Hi, and Welcome to my day for the #IslandBatikAmbassador's New Beginnings blog hop!
These fun collections have been out since Fall Market, so they're arriving in stores now! If your favorite LQS didn't order this, you're going to have to ask them to get this for you. If you're a pet lover, you need this! My collection is Fifi and Fido, an adorable group of bright batiks featuring paw prints and a variety of dogs. You may have seen this collection when Aurifil Thread, Island Batik and some other companies had information about October's National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog blog hop. You can read more about that HERE.
Photo from Island Batik.
So, here's my reason to love dog prints!
This is Hazel. She's 7 and was adopted from North Shore Animal League when she was only 7 weeks old. She's a sweetheart, and loves to play ball, and snuggle on my quilts. She approves of this new top!
I received this bundle, and had no idea what to make! I thought of a purse, and of some kennel quilts for shelter dogs (and I'll make some), but what could I do that was different? A friend suggested Attic Windows featuring the dog print, but I needed to use 8 prints. Finally, an idea popped into my head. I had been seeing lots of posts from the Be My Neighbor by Moda quilt, and I purchased a copy of American Patchwork & Quilting, which had Wendy Sheppard's Close Quarters house quilt on the cover.
So, I figured the neighborhood also needed a dog house!
I checked on EQ7, and they didn't have an actual dog house, and most of the houses looked more like people houses, so I drew my own. Here's what I did.
Dog House Block
1 12" finished size block. Use 1/4" seam allowance.
From Red FQ (I used 2 from previous Island Batik collections):
Cut one 6 1/2 by 10 1/2" rectangle.
Cut one 5 1/4 by 7" rectangle (you'll need 2 if using regular prints, but 1 will work for batiks and solids) (1 FQ will give you 2 house blocks).
From Blue Sky fabric: Cut 1 strip 2 1/2" by 12 1/2", and one 5 1/4 by 7" rectangle (again, 2 if using regular prints).
Green scraps for side lawn: 2 pieces that are 1 1/2 by 6 1/2"
White Accent Trim: Cut one 1 1/4 by 20, pressed in half, wrong sides together, to make a piece that's 5/8" wide.
Dog House Opening: Black piece about 3 1/2" square. I fussy cut dogs from the Black Dog print, SKU 121614795, backed it with fusible web, and then trimmed it into an arch top shape. I was thinking of adding a template for this shape, but since each of my dogs has a different size, it didn't make sense.
Directions:
1. Sew the green to the sides of the base of the house (6 1/2" by 10 1/2" rectangle) to make a 6 1/2" by 12 1/2" rectangle. Press to the red.
2. Place the blue and red 5 1/4 by 7" rectangle right sides together, and cut on one diagonal.
Sort the pieces so they look like a peaked roof, with the red on the bottom and blue on top. I wanted to have the accent, so I layered the triangles and the accent together, and sewed in 1/4" seam. Line the white accent cut edge along the diagonal edge of the red triangle, and the flip over the blue, and match all cut edges. The corners are close to matching, but there's extra to trim, so if it's a little wonky, it's fine.
Press this seam to the blue.
Now, trim your roof/sky section to 4 1/2 by 6 1/2"
The white section should be 1/8" away from the top corner. Note where that is, as well as the white on the bottom left section. Since it's a weird angle, the ruler doesn't have a line to place the white on, so just make sure it looks even and square, and that you've left 1/8" at the top of the peak so you won't chop it off when sewing.
Do the right side, reversed, lining up the white on the top left side, again, down 1/8" from the left top of the ruler.
Join the left and right peaks together, matching the top roof line, and press this seam open.
3: Sew the 2 1/2" by 12 1/2" sky strip to the top of the peak, (press to sky) and sew the peak/sky section to the house/grass section (press to house). Choose your puppy, and applique it on! I used Aurifil 40 wt in black, and a blanket stitch.
Your Doghouse Block is done!
For my quilt, I made 3 doghouses, chose 3 different dogs, and set them apart with a 2" by 12 1/2" black paw print sashing.
I set aside the multi/dog and multi/paw print for border and binding, and cut the other fabrics with my 6 1/2" Accuquilt GO! Tumbler die. I wanted something that would be fun to show the prints, but not be just blocks. I sewed 9 tumblers into a row, and made 5 rows. I trimmed the tumblers even with the doghouse blocks, added the black paw print inner border, and the multi/orange dog outer border. My top measures about 50 by 53", great for a toddler bed or a fun lap quilt, or Tummy Time quilt.
If you make some Doghouse Blocks, please share on my Facebook page! I would love to see them. I would also love it if you would "LIKE" my page while you're there.
I have a great idea for some quilting, and plan to use a Minkee type backing fabric. I'll get this finished soon, hopefully before the blog hop ends. I can't wait to show my idea for quiltig!
So, have you been following along with the other Ambassadors? Check them out for inspiration and chances to win prizes.
Here's the schedule...
Also, I have a prize for someone. Just comment below with the name of your pet, or what you would do with this collection. I'll be sending someone some Island Batik fabrics, a few FQs for you to play with. I may even include some Fifi and Fido 1/4 yd cuts. (International winner will be asked to help cover the difference in shipping). I'll draw a winner on Feb. 2.
And Island Batiks is giving away 2 bundles of fabric, so please use the Rafflecopter link for more info on that.
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Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much for visiting! Enjoy the rest of the hop, and I hope you have fun with my block!
Maryellen
Have you seen Lavish? This strip bundle had beautiful greens and blues. The prints are unique and the colors are just wonderful. So, I just sewed the strips end to end, in the order they came out of the package, and then proceeded to make the top. 
