This is a repost from May 2016 when I shared on the Benartex blog about how I used some of their new batik fabrics. I hope you'll enjoy this and take a new look at your own batik stash! Today I have a lesson in ruler use that you'll enjoy!  I always like to say that I let the fabrics tell me what they would like to become. Whether they whisper to me or send text messages to my cell phone - I trust what they say!  Batiks from the  Dolce  and  Rio  Collections by Benartex Here are the five colors I chose for my project. I'm going to make flowers - perfect for Spring, right? Five fabrics for my flowers I am still enamored with hexagon shaped blocks and patches. The most recent is the jewel (some call it a gem). I discovered how to cut it using a standard acrylic ruler with 60 degree lines and a 60 degree multi sized triangle ruler. For a finished 6" high jewel, I cut 4-1/2" wide strips. Then I cut the selvedge off on the left side at a 60 degree angle as shown...

I use a lot of diamonds in my English Paper Piecing. I love to use them alone as in my Seven Sisters Quilt. Each of the 7 star blocks uses 12 diamonds (2") and they are set together with orange triangles. You can see this and over 100 of my EPP blocks and quilts on my EPP Pinterest Board ! Seven Sisters made using 2" diamonds *****Diamonds can be cut from fabric  based on the finished size of the diamond PLUS 3/4” (3/8“ seams on each end). Use your rotary cutter to slice off a 60 degree angle on one end. Measure X” from that edge and cut a fabric diamond. Continue cutting to get the needed number of diamonds for your block. In the example below, I am cutting for a much larger quilt unit, but you get the idea. Here is a simple chart for 2" diamonds. Cutting and using diamonds in English Paper Piecing Measure the paper diamond from flat side to flat side. Add 3/4" for seams (3/8" twice) and cut a strip to that width. Use your standard acr...

Today is the last day of 11 in the Christmas in July Blog Hop. Our last designer is: Tammy Silvers, Snow Village & Rustic Village Christmas  https://www.tamarinis.com/ .  Today I want to share several projects I made using Festive Season, a past collection designed by Jackie Robinson. Here is a table topper that was featured in 2017 on the Benartex blog. Click that link to see my steps to this beautiful table topper. Festive Season Table Topper I even show how to fussy cut that center hexagon: Steps to fussy cutting the center hexagon Then I kept playing with these gorgeous fabrics. Who could resist? Dozens of half hexagons cut but they sat for a few years I used a few to make a large Twisted Hexagon wall banner. I was able to fussy cut some more of those awesome cardinals. I loved using the cardinal vertical printed panels for the sides. The colors are SO rich in this beauty! Twisted Hexagon Wall banner I also was able to use the remainin...

I shared this awesome collection back in April. Check out the post and the cute quilt I made using the panels. I was invited to blog about these fabrics again in our Christmas in July blog hop for Benartex. I have had such fun with these Chickadees. They are a continuation of the original Chickadee fabrics by the very talented Jackie Robinson. First the fabrics: Festive Chickadees by Jackie Robinson And the quilt I made using several of the panels and my own birdhouse patterns (upsized). You can see the steps for this  by clicking the link, with lots of photos close up of these beautiful fabrics. Festive Chickadees Quilt : 43" x 48" I used 10 of the 14 panels and have 4 left to play with. They are rectangles! Each one features a special Chickadee on black with holly berries. Chirp, chirp! Now for my next project, made especially for this blog hop. I am revisiting my Twisted Hexagons block because I wanted to fussy cut some of these chickadees in the center...

I designed a quilt for Cut Loose Press featuring their Creative Grids 60 degree ruler. It was a REAL success! It sold hundreds of patterns. Was it because there are no y-seams in this? Was it because the fabrics are so happy? Whatever the reason, I finally quilted another of my class samples made with this pattern. This was waiting in the wings for 7 years. Hey - I'm busy, alright?! The hexagons are cut with a standard 60 degree triangle ruler (no funky templates). Happy Hexie Table Runner : 29" x 54" This was the last of some fabrics from 2013. Before I show you the other 3 runners, let me show you the items I made with this same collection. I made 3 Twisted Hexagon blocks and set them with the side triangles. I fussy cut the centers with that awesome motif. 3 Block Twisted Hexagon runner And here is the 4 Block Table Topper I've shared here before. These blocks use the same patches as the Twisted Hexagon, but they are arranged in the vintage Wagon Whe...