easy patchwork heart pillow & tutorial

This week I did a patchwork heart pillow for a sweet friend of mine who's birthday is today on Valentines Day.  I thought it would be fun to do a Valentines/birthday pillow.   The pillow is inspired by this heart quilt.  In case you'd like to make one in the future I have some instructions and measurements for you, as it really is simple. 

Here is what you need~

31, 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch red, aqua, and pink squares
2, 18 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
2, 8 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
3, 6 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
4, 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white strips
7, 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch white squares
Coordinating backing fabric
Coordinating binding fabric
Quilting Ruler
Rotary Cutter

Cut your pieces and lay them out as follows~

1st row, 18 1/2 inch strip
2nd row, 4 1/2 white, 2 1/2 aqua, 6 1/2 white, 2 1/2 red, 4 1/2 white
3rd row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 red, pink, aqua, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, 2 1/2 white
4th row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 aqua, red, pink, red, aqua, pink, aqua, 2 1/2 white
5th row, 2 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, pink, red, aqua, pink, 2 1/2 white
6th row, 4 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, pink, red, 4 1/2 white
7th row, 6 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, aqua, red, 6 1/2 white
8th row, 8 1/2 white, 2 1/2 pink, 8 1/2 white
9th row, 18 1/2 white

 Stitch squares and strips together into rows

 Stitch your rows together

 Sandwich and quilt your top

 Add backing and then binding

 All done!!  Isn't that super easy!  I think it is so much fun to have a project you can get done quickly especially after working on a bigger quilt.  :)

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentines Day!!  My hubby and I are going to have a lovely evening eating out, and I'll be stopping by my friends to hand deliver her pillow.  She's stuck at home with a couple sick kiddos so maybe this will cheer her up.  :)

 Hugs,

x's & o's quilt tutorial

I finally was able to finish up the x's & o's quilt.  I wasn't able to get to quilting it till this weekend since life got a little busy.  My sweet sister in law had twins a week and half ago about 4 1/2 weeks early so had been helping with one of her other little ones and even got to go there last week and take some pictures of them.   :)

Thanks for all the sweet comments on the quilt top in my last post!!  I truly love hearing from you, and thanks for being so patient for the tutorial!  Are you ready to see how I made it!?!...  Here is what you'll need~

Rotary Blade & Ruler
Scissors
Pins
3 charm packs
Red (32), aqua (32), pink (28) and white (28) solid fabric, 5 X 5 inch squares
3/4 yard small border fabric
1 yard large border fabric
3/4 yard binding fabric
Rotating cutting mat (optional)

Finished size, approx. 62 X 72

Let's get started!

Take one of your charm squares and cut it in half. 

This is where the rotating cutting mat is really helpful.  Turn your mat and then cut it in half again so you have 4, 2 1/2 inch squares.

Keep going till you have all your charm squares that you want to use cut.

Pick out 8 small squares, and 4 solid red squares.  Then press your small squares in half so the points touch.  Press the rest of your 8 squares.

Place two of them on one square.  You can pin them if you want or just place them there.

Place your other pressed small squares on your 3 other red squares.  Now stitch on the pressed lines.

With your rotary cutter and ruler trim your corners so you have a 1/4 inch seam.

Press seams, I like to press mine open.  Continue with your other 3 blocks.

Here is your first block.  :)

 Stitch your block together

A little tip...if you pin your points it will help get them perfect.  :)

Continue stitching all your blocks like above until you have them all done.  Do half in an O shape and half in an X shape.

Layout all your blocks.

Then add your sashing.  Smaller ones are 2 X 9 1/2.  The longer ones are 2 X a little longer than the length of the row.  Then I trim it after.

Continue with your sashing and then add your border.  The large border is 4 1/2 inches wide.  Then all you have left is to sandwich, quilt and bind your quilt!  :)

Yippee!!  Wasn't that easy!!

For the quilting I did the dogwood pattern.  This was the first time I did a different free motion quilting pattern other than stippling.  I'm happy with how it turned out for my first time.  Definatley want to work at it and get better.

For the backing I used a pretty pink and aqua rose vintage sheet.  I think it was perfect for the quilt.

So you want to see a few of the pictures I took of the twins?  Another thing I really love is taking pictures of infants so I hope you don't mind me sharing.  They are so adorable and sweet!!  :)

Maybe in another post I'll show you a few more.  :)

I can't wait to see them again this week!!  I could sit and hold them all day long!

I hope you have a lovely Valentines week!!

a valentines x's & o's quilt top!

I got a little side tracked these last couple weeks that pulled me away from my scrappy trip along blocks.  Though, I really was waiting for some more text fabrics to arrive so I had a great excuse to start a Valentines quilt.  X's & O's!  Ryan posted a valentines quilt on Facebook so I was itching to make one too.  THANKS, Ryan for the inspiration!  :)

This was a super easy quilt to put together as I used a few charm packs.  Marmalade, Bliss and The Simple Life.  I love how the three collections look together and it made it so I didn't have to ponder over which fabrics to pull from my stash.  That can take up a lot of time for me.  I'm one that can waste tons of time just thinking which fabric to use where.  So this was perfect!!

I took some pictures of the steps I took to make the quilt top so would be happy to post a simple tutorial if you'd like.  What do you think, is that something you'd like to see in the next week or two in time for Valentines?

I'm so excited to get this quilted so I can snuggle under it with my dear ones and give them hugs and kisses.  ;)

These last couple weeks I've added a couple vintage lovelies to my collection.   First, this pretty vintage tablecloth!!  Oh, I was so excited when I found it, as it was perfect...red, aqua, pink AND flowers, scallops and doilies!!  It can't get much better than that!  :)

Also, this simply adorable little vintage porcelain lambie!!  She even has cute little flowers on her!!

Oh, I really do ♡♡♡ her!!  :)

For shop news I thought I'd show you some new fabric that came in recently.  Hill Farm by Lecien!  It is so pretty!!  It is available in the shop as fat quarter and half yard bundles, and each print is available separately.

I hope all my sweet friends are having a spectacular week!!  

Hugs, 

PS.  I've been playing around with my settings for my comments to prevent spam from being sent to my sweet friends that comment.  Please let me know if you have any issues with commenting or have in the past.  I'd love to know how many people have had this problem.    Have you figured a way to make it easier and spam free on your blog that still lets everyone comment?

scrappy trip along progress

This week I've been able to work on my scrappy trip along and have had lots of fun!  I think it is one of my favorite blocks to make.  Such a fun and simple process and you can't stop at just one block!   Thanks so much for all your ideas and words of encouragement from my last post!

As you can see I kept the dark block and made some more with black and charcoal.   It think it is really going to add a great contrast which is what this type of quilt is suppose to have.

To go a little faster I've started to do 3-4 at a time.  I love being able to add that many to the layout at one time.  Instant enjoyment!!

I did a couple layouts as I wasn't sure if I liked the black really scattered.  I thought it would be fun to have a couple of the diamonds really pop.  What do think, do you like the dark blocks scattered or together?  Here is a picture of them scattered~

This week I found a lovely crocheted diamond afghan at a thrift store so I thought I'd show you!  I love quilted ones, and a crochet one is just as beautiful!  Isn't it lovely!

I've also enjoyed taking my boys to the library.  It had been awhile since we had gone and it is great to get back to going regularly again!   It is such a peaceful place to spend a little part of your day!  Here are some of the books I've been enjoying.  I have several projects I can't wait to start!

I hope everyone had a lovely week and wishing you a wonderful week-end!