More Little Gems

My friend Mary Ebert made this cute quilt from my book Little Gems.  This pattern was called Playing with Plaids.  She made it with pastel gingham plaids and white fabrics.  So sweet!

Thanks for sharing the photo Mary!

More Little Gems

I  love to see what quilts other people are making from my book Little Gems.
Brenda has made this little beauty-  the Star Burst pattern.

And this one called Spinner

This was her first paper piecing project- great job Brenda!  Isn't her Ackfeld Wire stand wonderful!  Now that she's made two projects- she only has 14 more to go!

Summer in the Country Blog Hop winner

The Summer in the Country Blog Hop winner for  my blog is Appleblossom.  A pattern for Popsicles is coming your way!

Hope you've enjoyed all the blog postings of patterns, recipes and prizes!

This winner was chosen by Random.org

Summer in the Country Blog Hop

Today is my day to share on the Summer in the Country Blog Hop.  There is nothing more fun than to receive a package of beautiful Island Batik fabric and to be asked to make something with it. The fabrics we (the Island Batik Ambassadors) are showing you in this blog hop are brand new- hot of the press- appearing in stores this August. This time we were to be inspired by summer and fun in the country.  Isn't their logo cute with the barn and windmill!  So many ideas... The fabrics I worked with are from the Flower Fields line. 

Aren't they yummy!   Click here to go to the Island Batik website and see all the Flower Fields collection in true color. We were asked to design something that had a "summer in the county" feel to it.  When I think of summer, I think of cool and refreshing things like ice cold lemonade, ice cream, popsicles or frozen desserts of all kinds. For my summer fun project I made a little table topper called Popsicles. This is a simple paper pieced block pattern.  I used four of the Strawberry Fields fabrics (the four on the left) and added a white background and a basics green fabric- both from Island Batik.  I just had to have that lime color to have the four basic popsicle colors!  Does it make your mouth water?  It's been in the 90's here lately, so a Popsicle sounds good!

Another cold and refreshing dessert I like in the summer is called Freezer Cherry Delight.  This recipe is easy to make, only has 4 ingredients and you can make it ahead and have it in the freezer for whenever you have company.  Give it a try!

Freezer Cherry Delight

     1 can cherry pie filling

     1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

     1 can crushed pineapple- drain 1/2 liquid

     1 container Cool Whip.

Mix all together, spread in pan, cover and freeze.  

Remove, cut and let thaw awhile before serving.

*My giveaway is a free pattern for Popsicles.  Leave a comment with your favorite popsicle flavor or memory.  I'll draw a winner with Random.org after the hop on Sept 7.

Here’s the schedule for the rest of the hop.  Be sure and stop by and visit each day!

8/17 – Island Batik
8/18 – KISSed Quilts – Part 1
8/19 – Kauffman Designs
8/20 – Adele Mogavero
8/21 – MooseStash Quilting
8/22 – Pamela Quilts
8/23 – Freemotion by the River
8/24 – The Patchwork Pearl
8/25 – Fun Threads Designs
8/26 – For Quilts Sake
8/27 – Lemon Tree Snippets
8/28 – Bejeweled Quilts
8/29 – Tamarinis
8/30 – KISSed Quilts – Part 2
8/31 – Beaquilter
9/1 – Purrfect Spots Designs
9/2 – Maria Michaels Designs
9/3 – Mary Mack Made Mine
9/4 – Made In Scraps
9/5 – Happy Cottage Quilter

Summer in the Country Blog Hop

Summer in the Country Blog Hop starts today.  Celebrate summer and see what the Island Batik Ambassadors have created.  Here’s the schedule!

8/17 – Island Batik
8/18 – KISSed Quilts – Part 1
8/19 – Kauffman Designs
8/20 – Adele Mogavero
8/21 – MooseStash Quilting
8/22 – Pamela Quilts
8/23 – Freemotion by the River
8/24 – The Patchwork Pearl
8/25 – Fun Threads Designs
8/26 – For Quilts Sake
8/27 – Lemon Tree Snippets
8/28 – Bejeweled Quilts
8/29 – Tamarinis
8/30 – KISSed Quilts – Part 2
8/31 – Beaquilter
9/1 – Purrfect Spots Designs
9/2 – Maria Michaels Designs
9/3 – Mary Mack Made Mine
9/4 – Made In Scraps
9/5 – Happy Cottage Quilter

Book Review: Cups & Saucers

It's time for another book review and give-a-way.  The book today is Cups and Saucers by Maaike Bakker.  This is a nice book that is actually a book that was remade from the one that was published in 2000.  That by itself tells you that it's a good book - since it is one that was so popular that they remade it in newer fabrics and published it a second time!

Photography by Martingale and photographer Brent Kane

These patterns are all paper pieced.  If you know me by now, you'll know I love to paper piece!  Maaike gives her own methods of how to do paper piecing.  She has a different method than I use in how to prepare and use fabrics to paper piece.  There are often several ways to do any method, and her method may be easier for some people to do, so you might want to check it out.

The patterns are not hard and she has a nice variety of projects you can make.  Several of them are not too large and would make very nice gifts.

This table runner is one of my favorites:

Photography by Martingale and photographer Brent Kane

The table runner includes a lot of the different cups and saucer patterns.

The Welcome sign quilt is another one that would make a nice gift for a friend:

Photography by Martingale and photographer Brent Kane

I like to try out a pattern- so I made these cute little hot pads.

Now for the give-a-way.  Leave me a comment about one of your favorite cups, saucers or a special dish you may have, and you will be entered into a drawing for a free e-book of Cups and Saucers!
Winner will be picked and contacted on August 15.

More Little Gems

My book Little Gems was published last February.  Since that time I've had several people send me photos of projects they made from the book.  Here are two photos of quilts made from the pattern Red Hots.  My quilt was made using red and white fabrics.

This pink and white beauty is from Elaine Egging.

This little gem is made using Christmas fabrics with sparkles of gold in the fabrics.  This was made by Elaine Wakefield.

Both these ladies are friends in my local quilt guild.  It is wonderful to see the projects made with other fabrics and different colors.  

I'd love to see any quilts that anyone else has made!