Cat's Paw Quilt Block
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| Machine Applique Raffle Quilt |
Greetings Quilter -
The report on m. mouse this week is good. It turns out that he needs about 3 weeks to get everything "settled in" with his new-found gum-disease-free body.
In the meantime, we are working to regulate his blood sugar so he has the right amount of energy and is eating well.
He is certainly enjoying his people salmon and tuna - a small luxury that entices him to eat. Over the past month, he has gone from a slim 9 pounds to a really-skinny 6 1/2 pounds. Pathetic to be sure, but we've been there before, and he has bounced back with many meals a day.
We are planning his 16th birthday later this year, and he has assured me that he has cleared his calendar so he can attend. (Hmmmm - I wonder what he had to re-schedule! Oh, maybe an email writing.) Maybe dentures would be the perfect birthday present for him!
In any case, thanks to all who sent their well wishes. We are in the process of responding individually, and with hundreds of messages, it may take a few more days. After all, we also have quilts to make.
Raffle Quilt
If you have been following the articles, you'll know that I started a Raffle Quilt (shown above).
This quilt is for a dinner auction with a group of marketers who are taught by Dan Kennedy whose trademark is No B.S.
With his permission, I have used his trademark as a theme for the machine applique wall hanging. This week, I added the borders, and will finish it next week for the dinner in the middle of July.
This is a really easy way to make something for a Raffle or Auction. And it can bring a good sum of money if you choose a theme that is in keeping with the event or group, and is attractive enough for everyone to overlook the "common-ness" of the fact that it is just a wall hanging, and get excited about the design.
You'll see the finished quilt and I'll let you know how the bidding goes.
Fabric Postcards for Penny's Postcard Posse
Take a few minutes to create a small fabric postcard this week for a soldier in the Middle East. A few scraps of fabric is all it takes, and by making one a week - or every few days - you can brighten the life of our troops.
Just a few minutes is all it takes to create one of these small treasures and send it to Diane for shipment abroad. The letters and emails she gets back are remarkable and tell just how much these little treasures mean to the soldiers over there.
You'll find all the information below. This month I'll be sending additional information, including patterns and instructions for making these tiny quilts.
And now for the rest of the news - -
Happy Quilting!
Amaze Your Friends with Your Speed!
In Less Than A Weekend, This Quick and Easy Flannel Baby Quilt
Will Be Finished and Ready to Give to a Beloved Baby in Your Life
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| Quick & Easy Flannel Baby Quilt |
Quilting daughter, Stephanie, is getting married, and I would imagine that babies aren't far behind.
After all, she'll be almost 30 when she says "I do."
She and her beau, Cam, are doing some traveling, saving money for a house, securing their careers, and planning for their future, which includes babies (or so I'm told!).
I can hardly wait to start making baby quilts for a new baby in my family! I've made scores of them for other people's babies, and a few for my two, but that was ages ago.
If there is a new baby in your life, you know that a handmade flannel baby quilt is the perfect gift. It sends an ongoing message of love and caring.
And it is a practical item as well.
Unlike diapers or clothes, a baby quilt doesn't get used once and thrown away. Nor does it get outgrown! This gift will be cherished for a lifetime or more.
Learn all my shortcuts, secrets and speedy techniques so you can create this wonderful flannel baby quilt in no time at all.
Be among the first 47 to order, and you'll get a handy canvas project bag that you can keep for your quilting projects, or give along with the quilt so "mom" has something to store baby goodies in.
Happy July!
There’s a lot to celebrate this month and a lot of good reasons to start a new quilting project or two.
July 1 is Postage Stamp Day. It’s a great day to rededicate yourself to making fabric postcards for our military troops. If you haven’t been part of Penny’s Postcard Posse in the past, consider jumping on the bandwagon.
It’s too late to get Independence Day postcards submitted, but there’s plenty of time for the other months and holidays. You really don’t need a special occasion to say thanks to these brave men and women who serve our country all year long. To get started, visit www.Fabric-Postcards.com for instructions and various free patterns.
Of course, we’ve mentioned July 4th, Independence Day in the United States. It would be great to incorporate one of your favorite quilts into a July 4 picnic. The quilt can serve double duty when it’s time to watch a fireworks display – simply lie back on the quilt and watch the colorful explosions in the July sky.
Pull out that favorite quilt and plan another picnic for July 10. That’s official “Teddy Bear Picnic Day.” You probably grew up hearing the song by the same name. It’s been a long-time children’s favorite. In addition to an excuse to have a picnic, the holiday would be a great reason to start your own teddy bear inspired quilt project. Use fabric prints with the cuddly critters or piece together a Bear Paw quilt in cute colors and prints. You might also choose to create a teddy bear appliqué for your teddy bear quilt.
Totally unrelated to quilting (and sometimes a fear of quilters) is Chocolate Day on July 7. While many people will tell you that any day is a good day for chocolate, many quilters will tell you to keep it away from them while they work! For good reason, too, since chocolate stains can be tough to remove. If you happen to get a smudge of chocolate on your quilt project while working on it (on Chocolate Day or any other), try this chocolate removal technique:
- Place a few layers of white paper towels underneath the stained fabric.
- Spray the top of the stain with a hydrogen-peroxide based cleaner (Oxyclean is one).
- Dab up the cleaner from the stain with more white paper towels.
- Continue spraying and dabbing until the stain is gone. If a little of the stain remains, use a gentle brush along with the cleaner to remove what remains.
No matter which July holidays you choose to celebrate, look at them as a reason to make another quilt project. Enjoy July and all the quilts it can bring!
Bear's Paw or Cat's Paw Quilt Block
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| Bear Paw Quilt Block also known as Cat's Paw Quilt Block |
This block certainly had its origins in the frontier. Possibly a farmer found this kind of track in his field one morning and his quilter wife thought it was interesting enough to create a quilt block.
It’s always interesting to ponder how the same quilt block design got different names. Is it because a quilter saw the design but didn’t know its name and thought up a new one?
Could it be that a quilter lived in an area without bears but with ducks and therefore decided to name the block after something she was familiar with?
Probably either is possible. And, after all, it doesn’t really matter, it’s just an interesting thing to wonder about.
The fun thing about this (or any other) block is that you can take any of the square patches and use it to include a photo.
The other block shown below is called Cat and Mice. I have taken a picture of m. mouse and placed it in the center of the block.
In the Bear’s Paw (or Cat’s Paw) block, you could use the center square patch – or the larger square patches in each of the corners – to place pictures of a favorite cat, bear, or other scene. Maybe pictures of a trip to the mountains.
Time to get creative with your quilt blocks – the pioneers were!
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| Cat's and Mice Quilt Block |
Another Cool Quilting Website
Not long ago a gal in Australia contacted me saying that she was putting together an online quilting magazine. She wanted to know if I would contribute articles to her magazine.
I was more than excited about this new avenue for great quilting information, and have contributed articles to each issue of the magazine.
Because she has gathered quilting resources on many different topics, you may find her information valuable in your quilting.
The great thing is that the information is free and it is in the form of a document that you can download and save to your computer or print and keep in a notebook.
Enjoy!
TheQuiltingCoach.com provides answers to your quilting questions; tips, techniques and shortcuts to make your quilting fun and easy; quilt block patterns with step-by-step instructions (including photographs of what to do); quilting projects; and tons more.
Beginning Quilters or more experienced quilters, we're anxious to have you join our community!
For this month, you can join for a special rate that will give you access to everything online in TheQuiltingCoach. You'll find hundreds of free quilt block patterns as well as quilt projects - including the new Jelly Roll / Bali Pop Quilt.
Visit: www.TheQuiltingCoach.com for more information. Click on this link for the special rate: Special Deal for TheQuiltingCoach.com
Postcard Quilts for the Troops
Halloween Roundup Next - Deadline September 29!
Wow! We sent more than 1,900 fabric postcards to the Middle East for the 4th of July!
Thanks to everyone who participated in this worthy event. I know it will mean a lot to the soldiers who receive those greetings of thanks on the 4th of July.
This year, we've decided not to do the Birthday Roundup, and focus our efforts on Halloween and the end of the year holidays.
So the next Roundup is Halloween -
Halloween, like the 4th of July, in Iraq or Afghanistan is just another day unless it becomes something different by virtue of quilters' intervention!
Now you can send postcards for our Halloween Roundup. This is just a fun time of the year - with Trick or Treat fabric, memories of Halloween costumes and marching around the neighborhood begging for candy.
You can bring those memories back for the soldiers stationed abroad by sending them tiny quilts - fabric postcards decorated for Halloween.
We want to keep Diane doing the Penny's Postcard Posse project, but she is terribly allergic to smoke. So, if you can be sure that your fabric postcards are smoke-free, it will be much appreciated!
Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free.
To make the Halloween deadline, get your cards to Diane by September 29
Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149
Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com
These free July quilt block patterns will make your summer quilting fun. These quilt blocks include easy blocks as well as some that are a little more difficult.
Click here to download your July FREE quilt block patterns
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Broken Paths |
Checkerboard Quilt |
Dolly Madison's Star |
Fancy Stripe |
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| Hand Weave | Linking Blocks | Red, White and Blue | Shooting Squares |
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| Star Diamond | Uncle Sam's Favorite |
Click here to download your July FREE quilt block patterns
Hundreds of quilt block patterns to choose from. Patterns include full size templates and rotary cutting layouts. Click Here
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