Pretty In Pink

 Hi Quilty Friends!  The calendar said yesterday was the first day of Autumn.  Most quilters are stitching up fall leaves, pumpkins and bat quilts, not me, I'm loving the bright happy colors of Spring.

The weekend started with the search for 100 pink fabrics in the scraps.  Between the two scrap bins of pink fabrics, 99 different pinks were found.  I could pull a pink fabric from the fat quarter stash or the yardage stash, but I decided it would be cheating since this is supposed to be a true scrap quilt.  I was hoping to have no repeat prints but it's looking like that might not be doable.   I still need to make the yellow, green, gray, brown, orange and purple blocks.  Sigh...we'll see if I can pull an extra print out of another color. 

Me and the color pink go way back.  Maybe it comes from the love of Barbie when I was a child.  Or maybe it's just a girly thing.   Whatever the reason, pink has always dominated my fabric stash.  Some of the fabrics are upcycled fabrics from sheets, curtains and cloths. I also have two pink fabrics from my mom's fabric stash.  One of them has seen its way into many of my quilts.

It's an old Swiss dot.  The fuzzy kind of Swiss dot.  She gave me three different colors of these, mint green, baby blue and pink.  The baby blue is long gone.  I still have about a fat quarter of the mint green and as for the pink, just this small piece.  As most of you know, this is not 100% cotton.  And to be honest, I don't know if it's polyester.  It doesn't melt like a poly.  Well, it doesn't matter to me, it's fabric and it can be stitched.

Such a sweet little block with so much history.  Mom had this fabric in her stash when I was child.  I don't remember seeing her use it until my daughter was born.  She made her a dress and matching bonnet.  And silly me didn't keep them when she outgrew them.

There's one more fabric from Mom's stash.  It's even thinner than the Swiss dot.  And again, not cotton, but holds up well to ironing. 

To use it in the quilt it will need to be backed with something to cover up the holes(weave) in the fabric design.  I have stabilizers and interfacings, but I didn't like the way it looked.  So, I used quilt basting glue to attach the fabric to white cotton. 

This will close up those holes, stop the fraying while piecing and stop the batting from poking through the holes.

She turned out pretty cute!  The seams are a little bulky, but I don't think I'll have any trouble quilting it on the frame.

All of Pink Bow-Tie quilt blocks are finished...  

...and waiting for the rest of the rest of the blocks to join the party.  Only about 600 more blocks to go!

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~ Border, Backing and Binding ~

♫ 🎅It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎄♫  Come on sing it with me!

I'm loving every minute and every stitch of this quilt.  This has been such a fun quilt.  From the planning to the stitching it together.  Playing in scraps makes my little ole heart go pitter-pat.💗

Every block is my favorite, they are just so darn cute.

I found myself standing back staring at this quilt with a goofy grin on my face.  Not just for a second or two but for prolong periods of time.  Mr. Podunk at one point said "Is there a problem?"  Nope, I just like looking at it!  There really was work going on in my brain as I ogled my newest creation.  Border color, binding color and backing.

Since the quilt is scrappy, any color would work for each of them but you all understand me when I say the border can make or break a quilt.  It needs to be perfect so it will not take away from the quilt but at the same time add perfect amount of color.  Then the binding plays an even bigger role.  She can stop the quilt gracefully or be the standing ovation.  My process for deciding which fabric for each is pretty simple.  Just start pulling out fabrics and stare.👀

The plan for these are....Aqua for the border, red for the backing and the green for the binding.  I thought the green might stop the quilt but in a very subtle way.  I'm also considering the aqua as both the binding and border.  And my third thought for the binding....White.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment with your suggestions.  

Santa's sprinkled a little magic in Podunk last night.  This is my view as I sit writing this blog post.  It's so pretty.  Mr. Podunk took a vacation day today because he has some days to use up before the end of the year.  It worked out perfect for our annual snowman.  Maybe Khaleesi can join in the fun!  Oh what a fun day I have planned.  Quilting a Christmas quilt and building a snowman!   

Before I get my winter fun day started I want to share one more photo.  I saw this Rudolf  yesterday on my way to dad's for our weekly dinner date.  The farmer decorates the bales of hay for every season.  What you can't see is the elementary school across the road.  What a sweet thing to do for the children.

#scrapquilt #scrappyquilt #christmasquilt #stockingquilt #podunkpretties

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~ Scrap Happy Quilt ~

Now that the studio is back in working order I'm inspired to start a new scrappy quilt.  

Instead of pulling fabric from the shelves I'm pulling from the scrap bins.  Some of these drawers are getting too full.  What's the point in saving scraps if you don't use them, right?  

I've barely made a dent in any of the drawers but it's fun taking a trip down the fabric memory lane.  There's everything from designer fabrics to pajama pants in these drawers.

Reproduction fabrics and Modern prints, there's no rules when it comes to scrap happy quilting.

You've probably noticed I've added two colors to this pull of fabrics that I don't really like using.  PURPLE and ORANGE.   And the color I love using the most is missing.

RED!  There she is!  Red will be my consistent fabric in the quilt.  Of course I'll use my normal background color, white.

Now to start building the blocks on the design boards.  This will be a simple quilt design full of color.  Before going any farther I need to make a test block.  Sometimes a quilt plan will look great on the computer and then become an ugly mess once it's made.  I don't want to end up with 16 ugly blocks.

Edited this post at 10 AM this morning to add a little fun quiz.

 Answer on my Facebook page later today or come back here tomorrow for the answer.

#scrappymakesmehappy #scrapquilt #scraphappyquilting 

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~ Autumn Memories by Anne Taylor ~

Nothing makes me happier than to see quilts made with my patterns.  Anne Taylor sent these pictures to me a few weeks ago. Sadly I forgot all about them until yesterday evening when cleaning out my emails.  I have folder just for customer quilts.   Anne please forgive me for letting you adorable Autumn Memories quilt set tucked away for so long.  

Look closely at the amazing quilting!  Butterflies and a cobblestone road, how creative!

  

This pattern can be found in both my Etsy and Craftsy shops.  Links for both shops are at the top of this blog.  When ordering from my Etsy shop if you purchase more than one mailed pattern the shipping overages will be refunded.  I can normally get 4 or 5 patterns in one envelope for the same shipping.

The little red truck quilts in my pattern shop have been my best sellers.  So much so I'm thinking about designing 2 more this year.  Well to be honest one quilt is already in the works but I need a theme for the second quilt.  If you have any suggestions feel free to leave me a comment below.

Christmas Memories Truck has been my best seller all year.    It out sells every other quilt pattern every month.  Both of my truck quilt patterns are being sold as kits at Regal's Fabric and Gifts.

Christmas Memories pillow is a great little project for an afternoon quicky.   You could have this one stitched up and ready for this years Christmas.  And as a gift to my loyal followers, if you spend at least $8 in my pattern Etsy pattern shop by the end of the day December 25, I will send you a free copy of Christmas Memories Pillow.  This offer is for MAILED orders only.  Shipping overages are refunded.

#autumnmemoriesquilt #truckquilt #podunkpretties #christmasmemoriespillow #christmasquilt #patchworkquilting #scrappymakemehappy

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***Patriotic Picnic and PDF SALE!***

Hey! Happy Quilters!  I'm so excited to finally share this quilt.  It was one of those quilts designed a few years ago with no intentions of writing a pattern.  But after several request for a pattern....here it is, all 95 inches of Patriotic Picnic!

The name came about because of the red gingham in the quilt.  Perfect for those summer holidays.  Yes, I can imagine me sitting on this with a picnic basket full goodies as Mr. Podunk and I OOH and AHH at a colorful display of fireworks, while sipping on a sweet glass of Strawberry Lemonade.  Speaking of Mr. Podunk, he rarely says anything about my quilts.  But while helping with the photo shoot of this quilt he said "this is a nice quilt, can I have it?"  UMM...how do you tell your sweetie absolutely not, I love it too?  You don't.  My quick thinking swooped in and promptly told him he needed to adjust his end of the quilt...shew that was a close one!

Don't let the name of this quilt fool you.  It looks great in every colorway.  Here's a few EQ drawings for inspiration.

I'm loving this blue and yellow!  Another quilt might be in my future.  With these over sized blocks the quilt comes together quickly.  Hmmm...what about a Christmas version in red, green with a little gold.

It's a perfect quilt for using up scraps.  This 95" x 95" monster would make a big dent in the scrap bins.  Are you digging through those scraps?  Well let me tempt you a little more.

From now until Monday May 21, 2018, this pattern as well as all my other PDF quilt patterns are  20% off in my Etsy shop.  I've changed the prices instead of using a discount code.  It makes it so much easier for you.  The price you see is the price you pay.   You can also purchase most of my patterns as a mailed pattern.  The best thing about the mailed pattern for this quilt is the large applique placement sheet, it's one large piece of paper.  No taping or gluing paper together.  Both versions of the pattern include a quilt coloring page and the separate applique templates sheet.  The template sheet is great for fusible applique.  You can print it from your computer onto the fusible webbing sheet or freezer paper if you choose to do turned edge applique.

Well it's time to put this big beauty to good use in my guest bedroom.  Sorry Mr. Podunk!

~ Lea Anne ~

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New Pattern ~ Sweet Sixteen ~

Hello sweet quilting friends!  There's lot to share with you today but first I want to say a few words about my new journey.  As you already know I'm launching a new pattern shop on Craftsy.  Selling patterns has long been a dream of mine but taking that first step is always a difficult one.  Many things were standing in my way of taking that first step, so why step?  Just jump in both feet and see what happens.  Thank you so much to those of you who have been my cheerlearders and requested patterns.  Let me also say because I'm selling patterns doesn't mean I will no longer share free patterns.  So keep a look out in the next few weeks for new and exciting stuff here on the blog.   Now without further ado.....My first pattern for sale is Sweet Sixteen.

The Sweet Sixteen design was inspired by the traditional appliqued crossing tulips design.  This new modern version of the crossing tulips has no applique and no tulips.  The heart shaped flowers mimic a tulip and the chain blocks mimic a flower stem. 

It was designed as a seasonal Valentine quilt but it also works well as a fall quilt. The image below is Moda Fig Tree prints and since the quilt measures 75 x 75 it would be perfect for autumn hayrides and chilly nights by an open fire.

 In one of my favorite combinations of yellow and blue it instantly becomes a beautiful Shabby Chic design.  Wouldn't this make an amazing wedding quilt or graduation gift?

 Even though the quilt pattern uses fat quarters and fat eighths it could easily be made into a scrappy quilt, perfect for stash busting or a quilt guild raffle quilt.

The old farm house style of Sweet Sixteen makes for an amazing year around quilt.   The pattern can be purchased at Craftsy by clicking here.   Or by clicking on the Sweet Sixteen picture in the side bar.  If you prefer not to use Craftsy you can email me your paypal email at podunkpretties@gmail.com. I'll be more than happy to send you an invoice for the $10 pattern payment.    Once the invoice is paid your pattern will be emailed to you ASAP.

Thanks for stopping by my little spot in Podunk!

~ Lea Anne ~

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Scrappy Makes me Happy

Happy Monday quilting buds!  There's been a lot of design wall action going on in Podunk this past weekend. 

The Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt "En Provence" has taken over the studio.  If your interested in making one you can find all the FREE quilt clues by clicking here.  Bonnie also has a Facebook page that anyone can join and post pictures of their quilts.  Not just the mystery quilt but any quilt.  Its a fun group with a lot of amazing quilting inspiration.  You can find the Facebook Quiltville Open Studio by clicking here.  Of course you need a Facebook account to join this group.  I highly recommend joining.

En Provence has been quite the new adventure for me.  It's my first and probably my last mystery.  Oh I'll still save the clues to new quilt mysteries I find on the internet, but I'll wait for the reveal before making the first fabric cut.  I found this to fun but stressful.  Bonnie is a wonderful designer so the issue isn't with her pattern but more with me and how I like to quilt.  I need to see the quilt in order to choose fabrics.  That's pretty obvious by the looks of my quilt.

 I'm not saying I don't love this quilt because I do.  Scrappy makes me happy! Below is the first block I've stitched together.  Only 15 more to go!  Should you make this quilt I suggest you press all seams open, I did not.  There's a lot of bulky seams if you follow the pressing instructions in the pattern.  Quilting it is going to be the next big challenge.  But that's what this quilt was all about for me, getting out of my comfort zone.  The best way to handle bulky seams is to avoid quilting over them.  So I'm already playing around with a few quilting designs.  

The quilt is huge 87 x 87 but I'm considering adding to the border.  Below shows the border as written in the pattern.  I may add a thin strip of border followed by more more round of 4 patches....we'll see.

My design wall is completely full and I've still not laid out the top and left border.  Can you see the one lonely pieced block near the middle?  As the block and rows go together it'll make more room for the last two borders to be added to the design wall.   Standing back and looking at a quilt helps you to see the real quilt.  Taking a picture does an even better job.  The yellow in the white circle may need to be replace.  What do you think?  I can also see I've clustered light yellows and dark yellows together.  The picture also shows that even though my blues didn't work out as well as would have liked they still show a flow in the pattern.  Well I wanted a challenge, and I got it....geesh!

While I seem to be complaining a lot about this quilt.  The journey has been interesting.  Getting out of my comfort zone is always a learning experience.  That's what I want to do, GROW as a quilter.  Maybe I will do the next Bonnie mystery quilt at the end of this year just to see what I've learned from this one.  The year is still young and there's plenty of time for more learning before the next one is started.  

~ Lea Anne ~

For those of you that have been following me for a long time the next section of this post is for you.  It's an update on my Mom.  As you know I've spent the last several years helping and taking care of both my parents during their health issues.  Mainly Mom.  Mom's fight with cancer ended last Saturday January 7th.  She died at home, with me and dad.  There were several family members who also helped us along the way. I can't thank them enough for their help and support. I also want to thank each and everyone of you for your support and prayers.  Mom often told the doctors the reason she was able to fight the hard fight was due to all of my bloggers from around the world praying for her.

If you would like to read her obituary click the link below.

My beautiful mom Letia Mason

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