The Maker Movement

Fellow Quilters,

What feeds your soul?  Is it spending time with family?  Perhaps connecting with friends – the “family” we choose?  Maybe it’s travelling or participating in your favorite sport or puttering in the garden or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  How about journaling or singing or acting in a local theatre troupe?  Or even swinging a hammer, decorating or crafting?

When I look at the not-so-short list of things that feed my soul, a common thread is “making”.  I have been crafting since I was a kid, likely because my mom and Nana crafted.  Sewing, knitting, painting and cooking were routine activities in our home, particularly when my Nana visited.  I have very fond memories of making sequined or painted Christmas ornaments with my siblings under Nana’s guidance. I started sewing on my mom’s trusty Singer sewing machine when I was 7 years old and was far more excited than her when she (a.k.a. we) received a top-of-the-line Husqvarna machine for Christmas a few years later.  We always wore hand-knitted sweaters and mittens in the winter, and before long I was knitting and crocheting alongside Mom and Nana.  They encouraged us kids to assist with meal preparation and even plan some meals.  No excuse for not eating dinner!  As a result, my siblings and I are quite adept in the kitchen.  Hubby is equally proficient in the kitchen (he is the resident sous-vide specialist) and is also a maker, although his niche is fixing things or home improvements.  Our sons also have the “maker” gene – Older Son is a carpenter who also loves to tinker with old vehicles, while Younger Son has Dad’s “fixing” gene, and both boys are fabulous cooks.

Where is all this leading?  Well, this month’s theme for Quilt Block Mania is “maker”.  A full slate of 24 designers has each designed a block featuring various creative hobbies, from woodworking to painting, to needlecrafts and more.  I couldn’t decide which activity to choose so I designed a block that encompasses all of them.

My Makr block for Quilt Block Mania’s Maker theme

Here is my MAKR block.

You can find the pattern here.

It would look great combined with any number of the other Maker blocks in a fun quilt for a crafty person.  (Have you noticed that there is an increased interest in making?  Making is having a moment!) You can find the links to the blocks below:

Gear Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Hammer by Patchwork Breeze
Canning Jars by Crafty Staci
Rotary Cutter by Katie Mae
Cricut Maker by Appliques Quilts and More
Spool and Bobbins by Inquiring Quilter
Music Maker by Scrapdash
Variegated Thread by EvaPaige Quilt Designs
Pretty Spools by Sew Worthy Mama
Pottery by Inflorescence Designs
Quilt Maker by QuiltFabrication
Maker block by Patti’s Patchwork
Heart Hand by Brown Bird Designs
Quilting Bear by Colette Belt Designs
My Favorite Things by Robin Kinley Designs, Etc.
Cross Stitch Block by Slightly Biased Quilts
Paint Palette by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Sewing Friends by Epida Studio
Make My Mark by Cristy Fincher
I Love to Make quilt block by Victoria Peat
Rainbow Glimmers by Craftapalooza Designs
Sweetgrass Basket by Emerald Falls Quilts
Maker Block: Sewing Machine by Oh Kaye Quilting
Pincushion by Flowerdog+Co
Painters Tools FPP by Amanda Harris

Or perhaps you want to use the MAKR block on a tote bag to store your crafty projects.  Or even a small wall-hanging for your own “making” space.

A shout-out to Donna N for winning the January QBM giveaway – she won 2 free patterns from Patti’s Patchwork.  This month you’re all winners, as I’m sharing my favorite (and super easy) Valentine’s dessert recipe – Orange Chocolate Mousse.  It’s totally worth the calories!  And it feeds my chocolatey soul 😊

That’s all for now.  In this “love-ly month, please do something that feeds your soul and makes you smile (as my friend Michelle of Watergirl Quilt Co says) 😊😊

Cheers,

Patti