jen 2020 Event

January 9, 2020January 12, 20202 Comments

It’s the new year so that means it’s the start of another quilt along hosted by Patterns by Jen. Like last year, a different color and block is introduced each month. What is different about this year is that the color choices are based on birds. How lovely! First up is the January monthly color challenge block which is yellow, and inspired by the goldfinch.

Another difference with this years’ challenge is that Jen is adding an option for making the block with black or with white. As a result, I decided to two versions of the block, and I have to admit, I’m really loving the yellow and white option.

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January Mystery Block Instructions

January 1, 2020January 3, 20205 Comments

Create with Claudia 202 Mystery Quilt Along January Block #createwithclaudiaqal

Welcome to the first month of the first ever Create with Claudia Mystery Quilt Along. I hope you have a great time and that you love the quilt you make! Here are the January mystery block instructions.

We are kicking things off with an easy nine patch that will measure 6 ½ inches by 6 ½ inches square. You are going to need eight total. Don’t worry though. It may sound like a lot, but these blocks go together in no time.

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Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Cutout Block

December 13, 2019December 13, 20194 Comments

Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Cutout Quilt Block Tutorial

I am not sure exactly what it is about the gingerbread man, but around Christmas it is one of my favorite motifs. This adorable gingerbread cookie cutter cutout quilt block is a festive way to incorporate that look into your decor.

I think these little guys appeal to my sentimental side. They take me back to my childhood where they would be found in the Christmas books and movies that I was so fond of. These days they seem to be everywhere. I figured that I would join in the fun and make my own version.

Remember Making Snowflakes?

Remember making paper snowflakes when you were a kid? This technique for turning it into a quilt block, which is based on Anita Shackleford’s folded cutwork method, is a lot like that process.

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November Entry for the Patterns by Jen 2019 Monthly Color Challenge

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019Leave a comment

November Entry for the Patterns by Jen Monthly Color Challenge

Here is my November entry for the Patterns by Jen 2019 monthly color challenge. That means that there is only one month to go! I can’t believe it. I also can’t wait for December to get here so I can see the final block.

This challenge has been a joy, and the emphasis on colors has really made me think about my fabric choices and placement.

When I started this project way back in January, I decided to use batik fabrics, and this month was no exception. Yellow was the color prompt, and it was a bit of stretch for me fabric-wise. I don’t have a lot of yellow batiks on hand, so I had to use two different ones for the darker parts of the block.

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Scrappy Swimming Fish Quilt Block

November 7, 2019November 7, 2019Leave a comment

I have always been a huge fan of scrap quilts and the majority of my pieces are done this way. My scrappy swimming fish quilt block is no exception. It is a whimsical block that is fairly easy to make.

I came up with this block while I was designing the quilt “Swimming Upstream”. I had a large stash of coral fabrics and, for some reason, they reminded me of salmon. The fish has a long body and I added background sashing around it to make it look like the fish was swimming in water.

In the quilt I made using this block, each fish is made up of one coral fabric and the beige sashing is from various fabrics. For a different look, you can easily make the fish out of various fabrics and keep the sashing one fabric, or you can change it any other way you would like to.

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