What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Everywhere I go I’m seeing the cutest bunnies for Easter decorating. I found these at Walmart…cute and affordable.

For my front door, I made these moss bunny beauties from Dollar Tree items…

They were amazingly fun and easy to construct. I found this idea on Pinterest.

This is my fave paper pieced bunny block pattern… BUNNY WITH FLOWERS.

I’ve used this block in lots of projects. I love animals with flowers on their heads.

Here are some of my other bunny blocks…LOP EARED BUNNY

Here’s the same lop bunny with a bow… LOP BUNNY WITH ...

The Koala quilt from my newest book, HOME SWEET HOME PAPER PIECING, is being featured in Homespun Magazine’s February/March 2024 issue.

This charming little quilt combines paper piecing and applique to create a ” juvenile jungle” for your child. This Koala is one of many adorable animal patterns in the book.

Sea turtles, hedgehogs, monkeys and much more….

I’m in love with this sweet sea turtle. All square blocks measure 8″ x 8″ unfinished, and can be used in every project in this book, as well as my previous 6 books. This means you can be super creative ...

Every year I create home made gifts for my pickleball crew. There are 8 of us and we play 3 times a week, so we have gotten very close. I want this gift to be pickleball related, but also practical. This year, I used some adorable novelty fabric (Elizabeth Studios Pickleball Paddles on White 683 Fabric) to sew SWEAT RAGS. I found my fabric at a local quilt shop, MY FAVORITE QUILT SHOP, in Green Bay, WI.

I simply purchased soft terry washcloths, ripped open any side seams…

tucked the pickleball fabric under the opened seam…

and sewed the seam ...

My newest table runner has 4 adorable paper pieced farm animals wearing flower wreaths.

My FARMHOUSE TABLE RUNNER pattern has all 4 animals included and the directions to make the extra long farmhouse ruffle. This table runner has no quilt batting. Instead I used fusible T-shirt interfacing to keep the table runner nice and thin and flexible.

All of the block patterns are also sold separately. BUNNY WITH FLOWERS.

These blocks also make lovely pillows…

Although the pillow directions are not included in the pattern, they are available in my book ...

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 ...

Everyone knows how much I love to design animal patterns. Here is my newest paper pieced pattern, A DOG FOR ALL SEASONS.

This adorable pattern includes all 4 blocks, LABRADOR WITH BUTTERFLY (spring); BEAGLE WITH FLOWER (summer); RETRIEVER WITH PUMPKIN (autumn); FRENCH BULLDOG WITH SCARF (winter). Use them to create pillows, potholders, or a lovely table runner for the dog lover in your life. You can keep these projects out all year!

Although they are all super cute, I am partial to this LABRADOR! He’s my fave. All of the block ...

My newest book, HOME SWEET HOME PAPER PIECING, is ready for you to enjoy.

This book features 17 of my FAVORITE BLOCK PATTERNS, and I want to share them with you. Koalas, monkeys, sea turtles, gnomes, and so much more.

This is just a sampling of the adorable blocks, and there are 10 more!

Remember…all of my blocks will fit not only in the 7 projects in this book, but will also fit into the projects in my past 6 books. That helps you achieve soooo much creativity in your sewing.

Here’s an example…

This super cute HEDGEHOG ...

All of my patterns include paper pieced blocks, which are constructed with scraps of fabric going in various directions. It is important to quilt over the finished block so it will not stretch out of shape when laundered. But, after paper piecing a lovely image, it almost hurts to quilt over it! My go to method is to use invisible thread.

These 3 invisible threads are brands that I have used and I think they are all do a good job. Superior Threads makes MonoPoly, Aurifil makes a 100% Nylon variety, and YLI makes this Monofilament 100% Nylon Invisible Thread ...

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 ...

As Halloween is approaching, you might be looking for some cute and spooky patterns. Here are some of my faves….

BOO COLLECTION, a pattern with 6 blocks including these…

This collection of 6 Halloween paper pieced block patterns is so clever! Included with the blocks are patterns for a table runner and potholders. These 8″x 8″ blocks can be used in so many fun ways. Be creative and construct an entire Halloween quilt! Here is a quilt put together by Donna for her daughter, using some of these blocks….

The WITCH HAT pattern is very easy and would be ...

Yes, it’s that time of year again…once a year I join forces with other talented pattern designers to offer my customers a bundle of 20 PATTERNS FOR ONLY $19! This is an amazing deal, and is only available from today through Sunday, October 9.

My GNOME MADE APRON PATTERN is part of this bundle! I love this apron because you can sew one for each season, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. What a great gift!!! AND, they are so easy to sew! I finished mine in an afternoon, and that included sewing the ...

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of my wonderful customers. Please enjoy this FREE HALLOWEEN PAPER PIECED PATTERN!

You will find the download for these patterns at the end of this post. You might also enjoy my series of WITCH BLOCKS. These are all sold separately on Etsy…

Here are links to all the witches:

GLINDA THE WITCH

BEWITCHED

HAPPY WITCH

TOOTHY WITCH

GOOFY WITCH

WANDA THE WITCH

Wouldn’t these witches make a stinkin’ cute table runner for October?

This is my favorite new Halloween Quilt pattern: GNOME ...

Yesterday, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96, after 70 years of service to her country. Being American, I don’t totally understand a monarchy, but I know she was beloved by so many around the world, and my late British mother-in-law certainly loved her. After a 70 year reign, there aren’t many who recall a world without her as the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom.

This morning, I decided to “toast” to her years of service with tea in my British mug. And while doing so, I sketched out a little Corgi in her ...

I hope you had some tasty leftovers from your batch of Italian sausage chicken soup! It’s really nice to slow down and enjoy the present moment – it looks different for everyone, but hopefully it is with this yummy treat on your side table and our Home in my Heart kit in your hands! When I tell you, the true joy of this mini recipe + and mini project series is in the tight-knit community that we have…knowing we are all working on the same project together (and eating the same recipes!) – that just warms my heart!

Up next is ...

August 23rd, 2022

1 pm-5 pm

Recording available afterward

C&T Publishing’s Piecing Palooza is pure summertime fun. A four-hour event with over a dozen live sessions, a panel discussion, and a keynote speaker to help you become an expert piecer!

We gathered quilt piecing experts to share all their pro tips, tricks, and techniques with you. Alex Anderson, co-host of The Quilt Show, kicks off the fun as the opening keynote. A beloved figure in the quilting community, Alex sets the tone for the event by sharing her love of patchwork. 

Next, get inspired with 12 30-minute workshops ...

Today we sent out the fabric cutting instructions and instructions for Block #1 of The Secret Fairy Garden Block of the Month!  If you haven’t yet signed up for this FREE Sew Along, make sure you click here to learn more and sign up!  The only way to get these patterns is via signing up to receive my emails (unless you are a Member of The Art of Home Club – Members can find these patterns on the Club Website).

I usually try to provide cutting instructions ahead of time for a BOM project like this – it helps you in ...

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 ...

Here’s my new go to gift for bridal showers and weddings…

The BRIDE AND GROOM POTHOLDERS are hot off my press and available to create all kinds of lovely gifts for newlyweds.

THE BRIDE paper pieced block has 3 tiny buttons that resemble flowers. I found them at Hobby Lobby. You could also use tiny silk flowers, or even embroider some tiny flowers with embroidery floss.

THE GROOM block has lots of small pieces, and is not recommended for a beginner paper piecer, but a really fun challenge for an intermediate.

I would love to see what you can ...

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 ...

Is there a special child in your life? Mine too! Actually, quite a few of them, and I love to sew cute gifts for all of them! That’s why I created my newest book, SEW CUTE BABY ANIMALS.

With 17 adorable mix and match baby animal images and 6 fun projects, this book will provide you lots of reasons to be creative.

Patterns for baby quilts, a diaper tote, catch-all container, bib, and burp cloth are all included.

Here are just a few of the cutest baby animals ever…all ...