Monday, September 02, 2019

Once Upon a Story Row Along - I Had a Little Nut Tree

Welcome to the opening day of the Once Upon a Story Row along from 2019 - thanks so much to Marian of Seams To Be Sew for putting this together!  This is the fifth year of the Row Along, and the fourth year I have participated.  This year the row along has changed up a bit, we have several different sizes and shapes of rows, including squares which is kind of fun.  Marian is going to have some ideas for layouts, so no worries about that!  And our theme this year is Fairy tales and Nursery Rhymes. I can't wait to see all the great designs that come from this inspiration!  As always, there are FREE patterns and great giveaways, so do not miss checking out all the participants.  You will find my free download immediately below the instructions.

I wanted to choose something a little different for my block.  I've become quite interested in European history, and I have found many Nursery Rhymes are rooted in historical events, some not very child-friendly.  I found this article to be highly informative and a good read on the subject.  The Rhyme I decided to interpret is "I Had a Little Nut Tree"

I had a little nut tree,
Nothing would it bear,
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear;

The King of Spain’s daughter
Came to visit me,
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.

Her dress was made of crimson,
Jet black was her hair,
She asked me for my nutmeg
And my golden pear.

I said, “So fair a princess
Never did I see,
I’ll give you all the fruit
From my little nut tree

You can read the Wikipedia article on it for more information, and I will tell you about how I chose to interpret it.

I like to do mostly pieced blocks because that's my particular love in quilting - and at first I thought I would do a tree block.  But then I found the Prickly Pear block and an idea was born.  Because there are so many triangles in this block I decided that one large block would do the trick, and then I would add a bit of applique to the top of it for the finishing touch!

First of all you have to sew all the triangles.  Four large one and 20 smaller ones.  Aren't you glad it's just one block?  

The next step is to assemble the center using the four large triangles and squares.  Aren't the fabrics lovely?  Northcott Fabric generously supplied the designers with fabric for our projects!  These are from the basics - I chose a gray instead of white for my background so it would have a little softer look.  Love those wavy lines!  Northcott's fabrics have their famous soft and silky feel and are always a pleasure to sew with.  Their colors are always rich and gorgeous, too!  I chose red and black because those are the colors in the rhyme, and I love both of these fabrics.

Next you sew all the small triangles into rows.  They all face the same direction, so be careful on this step!  Then add a black square to each end of two of the rows.

Now sew the small triangle borders to the center.  Make sure your light triangles face toward the center, then add the small strips on the outside to bring the block up to 30 inches.  Now you can add the pear applique.  I've already reversed the templates, so just trace onto fusible web and you are ready to go.

That was pretty easy, right?  The placement isn't too important, as long as it looks good to your eye!

And here you have the finished block.  Normally I quilt up my design so you can see it finished, but I am planning on making more of the other designers patterns to make a larger quilt because I loved the theme so much!  Make sure you follow along to collect the patterns and make your own "Once Upon a Story" quilt!  My pattern will be available at no charge through October 8.

Download my free pattern by clicking the picture below:
I Had a Little Nut Tree Pattern

Did I mention giveaways?  I have a bundle of 4 Northcott fat quarters to give away! These are lovely Banyan Batik fabrics - love these colors. The winner will need to pay postage for shipping, and the value of the bundle is $20.00, so make sure you understand that detail before entering, international entries are welcome, but you'll have to decide if it's worth paying shipping to do so.

We are so thankful to Northcott for their generosity in sponsoring this event - make sure you look for their products in your local quilt shop and support them as well.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Make sure you visit Marian at Seams to Be Sew and Carol at Just Let Me Quilt today for more blocks and giveaways - including an EQ8 giveaway!  This giveaway will run for the entire Row Along, so you will have lots of opportunities to enter.  EQ8 is a fabulous quilt design tool and I use it extensively in my quilt designs, including this one.  In fact, the first graphic you see in this post was created using EQ8, so you can see how handy it is.  As an added bonus EQ has made a coupon code that is good on ALL their products!  Use ROWALONG20 to save 20% in their online shop (I hear the roll of printable fabric may come in handy in a later row....hint, hint)



a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you are new to my blog, thank you for stopping by!  I've been doing a free Quilt Along - Seashore Splendor and it's not too late to get started, all block patterns will be free until the end of the year.  Click here to find out more...

I'm also starting sign-ups for next years Quilt Along - Stepping Stones Sampler.  You can sign up for that here:

My Etsy Shop: PamelaQuilts has my patterns and quilts for sale.  

I hope you have enjoyed my contribution to this event and will follow me on my social media links at the end of the post!


Now just a few legal items to take care of - Marian has provided us with the rules and guidelines for our giveaways, just so we are all clear!  You can read them below, and thanks for joining in!

Rules and Guidelines For Giveaways
Please take the time to read it.

Rules and guidelines are also listed on the Rafflecopter window of each blog’s giveaway entry on there featured days post.

Giveaways offered by sponsors are assigned to the various blogger/designers for their featured day.

There are no prior announcements on who is doing which sponsor except to the sponsor and blogger/designers themselves.

You’ll have to visit the blog or the featured blog to enter the giveaways.

All giveaways can also be entered at Seams To Be Sew. You must have commented at each of the blogs post to enter at Seams To Be Sew, 
Winners who win from entering at Seams To Be Sew will be checked for the comment. When you enter a give away that asks you to answer the question asked on the entry form, you do need to fill in that box. No answer means your winning entry will be ignored and cancelled.

You are only allowed to enter once at each of the featured day sites. Giveaways are different at each site, thus you can enter those giveaways. On the Electric Quilt giveaway, you can enter once each day of the row along, new sites to click on are assigned to this giveaway you need to visit each site to be credited for the entry.

I will start announcing winners on September 10, 2019, and finish announcing winners on October 13, 2019

You must give a valid email address when you enter the giveaways, any email returned to me, loses the ability to win automatically.

All giveaways run for 1 week with the exception of the Electric Quilt giveaway which runs the full course of the event.

You are given 3 days to answer the email, if you do not answer within 3 days a new winner will be drawn. Check those spam/junk mail folders, you may miss that winning email if you don’t do so because there are no exceptions to this rule.

If you are notified that you are a winner, in all cases except for the Fat Quartershop, and C&T Publishing winners, you will need to provide your name, address, city, state, zip code, country, telephone number, and email address.

No purchase whatsoever is necessary.

You must be 18+ in order to win a gift.

You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win. Prizes valued at $500.00 should be claimed.

All winners are chosen at random.

All winners will be announced on the blogs via the Rafflecopter entry form and/or post by the blogger at the site where they won and here at Seams To Be Sew. All winners must allow for their first name and first initial of their last name to be announced on this blog.

Odds of Winning a prize are based on a total number of rafflecopter entries during each week and in total for all giveaways.

This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.

Participating bloggers/designers may enter any of the giveaways.
The word giveaways in the rules and guidelines are also known as sweepstakes.

Additional Notes About Giveaways From Our Sponsors

I am not rich and I do not ask sponsors for money, they provide prizes only.

If they shipped the prize to me, you will be asked to pay for shipping.

All giveaways will be shipped that are in my home on each Saturday of the event.

An invoice will be sent to you via Paypal, and shipping will take place via Paypal, so your Paypal email will be needed to send the invoice. You will receive a tracking number except for overseas shipments. Depending on the weight of the prize, first class is always my first choice, but priority mail will be done where needed. Paypal fees are added to that amount to cover that fee.

Please note, every effort is made to protect the prizes. They go into a plastic bin when I receive them, and it is covered by an airtight cover. I have a dog in my home and I have a smoker in my home, so I do everything possible to protect the prizes.

Most companies are very good about getting prizes off to customers quickly also, but some companies are overseas, so please allow all sponsors a 2-week time period before you report to me that you still haven’t received your prize. When the company is overseas, it can take 6 weeks to 90 days for an item to also arrive.

92 comments:

Marian said...

Great post and the layout on your block is so different, I would never have thought to put the outer triangles to it. It definitely brings a new dimension to the look of the block.

shobs said...

I agree with Marian. I saw the centre iece and wondered how you would get those sharp pieces incorporated. It was so simple the way you did it.

KathyK said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree

Dione Gardner-Stephen said...

Great interpretation of the rhyme, and a lovely block. A lot of old european stories are very interesting if you delve a little deeper, I'm glad to hear that you've caught that bug. :)

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Unique interpretation. Your block is lovely.
Carol

Susan said...

Thank you for the wonderful story and block.

Karen said...

I was not familiar with I Had a Little Nut Tree. I like your interpretation of it.

mlbenoit said...

I had not heard of this rhyme I had a little nut tree. Very cute rhyme and block.

Jan said...

Very cute block, but oh vey, all those triangles, lol. But, I'm up to the challenge! Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

Stitchin At Home said...

A lovely block idea!

Allison said...

Love your block, particularly the addition of the pear! I'm not familiar with I Have a Little Nut Tree so it's new to me.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Thanks for teaching me a new tale! I love how the colors you used represent the Spanish princess. The piecing looks very challenging, but what a great result.

Liz Horgan said...

I've never heard of this one, but it is I Had a Little Nut Tree.
Thanks for the block!

catladyinmas said...

Thank you for doing this. I'm a newbie to quilting but I am going to try your challenge.

Janet said...

I like the interpretation of your song! I remembered the tune once I saw the words. Such a fun row along. Thank you!

Nancy L said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree is the nursery theme used in this block. Great job!!

Elaine R. said...

I had a little nut tree - love the interpretation. You explaination of how to make the block makes it doable for me - Thanks!

Carol Swift said...

I'd never heard this one so thanks for sharing...sweet block!

Eileen said...

Love your block. Some of those old fairy tales are pretty scary. Love this one.

Ronelle said...

Thank you very much for the lovely block you are sharing with us.

Amanda Best said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amanda Best said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree

my email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com

camperchow said...

Thank you for sharing a block for the row along!

Beth K said...

Loving this!!!

vivoaks said...

"I Had a Little Nut Tree" is a new one to me! I've never heard that one! Cute interpretation!! Thanks so much for joining in on the fun!

Judy said...

I really like that pear in your block! adds a lot to the block!

Lori Smanski said...

I HAD A LITTLE NUT TREE
I have not heard of this fairy tale. Thanks for sharing.
Your block is wonderful.
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

Joanne said...

I hadn't heard that rhyme for years. What a beautiful block. Thank you!

Nancy said...

Thank you. The block is very nice and your explanation is easy to understand.

Shirley said...

I also, had not heard this little rhyme/story...Your interpretation is fairy tale perfect.

gpcrafty said...

Thank you for the lovely block. Can't wait to get started.

Sharon Aurora said...

I remember that nursery rhyme, I had a little bit tree. Neat interpretation of the rhyme.

Calicojoan said...

I've never heard of that nursery rhyme before! What a sweet story. and beautiful block!

Sue Green said...

The theme is about a little nut tree that bore a nutmeg and a golden pear. Thank you for the block!

Shirley said...

I have never heard this little nursery rhyme - from which country did it originate (or did I miss that little tidbit as I was reading?) Love the pattern. Thanks for sharing.

dungeonquilter said...

I love the pear applique. I can see this done up in Christmas fabrics.

Orla V said...

Your block is a brilliant representation of the rhyme, and in such eye-catching colours. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I love having the background history included. It would be fun to go back and see what was going on in Spain at the time this was written. Thank you for a pretty and fun block, Nadine.
I'm doing anonymous because it's the only option that makes sense.

Carol O said...

Wow what a block and story to go with it. Thanks!

marebear said...

Super cute Pam!

works4me said...

I had never heard of I had a little nut tree. What a great block.

Gabriele beck said...

Never heard of the little nut tree either. Love the block

Susan said...

Love your little nursery rhyme, I hadn't heard of the Little Nut Tree before. Thank you so much for such a cute block and sharing your talent with all of us.

47lilpolock said...

I had a Little Nut Tree. I'm unfamiliar with this rhyme.

Moira said...

Great interpretation to the nursery rhyme! Love the block.

Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.com said...

I was not familiar with that nursery rhyme, but you did a great job.

Lorna said...

The name is "I Had a Little Nut Tree"

myzbarb said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree! A long time since I read this rhyme. Thanks for the memory and the block.

Andrea S. said...

I am learning about new stories and poems! I Had a Little Nut Tree is not familiar to me at all.

Bev @ kwiltpharm said...

That is a new story to me! But, it is so cute. Love your block and thank you for taking the time to do the challenge.

MB said...

I had a little nut tree

Robin said...

I always knew the fairy tales and rhymes were based in Olde English tales. When my boys were little I used to research them, that was close to 40 yr.ago. This was fun. I tend to agree with Wikipedia's version that it was Henry VIII and his 1st wife who was from Spain. It could also be a king of France who had the gold & silver. These poor women married who their father wanted for political reasons only. I will always remember your block due to it's historical references. Thanks.
P.S. I am enjoying and thank you for the Seashore Splendor.

Gina's Custom Creations said...

I really like this block, so I'm looking forward to making it!

Laura Dawson said...

Your theme is on the nursery rhyme "I Had a Little Nut Tree." I look forward to looking at the history of the poem. I'm a big history buff myself. Thanks for the pieced pattern!

Kathy L said...

I had a little nut tree is what her block is based on.

Sewgirl said...

Fun take on the theme I had a little nut tree! Thanks for sharing!

Michele-Marie said...

Thank you for the block and poem, never knew the end of the poem until now. :-)

PuppyPaws said...

I Had A Little Nut Tree! Oh my gosh I haven’t heard that rhyme in decades! Great choice.

Jenny98223 said...

I've never heard of this one, but it is I Had a Little Nut Tree.
Thanks for the block!

whistlebet57 said...

Thank you I just Finished picking 2 bushels of Pears, I know quilting this pear will be much easier.
Elizabeth

GranChris said...

I had a Little Nut Tree, haven't heard this one in years.

Farm Quilter said...

I had a Little Nut Tree is a new-to-me rhyme. I don't know if I like King of Spain's daughter though!! Love your block - depicts the nursery rhyme perfectly!

Susan said...

This is the second rhyme that is new to me. I like the block. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

a nut tree and a pear
Patty
paweis at yahoo dot com

Sandi1100 said...

I have not heard this rhyme before. Your block is very nice. Thanks for sharing.

cookie said...

I Had A Little Nut Tree (never heard of it before today)

Nancy D said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree is the theme. Interesting story explaining the meaning.

BarefootThunder said...

Never heard this one, it is cute. a very nice block. Thanks for sharing.

CyndyL said...

I had a little nut tree, love the colors in your block they go along with the story

Karrin Hurd said...

Great block, love the colors!

kamiafive said...

Thank you for the lovely block and the story. I love the "I had a little nut tree".

threadlady said...

As Nana, some of these stories are new to me (and all my DGK's are older), but I'll be saving this for some great-grands (if the grands ever get married - lol)

Cecilia said...

Cute block! I had a little nut tree.

Sue L said...

I Had a Little Nut Tree - I just discovered your blog and am so excited to follow you!!!

Paula G said...

This rhyme was new to me. Great interpretation, love the block.

Cynthia's Creating Ark said...

This one is new to me. A beautiful block.

Westend Quilter said...

Well! I've never seen this block! And I really like how you've tied it into the poem. Thanks!

Mary Lou P. said...

Thank you for the block. Love adding the appliqué to the pieced Block.

Kathy E. said...

Apparently, Henry VIII had a bit of a problem becoming a father, so this is how the poem originated! "Henry's problems in producing suitable offspring".
duchick at gmail dot com

GrammaJ said...

Thank you for your part of the row along.

nicolesender said...

"I Had a Little Nut Tree"! Love your block!

Glapha Cox said...

Thank you.

Hope Mitchner said...

I had a little nut tree is the theme.

Lee said...

I love the I had a little Nut tree! That was a new one for me!

Gail said...

I am not familiar with the nursery rhyme, but I love the block.

Chelsea said...

Wonderful block!

Connie Wolfe said...

Thanks for sharing the source of your nursery rhyme. It's interesting to hear these from other countries and cultures.
Connie

Cathy B. said...

My Little Nut Tree is a new one to me. Great interpretation!

teachpany said...

Great block and I've never heard that rhyme. I've heard some of them can be a little dark and scary, if you really know the story behind them. Interesting blog hop. Thanks.

Linda Bratten said...

This is a new rhyme for me. I love your interpretation of it.

Sharon said...

Haven't thought of this rhyme for quite a long time! Thanks for sharing your row.

Susan said...

That's a cute rhyme and only vaguely familiar, so I thank you for both the block and the rhyme! I'm sure it has some political meaning of the time, but it's still a cute rhyme today.