Step Out of the Box - a Contemporary Quilt!

I was given some fabric from Blank Quilting's new line, Regency, toplay with. I had about 1/4 yd. of each fabric in the line.
The fabric is in beautiful shades of black to gray. There is a really nice border print you can see below that I didn't use in this quilt. I think it would make a gorgeous border if I had more than a small piece.

This line had fabrics in a gradation from dark to light. 
I cut  squares of each and laid them out in rows that formed the gradation I wanted.  I sewed squares into rows, and rows into my quilt top. I actually worked from dark to light and then turned the top on it's side. (It was easier to keep up with the gradation that way.)

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I then had a top with a gradation of dark to light. 
I was ready to add color inserts, appliqued circles, and fusible words!

If you're interested in this pattern, it's available in my Craftsy store (The button on my side bar will take you there.). It's an easy design and the colors you add can fit your tastes. A chart is given that shows where each fabric goes, and there is a guide for placing the circles and strips.
 
You will want to check out Blank Quilting's website and Facebook page to see what else they have to offer.  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blank.quilting?fref=ts

Web site: www.blankquilting.com

WAIT! There is a giveaway!! Just visit and leave a comment in the three blogs in this, the second of three, Mini Blog Hops and visit Blank Quilting's Facebook page. You will be eligible to win a surprise! (You can see it on Debby's blog.)

                       Debby Kratovil Quilts
                      Amy, The Quilting Sheep  
          Linda of Buzzing and Bumbling  You Are Here!
 

                              

Paperweights From Dollar Store Candle Holders

I am with my grandkids, 1700 miles from home. No sewing machine. No needle and thread. No fabric!!! But, I'm having fun anyway!
We made some teacher appreciation gifts and Father's Day gifts last week. The kids LOVED it! I will warn you, though. This is definitely a project to do outdoors because of the smell. 

I saw this basic idea here. She made a beautiful paperweight from the candle holders using only decorative paper and Mod Podge. (This is a great site, by the way!)
We decided to use real objects and use some of the sayings on some cute cards we saw. 
First we bought those inexpensive votive candle holders you can find at the dollar store. They come two to a box! $1!!!!! (You might also find them in other discount stores.)
We also found some small plastic frogs and a bag of Smarties candy. 
We bought a can of polyester resin and a small bottle of catalyst. (We found this at Michael's.) Follow the directions on the can to mix the resin! I mixed and they stirred and poured.
We put our candies and frogs in the area intended for the candle and poured the resin in to fill the space intended for the candle. Leave this outside to harden or in the garage. It will continue to have a strong smell until it is completely cured. 
That's all there is to it! EASY PEASY! FUN! 
We want to try one with a silk daisy in it. The kids also thought of nuts and bolts, fun stickers, and pebbles. The possibilities are limited by the size of the object. How about a photo cut to fit in the bottom? Decide if you want the paperweight to be bottoms up or right side up when finished. 
You're done!
Watch for another fabric challenge reveal on Monday, May 27th!! See you then!!!
             

Madeline, Sweet Madeline! (and a giveaway!)

Pattern A6219 from NewLook Kids!

Blank Quilting has some new fabrics coming out soon that you will want to be on the lookout for! 
I made this little dress, modeled by my great niece, using fabrics from the line called "Madeline". 

The fabrics in the line are bright and colorful!

 
Since Miss Dimples has a twin brother and also an older sister, I made "monster" dolls for them with the leftover fabric. (I did not use a pattern for these, but there are many good ones on the market!)

The turquoise "bandana" looking fabric was perfect for this little boy!

Don't tell her it's a monster! She thinks it's a frog!!

So....be on the lookout! This line should be in shops in early June! Blank Quilting has a website with their fabric lines as well as free patterns and more. Check them out!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blank.quilting?fref=ts

Web site: www.blankquilting.com

             There's a giveaway, too!!! 
You can win a nice group of fabrics pictured here.  You need to visit only three blogs on this Mini Blog Hop to be eligible to win! Then you will be going to the Blank Quilting Facebook page to "like" them.
                        Debby Kratovil Quilts
                           A Quilting Sheep  
                         Buzzing and Bumbling   You are here!

                              

Quilter's Favorites

                
 Welcome to my post for the Quilter's Favorites Linky Party.
                                
Whether you're here by accident or you are following the links, I'm glad you've stopped by!  Now for the questions I have chosen to answer!
Tell a little about yourself. 
 

• I’m Linda of  B. Bumble & Co. I’m just a simple Texas girl with a passion for color, fabrics, and whimsy!( I’m married to a wonderful man who happens to be  a scientist and knows how to keep my feet on the ground!  We have three sons and two grandchildren.) I started college majoring in art, but switched to elementary education when I realized I would need to make a little bit of an income. (Didn’t realize just how” little” teaching would bring in, but I loved the children!!)

 Any advice for a successful color scheme of a quilt?

•  Fabric companies have made it very easy to put together a nice color scheme. You can always pull colors from a focus fabric and go from there. BUT, if you want to really have fun, use the things around you that you love to inspire your color scheme. Here are some examples of how I used the things around me to pull colors for a quilt: (each is a link to a post showing the colors)

 
   Killdeer - to see the post go to this page. You will see her rust red underfeathers!
Children's book illustrations: Go here to see more!

  

• Also look at dishes, wrapping paper, cards, famous artwork, and even magazine ads. Use a colorwheel to help you find color combinations that compliment each other.

Could you share some tips about quilt techniques other than patchwork? 

•  I love applique. The method I use is very simple or I wouldn't use it! (I like to work FAST!) I use freezer paper and a glue stick and iron my pattern to the right side of the fabric. I turn all my seam allowances to the back and stick them down with glue stick. They are all ready to sew down by hand or machine when I finish. You can see a tutorial here.  

Do you have free tutorials on your blog?

•   Yes! I have quite a few! You can find them by clicking on the "Tutorials" tab at the top of my page. (I know it is hard to read in brown, but when you hover the cursor over it the words will turn white.) I have tutorials for several techniques as well as many projects!

Share some tips for organizing the fabrics in your sewing room. 

•  I have all my fabrics in tubs labeled by color or theme. All novelty fabrics go in a tub labeled with their theme: Christmas, Bugs and Spiders, Birds, etc.  All other fabrics are by color. Small scraps are in plastic zipper bags with the air squeezed out and are by color. I place those in tubs in cabinets.

 Oh, I wish it were this clean right now!!!
Would you like to share one of your favorite quilts, made by you?

•  As you know, choosing a favorite quilt is like choosing a favorite child! I think "Who's Been Eating My Porridge?" is one of my favorites. It was one of my first patterns. The recipe for porridge is embroidered around the border.

                                    

Could you recommend a book to someone who just started quilting?

•  First of all, there are hundreds of good books out there. The one I go to the most is The Quilter's Ultimate Visual Guide by Ellen Pahl. I have worn my book out and have had to put all the pages in a 3 ring binder since they were falling out anyway! This book is written like an encyclopedia. I think it has tons of valuable information for anyone, not only new quilters.                 

That's probably all you want to know about me and more! Enjoy the linky party!!