~ I Love Home Grand Prize Giveaway! ~

Just wanted to pop in for a quick reminder about the huge Grand Prize Giveaway for the I Love Home Quilt Block of Month hosted by Jacquelynne Steves.  Valued at $200 it's worth taking the time to pop over to Jacquelynnes blog to enter.  

The quilt along is over but you can still get the pattern free for the next few days.  After January 31, 2018 they will NO LONGER be free.  This is the LAST CHANCE to get them FREE! You can find all the information for the free quilt pattern by clicking here.  

  As a featured blogger in this quilt along we were given the freedom to do what ever we wanted with the blocks.  Below is my Finished quilt.  You can see more of the details I added to my quilt by clicking here.

There were so many creative bloggers and quilters with some unique ideas.  You can find tons of  I Love Home quilt inspiration for your blocks by visiting the  Facebook group called Sew Quilty Friends and the Pinterest group.

You must click here to enter in the Grand Prize Giveaway.  Good Luck!

Leaving a comment on this blog post WILL NOT will not enter you in the giveaway.

~  Lea Anne ~

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~ I Love Home BOM ~ Block 3

Happy Monday Morning quilting friends! It's time for block #3 of the Jacquelynne Steves I Love Home Block of the Month. You can find this months free block on Jacquelynne's blog here.  

Every month I'm trying to use at least one of the fancy stitches on my sewing machine or some type of embellishment, sometimes both.  

My applique templates were made using freezer paper.  A tutorial for freezer paper applique can be found here if you'd like to give it try.  The template in this tutorial is large but the same technique was used to make the small pieces for these quilt blocks.

 

Using Superior Threads MonoPoly Clear Thread and a tiny blanket stitch I machine appliqued the applique in place.  You can read more about this technique on last months block here.  The little leaves on the flower were made using one of those fancy stitches on my sewing machine.  Normally I don't use interfacing on my quilt blocks but this stitch wanted to pull and pucker my fabric.  So I used a Sulky Self Adhesive Tear Away interfacing on the back side of my block.

 

To test my leaf stitch before stitching them to the block I used a scrap piece of fabric and interfacing, adjusting the length and width of the stitches to find what I thought was the best look for my block.   And in all honesty I had to use the book to learn to sew a button by machine.  I normally do buttons by hand.

What a fun block and I learned so much.  This was also the first time that I can remember making HRT(half rectangle triangles).  Jacquelynne has made a video for those of us that are new to this technique.  The video can be found here.  It was quick and easy and worked perfectly!  Below is all my blocks so far.  You can find more block inspiration on the Pinterest Board and the Facebook Group.  

Don't forget to visit all the participants in the blog hop for inspiration and a more chances at the giveaway.

The Quilting Nook
The Sewing Loft
The Crafty Quilter
The Inbox Jaunt
Designs by Sarah J
Farmhouse Quilts
Penguin and Fish
Podunk Pretties(you are here)

Now it's giveaway time!  This months giveaway is an assortment of buttons and charms from I Love Buttons Etc.

This giveaway is open to all!

To enter the Giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post by Sunday October 8.   Septembers winner was 

Cheryl Gebhart, Congratulations!

~ Lea Anne ~

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~ Block 2, I Love Home BOM and GIVEAWAY

Happy Monday cute quilting friends!  I'm so excited to be sharing block 2 in the I Love Home BOM designed by Jacquelynne Steves.  

 For my blocks I chose to do freezer paper applique and invisible machine applique instead of the fusible raw edge applique.  Most of my fabric selection came from my stash of Pam Kitty by Lakehouse Fabrics.  There's a couple designer fabrics thrown in the mix also because Pam Kitty plays well with so many different fabrics.  

I'm using Monopoly thread by Superior to stitch my applique in place, it's invisible and very durable.  This thread holds up well to an iron and the heat from a dryer.  I've tested it at higher levels of heat than suggested and it doesn't melt.  This block was ironed after finishing using a cotton setting and the thread held up fine.  It comes in two colors clear and smoke for darker fabrics.  I'm using the clear thread with a teeny weeny little blanket stitch.  How tiny?  The picture below shows the thread and the tiny stitch.   Using a 70/10 needle also helps to hide the stitching.  

The Monopoly thread is barely visible.  Once the quilt is washed, it almost disappears completely, giving your quilt the look of hand applique without all the work.

The window sashing and the heart above the door were sewn using Aurifil thread and a double machine stitch.  

 Awe...my design wall is looking SEW cute!  Can't wait to share the rest of the quilt with you...I've a surprise finish!

If you'd like to join the I Love Home BOM there's still plenty of time to join in the fun.  Click here to go to Jacquelynnes blog where you will find information about this FREE block of the month and block 2.  

There's several block options for this block of the month.  Applique, embroidery, a plain center block and the newest idea a Wonky house block.  Information on the Wonky house block can be found by clicking here.

For more I Love Home BOM inspiration you can join the Facebook group or follow the Pinterest Group.  Lots of fun and creative ideas for sprucing up your blocks.  And don't forget to hop over to see all the bloggers in this blog hop.  By visiting and commenting on each blog you'll be entered to win this months giveaway.

 The Crafty Quilter

The Inbox Jaunt

Designs by Sarah J

Farmhouse Quilts

Penguin and Fish

Podunk Pretties (you are here)

The Quilting Nook

The Sewing Loft

The giveaway for this month is a fat quarter bundle of A Shout, A Whisper, A Text from Sarah J. Maxwell.  She also one of the bloggers in this hop.  

This giveaway is now **Closed**

To enter the giveaway here at Podunk Pretties all you need to do is leave a comment in by clicking on the word "comments" at the end of this blog post.  It's open to everyone, from anywhere in this big ole world!  Any comment will do.  And just to be on safe side leave your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win.  

Last months winner was....

Margie Adkins

 Congratulations Margie! 

Thanks for stopping by my little spot in Podunk

~ Lea Anne ~

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Fabric Pull - I Love Home Free BOM

What a mess I've made in the Studio this morning.  Today is the fabric pull for the I Love Home Free BOM by Jacquelynne Steves.   There was a definite color plan when the pull began.

But maybe something a little different, work out of the comfort zone.  So a few more fabrics were pulled and put on my ironing station.

Fabric is exploding from every nook and cranny.  Hmm...maybe I need to do some fabric shopping..not in my stash but a ROAD TRIP!  

So are you making this quilt?   If you've not seen the full quilt yet you should hop over to Jacquelynnes blog.  It's super cute.  She's posted several color options and ideas.  You can even order kits and not have to worry about finding the perfect fabric.  The pattern has been designed for whatever your quilting style or skill level.  It can be applique, embroidery or just a pieced block.  The fabric requirements have been posted and the first block will be out in August.  If you sign up for this BOM she'll send you the new block right to your email every month, how great is that?  Oh I don't want to forget to tell you about the prizes.  Well how about I let Jacquelynne tell you.  Just click here.

Hope to see you there!

~ Lea Anne ~

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I Love Home FREE Block of the Month

Who can resist free?  I know I can't especially when it's so cute.  I wanted to share Jacquelynne Steves new Block of the Month that will Start in August called "I love Home".   I saw the sneak peak of this quilt being designed a few weeks ago and was anxious for it to begin.  Much to my surprise as I waited for the big reveal and launch of the pattern Jacquelynne contacted me asking if I would be willing to be one of the featured bloggers in the sew along...Well of course I would!  What an honor, Thank you Jacquelynne!

To participate you need to sign up to receive the free patterns in your email as soon as they are released.  Isn't that wonderful?  You'll never miss a month with the blocks coming directly to your email.   And If your not a fan of applique like me, there's an embroidery option or a plain pieced block option.   To sign up click here.  

The fun doesn't stop at a free quilt pattern.  If you participate and share your blocks along the way there's several giveaways.  One of which will be right here on my blog.  So hop over to quickly sign up and find out more about the amazing sponsors and giveaways.  Click here to sign up I'm looking forward to seeing your version of this fun free quilt.

~ Lea Anne ~

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