We Love Owls Tutorial

Recently we shared Ro Gregg's new Who's Who collection with you. Today we're back with Connie from Free Motion by the River, who is sharing a tutorial for this teal and lime small quilt. Use it for a baby quilt, a wall hanging, or a table topper...whoooooooo wouldn't love it!? 
After you check out Connie's tutorial, head over to her blog to enter to win fabric to make this quilt top yourself!

Here's Connie:

I really enjoyed working with the cute fabrics that are part of the Who's Who group by Ro Gregg. This is a small quilt, finishing at approximately 38 inches square.

 The fabrics make me think of spring and the little owls really look cute on the back of the quilt.

Here is a closeup of the center of the quilt:

Now how about a tutorial?

Here are the fabrics and amounts used in the quilt. 

Always sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

We start off with the center block in the quilt. 

Let's make some easy flying geese blocks.

Stitch the 4 square and flying geese together as shown below using the owl print in the center.

Let's continue on with a border around the block. Cut your pieces as listed below and lay them out as shown.

Piece the blocks together, make 4 sections.

Each corner with have a 3 1/2 inch cream (E) square. Sew together as shown.

Add a Teal (B) border

• Cut 2 pieces - 1 1/2 x 18 1/2
• Cut 2 pieces - 1 1/2 x 20 1/2

The next border has some odd sizes in it. Sew the blocks together as shown. Make 4 of these.

• Cut 8 - 2 1/8 x 3 1/2 pieces Brown (C)
• Cut 8 - 3 1/2 x 3 7/8 pieces Light Blue (D)
• Cut 8 - 3 1/2 x 3 7/8 pieces Green (F)
• Cut 4 - 3 1/2 x 3 7/8 pieces Multi print (G

Add the corners to 2 sections.

• Cut 4 - 3 1/2 inch squares Cream (E)

Sew the 2 sections without the cream squares to your quilt. Then add the last 2 sections with the cream squares.

Add another Teal (B) border

• Cut 2 - 1 1/2 x 26 1/2
• Cut 2 - 1 1/2 x 28 1/2

The final border uses the Owl (A) fabric, which is directional. Cut the sides first from the length of your fabric.

• Cut 2 - 5 1/2 x 28 1/2
• Cut 2 - 5 1/2 x 38 1/2

Quilt as desired. Cut 4 - 2 1/2 inch strips of Teal (B) for the binding.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial, and if you make this quilt I would really like to see it!

Thanks Connie! We'd like to help one of you make it. Head over to her blog to enter to win the fabric to make this quilt top yourself!

Top 10 Creative NYE Ideas

Here are 10 of our favorite ideas for a festive New Year's Eve celebration. You can see more pins on our NYE board, here.

1. Get the party started at the door with this sparkly wreath.

Click here.



2. Set a themed table with clock face printouts affixed to the bottom of glass charger plates.

Click here.

3. Try a new recipe!

Click here.

4. Is it really NYE without a photo booth?! Print your own props.

Click here.

5. Bubbles with a twist.

Click here.

6. Games to keep the evening rolling from dinner until the ball drops.

Click here.

7. How cute are these frosted cookies?!

Click here.

8. A time for reflection and setting goals.

Click here.

9. Don't forget the sparkly party hats! Make your own this year.

Click here.

10. Get the kids involved! (Even if you change the clocks so it looks like midnight at 9 pm...)

Click here.

Whatever you do this New Year's Eve, we hope you enjoy it!

Want to see more? Follow us on Pinterest! 

How was your Christmas?

Were you...

We hope Santa brought you lots of presents!

Maybe something for your sewing room?

A Very Marblehead 12 Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

1 awesome orange

On the second day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

2 pine forest greens

On the third day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

3 pretty pinks

On the fourth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

4 mottled green-red-golds

On the fifth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

5 golden golds

On the sixth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

6 midnight blues

On the seventh day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

7 beautiful blues

On the eighth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

8 emerald greens

On the ninth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

9 royal purples

On the tenth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

10 vibrant reds

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

11 luscious limes

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my quilt shop shared with me:

12 majestic hues

10 Holiday Decorating Ideas

Looking for inspiration to add a little extra sparkle to your holiday decorating this year? 

Check out our 10 favorite ideas from Pinterest. 

(And some of these could be made using your favorite Christmas fabrics!)

1. Make your own winter terrarium

Find it here.

2. Sweet treats garland

Find it here.

3. Fold napkins into trees!

Find it here.

4. Deliciously scented homemade potpourri

Find it here.

5. A snowman door!

Find it here.

6. Noel shelf scape

Find it here.

7. Paint santa logs

Find it here.

8. Skip the tree--no needle mess--just use ornaments!

Find it here.

9. How cute--tiny gingerbread houses perched on a hot drink

Find it here.

10. A twist on stocking stuffers

Find it here.

See more of our holiday decorating pins here.