Startup Project: Starry Path Quilt by Christa Watson ~ Craftsy Class

Today I am sharing a review of a new Craftsy class by Christa Watson, Startup Project: Starry Path Quilt.  Christa was kind enough to offer a link for me to watch the class and one to share with one lucky reader.  

The opinions shared here are completely my own. This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through the links, I will receive a small commission without affecting the price you pay.  

Startup Project: Starry Path Quilt is geared toward the beginning quilter and goes step-by-step through quilt making process.  You will receive almost 3 full hours of detailed instruction from Christa.  And, you will be able to post questions and comments right to the platform and get real help from fellow classmates and even Christa herself.  This is one of the benefits of Craftsy class format thas I like.

The class is broken down into 5 lessons:

Lesson 1 - Getting Started 

Christa covers fabric selection and prep; helpful tools and supplies; and accurate cutting and piecing.  I learned a new way of pressing I had not tried before.

Lesson 2 - Sawtooth Star Block and Lesson 3 - Garden Path Block

Separate lessons are dedicated to making each block of the quilt including helpful tips and things to watch our for when piecing.  Christa covers components of each block including flying geese, strip-pieced 4-patch units and triangle-in-a-square units.

Lesson 4 - Pieced Borders

This lesson includes more building blocks for quilt making, half-square triangles and quarter-square triangle units, and sewing them all together.

Lesson 5 - Quilt Top Assembly

When sewing the quilt blocks into rows and then sewing the rows into a quilt top, Christa shares the technique of webbing where as you sew everything together, the blocks stay in order.  I get it now...I have read about this piecing technique and have seen pictures, but hearing Christa explain it and walk me through this was so helpful.

Also included in Lesson 5 is how top properly attach the borders to quilt the quilt top.

Lesson 6 - Machine Quilting Swirls 

Christa covers the elongated swirl design and talks about a quilting path to travel around the quilt as you are quilting.

The class does not include detailed instructions for layering the quilt or binding, but you can find these tutorials under Christa's tutorial tab on her website.


My Garden Path Block

Although the Sawtooth Star quilt block is my favorite, I decided to make the Garden Path quilt block.
In all my years of quilting, I had never used the Tri-Recs rulers (I already had) so this was the prefect time to give them a try.  In the class materials are the templates for printing, but using the tri-recs ruler combo makes piecing the triangle-in-a-square unit a breeze.

This class, although designed for a beginner, proves you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.  I assembled the block using the webbing technique.  You can barely make out the connecting threads holding the block rows together.

Although the fabrics were impossible to photograph, I rather like the combination used in the block. The solid is Cotton Couture in Luna and the light background is from the Highlands by Violet Craft, both by Michael Miller.  The darker print is an Elizabeth Hartman print from Rhoda Ruth by Robert Kaufman.

I even tried swirl quilting and definitely need to practice more.  I started having tension issues and stopped midway through the practice sandwich.  Aurifil 1148 Light Jade was the perfect match for the Cotton Couture Luna.  (The colors are closer in these two photos.)

And the full block...

You can find Christa's class, Startup Project: Starry Path Quilt here 

You can find the complete quilt kit, Starry Path Sea Spray here (it's on  sale for 35% off). 

GIVEAWAY

Now, how about a giveaway?  Christa has generously provided a link to her Craftsy class for one of you.

To enter, simply use the rafflecopter and leave a blog post comment to following question... What's your go-to free motion quilting motif?

Giveaway runs from May 18th through May 22nd at Noon EST and is open to all.  Good Luck!

Congratulations to Kathy E.!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Linking to:

Finish or Not Friday hosted by Myra at Busy Hands Quilts

Show Off Saturday hosted by Caroline at Sew Can She

Main Crush Monday hosted by Beth at Cooking Up Quilts

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 15 Blog Tour + Giveaway - Diamond Twist

Welcome to my stop on the 100 Blocks Blog Tour and I am so glad you found your way here!  I am thrilled to have my third block published in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

If you are new to Quilted Blooms, I'm Paige and you can find out more about me here see some of my finished quilts in the gallery.

Quiltmaker assigns each 12" block to one of four categories - Applique, Foundation-Pieced, Mixed Technique and Pieced.  Diamond Twist Block #1411 is included in the Foundation-Pieced section 100 Blocks Vol. 15.

My previous blocks, It All Adds Up was included in Pieced section of 100 Blocks Vol. 13 and Hexie Flower Basket was included in the Mixed Technique section of 100 Blocks Vol. 14.

Here's the EQ version of the Diamond Twist rendered in Kona Cottons, Marine and Astral.

Diamond Twist Block

And here's the original signed block submitted to Quiltmaker.

Diamond Twist block by Paige Alexander

I don't paper piece often, but when I do, I like to use Carol Doak's Foundation Paper (affiliate link).  I even see that there is a legal size (8 1/2" x 14"), Carol Doak's Legal-Size Foundation Paper (affiliate link) which will be needed to print the Diamond Twist templates from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Using the Diamond Twist block, I made a few quilts designed in EQ to show how versatile the block is to incorporate into different settings.

This first quilt is made from just 5 blocks surrounded by negative space creating a modern design.

This next quilt contains 4 columns of Diamond Twist blocks separated by sashing.

And another quilt without sashing and I changed up the color a bit.

This quilt was made from the same Diamond Twist block with variations in color placement creating an interesting design.

And the same basic design with a little variation using a couple prints from Imprint by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery.

I had fun with this design and created one more color way using the same Imprint collection.

And one last quilt I'm calling Ribbons of Hope made from 5 full Diamond Twist blocks and 5 half blocks which would be nice for breast cancer awareness.

Ribbons of Hope using Diamond Twist block

I hope you enjoyed seeing how one block can create so many possibilities by changing the block and/or color placement.

And now on to the Giveaways!

Giveaway #1.  The editors at Quiltmaker are sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of 100 Blocks Vol.15 and will mail the magazine directly to you anywhere worldwide.

Giveaway #2.  I will mail a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 15 to one lucky commenter to anywhere worldwide.

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know if you you like to foundation or paper piece.

2. Followers, old and new alike, get a bonus entry.  Leave a second comment and let me know how you follow - such as Bloglovin, Instagram or Email.

The giveaway will run through Saturday, May 8, 2017 and close at 8pm EST. (Giveaway is now closed) I normally respond to every comment received, but during the giveaway the volume may be to large for me to do so. Please leave your e-mail address so I have a way of contacting you if you are a no-reply blogger.

Visit Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, each day this week for links to participating blogs and enter for some great giveaways!  To see all of the creative and original blocks in this issue, 100 Blocks Vol. 15 is available on the newsstands now or you can order 100 blocks from Quiltmaker.

Linking to Let's Bee Social with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts.

The winners have been notifice!  Thank you all for stopping by on the Road Rally blog tour! I can't believe the low numbers choosen out of 215 comments!

Instagram Love + GIVEAWAY

Without a doubt, my favorite social media platform is...INSTAGRAM!  There's so much visual inspiration on Instagram!  It's so quick and easy, well almost instant!  You can see someone post a few quilt blocks one morning and have a finished quilt top that night.  Well, all quilts don't come together that quickly, but it's so fun to follow one's progress.

Just two years ago while at QuiltCon 2015 in Austin, Texas, I remember reaching 100 followers.  I was so surprised that 100 people would be interested in what I was doing, I took a screenshot.

Fast forward two years, and shortly after QuiltCon 2017 in Savannah, GA, my Instagram account reached 1,000 followers.  I'm so honored to have each and every one you follow along that I decided to host a giveaway on Instagram.  One lucky follower from anywhere in the world will receive a $25 gift certificate, AKA Stash Cash, to Stash Fabrics, an online quilt shop north of Atlanta, GA.  The details are below the instagram link.

Thank you for following along on this quilting journey! To celebrate 1k followers, I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate to @StashFabrics! Simple, just: 1. Follow @QuiltedBlooms 2. Like this photo Bonus entries for tagging and/or reposting. Open to everyone! Giveaway ends 3/17 8pm EST. GOOD LUCK! #Giveaway #1000Followers #ThankYou

A post shared by Paige Alexander (@quiltedblooms) on Mar 10, 2017 at 12:24pm PST

There are 2 simple rules...head on over to the instagram giveaway post.  First you will need an instagram account and then:

1. Follow me on Instagram @QuiltedBlooms
2. Like the photo by clicking the heart icon below the image on the left.

And totally optional, you can receive bonus entries by tagging a friend.  If you have friends on Instagram, leave their Instagran screen name preceeded by the @ symbol in seperate comments.  The giveaway will close Saturday, March 18th at 8pm EST.

Happy Instagramming!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016

Welcome to Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016!

I'm excited to be participating for the second time in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2016 in the Sewing + Craft supplies section.

This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide.  The giveaway starts today, Wednesday, December 7th and runs through Sunday, December 11th and will close at 8pm EST. (The giveaway has ended and winner notified!  Thank you for entering!)

Littly Ruby jelly roll by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics

One lucky winner will received a jelly roll of Little Ruby by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics which includes 40 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 44". You will not be tempted to leave this jelly roll sitting on the shelf as it has already been opened in order to photograph.

Look at the beautiful small scale reds and aquas!

Little Ruby jelly roll strips in aqua and red

And the greens and whites are just as pretty!  

Little Ruby jelly roll strips in greens and whites

Giveaway Details:

1.  Leave a comment. (The giveaway has ended and winner notified!  Thank you for entering!) For a suggested topic...Are you planning to attend QuiltCon East, the Modern Quilt Guild's international conference and quilt show taking place in Savannah, GA in February 2017? If so, I hope to see you there!

2.  Followers, old and new alike, get an additional entry.  Leave a second comment letting me know how you subscribe. Some choices are Bloglovin', Email, or Instagram.

Be sure to include your email address if you are a no-reply blogger.  If I can not contact you, you can not win.

Normally, I love to reply to your comments, but during the giveaway, I may not be able to reply to each and everyone. 

Note:  If shipping is cost prohibitive, I reserve the right to provide a gift certificate of comparable value to a quilt shop in your area in lieu of shipping the giveaway to you.

Thank you for stopping by to enter the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway and I hope you will consider following along with me on this quilting journey!  In the gallery you will find my finished quilts here, quilted projects here and quilt blocks here.

Good Luck!

Wide Quilt Backings Giveaway

There is no doubt for me, wide quilt backings not only save money, but more importantly TIME, especially if you are wanting to match prints in the fabric. By the time you purchase two lengths or possibly three depending on the width of your quilt, calculate(or estimate) the required yardage to allow for the repeats in the fabric AND sew and press the seams you could have purchased a wide quilt backing.

Christine at Backside Fabrics recently provided wide quilt backings for a couple of secret sewing projects for Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs and me.

I love that you can shop the wide backs by color, size, manufacturer, and collections such as Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander, Peppered Cottons, Grunge by Basic Gray, Kaffe Fassetts's Circles and Carpet.

And don't forget the value section.  This gray and white Sun Burst is sleeper on the screen but beautiful in person.

Have doubts about how the fabric will look and feel before purchasing? Christine offers FREE sample swatches (10 per month to US costumers and a nominal charge to ship internationally).  She sticks a label to the backside of each swatch so each is identified.

Clockwise are the following wide quilt backs:

• Carpet by Kaffe Fassett in Green
• Grunge by Basic Grey in Ash
• Peppered Cotton by Pepper Cory in Peacock
• Widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander in Grey

I just purchased Robert Kaufman Kona White for a project I have in mind with a lot of negative space so piecing the background for the quilt top width will not be required either.  And, it feels just like the regular Kona except it's 108 inches wide!

Remember...1 Yard of Wide Backing = 2.5 Yards of 42" Wide Fabric

It's easy to sign up for their newsletter to receive new arrivals and specials delivered to your inbox. Just look for this towards the bottom of the web page and enter your name and email address.

Giveaway

Backside Fabrics has been generous to offer a $40 gift certificate to one lucky reader (the giveaway is being hosted on Cheryl's and my blogs so you only have to enter through one post).

To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. (If you are reading this via e-mail, you will have to click the link to open the post on the Internet.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway The giveaway ends Sunday, November 20th, at 10pm Eastern Time and a random number generator will select the winner. Giveaway open to participants 18 years or older and international participants are welcome.

This has been a week of giveaways.  There's still time to enter the following giveaways:

• Paper Pieces and see how I fussy cut fabric for English Paper Piecing.

• Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Winter 2016 edition and see my Hexie Flower Basket included in this issue.

Fussy Cutting Fabric for English Paper Piecing + Giveaway

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Blog Tour is this week and I'm honored to have a block, Hexie Flower Basket, included in this issue.

My official stop on the blog tour is tomorrow where I will share my block which includes a fussy cut hexagon flower.  But, today I am sharing with you how I fussy cut fabric for English Paper Piecing or EPP (hexagons in particular) using acrylic templates by Paper Pieces who is generously sponsoring the giveaway!

Let's get started!  Here's a list of supplies you will need:

• Fabric from which to cut your shapes
• Paper Pieces Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template of your choice (templates are under the Paper Pieces tab)
• Scotch Permanent Double-Sided Tape
• Rotary Cutter (smaller ones are easier to use) and mat
• Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker
• Water soluble glue stick, I use Sewline Glue Pen
• Paper Pieces Precut Paper Shapes

Supplies to aid in fussy cutting shapes for English Paper Piecing

Choosing your Fabric

First determine the desired motif you would like to showcase on your English Paper Piecing shapes.  Audition the motif by placing the clear acrylic template over the fabric.  Be sure you are able to cut the desired number of shapes from your fabric.  I had a only a fat quarter of Hang It Up in Grape from Macrame by Rashida Coleman-Hale was able to cut six of the same motif.

Note:  The acrylic templates are available with either a 1/4" or 3/8" seam allowance.  I like the 3/8" seam allowance unless I working with really small templates such as the 3/8" hexagons I used when making Rainbow Hexie Flower Mini mini quilt measuring 4" square.

Paper Pieces acrylic hexagon template with 3/8" seam allowance

Preparing the Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template

Place the acrylic template on your fabric over the motif  and, using the sharpie marker, draw the basic outline of the motif onto the template.  Mark any reference points which will aid in aligning the template with the motif. In the below picture, I outlined the basket, rope on the basket, pink beads and the outer leaves on the plant.

Lift the template and place pieces of double-sided tape on the opposite side of the template on which you just outlined your motif.  The tape will keep the template from slipping.  Keep in mind, not all double-sided tapes are of the same quality at the Scotch brand.  I have tried some from dollar stores which do not work as well.

Cutting Out the Shapes

Using your rotary cutter, cut out around the template.  Try not to cut too far beyond your template, you might want to cut out a motif near by for your next set of motifs.  I find it easier to lift the fabric rather than the template to be sure you have cut all the way around.

Carefully peel the fabric away from the template and set aside.  Repeat the cutting process until you have the desired number of shapes cut out. The tape really helps hold the fabric in place when cutting out and stays tacky for a long time.  Below are the cut out shapes and the acrylic template with the drawn reference marks.

Cut out hexagons and acrylic template

Gluing the Paper Pieces

Using a glue stick, place one small dot of glue on the Paper Piece and center it on your cut out shape. I baste my hexies from the back rather than sewing through the paper and fabric and find just a small dot to glue will keep the paper in place while basting and can easily be pulled out later.

Paper Pieces glued to the fabric shapes

Basting and Sewing the Paper Pieces

Since I was focusing on fussy cutting the fabric, I found this great tutorial by Diane Gilleland on Sew Mama Sew which shows you have to baste and sew the hexies.

Here are my hexies all basted.

Basted hexies ready to sew together into a flower

And here is the hexie flower from the back.

Hexagons sewn into a flower, a back view

And the hexie flower from the front.

Hexie flower

Alternate Method Without Marking the Template 

It was necessary to draw on the template in order to position it because the motifs were completely surrounded by the background.  If you have a fabric where the design goes to edge of the template, it's not always necessary to draw on the template.  The fabric can be your guide.

This bilaterally symmetrical fabric, Lazy Stripe from True Colors by Tula Pink, was one where I didn't need to mark the template.  I positioned the template over the desired area a cut out the shape.

This is where the method differs from above.  After cutting the first shape, do no remove the cut shape from the template.

Hexagon shape cut from Tula Pink fabric

Instead, move the template with the fabric still adhered to the next area and cut out another shape.  Set aside the second shape cut.  Repeat until you have cut out the desired number of shapes.  The first shape you cut will remain adhered to the template until all are cut.

The first hexagon is still attached to the template allowing for perfect placement for the next cut.

Here are the hexies ready to to sewn together.  It looks as though the pattern will match perfectly.  I still need to choose a fabric for the flower center.

Hexagons made from Lazy Stripe from True Colors by Tula Pink

Here is a quilt show ribbon I made using this method.  The petal fabric is Rainbow Rick Rac (6542) from Patio Prints by Kanvas Studios.

Quilt show ribbon made from fussy cut hexagons

Cleaning the Templates

When the double-sided tape is no longer sticky, I peel away the tape and clean it with Goo Gone to remove the residue.  Alcohol will remove the sharpie markings from the template.


The next time you fussy cut your fabric when English Paper Piecing, I hope you will try my method using Paper Pieces Acrylic Fabric Cutting Templates and double-sided tape.

I recommend signing up for their newsletter which always includes a great sale just for email subscribers.  Scroll down to the very bottom of the webpage and just under the Newsletter box click...Join our email.

Now on to the Giveaway!  

Paper Pieces is generously giving away to one lucky person...

• Large Pack (600 pieces) of 1" hexagon paper pieces
• Acrylic Fabric Cutting Template for cutting 1" hexagons

The giveaway will be shipped directly from Paper Pieces and is open to everyone worldwide!

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment letting me know if you have tried English Paper Piecing.  And if you have tried EPP, what's your favorite shape?

2. Followers, old and new alike, get a bonus entry.  Leave a second comment and let me know how you follow - such as Bloglovin, Instagram or Email.

The giveaway will run through Tuesday, November 22nd and close at 8pm. (Giveaway now closed and winner contacted. Thank you for commenting!)  I normally respond to every comment received, but during the giveaway the volume may be to large for me to do so. Please leave your e-mail address so I have a way of contacting you if you are a no-reply blogger.

Please stop back by tomorrow (Nov. 16) for my stop on the 100 Blocks Vol. 14 Blog Tour where you can comment to win copies of 100 Blocks Vol. 14.  And be sure to visit Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, all this week to see beautiful blocks by talented designers and enter to win some fantastic prizes!

Linking to Tips and Tutorials Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday and Let's Bee Social.

Vintage Star Block + GIVEAWAY

I am happy to share with you a quilt block I made while reviewing a new pattern, Vintage Star,  for Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs.  The block measures 13" x 13" unfinished and is made from two Bonnie and Camille prints, Red Lollies from Hello Darling and Retro Gray from Ruby.

Vintage Star quilt block, pattern by Cheryl Brickey 

When reviewing patterns for Cheryl, I normally check the math and read through looking at the wording, punctuation, etc.  I just make the blocks and quilts in my head without even touching the rotary cutter but Vintage Star was different.  The trimming of the inner star mid way through the assembly of the block was something that I had not done before and wanted to test it first hand.

Vintage Star quilt block made from two Bonnie and Camille prints

I was very pleased with the sharp points of the inner star.  While I wouldn't consider this a block for a beginner to tackle, Cheryl takes you step by step with easy to follow written instructions.  And her illustrations are the best for you visual learners.

Vintage Star quilt block detail

Vintage star is available in digital format through Etsy and on Craftsy.  The printed version is available on Etsy.

Check Plus is Cheryl's other pattern release this week and you can see the versions made by the pattern testers and find the links where it can be purchased in her blog post here.  Both of patterns are each on sale for $7.50 through Oct. 4th.

This is a Check Plus block I made to go on the back of a baby quilt, Sundae Plus.

Check Plus block to incorporate in the back of Sunday Plus

Vintage Star and Check Plus Pattern Giveaway

I mentioned a giveaway right?  Cheryl has generously allowed my to give away one each of her new patterns.  Two winners will each receive one digital pattern.   The giveaway is now closed and winners notified will be open until Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 8 pm  EST.  Here's how to enter:

1. Leave any comment and tell me which pattern is you favorite if your name is drawn.  The first one drawn gets the first pick.

2.  Followers, old and new alike get a second entry.  Just let me know how you follow, whether it be Bloglovin', Instagram or email.

For more chances to win, enter the giveaways at:
Shauna of Shauna's World
Beth of Cooking Up Quilts
Tish of Tish's Adventures in Wonderland
Stephanie of Quilt'n Party

Cara (sew_colorado on IG)

Linking to Let's Bee Social, Needle and Thread Thursday, Whoop Whoop Friday, Fabric Frenzy Friday and Show It Off Saturday.