Join me in this complimentary stitch along!  Blocks for all the states in the US have been given out for 18 weeks now and will continue until they are all covered!  I'll be giving you 2 blocks and the first is in honor of the beautiful South Dakota!  South Dakota is near and dear to my heart.  My husband worked in the ag industry and was transferred there in 1998.  I hadn't been to the state since I was 5 years old where I remember camping near the amazing Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse carvings from the mountains.  Their size is just astounding when you see them in person!  Oh the visions of these artists...

As a young adult driving across the state as we were moving there, I saw the beauty of the state as we drove (and drove and drove) to get to our new home.  The first scene that took my breath away was when we popped over a hill on I-90 near Chamberlin, SD.  I'd really NEVER seen anything like it!  You can see for miles and miles- the beautiful Missouri River glowing blue reflecting off of the sky and wheat fields glistening and waving in the sun like ocean waves.  If you've ever popped over this hill, you know exactly what I mean!

A favorite memory of South Dakota is seeing my first Sunflower field.  Again, an amazing site to this city gal!  We had 3 little girls at this time and we'd leave home in the morning for a day trip and the sunflowers would be looking us in the face as we headed west.  It is really true that they follow the sun.  When we'd return at sunset heading east, the sunflowers had followed the sun all day and were now looking west.  My girls would giggle and giggle about this!!  It was always a learning opportunity to see HOW MANY plants it takes to feed the world...and we were only seeing a small portion of the crops grown in South Dakota- corn, soy bean, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers and even mint!  

I've got a quilt that was inspired partially by South Dakota if you'd like to see it and read about it while you are on my website today.  It's called Life in The Midwest and is one of my favorites I will always cherish.  Click on the Applique or English Paper Piecing tab and then you will find the product listing to read about it.  You can also scroll to the bottom of the product page to see a video and learn about my technique and products for Starch Basting English Paper Piecing- A great technique for those who struggle with traditional or glue stick basting or for those who want to make more precise EPP shapes quicker and easier!  You'll see some sunflowers in this quilt as well as soy beans, corn and wheat.

For the duration of this US Tour Stitch Along, I'll be offering the complimentary pattern download for the block I've designed to honor South Dakota!  It's called South Dakota Sunflowers and I do hope you'll enjoy making it!  I've made one block in cotton fabrics sewn by machine and if you look close you can see that I've used a few of the fancy stitches on my machine- several blanket stitches, zig zag, a cross stitch and a crazy zig zag for the grass!  That was quick and fun because I don't use these stitches too often.   The second picture is the wool applique version stitched by hand with the some of the Sulky Cotton Petites collection of threads offered in my notions section of my website.  This thread slides right through the fabrics and is a joy to stitch with!   I've also added some wind into the wool version because if you've ever been to South Dakota, you KNOW it is always windy!

To find this complimentary pattern, please click on the Downloads tab, click on the product listing for the DOWNLOAD and follow these directions.  My website requires you to go through the check out process to get the download.  I won't harass you with email blasts and you will NOT be required to enter your credit card information unless you are purchasing a physical product.  I promise!  

Add the download to your cart.  When you are done shopping proceed to checkout.  Go ahead and enter all the info requested.  The credit card section WILL turn white and blank it out when it's time to enter that part.  Complete the order and a PURCHASE CONFIRMATION box will pop up.  The link to your complimentary pattern will be right there near the pattern name in that box for immediate downloading.  You will also get an email with a blue colored link right under the pattern name in the email.  Be sure to understand where your computer stores downloadable patterns so you know where to find it.  Print it within 30 days before the link expires.  Thank you.

Thanks for visiting!  Take a look around my site and enjoy your complimentary South Dakota Sunflowers pattern.  To get the last two block please visit Kissed Quilts at https://kissedquilts.blogspot.com/2020/07/nd-hone...

And Charisma Horton at www.charismascorner.com/gem-state

And next week The Inquiring Quilter  at http://www.inquiringquilter.com

and Dragonfly Quilts at www.dragonflysquiltshop.com

All the cute complimentary blocks for all the states can be found at blockofthemo.com/us-tour/

Take care,
Missie