Mandalynn - Pattern by Busy Hands Quilts

Do you remember this post about my secret sewing project for Myra of Busy Hands Quilts? I showed you a package that had arrived and I was getting ready to sew.

I loved these fabrics when I opened the package and that feeling has never waned. 

Let me introduce you to

Mandalynn

 

This pattern is now available in both print and pdf version at Busy Hands Quilts. 

I know that I've said this before, but I LOVE using Myra's patterns! They are so easy to follow and her illustrations are wonderful. This pattern includes four sizes (throw, twin, queen, and king), so you don't have to do any math. She's done it for you!

Here are a few pictures of Myra's completed quilt. 

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Check out that quilting! 

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Why is it that it always seems to be windy when I try to take quilt pictures?

As you know, I always like to take pictures of the quilts I make from side angles. 

We all know that sometimes our beds to do not get made properly. I just love this picture Myra shared. I can just picture myself waking up and seeing these bright colors. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

You can get your own copy of Mandalynn at Busy Hands Quilts.

While you're there, sign up for her newsletter. 

Check out Myra's Facebook page for more pictures of this beautiful quilt. 

You won't be sorry you did! She is offering a special introductory sale for this pattern thru Sunday, so don't wait too long.

I just have to share one more picture...

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

February Color Challenge

It's the second month of the color challenge and I'm blogging again. Yay!

Wasn't it fun to see all those blocks last month?

For this month's pattern and instructions,

go to Jen's Blog - Patterns by Jen

This month's bird and color are the Indigo Bunting - Teal

This is a beautiful bird and color!

Like so many birds, it is the male that has such a bright and wonderful color. The Indigo Bunting male is a small, sparrow-sized stocky bird with a short tail and conical bill. The males are a bright blue overall with a slightly richer blue on the head. 

Click HERE to listen to it's beautiful song. 

These wonderful birds sing from treetops, shrubs, and telephone lines all summer long. They are commonly found in weedy and brushy areas; and they really like hedgerows, overgrown patches, and brushy roadsides. They eat insects and berries, and can be attracted to backyards with thistle or nyjer seeds. 

Teal is one of those colors that has different "interpretations" for different people. I generally think that teal has more green to it, but when I look at the pictures of the Indigo Bunting, I see more blue. I generally think as that as more turquoise than teal. Nevertheless, I really like this color! While checking out my quilt pictures, I realize that I haven't used it very much and I think I need to change that. Here are a couple of projects in which I have used teal.

I wanted to try a cathedral window, but knew that I did NOT want to make a full quilt. This pillow was perfect.  

This quilt was made for a black and white plus one challenge. The pattern is Madd Hatter by Elaine Wick Poplin

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Let's take a look at this month's color challenge block. 

Go to Jen's blog for the instructions. 

Here are my fabrics. 

(Remember that I am making two blocks - 

one with a black background and one with a white background; and I am using batiks for my colored prints.)

I really like the texture on this fabric I bought at Once Upon a Quilt in Ft. Lauderdale.  

I love their logo; and check out the colors!

The pieces are ready to be sewn together!

Time to use the rotary cutter.

I have no idea why this picture is so bad.  :-(

Just like that, all the pieces are ready to be sewn to make the block!

I like these fabrics and I really like HST units, so I played around a bit before making the block. What do you think of these block layouts?

I like this rectangular block!

Enough playing around. Here are my February blocks...

I like the teal diamond that is formed when I put these two blocks next to each other.  Hmmmm, I may have to play around with a new quilt option. :-)

 As a word of warning, be careful when sewing the HST units together. Be sure to have them in the correct orientation or you'll have to rip some seams like I did.  Yikes!  Can see see how perfect my point would have been? 😊

Check out the other bloggers who are making this block. I just love how the change of fabric makes that blocks look totally different. 

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Patterns by Jen

Penny for My Thoughts

Create with Claudia

Sweet Boater Chick

So This is Kentucky

Don't forget to join the link up party to be entered into 

First Quarter Prize Drawing. 

 Oh, how we all love prizes!

Thanks to our sponsors!

January Monthly Color Challenge

Happy New Year!

It's the new year and the first month of the 

2020 Monthly Color Challenge!

For this month's pattern and instructions, 

go to Jen's Blog - Patterns by Jen

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January - Finch (Yellow)

This is such a pretty bird! 

The Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, and it is common at feeders that offer sunflower and nyjer seeds. It is the Spring male (the Breeding Male Goldfinch) that is such a brilliant yellow with shiny black and bits of white. The females are a bit more dull yellow and actually look olive in color. It too is a beautiful bird!

Goldfinches are usually easy to find around much of North America, and it's their "po-ta-to-chip" flight call draws attention to them in open areas. 

Click HERE to listen to the beautiful sounds of these birds.

If you want to attract Goldfinches, plant native thistles and milkweed, as well as other composite plants. These beautiful birds are attracted to almost any kind of feeders, including hoppers, platforms, and hangers. They are also happy to feed off of the ground, so sprinkling seeds is just as good for them.

There are many thoughts regarding the symbolism of Goldfinches. 

They are considered to be a sign of exuberance, liveliness, and enthusiasm; and their arrival is meant to remind us to enjoy life and savor every moment and not waste time or energy on negative thoughts. What a beautiful idea! 

Speaking of beautiful, yellow is a wonderful color to use in quilts. I used to be afraid to use yellow because I was afraid that too much of it would be distracting, and too little would look out of place. 

I don't feel that way any more and enjoy adding pops of yellow to a number of my projects. I think it works perfectly in these quilts.

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So let's take a look at this month's color challenge block. 

Here are my fabrics. 

(Remember that I am making two blocks - 

one with a black background and one with a white background; and I am using batiks for my colored prints.)

Isn't this yellow wonderful? I purchased it, along with all my batiks at Once Upon a Quilt Shop in Ft. Lauderdale when I was there back in December. 

FYI 

Once Upon A Quilt opened in 1998 and features the full line of Bernina machines, a 1500 square foot Event Center, a machine service center, longarm quilting services, and 2500+ bolts of the finest 100% cotton fabric - just like the batiks I bought for this project. :-)

The steps to making this block are very simple and straightforward. 

Go to Jen's Blog for cut sizes and the instructions.

Be sure to press well, so as to avoid any misshaped strips.

I chose to match up the strips before cutting them so they would be ready to sew in the next step.

And they are ready to sew!

Nice looking four patches!

I did the "twist and spin" thing for pressing to help my blocks lay nice and flat.

I love these blocks! The batik yellow looks like it is a solid, but it's really not.  

Check out the other bloggers who are making this block. I just love how the change of fabric makes that blocks look totally different. 

Patterns By Jen

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Penny for My Thoughts

The Quilted Diary

Bear Paw Stitch & Design

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Don't forget to join the link up party to be entered into 

First Quarter Prize Drawing. 

 Oh, how we all love prizes!

Thanks to our sponsors!