Friday, October 23, 2015

Quick Project for Christmas

 Christmas is just around the corner!  Yes, I know it's not even Halloween yet but, still, Christmas is barely 2 months away.  That's 62 days.  Phew!  Time to get those holiday projects going....

So, are you ready for a quick project?  AccuQuilt has a fabulous  die that makes 3 different 7" snowflakes!    I used it, as well as the 8" Circle die (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!)  to come up with Ornament Hot Pads!

 Read about how I made these Hotpads here!

And, don't forget to get the free pattern here! 

You're going to love these!


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Some exciting news, friends!  I recently made Pillows for AccuQuilt using their new GO! Churn Dash Dies and my blog tutorial just got posted on the AccuQuilt Blog!  Here's the link:  https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-project-tutorials/new-churn-dash-pillow-patterns/

The Churn Dash block is one of my favorites.  It's one of the few blocks that I've made over and over again.  Here are just a couple of my projects - both named after the alternative block name, Double Monkey Wrench.  It's still the Churn Dash!
Monkey Blues, Quilter's World 2014.
Jo Morton's Blue Variety Fabrics for Andover.
Monkey Business Quilt, Quilter's World 2013.
Here's the front of one of the new Churn Dash pillows.  
Quilted Front, 18" Churn Dash Pillow.
So, head on over to the AccuQuilt Blog and read how easy it is to put these pillows together!





Saturday, June 20, 2015

Bobbin Along

The first day of summer, June 21, is also the first day of the Row by Row Experience 2015.  It is an exciting shop hop event where you can visit participating shops and receive a free pattern for a quilt row.  Collect at least 8 row patterns, make a quilt and show-and-tell at a participating shop and you could win prizes!  There are over 2700 participating shops from all 50 states and Canada with 107 shops in my home state of Pennsylvania.  Just amazing!

This year is the third year that our local quilt shop, The Round Bobbin is participating in this event.  Every year, I have had the privilege of designing the row for The Round Bobbin.  So, with an event theme of H2O (water!),  our row for the The Round Bobbin is the Storm At Sea!

It is a paper-pieced pattern as the pieces do get a bit small.  Susan S., the shop owner, put the row together and Susan A. machine quilted fish on it!  So wonderful!  It looks great even as a stand-alone row (think table runner!).  You just have to come and see it!!!

Our Fabric plate this year is - Bobbin Along!  I accidentally came up with it during a group discussion.

So, if you're in Ambler, Pennsylvania this summer (June 21-Sept 8), drop by the Round Bobbin, pick up your free row pattern and maybe throw in a kit and a fabric plate!

Friday, May 22, 2015

Winners and Rulers



Congratulations to Debbie E. from NJ for winning a copy of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol 11 magazine!

Congratulations also goes out to Donna W. from WI for winning not only a copy of the magazine but also a fat quarter pack of Quilting Treasures Color Blends fabrics.  

Donna shared a tip about using Mr Clean Magic Eraser to clean the bottom of an iron!   Coincidentally, not only do I currently have an iron with a dirty sole, I also had just bought a pack of Mr Clean Magic Eraser!  So, you know one of the things I'll be doing this coming holiday weekend.  

It has been so much fun participating in the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Hop!  Thanks so much for dropping by!

So, I have just received word that "Quilts Made With Rulers" is now out!   This book is all about 4 rulers - 120-Degree Triangle, 45-Degree Diamond, Single Wedding Ring Arc and Flying Geese.  You know, those rulers that end up in your ruler stash after only one project!  Well, time to dig them out and put them to use on the wonderful quilts in this book.  
Photo courtesy of Annie's.

Photo courtesy of Annie's.

My project, Buy Low, Sell High, which uses the 120-Degree Triangle (see above), is featured on the back cover.   It's scrappy and uses both gray and white as background triangles to create a shadow effect for added depth.  

Carole Whaling did a phenomenal job with the machine quilting as usual.   


Check out the book and I hope you like it as much as I do!  

Enjoy your holiday weekend and welcome summer!

Monday, May 4, 2015

ECHO

Welcome to the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 11 Blog Hop!  

If you're not hopping yet, get thee to Quilty Pleasures right away to find out what's going on.   Don't miss out on giveaways, quilt ideas, fun stuff, giveaways, more fun and more giveaways!

I am so honored and pleased to have my block, ECHO, in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 11.   It is listed on page 36 as Block 1049.  This is only the second time I've submitted a block and also the second time I've participated in this blog hop!  So exciting!  It's also a bit nerve-wracking to be on the Hop on the very first day!!  But, here we go....
I thought it would be fun to see what this block would look like in different fabrics.  So, the first thing I did is to change the background to dramatic black!  


Those bright colors really become brighter on a black background, don't they?  

Next, I wanted to see it with reproductions.  Here's a black and tan version that looks like it was made in 1890!

Are you loving a particular version yet?  How about a soft modern look?
Did you notice I changed the value placement in the soft modern version?  It makes the diagonals look more prominent.  

Last but not the least, here is a traditional version that's just a touch patriotic. I did several things different about this block.   First, I mixed batiks and regular cottons.  I have been doing that more and more these days.  You can, too!  The quilt police won't come after you for mixing them up.  I promise! Second, the color for the arcs and the circle in contrast to the red/blue really pops those arcs and circle.  Finally, I just love the transparency between the red and the blue in this one.  These 3 fabrics just blend and transition so well!

Making the blocks in different colorways is one thing.  But, really, how would they look in a quilt?  

So, I designed a 30" square wallhanging with a special sashing strip that creates a secondary pattern for a more cohesive look.  Check out the different looks:    

So, which one is your favorite colorway?  Tell me in a comment below and you will be entered in a drawing for a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 11!    This prize will come from Quiltmaker directly.


Even better, in your comment below, include your favorite quilting tip and you will be entered in a drawing for a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol 11 AND a fat quarter bundle of yummy fabrics from Quilting Treasures.   These fabrics are from the Color Blends collection with which I designed the Surf and Sand Block of the Month program.    I will be sending this prize bundle out.






You will find a link at the top of this blog (and on the right-hand side column) for quick directions to make the quilt above - especially those sashing strips.  However, these directions are intended for the more experienced quilter who knows how to make flying geese units, hour glass units and make circle appliques.  You can substitute a yo-yo for the circle applique, by the way.

Just one more - here's Echo in a table runner.

Have fun Hopping onto the other blogs!  Back to the Blog Hop...

Thursday, February 12, 2015

SURF AND SAND


I'm excited to show you "Surf and Sand".  This is a bed-size block of the month program I created for Quilting Treasures featuring their new and fabulous blender collection, Color Blends.  

It's in two colorways - Surf (cool colors) and Sand (warm).  I will admit to liking the Surf version a little bit more than Sand!  

The best part about this project, I feel, are the "Arcs" which makes the blocks look like they are circles!  They're actually very straightforward to do with a little bit of applique and I feel that a confident beginner can make this quilt easily.   Of course, if you would rather not do any type of applique at all, it is easy enough to skip the Arcs.

If you're interested in doing this program, please contact your local quilt shop to see if they're offering it.   The Round Bobbin Quilt Shop does offer the program in both colorways.