Free Figure Skater Pillow pattern and a Cricut Maker demonstration!

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Hi everyone!

I hope you are having a lovely time getting ready for the holidays.  I’ve been working on a few special projects and I’m just loving one in particular – my Figure Skater Pillow.

I love it so much I thought I’d share it with you so that you could make it for a special person in your life.  (Quilting tutorial link below too!)  You can download the directions for the pillow here.

I used the Cricut Maker to cut out this pillow and learned so much!  Of course, you can also make it by tracing the templates directly onto paper-backed fusible web, but I thought it would be great to share what I learned about the Cricut Maker with you in this video.  It is my favorite fabric cutter BY FAR now because you don’t have to starch or stabilize the fabric with anything when cutting.  Which means I can use  SoftFuse without starch – yay!  Its teeny-tiny rotary cutter can even cut something as thin as gauze!  Amazing, huh?

Once I had all the shapes cut out I fused them down and secured them with a blanket stitch on my BERNINA 780 using Aurifil cotton.

I also filmed a tutorial about how to quilt a wintry background using my Blizzard print from my Winter Games collection from Benartex on my BERNINA Q24 that you can view here.

This was a special request that was made in my Facebook Group, “Quilting with Amanda Murphy” – thanks for the idea, guys!

The Figure Skater Pillow is based off of just one block from my Winter Sports quilt.  If you are interested in getting the patterns to make other skaters, or skiers and snowboarders, you can order it (and the SVG files) here.

Also, I filmed a video of how I made a card to go with the presents.  I’m not a paper crafter and was amazed how easy it was!

I hope you enjoy the pattern and these videos and have enjoy the holidays!

Happy quilting!

Amanda

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Introducing Winter Games (and a blog hop with giveaways)!

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Hi everyone!

Some of you are just too quick and have noticed my new line – Winter Games – popping up in stores or have written me to ask where you can find it.  I’ve been so wrapped up in promoting Meadow Dance (which, incidentally, is pretty much all sold out but is being reprinted and should be back shipping next month) that I haven’t had time to introduce Winter Games properly so I thought I’d do so today.

Since the Winter Olympics are in February of 2018 I decided this fall would be the perfect time to launch a winter sports line!  Then we can have lots of fun sewing prior to and during the Olympics!   Are you with me?  Benartex has some fun fabric giveaways lined this week on their Winter Games blog hop, so make sure to check it out each day!

The feature print Winter Games showcases winter athletes.  From skaters to skiers, we’ve got you covered.  (For those who ask, no I can’t do any of these sports.  I can’t even do them badly on a good day.  I can, however, draw others doing these sports, so I guess that is something…)

I added some snowflakes into the mix.  I love how the traditional snowflake motifs contrast with the modern athletes!

Athletes need equipment, right?  These skis, skates, and boots are laced with silver metallic.  Just a touch…

All that activity probably makes the athletes tired.  They need sustenance.  Hot chocolate and lattes will do in a pinch.

Do you like the text print?  I hope so! It is my favorite today.

After drinking hot chocolate, those coordinated athletes need to bundle up and go outside to continue their training.  (I, however, plan to watch this on TV while sewing in my cozy house this February.  How about you?)

As always, I have some blenders for you.  It is important to have blenders that are fun to quilt!

One of my favorite things about this collection are all the shades of grey – it makes for so many design possibilities.  This dark grey is all about drama.

When I designed this collection, I had my heart set on an applique project that allowed the athletes to really shine!  So my first pattern for this collection is Winter Sports!

There is a download code for SVG files included to use with fabric cutters for all of the accessories so you can dress your athletes quickly.!

Oh my gosh this pattern was fun to quilt!  On some blocks I quilted mountains, on others skating rinks…

I sewed my sample with an aqua border but I really like the grey version too!

I have three more Winter Games patterns coming for Market – I’ll be showing you a sneak peek later in the week.  (No, they aren’t sewn yet – wish me luck!)

“Skating Rink” The pattern can be downloaded from my Downloads page.

And of course I have a free pattern for you all.  This one features simple piecing on a dark grey background, with fussy-cut athletes appliquéd to the center of each block.

Don’t forget to visit Benartex’s blog hop this week for chances to win a bundle of Winter Games and for some great mug rug tutorials!

I hope you love this collection as much as I do!  If you do, please ask your local shop to order it from Contempo of Benartex.  I’d really appreciate it.  If you are a shop who has bought this collection, you are welcome to post that information in my Facebook Group.

Happy quilting!

Amanda

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Meadow Dance Blog Hop and Giveaways!

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Note: The winner of this giveaway is Peggy, who said that Meadow Blooms “tops the list” for her.  Congratulations, Peggy, and thanks for commenting everyone!

Hi everyone!
The folks at Contempo of Benartex have arranged a blog hop for my new collection, Meadow Dance, and we didn’t want you to miss it!

For more information head on over to Sew in Love with Fabric, where I talk about the line, the prints, the inspiration behind the motifs, a coordinating Aurifil thread collection, etc. And for the rest of the week they have a fun giveaway in store for you all each and every day!

In celebration of the hop, I think I’ll do a little giveaway myself! Just tell me which your favorite pattern is this time by leaving a comment on the blog to enter. I’ll pick a random winner of Meadow Dance goodies (patterns and a charm square) this Sunday night (the 24th).  If you already have the patterns I’ll send you other patterns of your choice, so no worries there!  (One entry per person please.)

Just as a little reminder, these are the patterns this time round, all pieced on my BERNINA 780 and quilted on the BERNINA Q Series

Meadow Blooms
“Meadow Blooms”, my two-block quilt that looks WAY harder to piece than it actually is!

 

“Meadow Song”, a modern take on a Dresden that is scrappy with two background prints.

 

“Meadowsweet” – a fun applique pattern with SVG files included!

 

Meadow Minis
“Meadow Minis”, a block-of-the-month with directions for “quilt-as-you-go” rulerwork!

 

Meadow Dance Ruler Panel
And last, but not least, the Ruler Guide for my Meadow Dance Panel, which works with Westalee ruler sets!

There is also a Meadow Dance embroidery collection by OESD – more on that soon!

There is also a free pattern – Meadow Paths, you can download from my downloads page

Good luck on the giveaway and I hope you have a lovely week! Happy quilting!

Amanda

 

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