Five-Pointed Star FPP from Scarlet Rose

Block 3 on the 🐘Elephant Parade Blog Hop 🐘 is the Five-Pointed Star FPP from Scarlet Rose! 

Grab the paper pieced pattern here: Five-Pointed Star from Scarlet Rose 

Here's my block:

It's OK to say, "No!"

"Hey! Can you sew [insert project here]?" As stitchers, that could be anything from a t-shirt quilt to curtains, or a bag to hemming pants. If you're lucky, it's something you normally do. If you're unlucky, it's hemming pants when you normally make bags or making curtains when you normally sew clothes. This can come with all kinds of complications like not knowing how to sew certain fabrics or not having the notions or skills needed for the task. 

We, as a community, sometimes have to protect our peace and say "No" to the tasks outside our wheelhouse or risk losing our sanity and your project if we mess it up too badly. It's taken me several years, but i'm finally starting to respond with this elusive negative when asked to do things. However, there are a handful of close friends and family that I'm more likely to acquiesce to. A friend of ours is one of those people who recently reached out to ask if I could make a baby quilt for her on-the-way niece. I absolutely agreed... but I also had several projects in queue for my LQS, and a finite amount of energy after my day job. 

You start bargaining with yourself and studying the calendar to say if I can do 'this' by such and such day, I'm sure I'll be able to complete all these tasks. 

Wish me luck, because there's a lot happening in the next few months and I'm pretty sure I've signed up for more than I can complete without experiencing some burn-out. Fingers crossed I don't spiral! 

When all else fails, take a break and cuddle with your emotional support cat. 

 

Lotus Flower from Hula Hoop Quilt Shop

Block 2 on the Elephant Parade Blog Hop is the Lotus Flower from Hula Hoop Quilt Shop!  🐘

Grab the details here: https://tialynndesign.com/lotus-flower-from-hula-hoop-designs

I got my blanket done but haven't had a chance to do the elephant yet.

Top Hat & Wand Block

 Oh, my stars! The back may be a hot mess of tiny seams, but the front is adorable!

     

and here's the finished Top Hat & Wand Block! 

Also finished my first Tillie block with my admission ticket for the Elephant Parade!!!

 

Sew Saturday [Moving to Sunday] #9

Saturday is the day for doing, Sunday is the day for reflection. I'm struggling to get my posts actually posted on Saturdays because I'm too busy doing the things, so I've made the executive decision to post on Sundays instead. So, today I can finally share my first circus themed mini block inspired by the Elephant Parade Hop ... The Admission Ticket! Because you've got to have a ticket to ride, right!? 

Here's a 6" mini version I made to fit the blanket on the Elephant Parade Hop blocks, but the 12" version is available in store now. 

Here's the 12" block finished by Heather French during pattern testing. 

🐘 Introducing the Elephant Parade Shop Hop hosted by TiaLynn Designs! 🐘

I am SO excited to announce the kickoff of a brand-new shop hop and trust me — this one is going to be absolutely unforgettable. [Get it? Elephants never forget! 😅]

Welcome to the Elephant Parade Shop Hop!

Grab your rotary cutter, press your fabric, and get ready to join quilters from all over as we celebrate one of the most beloved creatures in the animal kingdom — the majestic elephant — one block at a time.

What Is a Shop Hop?

If you're new to shop hops, here's the fun: participating shops and designers each contribute a unique element to a larger quilt project. You collect the pieces, sew along, and end up with a fun finished quilt that tells the story of your journey. It's part treasure hunt, part sewing circle, and 100% joy.

The Block: An 18" Elephant with a Very Special Blanket from Tia Lynn Designs

At the heart of this shop hop is a charming 18-inch elephant block — sturdy, sweet, and full of personality. But what makes our elephants truly special is what they're wearing: each elephant proudly sports a 6-inch square blanket draped across its back.

Think of it as the elephant's very own quilt — a tiny canvas of color, pattern, and creativity.

The Magic: Weekly Designer Blankets!! 

Here's where it gets really exciting. Each week, a featured designer will share an exclusive 6" blanket insert — a unique design that drops right into your elephant block. These inserts might feature:

⭐ Traditional patchwork patterns

🌟 Paper Piecing

🔺 Geometric designs

Every week brings a fresh surprise, a new designer voice, and a new reason to sit down at your sewing machine.

How to Participate

✨️Check out the designers and sign up for reminders

🐘Grab the 1st elephant block pattern

Here's my first blanket! 

🎪Follow along each week as a new designer's blanket insert is revealed.

🥜Sew, share, and show off your blocks using #ElephantParadeHop on social media.

Complete your herd and see how beautifully all those blankets come together!

Let the Parade Begin! 🎉

Sew Saturday #8 Sadness -- goimagine closure = all kinds of feels

I'm still processing and figuring out what my next steps are, but the Marketplace and Mosaic website I've had for the last 4 years is closing and I'm struggling. There's lots of "what now?" and "where do I go from here?" thoughts mixed in with a few "ugh! I don't wanna deal with this right now." It is very overwhelming to review and compare alternatives and I do not handle overwhelm or change well at all! All of this while trying to actually put myself out there and design quilt blocks, get them tested, and promote them with this blog hop. It's a lot... and that's okay. I'm just in my feels right now. I'll get through it. I still have my crossbody pattern available on Etsy and will figure something out.