What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Hi! I’m Mary Hertel. Welcome to my newest book “HOME SWEET HOME Paper Piecing“. Featuring 17 of my favorite block patterns, and 7 charming projects, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of creative fun for you.

If you are new to paper piecing, you can rely on any of my books to provide step by step directions. To give you even more assistance, visit me at madebymarney.com to watch paper piecing tutorials.

Did you know that as you paper piece, the block is created on the back of the paper pattern, and will be the opposite of ...

As I started putting up my Christmas decorations, I realized I have plenty of Christmas tree skirts to choose from. They are all handmade and, of course, all paper pieced.

Any tree skirt pattern can be created as a table topper instead, just don’t cut the hole in the center. The BEARY-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT would also make a super cute table centerpiece.

When I am decorating using a more farmhouse look, I use this tree skirt.

LITTLE RED TRUCK TREE SKIRT is so easy! Consider using fabric photos to paper ...

Just in time for the Fourth of July, you could create this super cute PATRIOTIC GNOME PILLOW.

Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and any other summer day is a perfect time to display this pillow.

I keep my pillow on display all summer. These paper pieced blocks would also work great for potholders, or even a cute table runner. I would love to see what you could create using these gnomes!

I might try some patriotic gnome towels, too! Any other good ideas?

HOMEWARD BOUND is another of ...

Just in time for a summer project, here is my BEACH BUM GNOME QUILT.

This adorable lap quilt was designed while I was vacationing in Hilton Head. I found the fabric in a super cute fabric store on the island.

I had a blast shopping for fabric that would work for the cute little “Hawaiian” shirts.

This Gnome has a unicorn floatie and sunglasses! He is ready for the beach.

This Gnome in his sailboat is definitely going on a pillow for my boyfriend, who adores sailing!

Playing in the sand…too cute!

When I discovered ...

These are some of the new blocks I have been creating. Most of them were customer requests.

HAPPY PIT BULL is a rendition of a customer’s pet. Although pit bulls are not my favorite breed, I’m loving them more now that I have this sweetie. I love this image so much, I put it on the back of a shirt. No one will mess with me now.

This SHELTIE is Caroline’s pet named Skittles. Adorable!

This is a very serious dog, the MASTIFFF. And this is a sweetheart of a ...

I am thrilled to be featured in the CREATE WHIMSY: SPOTLIGHT! A huge Made By Marney “thank you” to them for such a lovely interview.

Create Whimsy features different artists/designers on their blog. You can see more of their interviews HERE.

After spending a few weeks in Hilton Head biking and relaxing, I discovered a super group of pickleball players that meet every morning to play. They are a local group, very friendly and welcoming.

While I was vacationing, a gentleman contacted me to design a MILITARY GNOME. He is an Air ...

Here are some new Gnomes that I designed for customers. You might like them too!

SKIING GNOME is gosh darn cute as he tumbles down the ski slope! I am putting him on a pillow!

PIRATE GNOME and PIRATE SHIP can be used together as a pair of pillows, etc. or separately. They sure would look great in a kid’s room!

I love “My Hero”, DOCTOR GNOME! With the stethoscope ready to use…this cute Doctor is ready to be heroic.

NURSE GNOME is ready with the hypodermic! These ...

Welcome to our Scrap Busting Blog Hop, where we embrace every scrap in our sewing rooms. We are proving that there is no unusable scrap! I find that especially true in paper piecing, where I use my scraps every day. It is important to have a wide variety of colors to choose from when paper piecing, so as to find just that right print and color when piecing together an image.

Thanks to Melissa for hosting this blog hop and giving the designers a chance to share something new.

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I have ...

I am always asking my customers to send photos of the things they create using my patterns. Today I am sharing some of my favorite photos.

This adorable wall hanging was sewn by Carol Cheesman using LUMBERJACK GNOME, SANTA GNOME, and GNOME WITH GIFTS.

Elise Brasseale made these cute little mug rugs using the elf from SEW YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, and GNOME WITH LANTERN.

Crafty Judy Miniclier created this adorable GNOME QUILT, using assorted GNOMES FROM MY SHOP. Beautiful!

These Christmas blocks were shared by Joyce Albers. She is creating a holiday quilt. She used HO HO HO ...

Want to get in on a great deal? I am linking with 13 pattern designers to offer you my newest gnome pattern, Gnome For Christmas Tree Skirt. My pattern will be included in a bundle of patterns from all 13 designers, for only $19.99.

This is the first time I am offering a group of Gnome blocks in one pattern, which many of my customers have been requesting. Here’s your chance to get 8 Gnome block patterns, AND the directions to construct this adorable Christmas Tree Skirt.

Check out the CHRISTMAS IN JULY ...

As summer approaches, I am anticipating playing my newest passion in the park, Pickleball. All winter I have beaten the blues by socializing with 8 friends at indoor pickleball, while wearing masks.

I even sewed matching “pickle masks” for our teams. But I can’t wait to get back outside and play at some of the local courts in our city parks.

So when my son Brady suggested I create a Pickleball Gnome, I knew he was absolutely right. How had I forgotten to make a gnome doing my favorite sport?

You can get both patterns as ...

Since St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, I am highlighting some of my St. Pat’s designs this week.

If you want a quick and cute kit for a LEPRECHAUN GNOME PILLOW you will find this kit available on RebsFabStash online quilt shop.

Or you could just order the LEPRECHAUN GNOME BLOCK.

This is my newest LIL’ LEPRECHAUN GNOME BLOCK pattern.

I used the Lil’ Leprechaun in this cute as can be kitchen towel…

The LUCKY LEPRECHAUN is my most popular block this month. His nose is a stuffed fabric yoyo ...

So many customers are asking for more GNOMES. If you are looking for a paper pieced gnome for every month of the year, you can pick and choose the 12 you like the most to make your gnome quilt….choose a Gnome for every month. Here are some of my newest gnomes.

For the EASTER BUNNY GNOME I lucked out and found a scrap of this great basket weave fabric. The most fun was finding some adorable Easter egg buttons from Hobby Lobby to fill my basket. Click on HOBBY LOBBY if you want to find the ...

Here’s a cute paper pieced mug rug pattern just in time for Valentine’s Day. You will find it in the January/February 2021 issue of McCalls Quilting.

This HEART BANDIT MUG RUG is cute, cute, cute! The magazine has full instructions for paper piecing the raccoon block and consructing the mug rug.

The sassy little raccoon block is easy to complete in a day. You could have some sweet Valentine’s gifts done in no time.

Wrap up this mug rug with a coffee mug and some hot cocoa!

One of my customers, Nickola, requested a ...

Here are my latest additions to my paper pieced Gnome collection.

GNOME IN A TRUCK is a combination of my 2 favorite things…red trucks and gnomes! I was so happy with this sweet gnome, that I made his girl friend…

GIRL GNOME‘s braids have small pieces, which makes this an intermediate level pattern.

This GNOME WITH A HEART has been very popular for Valentine’s Day projects. I’m making a sofa pillow. What are you using it for?

Happy Valentines Day … will you be ...

Yes, I know…I should be drinking coffee with Bailey’s and putting my feet up for the holidays, but NO…instead I am designing even more Gnomes.

Some of you want Gnomes for every season, so I am adding these new designs to my evergrowing list of gnome paper pieced patterns.

SANTA GNOME works perfectly for the holidays. He has his sack full of toys near by!

REINDEER GNOME is Santa Gnomes best buddy. They will make a cute couple as potholders!

GNOME WITH GIFTS has my sweet gnome juggling packages for ...

My newest book, PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND, is ready for pre-sale from Amazon. I don’t even have a copy of it yet…that’s how new it is!

This book has something for everyone. I have designed 2 images for each month of the year… that means you will be getting 24 paper pieced block patterns, plus the patterns for 7 different projects. All blocks fit in all patterns in this book, as well as all of the projects in my previous 5 books.

These 2 adorable Gnomes are the images ...

Since Gnomes are all the rage this holiday, my customers have been requesting more gnome designs…and I love a challenge!

I LOVE this super cute LUMBERJACK GNOME. I can’t wait to make my paper pieced block into a cozy winter pillow. What will you do with yours?

The only item hotter than gnomes right now are lanterns. This clever little gnome is done in Christmas colors, but doesn’t need to be. The GNOME WITH LANTERN would be adorable all year round.

I like a gnome with braids. MISS GNOME has ...

I am super excited to share my newest book, SEW MAGICAL. This paper piece book is FANTASTICAL!

The 16 mystical blocks in this book are amazing. I can’t wait to see what you will do with them. Here are some of the things I came up with, and all of the directions for sewing these projects are included in the book.

This adorable lap quilt is so versatile. You can add any of the blocks from the book to create your own masterpiece quilt.

This super sweet Backpack would make the nicest gift for ...

I am obsessed with paper pieced gnomes. They are so stinkin’ cute!

This is my newest Gnome pattern: GNOME WITH A BIRD. I call him my “garden gnome”, so he would make a great Spring or Summer project. But he could also be holding a red cardinal for a winter project.

GNOME WITH MUSHROOMS is another cute block. I used this block in a small sofa pillow. His nose could be a button, or made from fabric. I used a small wooden plug (like a carpenter would use) hot glued to the finished block.

This Gnome is in my newest ...