Welcome to my 2011 Block of the Month, “My Tweets”. This will be a fun appliqué BOM filled with colorful birds and flowers. As I was coming up with the designs for this I looked at a LOT of Folk Art from the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. It turns out that the name for these types of birds is “distelfink”. I figured I would update it a bit and go with Tweets. It’s a bit ironic since I don’t actually use Twitter so just take this as my version of tweeting. Aren’t you glad I didn’t name it “My Distelfinks”?
This BOM will be very much like last year’s Florabunda except that I am asking people to buy the center block. The money I make on my patterns helps me keep this blog up and running and I greatly appreciate every purchase. If buying patterns isn’t feasible for you right now there will be directions for finishing the quilt as a twin size using only the free patterns.The pattern is Miss Kelly and you can find it in my Etsy shop. Just click on the "Visit My Shop" button on the left side of the blog to get there. If you prefer to buy this at your local quilt shop I sell it through United Notions under my company name One PIece at a Time Quilts. Most quilt shops will special order for you. If there are any issues with this please e-mail me.
There are also a couple of options for finishing the medallion quit as well.
Here is a sneak peak of the first option.
There will be an appliqué border on this quilt for those of you who aren’t heartily sick of appliqué come next December.
Here is the second option.
This will be the diagram I use for introducing the monthly blocks. If you aren’t up for an appliqué border this will be the version for you.
For the first version you will need 8 yards of background fabric and 2 ½ yards of fabric for the sashing squares and binding. Sometimes it’s a good idea to get a few block done before you pick out your sashing fabric so you can see how it will all go together. I will get the fabric requirements figured out for version 2 soon.
I have a new blog category called “My Tweets” where I will have all this information stored for easy finding. There is also a FLCKR group that I hope you will all join. It’s a great way to see what other people are doing with the patterns.
If you have a blog and would like a My Tweets badge you can click here. Just copy the HTML code from the file and paste it into you blogging software.
I’m off to finish up Block 1 which I will HOPEFULLY have up on Friday.
Ambrosia update: nag alert…please vote please vote please vote
CIAO
SINCERAMENTE PREFERISCO LA PRIMA ANCHE PER CAMBIARE CON QUELLO DI fLORABUNDA.
GRAZIE ANCORA eRIN
Posted by: FLAVIA | 01/12/2011 at 06:04 AM
Hi Erin, I'd like to ad the My Tweets badge to my blog but nothing happens when I add your code to a HTML gadget. Is it working or is it me?
(Yes voted twice today already, will do 3rd in a bit!!)
Posted by: Viewfromourhill.blogspot.com | 01/12/2011 at 06:38 AM
I voted! just about the first thing that I do every morning! your quilt far outshined the rest of them!
Posted by: Cathy Richards | 01/12/2011 at 06:39 AM
I tried the badge as well, and I tried it with taking out the spaces, and that didn't seem to help either.. :( dern
Posted by: Marcia Kosturock | 01/12/2011 at 10:53 AM
I can get it to work with the spaces but not without
I will ask my tech guy...i.e. my son
Posted by: erinrussek | 01/12/2011 at 04:56 PM
I could get it to work with the spaces but not without.
I will ask my tech guy...i.e. my son
Posted by: erinrussek | 01/12/2011 at 04:57 PM
Hi Erin,
Since I am Dutch I can help you with the name of the bird: it is called distelvink or putter (carduelis carduelis), but it does not look a bit like your bird, so I wonder who came up with this "likeness". This bird seems to dress its nest with the fluff of thistles, hence the name "thistlefinch".
Anyway, My Tweets sounds much better! I am looking forward to it and hope to find the time to make it some day, just like the Florabunda (some day...)! But first I have to finish quite a stash of UFO's :(
Digna
The Netherlands
Posted by: Digna | 01/13/2011 at 12:53 AM
This bird seems to dress its nest with the fluff of thistles, hence the name "thistlefinch".
Posted by: torrent download | 01/20/2011 at 02:45 AM
wowwwwwwwww what a gorgous quilt this will make!
Posted by: Linda McNeely | 01/23/2011 at 06:12 AM
Hi Erin...
This is gorgeous! I'd love to include a link to this year's BOM in my newsletter that is going out this weekend. May I have your permission to copy the photo at the top of this 1/12/11 blog entry to jazz up the newsletter article and grab quilters' attention? I won't use it unless I have your permission.
There's a section on my website with a tutorial for invisible machine applique (under Machine Applique on the Nav Bar) that might be of interest to some of your readers that love applique and don't know how (or want) to do it by hand.
Let me know if you approve. This and Floribunda are wonderful. The downloads were smooth, the patterns nicely drawn. Very professional and BEAUTIFUL!
Julie Baird
Posted by: Julie Baird | 01/27/2011 at 10:00 AM
I just discovered your blog and My Tweets. I was in the Design Star Contest also but was eliminated after the first round. I love this BOM!! I tried to put your gadget on my sidebar and nothing happens. Can you check it and make sure it is working properly and let me know? Thanks!!!
Posted by: Mama Spark | 02/11/2011 at 06:50 PM
Mama Sparks sent me over here and I am so glad she did. Yes, I want to enter the BOM - but what size will the finished quilt be? (I may have missed this in the post.)
Hugs - Marie
Posted by: Marie | 02/13/2011 at 11:25 AM
If You Feel You Have a Chance.. Take it... Cuz Most Beautiful Things in this World Looks Betta with a Frame Around em, Inside your Mind.- My level of interest in micro finance. I’m still a committed P2P micro lender, and I will continue to share the individual stories of entrepreneurs in the developing world who are taking the initiative to improve their lives, the well-being of their families, and their communities.
http://www.dellgx270.com
Posted by: dell gx270 | 02/18/2011 at 10:48 PM
Enjoy the love life because the process is to take the risk, the future will be what happened can not be predicted, only to grasp their own destiny!
Posted by: Chanel Handbags | 02/25/2011 at 08:00 PM
when and how can I bey the center block?
Posted by: Judy | 05/05/2011 at 04:16 PM
I would be interested in doing your BOM....looks
Please advise how I can join
Posted by: Maria | 05/15/2011 at 03:37 PM
just download the patterns and start! See My Tweets under categories for previous posts. The center block is in my shop (click on Visit My Shop button on left side of blog)
Posted by: erinrussek | 05/15/2011 at 04:10 PM
I read somewhere while I was researching Pennsylvania Dutch art that "distlefink" is the phonetic spelling of "thistle finch" said with a Dutch accent. My parents were German, a language which is very close to Dutch, and that's exactly how they would have said "thistle finch". It explains all the birds in the designs too.
Posted by: rita | 07/07/2011 at 12:17 PM
When I print out the four parts and tape them together, they are not measuring 14 ". They are coming out more like 13.3 inches. What can I do to get the actual size?
Posted by: Evelyn Chagnon | 08/19/2011 at 04:32 AM
Really great post nice work i love your work and its really helped me in my research.Thanks
Posted by: this website | 08/06/2012 at 02:37 AM
For my wedding I got a beautiful quilt. I have photos of it.
Posted by: Wendy | 03/03/2013 at 01:10 PM