I'll be teachin' a class in Panama City Beach next weekend!

Just a quick shout out to my local readers here in Panama City Beach ... next Saturday evenin' (October 13th) I'll be teachin' a quiltin' class at the Paddock Club Apartment's Club House (off Beckrich Road on the "Beach side") from 6 to 9 pm. It's FREE - although you do have to bring your own fabric and supplies, LOL!

This class is meant for the beginner but I'd love to see you there if'n you can make it and have the inclination. Even if'n you're not a beginner ya'll can still join in on the socializin' - and who knows? You might even make a new quilty friend or two. At the very least, you can witness the joy of people learnin' how wonderful the art of quiltin' is! Which, to me, is always excitin'!!

To (hopefully) make the pot a bit sweeter, I'll also be handin' out an exclusive-like pattern to the first 10 people that show up! And don't worry, it'll be a pattern for the beginner and advanced alike to enjoy! Complete with fabric requirements, cuttin' directions, piecin' and appliquein' instructions!

If'n you're interested and need directions or more information, just give me a holler!! We'll take care of ya'll just right!! :-)

Hopin' to see you there!! :-)

Big ol' quilty hugs!!
Connie :-)

Whoops!!!

Within the space of 'bout 5 minutes I got several e-mails askin' bout the other blocks in the Folk Art Flavored Series Quilt and askin' the dimensions of the newest block (Pomegranates), which I plumb forgot to mention in the pattern (my only excuse was that it was 'bout midnight last night when I packaged it up to send it off!)!!!

The Pomegranates block is 18 x 5 inches FINISHED. Which means ya'll, if'n you use the traditional 1/4 inch seam allowance, cut your rectangle of fabric 18.5 x 5.5 inches. The Sunflowers and Coneflowers (the first two blocks) are 9 x 13 FINISHED, with ya'll cuttin' the rectangle at 9.5 x 13.5 inches.

And here's the links to the first two and the "schedule" for the blocks, though, truth be told, I've done a horrible job at adherin' to my own schedule! :-(

Folk Art Flavored Series Quilt "schedule"
Sunflowers block diagram
Sunflowers pattern (left)
Sunflowers pattern (right)

Coneflowers diagram
Coneflowers block

Now, bear in mind that the Sunflowers block is split up into TWO pdfs - one for the left Sunflower and one for the right. However, from now on, each pattern and the pieces will be in one pdf - I figure that makes it easier for ya'll to download'em and keep track of'em.

Alrighty, PLEASE, if I've forgotten anything else, please, PLEASE, give me a holler and let me know!! If'n you can't use'em straight off your computer, there's no point in me doin' em!! And I surely don't want to waste your time with patterns that aren't ready to sew!!

Big ol' quilty hugs!!!
Connie :-)

One NEW pattern and the next block for the Folk Art Flavored Series Quilt!

Good mornin' my dear, quilty friends!!

Just a quick heads up to ya'll: To those of ya'll who've signed up for my eZine, you should have gotten a SMALL token of my affection in ya'll's mail this mornin'. Specifically, the next installment of the "Folk Art Flavored Series Quilt" and the "Punkin Patch" (pieced and appliqued) quilt. Now, for the Punkin Patch quilt, ya'll got a full-fledged pattern - fabric requirements, piecin' directions (applique directions to come) and cuttin' directions. If'n you didn't get this e-mail or the links didn't work rightly, please give me a holler and let me know!!! If'n it isn't workin' it's not useful to you and I want to fix it!!

Now, for ya'll that haven't signed up for my list, ya'll will still get these patterns in a few days here at my blog., I just wanted to give a big "THANK YOU" to the kind folks who have been so supportive and encouragin' since I started this here blog. Every day, I get e-mails with such kind words and wonderful thoughts that I swear, I durn nigh cry every time I open up my e-mail. It still just knocks me to the floor how carin' ya'll are!!!

Also, I just wanted to let ya'll know that I will be redesignin' this here blog so's I can upload tutorials and just make the patterns easier to find. For some reason, Blogger just doesn't make it easy to search for those things. Sew, I will have tutorials (complete with photos - if'n ya'll can stand my unmanicured fingernails! LOL!) comin' up SOON. But, the eZine does still have priority over uploadin' tutorials. The eZine will have a link (since it's all digital) to tutorials in each issue.

And those on the eZine list will have a few special, exclusive-like, patterns only for them, just so's ya'll know. There will be a few of'em that I won't be uploadin' to the blog (membership has to have SOME perks, I figure!). But if'n ya'll sign up after I've sent'em out, I will send ya'll links to "back issues" and "exclusive" patterns. I figure that's only fair, right?! :-)

Alrighty ... if'n you've not signed up, it's not too late! And for those of you who've already signed up, take a second and check your e-mail! Hopefully, ya'll won't be disappointed!!

In the meantime, I've got a few more patterns to finish up (one of which will be one those exclusive-like ones to get you in the Holiday spirit!) and an eZine article to edit. O'course, I have to fix up some lunch for the family first ... but it'll be SOON!! :-)

Until next time ...

Big ol' quilty hugs!!
Connie :-)

Sunflower patttern pieces, as promised!

As promised, here's the download links to the pattern pieces for the "FAFSQ" Sunflowers block (July 2007) ... just click on the links (there's two PDFs - one per flower, since they wouldn't fit on one page) and they'll automatically download to your desktop (or wherever you want'em!)

"FAFSQ" Left Sunflower (July 2007)
"FAFSQ" Right Sunflower (July 2007)

If you have any problems downloading'em just give me a holler! And if you'd rather download'em as JPGs, just holler at me and I'll upload'em, too! :-)

Until next time, I'll be working on the September block - as promised! And remember, I'd love to hear from ya'll!! :-)

Big ol' quilty hugs!!
Connie :-)

Sunflower block (FAFSQ) pattern pieces coming up later today!

I talked to my hubby last night and he had a great suggestion ... he felt bad that his accident has put back the eZine schedule (didn't I tell ya'll what a great guy he is?!) ... so he suggested that I go ahead and post the September block to the blog (with the pattern pieces) instead of waiting until the eZine was finished.

I have to say, I'm in total agreement ... I figure I've made ya'll wait long enough and some of you, I know, have already started on the Sunflower block ... last thing I want to do is make ya'll have a WIP in your sewin' room longer than you need to! Sew in the next day or so, I'll be getting September's block finished, pattern pieces laid out, and uploaded (with the original PDF on my site as a download link). I hope ya'll will look for the link to be posted here in the next couple of days! :-)

But I'll be sending the link out earlier to those who've subscribed to the eZine ... I figure, their loyalty, encouragement, and support is the whole reason I was able to get this far! Sew they "deserve" (in quotations since I don't think my designs are that great of a prize, LOL!) to get their patterns first!

Sew, until then ... big ol' quilty hugs!!
Connie :-)

Oops!

A really nice woman (obviously - she's a quilter! LOL) e-mailed me about the pattern. Because of her e-mail, I realized that despite my recommending fusible applique as the best method, I totally forgot to include a reversed pattern! So .... here it is is. And please accept my apologies for forgetting to include it last night. As I mentioned before, taking care of a sick family is taxing - and my poor brain cells are suffering horribly! :)

I'm also including a hummingbird-themed quilt label ... if you like it, just print it out on fabric, color it, write your information (the who's, why's, and when's of your creation), cut it out and applique it to your quilt back. I've left it black and white so you can color it yourself, using coordinating colors from your quilt. If you'd like to add text to it, you can either import the image into your favorite image editing application or just freehand your message using an ink pen (I recommend Pigma Pens - NAYY, of course!).

I'll also be uploading the pattern pieces separated out for those who'd like to make the pattern bigger. Look for that in about a day or two. Also coming up is the QI pattern I promised in my last post. :)

If you'd like these patterns (and others, of course!) delivered directly to your mailbox, just use the link/dialog box on the left to sign up for my newsletter! I'll also include news on great shopping deals (and online coupons at major fabric stores), tips, maybe a few recipes, and MORE! :)

Have a happy, quilty day! :)
Connie :)

Applique Pattern

Just a sampling of what you'll get in my newsletter (if you sign up for it, of course!) ... Feel free to copy the image and use it - all I ask is that you let me know if you liked it, hated it, or have any suggestions on improving it. :)

I tried to keep it simple - but some of the shapes might do better with a fusible applique method. The dashed lines indicate embroidery stitches - chain stitches are recommended (and easy enough for a beginner). The hummingbird's eye is a french knot.

The pieces are numbered - just remember to start at one (in this case, a bias strip) and allow a 1/4 inch seam allowance under overlapping pieces.

If you'd like it larger, you can either enlarge it using your printer or I can e-mail you a larger/higher quality image (use the e-mail link in a previous post or subscribe to my newsletter).

That's all for tonight - still taking care of a sick hubby so I didn't have time to do more. :(

Next up will be a cat applique pattern - for those wonderful, zany, adorable quilt inspectors out there! :)

Happy Quilting!!
Connie :)