If they meet their goal of giving away 10,000 classes, Craftsy will donate $5,000 to DonorsChoose to fund arts education in public schools across the US. Existing members are not eligible for the free course offer, but will still receive a special treat! 25% off a class! ;o)

Click THIS LINK to get your FREE CLASS!!!

Here is one of the free classes offered… MAGICAL JELLY ROLL QUILTS - regularly $39.99!

Here are a couple of MY FAVORITE CLASSES…

I LOVED this class!  And my review is here: Quilting from Small Scraps Review.

Design your own Handbag is another class I have taken and would highly recommend.  Brett Bara walks you through all the steps to design your own handbag!  If you want to make (and design!) your own bag – Take this course!!! YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!!

OF COURSE… CRAFTSY offers many classes that are ALWAYS FREE!!!

Even if you don’t have time to  WATCH the course today… no worries!  Just sign up TODAY and you can watch it ANYTIME you want and AS MANY TIMES as you want!  This is your chance to try it FOR FREE!  What’s better than that???

ENJOY!

If you’ve been following along I hope you’ve learned some new things along the way.  What’s great about doing a sampler is trying many techniques and sometimes working out of your comfort zone.   If you never make this block again, you will at least understand the technique behind how to assemble this ‘Beauty’-ful block.  Plan out your colors or just make it scrappy.  I decided to make mine resemble a color wheel – I think it came out pretty good if I do say so myself!

One of the items on the supply list for this block is an ‘Add-A-Quarter Ruler’.  This ruler is optional but it’s inexpensive and you should be able to find it at your quilt shop or on Amazon here  CM Designs Add-A-Quarter Ruler-6″ Yellow.

 Add-A-Quarter Ruler

Please remember to post pictures to the flickr group I love seeing them!  Thanks again to those of you that have posted your finished blocks or projects already!!! I love seeing all the different colors everyone is using!

If you missed the previous months you can find them here on Craftsy… click the links below the picture:

#1 January

#2 February

#3 March

#4 April

The current month block is free for the month of May!

click the link below to get the New York Beauty  PDF – ENJOY!

New York Beauty BOM

GET IT FREE IN MAY! —– SCRAP HAPPY BLOCK #5  New York Beauty Block

Please leave a comment if you’re following along and tell me what your favorite block is so far!

ps – if you love quilt blocks… try out one of these free craftsy classes!

I’ve put together a tutorial for a Burgoyne Surrounded Quilt Block this month that I think is pretty awesome.  I’m really quite hooked on the pattern and just might have to make a full quilt if the free time ever comes!  I hope you enjoy it!

I hope you enjoy this months tutorial.  Please post pictures to the flickr group I love seeing them!  Thanks again to those of you that have posted your finished blocks or projects already!!! I love seeing them.

Click to go to Craftsy for the new SCRAP HAPPY BLOCK #4 Burgoyne Surrounded

If you missed the previous months you can find them here on Craftsy:

January Block 1 Scrappy Lone Star

February Block 2 Hexi Flowers

March Block 3 Joseph’s Coat

 
Grab the button!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com" title="RebeccaMaeDesigns"><img src="http://rebeccamaedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/150x150.jpg" alt="RebeccaMaeDesigns" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

here is what we used: eggs, egg carton, paper, sharpie, pipe cleaners, felt, feathers, colored tissue paper, glue stick and some eyes!

It was eggcellent fun cracking eggstrodinary jokes all night…  Here are just some of the eggsamples of eggs we made…

This block is appliqued using fusible web.  It’s really a fun block…  It goes together easy and is really stunning with the negative space between the inner design and the outer ‘circle’.  I’m loving this block!

If you’re not following along with the block of the month this block would make some gorgeous pillows, or an entire quilt.   You can even play with the placement of the shapes to create your own block design.  It opens the mind to other applique possibilities and it’s great for beginners or a refresher if you’ve used this applique technique before.   If you prefer to assemble this block using needle turn applique (rather than the fusible) that is definitely an option.  I machine appliqued using cream color thread that matched the background fabric but not the shapes so the stitches are more obvious.   You may choose to use thread colors that match your shape colors if you would like your stitches to blend better.

I hope you enjoy this months tutorial.  Please post pictures to the flickr group  I love seeing them!  Thanks so much to those of you that have posted your finished blocks or projects!!! So fun!

If you missed the January Scrappy Lone Star you can download it here on Craftsy

#1 january block

And the February hexi – flower blocks can be downloaded on Craftsy too.

#2 february bom

The  current Joseph’s Coat block is available free for the entire month of March.  When March ends, I will list the block pattern on Craftsy for a small fee and the April BOM will be free.  If you’re behind, no worries…  here are the Craftsy links again

January Block 1 Scrappy Lone Star

February Block 2 Hexi Flowers

March Block 3 Joseph’s Coat

#3 march bom

BODY – Fabric A cut 2 - 7.25” x 6.75”

POCKETS – Fabric B cut 2 - 6.5” x 6.75”

Fusible Interfacing cut 1 - 6.5“ x 6.75”

1) Fold pocket fabric in 1/2 matching long ends.

2) Sew 1/8” seam along fold edge.

3) Center and fuse interfacing to the wrong side of one fabric A piece.

4)  Place pockets on ends of second fabric A piece (right side up) with folded edges in middle.

5)  Pin pockets in place.

6) Place interfacing/fabric A unit from step 3 on top of pocket unit.

7) Pin layers in place.

8) With all layers together sew accurate 1/4” seam leaving opening to turn.

9)  Sew 1/8” seam along outer edge enclosing opening.

10) Enjoy your new checkbook cover!

Get the PDF Version of the Simple CHECKBOOK COVER PATTERN

For Valentines day (through the 17th) Craftsy is offering classes at up to 75% off!  Craftsy is really great about offering deals and promotions – so when a class comes up that I want to take I watch for a discount!  And here it is!!!

Here are some of the classes I have taken…..

I just finished Design Your own Handbag – I will do a full review of this class but I’ll just say it’s fantastic.  You WILL be able to design your own bag after taking this class… I’m thinking of designing a messenger/laptop bag.  Just saying!

If you like to quilt - Quilts from Small Scraps is a fun class!  Check out my REVIEW.  I really enjoyed this class - and what I really love is that I can go back and watch any lesson again – which is great if your memory challenged like me!

If you are not familiar with Craftsy  – there are a bunch of FREEEEEEEEE classes!   Sewing, knitting, quilting, cooking, cake decorating – it’s endless fun!

This Free course on Creative Quilt Backs is FANTASTIC!

I haven’t taken this Quick Easy Bags one yet – but looks good and it’s FREE!

Another FREE one on my watch list!  Making Perfect Pizza at home!  Who doesn’t LOVE pizza?  Can’t wait to watch it!

Enjoy the deals!!!

Sometimes I feel so accomplished when I do a Wednesday post and sometimes… not so much!  Then I start my post and realize, wow, I kinda kicked but! lol

I”ve been working on transforming a portion of my finished basement into a sewing studio – more on that to come… but I was super excited about getting my large design wall put together!

I must say I was delighted when the ‘boss’ showed up with this super large frame that he had salvaged!  (salvaged = fancy term for FREE and who doesn’t love FREE?)  Now, normally I would wonder what the heck would I do with a 6′ x 6′ frame and where the heck did one come from?  But not this time, there were no questions … I immediately knew it was going to be the frame of my new design wall!  Super excited – gone were my previous plans of batting/fleece wrapped foam board (which would have been equally fabulous but extra money I didn’t have) – a new plan was in place and I was motivated to get ‘er done!

The frame is so large it was hard to get a good pic – but it started out as a dark brown.  I laid it out on the floor with some newspaper and got to work painting it.

I used a semi gloss paint in an Aqua color (Aqua Seacrest Spray from Walmart if you care to know) that I happened to have on hand from another UFO project.

Painting came out great and I was so happy not to have spilled a drop on the floor but you’ll have to take my word for it since I don’t have the pictures uploaded yet… but I’ll post pictures of it actually put together and on the wall coming up as soon as phase 2 is complete! :o)

Onto Sewing…

I got my February Block of the Month – Hexi Flower  listed on my site – if you’d like to follow along – each month I list the new ‘block’ FREE (there’s that word again!) on my site for the entire month – when the month is over I list the new block of month free and the previous one is still available on Craftsy!

Here is a pic of the February Block done in the english paper piecing method.

#2 february bom

I’m also working on a row robin project with  my quilt guild.  I completed this row robin that I showed you in a previous WIP post…

row robin quilt – row 1

My row (above) was passed on to someone in my group and I received this super cute (all paper pieced) train row!  I’ve started to design a row that I will add on before it’s passed to the next quilter in the ‘robin’ group. This quilt is all about the building of the railroad and is supposed to ‘scream patriotism’ so my plan is to add red white and blue ‘smoke’ coming from the train… here is my first go at it…

I used a dresden plate for cutting my smoke pieces…

Here is where I’m at now…  I still have to applique some stars on and who knows what else?

Last but not least -

I made a some mittens and a little painted ‘sign’ for my musical ‘secret valentine’.

See the mitten gallery here.

Find the mitten pattern on Craftsy.

link up with…

#1 january block

February’s block is all about hexagons and english paper piecing.  I think these hexagon flowers are so cute!  Perfect for the ‘happy’ sampler!

hexagon flower

I think you’ll find this method of piecing to be fun and portable!  English paper piecing is a technique of basting fabric over a paper foundation to hold and support the fabric pieces while sewing them together.  It’s done entirely by hand so you can give your machine a rest this month and sew ‘old school’.

The pattern calls for 28 hexagons and the templates are included in the pattern for you to print and cut yourself.  I cut mine using my silhouette cameo!  (check out the Silhouette Valentine promotion)

cutting hexagon templates

perfect hexagons!

It’s very important to have your hexagons cut accurate so they piece together perfectly!  I’ve cut 3 extra sets of hexagons to GIVE AWAY!  If you would like to win a set, leave a comment below just telling me if you have experience with paper piecing or if this is your first time trying it!  I will choose 3 random winners February 3rd and get them in the mail right away!  (US residents only please)

The hexi-flower pattern will be available for the entire month of February for free.  When February ends, I will list the block pattern on Craftsy for a small fee and the March BOM will be free.  If you’re behind, no worries…  you can find the January Block on Craftsy too!

One of the tools that I used to cut my fabric hexagon pieces is an ‘add a quarter’ ruler.  This is an optional tool but we will  use it again in another paper piecing BOM coming up this year.  It will again be optional but it’s a nice tool to have.  If you have one that is ‘add a half’ that will work just fine too!  What makes this ruler unique is that there is a little ‘lip’ on the underside of the ruler that rests right up against the paper, giving you an accurate cut.  You should be able to find these rulers at your local quilt shop or you can find them here at amazon CM Designs Add-A-Quarter Ruler-6″ Yellow

add a quarter ruler

If you’re following along, you will notice that February’s ‘Block’ is actually 2 half-blocks.  Not all months will be an actual ’block’.  We will get to placement and design of the quilt top later this year but I think you’ll like the non-traditional look of the completed top!   Also, if you’re paying close attention you might notice that my background fabrics are different.  I chose to make my background a little scrappy too – using up my white/cream/beige color larger scraps.  Anything goes!

This block is also great for fussy cutting fabric if there are words like ‘honey bunch’ or a design in the fabric you want to feature.

fussy cut hello kitty

It’s also fun for an i spy quilt for the kids – just a thought!  I added in a little hello kitty hexagon to my block, a remnant to remind me of my kids when they were smaller.   And of course I had to use a valentine fabric scrap of hearts – because it is a February block after all!

Thanks so much for following along!  I hope you love February’s Hexi-Flowers and will share your blocks with me on Flickr at  http://www.flickr.com/groups/scraphappy/

February BOM download here on Craftsy.

Members of my quilt guild put their name in a hat and much like ‘secret santa’ we all picked a name.  My ‘valentine’ likes music and plays the guitar…  I thought about it and although we all love a hand stitched item I thought maybe she’d like something different… I decided to paint a little valentine decoration for her.  I used some wooden blocks I had kicking around the house.  I was just waiting for an excuse to paint them…

Acrylic Paint Craft

wooden blocks

acrylic base coat

I used acrylic paints and gave them a quick base coat, painted the letters and symbols ~ and heart notes of course!  I usually sketch out my design on paper that is the same size as my surface so I can get a feel for the placement/size of what I’m painting – then I free hand paint it on the surface.  It’s so easy to clean off any boo boo’s that there really isn’t any worries about mess ups.  I like the organic look of free hand too.   After I finished with all the lettering and notes I added some highlights and floated some dark shading (right side) and light shading(left side) around some of the letters and notes to make them look a little less FLAT.   When I was done painting the blocks I gave it a quick shot of clear coat  (Krylon 6-Ounce Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating Aerosol Spray) This step is SO important as far as I’m concerned because it really makes the colors POP!!

Easy as Pie!  Now I have a nice home made gift for my secret valentine!  I’m also giving her a pair of pink mittens… it’s so cold in New England right now ~ that’s a no-brainer!

Next I’m painting a sewing sign for my sewing studio!  I’m on a roll!