Butterfly Charm Block Week 8

The holiday season is getting closer and this house is a mad house for sure!!! There is still so much to before next weekend is here and I am really hoping my boys can get it together this week and play nice so I can get it all done. 




In the mean time I have a beautiful butterfly to share with you this week!!! We decided to wait to do our red and green butterflies until the last couple weeks because we knew it would fall around the Christmas season.

I am truly excited to be getting to the end of this project to see it all put together.  I can't wait to share it when it's done!!!
For those of you that are just tuning in My best Friend Crystal from Crystalized Designs and I have been doing a butterfly charm block sew along. We are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery.

If you have never done paper piecing before I honestly suggest just trying it out. We have had so much fun with this and it really is so easy!! I had never done paper piecing before we did this project but I checked out a  tutorial by Connecting Threads.  After I watched this a few times it has been super easy ever since!!!!




For the most part during this project I have been using my scrap colors that I have had stashed away for a rainy day. These paper piecing projects are perfect for those scrap stacks. 

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 7

Only 2 butterflies left to go after this week, and I can't tell you how excited I am to put this all together!!!

We had a busy week at our house this past week. My brother came into town and stayed the weekend. We went and saw Christmas lights at the Madison Zoo and stopped to see the state capital. It was my first time at the capital so it was pretty neat to see the inside of it. With all the cleaning and decorating and visiting going on I ended up cranking this weeks butterfly out Sunday night after dinner. Talk about waiting till the last minute........





For those of you that are just tuning in My best Friend Crystal from Crystalized Designs and I have been doing a butterfly charm block sew along. We are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery.

If you have never done paper piecing before I honestly suggest just trying it out. We have had so much fun with this and it really is so easy!! I had never done paper piecing before we did this project but I checked out a  tutorial by Connecting Threads.  After I watched this a few times it has been super easy ever since!!!!






For this weeks Butterfly  I used the  Lucy's Crab Shack Charm Pack from Moda Fabrics again. I think the little touches of other colors in there help tie it together with the other butterflies, since the other ones are so much brighter. 

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 6

We are 2/3 of the way done with our Butterfly Charm Block Sew A long!!!!!!!! 

For those of you that are just tuning in My best Friend Crystal from Crystalized Designs and I have been doing a butterfly charm block sew along. We are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery.

If you have never done paper piecing before I honestly suggest just trying it out. We have had so much fun with this and it really is so easy!! I had never done paper piecing before we did this project but I checked out a  tutorial by Connecting Threads.  After I watched this a few times it has been super easy ever since!!!!




I know every week I tell you I love how that weeks butterfly turned out but this week I think is my favorite so far. I just really like how the pinks came together. These butterflies work up so quickly its a great project for those without a whole lot of time.

This next week I will be working with a dark blue color scheme. 

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 5

I honestly Love Mondays lately lol. Every week I get to share a pretty butterfly with you to start the week out right! For those of you that are just tuning in My best Friend Crystal from Crystalized Designs and I have been doing a butterfly charm block sew along for a few weeks now. 5 to be exact. We are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery. There are 3 different butterfly patterns to her pdf and I love them all!

For those of you that might be unsure of paper piecing I honestly suggest this amazing  tutorial by Connecting Threads.  After I watched this a few times it has been super easy ever since!!!!


I really love how my light green one turned out!!! This was the Gadget Pattern. I can usually work up each butterfly in about an hour or so.

I am really excited for next week's color. I will be using pink!!!!

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 4

I LOVE MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I LOVE BUTTERFLIES!!!!!!!!!

 If you are just tuning in we are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery.

If you have never paper pieced before but would like to learn, I found an amazing tutorial by Connecting Threads.

And don't forget to stop by Crystal's Blog to check out her butterfly this week!!!!

This week I did my Yellow Butterfly. I had a few distractions this week while getting things ready for some of my family visiting this past weekend.

 I didn't notice till I pieced the last 2 pieces together that I forgot to cut off access fabric after each step. If you look really closely you might notice. Other then that I got this one worked up in an hour. I honestly just love how fast these work up. 





This next week I was supposed to be working up my teal butterfly however I have decided against my fabric choices so I am going to run to the fabric store and see if I can find some that I like otherwise there will be a mystery color!!!!!!!!!!!

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 3

It's MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Which means I get to show you another AMAZING Butterfly today. If you are just tuning in we are using the Butterfly Charm Block  Paper Piece Pattern by Lillyella stitchery.

If you have never paper pieced before but would like to learn, I found an amazing tutorial by Connecting Threads.

And don't forget to stop by Crystal's Blog to check out her butterfly this week!!!! (PSSST) This week she did my favorite color)

For this weeks Butterfly  I used the  Lucy's Crab Shack Charm Pack from Moda Fabrics. So I have to admit this butterfly is special to me this week. There is a secret hidden within the butterfly!!!!!!!

This is the third butterfly in the collection of patterns that you get. This one is called Cricket. These honestly work up so quickly. And remember this project is the first time both Crystal and I have ever tried our hand at paper piecing.  It is just so much fun. I was able to get this butterfly done in just over an hour with minor distractions from the tiny humans.


Speaking of tiny human so when I was piecing this fabric together there was one block that had a ton of names on it and behold in one of the corners of this single fabric square is my threenagers name. So I knew I had to squeeze that tiny corner of that fabric into my butterfly.

Now the search is on.......I must find fabric that contains my oldest sons name.      

Stay tuned................ 

Here is the fabric for next week!!!

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Grand Re-Opening

I have some great and wonderful news!!!!! 

Both my Made to Order and Digital Shops 

are now Re-Opened!!!!!!!! 

Both shops have special discounts going on. The sale is good through Monday Nov 13th

On my Made to Order Shop if you use Coupon Code REOPENING2017 and get 25% off your entire purchase with a minimum purchase of $15.00

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SmalltownDreamz

On my Digital Shop there are 2 coupon codes available!

Use coupon code GRANDREOPENING and get 50% off your total purchase

OR With a Minimum purchase of $20.00 or more you will get 75% off your total purchase using coupon code GRANDREOPENING2017

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SmalltownDigiDreamz

Thank you for all your support!!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 2

Well Week 2 was a success. I had learned all my mistakes from Week 1 and really had no problems this week. If you are just tuning in and want to learn how to paper piece I found this amazing YouTube tutorial from Connecting Threads . We are using the pattern Butterfly Charm Block Pattern by  Lillyella stitchery. Also remember you can catch Crystal's weekly butterfly over on her blog Crystalized Designs.



So this week I did an orange butterfly. I have to be honest orange is not my favorite color in the world. And I really didn't have much to choose from in the orange color category in terms of fabric. However I really do like the way the colors started looking once I started piecing it together. 

There are 3 different butterflies to this pattern collection. So next week you will also see a slightly different layout. I am just in love with these patterns. And I honestly Can't wait to see it all done. I would have to say paper piece quilting is definitely a new hobby and I can't wait to do more projects after this. 









I love the fabric for next week. I will be using the light blue color out of the Lucy's Crab Shack Charm Pack from Moda Fabrics that I have been holding on to what seems like forever haha. 

Butterfly Charm Block Pattern by  Lillyella stitchery

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block Week 1

Well we did it!!!! We got through our first week on our very first paper piece project ever!!!!

So let me tell you a little bit about this week went down haha. At first I was super scared. I had all my pieces cut out and I sat there staring at them. I was just So intimidated.  Took a couple of deep breathes and took a swig from my soda and said...... "Let's do this".

So I thought I remembered to do everything I had watched on the YouTube tutorials that I found from Connecting Threads and I jumped in. Started on section A like the instructions said and put my fabric pieces behind it and away I start sewing on the line between section 1 and 2........ Yup ok something is off here..... Oh I forgot to make sure the fabric was facing the right directions.........Derp........Out comes the seam ripper.

*Note 1- Back of fabric 1 should be up against back of pattern. fabric 2 should be facing so both fabric pieces are facing right side of fabric together

This time I make sure my fabric is facing the right directions and away I start sewing again... restitching the line between 1 and 2 got to fold my paper to cut my seam allowance and realize section 2 fabric is facing the wrong way for the seam allowance and almost cut most the fabric off.................ooops Double Derp......Out comes the seam ripper once again.

*Note 2 - Make sure when placing your fabric pieces after the first one that they are just over the 1/4 inch seam allowance over the line into that section piece working from the previous section you finished.  ex when placing fabric 2 make sure the fabric is hanging 1/4 inch past the 2 line and even with your seam allowance from fabric 1 (hope that made sense)

At this point I went and re watched the videos like 3 times over haha. Ok lets do this again haha.

So after re watching the videos and taking a few more deep breathes needless to say I finally got it and OMG this paper piecing is SOOOOOOOOOO much fun!!!!! I am honestly really happy with how my first butterfly turned out.

I want to add that once I understood the first couple steps this project works up super quickly. If you have wanted to try paper piecing I suggest take a deep breathe and do it. You won't regret it. I can't wait to do more projects like this one.


OH one more thing......your Iron is your best friend in this project. Skipping out on the ironing step can make all the difference in the world when matching your seams up to piece your project together.



I am super excited to start the next one. Here is my color choice for next weeks butterfly.....

Also check out Crystal's Butterfly this week over at Crystalized Designs!! She also picked her favorite color for this weeks butterfly and it turned out beautifully!!

Butterfly Charm Block Pattern by  Lillyella stitchery

If you’re joining in on the sewing fun, I’d love to see! Feel free to post pictures on or tag me on any social media site!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Butterfly Charm Block and a Bestie!!

For years my Best Friend Crystal and I love to do projects together and with me just coming back on to the scene I wanted to do something meaningful and fun!!

Our Favorite animal (insect) has been the butterfly so when I saw these amazing Butterfly Charm Blocks by  Lillyella stitchery  I knew I wanted to make that. So I wrote Crystal and said wouldn't this be fun!!! And so here we go!!!!


This will be my first time challenging myself with charm blocks by paper piecing I am super excited and scared all at the same time haha.


I did find a paper piecing tutorial by Connecting Threads that made me feel much better about taking on this project and now I am even more excited to dive in and start.


We are going to do a 9 square wall hang in a rainbow format. I am so excited to hang this in my office when it's done!! Each week we will share with you one of our butterfly blocks along with the next weeks fabric color choice. This week I am going to start out with my favorite color....Purple!!



We hope that you follow along and perhaps maybe even join along. See you next week and I will have my first charm to share with you!! You can follow Crystal's progress on her Butterfly Charm Blocks over on her blog Crystalized Designs

Handmade Sweatshirt

ASweatshirt

Made With 

This past year I did manage to squeak out a few things for my boys.  I wanted to share with you one of my favorite things I think I have ever made so far.  My oldest has been a long time fan of the game Minecraft along with the YouTube guy called Stampylongnose.




A couple years back I ordered the most amazing Minecraft fabric and I sat on it for almost a year before deciding what was the best route for him and this awesome fabric. I eventually decided on throwing it all in and facing my fears to take over the biggest sewing project I have yet to try....... I made a sweatshirt!!









As the panel was not long enough to cover down to the waste band I used some of the square material that I used on the back of the sweatshirt and inner hoodie on the bottom front .

All in all though I think it turned out pretty good for my first major clothing project!!



Needless to say I had a very happy boy!!!

The Sweatshirt Pattern is All Ears Hoodie by Max & Meena

The Fabric was Ordered though (unknown at this time, I will update as soon I find out)

Looking Forward.....

As I sit here and dust off the cobwebs to my tiny ghost town of a blog, I am excited to make a fresh start and slowly get back to what I love.

We all have those moments in time where the world spins so fast you just need to step off the tilt-a-whirl and get your feet grounded again. I was able to focus on the kiddos while we all adjusted to a big move half way across the state. The transition to a new place and away from all our friends and family was not an easy one and my oldest took it the hardest.

We now have lived in our new place for just over a year now and as much as we still really miss our family and friends we could not be happier with our move.  My oldest now has a ton of kids his age to play with in our subdivision and we are close to all the things my Husband and I love.

I know that it will take me time to get out and meet new friends as it is not easy getting out so much when you are not feeling well. The one thing I actually missed the most since I took this time off was this. The feeling of accomplishment when you get a project done. Seeing all the fun and amazing things that you are all making. I missed feeling like I was part of something. So with that I am so excited to be sitting in my craft room which felt pretty abandoned since we moved in and I am starting to brighten up my life again with colors and crafting!!!!!

I look forward to sharing all the new things to come! Over the next few months I will be reopening my shops and getting back into the swing of things.