Free Quilt Pattern for a Happy Birthday Banner

Its been fun designing and sewing with my new Celebrate fabrics from Quilting Treasures.  I have created this free sewing and quilt pattern (quilting optional) that you can use for sewing a Happy Birthday banner. The banner is 25″ x 35 1/2″ and can be hung on a wall, in a doorway or for a multitude of other uses.  Use it year after year for birthday celebrations. The colors of my Celebrate fabrics are bright and cheerful to add to the festivity and use birthday cakes and cupcakes for design motifs.

Free Pattern for Happy Birthday banner by Phyllis Dobbs

Click away to the download page for the quilt birthday banner free pattern.

The fabrics are available through independent quilt shop and stores. While the weather is so hot, its perfect for staying inside and working on new sewing or quilt projects. Other free quilt and sewing patterns created for the Celebrate fabric collection can be found on Quilting Treasures website for download.

Stay cool and keep sewing and quilting!

Phyllis

 

Say “Happy Birthday” with “Celebrate” fabrics and Free Patterns!

My new fabric collection “Celebrate” from Quilting Treasures is out!  Yea! I’m so excited! The bright colors and cakes and cupcakes are perfect for boys and girls of all ages through at least 120 for birthdays celebrations. I loved playing with the fabrics and designing these free quilt and sewing patterns for you to use! After a previous sneak peek, here is the entire “Celebrate” collection –

Celebrate fabrics for birthdays and other celebrations

The project sheets for a quilted table topper, placemat, large gift bag and a happy birthday banner are available for free pattern download from Quilting Treasures’ website. Just scroll down and you will easily see them with their bright colors.

The quilted table topper measures 48″ x 48″ and will add a festive accent for birthday celebrations. All you need is a real cake for a perfect centerpiece! And of course, a pile of presents!

Celebrate Happy Birthday Table topper quilt free pattern

Another way to add a splash for a special birthday is with a placemat, sized 18 1/2″ x 13″. The yellow fabric on the right is a pocket to hold silverware or even better, a surprise gift or candy. The old saying is that a small present holds the best gift, like maybe a key to a car!

Celebrate Happy Birthday Placemat with pocket

And for a larger gifts, you can make this large gift bag with a drawstring opening. Think of all the gifts this bag will hold. Its 30″ high and 20″ wide.

Celebrate large fabric toy gift bag

And nothing announces a birthday better or makes someone feel more special than a banner. This Happy Birthday banner is 28″ wide and 35 1/2″ tall, with red triangle points at the bottom edge.

Happy Birthday banner made with Celebrate fabrics

Enjoy these fun projects and give them a try to use for many years of birthday celebrations. If you have a hard time choosing which one to make, make them all. They are easy to make. And I would love to see your finished projects!!

I have also designed another project, a small banner that I created for display at the Spring Quilt Market. I just have to finish writing the instructions and then I will post it here for another free pattern.

And while you are thinking of that perfect birthday event, please check out all the products I created in my Zazzle store using the “Celebrate” art to coordinate with the fabrics. I’m adding more products daily.

Have a fun day of quilting and sewing. And Happy Birthday to you on your special day!

Phyllis

Think Snow with this Free Quilt Pattern!

I know its May and the weather is getting hot, but its not too early to start thinking about your Christmas quilting with this free quilt pattern that I designed!  Think “Let it Snow” to cool down with this adorable fabric collection from Quilting Treasures based on the art of Debra Jordan Bryan.

Let it Snow Free quilt Pattern by Phyllis Dobbs for Quilting Treasures

It was a treat to design this quilt with the fun, colorful fabric.  At 43 1/2″ x 48 1/4″, its a perfect size for a wall hanging, a lap quilt or for a little one to cuddle with. The quilt is pieced and is topped with appliqued green and red mittens in the wide border area. Buttons are used for accents on the mittens. The quilt center is a snowman panel with other snowman pieces in the corners. Its easy to piece and is a great project for beginners as well as all skill levels.

When you check out this pattern, look through all the other free quilt patterns from Quilting Treasures. I’m sure you will find several that you will love!

Happy quilting and stay cool!

Phyllis

Summer Olympics Go for the Gold Fabrics – Free Quilt and Sewing Patterns

The Olympic themed fabric collection Go for the Gold is one of Quilting Treasures latest fabric collections and is in time for the Summer 2012 Olympic Games in London. I  enjoyed designing several sewing and quilting patterns for free download from Quilting Treasures website. The fabric features the most popular summer games and is perfect for all sports lovers!

Go for the Gold Free Patterns for quilting and sewing from Quilting Treasures

The tote bag is extra large and is roomy enough to carry all your gym or workout clothes and accessories at 24″ wide and 20″ high. The tote is lined inside with the beautiful flag fabric showing the flags of all the countries. The roll up yoga or exercise mat cover is available in two colorways.  The yoga mat carry bag has a carry sling strap so that you can easily carry your rolled up mat and cover hands free.

You can follow the preparations for the London 2012 summer games that will be held in July and August – its actually not that far off. Start sewing and you will be all set to help celebrate the games!

Phyllis

 

Free Quilt pattern using Spice Cats Fabrics by Loralie

I’m excited to show you the latest quilt that I designed for free download from Quilting Treasures‘ website. Designed with Loralie’s newest fabric collection, Spice Cats, these fun and whimsy cats will completely charm all you cat lovers.  I love the colors of this collection and the way they work together.

Spice Cats Quilt free pattern from Quilting Treasures

The quilt is designed in horizontal rows and is very easy to sew.  The size is 56″ x 72″, a great size for a throw to keep warm on these cold nights.

I designed other quilts with Loralie’s fabrics for free download from Quilting Treasures website. The Sunshine Resort quilt is a fun quilt with flip flops, ice cream, Loralie’s ladies swimming and other summer activities. The Nurse Central quilt is delightful for nurses with Loralie’s nurses and other nursing designs. There are a lot of other quilt patterns for free download, so check them out.

Happy quilting!

Phyllis

International Quilt Market, More Products and Beautiful Colors (Part 2)

I’m still in awe of all that I saw at the International Quilt Market in Houston and want to share more of the photos I took of products and colors from Market in a continuation from Part 1 of my prior post on Quilt Market.

This gorgeous dress in the Pfaff booth stopped me in my walks. This fuchsia dress has beautiful machine embroidery embellishment by Pfaff sewing machines. It was simply stunning and fit for Cinderella to wear to the ball! And look at the embroidery on the black coat next to the dress.

Dress embroidered by Pfaff sewing machine at Houston Quilt Market

 

Not all products at Quilt Market are sewing and quilt related. Karyn Kozak exhibits with her beautiful FIMO polymer clay products.  Created with different colored pieces of clay in the millefiori technique, Karyn created the beautiful vases and leaves below as well as jewelry, barrettes, and other items. Visit her website to see the ladybug pins and jewelry she created.

Fimo Polymer Clay vases at Quilt Market

and these fabulous teapots…

Fimo Polymer clay teapots at Quilt Market in Houston

 

I showed you some of the new fabric collections by Quilting Treasures in my prior post. Below are more of their fabrics that debuted at market. Simon-Kabuki has a new line out, In the Meadow, in these great, warm colors. I also love the design and applique flowers in this quilt using their fabrics.

Simon Kabuki fabric line In the Meadow at Quilt Market

 

And I also loved this new collection by Studio 8, Fantasia (click to see the individual fabrics) and especially love the color combination of black and white with a lime green.  (See my prior post for free quilt and apron patterns I designed for Quilting Treasures with Studio 8’s Monaco fabric collection).

Studio 8 fabric by Quilting Treasures at Quilt Market

 

I love the play The Phantom of the Opera and this new fabric collection is wonderful. Can’t you hear the music?

Phantom fabric by Quilting Treasures based on Phantom of the Opera

 

Angela Anderson’s Give Thanks, can be used to create a beautiful quilt or kitchen accessories such as a table runner or place mats next fall.

Give thanks fabric by Angela Anderson for Quilting Treasures

 

With quilting and sewing, you need trim. Expo International has all kinds of trim for your every need including home decor. I love the colorful displays of these trims and cords. The center row is button trims, which is fabulous since we all love buttons! I look at this and remember several years ago when I shopped trim, all I could find was dull colors. Its so much more fun sewing with these colors!

Expo Internation colorful trims at Quilt Market

And, there’s these fun feather trims…..

Feather trim by Expo International at Quilt Market

Quilt Market occurred over Halloween so I thought I would also show you Expo’s cute sequin appliques for Halloween.

Halloween applique trim by Expo International at Quilt Market

And the Expo International folks dressed up for Halloween. Debi Schmitz dressed as a witch, but I have to tell you that she’s a sweet  and lovely witch, not at all wicked! I need to find where she got the silver hair.

Debi Schmitz at Quilt Market

 

Walking by Michael Miller Fabric’s booth created a “wow” moment when I spotted this 1950 red MG convertible used in their vintage picnic display. I also like the turquoise cooler. I’ve always thought MG’s were the coolest cars. By the way, this MG was local from Houston and is for sale. It doesn’t run though, but it has a great body and I would just love to have it to look at and sit in (and watch Audrey Hepburn in Two for the Road although her MG was green). Pretend driving would be ok as I would not want to risk getting any kind of ding in it.

Red MG car in Michael Miller Booth at Quilt Market

I thought the Sandi Henderson booth (Michael Miller Fabrics) was beautiful and great merchandizing.

Michael Miller Sandi Henderson booth at Quilt Market

 

The Kaleidoscope Kreator Software booth was beautiful and dramatic with kaldeiscope designs. This software lets you use your own photos and artwork to create kaleidoscope images for quilting, scrapbooking, card making and more. I’ve been eyeing this software and plan to purchase it. Actually, I don’t know why I haven’t already done so, except that when I get home, I get caught up with ongoing work. The software looks easy to use from their booth demo (and the price is great). If you go to their website, check out the paper crafting projects. The quilts are beautiful of course, but the paper stars would be really fun to make.

 

Kaleidoscope Kreator Software at Quilt Market

 

I stopped in Clothworks booth to see my friend Sue Zipkins new fabric collection, Suzette. I love the soft colors of the fabrics.

Sue Zipkin new fabric at Quilt Market

 

 

June Tailor, Inc always has a pretty booth. They have great quilting tools (I use them regularly)!  They have a new program for fleece, Fleece with Flair. The program includes tools for working with fleece, including fringe cutters and various rulers as well as fleece precut flowers. The right half of the booth below shows the new tools and samples made using the tools.

 

June Tailor quilting tools booth at Quilt Market

A closeup of the fleece  flowers….

June Tailor fleece flowers at Quilt Market

 

Tina Givens (Free Spirit Fabrics) won the booth award for best Merchandising.  As you can see from the photos below, it was a beautiful booth in oranges, tans and browns.

 

Tina Givens booth at Quilt Market

Tina Givens booth at Houston Quilt Market

 

I love felt and stopped by Kunin Group’s booth. They have felt in patterns now which makes a wonderful addition to all the solid colors. The patterns below were gorgeous. Kunin’s felt is made from eco-fil which is created with platic water bottles. The felt is so soft, its hard to imagine that it started life as a water bottle.

Kunin Felt new patterns at Quilt Market

You can create such cute critters with felt.

Kunin Felt display at Quilt Market

 

Prym has a new line of sewing products for baby along with a book of patterns for making baby clothing and cloth diapers. In addition, as you can see on the wall to the right below, they have a full line of accessory products and trims, buttons and applique to use with sewing for baby. Really, really cute!!

Prym Dritz booth at Quilt Market

 

 

La Todera had a pretty and colorful booth to showcase their sewing and soft craft patterns. The buttons and flowers below are just a few of their patterns. And the buttons can be customized with your own saying or art.

La Todera sewing patterns at Quilt Market

and aren’t these trees adorable for sewing!

LaTodera sewing and craft patterns at Houston Quilt Market

 

Downtown Houston has changed over the years since I first started attending Quilt Market. Below is a view from my hotel (Hilton) showing the George Brown convention center on the right (designed to resemble a ship) and the Minute Maid Park (aqua building) in the distance, home of the Astros. Discovery Green Park is just a few years old and is a great improvement on the parking lots that were there previously. Its nice to walk through the park for a few outside minutes during the show.

View of downtown Houston from the Hilton

 

I hope you enjoyed my take on Quilt Market. But there’s more to come – pictures of beautiful, unbelievable quilts from the quilt exhibits. The quilts are works of art!  So please check back!

Phyllis

Interview by BluPenny for Sketchbook Story

One of the best things about traveling to trade shows and events is meeting people who I’ve talked with via social media and forums.  At the Surtex show last year, I met Cindy Ann Ganaden in person. She is a fellow artist and author of the BluPenny blog. She publishes a Sketchbook Story series in which she interviews artists on their inspiration, how they use it to create sketches and finalize into art.  The art is then licensed for various products.BluPenny Blog
Cindy Ann just interviewed me and posted the interview for the Sketchbook Story in which I show my inspiration and results. I used my cat for inspiration to create an art collection which was then turned into a fabric collection for Quilting Treasures. Everyone has different techniques and ways they use to create their art.  I hope you will check out mine.

The apron shown in the interview can be downloaded – free half apron pattern.

I’m off to Houston for Quilt Market.  Please check back as I will post pictures of Market next week.

Phyllis

Free Quilt Pattern Designed with Mary Engelbreit Fabrics

“A Friend is a Gift” is the basis of Mary Engelbreit’s newest fabric collection for Quilting Treasures in their VIP Exclusive fabric line.  I designed this quilt and instructions for Quilting Treasures for their website. The quilt is designed around a central panel of “A Friend is a Gift to Give Yourself” tea party. Applique teapots are stitched in top and bottom borders to go with the tea party theme. The quilt size is 51″ x 57″, a perfect size for a wall hanging or to use for a throw with the cool weather arrives. (I’m down south, so the cool weather is not here yet.) To find this pattern, scroll down the selection of free quilt patterns. You may also be tempted to try some of the numerous other free patterns as there is large selection.

Mary Engelbreit Free Quilt Pattern from Quilting Treasures

I designed another quilt pattern based on Mary’s Sleeping Beauty fabrics that is also available for a free download from VIP Exclusive. Read about it in my prior blog post. With this great selection of patterns, you should be busy quilting!

Phyllis

Free Quilt Pattern for Mary Engelbreit Sleeping Beauty Fabrics

Ah, the romance of fairy tales!  I have always loved them and especially Sleeping Beauty.  Mary Engelbreit’s newest fabrics for Quilting Treasures feature her wonderful illustrations of this favorite classic for her Sleeping Beauty fabric collection.

I enjoyed working with these beautiful fabrics to create this quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures.  Sized to fit a twin size bed, it will make any  girl feel like a princess! I think the colors are wonderful and very feminine.

The quilt is composed of two quilt blocks, both simple so that you can easily complete your quilt.

Mary Engelbreit's Sleeping Beauty fabrics free quilt pattern

Have a beautiful fairy tale of a day!

Phyllis

Free Pattern for a fun summer quilt – Sunshine Resort fabrics by Loralie!

I just love these  fabrics! Sunshine Resort fabrics by Loralie for Quilting Treasures are just adorable with Loralie’s ladies at the beach.  The colors and motifs of ice cream, sun and surf all make for fun summer memories. And flip flops are definitely a summer wardrobe staple although in the south, we wear them for a while longer.

I designed this fun quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures website . It’s available for free download from their site with just a quick click – Loralie Sunshine Resort Quilt.  The pattern is very easy and can be sewn quickly.

Free quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures Sunshine Resort fabrics

So check it out and create a fun quilt to enjoy for years to come!

Here’s to a great summer and fun quilting!

Phyllis