Row By Row Blog Hop

Hello to everyone out there....


Today is my turn for the Row by Row '18 Blog Hop event.


Each year Marian from Seams to be Sew has hosted this Event. Each year it has grown and this year is no exception. Thanks to her for all her planning and admin for the event.





Northcott Fabrics has once again sent the ladies participating in the event the fabrics and a very special Thank You goes to all of them. I LOVE your fabrics!! and I'm always really happy to make something with them. I chose the Stonehenge Gradation Mixers by Linda Ludovico to make my row.

We had the theme of "My happy place" for our rows this year and I must say that I have really struggled with it. I don't really have a 'happy place' or even think of things in that way, so I jumped around with which pattern to make for the hop. In the end the limited time I have to do any sewing has made the choice for me and the Landscape has won.

I do enjoy being out in nature and enjoying the wide open spaces outside of the city, so this is the row I decided to go with. I also wanted something that was on the easier side and quick to sew up.
The row measures 12x30" (31x77cm) and is on the Easy Intermediate level.

The 4 colour fabrics I chose were the Browns (Northcott #39382-66) in the hills, the Beige (#39382-14) in the road, the Green (#39382-64) and the Pink (#39382-82) in the landscape. I was thinking of making a border around it to look like a frame and then hanging it on my wall like a 'fabric photo'.

You can download this pattern for Free from my Craftsy Shop. 

You can enter the giveaways here. Make sure to also read the terms and conditions on the Seams to be Sew blog so that you're aware of any postage you will need to pay etc.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September Bitty Block

Hi there everyone!

Its Bitty Block time again.....
which means another cute 5" (14cm) block.







Today we have a sweet
Robin Red Breast

I've added a few fabric swatches to show it with a patterned look

 Don't fight with me that the pieces are too small - I know they're small! the Bitty Blocks are small and that's the challenge. If you don't like it so small, then you will have to copy it to a larger size.

You can find the September Bitty Block in my Craftsy Shop..... right HERE.....<<<<

I hope you have fun sewing this one up!

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I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

Folk Art

Hi there everyone...
After a week of meeting new people, I think we need a little something different.

I've made a new Folk Art Block.

This time it's a Dancing Duck.....

The pattern measures 12" (31cm) and is on the Intermediate level.

I've added this block to my Google Drive - so you can download it really quickly. Once this one goes on, the previous one needs to get off to make space for it.

Download your Duck pattern HERE......<<<<<

This is our line up we've had over the past year... Only one more after this....

Once we're finished I'll put them into an EBook.

I hope you all have a great week-end!!

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

2018 Quilters Meet and Greet...

Hi!!

Today I'm taking part in the Quilters Meet and Greet hosted by Benita at Victoriana Quilt Designs. 
Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of it.


I'm Janeen van Niekerk and I design patterns mostly for the Foundation Paper Piecing technique.

 I do have other Applique patterns too but the paper piecing has really taken over most of my business.


I live in Pretoria, South Africa with my Hubby, 2 sons and my dog Pepsi. My daughter and her cat have recently moved out and will be married by the end of September. Wedding preparations have kept me so busy this last 6 months - it's been crazy!!!






I started my business
Quilt Art Designs in 2013 and after designing a few patterns or blocks, I was hooked and it has grown and improved since then.

I love art and drawing and I love sewing too, so the two seemed to be a marriage made in heaven.

 Before quilting I was making mosaics but my fingers were permanently sore from the glass cuts. Now, I'm basically doing the same thing only with fabrics.


I started a quarterly Paper Piecing Magazine in 2014 so that foundation paper piecing could get more recognition or exposure and that people interested could also see that the designs didn't have to be cartoonish or really ugly.  I had such a hard time finding anything I wanted to sew, so I made my own patterns and others seemed to like them too. Using this technique we could also make some amazing quilts.

I was asked to participate in a Art with Fabric Hop with Alida from Tweloquilting in 2015 and that's when I discovered that I love making a larger more 'arty' quilt. I've made a few myself too but after getting Frozen Shoulder in both arms I've had to be content to just sit and do a bit of design work and not too much sewing. I think only after I rigged up my sewing machine to a higher position where I can stand and sew.... it has made my life easier and I can also get a few things sewn.

Each year I have a Block of the Month where I give away a free block (for the month it's released) and we've had loads of fun producing great paper pieced quilts.

I was asked which quilt or design was my favourite and that was really hard to choose. I love each one of them, but I chose this Farmhouse String quilt. 

It really was loads of fun to make and if I can use up all my scraps then I'm even happier. So many people joined in this quilt a long and there were so many different and amazing quilts that came out of this. 

This was a take on 'string quilts' that also had an arty look instead of it being the usual sewing a few scrappy strips together.

Well, that's me in a nutshell. Thanks for visiting.

You can hop over and visit a few more bloggers and quilters too. 

Visit others HERE....

Make sure you also enter for the Grand Prize.

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I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

September Block of the Month

Hi there to everyone and a special 'hello' to those who have followed along and kept up 

with the "Into the Wild" block of the month quilt.

For September we have a cute little Hoopoe - or his offical name - a Madagascar Hoopoe.

They get their name from the Hoop, Hoop sound they make. 

I see these little cuties regularly in the garden. Their long curved beaks are used for poking into the grass to look for something juicy to eat.

And then....
and then my dog Pepsi chases them... she has some kind of weird dog pleasure in chasing these poor birds - but don't think it bothers the birds - oh no, as soon as she turns her back, they're back to poking around on the grass. This can go on for quite a while....

Small things seem to amuse me....

The block was sewn up for me by Joan Wintersgill of Texas. 

Thanks so much Joan, I love it! Its just perfect!

The block is FREE for September '18 and

you can find your cute BOM block here in my Craftsy Shop........<<<<<<<

I hope you also have fun sewing this block up.

Have a great week-end!!

    

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

Halloween patterns

Hi everyone!

I've been looking through a few of my files and I've found patterns that I haven't finished yet.
These are a few of the Halloween patterns that I've done and added to my Craftsy shop.

The cat on the broom pattern measures 12x20"

The Witch measures 18x28" and the Red Shoes measures 12x24"

This halloween mini pattern (24") was part of the magazine issue for 2017 and I'm also going to add it to my Craftsy shop. The finished mini was sewn up by Lisa England.

I hope you all have a great week-end!!

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

WIP Wednesdays...

Hi there everyone!
Wow, its already almost the end of August.... time has been flying by here.

By now its just downhill to the end of September and there you have it!! My daughter's big day will be here and in a wink of an eye.... it will also be gone. So many preparations for one single day... Really makes you stop and think.





I've been trying to get back to sewing my Garden Quilt. Its almost there with only 1 row to go. I just need more oomph in me.

I feel as if I just have no energy left to do anything anymore... I really need more sewing mojo or something.

 Here's the Seaside option that I've also been playing around with. Again its made with the Storm at Sea blocks. I'm writing up the instructions and I'll add it to my shop really soon.

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

Friday Fun Day!

Hello everyone!

I've had a few days running about looking for a dress - and this time I actually found one!! Thank heavens! Now we need to run out the door and do the last Bridal fitting...

Today I have another Geometic block for all of you
It's only 8" (22cm) and on the easy level.

You can download your Free Pattern right HERE....<<<<<

I hope you all have a great week-end!

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)

Friday.... thank heavens!!

Hello everyone!
Thank heavens its Friday today. I can do with something that makes me a little happy!

Designing and finishing all the Festive season patterns is done and they're off to the testers now... I can only hope everyone likes them.
Every year I seem to sit with the same problem - How many trees or santa faces or candles can you really make before they are all just the same thing?? I hope these are still in the 'oh they're so cute' department.

Here's a look at what you can expect in the next issue of Paper Piecing 1/4" magazine that comes out in October. (more info here:   www.qadpublishing.blogspot.com)

The Festive season blocks are all 10" (26cm) with the center block at 20" (52cm).

The Halloween blocks are the same with the Old Stove at 20" and the rest at 10"

The October women's month block is smaller and measures 5x8" (postcard size) and the Thanksgiving Sunflower block is 16"
I'm hoping that it's something for everyone!!

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For today tho'.....


We carry on with out Folk Art Blocks....
I really hope you've been collecting all of them.... by now we have around 11 Folk Art blocks...





Today is the turn of Mr Wolf. He's something of an opera star. His songs and arias can be heard all over the forest. Some would even say it gives them a cold shiver when they hear it.....

This block measure 12" (31cm) and is on the easy intermediate level.

You can grab your FREE block right HERE.....<<<<<<

I hope you all have a great Week-end!!

*********************************

I've started a QA Designs Group  on Facebook where you are welcome to join and add any of your finished blocks made with the QADesigns patterns. I really love to see them all.

              
                          

 Quick link to my full Craftsy Shop <<<<<

(when you open the shop.... click on the right side 'sort by tab' and press NEWEST.... then everything will show up)