HOORAY! Time For the 2024 Villa Rosa Designs Fast & More Fun Blog Hop -- Today is My Blog Day!

 

Hello There Friends! 

Welcome to you, both old and new friends!  

I'm sew glad that you are here.  Today is my day on the 2024 VRD Fast & More Fun Blog Hop and I'm thrilled to be part of the 2nd Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop.  

If you've come for the prizes -- I'm happy to tell you that you will be able to register for prizes at the bottom of this post.  But before I give you all the prize info, please read on and enjoy my post celebrating Villa Rosa Designs.

A Little Bit About Me

If you've already recognized the writing style, you're not imagining things -- I am also the blog writer over at the Villa Rosa Designs (VRD) blog, Villa Rosa Quilts. Yep, it's me Tricia @ VRD.  LOL!

I met Pat Fryer, the owner and Rose Queen at VRD when I attended my very first Fall Quilt Market in 2010 (which, incidentally, was Pat's second Quilt Market promoting her new company, Villa Rosa Designs -- kismet, I think) in order to promote my first quilting book, Orphan Block Quilts.

                                                      
 

Sheesh!  2010 -- that seems like ages ago now.  Pat and I met up at every Market I attended after that and in 2017, I became part of the VRD family of designers.  Mostly I design the table runner patterns, but I also create patterns for baby quilts, throws, large quilts, and some smaller accessory patterns, too.  You can check out all my VRD Rose Card patterns HERE.

In 2021, I started a new life-changing position working for VRD as a virtual assistant -- virtual because we are located on opposite sides of the US -- Pat and VRD in California and me here in Pennsylvania.  Writing the weekly VRD blog, Villa Rosa Quilts, is just one of the fun and cool things I get to do.  I also write patterns, do graphics, work closely with fabric companies for cross-promotional purposes, and whatever else I can do to help Pat and VRD.  BEST.  JOB.  EVER.

VRD Fast & More Fun Blog Hop 

Now that you know a little bit about me, let me tell you all about the Blog Hop.  I hope you are having fun hopping from blog to blog to see all of these amazing quilts, meet the cool quilt bloggers, and to register for awesome prizes which were donated just for you by our wonderful sponsors (see below). 

Today is Day 5 on the Hop, so if you haven't visited blogs for the first 4 days, here's the schedule so you can.  Go for it -- the more blogs you visit and register for at, the more chances you have to win.

Blog Hop Schedule:

Thursday, March 14
Villa Rosa Quilts — https://villarosaquilts.com/ 

Friday, March 15
Kathleen McMusings — https://kathleenmcmusing.com/
The Morning Latte — http://livelylatte.blogspot.com/
Homesewn By Us — https://www.homesewnbyus.com
Pieceful Thoughts — https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/
C & T Publishing — https://www.ctpub.com/blog/

Saturday March 16 — National Quilting Day!
Needle and Foot — https://needleandfoot.com/
MMM Quilts — https://www.mmmquilts.com/
Texas Quilt Gal — https://www.texasquiltgal.com/
Time 4 Stitchn — http://time4stitchn.blogspot.com/
SIY (Sew It Yourself) — https://blog.siysewityourself.com/

Sunday, March 17 — Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Quarter Inch Capers — https://quarterinchcapers.blogspot.com/
Norton House Quilting — https://www.nortonhousequilting.com/blogs/news
Quilting Gail — https://quiltinggail.com/

Wazoo! Newsbits — http://wazoonewsbits.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 18
With Strings Attached — https://withstringsattached.blogspot.com/
Jaftex/Scott Fortunoff — https://scottfortunoff.com/
Cocoa Quilts — https://www.cocoaquilts.com/ 

Quilt With a View — http://quiltwithaview.blogspot.com/ (YOU ARE HERE)

Tuesday, March 19
Shout 4 Joy — https://shout4joy-shouting.blogspot.com/
The Darling Dogwood — http://thedarlingdogwood.blogspot.com/
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting — www.knitbug2.blogspot.com
Something Rosemade — https://somethingrosemade14.blogspot.com/
Quilts of Valor Foundation — https://www.qovf.org/

Wednesday, March 20 — First Day of Spring!

Grace and Peace Quilting — https://www.graceandpeacequilting.com/
Happy Cottage Quilter — https://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/
Joyfully Tracie — https://joyfullytracie.com/
Patchouli Moon Studio — https://patchouli-moon-studio.blogspot.com/
Electric Quilt Company — https://doyoueq.com/blog/

Thursday, March 21
Villa Rosa Quilts — villarosaquilts.com 

The VRd Blog Hop couldn't even happen without the amazing support from our sponsors.  Thank you Sponsors!

https://hoffmancaliforniafabrics.net

https://modafabrics.com

https://www.ttfabrics.com

http://jaftex.com

https://electricquilt.com

https://www.northcott.com/home.aspx

http://benartex.com

https://www.hancocks-paducah.com

https://foxchapelpublishing.com

https://www.ctpub.com

https://www.pbtex.com

I am honored that 2 of my Villa Rosa Designs Rose Card patterns made it into the 5 patterns selected for the Hop:  Clover and Twinkle.  Did you know that you can purchase a set of the Blog Hop patterns???  You can go HERE to get your own set.  Or maybe you'll win a set....

 

 Okay, now that we've got all that out of the way, wanna see my quilt???

Twinkle, My Blog Hop Quilt

When I designed Twinkle in 2019, I was torn about what fabrics and colors I should choose.  I decided to use a white background and some fun bright 5" squares.  It turned out really fun and flirty so I went with it.

 

In the back of my mind, though, I always wondered what it would look like with a black background.

Fast forward 5 years and I decided to answer that "what if" question for my Blog Hop post by creating a brand new Twinkle quilt featuring a solid black background paired with a great selection of 5" squares of Batiks.  

I am really pleased with how it turned out!  The Batiks shimmer and really pop on the black background, don't they?

 When I went outside to photograph the Twinkle top (not Toes -- LOL!), it was really nasty -- the temperature dropped, it was very windy, and then snowflakes were swirling around as I was trying to catch a quick photo when the wind stopped blowing for a second.  Just one teeny second was all I needed. It took me several tries as you can see below in my "windy" photos, but I finally managed to get a decent photo. 

What was really cool while I was taking photos is that way up high soaring on the wind was our neighborhood eagle!  Sure I was freezing, but it never fails to take my breath away to see our eagle (or eagles, last year we had 4 -- 2 parents and 2 youngsters), no matter how many times I see him/her (not sure which one it was today). I hope we get eaglets again this year!

Here are my "windy" photos. Seriously, I wouldn't have gone outside today to do photography if I hadn't wanted to get a good clean image for my blog post.  If I hadn't gone outside, though, I wouldn't have seen the eagle soaring on the wind up above.  Simply beautiful....

 

Maybe you noticed that I didn't add a border....yet.   I'm not entirely sure what I want to do about the border.  It needs something, but I'm not sure exactly what.  

I will say I was really inspired by Cheree over at The Morning Latte last Friday with her gorgeous pieced border for her version of Gypsy, so maybe I will go that route.  I just don't know.  What do you think?  Aha!  I think this question will be my question for the prizes, below.  I am SEW open to ideas!

Now, how about some PRIZES??!!

Blog Hop GIVEAWAYS

I know you've all been waiting for this!  Here's your reward for reading all the way down my blog post -- thank you!

And thanks to our Sponsors, we have some really awesome prizes up for grabs!  Here they are:

1)  1 set of the Blog Hop patterns, donated by Villa Rosa Designs (each blogger will give away a set)

2)  3  chances at 3 of the Grand Prizes (you will need to register to win the EQ8 download on the Electric Quilt blog, beginning on Wednesday, March 20th) donated by our rockin' Blog Hop Sponsors (each blogger will choose 3 people to go into the Grand Prize drawings)

3)  3 Individual Sponsored Prizes (each blogger will choose 3 winners)

But wait!  There's more!

I'm adding some fun prizes to give away here on my blog too!

4)  A signed copy of my first book, Orphan Block Quilts 

5) A mystery set of my Villa Rosa Designs Rose Card patterns

You have up to 2 chances to win the above prizes here on my blog!  International Friends are welcome to register for prizes, too, as some of the Sponsors are able to ship internationally.  Winners will be randomly selected following the Blog Hop.  Winners will be announced after all winners have been contacted.

Here's what you need to do to be registered for prizes here on my blog:

1)  Leave a comment on this blog post and tell me what you think I should do for borders on my Twinkle quilt.

2)  Become a blog follower/subscriber and leave a comment on this blog post telling me you are a follower/subscriber (if you are already a subscriber/follower -- thank you -- please leave a comment letting me know).   PSST!  The Blue "Follow" button is at the bottom of the Followers box on the top right side of the blog.  You can also Subscribe with Netblogs, My Yahoo!, and Atom.  I think I'm on Bloglovin, too.

 Please make sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win! If there isn't an email address, I will move on to the next commenter.

Remember, you have until Sunday, March 24th to leave a comment to register for the prizes above.

That's it!  Really!  Easy Peasy!

Good luck to each and every one of you!  

Enjoy the Hop (socks are optional)!

                    Best,

Tricia 

P.S.  Please stop back soon to see what I'm up to....

 

 

Back in the Saddle and Looking Forward to 2023

 

Long time no see!  I'd like to say that I stopped blogging because of the Pandemic, but I dropped the ball back in 2019, so I don't think that excuse will fly.  LOL!  All I can say is that life got in the way and then I just got out of the habit of writing my blog.

I took a very lllllooooonnnnnnggggggg break, but now I'm ready to get back into blogging mode.

So, hello!  Let's start over together.

A lot has happened for me since 2019.  I bet you can say the same, huh?

New Job

First, let me tell you a little bit about my cool new job.  I am now a Virtual Assistant at Villa Rosa Designs, www.villarosadesigns.com.  I started this new job in 2021, after I left the library I had worked at for over 10 years.  

It was time for a change.  Starting a new job is always a bit scary, but I was more excited than scared about my career change.  Now I work from home, which is awesome -- my commute is only down the stairs to my office/studio dungeon in the basement.  I write patterns, do quilt diagrams, create quilt mock ups, write the weekly blog, do tutorials for the blog, and whatever other projects that come up.  Love my job.  I will say that working from home does have a few drawbacks, though.  I am now more physically available so I get more interruptions.  Sometimes it's hard to get to my work because home/family things get in the way.

New Pets

After losing all of our older/elderly cats during the Pandemic, all of a sudden we were the pet parents of one lonely cat, Pip.  I adopted a kitten in late 2021 and this year as in a couple months ago in 2022, we adopted a very energetic and sweet Shih Tzu puppy, Bailly.  We have a super active furry family now with a young cat and a 5 month old puppy, who by the way are about the same size, and Pip who is about as energetic as a snail.

Here are my furbabies:

This is Bailly in her Christmas dress!

Here's my boy, Griffin!

Here's my perfectly plump Pip!

New Books

In 2021, I tried something new -- self-publishing on Amazon.   Luckily, I had already written 3 books the traditional way and published them with craft book publishers, so I had a more-than-average understanding of the world of publishing.  Which was good, because writing, editing, and illustrating your own books takes time and patience.

My first self-published book:

 

Feed Sacks is a tribute to my love of vintage feed sacks.  I started collecting them a couple years ago and now I have a large growing collection, so it made sense to photograph the different patterns and designs.  Then I put over 1000 of them together in this book.  It's a great Look Book of feed sack designs and patterns along with sections containing historical information and where to find your own feed sacks.

 

You can buy my book HERE.

My second Feed Sack book will be out soon, which will have another 1400+ feed sack designs and patterns!  So stay tuned to early 2023.

 

My second self-published book:

 

                                    

 

I love planners, journals, and calendars!  So it wasn't a hard decision to create my very own Quilt Planner with blank weekly and monthly grids so people can start it when they want to.  But the coolest thing is that my Planner is also a Block of the Month project!  Woo-hoo!

 

You can buy my planner HERE. 

Well, I guess there's not much more to say right now except:

 

Happy New Year!

Image by callmetak on Freepik

Stop in next week for more information about a FUN event coming in January 2023........did anyone say Blog Hop???

Until next time --

Tricia, AKA The Orphan Quilter

 

Tricia's Favorite Block Tutorials -- Block 8 CHURN DASH

It's time for Block Number 8 in my Favorite Block Tutorials.  I hope that you've been following along and maybe even trying out some of these fun blocks.

Here are the links for the previous 7 blocks if you have missed one:

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Block 7

Now that you're all caught up, let's make Block 8 --

Churn Dash

 

The Churn Dash Block is an old favorite of mine.  I have made many quilts using this block.  One of my most interesting ones was called Halloween Dash and was published in Quilter's World Magazine some years ago.

 

Can you see the spiderweb machine quilting motifs in the middle of the big Church Dash blocks?  Aren't they sew cute?

What you need:

Light:  2 squares 4 7/8" x 4 7/8", 1 square 4 1/2" x 4 1/2", and 4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Medium/Dark:  2 squares 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" and 4 rectangles 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Here's what you do:

1.   Layer a light 4 7/8" square right sides together with a medium/dark 4 7/8" square.  Drawn a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner.  Sew 1/4" away from both sides of the drawn line.  Cut apart on the drawn line.  Open triangle squares and press.  Make 4 triangle squares.

2.  Sew a light 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle long sides together with a medium/dark 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle.  Make 4.

 

3.  Sew the block together like a Nine Patch.

4.  And you're done!

Villa Rosa -- My Quilt Designs are Popping Up All Over!

You may already know that I've been designing easy and fun (and usually precut-friendly) quilt designs for Villa Rosa Designs for over a year now.

I met Pat, the owner of Villa Rosa, completely by happenstance at my very first International Quilt Market in 2010.  We hit it off and got to know each other through the years at Quilt Markets we both attended.  Then in 2017, things were ready for me to begin designing quilts for Villa Rosa.

Are you familiar with the Villa Rosa Rose Cards?  I was so impressed with the postcard-sized patterns when I first saw them in 2010 -- I knew then that I wanted to be part of Villa Rosa.

What makes a Rose Card so special?

A Rose card is the size of a post-card with a beautiful full-color photo of the project on the front and simple easy-to-follow instructions to make the project on the back.  That's it.  ONE POSTCARD.

Fast-forward to today....

I currently have 14 Rose Card patterns available and I have several more in the works right now.

Here are my Rose Cards (go HERE to shop my Rose Cards):

 

                                      

                                      

If you're a shop owner, you love Rose Cards because:

1)  they are small and easy to display, particularly near registers and check out counters
2)  they are perfect for kitting up with your own fabric in your shop
3)  the projects are fast and easy (and usually precut-friendly) so they are great for new quilters and experienced quilters alike
4)  the retail price is inexpensive
5)  they make great class projects because students do not have to buy expensive books in addition to all of their supplies
6)  most of the patterns utilize precuts and quilters LOVE precuts!

If you're a quilter, you love Rose Cards because:

1)  Rose Cards are like candy, you can't choose just one
2)  Rose Cards are inexpensive
3)  they are small and take up very little space in your sewing room
4)  there are Rose Card designs to fit any style from modern to traditional
5)  there are a lot of different types of projects to choose from -- table runners, baby quilts, throws, and more
6)  they are mostly geared for beginning quilters, yet the designs appeal to quilters of all skill levels and interests
7)  they are perfect for charity quilts
8)  most of the Rose Cards use precuts, but you can easily use your own stash or scraps, too
9)  they make great little gifts for your quilting friends or yourself


Rose Cards are now available wholesale to quilt shops through Checker Distributor and EE Schenck or through Villa Rosa Wholesale.

Quilters, you can find Rose Cards at your local quilt shop or  here on the Villa Rosa website.
 

A Special Quilt of Valor and a FREE QUILT PATTERN

 

Have you heard of Quilts of Valor before? 

Maybe you've even made a quilt and donated it?  

My quilt guild, Free Spirit Quilt Guild (FSQG) got involved with our local QOV chapter in 2017.  Each year we do some kind of community service project and QOV was that year's choice, we were so inspired by the project that we have our own chapter now and it is going strong!

I was all excited to participate last year because many of my family members/friends have served in the military, including my grandpa, Joseph Washick, who served in WWII in the army.  I even submitted a veteran's name (my friend, Ruth's husband, Pat, who served in Vietnam).  Pat was one of the first group of quilt recipients that my guild participated in.

Being all gung ho about QOV, I immediately began my first QOV quilt to donate.  Then I got sick last year, had multiple surgeries, and struggled with complications for the next 12 months.  ARGH!  I went into what I call "emergency quilting" mode, which basically meant that I only quilted when I had to (had a quilt with a deadline).

I am thrilled to say that I am finally on the homestretch to finishing my QOV  from last year.  I just need to hand-sew little bit more binding.

 Recently, I had an amazing experience with my QOV.   The Moving Wall was set up in the park in my local town.  I had the brilliant idea to take my quilt with me to see The Moving Wall.  I asked permission to photograph my quilt with The Wall.  Two very kind veteran volunteers helped me, I wish I would have thought to get their names.

Here are the directions to make my Triple Rail Fence quilt for QOV.  

Maybe you'll make one and donate it to your local QOV chapter.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________

 Patriotic Rail Fence Quilt

By Tricia Maloney

63" x 81"

SHOPPING LIST

1 7/8 yard Red Fabric

1 7/8 yard White Fabric

1 7/8 yard Blue Fabric

5/8 yard fabric for binding

Twin-sized batting

5 yards fabric for backing

**You can totally use your stash for this quilt, just use an assortment of reds, whites, and blues.**

CUTTING

Red Fabric:  Cut 72 rectangles 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Light Fabric:  Cut 72 rectangles 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Blue Fabric:  Cut 72 rectangles 3 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Binding Fabric:  Cut 8 strips 2 1/2" x the width of fabric (WOF)

MAKING THE BLOCKS

1.  Sew a blue, a white, and a red 3 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangle together into a Rail Fence block.  Make 72 blocks. The blocks will be 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" (unfinished).

MAKING THE QUILT

2.  Sew 7 blocks together, turning every other block as shown.  Make 5 rows (Row 1).

 

3.  Sew 7 blocks together, turning every other block as shown.  Make 4 rows (Row 2).

4.  Sew the rows together, alternating placement (Row 1, Row 2, Row 1, Row 2, Row 1, Row 2, Row 1, Row 2, Row 1).

 5.  Layer your quilt top with your batting and backing.  Quilt the layers together.  Bind your quilt.

6.  Give your quilt to a Veteran!

Please feel free to share this pattern with your Quilt Guild or sewing group.  

It goes together fast, is a great size for a QOV quilt, and is suitable for a beginner.

Quilt On!