Friday, 24 February 2012

Happy House, Happy Two Years

So tomorrow is the official date for my second blog birthday, I am jumping a gun the little today but hey, who is going to stop me?  Blogging has bought me such great friendships and opportunities, I could not love it more!  So to celebrate, as many of you guessed, a little house block for anyone who wants to make one!


I made mine as little gifts to a couple of kind people.   The block is 4.5" unfinished, 4"finished, perfect size for lavender bags (as below) or pincushions or a for sewing on a bigger scale to make quilt block houses.


All the pieces are a perfect size for scraps so I went for a mix of vintage and modern and used some of my tiniest pieces.  The tiniest of all was the little ducky- it was an umbrella rather than a noose, no ducks were harmed in the making of this lavender bag.


For both houses  I used the freezer paper template method for piecing and Y seams for the roof chimney area.  The square blocks were rounded off and I added a light woven interfacing to make the blocks suitable for lavender bags.  


Now I know some of you fear the Yseams or prefer to foundation rather than freezer paper piece, so I have a multi option pattern for you.  If you want more details on how to paper piece, check out my paper piecing page for lots of online resources, and if you want to learn the very basics of foundation paper piecing where you stitch through a paper pattern, visit Katy's Foundation Paper Piecing for the Terrified Quilt-a-long


 Click on your choice below for your piecing preference! Both freezer paper pattens could be hand sewn- a great way to learn a Y seam- as well as machine sewn.  And when you have made your creation, please add to my Flickr group so I can see it!  I fancy nine little happy houses sewn together to make the centre of a cushion!
 *******************
Freezer Paper {no Y seams} PDF
Freezer Paper {with Y seams} PDF
Foundation Paper PDF

 sib blog

55 comments:

  1. Such cute lavender bags!
    Thank you for the link to Kate's QAL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy second blog birthday! Your work is so very cute! And thank you for your generosity! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is such cute lavender bags, Kerry! I think Lynne is right about us being sisters! I made a very small house just like this and mine has a long ribbon attached on top too although yours is absolutely prettier than mine! I love this idea so much! Off to add this to my to-make list!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy blogiversary!
    Thanks for the cute pattern and for sharing your work so generously :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congrats on two years of blogging!!! Doesn't it swing by so fast? Thank you for the adorable pattern, so cute I can't not try it :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy 2 years :-) I'll add this pattern to my exceptionally long to-do list! Thank you :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. happy 2 years of blogging!
    these are so cute-thanks for sharing :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy 2 years of Blogging Thanks for all your tuturials. I love them all
    And the new one with the small houses are so cute.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So cute Kerry! Congrats on the big 2!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations Kerry, and what a wonderful two years it has been!! I love these small houses, they are on my to sew list for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congrats, Kerry!! I love your paper piecing!! They are so fun! I just printed out the house and am trying to give it a try this time!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gorgeous Kerry, thanks for sharing your talents with us! I love the idea of some little lavender houses for my drawers.
    Happy blog birthday to you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Many returns of the day! Love your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy 2nd, Kerry!! Your work is so inspiring, and so distinctive -- and I can't wait to see what you stitch up in year 3.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy second birthday!! Thank you for the pattern - it's wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations on 2 years! I just recently found your blog and have been enjoying it immensely. :) Thank you for the great little houses!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow that was a fast two years. Thank you for the cute houses!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations on the anniversary, Kerry! Your houses are really cute, thank you for sharing them with us all! They make super gifts, but I think I need one for myself...
    ; )

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your patterns so much, and certainly will add this to my growing list of favourites. Thanks for sharing your talent with us, and congratulations on your 2 year blog anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Happy Birthday to one of my very favorite blogs - written by one of my very favorite people! Such an adorable pattern - though I'm glad you clarified that the duck wasn't doing himself any harm.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy blogaversary!!! Thanks so much for a darling pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the tripple tutorial and links. What really makes this project is your choice of fabrics-- love all those texts!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for this adorable little house pattern. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy 2 years blogging! What adorable little houses! A cushion would be so cute with those in the center!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congratulations on your anniversary, Kerry!
    Thank you the lovely house pattern! It at last time for me to try the paper piecing.
    x Teje

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi again! Could you please tell me what kind of paper is freezer paper?
    Thank you! x Teje
    nerospostatgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freezer paper is used in USA for wrapping and storing food, it is a waxed opaque paper. One side is papery and the other side is shiny with a waxy coating. When you use an iron on the papery side the waxy side temporarily sticks to the fabric, it can be peeled away without leaving a residue. It seems to always be a certain brand- Reynolds!

      Delete
  27. May I just shout... THIS IS SO CUTE!!.. Thank you so much for sharing your talent! and Happy Anniversary!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Happy blogiversary!
    These houses are too cute. I just can't imagine that piecing so tiny Y seems is possible and you did that great!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Am umbrella, uh huh... ;o)

    Happy bloggiversary, and thank you for both the shout out and the patterns. In the spirit of learning, I'm going to try with freezer paper and a Y seam (as we haven't had much fun in the past, Y seams and I lol)

    ReplyDelete
  30. this pattern is so sweet, Kerry! And you did three different versions? Goodness you really rock!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Happy Blogiversary - this is a really sweet pattern and I love the path perspective, genius x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy blogiversary! Many returns of the day!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Happy second Birthday, Kerry!! And you are very generous sharing this awesome pattern with all of us!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Those are so cute, thank you. Happy blog birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Very cool, cute little houses. Happy 2nd birthday!

    ReplyDelete
  36. happy bloggy birthday! such a fun little pattern, thanks for sharing xxx

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy blogiversary! Its so lovely to be inspired by your amazing creativity:)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Happy 2 years of lovliness! This little blog is super adorable. I'm going to pick up some lavender this afternoon so I can whip one up.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hmmm...the second sentence of my comment didn't make sense. I think I meant this little "house" is super adorable. The blog is pretty awesome as well.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Very charming <a href="http://www.celialindsell.com/category.php?cid=7”>lavender bags</a>, and beautifully made too. I know well what work this takes. What kind of lavender do you use?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Congrats Kerry you make our blog world ver interesting and lovely

    ReplyDelete
  42. Kerry
    congrats on two years!!! Your blog is always an inspiration and education. I feel very lucky to be a recipient of one of your lovely little lavendar houses : )
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  43. You're such a dear to give us these sweet patterns! Congrats on two years!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Kerry, thanks so much for connecting me to your blog from flicker. This little house is so enchanting...I have never paper pieced or done foundation pieceing so the whole thing is very confusing to me but I am determined to make this beautiful house. Thank you!
    Cat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy the process and end up with a cute little house!

      Delete
  45. Happy Blog Birthday. You could always attach a little daisy (like from a ribbon strand of daisies, kind of like lace) to the ducks umbrella. Then it would look like they were leaning out the window with a flower. Or a button might work too.

    These are adorable. Thanks for the gift!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Happy two years Birthday's blog, Kerry!! You deserve all the sucess you have been receiving! I adore your projects, you already know! :)
    And I need to tell you that after I learned to use freezer paper method, I never needed to tear off the paper ( this was the terrible part to me) and after all, I re-use two or three times the same pattern! It is amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowlegments, creativity and talents! A huge hug from your brazilian friend! XO Sil

    ReplyDelete
  47. OMG, I'm having to improvise on a pattern and this adorable little house is PERFECT!! You've saved me!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Oh, and thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time out to leave your thoughts, I do very much appreciate you stopping by! Blogger is not sending comments through by email at the moment so I'll reply in the comments.