It’s always a fun opportunity to submit a block for Quiltmaker‘s 100 Blocks magazine series. Volume 7 was just released and I’m very excited to have a design included on this round! It will probably come as no surprise to regular readers here that I created a paper pieced star design. I’m nothing if not predictable, right? (You can find my paper piecing tutorial here.)

When I was selecting the fabrics for this star, I was torn. Blocks can always look so different depending on fabric placement. I really wanted to showcase this variety by making another block with the same templates, but using another fabric layout. Over the weekend I created this block.

Same pattern, but the effect is totally different. Cool, right? These blocks have 8 paper pieced components. Here is one quadrant sewn up:

I hope you will check out the magazine at your local craft and bookstore! It’s also available as a digital download.

Happy weekend everyone! Here are some deals from my lovely sponsors.

The Intrepid Thread
The Intrepid Thread just put a couple hundred new fabrics in their sale section. Check early for best selection.

Sew Sweetness Patterns
20% off all patterns until Sunday at 11pm CT with code freshlemons.

I Don’t Do Dishes
15% off your order with coupon code ONEYEAR. Also, Simple Marks Summer by Malka Dubrawsky is only $7.50/yd!

Christa Quilts
ChristaQuilts is holding a huge clearance sale with an extra 10% off all clearance fabric, patterns, notions and gifts when you use the code 13CLEARANCE at checkout. Coupon is valid through Monday, May 20th.

Connecting Threads
All batting is all 30% off through 6/17. Also, Connecting Threads is having a furniture sale on select Arrow and Kangaroo sewing stations and tables. Customers can save up to 23% through 5/31.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio
All Pam Kitty Morning by Lakehouse is $7.00 per yard and panels are $5.50 each. They also have FQ bundles (limited quantities) available at reduced prices. No coupon code needed. Sale is good through Tuesday, May 21, 2013!

Pink Castle Fabrics
Stash Builders sale ~ 15% off anything in this section of the shop, including Stash Builder Bundles like the new Rain, with code STASH15

Skye Reve Fabrics
15% off everything in the shop with the code FRESHLEMONS through Sunday.

Surly Sheep
Week-long sale on color wheel sets, 15% off. Ends by midnight Sat, May 25th. No coupon necessary.

Lark Cottons
Lark Cottons needs to make room for new inventory! Take 25% off store-wide with discount code market13 through Monday May 20th.

Contemporary Cloth
25% off selected pre-cuts, use code: 25off

Happy shopping!

It’s been a busy week with the kids here. School is winding down which means school-parties are winding up. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous too, so we’ve been outside more than inside. Less sewing but I’ve loved every minute with my kids.

Sometimes, after more complex projects, I like to do something simple. And I never tire of simple patchwork squares. I started this baby quilt after my Arkansas Traveler quilt.

I had so much fun pulling pinks, oranges, yellows and whites from my stash. (Those glasses, love!) I’m not sure exactly how many different fabrics are here, but I believe it’s close to 40. The squares were cut to 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″. There are 288 squares – wow! I always underestimate how long it will take to sew that many squares together.

The backing is my absolute favorite print of Aneela Hoey’s Posy line. I bought yardage, that’s how much I love it. I quilted this baby quilt in a diagonal crosshatch.

The finished quilt measures 32″ x 36″ and is up in my shop. This almost never happens, I’m so proud of myself. Ha

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend. I spent both days traveling to the city for various birthday and Mother’s Day parties – May is a very, very busy month in our family. I did manage to get a photo of me and my kiddos yesterday. Usually I’m at the other end of the camera so it’s always a special treat.

I wasn’t able to spend any time at my sewing machine, but I did finish up my newest mini quilt last Friday. This quilt was so fun to make. Mostly because of the great fabrics from Laura Gunn. The colors are really amazing!

When making this quilt, I first cut my neutral squares at 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″. Initially I thought this was going to be a pillow, so I set it up to finish at 18″ x 18″. This means there are 9 squares across and 9 squares down (for a total of 81). I pieced those together first, and then created my quilt sandwich for quilting. The neutral fabrics I used are all Free Spirit Designer Solids – Pearl, Sand Dune and Dogwood.

After that was all set up, I started placing out my circles until I came up with a layout that I liked. I used Heat n Bond Lite to fuse the circles to the squares.

After I was done ironing everything into place, I did the quilting. I’m not sure if this is a weird order to go about the process, but I thought it would be fun/smart to combine the applique and quilting steps. (As opposed to appliqueing the circles onto the squares, and then sewing them together, creating the quilt sandwich, and quilting).

At first I started just going around the edge of each circle, but after one row I changed my mind and decided on something a little different. So I ripped out those stitches and started quilting 4 straight lines through the middle of each row and column. Just something a bit unexpected.

From the beginning, when I was thinking about this project, I envisioned raw edges fraying in the finished quilt. I’ve washed it a couple times now and it’s only now starting to fray a little. I think I need to throw it back in a couple more times. I’m really enjoying the texture it’s creating.

This week I’m hoping to sit down and do some design work, and also get back to work on my Simply Style work in progress. Finger’s crossed!