Handmade Holiday Blog Hop: Day 4

It's Handmade Holiday Blog Hop time! Over the next days, we'll be sharing both gift and decor ideas here on the blog. Make them now; bookmark them for later. Either way, we hope you'll enjoy the inspiration and ideas to help you get in the holiday spirit and/or cross a few names off your gift list.

Today Mary on Lake Pulaski is sharing an idea she made using Greta Lynn's Shades of Winter collection. We love this neat use of such a woodsy themed fabric line! Talk about the project reflecting the the fabric...it's clear where Mary's inspiration came from!

Go check out her blog Mary on Lake Pulaski for information on this Firewood Tote and to enter a drawing for a bundle of this beautiful fabric.

Don't miss any days of our Handmade Holiday Blog Hop!

Day 2: Nesting Pocket Dolls by Debby Kratovil of Debby Kratovil Quilts using Little Katerina 

Day 3: Sew Easy Travel Case featuring Sew Easy

Day 5: Evergreen Pennant by Jessica of Quilty Habit featuring Snow Days

Day 6: Patchwork Apron by Kristen of KD Quilts featuring Frosty Forest

Day 7: Christmas Adorned quilt by Kelly of My Quilt Infatuation featuring Santa's Here

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Graphix with a Pop of Yellow!

Graphix by Greta Lynn for Kanvas is just that--graphic and dynamic! We love the punch of yellow paired with the black and white geometric designs. These cool prints have a contemporary feel and will shine in big block quilts. 

Use these fun prints in the "Ups and Downs" quilt by Stephanie Sheridan and Linda Leathersich of Stitched Together Studios. 

Click here to download the free quilt pattern.

Click here to see the entire Graphix collection.

Click here to find the free quilt pattern.

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Breezy Baby

Sewing for nurseries is so much fun! Greta Lynn's new collection, Breezy Baby, features a gender neutral color scheme that will work for boys and girls alike. Sweet bears in hot air balloons join other animal friends in these whimsical prints, with fun dot, swirls and plaid coordinates! The bears in balloons show up again in the panel--a great quick quilt option.

Add a few pieced borders to the panel for an easy quilt--perfect for a gift!

Here's a look at a larger piece of the alphabet patchwork print:

Use the panel as a focal point for the quilt and add several borders (including a pieced one) in Heidi Pridemore's Baby Bear on Board quilt pattern.

Download the free quilt pattern here.

Click here to see the entire Breezy Baby collection. (It comes in flannel too!)

Click here to find the free quilt pattern.

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All Aboard!

We always love a great baby/todder line, and Greta Lynn's All Aboard collection is just that! Mix a contemporary color palette of teal, lime and gray with sweet train prints and fun coordinates (love that triangle stripe!), and you have the perfect line to make a baby gift or decorate a toddler's room. 

Because the small swatches don't always do larger prints justice, here's a larger view of the patchwork print and the stripe. Aren't they fun?!

 Ready to get started on a quilt using All Aboard? Here are two free quilt patterns that you can download from our website:

Little Steam Engines by Heidi Pridemore

Download the free quilt pattern here.

Fast Track by Heidi Pridemore

Download the free quilt pattern here.

Click here to see the entire All Aboard collection. (It comes in flannel too!)

Click here to find the free quilt patterns.

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Are your ready for Art Class?

Unleash your inner artist with Greta Lynn's new collection, Art Class, for Kanvas! This bright line is a mix of cool coordinates and prints inspired by actual art class supplies. Use them together in a quilt for your favorite artist in the making, or simply use the coordinates for a colorful, modern design. Either way, you'll be creating a work of art!

Try one of these fun free quilt patterns featuring the Art Class coordinates:

Cool Collage 

by Linda Leathersich and Stephanie Sheridan of Stitched Together Studios

Click here to download the free pattern.

Color Study 

by Linda Leathersich and Stephanie Sheridan of Stitched Together Studios

Click here to download the free pattern.

Click here to see the entire Art Class collection

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It's raining cats and dogs!

We know all of you animal lovers (or family members of animal lovers) are always happy to see a great pet-themed collection. Today, we've got two for you--one for feline friends and one for canine pals. Both have a touch of whimsy and fun, themed coordinating prints. Quilts, animal beds, pillows...so many opportunities! 
If you're not a fan of cats or dogs, you might be after seeing these fabrics! 

Cat lovers, this one's for you!

Cat Nip by Greta Lynn for Kanvas

Click here to see the entire Cat Nip collection. 

Dog lovers, this one's for you (in brights and in neutrals)

Dog-Gonnit! by Greta Lynn for Kanvas

Click here to see the entire Dog-Gonnit! collection.

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Fun with Nesting Dolls

Do you remember playing with nesting dolls as a child? Greta Lynn has brought this concept to fabric with her new line for Kanvas, Little Katerina. The possibilities for this collection are endless! Use the panel to quickly sew up a set of nesting dolls, or applique the doll fronts onto a quilt (in size order, of course!) 

The coordinates for this collection are bright and fun, too, all taking inspiration from Russian folk art and embroidery--from cheery florals to a "stitched" stripe and an all-over nesting doll print, you'll want to use them all!

Click here to see the entire Little Katerina collection.

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Veronica!

Veronica by Greta Lynn: 

A brilliant combination of sleek modernity with classic elegance. 

Detailed Jacobean florals, elegant scrolls, and medallions, but in fresh and surprising colors! Give a traditional pattern a twist with this exciting new collection from Kanvas.

Click here to see the entire Veronica collection.

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Love's Brewing

Tea lovers, if yesterday's Jumping Java collection has you feeling left out in the cold, we're back today with a collection that is just your cup of tea! (pardon the pun; we couldn't help ourselves!) 

Love's Brewing by Greta Lynn for Kanvas is a tea party like no other: vibrant colors, tea bags galore, and fun tonal coordinates.

Is there a homemade tea cozy in your future? We think so!

Tea cups for any mood

 Your choice of tea bags

 Love this zigzag!

Try this free pattern, "Mad Tea Party," by Heidi Pridemore

Click here to download the free pattern.

Click here to see the entire Love's Brewing collection.

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Technique Tuesday: Fruit Salad

Despite the blog post's title, this week's Technique Tuesday is not going to teach you how to make an actual fruit salad.

Instead, Debby Kratovil is back, showing how to give Dresden Plates a summer spin! Enjoy her tutorial, let your mouth water at those tasty-looking fruit fabrics from Greta Lynn's Fruit Salad collection for Kanvas, and get sewing! Plus, Debby's hosting a giveaway on her blog. Head over to check it out!

Here's Debby:

Warning! Put your cup of coffee down before you scroll any further! Sometimes my ideas get a bit zany and I only blame it on the fabric, of course.

I received a lovely bundle of Fruit Salad fabrics from Kanvas and the watermelon images jumped out at me. What do you think?

Fruit Salad Collection by Greta Lynn for KANVAS and Benartex Fabrics

What? You don't see watermelon? You see strawberries and blueberries and cherries? Hold on. I'm getting to the watermelon, because I WANTED watermelon and I tried to make this a watermelon quilt. Strawberry watermelon, maybe?

I like playing with my Vortex ruler (actually an 18 degree Dresden Plate ruler). I thought of the green watermelon rind, the white inner rind and the red fruit part and grabbed 3 fabrics. Actually, four. Let me show you how I auditioned the fabrics to decide what size strips to cut.

First, the green, cherry print and strawberries on black:

Auditioning fabrics and getting an idea of the size strips to cut

Next, the green, cherry print and realistic watermelon color (minus the black seeds):

Auditioning the fabrics with my 12-1/2" ruler

The strawberries got a hold on me. I should have listened to the voices in my head!

Strips for strata

 I cut an 8-1/2" wide strip of the strawberry print, a 1-1/2" strip of the cherry print, and a 3-1/2" strip for the green rind. I actually needed 3 sets of these in order to get the needed 20 wedges. As you can see in the photo below, as you flip-flop the ruler, you are cutting a second set of wedges. You have to cut for two blocks to get one full block of 20 wedges.

Ruler flip-flops along the stitched wedge set of strips (with a height of 12-1/2")

This wedge is the same one we used for the Christmas in July tree skirt I featured here a few weeks ago. The template is still there. This link will take you to the Sew in Love with Fabric blog posting with the tutorial for the tree skirt: Christmas in July with Homespun Holiday

Now let's see my wedges:

Each strip set will yield 7 wedges (that's why we need 3 strip sets)

Now let's turn them into Dresden Plate units!

1. Fold wedge in half along the vertical. Sew 1/4" along the widest edge.
2. Clip the inner corner at the fold. This makes for a sharp point when turned.
3. Turn seam right side out and press little pocket so the seam runs along the center of the wedge.
4. No need to use needle-turn applique. Neat, huh?

Dresden Plate Sewing

Make 5 wedges for each quarter circle. Press these seams open (you'll see this later)

Five wedges make a quarter circle. Press seams open.

What's up with that triangle at the bottom? I don't want a center circle for my dresden plate. I cut a 4-1/2" square, placed it along the straight sides of the 5-wedge unit, marked the diagonal and sewed ON the line; trimmed 1/4" away. Discard cutaways. Press triangle out as seen in photo above.

Sew on diagonal line; trim away

What do two halves look like? For the whole block you will need two 4-1/2" squares of both green and red.

Two watermelon halves joined.

Make sure each of your four quarter circles are perpendicular on the straight sides. If not, you will have a little mountain in the center of the unit when all four come together. Trust me. I know this from experience, I'm just saying . . .

I cut a piece of the background fabric. I wish I had 30-1/2" of the watermelon print, but I only had 28", so I went with that. Pinned and pressed and pinned again. Selected matching green thread and a simple zigzag stitch and now it's time to trim away the background fabric.

Trim away the background fabric from behind the Dresden Plate block

OK. Last warning! Put down that coffee cup! Nothing liquid in your mouth! Here is my wild and crazy Watermelon Quilt with a 28" center block (the Dresdens are about 25" from tip to tip across the center). First from the back:

Notice all the pressed seams. Removing the background fabric reduces the bulk

And from the front:

Wild and Crazy Watermelon Delight Table Cloth

My husband has been asking me for a table cloth for our circular table on the deck. This will be it! Sure to shock our summertime guests! I will quilt it and show it soon finished.

Now for the giveaway. I have two bundles of LONG QUARTER cuts from this collection. Each contains 5 long quarters (9" x wof). I don't like fat quarters when I'm working with a quilt that needs borders and long strips.

Cherries and Berries, Purple Colorway

Berries and Watermelon, Red Colorway

Visit my blog and let me know if you've ever made a quilt and used it for a table cloth. And tell me which of the two bundles you like. I will select two winners. Deadline for comments is Friday August 21 at midnight. International winners will need to help with postage if you are chosen to win ($10, US). Or you can have any of my Craftsy patterns.

Thanks Debby!
Click here to see the entire Fruit Salad collection.

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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!!

***

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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