Arbee Designs' official blog - all blog posts are written by Ruth Blanchet and often include guest quilters, teachers' quotes, tips and tricks, free patterns, and more! We have more tips, tricks, and free patterns on our lesson pages too.

applique and patchwork quilt block designed by Ruth Blanchet with free instructions at Arbee Designs

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Refreshing the Sweet Pea flower block using new colors and layout

Sweet Pea Flower Remake

Ever have a project that just doesn’t feel right? For Ruth, that’s been her Sweet Pea flower block! The layout and colors weren’t working well, so today she gave it...

Sweet Pea Flower Remake

Ever have a project that just doesn’t feel right? For Ruth, that’s been her Sweet Pea flower block! The layout and colors weren’t working well, so today she gave it...

how to make your own quilted fabric

Stitch and Flip: making your own quilted fabric

Here is a quick way to make your own quilted fabric, which you can use for almost anything quilted, from placemats to quilts or purses to jackets.

Stitch and Flip: making your own quilted fabric

Here is a quick way to make your own quilted fabric, which you can use for almost anything quilted, from placemats to quilts or purses to jackets.

daphne flower block - part of the BOW flower collection

Daphne Flower

Its clusters of tiny, star-shaped blooms often appear in soft pinks or lavenders, or creamy whites... This describes the 74th flower block in the BOW flower series. A daphne flower!

Daphne Flower

Its clusters of tiny, star-shaped blooms often appear in soft pinks or lavenders, or creamy whites... This describes the 74th flower block in the BOW flower series. A daphne flower!

showcasing Ruth's crafting goals during October 2025

Crafting Goals for October

10 months completed and Ruth is making great progress on her crafting goals, but she isn't finished yet and the end of the year is looming...

Crafting Goals for October

10 months completed and Ruth is making great progress on her crafting goals, but she isn't finished yet and the end of the year is looming...

alphabet flowers block without the alphabet

Floral Alphabet Garden without the Alphabet

It occurred to Ruth the other day that some appliquers may not want the letters in these beautiful flower blocks and prefer to create the flower on its own, so...

2 comments

Floral Alphabet Garden without the Alphabet

It occurred to Ruth the other day that some appliquers may not want the letters in these beautiful flower blocks and prefer to create the flower on its own, so...

2 comments
Creating handmade Christmas gifts is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season.

Getting Ready For Christmas

I have made a number of blog posts in the past with creative ideas that may help you achieve your Christmas gift list. Here is a summary with links to...

Getting Ready For Christmas

I have made a number of blog posts in the past with creative ideas that may help you achieve your Christmas gift list. Here is a summary with links to...

African Violet flower applique block

An African Violet

I am not sure why I haven't made this beauty years ago, it has always been a favorite flower of mine with it's dainty wee flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Today...

An African Violet

I am not sure why I haven't made this beauty years ago, it has always been a favorite flower of mine with it's dainty wee flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Today...

Woodland Foxes with additional embroidered appliques

Maxine's Woodland Foxes

We absolutely love it when someone sends us a photo of a quilt they’ve made from one of our patterns. Maxine said that she isn’t very confident with appliqué, so...

1 comment

Maxine's Woodland Foxes

We absolutely love it when someone sends us a photo of a quilt they’ve made from one of our patterns. Maxine said that she isn’t very confident with appliqué, so...

1 comment
crafting highlights for September - spinning, crochet, applique, knitting, toymaking, and embroidery

Crafting Goals for September

Are you keeping up with your goals? Have some slipped by... it doesn't really matter if they have, but it is awesome to look back to see what you have...

Crafting Goals for September

Are you keeping up with your goals? Have some slipped by... it doesn't really matter if they have, but it is awesome to look back to see what you have...

applique animal design (tortoise) was used here to create a zentangle design in textile

Mixing things Up - I tried something new!

As Ruth worked with Lee to get her online workshops for Zentangle installed, she knew this was something she would want to try at some point. Finally, that time has...

Mixing things Up - I tried something new!

As Ruth worked with Lee to get her online workshops for Zentangle installed, she knew this was something she would want to try at some point. Finally, that time has...

framing flower blocks is a great idea to make for gifts

Mounting a Flower Block

Isn’t it funny how shopping often leads to discoveries you never planned on? That’s exactly what happened to me.... I was browsing the art section when something unexpected caught my...

Mounting a Flower Block

Isn’t it funny how shopping often leads to discoveries you never planned on? That’s exactly what happened to me.... I was browsing the art section when something unexpected caught my...

Bring graceful charm to your quilt with the delicate embroidered details of the Camellia flower block

Camellia Block

Ruth had fun with this beautiful applique flower, from start (the drawing stage) to finish (the completed block). Now she needs to think about how to use it in a project!...

Camellia Block

Ruth had fun with this beautiful applique flower, from start (the drawing stage) to finish (the completed block). Now she needs to think about how to use it in a project!...

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