Roses are the Flower of Love - New Free Block

The iris were a big hit in my garden but are starting to fade as the last blooms on the stalk come to life.  I will miss their bright yellow and purple show out my window.

Now as June approaches the roses are starting to bloom in my backyard.  It is time to dust off some rose quilt blocks to give away, and put on sale to greet the changes taking place in my yard.

Here is the new free Deco Garden Bonus Block:  Purple Roses

This was one of first five Deco Garden blocks I offered back in 2015.  After the Deco Garden block of the month quilt was complete, I did not release the first 10 bonus blocks, but planned to release them later.  I had planned to release them in a second Deco Garden Quilt.  But with the pandemic and the need to lift some spirits I decided to release some of them early.  Originally this block was released with a black background.

I love the fact that you could see the inside of the rose, and that as a purple rose, it was totally unique.  Or perhaps I just liked the purples against the black.  So I played around with the block a little bit and came up with some project ideas to inspire you.  How about a 3 block table runner?

I love the striped borders with these floral blocks.  I think it offers a nice contrast and is easy to do.  And rotating the blocks always adds interest to a table runner, making it look good from more than one direction.  Try this project with three 12" blocks and a 2" striped border.

What do you think of this block configured as a wreath?

Cut out four 12" blocks and arrange them on a 24" background square.  Then add a couple of matching borders and you have a great summertime wall quilt, or the center block for a larger applique quilt.

If you just can't live with purple and you want something a bit bigger, here is an on-point variation in pink.  I almost like the pink better than the purple.  Almost.

By putting the block on point, I create corner triangles where partial blocks fill in those corners.  Add a lacy border and this would make a great baby quilt, large wall hanging, or small throw at 41" square.

What about making nine blocks and arranging them with a cute triangle border?

Or in pink?

Or go psycho and pull funky stuff from your stash?

Ok, that is pretty ugly.  I just threw that one in to make sure you were still paying attention.

What about reducing the size of the wreath and using 3 in a table runner?

More work than you want to do to cut all those roses?  Dust of your Brother Scan N Cut and let it to the cutting for you!!!

Ok, one more, just cuz I wanted to see what I could do with this block in a larger quilt.  This one is almost Queen size.

This pink version is set on point with half and quarter blocks in the sides and corners.  The center block is left blank and quilted with the block motif in green thread.  It is 76" square with a 3" border but you could increase the borders and bring it up to a queen size without much trouble.

Download this free block  and the 1/2 price sale blocks (below) HERE.

Here are a few more blocks and quilts on sale for half price, to offer you a few more rose and pansy inspirations.

Pansy blocks:

Deco Garden Bonus Block 1 Fancy Pansy

Deco Garden Bonus Block 43 Pansy

And a few more roses:

Roses Around Bed Runner

Deco Garden Bonus Block 48 Rosey Posey 

Deco Garden Bonus Block 10 Red Rose Trio

Deco Garden Bonus Block 44 Red Rose

Deco Garden Bonus Block 54 Blue Rose

Now THAT is a big bouquet!

March BOM blocks and New Deco Garden Blocks

This was a busy week!

First, my week began with my cat running off when a neighbor's dog attacked my dog Max -- IN MY YARD!  I know, some nerve, eh?  Max recovered with a few bites to his neck which healed quickly.

 But Buster, my long-haired Siamese got freaked and ran off.  He came home 2 days later, like nothing ever happened.  I was so worried, thinking that dog would have turned Buster into a light snack.

So now Buster is grounded for a month and not allowed outside.  He is none too pleased with this turn of events.  He is a pretty independent cat, and I worry that dog could be back!

Along with all the critter drama, I have been shipping patterns and writing more patterns, working on my 2017 BOM and trying to overcome 2 weeks with bronchitis!  I am drained!

But here is the good news.  Two new deco blocks are available.  #48 is Rosey Posey and #49 is Cyclamen.  I am so close to having 50 of these done, which was my initial goal.  Now I am not sure if I should keep going or just say enough!

They are available for sale on my website: morningglorydesigns.com

This week I also released another free block:  The crossing block for the Fair Isles BOM.  You can pick up this block for free on the 2017 BOM Tab on my Blog.  You can also still get the February block for free for a few more days.

The Crossing Block is used between each of the monthly blocks.  There are 13 of these in the setting I am showing on my BOM page.

This block will be available for free for a few months so everyone who wants to do this setting will have access to this block.  Remember, these blocks are all paper pieced this year.

I am almost ready to post the March Fair Isles blocks also.  If you are a subscriber you will get links to both of these blocks in my newsletter that comes out March 1.

Here is Block 3: Breath of Spring

And here is the Bonus Block for March (available only to subscribers)

Bonus Block 3

I couldn't decide which way I liked it better.  I drew it with the white background and the dark blue corner leaves.  But the reverse is kinda growing on me.  Which way do you like best?

New February BOM Blocks

The block for February has been posted and is ready for you to download for free for 30 days.  You can still get block 1 for free for a few more days, if you didn't get it yet.

This block is called Bridget's Wedding and is named after my niece who just got married.

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you want this month's free bonus block.

Which one do you like better?  White on blue background, or blue on white background?

I also have the February Flower of the Month table runner on half price for all of February at Morning Glory Designs.com.

Deco Garden Bonus Block Half Price Sale - only in November

I know everyone loves a sale, and here is one just for those of you who love the Deco Garden Bonus Blocks I have been offering all year.  A one-time opportunity to get them for Half Price during the month of November.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SALE

Many of you have already taken advantage of this sale. Thank you!  I so appreciate your continued support and good wishes.  Here are a few more new blocks to tempt you.  I hope you enjoy the blocks, and the savings.

As always, if you send me a picture of a project you have made with one of these blocks, I will send you a free pattern for one of the new blocks of your choice.

Block 38 - Grapes. 

I grew up on a fruit farm in Northern Ohio and we had acres of concord grapes which we sold to Welches.  In addition, my dad also grew a few acres of wine grapes and made his own wine.  He supplied the wine for my wedding 33 years ago, a memory which always makes me smile when I think of my dad.

Block 39 - Gooseberries

I am not sure I have ever eaten a gooseberry, but I know they are really bitter and require quite a bit of sugar to make them palatable.  But they do make great jam and pie!

Click HERE to purchase these, and any of  the other 36 Deco Garden Bonus Blocks.

They are on sale only for the month of November!

Coming Soon!

Block 40 - Hyacinth

Coming soon!  Watch for this pattern coming next week. 

This is one of my favorite spring blooming bulbs.  I always planted a few in my yard.  Last year when they replaced my front porch and sidewalk all my bulbs were dug up in the process and my gentle hyacinths were one of the victims.  I am going to buy some more to replant this fall.  My favorite is actually a bright pink hyacinth which bears my real name:  Anne Marie.  Yup, the secret is revealed!  Reeze is a nickname I have used most of my life.  Now I have to scour the bulb catalogs to see if I can find another Anne Marie Hyacinth.  Anyone know where I can get one????

And just for fun, here is a pink hyacinth.

I have had more fun designing these blocks.  I thought you might enjoy a picture of all of them, well actually, this is most of them, not all, as they all wouldn't fit into 6 x 7 setting.  But it is most of them. 

Want to be a quilt tester?

My project for 2017 is to write a book featuring these and more Deco Garden blocks and a series of projects I am designing to go with them  If you are interested in helping with this project by making a project which will be featured in the book, send me an email. 

I am lining up projects for the book this winter.  You will receive a free pattern for the project.  You will use your own fabric and keep the resulting project.  All I ask is that you send it to me for photographing.  You will receive credit for the project in the book, and a free copy when it is published.

Sound like fun?  I would love a variety of techniques used: fusible web, needle turn, back basting,  freezer paper, wool applique, machine embroidery*

. . . . .

Interested?  Contact me at reeze at morningglorydesigns.com

Happy Quilting

*Do you digitize?  I would like to hire someone to digitize the files for me.  If you are interested please contact me to work out details.

Free Block for the Holidays

There is much to be thankful for this year.  I am especially thankful for you, my readers and supporters who hang out with me from time to time to see the new stuff I am designing and making each year.

Last year I gave away a free Deco Garden block in December and I want to bring that back again for those who may not have been around and missed it.

Click HERE to download the free block pattern.

Click HERE to download the free block with the surrounding vine.

Here are a few projects you could make with these blocks.

I hope you like the free block and have fun using it in a holiday project.  Watch for more surprises coming next month.

More Deco Gardens Bonus Blocks Available - November Half Price Sale

Just got back from Quilt Market and it was so much fun.  My brain is fried.

I need to get back into my daily rhythm of designing, sewing, and managing my media which has all taken a back seat to Market preparations for the last month.

My travel schedule for the year is nearly over and while I have a few weeks of rest and relaxation scheduled, I am also busy designing more Deco Gardens Bonus Blocks.  Sheesh, wish I could stop doing these, but each time I do a new one I get inspiration for 4 new ones.

So November is officially Half Price Sale Days

 on all Deco Garden Bonus Blocks.

Here are the newest ones:

Block 34 Dandy Lion

Block 35 Violets

Block 36 Big Blue
Let me know if you have a better name for this block and I will send you the pattern for free.

Block 37 Periwinkle

To see these and all the other Deco Garden Blocks on Sale CLICK HERE.  And Thanks to all my readers and subscribers.  You Rock!