Postage Stamp Star block with Fat Quarter Shop

A few weeks ago, the creative folks at the Fat Quarter shop asked if I’d like to sew a project for their Classic & Vintage series, where they take a traditional block (like those found in old catalogs and vintage quilts) and give it a fresh spin in a new pattern. Well, of course I said yes and signed up to make their Postage Stamp Star block!

The block finishes at 18” square, which is a great size for a table topper or wall hanging. The piecing is simple and straightforward. I was able to sew, quilt and bind my Postage Stamp Star in a weekend.

The pattern written by Fat Quarter Shop calls for this to be a two-color block using just two prints. (Their original is in red and white.) I decided to make my block using three prints, one black and two greens. I simply doodled a few sketches with my colored pencils and then made notes on my Fat Quarter Shop block pattern indicating which green print would go where in the diagrams. It’s always fun to break the rules just a bit.

Using a beautiful green Aurifil 50 wt thread (2886-Light Avocado), I added simple straight-line quilting on the diagonal to finish off my block. The quilting highlights the star in a subtle fashion and seems in keeping with the simplicity of the block.

My original selection of Moda fabrics looked like this, from top to bottom:

• Queen Anne's Lace Sprig (Pepper & Flax by Coriander Quilts)
• Charcoal Gingham for binding (Farmer’s Daughter by Lella Boutique)
• Mistletoe Gingham (Christmas Figs by Fig Tree & Company)
• Blackboard Floriculture (Olive’s Flower Market by Lella Boutique)

After I finished piecing and quilting my block, I began to cut binding strips from the charcoal gingham.  However, I soon had a change of heart. Because that gingham print is oversized, straight strips folded into binding caused me to lose the “check effect.” Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the gingham on the bias, which would have solved my problem.  So instead, I ducked back into my fabric closet and pulled out the black mini criss-cross print from Fig Tree’s Farmhouse II collection. In the end, this was a much better choice for binding. Sew and learn!

Fat Quarter Shop is offering the Postage Stamp Star block as a free pattern and there will also be a video tutorial. If you are interested in making a quilt, you can purchase the full pattern with instructions for four quilt sizes. OR you can purchase a quilt kit to make your very own red and white Postage Stamp Star quilt!  Such a classic!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I truly enjoyed making this Classic & Vintage series block, and I know you would too. The fabric selection possibilities are endless with this block. Dig out your colored pencils and get started! 

~Taunja

Postage Stamp Star Quilt Kit from Fat Quarter Shop

Fat Quarter Flourish autumn bundles

Hello quilting friends! After I posted about my autumn quilt ideas earlier this week, I got to thinking that I would love to see my Fat Quarter Flourish pattern sewn up in fall fabrics. So, I mocked up some options using green, orange and black prints from Fig Tree’s Farmhouse II collection.

The great thing about my Fat Quarter Flourish pattern is that it only requires five fat quarters to make the top. And you can easily switch up the fabric placement depending upon what looks best to your creative eye!

Here is the fat quarter bundle I created from my dwindling inventory of Farmhouse II.

Here are four different options I tested out on the computer. Which one do you like best?

Fat Quarter Flourish finishes at 20” square and makes a pretty statement as a wall hanging or table topper! Here is a photo of my original Fat Quarter Flourish.

And here is my Christmas version of Fat Quarter Flourish. This is such a versatile pattern!

I have a limited supply of the darling Farmhouse II fat quarter bundles listed on my Etsy shop.  The Fat Quarter Floursh pattern (both digital and print) is also available on my Etsy Shop.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Taunja

Autumn quilt ideas and a layer cake giveaway!

Just a few months ago, I was whining to you about the spring snowstorms we were experiencing in central Minnesota. Well, I’m back with a new weather complaint today . . . it’s 92 degrees F, with a “feels like” temperature of 100 due to the high humidity. Good grief, that’s hot!

While I don’t want to wish away my summer, my mind can’t help but console itself with the thought that in just a few months, autumn will be here. Right now I’m imagining myself taking a long walk wearing bluejeans and a sweatshirt, tromping on some crunchy fallen leaves and enjoying the crisp fall air.  Doesn’t that sound lovely? In case you are experiencing a similar heat wave in your neck of the woods, I decided to reach out to you with an autumn giveaway, as well as a roundup of my fall quilt patterns!

First up, let’s talk about the patterns.

PUMPKIN SKY

Pumpkin Sky is a fat quarter friendly pattern which includes a material list and instructions for you to make two projects: a wall hanging and coordinating pillow. The wall hanging measures 38 1/2” x 25 1/2”, while the pillow finishes at 18 1/2” square.

One of my Instagram friends, Tricia Rayburn, has made a beautiful version of the Pumpkin Sky wall hanging featuring white pumpkins! When I saw her creation, my jaw dropped. How genius was it of her to use that petite autumn floral as a background fabric? The earth tones in Tricia's wall hanging are sophisticated and timeless. It is such a thrill to see another quilter sew up one of my patterns following her own creative style.

Photo courtesy of Tricia Rayburn

Tricia also made a darling Pumpkin Sky pillow in a salmon and aqua color combination. Once again, she has blown me away with her color choices and background fabric selection. And check out that fussy-cut star center! I love it! If you are on Instagram, be sure to follow her work at @triciarayburn.  Many thanks to Tricia for allowing me to share her work.

Photo courtesy of Tricia Rayburn

FALL FLIGHT

My newly released Fall Flight pattern is also fat quarter friendly and super fun to make. Fall Flight is a 66” x 76” throw quilt featuring my signature pumpkin block alternating with scrappy flying geese blocks. While my sample is colorful, I’ve heard from a few quilters who plan to sew up Fall Flight using Fig Tree’s new All Hallow’s Eve collection, which is comprised of orange, black and gray.  That will be gorgeous!

OTHER PATTERNS

Don’t forget to think outside the box when deciding upon an autumn sewing project.  Two of my favorite fall quilts were created with non-themed patterns:  my autumn versions of Picking Petals and Sweetly Scalloped.  It’s a fun creative exercise!

Finally, even a simple little pattern can shine with the right fabrics.  Here is a Halloween version of my free tutorial titled Coffee Time Quilt.  Just grab a cute mini charm pack and get started!

GIVEAWAY

Let’s do a “beat the heat” giveaway! I have one layer cake of Hallo-Harvest by Basic Grey for Moda that I would just love to send to one of my lucky followers! This collection features a rich range of color with a nod to both the autumn season and Halloween.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below. Be sure to include your email address. The giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only due to the high rate of international shipping. Comments are open through 5:00 pm (CST) on Monday, July 22, 2019. At that time, I will do a random drawing and announce the winner. *Only one comment per person/per email address.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you are interested in any of the patterns I shared today, please visit the links above for more details, or just head on over to my Etsy Shop.  Have a great week, stay cool and as always, get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

Country Sampler: Decorating with quilts

Hello quilting friends! How many of you share my love for the magazine, Country Sampler? (I think I just heard a loud, collective “I DO!”)

We love the beautiful photos and feature stories, the inspiring how-to projects and the scrumptious recipes. The magazine gives us a warm and cozy glimpse into other homes and sparks our creativity. When I open an issue of Country Sampler, I feel like I’m transported to somewhere wonderful, but to somewhere I already belong. It’s a feeling of homecoming.

So, it really tickles me to share with you that three of my “decorating with quilts” photos have been included in the Autumn 2019 issue of Country Sampler: Farmhouse Style! Pages 88-94 feature some truly lovely ideas for gracing your home with quilts.

The Autumn 2019 issue of Country Sampler: Farmhouse Style will be available in stores and on newsstands July 16. You can also purchase it directly from Country Sampler. This issue is jam-packed with ideas for upcycling and repurposing your vintage treasures. 

Thanks for stopping by today. Now go and get carried away quilting!

~Taunja

Summer Moon QAL: June blocks

Hello quilting friends! We're nearing the end of June, which means it’s time for me to show you this month’s blocks from the Summer Moon Quit Along with Fat Quarter Shop. I’ve been having so much fun sewing from my stash of Moda fabrics from Lella Boutique and Corey Yoder. These cheerful, pretty prints are day brighteners, don’t you think?

The June quilt along assignment called for making a Capital T block (top), a Hidden Star block (bottom left) and a Pinwheel Geese block (bottom right).

This month I moved out of my comfort zone and worked in two additional low volume background prints. In May, my background print of choice was the white with grey “x” from Lella Boutique’s Nest collection. This month I added the grey stripe from the Nest collection, as well as a grey text print from Corey Yoder’s Strawberry Jam collection. I’m really happy with the visual interest created by multiple background prints.

Summer Moon is a sampler quilt designed by Carrie Nelson and It’s Sew Emma (the pattern company of Fat Quarter Shop). The quilt is comprised of 24 blocks that are each made in three different sizes: 5”, 6 1/2” and 8” unfinished, for a total of 72 blocks. For the sew along, we are asked to make three blocks each month, in all three sizes (9 blocks per month). I am sewing just three blocks a month in the medium 6 1/2" size. You could do whatever works with your schedule! 

The Summer Moon quilt along began in May and runs through February 2020. You can still jump in and join the fun. For more information, please visit the Fat Quarter Shop blog: The Jolly Jabber. I hope I’ve tempted you to join us so you can create your own lovely Summer Moon quilt.

Related Posts:

Summer Moon QAL: May Blocks

Summer Moon Quilt Along: Will you join me?

~Taunja

Fig Tree fat quarter bundles available

Are you looking to build your Fig Tree stash? Well, you’re in luck!  I have listed two new fat quarter bundles on my Etsy shop and they are as pretty as can be.

The autumn bundle includes 6 fat quarters from Fig Tree’s Farmhouse II collection, featuring their signature butterscotch orange mixed with black and green.  These would be perfect adders for a fall quilt or any farmhouse inspired project!

The red and green bundle includes 6 fat quarters from three Fig Tree collections: Ella & Ollie, Christmas Figs and Farmhouse II. This versatile bundle would be a lovely in a fresh summery quilt, but it would also be beautiful for a Christmas project. I love sewing Christmas quilts with prints that aren’t strictly “holiday” prints. It’s both unexpected and joyful!

Zip on over to my Etsy shop today to order your Fig Tree bundle.  They’ll go quickly!

~Taunja

4th of July Flag Block

Hello quilting friends! I’m popping in today to share a fun little mini I made recently, the 4^th of July Flag by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet. This block is a free tutorial as part of Lori’s Vintage Block Along series.

The finished block measures 13” x 20” and is just one of many blocks that will be sewn into the finished quilt in Lori’s newest sew along. I didn’t have enough time in my sewing schedule to join the Vintage Block Along, but I sure had fun whipping together this festive flag.

Don’t you love a quick and easy project that allows you to sew from your stash? My block includes the following Moda fabrics:

• Navy pin dot (Sweet Tea by Sweetwater)
• Navy geometric (upcoming Harvest Road by Lella Boutique)
• Neutral geometric (upcoming Harvest Road by Lella Boutique)
• Neutral text print (Sweet Tea by Sweetwater)
• Neutral cross hatch (Return to Winter’s Lane by Kate & Birdie)
• Red plaid (Return to Winter’s Lane by Kate & Birdie)

I suppose I better sign off and get to work. I have some quilting and binding to do.  I really hope to have this small quilt ready for the 4^th of July . . . 2019!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Taunja