5 winners!!!

Thanks for all the participants, your messages are very kind and uplifting! I have decided not to have 1 winner but 5! So here are the five names selected by a random number generator. Each of you will receive a Goldilocks Set very soon by email.

1- Crafty Tokyo Mama

2- Huesei

3- Ullhärvan

4- Kathy (QQQ)

5- Valerie

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

May 21-25, Giveaway day(s)!

To celebrate the great Giveaway Day organized by Sew Mama Sew, I am happy to participate with my last Tale set of pattern (pdf file). (visit the Sew mama Sew blog to see all the wonderfull giveaways!)

Here is the pattern Set you can win:

Goldilocks and 3 Bears set of 6 paper pieced blocks pattern:

The size of each block is 10", but my pattern includes a size chart to reduce or enlarge each block to 8" or 12 ".

And I add my pine tree block pattern too, so you can sew the complete quilt as shown here:

And for those who has never sewn a paper pieced block, it is really easier than it seems so do not be afraid! I have also had a great video tuto + useful tips on my blog: here!

To enter, it's easy:

1- Just leave a comment below.
2- For another enter, let another comment telling me what is your favorite pattern in my shop

3- For a third chance to win, if you are a follower (new or old), just leave me another comment telling me so!

Please make sure you leave a email address or than an email address is available on your profile!

Winners will be drawn on May 25 at 5pm (pacific time)!!

Hello again! Thanks for all the participants, your messages are very kind and uplifting! I have decided not to have 1 winner but 5! So here are the five names selected by a random number generator. Each of you will receive a Goldilocks Set very soon by email.

1- Crafty Tokyo Mama
2- Huesei
3- Ullhärvan
4- Kathy (QQQ)
5- Valerie
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Sun Star and Cross Star

I wanted to create some abstract blocks that could produce diferent effects depending on the fabric used. I love stars so I worked with stars in my mind.

For the Cross Star, I wanted a quick and easy block that would create a lot of diferent pattern depending of the layout. I only show some of them here, you can see more on my shop. I could have named this block Pinwheel Star instead of Cross Star, as it porduce a pinwheel layout too. I like its versatility.

This "Sun Star" is designed to make various stars using scraps fabric.

Bright colors on black background produce a stunning effect, while soft colors with different colors of stars produce a more romantic or modern style. Note that the sides of the block can be "erased" using the same color as the background (like in the black block) or they can build 4 point stars between the main design like in the picture below.

A sister for Olga!

Let me introduce you to my lovely dutch doll Anneke. She is the young sister of Olga, my matryoshka doll, who is celebrating her first birthday. I wanted a cute sister for this celebration, and I think Anneke is quite cute, isn't she? It is a 10" block that can be enlarged to 12" or reduced to 8", and the pattern is available in my craftsy shop . Thanks to Julie Phillips who proposed a dutch doll as new pattern in my last month giveaway.

Happy Birthday Olga!

Giveaway Result

I hope everyone have had a nice week-end! Today I am pleased to announce 4 winners.
First of all I would like to thanks all the participants. The blocks suggestions are great and I have already worked on severl of those.
Then I would like to say that I have made a small change in the rules: I previously thought I would use a random number generator for the first price winner and choose by myself the 3 other winners. But it was too difficult to make a choice for the 3 additional winners as nocriteria was better than another...
So I have used the number generator for the 4 winners.
And before giving the names, I would like to thank Jennifer and all the designers who took part of the garden party blog hop, it was fun and exciting! It has been an opportunity for to appreciate the work of great designers that I didn't know before, and to see some wonderful designs. I hope we will have another creative event soon! May be I will set up one...
Anyway, you are very patient and I won't be longer (this post is supposed to talk about some winners, isn't it?)
So the winners are.........
.......
..........
1- Alli (B. Yazoo) - has won 7 paper pieced blocks of her choice
2- Kathy (Kathy's Quilting blog) - has won 2 paper pieced blocks of her choice
3- Cindy (Quilt Doodle doodles)- has won 2 paper pieced blocks of her choice
4- Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys)- has won 2 paper pieced blocks of her choice

Congratulations!

Goldilocks & the 3 bears

What about a yummy poridge and a good nap?

Almost 2 months have been necessary for this new tale Set. I wanted a 6 blocks set (instead of 4 or 5 for my other tale's sets) and I have often change my mind for those blocks... should I make a block for each Bear or a family portrait in 1 block? Should I include a house or not? and many other questions... And here are my 6 blocks: the 3 Bears, Goldilocks, the house, the 3 bowls of yummy poridge, the 3 chairs with a coo coo clock on the wall, and the 3 beds. (Goldilocks and the house are available separately). Trees are also a good ingredient for this tale, and as I have already created 3 different tree blocks (for my other tales), I thought it would be better to use one of those: the pine tree. Here is my layout suggestion for Goldilocks. Isn't it a nice quilt for a baby stroller or chilren room?

I add some pict of each block separated. I hope you will enjoy!

Paper piecing tutorial and tips

A lot of sewer who have not tried foundation paper piecing think it is difficult. It is what it seems but actually it is quite easy: it requires only basic sewing knowledge like sewing a straight line. Nothing more! Here is a great tutorial made by Karen Johnson (Connecting threads). You can find many good tutorials online for foundation piecing, in movie or pictures, I think this one is the best.

I have seen several people (blogs, tuto, etc) who cut each piece of the pattern then sew in order. This is not the proper way to paper piece. It is longer plus this way the piecing is not accurate anymore. One of the great thing with paper piecing is that it allows small details almost impossible to sew otherwise, and it allows also very neat and precise piecing with crisp details. You can achieve this only by sewing through the paper.

Here are few tips and advises that I would like to add:

- Use foundation paper instead of usual printer paper: it is easier to remove without damaging the stitches.
- A small stitch make easier to remove the paper at the end, a large stitch make easier if you need to use your seam ripper. It is why I prefer a medium stitch size.
- When you choose your fabrics, the background should be contrasting with all the other fabrics of the design. If not, a part of the drawing might merge with the background and "disappear". It is the most common mistake, but when you know that, it's easy to avoid!

- Always follow the numbers (1,2,3,4...)

- When you precut your shape accurately, it is sometime dificult to be correctly adjusted to the pattern once you unfold the fabric, particularly for triangle shapes. tip: Larger pieces of fabric make it easier: they correctly cover the shapes, plus it's quicker!

- Always use large piece of fabric for the tiny shapes: it is easier to sew and you trim it later.

- For your very first paper pieced block, choose a simple pattern with larges pieces. (ex. matryoshka, barn or sweet heart from my shop are very easy)

- A cup of tea and few chocolates are a good help.

- Always have fun!