~ Update On Me and the Easy Quilt ~

Hello Happy Quilters!  It's been awhile since my last blog post.  I've posted a couple times on other social media but for the most part I'm still in a "Funk".  Thank you so much to those of you who have reached out to me this week via e-mails. Not much has changed.  The health issues are still a concern.  To keep the whining to a minimal I'll just say that Benadryl has become part of my daily routine to keep the histamine rash at bay.  The natural remedies haven't worked and for now I refuse prescription medicine.  With a little relief from the rash, getting back into the studio for a few minutes here and there has been possible.  The Disappearing 9-patch QAL hosted by Julie at The Crafty Quilter blog was supposed to be the kick in the pants to restart my MOJO.  Sigh....what can a gal do but go with the flow, even when the flow is more like a trickle.  The nine patches have been sliced and diced and hung on the design wall.

These florals mixed with the large scale gingham in the Elm Park by Laura Ashley make my little ole heart melt.  Pairing the Laura Ashley with Lakehouse Drygoods green print added a subtle consistency to the quilt with overwhelming the design.

Getting row one together wasn't easy.  I literally had to dust the cobwebs from my sewing machine.  The rest of the studio webs can wait.  Yes there's webs everywhere when the sunlight shines into the studio.   I could leave the webs for a few more months and have natural Halloween decor!....HAHA!  

Hopefully I can get the rest of the quilt together before they become covered with more webs.  Wish me luck!  I need all I can get.  Love you all!  Thanks again for your quilty vibes and cheering me on during this funky time.  I hope to be back to normal or what I consider to be normal soon.

#disappearing9patchqal #craftyquilter #quiltalong #podunkpretties

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~ Searching for MOJO ~

  Today I'll start down a very unfamiliar path in search of my quilting mojo.  In my 30+ years of sewing and quilting this is the first time I've needed to push myself to do what I love.  It's the strangest feeling.  Everyday I read quilting blogs, quilting Instagram post and scroll through hours of quilting on Facebook but I just can't seem to find the gumption to get back in the studio.   Maybe a quick quilt finish will help build up my mojo.  Honestly I don't even have enough in me to design my own quick quilt.  Quilt math....UGG...not going to happen.  This lack of enthusiasm has spilled over into my entire life.  It's been quick and easy meals, very little housework and absolutely no yard work.  Sigh....time to put on my girl panties, stop the whining and buck up buttercup!  Baby steps, just do SOMETHING! So I did, I pulled fabric for a new easy project. 

I'll be using these fabrics and joining The Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Along by Julie over at The Crafty Quilter.   Her tutorials are very well written and easy to follow and best of all I don't need to do any quilt math. 

The two Elm Park by Laura Ashley charms are leftovers from a Dresden project(UFO).  This line of fabric is a couple years old but if you do an online search you can still find some of it out there.  Normally I use a bright white background.  For this quilt I've chosen to use a cream print to match the background in the charm pack.  

The colors of the Essential Dots #8654 match the charms almost perfectly.  

The slight color difference in the green and aqua shouldn't be notice able.  And if it is.....back away from the quilt until it looks better!

Of course what's a quilt if I don't include a little Lakehouse Drygoods fabric from my stash.  The pattern in this quilt along calls for 2 consistent fabrics, one being the background and the other is the center of each nine patch.  This line has hints of green in a few of the fabrics in the charm pack.  So I thought a green fabric would work best as the center for my nine patches.

Now to choose which green?  I love them both.  I could use them both. The green below is one of my all time favorite prints from Lakehouse.  I have it in every color.  So dainty and cute.

Which green would you choose?

#disappearing9patchqal #quiltalong #freequiltpattern #lauraashleyfabric #showmethemoda #pamkittyplayswell #podunkpretties #quiltmojo

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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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~ Good Fortune ~ Part 3 ~

Yeah! Chevrons!  Don't you just love the clue for this week?!  We get to use the green, which I love, even though my green is the color of spinach. (that makes more sense if you read yesterdays post)  Okay I'll agree these can be kinda tricky.  But this is doable.  The fist thing we need to do is... believe we can do it.  You know the story of the little engine that could?!....LOL!  It really is that simple.  You need to believe you can do it before you can do it.  A little positive energy goes a long way.  And remember those little imperfections will be hidden in the busy-ness of the quilt.

 But before I share a couple ideas/tricks I want to show you some of my fabrics.   The floral print in the middle is one of my favorite older prints.  If I remember right this is a Joann Fabric print. I love the red and yellow paired with the gold shimmer.  It's a Christmas print that doesn't scream 

I'M A CHRISTMAS PRINT!  

And then there's this.  How in the world did this get in my stash?  I would have never purchased any type of nautical fabric.  It's the right shade of green so its going in the mix. 

Now here's one that some of my older readers might recognize.  Jinny Beyer has come a long way over the years.  Her quilt designs today are works of art.  My hats off to a quilter that takes on a Jinny pattern.  If you've never heard of you need to see this talented ladies work.  Click here.

Alright let's get this party started.  The first thing I did was read an reread Bonnie's instructions for Clue 3.  The first piecing option was the one I focused on.  Then I started playing  on paper.  This is my go to method for testing piecing when I design a quilt.  I could make it from fabric but if the measurements are wrong then I have an orphan unit.  After a few years of that it's a lot of waste.  Scrap paper is plentiful, cheap and I don't feel guilty tossing it in the trash.

Luckily my first attempt was correct.   So a quick run down of my process.  I drew the lines from the instructions given in Clue 3.  I stitched the first line from corner to corner.  I felt like I had won the lottery when I DID NOT need to move my needle to make the 3/8" seam allowance.  From my needle to the edge of my open toe foot is exactly 3/8".  

If you don't have the quilt ruler Bonnie's is using and you've no idea where 3/8" is on the ruler here's a little guide.

It worked fine on paper but will it work on fabric.  There's only one way to find out.  So instead of marking oodles of lines on oodles of squares I'm using the lines I drew on the bed of my machine.  You can find a tutorial here.  My needle is centered with the center line on the bed of my machine.  Sewing from corner to corner.  Just take a stitch or two at the top and then shift your vision to the bottom corner.  The bottom corner needs to stay on the line on the bed of the machine.  All this will make more sense when you see the video below.

For the second line I'm using the first stitched line as my guide.  The lines on the bed of the machine are useless for this.  Just follow the previously stitched line.

Before I cut apart my first test piece I pulled back the top triangle, pressed and then measured.  It's the perfect size!  Yeah!

Then I repeated the same process with the larger triangle.  It's not perfect but it's staying.  I'll make some adjustments on the next piece.  I'll explain later what I didn't like about the larger triangle. 

Let's cut these babies apart.....carefully...that 1/8" that is missing makes a big difference.  

And through the magic of blogging we have beautifully made pieces.  

Okay lets get real.  This corner is a little off.  A fix is simple...without ripping seams I could stitch another seam.  Or I could just roll the seam back a bit till it lines up with the corner.  I think I'll just leave it as is.

After taking all these pictures I decided to make a little video.  So here you go. 

Video Removed 

 I removed this video due to some Bonnie followers believed I was breaking a rule. Sorry for trying to help out those who want and need help.  I in no way made one penny from the video.   I was only trying to be helpful with out posting any of the pattern sizes.  Sorry.

#goodfortunequilt #quiltvillemystery #quiltingtutorial #podunkpretties

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Spring has Sprung?

Happy Monday morning quilting friends!  Here it is April 9th and I wake up to more snow!   Mother nature has lost her mind.  Father time needs to show her a calendar.  Yes, I love snow and it is so pretty but I'm longing for spring flowers, digging in the dirt and taking off a few layers of clothing.  My studio is bright and happy year around with flowery quilts everywhere.  So I thought I would share one of them with you today. This is Scrap Happy Baskets.

You can find the block tutorial here for the quilt above.  I didn't write a full tutorial for the quilt but I did give the width measurements for the block frame and sashings here.  

The finished quilt with better color and quilting closeups can be found here.

How about another sneak peak of what's been keeping me busy?  This is my newest pattern that will be released later in the week.  See you then!

Thanks for stopping by my snowy little spot in Podunk!

~ Lea Anne ~

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Ring Around the Posy pattern idea

This week my Studio is being repainted and redecorated by little ole me.  That means absolutely no sewing time.  While painting, the quilt ideas seem to creep into my overly quilty obsessed brain.  Luckily I can get my sewing fix from playing around in EQ7  each evening.   Yesterday evening I came up with another design using the Back Porch Blooms block and the Butterfly block.  It finishes at 49.5" square.  A good size for a baby quilt, a large wall hanging or a super cute large table topper.  I'm calling this one "Ring around the Posy".

Oh yes, I'll make this quilt someday.  All the open space for quilting...feathers, feather, feathers!

Here's some basic quilty math for those of you who would like to make it.  

I used the same butterfly block as in the last quilt "Hello Spring".  This time it's framed, but the frame is different than the one in the tutorial that can be found here.  Just omit the on point frame part of the tutorial and add this one.

You'll also need the "Back Porch Blooms" block tutorial that can be found here.

If you visiting for the first time, the "Back Porch Blooms" is a very relaxed quilt along I'm having here on my blog.  There's linky parties and giveaways, you can read more about it in the link provided for the block tutorial.  You can find all tutorials and posts by clicking on the "Back Porch Bloom" image in the right sidebar.

As I was writing this post a little idea hopped into my thoughts.  What about adding this adorable little bunny to the "Ring Around the Posy" quilt?  You can find the tutorial for the bunny in my Tutorials tab at the top of this blog.  The tutorial sets the block on point, which would work nicely in this quilt.  Just trim the block to 9.5".

Happy Stitching!

~ Lea Anne ~

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More Blooming ideas

Little did I know when designing this block months ago I was sparking an internal obsession.  I just can't stop making and designing more quilts with them.  So this past weekend all of the Pam Kitty fabrics in the stash were pressed and scanned into EQ7.  Then the real party started, picking just the right fabrics...like a gal could go wrong with Pam Kitty...HA!

There's been a wonderful response to the blocks here on the blog and on Instagram.  A great big ole hug and thank you to Pam Kitty for sharing my blocks on her Instagram feed.  If your on Instagram and share your block or quilt made from this block use #backporchbloom or #backporchbloomquilt so I can find you and of course don't for get to tag me @podunkpretties.  Most of all, thank you to all of you that are sharing your inspirational blocks and  planning to play along during this quilt along.  With the responses come little hints as to what you plan to make which has inspired my quilt designing even more.  The next free pattern and linky party(June 7) is still a couple of weeks away but here's an early sneak peak.

These cute little butterflies will be part of the next project.  If you'd like to make a few of your own you can find the free tutorial here.  Now let me say this block was designed for a different quilt  and the tutorial for them sets them on point.  I left the corners off my blocks that finish at 6" in quilt.

As I mentioned before most of the fabrics you'll be seeing in this quilt along series will be Pam Kitty.  However my background and gray fabrics are not.  I use Kona White for almost all my backgrounds and the gray is from an unknown line.  

As promised here's a simple and sweet inspirational project.  I can't make all the ideas but I can share most of them with you along the way.  Some will include basic measurements for making and some will not.  It all depends on weather or not time permits.  This week your in luck...I've all kinds of time! 

  You can find the directions for the 9" x 18" Back Porch Blooms quilt block here.

Alrighty I saved the best for last.  Here's the measurements if you'd like to give this little runner a try.  It finishes at about 58" x 28".  You'll notice that not all the pieces have a measurement  on them.  For instance the final border is 

2.5" x 58.5" and marked on the top but not on the bottom.  It just made the picture look to busy to have all those numbers on there but you gals get the idea right?!

If you have any question feel free to leave a comment or email I'll answer them as soon as possible.  And as always I'm human, if you find an error in my patterns or tutorials please let me know so I can fix it ASAP.

~ Lea Anne ~

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