Merry Christmas 2020 & Stomping Ground Sewalong

Hello Friends, Merry Christmas to you! I hope you had a blessed one. I know that many of of us weren’t able to do what we usually do for Christmas this year, but I was comforted to know that Christmas is Christmas no matter what I usually do! So this year without our usuals, I was able to focus on the FIRST Christmas, and enjoyed the simple things. My daughter and I even “binge-listened” to Bach’s 6-part Christmas Oratoria in one sitting on the radio, as opposed to, say, watch a group perform live. “Mom, this is really old-fashioned, and I love it!” – said my daughter.

Watching the wildlife that come through our yard is always special.

Earlier in December, my daughter hosted a Christmas party for her American Heritage Girls troop. My oven was working almost 24-7 for several days there while I dried orange slices while my daughter was in school. The orange slices were then used to decorate the centerpieces. I ended up with tree upon tree after the party. What you see aren’t all. I ended up scattering the rest throughout the entire house.

During the hectic craziness leading up to Christmas, I had a red and cream quilt published in the Feb 2021 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. This quilt has the most half-square-triangle units I have EVER made that go into one quilt – 936 of them! The quilt isn’t hard – just lots of repetitive parts! I had to say the whole process was made really fun because of the pretty fabrics I used. For this quilt, I used La Rouge Rose fabrics by Moda.

And if you subscribe to Pat Sloan’s blog or YouTube channel, you know TODAY is the day! Today starts the sewalong Pat Sloan is doing with my Stomping Ground pattern! Here is a screen shot from Pat’s blog post dated December 21, 2020. Click here for her YouTube episode on how to cut pieces for an elephant with a 10″ layer cake square.

Here are pictures of the quilt I had made before. This version is made with Pat’s Morrison Park fabrics.

Here are a few more color options if you want to join the sewalong but aren’t sure about what fabrics to use:

I am making this quilt the second time with Woodland Songbirds by Poppie Cotton! These fabrics are really sweet. Look me up on Instagram later to see my blocks. My handle is ivory_spring.

Well, where to get the pattern?

From my Etsy shop (pdf download): click HERE.

From Fat Quarter Shop (pdf download): click HERE.

From Fat Quarter Shop (paper format): clikc HERE.

And that is it — Ready, set, stomp for the New Year! Blessings to you all. I shall check in with you after the New Year!

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Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivory_spring/

My Etsy Shop (THREADS SHIP FREE to continental US): https://www.etsy.com/shop/ivoryspring 

My Online Machine Quilting Classes: https://www.anniescatalog.com/onlineclasses/instructor.html?id=16

Answers to a few questions…

Hello Friends, I hope your week got off a lovely start!  I am still chugging along at my end tending to the different irons in the fire!  First off, the second round of flowering has begun on my rose bushes.  Due to the heat, the flowers aren’t as pink as in the early spring.  And they don’t last as long either.

I actually tracked the “life” of a rose on my Instagram stories a couple of weeks ago, trying to see how long it took for a bud to mature into a flower.   With the growing conditions in my reason, I say it’s about 14-18 days.  I never thought it would be that long.

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Every week I receive emails from quilters asking where they can purchase stand-alone patterns for kits they see in catalogs like Keepsake Quilting.   Most of the time these patterns are not available as stand-alone for sale patterns because they are exclusive collaborations among all the parties involved in offering a design as kits .  The only way to get the pattern is to purchase the kits.  I have also learned that Keepsake Quilting almost never re-kit a project after their kits sell out.

So if you like a kit you see, it’s probably best to purchase it while it is still available.  Click HERE to check out the kits that I have designed for Keepsake Quilting.  

I thought I would share with you the newest kits available that I had designed with the Walnut Creek fabrics by Windham Fabrics.

The first one is Homestead.  Click HERE to purchase the kit.  Remember the house blocks I had shared with you a few weeks ago?  The design is offered as quilt kits using the Walnut Creek fabrics.

The second one is Plum Creek.  Click HERE to purchase the kit.

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Receiving frequent requests for my stand-alone patterns is a big determing factor for the launch of my own pattern line in December 2019.  I want to thank those of you who have purchased the patterns.  I am appreciative of your support.  Please know that my editors and myself work really hard to make each of these pattern happen!

Click HERE to see the current offerings.  More will be added within the few weeks.  

All my patterns are non-fabric specific, and oftentimes precuts friendly.  And chances are I am sewing my quilts right along with you!

What if you really like the version(s) of my quilts I have shown in my fabric choices?  Email me, and I am more than happy to share with you names of fabric lines, and pertinent details.

Please also let your quilt shops know that copies of paper pattern are offered exclusively to them.  They just need to email me for details.

This is one I am working on.  It is actually a log cabin quilt.  In case you missed it, I had blogged about it here.  Pattern is available here.  And here is my latest progress picture.  A quarter of the blocks are made!

Meanwhile, I am working on these blocks…. details coming soon!

That’s all for now, Friends.  I am burning midnight oil trying to get a huge quilt completed…. This quilt has more than 850 HST units!  I am crazy, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Take care, and may the bluebird of happiness fly up your nose!

Till next time!

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Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivory_spring/

My Etsy Shop (THREADS SHIP FREE to US addresses): https://www.etsy.com/shop/ivoryspring 

My Online Machine Quilting Classes: https://www.anniescatalog.com/onlineclasses/instructor.html?id=16

The last day of Christmas in July…

… and the STOCKINGS ARE HUNG!

This is my Christmas quilt, featured in the Autumn 2019 issue of Quilter’s World — on newsstands now!  Complete pattern is in the magazine.

The fabrics I used are Hello My Deer from Michael Miller Fabrics.  These prints are adorable, and they really highlight traditional red and green Christmas colors!

These blocks are incredibly easy to make!

A few tricks:

#1.  We will be dealing with some small pieces to construct this block — as small as 1″ x 1″ squares for the sew and flip method at the bottom corners of stocking cuff.  I like to starch-press to stiffen my small pieces.  That way they won’t be wonky when sewn, and you get a nice crisp seam!

#2.  Time saving tip:  the C and G pieces in the instructions can actually be combined and cut as (1) 2″ x 6″ piece.  That’s what I did here.

To show you how the design is versatile from whimsical to traditional, here is the quilt in traditional floral fabrics:

And here is a version with non-Christmas themed cat fabrics!

I hope you will have making your own Stockings are hung!

One final thought… For an additional personalized touch, how about adding names of your family on the stocking cuffs?

And with that, let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas this year!

My stop — Splendid Sampler 2 Quilt Along

Hello Friends!  I hope you who are in the northern hemisphere are keeping yourself safe and warm!  It’s amazing to hear some of the wind chills experienced by some in the country!  Anyhow, I hope you have had a great week.  I got home on Sunday night, and jumped straight back to work the next day in my quest to check off things on my long list.

Many of you have joined in the fun Splendid Sampler quilt along, hosted by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson!  You probably already know of the reprise in Splendid Sampler 2.  I am so excited to share with you that I am one of the Splendid Sampler designers!!

#1.  Click here if you haven’t known about Splendid Sampler 2 to read more about it.

#2.  Click here If you would like to order the Splendid Sampler 2 book that has instructions and templates included in this quilt along,

And TODAY is my turn to share about my Snail and Pail block!  This block is what you’d see in the book.

This original block is inspired by Miss Baby’s beloved watering can she has had for years.  And here is the block I made for my Splendid Sampler quilt.  This quilt is actually for Miss Baby, thus the monogrammed G on the watering can.

I used the embroidery floss from Miss Baby’s Spool-en-dids floss collection to add the embroidery on the block.  Click here if you would like to read about the collection.  You may purchase the collection here.

Have you seen some of the other Splendid Sampler 2 blocks I have made for the quilt?  I have documented all the blocks on my Instragram account under ivory_spring.  Follow me on Instagram to follow along my Splendid Sampler 2 progress. Fabrics are Uppercase Vol.2 by Windham Fabrics.  Click here to view fabrics.

Back to Snail and Pail… I also used the design to make a 10″ x 10″ mini quilt!  I am using it to show that you can place the snail WHEREVER you wish!  Fabrics are Forest Gifts by Michael Miller. Click here to view fabrics.

This picture shows the quilting I did over Hobbs Tuscany Wool batting.  I taught machine quilting all week last week at Road to CA — I was more then ready to do some quilting myself after I got home.

A quick note on the blanket stitches I do around my fusible applique shapes.  I like the buttonhole/blanket stitches small.  You may read more about how I do the stitching here.

 

Does this Quilt-Along look fun to you?  It is SUPER FUN — trust me!  I like, with the book, that I am able to make the blocks at my own pace.  And the blocks are so versatile I can easily add my own spin to them.  AND the best part is that I am able to see what others have made their blocks on social media sites.  If you haven’t joined, you know you want to!!!

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For those who are participating in the Quilt Along, and have actually make the blocks — comment to enter the giveaway of a copy of my book below.  Make sure you indicate in your comment that you have actually make the block(s).  I am interested to know which is your favorite block so far!  This giveaway relies on the honor system — again, ONLY open to Splendid Sampler 2 participants!

I will announce the winner next Thursday (Feb 7, 2019).

That’s all for now, my quilting friends!  Chat with you again soon!

p.s.  I came across a fun article on beginning quilting that would make a great resource for any quilts.  Check it out here.

Back to blog-land just for a little bit…

A Day In Life

Happy Summer, my dear Friends!  I hope you have been well!  One reverberating question that has been playing in my mind is where the time has gone!  It seemed like it was yesterday I picked Miss Baby from school on the last day of her school year back in May, and now we are way into the month of July!

I have really enjoyed having Miss Baby home this summer although she claims I work her harder than her teacher at school! Haha!  I think she is probably right, but I am certainly not keeping score.

Miss Baby is ever inquisitive and happy to go along with my impulsive outings.  We were at a lavender farm where shortly after this picture was taken, my partner-in-crime left me out in the field cutting lavender sprigs while she enjoyed herself in the shade of the farmhouse porch.

Lavender is the thing on Miss Baby’s bed at the moment.  She even made herself a pillowcase because she thought the one I had out for her was too bland!

A Day in Quilt Life

Quiltingwise, I have kept a demanding pace.  But I am not complaining.

A couple of weeks ago, the great and gracious Pat Sloan had me on her podcast!  It was so much fun chatting a little with her about machine quilting, and stitching with Miss Baby.  If you missed the show, you can listen to the show here.

Besides being excited to see my magazine quilts being published,

Rainbow Room in Quilty (July/August 2018)

Playground Plaza in Fons and Porter Easy Quilts Fall 2018 (click here for kits)

I have been doing a bit of hand applique for my Celebrating Mary Brown quilt.  I am using only Lynette Anderson fabrics for this quilt.

I am also a designer included in the Splendid Sampler 2 this year!!  Are you sewing along with the Splendid Sampler since its launch about a month ago? It is a great sew-along especially if you want to challenge yourself to new skills and techniques.  Here is a picture of my Block #3.  Follow me on Instagram (handle: ivory_spring) to see my other blocks.  Due to time constraint, I haven’t been able to update my blog as often as I would like, but if you need anything from me, just send me a direct message to me via Instagram.  I normally respond much quicker on Instagram.

That’s all for now, My Friends!  I would love to hear from you what you’ve been up to this summer.

p.s.  I have MORE fabric boxes to give away — if you can even believe it!!  But it is what it is, haha.  I will post on the giveaway soon!

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.

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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!!!

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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!!!

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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!!

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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!

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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)