HomeMy WebsiteAbout mePocket PatchworkFreebie Patterns

Monday, October 30, 2023

Big Apple Monday's With Marcus!

 

It's my turn for Big Apple Monday's With Marcus, and I'd like to introduce you to my FREE project, Liberty's Crown.

If you've been following all of the other Marcus designers since July, you know that we all visited Marcus Fabrics home offices in New York City.  Marcus asked all of us to design a project inspired by our NYC trip, and Liberty's Crown is my project.  Can you guess what inspired me?

Yes....the Statue of Liberty is my favorite New York landmark.  I have always loved her!  The spiked points of this star block replicate the spikes in Lady Liberty's crown.  There are seven of them in her crown standing for the seven seas, and the seven continents.  Notice that I made seven of my star points verdigris green.  I did this in homage to the color of Lady Liberty, and you may think this an odd thing to do, and well....it kinda is....but adding a solid color line of patchwork in pieced quilts is nothing new.

Photo courtesy of Marian Edwards, quilt owner.
Quilt made as a gift for Marian by
Jeanneke Lambriex of The Netherlands.

This gorgeous quilt caught my eye when I saw it posted on social media.  Marian Edwards owns this quilt.  It was a gift from her friend Jeanneke in The Netherlands.  

It has several elements whereby the maker used solid color fabrics to give additional interest to the quilt.









Jeanneke spotted this photo of the original quilt,  and was her inspiration for the one she made for Marian.  I see white and pink concentric circles, red diagonal rows and pink in the top and bottom rows.  And yet, sometimes it all just looks scrappy.

Those solid rows sure give an extra added interest to a lovely, scrappy Tumbling Block quilt.  

I wonder if those fabrics had a special meaning to the maker?  A favorite piece of clothing perhaps?

Or, did she just want to be artistic?  Either way, the end result is delightful!

You can omit my the seven green star points in your quilt and make yours from a wide variety of lovely scraps!  What fun! 

Liberty's Crown is a different quilt than I've ever designed before because it is hand pieced.  It can also be made using English Paper Piece papers.  I adore hand piecing so I was very jazzed to create this project for you.  



I had acrylic windowpane templates made for hand piecing the quilt.  I love using windowpane templates because you not only mark the cutting line, you also mark the 1/4 inch seam line, so you know exactly where to sew!

They also make it very easy to fussy cut the best part of the fabric prints you choose.

The acrylic templates are available on my website in limited quantities. 





While I chose to hand piece my quilt, it's also possible to use 
EPP papers to make the quilt, so I had papers made just for you!


Liberty's Crown EPP papers are available in limited quantities.




If you're familiar with Seam Align glue, it will come as no surprise that this wonderful, little notion helped me a lot with keeping my pieces aligned to perfection.  

This glue is such a help with any piecing where you want to keep points in perfect alignment, or when a fabric just won't stay put!  I also use it in applique, both cotton and wool.

You can read all about its attributes here.


I chose to use Marcus' Tea Dyed Aged Muslin for the background of my quilt.  The verdigris green star points are another shade of Aged Muslin.  The rest of all of my star blocks were made with a variety of my own fabrics....some old, and some that are new and coming soon!  Can you spot the new ones?  Yes....I'm teasing you....my bad!


I hope you have enjoyed the story of my Liberty's Crown quilt.

My Liberty's Crown pattern is a FREE download.  Click here 

The acrylic templates, EPP papers, and Tea Dyed Aged Muslin are available on my website.  
Click here to place an order.

IN THE STUDIO.....

I'm working on the final details of my new BOM, Piecemakers Sampler.  Fabric will ship in January, and the program begins February, 2024.


Also coming early in 2024.....



Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well, my friends....

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Pre-Order Butternut & Peppercorn 2 Bundles & Grist Mill Quilt Kit!!

Grist Mill quilt by Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts

 Introducing Grist Mill, a new quilt designed especially for my new Butternut & Peppercorn 2 collection for Marcus Fabrics!

This collection is a follow up to one of my most popular fabric collections in recent past.  Like the first collection, this one features warm and cozy butternut golds, striking blacks and creamy neutrals.  All packaged up in this wonderful quilt made of Sawtooth Stars with a Four Patch tucked inside.  Pretty easy block to make, and makes for a striking quilt design!  

Here's a blowup of the quilt corner.  

The quilt size is approx 70 x 84 inches.

Here you can see the butternut setting print, and the black sashing and border print.  Love, love, love!!!

There are eight black prints.....

...seven butternut prints....

...and five creamy neutral prints.

I'm taking pre-orders for the Grist Mill kit now.  You can also opt to buy the matching quilt back for a special price of $11 per yard when purchased with the kit.  5 yards is needed.

Click here to order a Grist Mill quilt kit.  The pattern is FREE ($12 value) with pre-order.

You can also pre-order bundles.  I have Fat Quarter bundles, Half-Yard bundles, and for the first time, One-Yard bundles.

Click here to order a Butternut & Peppercorn 2 bundle.

I am expecting the fabric to arrive mid-October, so as soon as I can cut and assemble kits and bundles, I'll ship your order PDQ!

Place your pre-order no later than Sunday, Sept 24th.  I will then get my fabric order into Marcus Fabrics and anxiously await delivery!!  

My new Sturbridge Floral Petites fabric is now available on my website here.

Also, I have the last few kits of the Haunted Halloween quilt trio available.  Each quilt features only one block which makes them quick and easy!  They're ready to ship and decorate your home this haunted season.  

Click here to order the Haunted Halloween quilt trio kit.

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well, my friends.






Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Rogue Blocks and the Circa 1880 Nine Patch Quilt

 

In my last blog post, I talked about the tiny two inch blocks that were being made and finding their way into The Circa 1880 Nine Patch quilt. Can you spot a few of them in the photo above?

Standing next to her quilt is Janet Olsen.  She writes a blog called The Rogue Quilter, and I believe that's where these tiny blocks get their rogue name.  Janet was among the first to start making these tiny wonders.  If you know Janet, this comes as no surprise as she's been making tiny wonderful quilts for a long time.  

Her rogue blocks soon caught on to others in the Circa 1880 club at Village Dry Goods.  

Take a look inside this basket at all of these glorious blocks...and remember....they are all just 2 inches when finished.

They sure look great along side the Circa blocks.

Mr. Lynn Hopkins is a devoted member of The Circa 1880 club at VDG and he took rogue blocks even further.  He not only designed this amazing quilt, but also drafted and patterned the blocks you see in his quilt!  


He made special templates for many of the blocks to help with the piecing.  


If you're loving these mini 'rogue' blocks, Lynn's pattern sets and templates are available at Village Dry Goods.  Give them a call at 435/723-1315.  They are very popular, so you may have to get on a wait list for them.

Pati Violick, Director of Marketing for Marcus Fabrics,
Fran Leslie, Village Dry Goods shop owner, and me.
Many thanks to Fran Leslie for a wonderful couple of days spent at the shop.  Thanks to the Circa 1880 club members who all gave me such warm welcome and who continue to blow our minds with their creativity and gorgeous quilts.  Thanks, too, to Pati who traveled with me and made the trip even more fun!

Click here to order The Circa 1880 Nine Patch pattern and/or starter kit.

IN THE STUDIO.....

I am submerged with writing and piecing my new BOM, Piecemakers Sampler.  It's coming along slow but sure.  

In addition, my new Butternut & Peppercorn 2 will be arriving soon.  I have to prep the fabric and begin making that quilt, and I have to say, I'm excited to piece that one.  Can't wait to show you all the fabrics and the quilt.  I'll be taking pre-orders for fabrics and quilt kits very soon, so stay tuned for all of those goodies.

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well, my friends.

Friday, September 1, 2023

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Inspiration

In 2019, Marcus Fabrics and I held a competition with quilt shops who participated in The Circa 1880 Nine Patch club.  Shops were to submit a video and I would visit the winning quilt shop.  There were many wonderful videos and it was hard to choose.  In the end, Village Dry Goods in Brigham City, UT won.  They had an exceptional Circa 1880 club with so, so many talented quilters who took my Circa 1880 quilt to the next level.

My trip was all set for April, 2020....and well, you know what happened then.  After a very long delay, and lots of planning by shop owner Fran Leslie, I finally made it to the shop in July.

Pati Violick (Director of Marketing for Marcus) and I were honored to spend the day with Fran, all the shop girls, and the ladies and gentleman of VDG Circa club.  I am so excited to share with you just a few of the Circa 1880 quilts they made.  I wish I could show them all!

Pati and I were both blown away by the talent and creativity this group showed in their masterpieces.  The photo above shows the Circa 1880 Nine Patch in its original setting, only this quilt is larger than my own.

This gentleman, Lynn Hopkins (you will read more about him later) chose a slightly darker background that what I used, and enlarged the borders.  The black border is wonderful.

This quilter chose to add a stripe between her rows and I love it!


This quilter chose a regular on-point setting for her quilt.  I love her quilting idea, too.

And, here's another wonderful alternate setting idea.  

And, don't you love this table runner idea??  I sure do!

This is a special quilt made by a special lady....my friend, Janet Olsen.  Lots of you may know Janet from her inspirational blog, The Rogue Quilter.  When I had this crazy idea of making the Circa quilt, I enlisted five friends to help me by making blocks and trading them, and Janet was one of those friends.  The six of us made and traded blocks for about a year.  Janet's quilt has blocks from the all of the founding quilters, as does mine, so this quilt is only one of six like it, although...Janet's quilt has even more surprises within.  Look closely at the blocks and you will begin to notice tiny star and churn dash blocks....even a tiny log cabin.  

These tiny blocks began a Village Dry Goods creative burst that became a phenomenon among the Circa 1880 club members.  I will post photos of the quilts they made with these tiny blocks, lead by Janet Olsen and Lynn Hopkins (among others) in my next post.  

I hope you've found some inspiration from these talented quilters.  To the quilters of VDG Circa 1880 club, I wish I could remember everyone's name, and please know that I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with all of you.  Your talent and creativity continue to inspire me and many others. Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us.

If you're inspired to make the Circa 1880 Nine Patch quilt for yourself, click here to see all the options.

IN THE STUDIO.....

My new Sturbridge Floral Petites fabric collection is being delivered to your local quilt shop now.  

Flower Market is the new quilt I designed using the new fabrics.

You can order the pattern here.

You also may have heard I have a new block of the month coming next year, called Piecemakers Sampler.

Quilt shops offering the program are beginning to take signups now, so ask for Piecemakers Sampler at your LQS.  I am in the process of writing the pattern now.  We will begin making the quilt very soon and I'll post photos of our progress on social media, so please follow me on Instagram and Facebook.  

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well, my friends.




 

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Last Call - Sturbridge Floral Petites PRE-ORDERS!

 

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, is your last chance to place a Pre-Order for this lovely floral collection.

Flower Market quilt by Pam Buda
You can Pre-Order my Flower Market quilt, Half-Yd or Fat Quarter bundles for shipment as soon as the fabric arrives.  

The quilt is at the quilter getting its beauty stitches.

It's not often that a collection with six pretty petite florals comes along, so be sure to stock up!  

Please ask for Sturbridge Floral Petites at your LQS.  They don't know you're interested unless you tell them, and we want to and MUST support our quilt shops!

If your LQS doesn't carry Sturbridge Floral Petites, you can get them from my website.  

Click here to read all details and place your Pre-Order.

COMING SOON......


The word is out!  It's been a few years since I've designed a new Block of the Month and I've been itchin' to design one.  Quilts shops all over the US are signing up to offer my Piecemakers Sampler BOM to YOU!  

I'll be posting a lot more photos once I receive my sample yardage.  You can take a look at all of the yummy fabrics here.  

Ask your LQS if they will be offering Piecemakers Sampler and join this excellent piecing adventure!!

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well, my friends!



Friday, August 4, 2023

PRE ORDER Sturbridge Floral Petites Quilt Kit & Bundles!!

 

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new fabric collection, Sturbridge Floral Petites.

Last year I visited the archives of quilts and fabrics at The Old Sturbridge Village living history museum.  They have some of the most wonderful old, old fabrics in their archives.  I found this little bounty of small florals which I rarely ever see.  They had a bunch of them, and I fell in love.   

Each one of these small floral prints has their own special attributes, and well, I just had to create a fabric line with them.  I couldn't chose just one floral....I had to have six of them!  How can you choose?  

I designed 14 medium and dark prints to coordinate with the six florals.  They're light and playful prints that don't distract from the pretty florals at all.  

Flower Market quilt by Pam Buda
This is the quilt I designed, called Flower Market, and it features  of the Sturbridge Floral Petite prints.  Designing a quilt that has six different floral prints was a bit of a challenge for me.  I didn't want to create a chaotic quilt of all different florals, so I tucked a floral inside each block, and surrounded it with colorful half square triangles.  All of the half square triangles are made larger and trimmed to the perfect size, making block assembly much easier.  The quilt size is 74 x 88.

As you can see, Flower Market has a main floral print and I chose this print for the background.  It's light, whimsical, and has classic nineteenth century features.  Even though it is based on a very old print, it can be used in modern quilts.  It's light and airy and colorful!  Timeless.  

You can Pre-Order a Flower Market quilt kit and optional backing.  

Click here to order the Flower Market kit.

I'm also taking Pre-Orders for Half Yard bundles and Fat Quarter bundles.  Click here to order bundles.

Sturbridge Floral Petites are due to arrive late in August.  So, you can expect your order early in September.  Place your pre-order by August 14th.

I also want to introduce my new block of the month, called 
Piecemakers Sampler!!  Marcus Fabrics just released the quilt picture and fabric images to all of the shop owners last week.  So, that means you can begin looking for a participating quilt shop now.  Please ask your local quilt shop if they will be offering this program.  That way, they know you're interested.  

I'll be talking a lot more about this special quilt in the coming months.  The program begins February, 2024.  

We worked very hard on the luscious blue gray background fabric to get the color just right.  It is gorgeous and I'm so, so happy.  I hope you love it, too.  

We have a lot more beautiful fabric collections in the works, so stay tuned!

Keep your needle busy and your heart content.  Be well my friends~