Munki in the Middle September Block

September was sadly the last month of my Flickr swap group called Munki in the Middle.  We used Munki Munki or Heather Ross fabric as the focus feature of various quilt blocks.  This was a great way for many of us to have a quilt block with Heather Ross fabric we didn't have in our stash.  I've been incredibly lucky with great Heather Ross fabric swaps, but don't let me fool you - I spent a pretty penny on some of my stash too!

Here's one of my September blocks.  Kristy requested a churn dash using a low volume background and a bright churn? dash?  I'm not sure what that part is called :)  I used Katy Jones' churn dash tutorial.  The center fabric here is Calypso and was only available in pj's I believe.  The churn dash is Lizzy House jewels and the background is a Moda Sweetwater text but I can't remember which line.  

What have you been sewing this week?

 

WIP: Paper Pieced Fussy Square Blocks

My friend, Amanda, and What the Bobbin? tempted me with a block swap.  Like I need another project!  But looking at the Flickr pool made me cave.  They are too stinking cute!  I'm not sure what I'll do with all these little guys, but I'm positive it will be magical.  I made my first block with some Heather Ross pink gnomes and then I remembered that I have a great sampler pack of Japanese kawaii prints courtesy of Angela from Bunny's Designs.  This is going to be so much fun!    

4.5" block. Hello Mr. Gnome :)

Heather Ross Greek Cross Quilt Block #2

I just posted my finished Greek Cross quilt block using my favorite Heather Ross print - those funky pink gnomes - as the center.  My Flickr friend Wendy and I swapped some Heather Ross and Munki Munki prints a couple weeks ago and she sent me way too many goodies!  I was lucky enough to receive a little piece of the purple matroyska dolls.  Last night I decided they'd make a perfect center for my next Greek Cross block.  I pulled a few fabrics to cut into tonight.  The swirly grey will be the background. The purples will be the arms of the cross and the blue will be the corners.  Which fabrics do you think I should use?  

Greek Cross in a Square Quilt Block

July is my month to be Queen Bee for my Munki in the Middle Flickr Bee.  We're using Heather Ross prints, especially those from her pajama line Munki Munki, to make each other lovely quilt blocks.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I bought new pajamas to cut them up to make a quilt :)  Sometimes the pajamas are the only way to find certain Heather Ross prints.  

After pouring over tons of quilt blocks on Flickr, Pinterest and lots of books, I settled on the Greek Cross in a Square block from 1000 Any Size Quilt Blocks by Linda Causee and Rita Weiss.  I was so excited, I thought I'd write up a tutorial for it.  I took photos every step of the way, edited them, and lastly did a Google search to see if anyone else had written a tutorial for this block.  Doh!  Don't wait until that step for last.  Save yourself some work and do it first.  Faith from Fresh Lemons Quilts has this great tutorial posted as part of the Summer Sampler Series.  Don't worry, I'll find other blocks to write tutorials for since I'm planning on doing a series of them here on Sew E.T.

Munki Monday: June Bee Block #2 for Munki in the Middle

Sarah requested wonky log cabins made with Munki Munki fabric or other Heather Ross treasures.  My first block used tadpoles from West Hill collection; go check it out here!  I had to make a pink version using the adorable cats (Frederick gets the spotlight here) and also a little pink gnome off to the side.  I really love how cheerful this one is!  

May Blocks for Munki in the Middle Bee

I'm doing a small bee swap featuring Heather Ross fabrics, including Munki Munki prints from her pajama and clothing line.  I didn't really have any HR prior to this, so I've been collecting bits and pieces here and there when the price seems right.

Here's what I came up with for my May swap partner.  She wanted a churn dash with the HR in the center.

This block has a pink VW van piece in the center, a V&Co Simply Color teal ikat print for the churn dash, and the background is a white and black polka dot print. 

I may make up a copy of the second block for myself to keep :)  Both the telephones and the number print are from the same Munki Munki nightgown dress that I bought on eBay just to cut up.  I felt the Michael Miller blue and teal polka dot was a great accent for the churn dash!

I'm in another bee that has 2 people on the schedule to receive blocks for May, so I'd better get busy on the others!

Heather Ross at Quiltcon

Even though I live in Austin, I wasn't able to attend most of the lectures during Quiltcon because I was either volunteering or working.  When I saw the Houston Modern Quilt Guild was doing a review of Heather Ross' lecture on her design process, of course I wanted to read about it.  And then I found out they were giving away a copy of her new book, Prints, and guess what - I won the book!!  

I did get to take a peek at this book before, and am super excited I won because it comes with a CD that has tons of images of some of Heather's most popular prints that you can actually print yourself on your own home printer, Spoonflower, whatever you want to do with them!  How cool is that?  Mendocino mermaids, tadpoles - yes, please!!  I especially think this is a great book for sewers who, like me, started really getting into it after some of these cult favorite collections were sold out.  

Even though I didn't get to meet her in person, Heather seems like a very generous person.  My book copy is coming directly from her!  The Houston MQG isn't too shabby either, because they're going to be giving away a fat quarter collection of Briar Rose due to come out April 1 and some other things in the works, like an Anna Maria Horner give away as well!  Be sure to check them out and sign up.