Second block of “Bohemian Bouquet”

This is the second block in my mystery block-of-the-month quilt “Bohemian Bouquet.” It is 14" square. Mail order patterns went out today, and fabric kits for the block are available at Quilters Loft Company in Mooresville tomorrow. The next block will be revealed, and the pattern available, on March 15. There are a total of 11 patterns to this quilt.

My friend DeLane Rosenau is doing this quilt in different colors, and using fused appliqué with satin stitch. Here is her block. Isn't it great?



If you don’t live in Mooresville and want to purchase patterns, you can buy them on my website, www.bluemoonriver.com, and I’ll ship a new block to you each month for 11 months. The cost is $55 for all 11, plus $1 shipping per month, for a grand total of $66.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When I was a kid, I always made valentines instead of buying them. At my house, my mom (a home economics teacher before she was a full-time mom and homemaker) got out the paper doilies and the red and pink construction paper, and we went to town. Nowadays, it seems like most kids buy valentines. But not here at the Knapp household! It’s handmade for us, all the way!

This year, we made paper flowers, using pencils as the stems. The flowers are actually three hearts, cut out and glued at the points. After punching a hole with a standard size hole punch, you can slide the pencil through it and it stays without gluing to the pencil. Then, use a tiny piece of double-sided tape to secure the leaf, upon which is written a little Valentine’s Day greeting. Together, they make a glorious bouquet!

I have to give Martha Stewart her due: This idea is hers, but she used lollipops instead of pencils, and I'm not sure if she did leaves.

I decided to go the low-sugar option (the kids always come home with about a month’s supply of sugar on holidays!) and bought pink pencils. After my kids were completely done making these, my seven-year-0ld asked, “So where are we going to attach the candy?” and was completely horrified when I told her that the pencil was the treat. So I caved. They are headed for school today with the pencil flower valentines … and lollipops.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful day filled with love! Susan