Peppermint Lane Finish

I met my goal of piecing 6 holiday quilts this year for some special friends and family.  This is the quilt that got me to 6.  

The pattern is Peppermint Lane by It's Sew Emma for the Fat Quarter Shop.  I made just a couple of changes.

First, I substituted brown dot fabric for my gingerbread men

And I replaced the gingerbread house in the pattern with Bonnie's Santa hat, which I fell in love with while making Christmas Cheer. I'm thinking next year I should make a quilt top of nothing but Santa hats, festive mittens, and maybe a mug of hot cocoa thrown in for fun.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 236 - Peppermint Lane

The pattern is by It's Sew Emma for the Fat Quarter Shop.  (available here)

The fabric is mostly Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It finished at 55" x 69" 

It has approximately 884 pieces.

I'm leaving off that outer border called for in the pattern.  I like the cleaner look this top has without it.  But to add a little sparkle I'll use the silver stripe fabric from Vintage Holiday for the binding.

I now have one week to piece my traditional October halloween themed quilt, I don't know what it will be, other than fast and easy.

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Fat Quarter Shop Snapshots Quilt Along - Block 9 - Quilty Cat

Are you ready for a new Snapshots block?  It's that time again!!  

This month's block is Quilty Cat, my latest favorite.  At the beginning of this sew along I would have thought I would be saying my least favorite, but now that this block is done, I really do like it, even if my house is a dog house.  Funny story, when I first looked at the pattern I thought this block was called Grumpy Cat, which I thought was hilarious.  But it's Quilty Cat, a more appropriate but less entertaining name.

This block is very easy and goes together quickly.  It only has 35 pieces.  I finished this block in less than two hours, start to finish!  I made my block exactly like the pattern except for swapping the navy  sailboat print for the navy circle print. I still need to add some eyes, I'm going to attach some fabric eyes now, instead of adding button eyes later.

Here's a picture of how I trimmed the scrappy blue quilt unit block.

I found it easier to trim with the block set on point and ruler straight as opposed to running the ruler diagonally as shown in the pattern.  

Here are all my pieced blocks.

So about this time during a sew along it's so easy to fall behind, lose interest, or even drop out.  If you're behind a block or two at least piece Quilty Cat this month!  Maybe that will motivate you to finish some of the other blocks, and if not, you'll at least have one more block pieced.  Just because you've missed a couple of blocks don't think you have to wait to piece this fun and easy kitty.  I've enjoyed sewing each block each month, but I have a deadline to blog about the latest block, congratulations to those of you who have also pieced your blocks right along with me! We only have 3 more blocks to go!

I am thrilled that the FQS has already surpassed it's initial goal of raising $10,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its new goal of $20,000. The last time I checked the amount raised was over $31,189, how great is that!  As a reminder, the monthly patterns are a free download, a donation is up to you, the suggested donation is $5.  Here is a link to the pattern, instructional video, donation page, and everything else you need to know.  (click here)  The backing and finishing directions are also now available.

Here are a few more folks participating in the sew along, be sure to check out their bikes.

Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting

Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Pam Viera-McGinnis of Pam Kitty Morning

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Stephanie Kendron of The Modern Sewciety

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Greg Jones of Grey Dogwood Studios
Jessie Fincham of Messy Jesse

And finally, check out instagram, #fqssnapshots for some great blocks and inspiration.

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Fat Quarter Shop Snapshots Sew Along - Month 8 - Like Riding a Bike

Are you ready for a new Snapshots block?  It's that time again!!  

This month's block is Like Riding a Bike, my latest favorite.

I used Daysail fabric, but chose different prints than what is listed in the pattern.  This block took twice as long as the rest of the blocks I've pieced so far, it has nearly 80 pieces.  It's not hard, but don't think you'll finish it up in a couple of hours, you'll need a long afternoon if you plan to make it start to finish.  Maybe cutting the pieces one day and piecing it the next would be a good plan if you're rushed for time. But either way, it's time well spent, I think this bike is too cute for words.

I've not shared a picture of all my blocks in ages, so here they are.

Note to self, use more navy blue in future blocks!

I am thrilled that the FQS has already surpassed it's initial goal of raising $10,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its new goal of $20,000. The last time I checked the amount raised was over $29,500, we're so close to $30,000, how great is that!  As a reminder, the monthly patterns are a free download, a donation is up to you, the suggested donation is $5.  Here is a link to the pattern, instructional video, donation page, and everything else you need to know.  (click here)  The backing and finishing directions are also now available.

Here are a few more folks participating in the sew along, be sure to check out their bikes.

Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms

Bonnie Olaveson of Cotton Way

Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting

Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Pam Viera-McGinnis of Pam Kitty Morning

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Stephanie Kendron of The Modern Sewciety

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Greg Jones of Grey Dogwood Studios
Jessie Fincham of Messy Jesse

And finally, check out instagram, #fqssnapshots for some great blocks and inspiration. Last  month someone put a Paris cityscape print in the lens of their camera block that was amazing! Why didn't I think of that!!

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