Long time no chat!!!

Hello Friends, looong time no chat!  I hope you have been well…. and spring has sprung!

DAY IN LIFE

If I don’t see another clump of monkey grass for the rest of my life, it would be too soon!  I don’t mean any offense at all to those of you who love monkey grass.  We are in the process of redoing part of our front garden, and that involved having digging up and digging up and digging up existing monkey grass!  I thought it was just going to be an afternoon to get the front garden on the path of living out my vision.  But it turned out to be a much bigger deal, and I am still not finished.  Part of what’s in place of the monkey grass are some new rose bushes.  So far so good — I check for new growth every morning, and keeping my fingers crossed!

Spring is my favorite season.  What is yours?

SOME FUN QUILTS FOR YOU

I have quite a few new designs out.  You might have seen this one on the cover of Keepsake Quilting catalog.  Sweet Berry Farm is my design, and I was so excited it made cover on the catalog.  I actually wasn’t aware of it making cover until my sweet quilting teacher Barbara texted me about it!  This is an exclusive design with Keepsake Quilting.  You may purchase the kit or pattern here and here.  The fun thing about the blocks is that I used Ohio Star units to be the strawberry stems!

Then, I have my Sleeping Cat kit offered through Hancocks of Paducah.  You may purchase the kit here.

And the latest release is my quick and easy Basket Toss quilt!  I love this quilt for its simplicity.  I can’t decide for now whether to use this on my bed or the guest bed.  Complete instructions are in McCall’s Quick Quilts June/July 2018 issue, and kits are available here.

Miss Baby’s Stitching Shenanigans

You remember the confetti handstitching Miss Baby learned to do through the monogram pillow ornament I posted here?  Well, there is a method to my madness…. the confetti stitching was meant to prepare Miss Baby for more structure stitching.

So from this random stitching…

to this…

We are beyond the moon happy a magazine in Australia, Handmade, feature Gwedolyn’s stitching story to celebrate her first thread collection, Spool-en-dids.  She had to answer a questionnaire in order for the story to be written.

THINGS ARE HAPPENING

Though I have been silent on my blog, things have been happening at my end.  Between home and mother responsibilities, and the regular things I do all things quilting, here are some upcoming exciting happenings.

Next week — I start my 2018 travels.  I will be speaking at Flying Geese Guild in Maryland on May 21.  Public is welcome to attend with an admission.  I will be bringing goodies!

Then, I will be in Tennessee later this summer/early Fall.

It’s to Berne, Indiana I go…. because I will be filming a new machine quilting video class!  Click here if you haven’t known about my existing classes.  I have some step-out samples from previous classes I found the other day that I will be giving away soon!  Stay tuned.  I am also arranging an event with a local guild while I am in IN.  I will share more once I have more details.

I will be home just in time to head to Houston for Fall Market.  Some fun things are being cooked up that I can’t share yet….

AND — I just found out I will be teaching 5 different classes at Road to CA in Jan 2019.  So I hope to see some of you there!

And with that, I need to get going with my day to squeeze in work before I pick up my precious cargo from school.

If all goes well, I will be posting my no scraps left behind giveaway winners tomorrow.  So, I hope you will come back!  Tootles for now.

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HOME TO ROOST in Quiltmaker’s May/June 2018 & MORE GIVEAWAYS & GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

DAY IN LIFE!

Friends, I hope you have been well!  Are you ready for spring?  I know I am… but the forecast says that we are supposed to have snow this Saturday, and possibly next Monday!  YIKES!!!  With the weather forecast as it is, I think I am going to just stay HOME TO ROOST this weekend (bad pun alert!).  My Home to Roost quilt is featured in the latest issue of Quiltmaker.

This is an easy project that I actually designed as a teaching project that can be used to teach beginning quilters to quilt, covering the basic piecing skills in making the different blocks in the quilt.  Because my quilting teacher Barbara was ever so patient with me when she taught me how to quilt (I am forever grateful to her!), a guiding principle in my quilt designs is that I always design something that is appealing enough to entice a non-quilter to take up quilting. :)  You can read more about my design process here.

In the same issue, you will also read a story about my stitching journey with Miss Baby!  It is my hope that my story will inspire many to pass on the love and joy of needle and thread to the next generation, whether with your own children, grandchildren, relatives or even in a school or church or community setting!

This issue is on newsstands now – pick up your copy today!

And of course, if you are looking for kids-friendly colors, do check out Miss Baby’s Spool-en-dids colors!  You can read more about her embroidery floss collection here.

If you have a stitching with kids story — either from your childhood on how you learned to stitch, or projects you are working right now with your daughters or granddaughters, I would LOVE to hear from you!

***

GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Well, you are the best for helping me de-stash!  Trust me, my husband and daughter are really grateful too!  Here are the winners from the last round of giveaways.

Box #1:  Dortha

Box #2:  Marge Prewitt

Box #3: Tanya

Box #4:  Mary S.

I have emailed the winners, with information on getting the boxes sent to you!

THANK YOU ALL FOR PLAYING ALONG….. but I have MORE to give away, see below!

 

NO SCRAPS LEFT BEHIND GIVEAWAY

So…. I am needing to work on guest room #2, and guess what I found?!  MORE FABRICS — please don’t judge, haha!  I have three more boxes to share!  If you are interested, please leave a comment and indicate which box.  I am only mailing these boxes to US addresses, and you will have to be willing to pay the shipping cost of $17.

Box #1.  Thimbleberries and mystery yardages.

Box #2.  Usable scrap pieces.

Box #3.  Usable scrap pieces + yardages.

 

Alrightie – Friends, that’s all I have for now.  I hope you are keeping busy, sewing and stitching!  Hugs to you all, and till next time.  Trust me, I have MORE to give away. :)

Happy Veterans Day 2017

A very Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you to those who served valiantly for God and Country!

I have be back next week.  I “think” things are finally tending toward normal at my end….  TAKE CARE, and I look forward to visiting with you again!

Cinnamon Swirl in QUILTS & MORE (Fall 2017) & More…

Hello Friends, I hope you are well!  I am noticing it’s a bit chillier in the mornings these days, which means summer is quickly fleeting away — giving rise to everything good that is associated to cinnamon!  Though I am a winter wimp, one thing I do like about the colder weather is that cinnamon gets to shine in all the bake goods etc.

I am so happy my quilt Cinnamon Swirl is being featured in the Fall 2017 issue of Quilts and More!

Used with permission from Quilts and More™ magazine. ©2017 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

Cinnamon Swirl uses Autumn Air fabrics from RJR Fabrics.  These fabrics are absolutely gorgeous.  Take a look at the fabrics in the group here.  You know I almost never design anything too complicated to make…. the blocks are basically 9-patch blocks, elongated and sashed within the blocks!  The pinwheels sashing blocks add to the visual effect, and the overall layout gives an Argyle impression.  The construction went really fast even for a “snail-paced” piecer like myself. :)

Used with permission from Quilts and More™ magazine. ©2017 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

So… curious mind wants to know if you are excited about fall/autumn…. TELL ME!

***

I am also happy to announce the winner of my Sparkle FQ Bundle Giveaway.  I had used the fabrics to make a Christmas pillow a couple of Saturdays ago.  Congrats to Janie — I have emailed you separately, if you could email me your shipping address, I will get the FQ bundle out to you!

***

And a quick update on “Help Me De-Stash” project…. THANK YOU ALL for the very overwhelming responses!  I have almost shipped out my first 20 boxes!  The upside of that is I am finally able to see the floor of my family room. I will work on the boxes on my first waiting list.  I had hoped to write those on the first waiting list yesterday, but that didn’t happen.  I am running late this week — Miss Baby’s camp and other work-related deadlines.  But please don’t give up on me.  I hope to write those who made it to the waiting list by this weekend!

My de-stashing effort has been a good one.  Even with the fabrics I am keeping, Miss Baby walked into my sewing room a few nights ago, and commented, “Mom, seriously, who is going to use up all these fabrics?” — she did a sweeping motion with her hands!  I have officially nominated her to be my “conscience” for all things sewing!

***

Thanks for stopping by, Friends!  I hope you have a lovely rest of your day!  I need to get going — I have pattern writing to do for more than 10 patterns!  Yikes!!!

***

My 2017 Line-up

 

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

American Patchwork & Quilting Calendar (July 2017):  Summer Sparkler

Australian Patchwork & Quilting (Volume 27, Number 4): Wildwood Way

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Summer in Quebec

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Santa’s Tree Farm

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

Quiltmaker (July/August 2017):  Santa’s Crossing

Quilts and More (Fall 2017):  Cinnamon Swirl

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

June 2017:  Flag Banner (Windham Fabrics)

July 2017: Zola (Ink & Arrow)

HAPPENINGS & FREE PATTERN: Ink & Arrow’s Zola

Happy Friday, Friends!  I hope you have been well!  My summer has gone by like a chaotic blob of blur, but my little family is doing well and keeping busy with life!  Miss Baby went to have a visit with Mrs. George Washington a couple of weeks ago at Mount Vernon for a special doll event!  You can see Mrs. Washington in the picture sharing about her childhood, and her eventual life with the great General.  You should have seen her reminiscing on how good General  (then Colonel) Washington looked in his blue velvet wedding suit!  I told my husband later that General Washington was even ahead of Elvis in the sartorial trend!

The girl in purple and the purple straw hat is mine — she was enchanted with Mrs. Washington’s stories. [Side note: that golden gown you see on the left is Mrs. Washington’s wedding dress she wore to marry Colonel Washington.]

Miss Baby is also enjoying tending to her herbs and flowers this summer, as well as working on her stitching!  She is finally onto the last row of her Maisons des ABC sampler!!!

***

Many of you have emailed to ask about purchasing the pattern for a quilt design you have seen in the latest issue of Modern Patchwork Magazine!  You are in luck…. the pattern is a free-to-use pattern I designed to feature Ink & Arrow’s Zola fabric group!

Click here to view the fabric group.  Be sure to check out the adorable snail prints!

Click here to download free to use quilt pattern.

Well, that’s it for now… Friends!  Be sure to come check back on Monday if you are up for some free fabrics.  As you know I have been outfitting my sewing room, and I have a stash problem, a HUGE ONE!  Anyway, information forthcoming on Monday!

Hugs to you all, and have a great weekend!!

***

My 2017 Line-up

 

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

American Patchwork & Quilting Calendar (July 2017):  Summer Sparkler

Australian Patchwork & Quilting (Volume 27, Number 4): Wildwood Way

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Summer in Quebec

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Santa’s Tree Farm

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

Quiltmaker (July/August 2017):  Santa’s Crossing

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

June 2017:  Flag Banner (Windham Fabrics)

July 2017: Zola (Ink & Arrow)

Happy Independence Day 2017!

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well!  I want to stop in really quickly to wish you a very blessed 241st Independence Day – continual prayers and blessings to a great country!

I would like to know what America means to you on this special day!

My country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From ev’ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom’s song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom’s holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.

by Samuel Francis Smith (1831)

Additional verse to celebrate Washington’s Centennial:

Our joyful hearts today,

Their grateful tribute pay,

Happy and free,

After our toils and fears,

After our blood and tears,

Strong with our hundred years,

O God, to Thee.

I hope you have a lovely rest of your day, Dear Friends – Stars and Stripes over Columbia, forever!

***

If you are curious about the quilt I posted earlier – it’s Summer Sparkler, featured in American Patchwork & Quilting’s 2017 Calendar for the month of July.  It is a completed scrappy quilt with about 50 fabrics from different manufacturers – RJR Fabrics, Art Gallery Fabrics, Moda, Windham and Benartex.

Wildwood Way in AUSTRALIAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING Volume 27, No.4

Hello Friends, I am glad you are back for a visit.  For the past few years, I have the honor to have my designs featured in new publications every year. And this year, I have a first editorial feature in Australian Patchwork & Quilting!!  I am beyond excited that my Wildwood Way quilt is featured in their latest issue Volume 27, Number 4.

Being featured in Australian Patchwork & Quilting is extra special to me — because I remember flipping through the pages of the magazine at Rogers Sewing Center when I was a beginning quilter, and just marveled at the quilts featured in that magazine.  For those who are new to this blog, Rogers Sewing Center is my quilting mother ship where I made many sweet friends who have encouraged me greatly in my quilting journey.  So, if you are ever in northwest Arkansas, give Rogers Sewing Center a visit!  You will be so loved there.

Wildwood Way is made with RJR’s first digital print Wildwood Way fabrics!   Look up the fabrics at your local quilt shops the next time you go shopping because the prints are absolutely STUNNING!  Click here to take a look at the fabric swatches.  You can see in the following picture that my blocks take on an off-centered overall layout, and is made entirely with half-square triangle units. Think stash-busting! :-)

You might be able to find the magazine at your local quilt shops, or ask them to order a copy for you.  If not, pertinent information about the publication is provided below.

I have actually designed several quilts with the same fabric line, which I will share in a separate post.  I hope you have liked my first feature in Australian Patchwork & Quilting, and there will be more features to come, I think!

Meanwhile, curious mind would like to know what you do to stash-bust!  How often do you make half-square-triangles when you stash bust?

That’s all for now. I need to get back to sewing while everyone is still asleep…. till next time!

***

My 2017 Line-up

 

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

Australian Patchwork & Quilting (Volume 27, Number 4): Wildwood Way

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Summer in Quebec

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Santa’s Tree Farm

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

Quiltmaker (July/August 2017):  Santa’s Crossing

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

June 2017:  Flag Banner (Windham Fabrics)

Santa’s Crossing in QUILTMAKER (July/August 2017)

Happy Monday, Friends!  I hope you have been well.  My life has been total craziness — it’s actually been that way ever since I made a trip to Southeast Asia back in April.  I thought it would take just a little bit to play catch up, but my life has actually been a gigantic whirlwind of trying to play catch up, but never quite caught up.  Other than having an incredibly busy summer, I am well, and feeling blessed each day!  And I hope you are too!

You might remember my Santa’s Tree Farm quilt that is featured in the July/August 2017 of McCall’s Quilting magazine.

I have used fabrics from the same fabric line to make another quilt – kind of like A Tale of Two Quilts situation. :) Santa’s Crossing is featured in the latest July/August issue of Quiltmaker!  The magazine is on newsstands right now in case you want to pick up a copy of your own.

It’s always an honor to have an editorial feature with my design.  But in the latest Quiltmaker issue, I feel doubly honored because I was also given Designer Spotlight!

Santa’s Crossing is made of blocks that look like snowflakes set in a log cabin block setting.  I really had fun making this quilt.

Exclusive kits are available for a limited time here.

And you can read more about the quilt here on Quiltmaker’s blog because I am their guest blogger today!  I hope you will check out the blog post because you might find a couple of interesting tidbits.

That’s all for now, Dear Friends!  I wish you a very Happy Week!

***

My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Summer in Quebec

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Santa’s Tree Farm

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

Quiltmaker (July/August 2017):  Santa’s Crossing

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

June 2017:  Flag Banner (Windham Fabrics)

 

 

 

 

My McCall’s Quilting “Hat trick” issue & Giveaway & Just Catching Up!

Hello Friends, it’s been far too long!  I have missed visiting with you.  I hope you have had a great summer so far.  We always kick off our summer officially by going to historic Mount Vernon to celebrate Mrs. Washington’s birthday on June 2.  We wore purple in honor of Mrs. Washington because purple was purportedly her favorite color.  She even wore purple silk shoes to her wedding to Col. Washington!

If you have picked up the July/August 2017 issue of McCall’s Quilting, you probably saw that I have THREE projects featured in that issue.  I scored a hat trick!

In the issue are:

#1.  the second installment of my Village Square Series Quilt (click here for the behind-the-scenes snippets if you haven’t read them),

#2.  Santa’s Tree Farm,

and #3.  Summer in Quebec

HERE’S WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT… I guest-blogged on McCall’s Quilting blog about the two aforementioned quilts, with a giveaway of 12 small Aurifil 50wt spools in my Subtle Strings colors!  The only catch is that you HAVE to leave a comment on the post on McCall’s Quilting by midnight tonight. So don’t miss the opportunity to win some yummy threads! CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT. Please note that picture below shows large spools and not the small spools you will receive as a prize should you win!

Should you want my Subtle Strings collection in large spools, click here to purchase them for $99.99 instead of $149.99.  Be sure to scroll on that page until you see my name!

***

And today is Flag Day, which is also the 242nd birthday of the Unite States Army!  I am sharing with you a free pattern to make flag banner!  This banner is designed with Windham Fabrics’ Storybook Americana 30’s fabrics!

Click here to download pattern instructions.

***

Life has been really happening at my end, and I hope to be able to share with you about it in a couple of months.  My little family is doing well, and keeping busy despite Miss Baby being out of school.  Take care, my dear Friends… till next time!

***

My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Summer in Quebec

McCall’s Quilting (July/August 2017): Santa’s Tree Farm

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

June 2017:  Flag Banner (Windham Fabrics)

FREE PATTERN: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

Hello Friends, I hope you are doing well!  May is Military Appreciation Month!  If your family is/was one, please know that my family appreciates you.

I am happy to share with you another Quilt of Valor free-to-use pattern to bless a service member!  This star quilt is designed using Quilting Treasures’ Love My Hero fabrics.  Click here to view the fabric range.  You might notice the star block I used is another variation of my favorite sawtooth star block!  I just can’t help it… ha!

Click here if you are interested in purchasing a kit to replicate the quilt!

Click here to down load pattern instructions.

Some of you probably remember this picture from a couple of years ago… but this is one of my favorites!  On his way back from work, a soldier-gentleman took the time to stop, smile and look a child in the eye.  He patiently answered her questions, and totally made her day!

Thank you to all the servicemen who serve with valor, and their very courageous families!  May prayers and safe travels always follow you, wherever you are and wherever you go!

Please feel free to share any stories you might have related to Military Appreciation.  I should dearly like to read them.

***

My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017: Love My Hero (Quilting Treasures)

FREE PATTERN: Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

Hello Friends, I hope you have been well.  It’s shaping up to be a very busy and happening spring/summer for me at my end.  First of all, please allowed me to thank you for all the kind comments you have left on McCalls Quilting’s blog about my Village Square quilt.  Remember, if you would like to be entered into the giveaway of  FQ bundle of the original fabrics used in the quilt, you MUST comment on McCall’s Quilting’s blog.  Click here to be directed there. Deadline is tomorrow night.

Today, I have a free pattern to share with you that uses fabrics from Quilting Treasures’ newly released fabric line, Not Your Garden Variety.  This is a really fun group, and presents a fun twist to the regular floral fabrics. These fabrics are in your local quilt shops now!  You can also purchase the fabrics here.

image credit: Quilting Treasures

I can see these fabrics used in home decor, and even for teenagers and many other charming things like bags etc. You might have seen the following quilt hanging at last year’s Fall Market in Houston at Quilting Treasures’ booth.

Click here to view the fabric group.

Click here to download pattern instructions.

Click here to read about the fabric designer.

Tell me what you think of these fun floral fabrics — or if you prefer the traditional florals!  Curious mind wants to know!

Thank you for stopping by.  I shall catch up with you later!

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My 2017 Line-up

Editorial Feature

American Patchwork & Quilting (Jan/Feb 2017):  Close Quarters (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Pound of Sugar (Cover Quilt)

Fons & Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2017): Cozy Castles

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): Village Square (Cover Quilt)

McCall’s Quilting (May/June 2017): County Fair

McCall’s Quick Quilts (Feb/March 2017):  I’m Blue For You

McCall’s Quick Quilts (April/May 2017): Stamp Pad

Quiltmaker (May/June 2017): Highland Roses

 

Free-to-use Design

Jan 2017:  Stars and Stripes Forever (Hoffman Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  HOPE (Windham Fabrics)

Jan 2017:  Bleecker Street (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Sheeps and Peeps (Quilting Treasures)

Feb 2017: Smarty Cats (Windham Fabrics)

Feb 2017: Wildwood Way (RJR Fabrics)

March 2017: Hamilton (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Vines (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Storybook Flannel (Windham Fabrics)

April 2017: Monroe (Quilting Treasures)

May 2017:  Not Your Garden Variety (Quilting Treasures)

Spring and Tulips!

Hello Friends, Happy Friday!  I hope you have been well.  A bit of spring trivia for you…. did you know that tulips were originally grown in the Ottoman Empire before being imported to Holland in the 16th century?  Tulips became so popular in the Golden Dutch Age that the bulbs were used as money in Holland until the market in them crashed.  And I suppose Holland solidified her reputation as the tulip capital of the world, and is often affectionately referred to as the flower shop of the world.

These pictures are from a few years back before Miss Baby was school-aged.  We did a lot more impromptu outings then, which I miss now…

And this is my fabric version of spring/tulips for this year…

This is an exclusive quilt kit for Craft of Quilting, designed with Windham Fabrics’ Sleeping Porch fabrics by Heather Ross.  This is a fun garden group.  Check out the fabrics here.  Purchase the exclusive quilt kit (71″ x 84″) HERE.

I am curious to know what your favorite spring flower is!  Mine are many:  tulips, daffodils, forsythia, cherry blossoms, and dogwood!

Speaking of cherry blossoms, my family didn’t make it to the Tidal Basin in Washington DC this because about half of the blossoms were damaged in a freeze following an unusually warm spell.  Here are some pictures from our past cherry blossom excursions in the nation’s capital.  No matter how many times we have gone to see the blossoms, the feeling of awe at the “blossom” beauty never fails to overtake us!

That’s all for now, Friends.  I hope you have a lovely weekend.

p.s.  I have received many emails asking if only patterns of my quilt kits are available.  Generally, the answer is no unless you have seen the patterns featured in magazines.  Many of my quilt kits you see in catalogs are exclusive.  So the only way you can access the pattern is via the kit.  I have been toying with the idea of releasing my patterns in the future, but due to my various commitments, I have no plans to do so immediately.  I appreciate your understanding. :-)