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May 07, 2024
Thank you for visiting my blog for May's Quilt Block Mania!
This month's theme is "Desert" and your designers have 18 new quilt block designs for you! Best of all, they're all free for the month of May 2024.
I live in Tempe, AZ which is on the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert. Between Phoenix and Tempe, I've lived in Arizona since I was a baby. I love it here, despite the unrelenting heat of the summer. It's the other three seasons that make up for the 110º+, cook-an-egg-on-the-asphalt days.
It's absolutely gorgeous outside this time of year! Flowers & cacti are in bloom, butterflies are fluttering about, bees are buzzing, and birds are playing in the Texas Ranger bushes - and that's just in my front yard!
The Desert Poppy is one of my favorite desert flowers. From bright yellow to dark orange, they're popping up all over my neighborhood. Not only are these sweet little blooms bright and cheery, but they're incredibly resilient. They sprout from underneath rocks without constant watering - amazing, right?!
On one of my morning walks, my neighbor's poppies had just bloomed and seeing them instantly improved my mood. I took a few pictures just for fun and they ended up being the inspiration for my desert-themed quilt block: Desert Poppy.
With just two intersecting seams, the Desert Poppy Quilt Block is a great project for a confident beginner. A few narrow rectangles in the pattern might give a true beginner a challenge, but they become easier with more practice. The pattern features Stitch & Flip corners with traditional piecing techniques. It's scrap-friendly and comes with three color options: orange, yellow, orange-red, and white.
Minimum Fabric Requirements:
for (1) 12"x12" finished quilt block: fat eighths or fat quarters of multiple colors
The Desert Poppy Quilt Block, along with the other QBM blocks, measure 12.5"x12.5", unfinished. Each block is FREE during the month of May, so you can combine multiple blocks into a fabulous quilt or pick and choose your favorites. (Scroll down for the list of designers and links to their patterns).
Get your free download of the Desert Poppy Quilt block by signing up for my email newsletter below. A few minutes after you sign up, you'll receive an email with the subject line "Here's your FREE Desert Poppy quilt block" which will give you a link to download the pattern. Please fill out the form just once. The form will only record your email address the first time it's added.
If you signed up for one of my Quilt Block Mania patterns in the past, there's no need to sign up again. You'll receive the pattern in a separate email newsletter.
Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks.
Quilt Block Mania Designers:
Coiled Snake by Carolina Moore
Pyramids by Patchwork Breeze
Bison Skull by Crafty Staci
Renewal (snake) by Eudaimonia Studio
Gecko by Inquiring Quilter
Cactus Rose by Scrapdash
Oasis by Appliques Quilts and More
Adobe House by QuiltFabrication
Sand in my Toes by Patti's Patchwork
Diamondback Quilt Block by Brown Bird Designs
Desert Bear by Colette Belt Design
Yucca by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Desert Poppy by Cristy Fincher
Palm Tree by Slightly Biased Quilts
Desert Cactus
A Prickly Pear in the Garden
Goldenhead Flower by Emerald Falls Quilts
Blooming in the Desert
Tucson Too Late by Orange Blossom
April 02, 2024 1 Comment
It's Quilt Block Mania time! This month's theme is "Beach" and your designers have 21 sun-kissed quilt block designs for you! And they're all free for the month of April 2024.
When my husband and I got married, we went on a Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon and had the most wonderful time exploring the beaches in Jamaica and Cozumel. The water and beaches of the Cayman Islands completely took my breath away! Next month, we're celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary so I decided to design a block that reminded me of our honeymoon cruise.
Seaside Horizon has it all: the sand, ocean, a pier, a sunset (or sunrise, your choice!), and a ship waiting to take you away. I thought it would be beautiful in other colors as well, so I included three different variations for you - enjoy!
The Seaside Horizon Quilt Block is perfect for beginner to intermediate quilters that are looking to fine-tune and build their piecing skills. It features Stitch & Flip corners and traditional piecing techniques. It's super scrap-friendly too!
Minimum Fabric Requirements:
for (1) 12"x12" finished quilt block: fat eighths/fat quarters of multiple colors
The Seaside Horizon Quilt Block, along with the other QBM blocks, measure 12.5"x12.5", unfinished. Each block is FREE during the month of April, so you can combine blocks into a fabulous quilt or pick and choose your favorites. (Scroll down for the list of designers and links to their patterns).
Get your free download of the Seaside Horizon Quilt block by signing up for my email newsletter below. A few minutes after you sign up, you'll receive an email with the link to download the pattern. Please fill out the form just once. The form will only record your email address the first time it's added. Check your email inbox for an email from me with the subject line "FREE April Quilt Block". A link to download the pattern will be in the email.
Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks.
Quilt Block Mania Designers:
Sun Block Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Beach Ball by Patchwork Breeze
Ocean Sunset
Beach Reading by Inquiring Quilter
Follow Me Fish
Sand Castle by Appliques Quilts and More
Beach Umbrella by Inflorescence Designs
Beach Hut by QuiltFabrication
Scooping Sand by Patti's Patchwork
Snowy Owl
Beach Bum Bear by Colette Belt Designs
Scrappy Starfish by Sewistry
Seashell by Slightly Biased Quilts
Crab by Tourmaline Thyme Quilts
Sea Lion by Emerald Falls Quilts
Seaside Horizon by Cristy Fincher
Sunshiny Days Block by Craftapalooza Designs
Buoy by Oh Kaye Quilting
Surf Shop FPP Pattern
Eyes on your Fries
March 23, 2024 1 Comment
I freshened it up for you and updated links and images - enjoy!
Glue Basting is a game changer and is one of my favorite sewing and quilting tools. It helps me with efficiency and accuracy when I sew, which makes me happier with my results. Most of the time, when I mention glue basting to new quilters, or to experienced quilters who are new to me, I see confused looks come over their faces. But, they change their tunes really fast when they see what can be done with glue basting and how much it can improve their results.
March 05, 2024 1 Comment
It's Quilt Block Mania time! This month's theme is "Drinks" and your designers have 27 refreshing quilt block designs for you! Yes, you read that right: 27 designs and they're all free for the month of March 2024. From tea to lemonade to champagne, there's something for everyone.
I'm a child of the 70's and 80's so it probably goes without saying that I grew up with cabinets full of Tupperware. As a kid, I loved (like super loved) the coordinated color combinations of bowls, cups, and containers. My cousins and I hosted the best Kool-Aid parties and felt like real grown-ups pouring Mountain Berry Punch and lemonade from the classic Tupperware Pitcher. Those were the days, right?
These happy memories inspired me to design a Tupperware Pitcher with a quilty twist for my Drinks themed quilt block. I love how it turned out! I hope it sparks some happy memories for you too. I also included a few fun color variations for you: Pink Lemonade, Orange Juice, and Cherry Kool-Aid.
The Tupperware Pitcher Quilt Block is perfect intermediate quilters who are looking to fine-tune and build their piecing skills. It features Stitch & Flip corners and traditional piecing techniques. It's a scrap-friendly block, too!
Minimum Fabric Requirements:
for (1) 12"x12" finished quilt block:
The Tupperware Pitcher Quilt Block, along with the other QBM blocks, measure 12.5"x12.5", unfinished. Each block is FREE during the month of March, so you can combine blocks into a fabulous quilt or pick and choose your favorites. (Scroll down for the list of designers and links to their patterns).
Get your free download of the Tupperware Pitcher Quilt block by signing up for my newsletter below. A few minutes after you sign up, you'll receive an email with the link to download the pattern. If you signed up for one of my Quilt Block Mania patterns in the past, the pattern will be automatically emailed to you - no need to sign up again. Check your email inbox for a newsletter from me with the subject line "FREE March Quilt Block". A link to download the pattern will be in the newsletter.
Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks.
Quilt Block Mania Designers:
Champagne Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Martini by Crafty Staci
You Shake Me Up
Scrappy Mug by Katie Mae Quilts
Pina Colada by Appliques Quilts and More
Cosmopolitan by Inquiring Quilter
Cups and Saucers
Bubble Tea by Inflorescence Designs
Beer Pong by Patti's Patchwork
Perfect Flying Geese
Bear Loves Cocoa by Colette Belt Designs
Coffee Bean by Sewistry
Sip & Stitch by Happy Hour Stitches
I'm a LIttle Teapot
Bit too Much by Epida Studio
Tupperware Pitcher by Cristy Fincher
Ice Cubes by Create with Claudia
Cherry by Slightly Biased Quilts
Tea for Me by Craftapalooza Designs
French Press by Oh Kaye Quilting
Sew Fresh FPP Block by San Diego Sewn
Cheerwine by Emerald Falls Quilts
Release the Kraken by Art Quilts by Design
But First Coffee by Paleofish Designs
Margarita by Sallys Sewing Circle
Iced Lemonade by Patchwork Breeze
February 06, 2024
February's Quilt Block Mania theme is Maker!
My mom, Sharon Schamber (formerly Atkin), is a maker, a creator, a designer, a visionary. She and my dad started a small dress designing and manufacturing company in the late 1970's, when I was just a little girl. Their company grew and grew and (get this!) she even designed prom dress patterns for McCall's!! She's the queen!!
My mom always had a tape measure draped around her neck and a pencil behind her ear while she designed and worked. I fondly remember sitting on her sewing machine table as a little girl mesmerized by her speed and grace as she created something that moments before were just pieces.
As an ode to my mom and to celebrate the maker in each of us, I designed a pencil and tape measure quilt block called: Make My Mark.
There are so many fun color combo possibilities, too! This one featuring the classic pencils of childhood is one of my favorites.
The Make My Mark quilt block is a traditionally pieced block with Stitch N Flip units and some strip piecing, which makes it really great for fine-tuning and building your piecing skills.
The Make My Mark Quilt Block, along with the other QBM blocks, measure 12.5"x12.5", unfinished. Each block is FREE during the month of February 2024, so you can combine blocks into a fabulous quilt or pick and choose your favorites. (Scroll down for the list of designers and links to their patterns). After February 2024, my pattern will be available to purchase as a download in my shop for $6.
Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks.
Check out the other Maker-themed blocks from the Quilt Block Mania Designers:
Gear Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Hammer by Patchwork Breeze
Canning Jars by Crafty Staci
Rotary Cutter by Katie Mae
Cricut Maker by Appliques Quilts and More
Spool and Bobbins by Inquiring Quilter
Music Maker by Scrapdash
Variegated Thread by EvaPaige Quilt Designs
Pretty Spools by Sew Worthy Mama
Pottery by Inflorescence Designs
Quilt Maker by QuiltFabrication
Maker block by Patti's Patchwork
Heart Hand by Brown Bird Designs
Quilting Bear by Colette Belt Designs
My Favorite Things by Robin Kinley Designs, Etc.
Cross Stitch Block by Slightly Biased Quilts
Paint Palette by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Sewing Friends by Epida Studio
Make My Mark by Cristy Fincher
I Love to Make quilt block by Victoria Peat
Rainbow Glimmers by Craftapalooza Designs
Sweetgrass Basket by Emerald Falls Quilts
Maker Block: Sewing Machine by Oh Kaye Quilting
Pincushion by Flowerdog+Co
Painters Tools FPP by Amanda Harris
January 02, 2024
Let's kick off 2024 with a Quilt Block Mania party! We have streamers, disco balls, pinatas, balloons, sparklers, confetti, and of course FIREWORKS!
I'm really excited to be a part of Quilt Block Mania again. January's theme is Party and the timing is perfect! It's the start of a brand new year, and it's both my and my daughter's birthday month - yay 🎉!
Do you enjoy fireworks? I love watching fireworks, especially at Disneyland. No matter how old I get, they're awe-inspiring. My favorite fireworks are the ones that seem to disappear then reappear, exploding into sparkling glitter. And the colors!! I love them all, especially pink & purple. Fireworks were the inspiration for my block, creatively named Fireworks.
I designed Fireworks to look like it's exploding with the brightest color in the center and the darkest color on the edges. It's a perfect design to make with Ombre fabrics, a fabric collection, or from scraps. There are so many color combo possibilities!
The Fireworks quilt block is a traditionally pieced block with half square triangles (HSTs) and Stitch N Flip units which makes it a fun block for fine-tuning and building your piecing skills. Be sure to check out this awesome tutorial on how to nest and spin your seams. It will come in really handy for your Fireworks block.
The Fireworks Quilt Block, along with the other QBM blocks, measure 12.5"x12.5", unfinished. Each block is FREE during the month of January 2024, so you can combine blocks into a fabulous quilt or pick and choose your favorites. (Scroll down for the list of designers and links to their patterns). After January 2024, my pattern will be available to purchase as a download in my shop for $6.
Be sure to join the Quilt Block Mania Facebook Group for inspiration and to share your own blocks.
Check out the other Party-themed blocks from the Quilt Block Mania Designers:
Party Crown Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Party Bear by Colette Belt Designs
Folded Napkins by Patchwork Breeze
Confetti Horn by Crafty Staci
Celebrate Letters by Tamarinis
Ballons & Streamers by Appliques Quilts and More
Happy New Year by Inquiring Quilter
Fiesta Block by Ships & Violins
Sparkler by Inflorescence
Gift Boxes by QuiltFabrication
Party Glam by Patti's Patchwork
Cheers by Robin Kinley Designs
Free Disco Ball Block @ Slightly Biased Quilts
Cake by tourmaline Thyme Quilts
Fireworks by Cristy Fincher
Pinata by Flowerdog+Co
Dressed for the Occasion by Epida Studio
*My own designs for Quilt Block Mania will be free during the month that they were designed for. When the next month's pattern is released, the previous one will be available to purchase in my shop.
Happy Quilting,
Cristy
November 01, 2022 2 Comments
December 12, 2021
Hi!
Update 12/17/21: Due to the unexpected upcoming closure of CourseCraft, I will be moving my class to Thinkific. Don't worry! I'm taking my students with me too. Moving and setting up my class with Thinkific will take a little bit of time, so I'm postponing the start of class until January 20, 2022. The move should be pretty seamless and I will stay in touch with you along the way. Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions.
Enrollment continues to be open and secure.
Love Machine Class will launch on January 20, 2022 in the new Thinkific online classroom. New lessons will be made available weekly.
My new online class featuring my Love Machine pattern is now available! Come join me!
I'm thrilled to finally share my first online class with you! The Love Machine class is self-paced, plus I'll sprinkle in a couple of live Q&A sessions via Zoom along the way as well.
Join before January 6th at the Early Bird price of $50. (Regular price is $65)
Class starts January 20, 2022.
Take a look at what's included in the class:
(Note: The pattern is not included. If you don't own it, you can add it on when you enroll. If you already own it, you won't be charged for a second pattern. Win-win!)
When you sign-up, there's an option to add-on a pattern and/or a V & Co. Ombre Fabric Kit to your enrollment (if you don't already have them).
I also have the pattern and V & Co Ombre fabric kit available in the shop for you. If you buy the pattern/kit in the shop, be sure to sign-up for the class separately
Visit the Love Machine class information page to learn more about what's included in the class and to sign-up!
Happy Quilting!
~Cristy
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