Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Christmas in July: Wintry Wall Banner

Welcome to Benartex's Christmas in July Blog Hop here at Sew in Love with Fabric! We shared holiday-themed tutorials all last week and have two this week, so be sure to check out all the tutorials and see how to win some fabric to get your own holiday sewing started!


Today Wendy from Ivory Spring is here with an adorable wintry owl wall banner using Greta Lynn's Shades of Winter collection from Kanvas. Check out Wendy's tutorial and then scroll to the bottom to find out how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Shades of Winter.

Hello Everyone, this is Wendy from Ivory Spring. It is lovely to be part of Benartex's Christmas in July blog hop. It is ALWAYS lovely to be in any of Benartex's blog hops.
My hop project for the 2015 Christmas in July blog hop is a banner quilt using Kanvas' Shades of Winter fabric line.

Here's the wall banner:

When I look at fabrics with designing in mind, I first must decide which takes the center stage of the design -- the fabrics, the blocks, or both.  I took a quick survey at the Shades of Winter fabrics and instantly decided that I should let the fabrics do the talking in my final design.  The prints on these fabrics are simply amazing!!
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First we have the focal print - which I call "All owls want to be in the selfie shot" print.  Doesn't the print look like all the owls just crowded themselves in for a group selfie shot?
And then, we have the snowfall print.  That is the most brilliant "polka dot" print I have ever seen -- the dots graduate in sizes!

So, to make the banner, we will need:
5/8 yard of focal print
cut lengthwise, 1 (5 1/2" x 20 1/2") rectangle

5/8 yard of tree print
cut lengthwise, 2 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") rectangles

1/8 yard of owl on branch print
fussy cut 4 (3 1/2" x 3 1/2") squares, showcasing one owl in each square

1/8 yard of gray snowfall print
cut widthwise, 2 (1 1/2" x 42").  Subcut 1 (1 1/2" x 20 1/2"), 4 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") and 4 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") rectangles

1/8 yard  of orange snowfall print
cut widthwise, 1 (1 1/2" x 42").  Subcut 4 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") and 4 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") rectangles.


Assembling frame blocks
Sew 2 (1 1/2" x 3 1/2") snowfall rectangles to the opposite sides of 1 (3 1/2" x 3 1/2") fussy cut owl square.  Sew 2 (1 1/2" x 5 1/2") snowfall rectangles to the remaining opposite sides of owl square to complete 1 frame block.  Repeat to make 2 orange framed and 2 gray framed blocks.


Assembling banner top
Sew the frame blocks into a column, alternating the colors.

Sew strips and pieced column to complete banner top in the following order from left to right: 1 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") tree strip, pieced column, 1 (2 1/2" x 20 1/2") tree strip, 1 (1 1/2" x 20 1/2") gray snowfall strip, 1 (5 1/2" x 20 1/2") focal strip.


And here you have it - a banner, once quilted and bound, that is ready to hang on that little nook in your house!

Further options
You can easily expand the design by making more blocks, as shown below.  I don't think you would EVER go wrong with buying more fabrics than you need! The possibilities.... 


I hope you liked my hop project -- meanwhile, do check out what others have contributed to this wonderful hop. 
If you are into owls, have you seen my "Owl Be Your Friend" quilt in McCall's Quick Quilts, using Benartex's Forest Friend-zy fabrics? Click here to find out!
With that, "owl" see you in Benartex's future hops, and oh, Happy Christmas in July!


For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Shades of Winter collection, make sure you're signed up to follow our blog. Leave a message below letting us know that you do so, as well as which colorway you like best in the Shades of Winter fabrics. Giveaway is open through Saturday, August 1st at 11:59 pm EST.


And be sure you've visited each day of our blog hop to see all the different Christmas in July tutorials featuring our holiday fabrics!


Here's our schedule:
Monday: Santa Sack by Chris from Made by Chrissie D using Happy Holidays Snowmen
Tuesday: Tree Skirt by Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Homespun Holiday
Wednesday: Throw Pillow by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Ornamental Splendor
Thursday: Wonky Star Placemats by Kristen from KD Quilts using Santa's Here
Friday: Christmas Card Organizer by Melissa from My Fabric Relish using Frosty Forest
Monday: Table Runner and Napkins by Nikki from The Girl Who Quilts using Frosty Forest
Tuesday: Wendy from Ivory Spring using Shades of Winter


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78 comments:

  1. I'm such a fan of Wendy's--she could draw a circle and I'd love it! But these owls are adorable. I, too, love banners....and love changing them on the front door month by month or at least seasonally. I simply can't decide which colorway I like. I really like the darker fabrics...but there is something calming about the blues/greys of the lighter one. I am a follower of Sew In Love....and have been for awhile.

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  2. Love how Wendy framed up those sweet owls to highlight them in the project. Although I like the darker prints, I think a mix makes them happier.

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  3. Beautiful fabric and love the banner! I love all of them, if I win just surprise me! I do follow Sew in Love.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  4. I receive the Sew in Love emails. I love the owls especially the soft blue and grey version.
    cathylouwilson@gmail.com

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  5. I really like the silver background for the owls. I follow Sew in Love with Fabric.

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  6. Owls!!!! These are adorable. I like the blue version.
    Renragjdatgmaildotcom

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  7. Those owls are so darn cute!
    I follow on bloglovin!

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  8. Fabulous - I prefer the lighter version!
    Email follower!

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  9. I follow both Wendy's blog Ivory Spring and Sew in Love with Fabric via emails. Love this collection and Wendy's design. Thanks for offering a giveaway. I have enjoyed Christmas in July.

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  10. This is Great! Love the calm colors!!

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  11. Your fabrics are lovely. Thank you for all of the tutorials and the hop.

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  12. What a lovely print for a winter quilt. I'm a bird watcher and I adore owls. I like the aqua colorway as it feels wintery and warm at the same time.
    yoyopattycakes at hotmail dot com

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  13. I follow Sew In Love (with fabric) and Ivory Spring by email. I adore owls and this fabric line is one that I would love to own each and every one of the prints in. The door banner is a great choice for focusing on the fabric. It has been quite some time since I have made a banner, but with your fabulous tutorial I will be making several for gifts and myself. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

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  14. The banner is adorable with the cute owls. I think I like the lighter colorway the best. Thanks for the giveaway. I follow with Bloglovin.
    Thanks for a great Blog Hop!

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  15. Cute banner! I like both colorways, so if I win you can surprise me. I follow your blog via email and I like Benartex on Facebook.

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  16. HI, love these,like the lighter version best!
    Follow with FB+blog lovin'! Thank You for sharing!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  17. Soo cute!!! Love the dotty fabric and the owls. :) The orange version is my favorite. I have followed you forever via e-mail.
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  18. Owl love to make the banner.....I follow by email and thank you for the blog hop and giveaways....

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  19. How wonderful! I love the blue version.

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  20. Following on Bloglovin'. I like the darker colorway with the orange and black. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  21. I like the darker fabrics better although I usually go the other way...with the lighter. I follow you! Skaduzy44@windstream.net

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  22. I follow your blog via e-mail. I think I like the aqua colorway the best. susan430 at cox dot net

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  23. Another great design by Wendy! I follow you via email and on Facebook.

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  24. I follow Sew in Love and have been for a long time. I follow Ivory Spring as well. Wendy is an awesome designer! I like the whole collection but if I had to pick, I prefer the darker colorway. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  25. I follow Sew in Love by email! Absolutely lovely collection - I love owls! The silver background is very nice!! Very wintery without being overly festive!!!

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  26. I am following Sew in Love via FB, Bloglovin, and email. I love this collection and the Aqua colourway is my favourite.

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  27. I follow by email. I love these. So adorable. I love all the color ways. But the Aqua is striking to me.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  28. I receive the E-mail. I like the lighter version. It's really adorable.

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  29. I already follow by email newsletters. I like the blue, but both are great! Thanks for the give a way

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  30. I am a follower via Bloglovin. I like the Aqua colors in this line best.

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  31. I follow on bloglovin .
    I like the lighter teal group.
    Thank you.
    kcummings71@gmail.com

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  32. These are super cute ,love her fabric combo. I am following Sew in Love via email and like Benartex on Facebook.

    The light ones are my best favorite.

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  33. Thank you for the lovely tutorial :) I follow with bloglovin and I like the darker and orange fabrics best :)

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  34. I love the black background colorway! And I follow too! thanks!

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  35. I'm now one of your followers. I like the black background best. Love owls!!

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  36. I prefer the darker version. I follow with email and GFC. Thanks.

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  37. I prefer the darker color way. I follow on Bloglovin

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  38. I follow you on blog lovin, I think I prefer the darker version x
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  39. I like the black tree fabric in the darker quilt; it looks so authentic. I like the black background for hte owls as well and for the same reason. This is a terrific set, and the banner design is very nice. Thank you.

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  40. Wendy always does such an amazing job with her projects. I love how she made those owls pop with her design.

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  41. I follow by email. I love both runners, but I like the tree background, it works well with the owls, they seem less "random"

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  42. Hooray for owls, love them, thanks for sharing

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  43. I like the Snowy Owls Silver fabric the best.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  44. Beautiful creative fabrics. Love the different colour ways. Very inspiring.
    Bunny

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  45. Whoooo loves this fabric bundle? Meee! I am a Bloglovin' follower and my favorite colorway is the gray and orange...such a nice contrast.

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  46. Love the Owl fabric bundle. I would love to make a quilt out of this. Matsche.christine@yahoo.com. I follow by email.

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  47. I follow your blog through BlogLovin. Love the pop of aqua in the line!

    Sandy A

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  48. I follow Sew in Love with Fabric on Bloglovin.
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  49. I follow Sew in Love with Fabric via email. I like the darker colorway.

    senstrings at yahoo dot com

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  50. I follow Sew in Love with Fabric via email. Love the owls and snowflake fabrics.
    I prefer the lighter colors.

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  51. I love the aqua colourway. I follow you by email.

    wlinda_ca at yahoo dot com

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  52. I follow you on bloglovin' and I like the lighter aqua color way best.

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  53. I follow via email and I like the soft tones in this fabric line
    colleen1990@yahoo.com

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  54. Hi. These owls are great. :) I especially like the lighter colors. I follow you on bloglovin.
    mlhummy at yahoo dot com

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  55. I love anything Wendy does and the owl banner is no exception. I like BOTH color ways. I follow via email.

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  56. I like the owls on the silver background. I follow you via email.

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  57. Hoo Hoo! What lovely fabric! I follow your blog and I love the blue colorway. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  58. Already follow you via email, GFC, Blogloving and Facebook. Love this fabric, I like the lighter/aqua color. Thank you ncjeepster@aol.com

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  59. I follow this blog on RSS feeds through my mail handler. I think I like the black it works so well with the Aqua. (and all the others too lol)

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  60. I follow by GFC and email. Hard to choose which colors I like best but I'm leaning toward the darker ones. These prints are fabulous!

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  61. I follow by email. I like both color ways . I think I like the coral best,because it fits the subject matter better. Thank you for the giveaway.
    Dmac5958@aol.com

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  62. My niece would flip for these owls!! I especially like the blue/gray color best. I would love to make a wall hanging for her with these if I am a winner. Thanks so much for providing the giveaway!

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  63. i follow on blog lovin' and love the aqua colorway. i have a friend who is crazy for owls and would make the wall banner for her.

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  64. I receive your newsletter already and love it! I love these owls! I like Shades of Winter.

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  65. I like the aqua colorway. I follow via email

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  66. Adorable banner!!!! I love both color choices!

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  67. I follow on Bloglovin. I like both colorways, but the blue/brown seems to catch my eye more. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  68. Love the owls with the wintry blues and grays. I follow by email.

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  69. Wendy, I've been following the Christmas in July Blog Hop all week and last., and have subscribed to Sew in Love (with fabric) for about one year now. I love the silver colowary, especially on the birch trees and snowflakes.
    The light aqua tho is really my favorite , so cool, like a minty cold morning.
    Thank you for sharing.

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  70. I follow the blog by email. I love the aqua colorway.

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  71. I follow on blogovin and love the shades of winter

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  72. I follow with e-mail. This is a beautiful collection! sarah@forrussia.org

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  73. I am following you on Blogloving as Rose Santuci-Sofranko. Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist @ aol.com

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  74. I follow you on blogloving. Love that peach and black colorway!

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  75. I follow you on blogloving. Love that peach and black colorway!

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  76. I follow you on blogloving. If I should be so lucky as to win, I would prefer the orange and gray.

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  77. I follow you on Bloglovin'. I prefer the blue and taupe colorway although both are wonderful! pjrquilter at msn dot com

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