Attic Stairs: Scrap-Buster!

"Attic Stairs" is one of the quilt patterns in my new book. It's a no-thinking-required scrap-buster. As you generate scraps from other projects, cut and toss into 2 piles: one dark and one light. Sew pairs, then trim into final size. Before you know it you'll have that gift you've been meaning to make. See the book, and then comment to enter the fat quarter giveaway.

See My New Book! Fat Quarters Giveaway Starts Today! (4 Winners)

My new book is out today! It features eleven fabulous versions of the Stairstep quilt.

 It's easy enough for new quilters, but it has design options that will tempt experienced quilters too.

I'm really excited about it!

The book is a pdf, so you get it immediately via email. Print it if you like. Take a look. Then come back and leave a comment. You'll be automatically entered in a random drawing for a package of 4 fat quarters by Kaffe Fasset. Four winners will be announced on Sunday Feb. 5.

If you "Favorite" it, tell your friends, or blog about it, etc., please enter 2 comments.

Come Fabric Shopping in Tokyo

There is a little fabric shop near Tokyo, Japan called Miss Matatabi. The shop specializes in modern Japanese fabrics and trims. If you have a minute, follow the link to the shop. Or just take a look at these picks. I'm enjoying reading the text in the fabric above. I was curious about the "jewelry casket." The basket fabric below has a little French text. What is it about fabrics that you can read that makes them so enticing?

The ad for the fabric above says these little animals are goats. They look more like lambs to me.

Haha, cute clcothesline image below!

Take a look at the little spoons in the selvage below. Or maybe they're flowers. I'd like to see more of the selvages in this collection.

If we were really in Tokyo, we'd ask Frances the shop owner to suggest a place for lunch. Too bad...virtual has it's limitations!

Something to Make You Smile

These delightful assemblages are offered for sale at Reclaim 2 Fame, a shop on Etsy run by a couple in Florida. Take a look at their steampunk items. Sure to jumpstart your creativity and make you smile today!

Gnome Teapot

This time of year I'm even more fond of tea than ususal. Isn't this an interesting teapot? It's listed on Etsy by Jeannine from Belgium.

Today I'm making the coolest selvage quilt! I'll show you soon. It has some raw edge applique on it. Yes!

Eye of the Storm Watch

Designed by Yiran Qian from China, this watch displays the time in the frame when you push a button. You can see a little more about it on Gadget Review or on Hypebeast. They say the inspiration for this watch is the calmness in the eye of a storm. This watch isn't in production, it's just a concept design at the moment. Pretty clever.

Design Wall Update

I decided that the Amish style Stairstep quilt needed a border. The piano keys have more dark colors than medium colors, drawing your attention to the middle of the quilt. When making the border I didn't distribute the mediums in an artistic way, I just let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes this works, but this time, meh. Maybe I'll just darken the rectangles in the lower left area. I do love all the colors.