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!
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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!

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

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  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!

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

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  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 :)

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

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

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  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.

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

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  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!

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  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!

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  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!

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

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  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.

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

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

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

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  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...
    ; )

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  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!

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  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.

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

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

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

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

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  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

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

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    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!

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

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  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!

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  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)

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

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

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  32. Happy blogiversary! Many returns of the day!

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

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

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

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

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

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  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.

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  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.

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  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?

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

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  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

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

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  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

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

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  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!

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  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

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

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  48. Oh, and thanks!

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