EQ8 Block Spotlight of the Month

Have you tried playing around with the Electric Quilt Company EQ8 Block Spotlights? I've been playing with them and it's super fun. It's a great exercise and can help to open yourself up to come up with a different quilt with each block. I can't say different coloring, because I've been finding myself stuck on some specific colors, but different colorings would be great too.

This first one, the July "Arrowheads" block just might be my favorite. I wanted to keep it large scale (as I've done with the others) but wanted it to also keep it simplified. I used a simple fall palette (despite it being the July block) as I thought about cuddling on my sofa in our Cozy Away room with the wood stove burning. The quilt design was created as a Custom Layout with two full blocks down the center, and four partial blocks along the sides. 

This next quilt is the August "Pyramid Kite" block. I added in the blue and white colors to lighten it up a bit but also kept this quilt design symmetrical. This quilt was designed using the On-Point layout in order to create a much larger On-Point layout block to focus on the X in the center.

This last one (for now) is the September "Metalwork" block. I had a hard time with this block, only because it isn't symmetrical - lol. Never the less, I always love a good challenge. I reverted back to the warmer fall color palette, and used two full blocks and two simplified stretched blocks in the Custom Quilt layout.

If you haven't had a chance to try out their block spotlights, I highly recommend it. After you come up with a fun quilt design, you can link it up on their blog with each block post. You can see other designs others have posted as well.

Remember while visiting the EQ website, if you want to add anything to your stash, you can use the code "EQ8Kerry" to save 20% off your purchases.

Disclosure: As a brand ambassador for Electric Quilt Company, I have received the EQ8 product for free, but the opinions and comments provided are always my own. This is not an affiliate code. Thank you.

Travel Lighting

Remember that car game where you're going on a picnic and you have to bring something that starts with every letter in the alphabet. I kept think about that game as I was traveling this spring and summer as I was packing. I'm going on a trip and I'm bring my Aurifil thread, Bags, (thread)Cutterz, Daylight Company lighting, EPP papers and so on.

My first trip this spring was to Disneyland (I only went once when I was 16 and only for a day so this felt like my first trip ever - which was so exciting). On the flight down I got some hand sewing done on the airplane using the compact Daylight Yo-Yo Lamp. It was later in the afternoon but everyone wanted to nap and I felt bad having my overhead light on. So the Yo-Yo Lamp gave me enough light to work on my #QuiltsForMyDaughters hexies.

After we arrived and upacked at the hotel, I needed to finish sewing the little cross body bags to use at the parks, that I made the day before. It was super late and everyone else was going to sleep so I set up the Smart Clip-On lamp.

The bed frames at Disney are surprisingly enormous so I grabbed the next best thing...my luggage. The side table was on my husband's side of the bed, so all I had was the luggage rack and my luggage.  I was pretty proud of my set up! lol.

The Smart Clip-On lamp is cordless and rechargable, so I didn't have to worry about finding an outlet to plug it into. It works great for reading books too. Which I've been trying to sneak in at night lately and was doing as much of as I could this summer with our less hectic evenings. I clip it onto the corner of my book, which also helps to keep the pages open for me.

During the summer I also traveled to New Hampshire for Girls Camp through church. A couple of nights while in my bunk, I had a little time to set up some hand stitching and the Yo-Yo was all the light I needed to get it done.

Both of these lamps are so great to travel with. The Yo-Yo folds up and is the most compact and the Smart Clip-On lamp wraps around itself nicely (with the recharging cord clipped into the clamp). Both of these lights fit in my little sewing pouch with all of my other needs for sewing on the go.

Do you need more lighting in your travels? Be sure to use the "kidgiddy2018" code on the Daylight Company website so you can save 20%. Please be sure to tag me on social media and show me which lamp caught your eye and you couldn't be without! Thanks as always for stopping by!

Disclosure: As a brand ambassador for Daylight Company, I have received these products for free, but the opinions and comments provided are always my own. I will receive a small portion of the sale if you use the coupon code provided above on the Daylight website. Thank you.

Say Hello to the New Dog Block Series Puppies!

Back in August I released three new #DogBlockSeries puppies. The Saint Bernard, the Standard Poodle and the cutest little Mini Poodle (or Teacup Poodle)! All of these patterns we're created in EQ8 and are companions to the other 10" x 10" Dog Block Series pups and fit nicely into the Doggy into the Window Quilt.

First up, the Saint Bernard. I started designing this Saint Bernard puppy in the new Electric Quilt Company EQ8 program, back in November but then sadly put it on the back burner when I got strep just after Thanksgiving. But he’s finally done and I’m so excited. One of my favorite stuffed animals as a child was my Saint Bernard with a barrel piggy bank attached to his collar. I wish I still had him, but now I’ve got this paper piecing pattern to remember him by. You can make the Saint Bernard with or without the barrel. The St. Bernard below was sewn by one of my testers Robin Gump (@SeamedToBe), and I love her fabric choices!

The Standard Poodle Block is up next...it comes with a collar and dog tag, but also comes with an extra (simplified) foundation paper piecing neck piece, and applique pieces for a collar and extra dog tags. This makes the block a little easier to make, but leaves room for a lot of opportunity to add your own touch of personality. The white Standard Poodle (sewn by Tori - @cloudtori) was made with all of the dog collar and dog tag block pieces.

Robin Gump (@seamedtobe) chose to sew her Standard Poodle dog block with the paper pieced dog collar (and not the dog tag), but added the dog bone dog tag using a raw edge applique technique. Don't they look so cute?!

Last but not least, is the littlest dog block in the whole series (so far), is the Mini Poodle. The Mini Poodle can sit along the bottom edge (just like all of the other pups in the #dogblockseries), and for a fun bonus, the Mini Poodle can also sit in a little teacup! 

These two samples, were sewn by my other testers, Kristi (@SchnitzelandBoo) and Laura (@LauraAust). You can see Kristi made hers so it looks like the bowl has a top rim, and the paws come over the edge. While Laura sewed her puppy with the paws on the top edge of the teacup (without a rim). There's always a new way to make it just right for you. I love seeing all the experiments!

What do you think? I hope you can find a puppy to love in my #dogblockseries! I will continue to make new dog blocks. Don't see your favorite here? Let me know what your favorite dog is so I can add it to my list. You never know, your dog could be next. 

Just a reminder that Electric Quilt has come out with two new EQ8 Designing Quilts books where you can learn all the tricks and tips from EQ8 designers. My tutorial is included in the new book below. See that Sailboat Ship block on the back cover of the book? I'll teach you how to design the Sailboat Ship block and quilt using my very own photo, step by step! You can grab your copy at Electric Quilt (and make sure you use the code "EQ8Kerry" to save 20%.
I've got three new quilt designs coming soon that are still being edited but keep an eye out on those new releases too. Hopefully these pups can keep us all busy sewing for a bit until I can release the next puppies. Do you have a favorite? Is there a design you are pulling for? Maybe it's a new block I've got in the works, or can add to the future list?! Let me know in the comments below!Thanks so much for stopping by, please be sure to sign up for the Kid Giddy newsletter by clicking the link below....

Disclosure: As a brand ambassador for the Electric Quilt Company, I received EQ8 program for free, but the opinions and comments provided are always my own.