Observer Fabric Tour: Handmade Home

I'm so thrilled to be a part of April Rhodes Observer Fabric tour, and to get my hands on her newest fabric line Observer with Art Gallery Fabrics. I'm not sure what it is - be it the color palette or the prints - that make me want to associate leather, raw wood and plush yarns with April's fabrics, but it's always there. It all just plays so nicely with one another. Don't you agree?

I was so slammed for the past month and sat staring at this stack of fabric she sent me, itching to get started on this project, but couldn't. I had a few ideas in mind but couldn't settle on just one thing. I asked my family which they would choose and the vote was unanimous.

A couple of years ago I made my cousin and his beautiful bride a nautical themed table runner and place setting complete with cloth napkins. As I shipped it off, my daughters voiced their disappointment that we didn't have our own set of "mommy made" place mats. I knew someday I was going to have to make some - but when it's "just for me sewing", I don't get to do much of it. Finally the chance presented itself and I couldn't say no.

After finding some huge leather hides at a local discount retailer shop (for only $25 each - total steal!) I knew I had to work leather into the blocks with these observer prints.

 I didn't want to have blocks with multiple sections that would require a bulky leather seam so I kept them simple. The fabric inspired me to start with either a square or a triangle in each block. Each 7" block started with the leather piece and work outward with April's fabrics, so the leather remains flat. 

  I After trimming the blocks, I then added the log cabin style border The place mats are 12" x 17" finished, which is a fairly standard size for placemats.

I only quilted the top layer with batting and decided to quilt each one with a simple echo style fmq pattern based on the leather piece in the middle. I then added the backing, right sides together, turned them right sides out and top stitched the edges.

Eventually I will make some cloth napkins to go with them and some leather napkin rings.

I had so much fun making these and each of my family members are thrilled beyond belief that I don't have to mail these babies out to someone to be photographed or to keep. These will so happily live on our wood table for a very long time. 

I love April's sweet demeanor and her fabrics exude the same feelings. I hope you will all take the opportunity to place with it too and see what it inspires you to make. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading all about these placemats as inspired by April's Observer Fabrics. For more information or to find out where you can get some of April's new fabric, visit April's website (link above) or the Art Gallery Fabrics site. Holly from @hollygetsquilty is the next blogger up on the tour tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I received fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics to design these placemats with. Opinions are my own, and there are no affiliate links. Thank you.