Sewing Away

I realized the other day that most of my recent blog posts have just been about finished quilts.  So today I wanted to show you a couple of things that I'm just now starting.

I recently found the justserve.org site, and I'm already a big fan!  You enter your zip code and it generates a list of service opportunities in your area.  Pretty cool!  With school ending soon, I've been looking for ways to include my boys in doing some service and I'm happy to have found some good ideas on justserve.org.

When I entered my zip code, I found information about making quilts for children that are in foster care.  I emailed the coordinator and I was given the first name, age, and favorite colors of a girl who is in need of a quilt all her own.  When I finish the quilt, I'll deliver it to the coordinator and she will then give it to the child.  How great is that?  

This girl's favorite color is blue and she loves nautical things - so these are the fabrics I'll be using on her quilt.  I'm going with a simple patchwork quilt and all of the squares are cut at 4" square. 

So that's one of my current WIPs (works in progress)! 

I also have this fat quarter bundle of Gingham Girls fabric (designed by Amy Smart for Penny Rose Fabrics) and I'm currently debating on what to make with it.  I've been seeing some really cute Gingham Girls projects start to pop up on Instagram.  But I'm still thinking.  I really love this quilt, and this one too!

 

Thanks for stopping by A Bright Corner, and happy quilting!  

Oh and don't forget...you can still get 10% off your total pattern order from my pattern shop - use the promo code MAYFLOWERS.  It includes both PDF and paper patterns, and the sale goes until the end of May - so don't wait too much longer!

Patchwork Quilt Along Block Five

Time to add another block to our Patchwork Quilt Along with the Fat Quarter Shop!  On the 15th of each month a new block pattern is released.  And if you're not sewing along with us yet, it's not too late to join!  

This month's block is called Homestead, and you can find the free block pattern here!

As with some of the previous months, I cut the pieces for the half square triangles a little bigger (3.25" square) and then trimmed them down with my Bloc Loc ruler.  It adds a step, but it helps the blocks be more accurate in the end.  Aren't they cute?  I love this month's blocks!  

Want to see what others are creating each month?  You can follow along with the list of bloggers below, and also join the Patchwork Quilt Along facebook group.  It's so fun to see the blocks done in a variety of fabrics!

The quilt along benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and you can make a donation here at this link.  Now grab your pattern, your favorite prints (or a full kit here) and get sewing along!  

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl (@jedicraftgirl)

Amy of Diary of a Quilter (@diaryofaquilter)

Andy of A Bright Corner (@abrightcorner)

*Bonnie of Cotton Way (@bonniecottonway)

*Camille of Thimble Blossoms (@thimbleblossoms)

Debbie of Happy Little Cottage (@happylittlecottage1)

Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)

Heidi of Buttons and Butterflies (@buttonsandbutterflies)

Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)

Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)

Pat Sloan of PatSloan.com (@quilterpatsloan)

Renee of Sewn with Grace (@sewnwithgrace)

Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapevinelane)

Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)

Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)

Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie of Moda Cutting Table

Spot On! A new layer cake quilt pattern

I'm so excited to be able to share this with you!  This is my newest quilt pattern:  Spot On!   

Spot On is a fun, layer cake friendly quilt.  The pattern has instructions for four different sizes of quilts - crib, throw, twin & queen.  The size you're seeing here is the throw size (51" x 63") and it was made using a layer cake of Olive's Flower Market (fabric designed by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics).    Aren't those colors SO lovely?   

Spot On is now for sale in my online shop here

Some helpful strip piecing techniques makes the quilt blocks sew up fairly quickly!    

  

And guess what?  The throw size uses only 15 layer cake squares!  Which means that you can get two throw sized quilts from one layer cake.  Or you could make a throw sized Spot On AND a throw size Hello Washi quilt from ONE layer cake.  Pretty cool, right?  

The lovely quilting was done by Melissa Kelley (Sew Shabby Quilting) and the design is called Marmalade - one of my current favorites!  

You can find Spot On here in my online shop as either a PDF instant download, or a paper pattern.  

Want to see your favorite A Bright Corner patterns in your local quilt shop?  Let them know they can order my patterns through Checker or Brewer distributors!  

You can also find Spot On here in my Etsy shop.

  

100 Blocks Vol 15 Blog Tour & Giveaway

Hey everyone and welcome to A Bright Corner.  Thanks for stopping by on the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Road Rally!  We're now on day 2 of the blog tour (see info for day one here), and it's my turn to share my block!

This is my second time being included in the 100 Blocks magazine (my previous block can be seen here).  I love each issue - they're chock full of unique blocks and clever ideas.  My block in this issue is called Aquamarine -

I was inspired by images of pretty gemstones like these:

I love their rectangular shape, and the various colors you see in all of the facets.

When you put 20 blocks together (and rotate half of them 90 degrees) you get a fun, throw sized quilt.  This version was made with ten different Riley Blake Confetti Cottons (colors:  Bear Lake, Bleached Denim, Mermaid, Rainforest, Aqua, Teal, Scuba, Sea Glass, Songbird, and Sweet Mint)

I love what it looks like done in all solids, but it's even more fun using prints:

I used a jelly roll of Vintage Picnic (Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics) and with some strip piecing this quilt came together quickly!  This quilt measures 60" x 72" and uses one jelly roll, 1-1/4 yards for the corners, and 3-1/2 yards white / background fabric.  

And I love the scrappy feel of the blocks!  Aren't they fun?

Now who's ready for a giveaway?  There'll be two winners!

First of all, Quiltmaker Magazine is giving one of you a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol 15!  

One other lucky reader will also receive a copy of the magazine, plus two of my quilt patterns - Skipper & Cheerful.

 
Giveaway has ended - thank you!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me what you like to listen to on a road trip!  Movie soundtracks?  Talk radio?  Favorite CDs?  Nothing at all? As for me, I love listening to audio books!

--One entry per person please

--Winner chosen on Saturday, May 6

--Open to international readers too!

--please leave email address if you're a no-reply blogger

Make sure you stop by the Quilty Pleasures Blog to see more of the blocks from this issue, and to enter more giveaways!  The Road Rally continues until May 5th.  And to keep up to date on things happening here at A Bright Corner you can subscribe to my blog, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram (@abrightcorner).   Thanks for stopping by!