It is hard to believe we are already in 2025, however a new year can bring new opportunities, ideas, projects and friends. Let's not forget the ideas, projects and friends we already have but a little injection of enthusiasm goes a long way! Already I am planning some more travel, in and out of New Zealand. My husband and I went for a delicious day out recently, to Cape Palliser and the lighthouse there - we always enjoy going there. Along the way is a small fishing town called Ngawi where there are a collection of heavy vehicles used to tow the fishing boats in and out of the water. Of course, I felt that one of them would look fantastic with a quilt on it - see the pic at the top. It was the most beautiful day, the sea was a true aqua colour, the sun was shining and we even saw loads of seals in the seal colony, including some young ones - so cute!
This year is starting to look like it is taking shape with some block of the month projects snd a few other things I am still sorting - as soon as I have some info I will let you know. One of the programs I am working on is called "What a difference a letter makes", I am still working on it but should be able to tell you more soon. I do love receiving letters in the mail - do you? They are so rare these days. Anyway, as I said, more info coming soon.
As it is a new year, I thought I would mention some previous year long projects that I know many of you have been involved in, but there may be some new people who don't know so much about the Block of the Day programs. There are 5 - this means that for 5 years we made blocks for each day of the year! I have put links below in case any of these interest you - they are all still available as downloads, as they originally came. the only difference is that now they all come at once and can be downloaded and saved. It started with
. They are all fun quilts! See below for more info.
Also, coming this year will be some new batik fabrics designed by me along with a series of patterns featuring the fabrics - these are still some months away.
This is a Block of the Day Project during the year 2016, and started early 2016.
That Town and Country Quilt is a delicious quilt depicting things you might see in the Town and the Country!
This quilt has 365 unique 4" blocks, plus borders, and will measure approx. 84" square.
As this has now finished as a Block of the Day project, when you purchase this product you will receive all of the patterns at once in 52 x weekly lots.
A fun Block of the Day for 2017 which started in early 2017 and will follow the lives of the Family Dot over the course of a year. The method used is fused, raw-edge applique which makes this quilt quite achievable! The Block of the Day 2016, That Town and Country Quilt has been hugely successful and uses the same techniques.
This quilt has 365 unique 4 1/2" blocks, and measures approx. 81" x 94".
As this has now finished as a Block of the Day project, when you purchase this product you will receive all of the patterns at once in 52 x weekly lots.
There are some video tutorials included.
This quilt was made using delicious Hoffman Bali Batik "dot" fabrics, featuring family members and related items set in dots! What a dotty year!
A playful and fun Block of the Day for 2018! This started in early 2018.
This is intended to be purely fun and playful! There are 365 shapes to be appliqued and stitched. It looks great in these bright colours but would work well in any colour theme of your choice.
This quilt is assembled using a Quilt as you Go technique and has fused, raw-edge applique with some fun free-motion stitching. It would be just as much fun if you prefer to do handwork!
There will be some videos showing the techniques.
The pattern is downloadable and will came in weekly installments of 7 Dapples, starting early January 2018. As this is no longer running, all the downloadable patterns will arrive at once.
Block of the Day for 2019! A small pictorial applique each day set on a vertical strip. Fused and free-motion stitched, these little "skitches" are fun and quick to do. To add a little more interest we will be using some Inktense pencils by Derwent to add some subtle shading and colour effects.
The Block of the Day 2019 - Skitch a Day - is now finished. However the pattern is still available and would come all at once now, although still in parts.
The quilt was put together in horizontal rows per month, then joined together by row, quilt as you go.
The sample shown is the finished quilt with a small sample as well.
The fabrics used are 2 1/2" wide strips for both the background and applique, the fabrics shown are Hoffman Bali Poppies (packs of 20 x 2 1/2" wide strips), lighter neutrals for the backgrounds and colours for the applique. A grey colour will be used for the joining strips.
A new block of the day for 2020! A small applique for each day of the year set on to a variety of size background fabrics. These little appliqué pictures are inspired by Japan and Japanese Kokeshi Dolls.
Kokeshi dolls are a traditionally made wooden doll, often quite decorative. As well as the dolls there are many other Japanese inspired things, such as cherry blossom, bamboo......and so much more!
They are fun and quick to do and would enjoy a little embellishment along the way - you may like to do a little embroidery perhaps, maybe a little extra colour here and there with Inktense pencils, or you may prefer to simply applique with no extra embellishment.
The Block of the Day 2020 - Bento Block a Day - started early January 2020 and continued throughout the year. As this is no longer running, all the downloadable patterns will arrive together, in separate parts.
The fabrics used for the applique are 2 1/2" wide strips plus a variety of background fabrics, sizes and shapes such as 3 1/2" squares, 3 1/2" x 10 1/2" rectangles, 4 1/2" squares and 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles. For both the background and applique, the fabrics shown are Hoffman fabrics, with 2 x Bali Pops (packs of 40 x 2 1/2" wide strips) for the colours for the applique.
This is a fun quilt pattern that would make either a quilt or wall-hanging. These dogs are enjoying life and their home! They have a few other friends visiting - the ants, a bird, a mouse and a bee! The method used is for fused, raw edge machine applique. although you could choose your own method. The pattern includes all the shapes to trace.
This delightful quilt features some of my favourite Kokeshi dolls as well as other Japanese inspired items. Fused applique, the sample has been stitched around by machine using a blanket stitch but you may have a preferred way to do the applique.
