The Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along: Block 15!

It's Wednesday, my new favorite day of the week, and that means it's time for another block release of the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along!

Sharon Holland and I are co-hosting this community sew-along now through early August and as usual, I like to begin each Wednesday by reminding folks just learning about the bee that it's never too late to jump in! We continue to have new participants joining us each week, the blocks typically take about an hour to male, so feel free to join us and play catch-up at anytime! I also love to continue to encourage all who join us to keep posting to Instagram with #SewcialBeeSampler tagging both @sharonhollanddesigns and myself @maureencracknell when you post anything SBS so we can all see and easily keep track of all your wonderful bee block posts. We'll continue to try our very best to visit with all who join the sew along. Thank you so much for making this so much fun!



Today's free download is for block #15: Broken Dishes. I'll be sure to add this new pattern to my Sewcial Bee Sampler Page with the previous week's patterns. It's a great place to start for those of you just discovering our bee, where you can easily find everything you need to begin right in one place! Simply click on the link or the image below for direct access to this week's new SBS pattern!



For my version of this week's Broken Dishes block, I used a combination of three prints -- Luminous Field from my very first AGF Limited Edition collection, Wild & Free +  Miniments Unpolished from my first full collection Fleet & Flourish + Twinklestar Blu from my beloved Garden Dreamer collection, all framed with AGF's Soft Sand Linen!

This week's block is another quickie, featuring the make 2-at-a-time HST method that's fast, simple, and leaves no waste! If you need a little extra help Sharon has a super helpful step-by-step tutorial with photos and instructions here on her blog! Broken Dishes also includes a large framing, and I love the way it looks when arranged with my other blocks. I can't believe we've already come to the last block of row three. Our bee is flying by way too fast!!





I can't wait to see all of the Broken Dishes blocks you'll make this week! Be sure to visit Sharon's blog today to see her beautiful versions, and to stop back for details on how to enter this week's special Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday with our wonderful sponsor The Intrepid Thread!



Happy SBS sewing, friends!  ♡ Maureen   

The Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along: Block 11!

It's week ELEVEN and another block release day of the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along! Sharon Holland and I are co-hosting this community sew-along now through early August and as usual, I like to begin each Wednesday by reminding folks just learning about the bee that it's never too late to jump in! We still have quite a few new participants joining us each week, the blocks typically take about an hour, so feel free to join us and play catch-up at anytime! I also love to encourage you all to keep posting to Instagram with #SewcialBeeSampler tagging @sharonhollanddesigns and myself @maureencracknell when you post anything SBS so we can both see and easily keep track of all your wonderful bee posts. We'll continue to try our best to visit with all who join the sew along. We're having so much fun!



Today's free download is for block #11: Four Square. I'll be sure to add this new pattern to my Sewcial Bee Sampler Page, so those of you just discovering our bee can find everything you need to begin right in one place! Simply click on the link or the image below for direct access to this week's new SBS pattern!



For this week's Four Square block I'm bringing in new fabrics to add to my Sampler from my earlier collections ~ Wild & Free's Folk Plaid and Fletching Chant, with Gentle Mantle Flame from Fleet & Flourish! When I laid out all ten of the previous week's blocks, I noticed I was reaching for my Nightfall prints the most when it came time to stitch up a new one. This block pattern was perfect for fussy cutting different elements from each of these older prints!

I especially loved cutting different motifs from the Gentle Mantle Flame stripe to use in my block, the pop from the berry purple flowers and the subtle print used in the outer corners. I really enjoyed making this one!





I'm can't wait to see the Flour Square blocks you'll make this week! Be sure to visit Sharon's blog today to see her beautiful versions, and to stop back for details on how to enter this week's Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday with our wonderful sponsor The Intrepid Thread!



Happy SBS sewing! ♡ Maureen 

The Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along: Block 5!

It's a new month, week five and block release day of the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along Sharon Holland and I are co-hosting now through early August! I like to begin each Wednesday by reminding folks just learning about the bee that it's never too late to jump in! The blocks typically take about an hour, so feel free to join us and play catch-up at anytime! I also love to encourage you all to keep posting to Instagram with #SewcialBeeSampler, tagging @sharonhollanddesigns and myself @maureencracknell when you post anything SBS so we can both see and easily keep track of all your wonderful bee posts. We'll continue to try our best to visit with all who join the sew along. We're having so much fun!

Today's free download is for block #5  July Fourth! I'll be sure to add this new pattern to my Sewcial Bee Sampler Page, so those of you just discovering our bee can find everything you need to begin right in one place! I keep meaning to mention each week how I love sharing the images that Sharon made combining my Garden Dreamer Bee and her Bountiful fabric prints, aren't they great?!

For this week's July Fourth block I'm combining my Crimson Dance print from Wild & Free - my first fabric collection with my newest - Garden Dreamer, plus AGF's Soft Sand Linen. I love the combination of this rusty red with the sweet berry purple!



This pattern was a new one for me and I'm happy to have learned another pretty star block to add to the roster. I love how this one turned out and I'm looking forward to making my second block using AGF's Boho Fusions!



I can't wait to see the July Fourth blocks you'll make this week!

I'm still playing catch-up with my own SBS blocks since I'm making two versions and have been so swamped lately with getting into the new studio space, while working on a new fabric collection. I just need one good sewing day to get me back on track, hoping for that sooner than later! Don't forget to visit Sharon's blog today to see her beautiful versions, for an extra step-by-step tutorial for the new technique being shared in this week's pattern, and to stop back for this week's Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday with our sponsor the Dritz!

Happy SBS sewing!  ♡ Maureen 

A Sewcial Bee GIVEAWAY with Lady Belle Fabrics!

It's Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday!  

Each Friday, throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along community event that Sharon Holland and I are hosting together, we've lined up a new, special Giveaway with one of our amazing, participating sponsors! If you happened to miss the launch of our Sewcial Bee Sampler you can follow this link for all the info and can join us anytime - it's never too late to jump in!

Today's featured Sewcial Bee sponsor is Lady Belle Fabrics!

Lady Belle Fabric is run by husband and wife team, Rob & Brooke. In their shop you'll find both bundles and single cuts of handpicked fabrics that are fresh, modern, and fun! Designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Cotton + Steel, Free Spirit, and Moda, just to name a few! Lady Belle Fabric's goal is to offer the most gorgeous fabric as quickly as they can! 

Shop  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  Pinterest  We hope you enjoy visiting Lady Belle Fabric!

For this week's Sewcial Bee Giveaway, Lady Belle Fabric is offering the winner an eight piece fat quarter bundle including prints from my Wild & Free, Nightfall, and new Garden Dreamer collections for Art Gallery Fabrics! This pretty bundle is also available for purchase and would make a wonderful Sewcial Bee Sampler quilt! Look for the Maureen Cracknell Mix Up Bundle from Art Gallery Fabrics in the Lady Belle shop!

In addition, Lady Belle Fabric is having a wonderful Winter Clearance SALE with some amazing deals on Art Gallery Fabrics! U.S. readers can use coupon code: freeship to enjoy free shipping on orders throughout our Giveaway! Visit Lady Belle HERE --  http://www.ladybellefabric.com/

Enter to win! 

Here's how, since Sharon and I will be taking turns hosting Sewcial Bee Giveaway Fridays, this week I'm sending you to Sharon Holland Design's blog to enter!

A BIG thanks to all of you who are joining the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along and to those who enter our Giveaway!  ♡ Maureen

A Fall Vibes Quilt Top : :

Immediately after I sewed the very last seam of my Fall Vibes quilt top, I took it outside, Wonder clipped it to the clothesline and snapped a few photos. I couldn't wait to step back to see it all finished. The afternoon sun was perfect and lit up the delicate pieced together fabrics like a stained glass window. I could have marveled at the light glazing through these colorful fabrics, shifting in the wind, for hours. It was so beautiful. I had hoped to get better photos to share this week, somewhere away from home with Potter County as my backdrop per usual, but the days that have followed that sunny afternoon have been both dreary and busy, so I decided to share these first photos today instead. I hope you like them!







This is the first quilt I've made combining prints from all of three of my Art Gallery collections -- Wild & Free, Fleet & Flourish, and Nightfall. I love how they look together! Especially with the very first floral fabric I ever created, my Luminous field print, as the main color palette inspiration for this quilt. This one just feels special!



I think I might put together a quick tutorial for this plus block and quilt design to share sometime next week. Let me know if you're interested!

XX Maureen

Fall Vibes : :

I love to match my quilt-making with the seasons! Pastel quilts in the Spring inspired by the lengthening sunsets, the rebirth of each bloom, and the freshness of the leaves. Colorful, happy quilts in the Summer to remind me of the golden sunshine and the beautiful flowers that the garden gives that time of year. And now, as Autumn is setting in once again, I have to confess that it's my most favorite! All year long I look forward to the family of pumpkins and containers of mums that will take over our front porch. The warm yellow, orange-red palette is calling me to make a quilt, and so...

















Eighty-one Plus quilt blocks later, after a weekend spent cutting and chain-piecing here and there, I am already in the final stages of making my first quilt top for this new season that is just beginning! This one really came together so much faster and easier than I thought it would. A simple quilt with lots and lots of color!

I'll be back soon with a finished quilt top to share!

XX Maureen

A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!  

For this week's Fabric Giveaway I'm sending you all to Hawthorne Threads, an amazing online fabric shop owned by husband & wife team, Charlie & Lindsey. In this week's Newsletter you may have seen that they're offering a Fat Quarter bundle of my very first collection, Wild & Free, that is now back in stock, hooray! This collection is perfect for Fall sewing, which will be here before we know it!

Enter to win! 

Here's how,

Simply click HERE to be redirected to Hawthorne Threads Giveaway page & enter your email to be registered for a chance to win!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thanks to all who enter! Have a great Friday & weekend!! ♡ Maureen

A Fabric & Book GIVEAWAY : :

Today I have a special Friday Giveaway planned! I've been so excited to get my hands on my friend, Amy Friend's beautiful new book: Intentional Piecing and I'm thrilled to have a second book and fabric prize to share with all of you!



The fat quarter bundle of fabrics I selected for today's prize, including a few prints from Wild & Free, Fleet & Flourish, and Art Gallery Fabrics, was inspired by the popular My Tribe quilt from Intentional Piecing!



The My Tribe quilt pattern is a fun combination of paper piecing and applique full of perfectly made tee pees that have animals peeking out from behind them! It was so exciting for me to see that Amy had used some of my fabrics to create such an amazing quilt for her book, I had to celebrate with a Giveaway!!





Intentional Piecing is full of beautifully designed, very original projects so be sure to check out this wonderful book and to visit Amy's blog During Quiet Time to see more Intentional Piecing projects and amazing quilt inspiration daily!  I'm completely in love with the gorgeous Tumble 'Round Quilt found in the book. The striking pattern is perfect for showing off special fabrics!

For the Giveaway today I'm offering a copy of the Intentional Piecing book and a "My Tribe inspired bundle "including prints from my very first collection Wild & Free, Fleet & Flourish, and a few other Art Gallery Fabrics!  

Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry) 

2. Followers get a second entry! Whether you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook, just let me know you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry) 
3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I've added sharing as another way to enter! Whether by instagram, tweet, facebook, pin, blog, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday evening, June 6th. The random # generator will pick the winner and I will announce their name at the bottom of this post!

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you win!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Thank you so much for entering our GIVEAWAY! This week's lucky winner is commenter, Joy! Congratulations, I will be in touch shortly! ♡ Maureen

A Diamond Weave Quilt Block { Tutorial } : :

I'm excited to share with all of you that you can find my newest tutorial on the Janome Blog for my Diamond Weave Quilt Block!



This quilt block tutorial is from my Diamond Weave Quilt that I shared just last week, made using a variety of prints from my Wild & Free and Fleet & Flourish fabric collections. Just by separating red, peach, and coral value prints from ones colored navy, aqua, and blue, a fantastic quilt design is revealed!



These simple quilt blocks sew up quick to an 11" unfinished square, a wonderful size for making both small and large quilts!





You can find this new tutorial on the Janome Project Center page right HERE!



I really hope you all enjoy this quilt tutorial! As always, be sure to let me know if you give it a go! Feel free to find & tag me on Instagram, be sure to add #DiamondWeaveQuilt or you're always welcome to share the things you make using my project ideas and/or fabrics on my Facebook page Maureen Cracknell Handmade!

Happy sewing, friends!  ♡ Maureen