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Image of Railroad Crossing block

Month Two River Heritage BOM Mystery

February 12, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

Make the Railroad Crossing block for Month Two!

Image of frozen river for Railroad Crossing block

The Railroad Crossing block is the first stop on Month Two of River Heritage! Railroads belong with rivers, for sure. Here’s a view of this track near the Mighty Mississippi River.

Image of Railroad Crossing block

About Railroad Crossing Block

This quilt block makes a stunning statement. While there are other versions of this block, this one is a versatile block which could be used in a variety of settings. Furthermore, you could get an interesting secondary pattern by the use of value in large half-square triangle units. This one is a simple, but stunning version. Moreover, this block could make a great stash-busting, scrappy quilt all by itself!

Learn more about VALUE here.

Break down of Railroad Crossing Block

Specifically, this block is made of two half-square triangle units and two four-patch units. Click here for more information on Half-Square Triangle Units.

In the same fashion as the Paddlewheel block, you’ll want to use dark, medium, and light fabrics. Remember to check your values as you choose fabrics and placement. Additionally, It is an easy block to make. It requires only two four-patches units and two half-square triangle units.

Printable PDF: River Heritage Month 2

Image of Quilt Block

Share your block using #riverheritage on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

A special thank you to my nephew, Blake Kiefner, for letting me use his gorgeous picture of the frozen Mississippi River!

River Heritage Month Three

My quilt patterns shown below in Nancy’s Notions Catalog!

Image of Nancy's Notions Page

SHOP more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides!

Image of paddle wheel quilt block progress

Free Block-of-the-Month Mystery Quilt

February 8, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Table of contents

Month One for River Heritage Block-of-the-Month Mystery Quilt block progress is well underway!

Before we look at the next block in the series, let’s see the guild’s quilt block progress so far on the first block!

Importantly, these Paddle Wheel blocks use dark, medium, and light fabrics.

Specifically, it’s wise to audition your fabrics all together since values can change depending what it’s near. Click here for more information about The Tricky Traits of Value.

Additionally, the Paddle Wheel block is made of squares and half-square triangle units.

See the Introduction HERE for more information about the quilt, including the general setting guidelines.

I think a fun way to gauge the progress is by taking a look at the blocks shared so far with the hashtag: #riverheritage

Click HERE for Month One: Paddle Wheel

Paddle Wheel Quilt Block Progress
Month One – Paddle Wheel Block

Look at the quilt block progress and all the fabulous fabrics used in these Paddle Wheels!Image of Paddle Wheel BlocksImage of Paddle Wheel Blocks

It’s not too late to start this free mystery quilt.

Make your Paddle Wheel today!

Share your Paddlewheel with this: #riverheritage  

Click HERE for Month Two!

SHOP more than 45 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE!

Image of Beach
Pensacola Dreamin'

One Easy Way to Conquer Color

January 29, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

Image of Quick Trip Quilt
Tropical Trip by Karla Kiefner, Quick Trip Pattern by Eleanor Burns

Choosing color for quilts can be a daunting task.

Color for quilts is a common theme in the quilting book industry. Without a doubt, there are countless books on color theory.

Access to books on color for quilts isn’t my problem.

Unfortunately, wrapping my brain around the content in those books IS my problem! I wish I knew how many books there are which explain how to use color in making quilts. I also wish I knew how many times I looked at the color wheel. I know it, read about it, and studied it. However, going from page to fabric doesn’t seem to work for me!

Image of Fabric Stash

Color for quilts is in the details.

Many books about color go into great detail explaining the principles for mastering color for quilts. You can learn about:

  • hue
  • color
  • intensity
  • warm and cool
  • harmonies of triadic, analogous, split-complimentary, double-complimentary
  • complementary colors
  • and MORE!

Summarily, there are whole books of very small print, explaining everything you’d ever want to know about color for quilts!

Image of sunset for color for quilts

But they don’t work for me.

Likely, the reason is because I’d rather be making a quilt! But there is one thing I have learned about reading about choosing color for quilts: I have never been inspired by what I’ve read!

Look around you.

For me, I do better by “studying” nature. Sometimes its from a picture and sometimes it’s from real life. Either way, I find that nature, whether its a single flower, a landscape view, or a beach at sunset has perfect coloring. Furthermore, its inspirational!

Monochromatic by Nature

Read more about using nature as you color guide in Monochromatic by Nature.

Check your self with color charts and books.

Nevertheless, I am not recommending throwing color theory out the window. Instead, I prefer to use it to evaluate my choices AFTER I’ve been inspired with a color scheme. Color theory for quilts is obviously good and important information. I just want to learn about it while holding fabric!

SHOP more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

I will admit I am very much a color person. Color can evoke emotions in me that seem just a little over the top — I REALLY, REALLY love some and REALLY don’t care for others. Maybe you are like that, too? 

Image of Design Wall

Mysterious Values

January 22, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Table of contents

Learn how to overcome the mysteries of value. It’s easy!

Value can be a head-scratcher. Learn the simple tip for how to conquer fabric value!

To begin, you need to come to terms with the fact that fabric values change, depending on what is next to them. Initially, I was resistant to this!

When separating your fabrics for a new quilt project, you might wonder how to know which fabrics go where!

Image of Fabric Stash How to determine fabric value
Darks, mediums, and lights.

Undoubtedly, it’s about more than piles of darks, mediums, and lights. The key is to learn how to measure their value.

I learned a valuable (wink) lesson when I stumbled upon the nuances of value when using both sides of fabric. See my design story HERE.

Up to this point, my method for separating values didn’t account for what those fabrics were next to. Consequently, two very cool Bonnie Hunter quilts I made (and still love) never displayed the secondary pattern her designs are known for. What did I do wrong?

Test your values.

How can a fabric value change, you ask? While the value of the fabric itself doesn’t physically change, how you see that value is affected by what is near it. Let me explain and then give you a simple way to test your values…

My Light looks too dark when I use that light of a Medium!

confused quilter
Image of Mystery Quilt Poster
Click here for link to Introduction.

The three piles of fabrics shown above are my selection for the free River Heritage Mystery Quilt Pattern I am designing for my quilt guild. Darks, Mediums, Lights. This should be straight forward.

However, when you place, for example, a darker Light and a lighter Medium next to each other, they suddenly look similar in value. Color can make it difficult to determine value.

So how do you remove color from fabrics you are auditioning?

Take black and white photos. I learned this by testing values of both sides of fabric. Each pattern I design that uses both beautiful sides of fabric comes with a detailed guide for auditioning fabrics for that quilt project.

Also, read more here about The Tricky Traits of Value!

The best way I have found to truly see the value of a fabric is to take a black and white picture.

How to use black and white image
Check your values by taking a black and white picture.

If you are in one of my classes, you see that I don’t give any opinions about fabric options without seeing a black and white photo first. Even with years of experience looking at both sides of fabric, I can still be tricked by color! Quilters seem to have lots of fun with the process of auditioning and choosing fabrics. Oftentimes, they help each other and end up trading fabrics to get just the right mix for their project.

So grab your stash and your camera !

Now you know the how-to tip for determining value. Why not have fun practicing on a quilt made with BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

How to use both sides of fabric in bouquet quilt.
Kate’s Bouquet is made with both beautiful sides of two fabrics. It’s all about value!
Image of Three Quilts
More than 45 patterns that use BOTH sides – SHOP HERE!
Image of Quilt with Bee.
Phoebee was designed using both sides of a focal fabric.

As you can see above, Phoebee’s focus fabric is strong enough to accommodate even medium background fabrics.

Have fun playing with value and enjoy your quilting journey!

Image of Seahorse Quilt Closeup
Click for link to Sally Quilt Kit.

Meet Sally…a Sassy Seahorse

January 15, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

Here is Sally, the seahorse quilt.

This seahorse quilt is extra special because she’s made with BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

Why is Sally the seahorse quilt special?

Fabrics for this seahorse quilt are easy to choose!

Firstly, Sally is made with both beautiful sides of fabric! This makes noticeable contrast in value which adds interest to your quilt! Notice here that the seahorse and binding are made with the RIGHT side of one focus fabric. The “seashell coral” and floating bubbles are made with the REVERSE.

Discover the nuances of value as you learn to audition BOTH sides of fabric! The pattern teaches you how. Learn more about How To Audition Both Sides here.

The Templates and Broderie Perse

Secondly, your make the seahorse for this quilt from all one piece of fabric. She’s cut from a large, full-size paper template. The seashell coral are cut from the fabric motif. There are several template drawings in case your focus fabric doesn’t have sea shells. Finally, Sally needs lots of bubbles. They are easy to cut by hand. Even better, use a cutting machine, like a Cricut or Accuquilt to make your circles!

Image of Seahorse Quilt
Sally Quilt Pattern

The Background Fabrics for the Seahorse Quilt

Of course, your focus fabric is the focal point of this quilt. However, the background behind this seahorse quilt, which includes a wide variety of fabrics, is also important. Find ombre, beach words, batiks, white on white, blue sea shells, batik bubbles and more! Ultimately, it’s the variety of fabrics behind Sally that really make this quilt sparkle with interest!

Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics

Finally, there’s something magical about using both beautiful sides of Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics. They are especially fun for the coastal quilt patterns, like Sally, and floral bouquet quilts.

Sally the seahorse quilt is shown here made with Philip Jacob’s Seashell Bouquet fabric on a scrappy background.

Image of Seahorse Quilt

Image of sea turtle quilt
Learn about the Sandy quilt pattern.

Additionally, see more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE .

Image of River for Paddle Wheel Block

First Mystery Quilt Block Reveal

January 8, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

The Paddle Wheel block is your first fun project for The River Heritage Mystery Quilt!

An iconic symbolism itself, the Paddle Wheel block is a fun way to start a quilt depicting life along the river.

Image of River for Paddle Wheel Block
Month One – Paddle Wheel Block

pad*dle wheel /‘padl ,(h)wēl/ a large steam-driven wheel with boards around its circumference, situated at the stern or side of a ship so as to propel the ship through the water by its rotation.

Month One – Paddle Wheel Block

See the Month One Instructions link below.

The quilt block is made with dark, medium, and light fabrics. I’ve decided to make this sample quilt as scrappy as possible. However, for this block, I choose to keep consistency in the actual wheel design. Moreover, this particular block has a very central placement in this overall design. Therefore, a bold Paddle Wheel statement will work nicely. Future blocks will accommodate a more scrappy look.

In addition, this is a very balanced block, although not necessary symmetrical, depending on the contrasts in your light and medium valued fabrics.

Image of Paddle Wheel Block
Paddle Wheel – Month One
River Heritage

The Units

Overall, this design is made using half-square triangle units and four-patch units, along with a center square. It is an easy block to make. Oftentimes, it is confused with a similar design called the water wheel.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure the fabrics of your paddle wheel have a stark contrast by using a dark value. To learn more about value, click HERE.

Month One Paddle Wheel Block Printer Friendly Version

Share your block using #mysteryquilt on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Link to Month Two

Month Two River Scene
River Heritage Mystery Quilt Month Two

Have fun making your Paddle Wheel block! In addition, each month of this mystery will be presented to you with photos, adventures, and more about life along the river. Firstly, above is a photo of a very frozen Mississippi River.

SHOP more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE!

Image of Introduction

FREE Block-of-the-Month Mystery

January 4, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Table of contents

Here is the introduction to the FREE Mystery Quilt Patterns for Block-of-the-Month.

First, this is a collection of blocks for free mystery quilt patterns which are originally revealed monthly for my quilt guild. Anyone can start and finish this quilt any time!

River Photo for Free Mystery Quilt Patterns

When I agreed to head up the Block-of-the-Month program for my local guild, I decided to make the quilt a collection of free mystery quilt patterns. I have to say, while the first reveal is yet to come, I’ve had a lot of fun already!  

After an exhausting online search a set of patterns, I decided to create one myself. Since my guild is called River Heritage Quilters’ Guild, I thought a quilt depicting river life would be appropriate.

Here is an over-view of what to expect.

While this quilt will have special meaning for those who live near river life, and especially for those near the mighty Mississippi in southeast Missouri, it can be appreciated by most as a beautiful sampler of blocks in a lovely setting.

River Heritage free mystery quilt patterns will feature nine traditionally-pieced blocks in a lovely setting which will finish at 66 x 66 inches.

  • Most of the quilt blocks have a common river-life theme and a couple of them have regional and local references.
  • This will be a nice quilt for gifting to a loved one (you’ll see why when we get to that block) or to have as a keepsake, especially if you are a member of River Heritage Quilters’ Guild.  While members of the RHQG will recognize that the names of the blocks have a connection to our guild and the general region of our country, the quilt itself is very appropriate for anyone around the world and would be considered a sampler quilt in a beautiful setting.
  • I suggest hitting your stash for your light, medium, and dark fabrics in three colors. You’ll also need some light neutrals (ranging from white to light beige and gray). The blocks themselves can be scrappy, so you can add to your collection as the mystery and the year unfolds!
  • The setting for this quilt will be striking and yet easy to put together. Instructions and specific fabric requirements for the setting and borders will follow the last block instructions. In general (in case you want to plan ahead), one yard for the dark border and 1 ½ yds. for the three light, medium, and dark setting pieces and binding will be sufficient. (Your nine mystery blocks will be in the light gray squares.) This picture is very similar but not exactly how your setting will look (it is a MYSTERY, after all!).Image of Quilt Setting

Block instructions are published individually for nine months. There is a final reveal post, as well (River Heritage Mystery Quilt Reveal).

Note: Seams are ¼ inch unless otherwise noted. When piecing rows, alternate pressing direction. (For example, I press row one to the right, row two to the left, etc. for easy nesting of seams.)

Fabric selections, blocks, and quilts are shared using the hashtags, #mysteryquilt and #riverheritage on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

Therefore, this is a spoiler alert for those who wish this to remain “free mystery quilt patterns”!

Check out some  Fabulous Quilting Tools here!

Introduction; Printer Friendly Version

River Heritage Month One

SHOP more than 45 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE!
Follow and share Creative Bee Studios on Facebook, Pinterest, & Instagram 

Enjoy your quilting journey!

Image of Quilt in Tree

A Delicious Quilting-Day Soup for You

December 27, 2017 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

Cheesy Potato Broccoli Soup was our lunch-time fare for quilt class.

A favorite cold-weather soup, this crockpot recipe of Cheesy Potato Broccoli Soup is a warm treat at the end of a busy day.

Additionally, this is a great soup to serve guests OR even a whole class of quilt-makers! I served this up for lunch break during our “Something’s Brewing” and “Colorful Petals” classes.

Hearty Soup

Especially nice about this Cheesy Potato Broccoli Soup recipe is that it maintains it’s hearty consistency, even when cooking all day in the crockpot.

For work or fun, a crockpot makes it easy.

Obviously, quilt class is definitely a day of fun! Below is one of the projects quilt-makers chose for the Colorful Petals Class. She’s called Pepita. Learn more about the Legend of Pepita HERE. Notice that Pepita is made with both beautiful sides of one Christmas poinsettia fabric. The pot is made from the REVERSE side. The bouquet is made using an easy broderie perse method using the RIGHT side of the fabric.

Image of Quilt Close UpToday I’m sharing one of my favorite winter soups. I’ve made this soup for several of my classes and it seems to be a favorite of my quilters, too.

Karla

This is a consistent recipe that always get as good review. Pair it with a fresh baguette and some yummy cookies and you’ll have a cozy lunch or light dinner with little time spent in prep. This recipe was adapted from one given to me by my good friend, Kim. (Thank, Kim!)

  • Cheesy Potato Broccoli Soup
  • 2 TBSP butter
  • 2 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 4 TBSP flour
  • 1 package (or four small florets) fresh broccoli
  • 1 tsp garlic
  • 32 oz. chicken broth
  • 1/2 package frozen shredded hash browns
  • 12 oz. can evaporated milk
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire
  • 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Stovetop or Crockpot

My crockpot has a stovetop-friendly insert, so I prepare this recipe all in one pot. However, if your crockpot is not made for stovetop use, substitute a medium-size pot or sauce pan to prepare the soup. When the ingredients are together, transfer them to your crockpot for the day.

Moreover, you can make this soup completely on the stovetop for a quick meal.

First, cook onions and garlic in butter and olive oil until tender. Second, add the broccoli and cook it for about 8 – 10 minutes. Next, add flour, stirring constantly for one minute. Follow this by slowly adding chicken broth. Cook until mixture has thickened.

Next, carefully stir in the hash browns, being careful of splashing. Finally, add evaporated milk, Worcestershire, and cheese. Dash with salt and pepper to taste. (I suggest starting with 1/2 tsp pepper and 1 tsp salt.)

Set on low setting for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Dinner is made, now go make something fun!

SHOP more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeBeeStudiosof fabric!

Watch Creative Bee Studios on YouTube!

Image of the legend of the poinsettia quilt

Pepita, the Legendary Quilt Pattern

November 19, 2017 /

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Table of contents

The Legend of the Poinsettia is about a little girl named Pepita.

In addition to The Legend of the Poinsettia, Pepita is the name of this Christmas quilted wall hanging. You’ll learn more about the Pepita Quilt Pattern below.

Image of the legend of the poinsettia quilt
Pepita Quilt Pattern

Pepita was a poor Mexican girl.

Summarily, the story that became The Legend of the Poinsettia goes like this. Pepita and her cousin Pedro were walking to church on Christmas Eve. Pepita was sad because she had no gift to give the Christ Child. However, Pedro tried to console her by saying, “Pepita, I am certain even the most humble gift, given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.”

So she picked a bouquet of weeds from the side of the road.

Therefore, Pepita gathered up a bouquet of weeds from the roadside to give as her gift. Her spirits lifted as she entered the chapel and approached the alter. She laid the weeds at the feet of the Christ Child. Suddenly, Pepita’s common weeds burst in to brilliant red blooms! This was considered a miraculous event. Consequently, it was named the Flores de Noche Buena (Flowers of the Holy Night).

As she laid the weeds at the feet of the Christ Child, they burst into brilliant red blooms!

Today we call these flowers poinsettias, after Dr. Joel Poinsett. Dr. Poinsett was the first ambassador to Mexico. He first brought the bright red star-shaped flower to the United States.

While The Legend of the Poinsettia is not as widely known, the plant has become a very popular traditional Christmas decoration.

image of Pepita Pattern
Pepita Quilt Pattern

The Pepita quilt is made using both sides of one poinsettia focus fabric on a scrappy, fun background.

This quilt pattern is fast and easy to make using simple fusible web and an easy broderie perse technique.

First, you’ll discover the nuances of value as you learn to audition both sides of your fabrics. Then using easy fusible web and broderie perse techniques, you’ll build your bouquet. The blooms are made with the RIGHT sides of your focus fabric; the pot is made from the REVERSE.

Add fun, scrappy background fabrics.

Moreover, you’ll learn how to add a sparkling interest to your quilt by combining a variety of background fabrics. You might choose snow-y motifs, cardinals, red trucks, Christmas trees, batiks, Grunge, etc. The more variety of background fabrics you choose will make your quilt more interesting!

The Pepita Quilt Pattern or quilt is great for gifting because the fast technique and stunning look!

And now you know The Legend of the Poinsettia.

Unfortunately, I used to avoid poinsettias plants, because I thought they were poisonous for pets. However, in my recent research about them, I’ve learned they are only mildly toxic, causing a stomach upset if ingested. But if you are concerned, make up this beauty and you can have poinsettias in your Christmas décor every year!

Image of Poinsettia Quilt
Pepita Quilted Wall Hanging

Click HERE to see other Colorful Petals series quilts!

SHOP more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

Learn more at How to Use Both Sides.

Watch Creative Bee Studios on YouTube!

Image of JOY Quilt

JOY Quilted Wall Hanging Pattern

November 6, 2017 /

JOY is a quilted wall hanging pattern which uses both sides of one focus fabric on a wintery background.

Joy: cheer, glee, gladness, festivity, jubilance, exultation

This #usebothsides pattern was one of my first designs. See more than 40 patterns now in my Etsy Shop: CreativeBeeStudios.

See Christmas Quilts in July for a smaller quilted wall hanging pattern made with broderie perse and one focus fabric!

There are many, MANY Christmas fabrics which would make a great JOY quilted wall hanging.

You can choose modern circles, snowflakes, poinsettias, cookie cutters, etc. Each gives a different feel to this Christmas tree wall hanging. The trick is to find a focus fabric you love whose reverse side sparkles -but with a lesser value.

I happened to find one that gives a vintage flair to the quilt. These vintage glass ornaments sparkle on both sides of the Hoffman Digital Spectrum fabric called All Aglow Christmas.

Image of Fabric

Now take a look at this focus fabric!

Image of Tree Wall Hanging

Make this JOY with Hoffman’s Supernova Seasons panel!

This version features a lighter, snowy background. You’ll see cardinals on a lighted wire and little red trucks. Both accent strips are reversed to let the focus fabric shine.

Shuffle through your Christmas stash and make up some JOY to make the Christmas season bright!

Give a little JOY this Christmas season!

What kind of fabric would you use for a JOY tree? When do you start your Christmas decorating or festivities?

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