New FREE BOM And FREE Mystery Quilt

 Happy Halloween Quilty Friends!  Today post will be as short and and sweet as candy corn, one of my favorite seasonal treats.  If you've never had candy corn and cashews together, you need to give it a try.  It was my momma's favorite fall treat.  I was leery about the combination at first but it's wickedly addictive!

Now onto some sweet treats with no calories.  Free quilt patterns!  The first one is Bona Lisa's Sweater Emporium.

You can get all the details for this quilt FREE BOM at the following blogs.  Be sure to visit each blog so you can see their take on this quilt.

MooseStash Quilting

Just Let Me Quilt

Creating in the Sticks

Here's a little snippet of my favorite of the three.

Now onto the FREE 

Quiltville Scrappy Mystery Quilt

This is a huge yearly event in the Quiltville Open Studio on Facebook.  Thousands of quilters are up early today waiting anxiously for the launch this years quilt.  

You don't need to be a member of the group to participate in the Mystery Quilt.

Every year on Halloween, sometime around 8 or 9 A.M. Bonnie will post on her blog the basic plan for the mystery quilt.  You know...color pallet, fabric yardage and any tools you may need.  

On Black Friday the first clue will be released on her blog.  This gives you a month to find the perfect fabrics for your quilt.

The Facebook group goes wild!  So many pictures of quilts being made.  I don't always participate but I always watch the Facebook groups progress.

Today and for the next month the group will be full of quilters posting pictures of their fabric pulls.  I really do enjoy the all the excitement around this mystery quilt.

Well that's the basics on this mystery quilt.  If you want to check it out for yourself here's a link to Bonnie's Blog  Hop over, sign up for her newsletter or emails so you never miss a mystery clue.  Don't worry Bonnie doesn't send out a lot of  emails or newsletters.  Maybe one or two a month.

UPDATE

You can find the mystery introduction here

https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/10/indigo-way-mystery-introduction.html

Until next time...

I hope you find time to stitch up something sweet!

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~ A Few New Freebies ~

At the beginning of each new year the crafty internet world is all a buzz with inspiration.  Today I'm sharing with you a few free projects that landed in my email.  

The first one is the Sturdy Storage Totes by Sew She Can.  This is a great project for using up some of the yardage stash.  

Next is the Stack Squares quilt by Kitchen Table Quilting.  This bright modern quilt pattern uses a layer cake and jelly roll.  Instructions are for baby, twin and queen size.

Next is the Two color Irish Chain Quilt Along by Gigi's Thimble.  The quilt along will begin on January 8th and will be spread out over 8 weeks.

Valentines day will soon be here.  Dress up your table with these cute Sweetheart Placemats by Material Girl Quilts.

 Here's one for the quilter who loves to make blocks.  All I can say is WOW!  The 365 quilt is impressive indeed.  Designed by Kathryn Kerr.

#freequiltpattern

#freequiltbom

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~ 2 Free Christmas Projects ~

Are you looking for another quick Christmas project to add to your list?  Well I have found 2 super cute and FREE projects perfect for squeezing into your holiday sewing frenzy.

Carol over at Just Let Me Quilt has designed some of the cutest little Christmas applique blocks for a Christmas Joy Sew Along.  The little Snowman block is first block.  All the block instructions have already been posted and let me tell you each one is just as cute as the snowman!   The final layout instructions will be released on December 11, 2019.  So there's plenty of time to join in this sew along.  You can find the FREE printable PDF's on the Just Let Me Quilt blog or on the ThermoWeb blog.

#thermoweb

The second project is a really cute Christmas pillow project called The Merry Little Christmas Stitch Along from Jen Daly Quilts.  This stitch along is already in progress but it's not to late to join in the fun.  Hop over to Jen's website for the free PDF's.  While your grabbing the free instruction sheets make sure you sign up for the email notifications so you don't miss a block.

#merrylittlechristmassal

#merrylittlechristmassal

#thermoweb

#podunkpretties

#dailyinspiration

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~ Best of 2018 ~

When I saw the new linky party hosted by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs I thought it would be an easy blog post to write.  The topic is The Best to 2018.  Cheryl gave several ideas for a blog post.

Posts with the most view
Posts with the most comments
Posts that provoked the best discussions
Posts showing favorite 2018 finishes 
Posts of your best tutorials 
Posts that are simply your favorites

All of these are great ideas, how could I choose only one?  Well after about a hour of trying do decide on one topic I decided to write several different post over the last few days of the year.  Each with a different list of the best. Today's list is based upon you the readers.  I'll be sharing blog posts with the most views.  As many of you might have guessed giveaway posts almost always get more views and comments.  While I love the visitors and the comments on giveaway posts,they are not a true measure of my followers.  So they will be excluded from this list.  The next group of post that gets the most views is tutorials or free patterns.  It was no big surprise that 4 of the top 5 were tutorials or free patterns. So here's my list of the 5 blog post with the most views.  Starting with the smallest of the 5 first.

Attack of the scraps, posted on 2-19, 814 views.

In this post I share the starts of a new scrappy quilt for my spare bedroom.  I had a little giggle when checked on the progress of the quilt.  4 Blocks made!  Oh my, that's not real progress.  The plan was for a leader and ender project.  But I find the leader and enders a pain and they slow down the progress of the quilt I'm making.  So I think this leader and ender that has become a UFO needs to be completed in one big sewing marathon sometime soon.

2 HST's a Time, No Drawing lines, posted on 12-4, 938 views.

This is one of my more recent posts where I shared a quick and easy way to make half square triangles with a easy to make reusable template. 

Autumn Star Tutorial, posted on 10-23, 968 views

One of my favorite tutorials this year was the Autumn star.  This tutorial used some bonus 2.5" HST's leftover from my Podunk Plaid quilt pattern.  The quilt block could be easily resized to use any size HST.  It would also look super cute with scrappy HST's.

First Day of Spring, posted 3-20. 1096 views.  

In this post a follower has shared her quilt an very touching story about the quilt she made using my free Podunk Posy quilt pattern.  It's stories like this one that make everything I do in the quilting world worth every minute.

Bee Skep Pin Cushion, post 7-27, 5330 views.

This year I was a featured blogger for the Save the Bee's quilt along hosted by Jacquelynne Steves.  The cute bee themed blocks inspired so many cute sewing projects.  The Bee Skep was the one I just couldn't resist making.  It was a big hit.  And it's still free!

I hope you enjoyed this list of " The Best of 2018" and found a project or two to start out your New Year.  Check out the linky party over at Meadow Mist Designs for some great quilting inspiration.

#bestof2018 #podunkpretties #meadowmistdesigns 

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~ In the Studio all Weekend ~

Happy Monday Quilty Friends!   This weekend started out as a no quilting weekend.  We planned to install the new floor in my office.  As you can see that didn't happen.  Instead I spent the entire weekend happily playing in the Studio.  With my weekend wide open I was able to finish Clue 3 of the Good Fortune Mystery by Bonnie Hunter that was released on Friday.

I was surprised how quick these were to make. Not drawing all those lines really helped cut down on the time.  It's a little different than any of Bonnie's suggestions.  If you missed my post about how I made clue 3 you can see it by CLICKING HERE.

I did a few test blocks and adjusted my stitch path just ever so slightly to get the almost perfect Chevron units.  A few of them were not this pretty but for the most part they all turned out great.  The ones that were not so great were my fault.  You know how it is....you get comfortable and put the peddle to the metal!  And then before you know it your all over the place!  So I would slow down but then the wild side would tap me on the shoulder saying...FASTER! FASTER!  I should never listen inner child Lea Anne.

I'm also glad I starched all my fabrics.  Finger pressing as I went also cut down the time spent working on these.  Not having to press after each step is wonderful.

As I was cleaning up and putting my Chevrons in their box, I couldn't help but think about the design of the mystery quilt.  How would these be used?  Yes they could be used alone but in my matchy matchy mind I see another group of chevrons angled in the other direction.  It's possible, she has done it before with flying geese.  Having us make them in two different clues.  

Well it'll be fun to see what this weeks clue will be.  Oh who am I kidding!  This is hard for me!  I'm not good at waiting for surprises.  I'm that kid that carefully opens and re-wraps Christmas presents, or jumps to the end of the book to read he last 10 pages.  I just want to scream ...SHOW ME THE QUILT!   It 's the inner child screaming, I'm pretty sure it's the same one that tells me to sew faster,  and to refresh Bonnie blog page every minute on Friday mornings.  She's a spoiled brat sometimes.  But we'll keep her around because she is really great at picking out colors for most of my quilts.  She wasn't allowed to pull fabrics for this quilt but the one I'm going to show you tomorrow is all her! 

This post is being link to the following

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-3.html

#goodfortunequilt #goodfortunemysteryquilt #quiltvillemystery #bonniehunter #podunkpretties #freemysteryquilt 

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Sew Fresh Quilts~Have a Jolly little Christmas

Hi quilting friends!  I just wanted to pop in today to share a cute free quilt along.  Lorna over at SewFreshQuilts once again has designed a super cute quilt along.

"Have a Jolly Little Christmas" is free and a new block is posted every 2 weeks.

The quilt along started in January but there's still plenty of time to catch up.  Lorna also shares ideas for several layout options.

Including a few ideas for smaller projects using these blocks.

Hop on over to get the free tutorials and coloring pages download by 

clicking here.

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Simple quilt finish and quicky tutorial

 A couple of weeks ago I finished a lap quilt and forgot to share it here on the blog.  This is the last of the simple quilts I made during the last few weeks of taking care of mom.  The simple designed allowed for mindless sewing for the soul and a quick finish.  

The idea for the quilt came from seeing this picture on google while searching for quick quilt patterns.  Sadly I cannot give credit where credit is due because the google picture links to pinterest and when I get to pinterest this picture isn't anywhere to be found.  So somebody is being cheated by google and pinterest.

With that little rant behind us lets get back to the pattern.  Here's my EQ7 drawing of a small lap quilt.   Since the quilt is basically scraps, except for the red border, I designed by how many 2.5 squares were already cut and ready to sew.  The sashing and background fabric were leftovers from a jelly roll and some 2.5 scraps.  

The quilt finishes at (64 x 72)

If you'd like to make this quicky quilt here's a quicky visual tutorial/pattern.  You'll need some quilting knowledge I'm not going to explain every step n the quilt top making process.  Don't forget my blog is printer friendly just scroll down to the bottom of this post, click on the print friendly icon to print this page in pdf format.  It will also allow you take out parts of this post you don't want to print.

Use the the picture above and the first full quilt drawing to help you with your layout.

~ Lea Anne ~

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Spring Fever or Cabin Fever?

It's that time of year again when the wintertime blahs start getting to even the happiest of hearts.  We start longing for the little pops of spring foliage outside our windows.  Some like to call it cabin fever but I prefer Spring Fever just because it sounds a little more positive.   Quilters have their own special way of dealing with winter and the lack of color outside.  Some of my happiest quilt designs have been made during the anticipation of springs arrival.  

When I saw this free pattern "Cabin Fever" designed by Jedi Craft Girl and Gigi's Thimble I knew it was the perfect project to make during my Spring Fever blahs.  It was quick and simple to make due to the easy to follow pattern instructions.  Do you ever feel like some things were just meant to be?  Well that's how I felt with this pattern.  You see the week before finding this pattern series I found the cutest little fat quarter bundle at Walmart.   It was a must have with five of the most darling fat quarters.  These prints are not my usual impulse buy, but it just felt like the right thing to do at the time (as does all fabric purchases haha).

Once at home in my studio with the adorable little bundle the urge came over me to use them right away.   Everyday they would be laid out on the cutting table while standing back doing ever famous quilt stare.  You know, when a quilters eyes glaze over while staring at fabric or quilt blocks for what seems to be hours.  No phone, doorbell, or screaming child can break through this freakish event.  We are in the zone.  I'm pretty sure this happens due to some type of chemical they put in the fabric, possibly pheromones.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it, because there's no way I'm that obsessed with fabric, right?

After breaking free from the chemically induced trance(my bladder has special trance breaking powers) the decision was made....The pattern needed a pattern to show off some of the larger prints.  And then like magic it happened.  The forces that be pulled me to my phone and Instagram.   SHAZZAM!  Amanda and Amber posted the perfect pattern!

The "Cabin Fever" pattern looked perfect for my bundle of (2) pinks (2) green and (1) blue fat quarter.  It was fate!  For the first time in my quilty life a impulsive fabric purchase can be justified.  Yes I really did NEED these! (Well that's what I'll tell Mr. Podunk) 

 Fate also allowed me to find the perfect pink backing hiding in my stash, purchased many years ago at Joann's.  Every square inch of  the pink fabric was used to make the backing.  And there wasn't enough scrap from the fat quarters to make a binding.   So again I tapped into the powers that be and they came to my rescue.  The green polka dot binding fabric was another pull from the stash.  A purchase made last year from my dear friend Beverly.  She sells on ebay.  If you need something she doesn't have in her shop just send her message she might be able to find it hiding in her stock.  When it all comes together so easily with no sneaky trips to the fabric shop for a purchase that would eat into my fabric budget...It's magical!  Anyway that's how my "Spring Fever" version of their "Cabin Fever" pattern came to be.   Wonder what kind of glorious magic will happen during quilting process?!   Maybe another quilt trance will be needed, only the power of time will tell.

The best thing about this whole experience is the pattern was free.  We quilters spend so much money on fabric and quilting tools that when something free comes along it's hard to pass up.  I really can't say enough good things about my experience so far with these two gals and their free patterns.  And I'm looking forward to their free patterns over the next few months.  You can find this pattern "Cabin Fever" by clicking here and scrolling down on her blog.

February's pattern is also a must make cutie. Remember all these free quilt patterns use (5) fat quarters.  Of course you'll need some yardage for the background fabric, backing and binding.  The February "Chains of Love" free pattern can be found here.  And don't forget to follow their blogs so you don't miss out on the new patterns over the next few months.  

Now let me say I'm in no way affiliated with these gals.  Just very happy with the quality of the free patterns that take a lot of effort to test and write.

~ Lea Anne ~

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