Bonfire Block of the Month Club - June

Pin It We kick of summer with the June Bonfire Block of the Month Club block! This is the last string block for the Bonfire Sampler and it's definitely my favorite. 

JUNE BLOCK - FRIENDSHIP STAR  With this block, we are making 2 string blocks, then using them as one of the squares in half-square triangle units.  I absolutely love the way it completely refreshes the Friendship Star we are so familiar with.  It gives this simple block some pizzazz.

Remember we are making Sister Blocks for the Bonfire Sampler (from the book Sister Sampler Quilts).  I am partnered up for the BOM with my mom.  We will be swapping blocks at the end to make Sister Quilts. The string Friendship Star Block is the sixth block in the project. 



*ALL of the blocks in the book are interchangeable, so if there is one you'd rather not do, you can always substitute ANY block within the book.  Make 2 blocks each month.

Need some extra help?  See it before you sew it.
There is a tutorial on page 118-119 of the book AND if you'd like to see it in motion, I have a video tutorial for you here.

AnneMarie's Sister Pair of the Friendship Star Block

For me, there's only one way to make these Friendship Stars.  And it's with a rainbow of all the colors.  I just love how vibrant these blocks become when filled with so many colors.  So I didn't have any special plan in making these - just make 'em pretty.

Fabric is Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman for this version of the Bonfire BOM

 

My Partner (My Mom)'s Sister Pair of the Friendship Star Block

Mom decided to use all the colors too.  Maybe it's the way this block should just .....be.  She snuck in some RK crosshatch prints in the center squares that match the Blueberry Park palette.

Fabric is Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman for this version of the Bonfire BOM

 



SHARE with us and WIN!
Thank you so much for sharing with us so far this year! Let's do it again this month.  Share your blocks with us for a chance to win a $25 Gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  Go here for the details on the giveaway each month and details on how to enter. 

**Remember you can also show us your progress on Instagram and/or in the Facebook group for my patterns.
#bonfiresampler on Instagram
Join the Gen X Quilters' Pattern Shop Facebook Group.

Feel free to join in the fun with us anytime throughout the year.  It's never too late! For all the details on Bonfire, go here.

MAY WINNER.  Each month, there is a $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop up for grabs.  All you have to do is enter a photo of your BOM blocks in the linky at the end of the month's post.  The winner is drawn randomly.  The May Tulip LadyFingers were so colorful!  The May winner is: #31 QuilterPhyl!  Congrats!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE.  2 entries per person; MUST be blocks made from Sister Sampler Quilts book (but does not have to be June's block).  Enter your blocks any time from now until 7/01/2016.  Enter by midnight EST on 6/30.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Patchwork Auditions 2016

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It doesn't get any better than DS fabrics and quilt block stars, does it?  Oh boy, I sure do love playing with quilt blocks, colors, and different arrangements.  And when I think about the fun I had with the Patchwork Auditions series last year, it makes me want to do it all over again.

If you remember my Patchwork Auditions series, I explored different coloring options for 7 classic quilt blocks.  So many times, we become ingrained at seeing blocks colored a certain way.  I tried to think outside the box and used coloring sheets to find alternate block colorings.  Then I casually made 3 different versions of each block.  This quilt is huge and has become a family favorite (see the finish) over the past year.

This summer I am revisiting this concept to develop a workshop I can take on the road.  Here is where the sketch started...

I am making two different Patchwork Auditions 2016 quilts.  Both will be small four block samplers with a variation of the above layout.  I'm using two different blocks from my book, Sister Sampler Quilts.  The two blocks I've used are the Rising Star and the Moon & Star blocks - but they are in disguise because they are colored differently!  Can you recognize them?  There are two sister pairs up there.

I've been having lots of fun playing with this stack of fabrics in primary colors.  You just can't go wrong with DS fabrics.  All four of my blocks are done - but I keep thinking of more possibilities.  I really enjoy sketching out the blocks and making new combinations.

The grayish-blue background color I showed in the sketch will be a Robert Kaufman Chambray in Slate.  It's such a beautiful fabric and gives a little added texture to the quilt.  I can't wait to show you a quilt top next week!

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Springy Gatekeeper Quilt

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I'm excited to show you this new springy version of my Gatekeeper quilt pattern.  Isn't she cute?  I absolutely love this pattern because it goes together quickly with strip piecing.  Next thing you know, you have a lovely 70" x 70" quilt put together and only had to cut strips and squares/rectangles.  Pretty slick.

This version of the Gatekeeper quilt uses the new fabric line called One Room Schoolhouse.  This line debuted at the industry trade show, Quilt Market this past weekend.  This line has such cheery colors and a modern, yet vintage vibe.  The collection is what I would call modern 30s if there is such a thing?  I love working with Brenda Ratliff's collections - they are always up my alley.

These photos were taken at my husband's grandfather's home.  I absolutely adore his property.  It's beautiful old red farmhouse set deep in the woods in Michigan.  Spring was just starting to appear when I took these shots. 

 This Gatekeeper Quilt will be available as a kit with One Room Schoolhouse fabrics from RJR Fabrics.  This line will be available in July - it seems crazy that July is right around the corner!  Ask you local shop about the kits if you'd like to make this beautiful Irish Chain quilt.

The individual pattern for Gatekeeper is also available in print here or in PDF here.   Happy spring!

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