And while I sip my tea and nibble on my muffins I’ll show you a few more patterns from Thistledown & Co.

Bertie The Butterfly is fluttering about against a background of flowers.  This 9″ x 11″ quilt is made with fabrics printed from the Push-Button Prints CD.

The Coneflower Calypso pattern is shown in two color ways. . . soft and pretty & bright and bold.  A sheet of Whisperlite is included for the fusible parts of this project.

When winter hits us full force and you are wishing summer were here, you can work on Beachwalk and escape for a bit.   The center of this lap quilt (54″ x 60″) is a blanket with all the beach necessities surrounded by several pairs of brightly colored flip flops.

Here are some no-calorie sweets.  Lollipop Garden combines easy applique with a stacked coin border for a bright, fun quilt.

Well, the tea is gone, the muffins are but crumbs, so it’s back to the sewing room!

BFF – Dresses and Dos,

Dolphin Delight,

and Chocolate Chips have been awarded.

The random number generator selected LouAnn’s comment as the winner.  LouAnn said  “Wonderful, inspirational, gotta-make-them-right-now patterns! Thanks for the chance to win!”   She will be receiving all three patterns soon!  Happy sewing LouAnn!

And all the handles are embroidered. 

Don’t look too closely at the handles :)  I should have used the temple provided in the pattern but I got lazy and sassy and figured I could do it freehand.   They did get better as I went but the first couple of handles look a little wonky.

Next step is quilting…. hmm… what to do?

If you like this pattern take advantage of the 10% off coupon good on all Thistledown & Co patterns.  Find the code in the previous post.  And leave a comment there so maybe you can win the three patterns Thistledown and QuiltersWarehouse are giving away!

THE PATTERNS:

BFF – Dresses & Do’s Swap-lique

Just as with paper dolls, these best friends can be dressed and redressed.  Swap clothes and hairdos over and over.  Any little girl would love to play with these and any grandma or mom would love to make these! 

Dolphin Delight is one block from the Florida Album quilt.  You can choose to simple bind this and make a small wallhanging.  Or make it into a pillow cover.  But you might just fall in love with it and make the rest of the blocks.  The pod of dolphins are splashing around.  The pattern includes instructions for both needle turn & fusible applique.  Beads to embellish the block are also included.

Chocolate Chips uses color and value do all the work to create this fun looking quilt.   I just love looking at this quilt. There are instructions for three sizes: lap, twin and queen.  

All three patterns will go to one winner.

THE RULES:

Leave a comment on this post before Friday midnight (central time).

U.S. residents only.

Winner will be selected by a random number generator.

THE DISCOUNT:

All this week you can get a 10% discount on all Thistledown & Co patterns.  Coupon code is QS002.  Valid today through the end of day Friday.

The random number generator selected Jocelyn’s comment.  Toy Box Treasures and Boo-Dazzled will soon be on their way to Jocelyn. 

Happy quilting Jocelyn!

Bubbles is swimming around with his friends, right at home with all the water.  This would look great with batiks or hand dyed fabrics.

Don’t forget the water bottle when you are decorating for the holidays.  Rejoyce! features the wise men as they follow the star to Bethlehem.

It’s a long way off, but when It’s Springtime you’ll be ready with this garden, complete with yo-yo flowers, embroidery and button embellishments.  Flowers galore!

For the summer holidays, you can add a patriotic touch to your water bottle with God Bless America.   Uncle Sam is flanked by two kittys waving flags.

 And for smaller water bottles…. It’s A Wrap

Do you take your water bottle in to meetings or sew-ins or anywhere else and then wonder which water bottle is yours?  These cute wraps will solve that problem and will brighten things up!  Pattern includes four designs plus a ready-to-trace alphabet so you can add your name or any words you choose.

So you can see, Linda’s patterns really are varied and these are an example of the fun practicality I mentioned earlier in the week. 

Don’t forget to leave a comment on our earlier post to have a chance to win two of Linda’s patterns.   Like us on Facebook so you don’t miss anything.  And stayed tuned…. more patterns to be given away next week and a discount on Thistledown patterns – come back to the blog for the discount code.

The center block is finished too.  It’s a large piece of white fabric surrounded by a narrow strip of soft pink, then another strip of white.  It’s perfect to show off some quilting - I need to choose just the right quilting motif.  Any suggestions?

Next I get to play with the teacups, placing them around the center square until the most pleasing layout appears.   A little more sewing and I should be sandwiching and quilting later this weekend.

 UPDATE:   This is the Tea-lightful pattern by Thistledown & Co.   I’m working on it as we showcase Linda Zokan’s patterns for two weeks, along with giveaways and, in the second week, a discount on Thistledown patterns.  Plus Linda is hosting a “Quilt-a-long with Linda” on her blog.  Like us on Facebook and you’ll know right away when something new happens on the blog!

THE PATTERNS:

 Toy Box Treasures is a redwork and pinwheels pattern with full size redwork designs.  Suitable for a beginner, with lots of hints and tips, this would make a great new baby gift.

There’s still time to make this Halloween wall hanging.  And if you don’t finish before the holiday…. call it an early finish for next year!  Boo-Dazzled measures 39″ x 33″ with instructions for easy fusible machine appliques and paper foundation pieced corners.

WHAT YOU MUST DO:

Leave a comment on this post with the answer to this question:  Who is watching the action in the Thistledown & Co studio?    If you haven’t already read our interview with Linda, check it out.  You’ll find the answer there!

THE NITTY-GRITTY:

Deadline is midnight (central time) Saturday. 

Open to US residents only. 

We’ll pick a winner at random from all the correct comments.

Your patterns are many and varied.  Do you have a favorite type of quilting… piecing, applique, paper piecing… or are you like a mom and ‘love them all equally’? 

That’s a tough one.  I know that many quilters and designers have a defined style or favorite type of quilting, but as you can see by looking through my designs, I enjoy a wide range of styles and techniques.  I enjoy working with both cotton and wool and I enjoy machine piecing, hand applique, fusible applique and hand embroidery.  I really like hand blanket stitching.  I’m also not afraid to use color.  When asked to name my design style, I guess my response would be playful.  Or perhaps I should call it QADDD style (quilt attention deficit design disorder).  My playful style can be seen in many of my designs, such as Peek-a-Boo Puss, Whoo’s Hanging Out, and Tag Sale,

but especially in my BFF (best friends forever) paper doll quilt pattern series.  Everyone is having so much fun with these patterns. 

The fun is not only in being able to sort through your stash for just the right fabrics but from being able to dress and re-dress the best friends using my Swap-plique technique.  My simple swap-plique technique allows you to create repositionable appliques.  All of the paper doll patterns are designed so you can swap outfits, hairdo’s and accessories between all four patterns.  They are too much fun and a real delight to make and to give to a special little girl in your life.

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

As a designer my favorite part is seeing a finished quilt or project that someone made from one of my patterns.  I enjoy inspiring others and hopefully some of my designs will inspire new quilters and crafters to become a part of this wonderful creative community.  I love sharing my enthusiasm and that’s why I am hosting a “Stitch-a-long with Linda”.  It is just beginning to get underway so I encourage everyone to join in.  The quilt that we’ll be making is going to finish at appox. 40″ x 60″.  I have the yardage requirements and my fabric picks posted. 

(You can find the “Stitch-a-long with Linda” on her blog Thistledown & Co. )

I really do enjoy all phases of designing and making a quilt – even the binding!  I do wish I had time to do more handquilting.  But I am not ready to give up sleeping.  Cleaning maybe, but not sleeping.

Quilters always like to hear about other quilters’ sewing areas.  I guess it’s our version of a ‘man-cave’…. but so much better!  Can you tell us about your studio?   

You mean at this moment – oh gosh it’s kind of messy at the moment because I am working on several things right now.

  Actually I love my studio.  I am blessed with a very sweet and supportive husband.  He agreed to the complete takeover of what was once our living room, so I could turn it into my current studio. 

Now mind you, we never used the living room much because we do our living in the family room, kitchen and out on our large deck.  we live in Florida so we use the deck a lot.  My work space consists of a long counter (from the home improvement store) with file cabinets underneath, a cutting table, an ironing table, a small drawer chest, and bookcases that house my fabric collection, etc.

 I do need to add some more overhead lighting and I want to paint one wall a bright fun color.  Other than that and the pins in the carpet hazard, it works for me. 

I have a view out the patio doors to the deck area and there are several other large windows so I can keep an eye on the butterflies and squirrels outside.

What comes first for you – the design or the fabrics?

That depends…. sometimes there may be a particular fabric that catches my eye and inspires me to design a new pattern.  Garden Terrace, Peek-a-Boo Puss and Take It or Leave It were designed around the fabric when I was designing quilts for Cranston Fabrics for Quilt Market. 

I would have to say that more often than not however, an idea for a new pattern  or product just kind of pops into my head when I least expect it.  The idea for my printable fabric CD Push-button Prints came to me in the middle of designing my Florida Album patterns.  Like that wasn’t keeping me busy enough – Hahahaha. 

Then I designed the mini quilts Lenny the Lizard and Bertie the Butterfly that use the fabrics that you can print from the CD.   My line of Earthknit patterns came after I decided to “upcycle” or repurpose my leftover batting into yarn to knit with – waste not, want not.  So there’s always something percolating in my head.

My real life BFFs also are a great source of inspiration.  We get together regularly and just talk creative, laugh, and share.  Not only do our play dates bring out my muse, they keep me centered too.  Lucky is the person that has quilters as friends.

You are so right, Linda.   There is something special about a quilter friend.   Thanks for spending some friendly time with us talking quilts!

Sue G is our winner.  Start searching through your stash, Sue, for just the right fabrics for Bar Nine by Thistledown & Co.

Happy quilting Sue!