Brookside Quiltworks Exhibits my Quilts!

Brookside Quiltworks in South Egremont, Massachusetts is exhibiting 25 of my quilts until the end of August. There are downloadable patterns available for many of the quilts. Many quilts are available for sale too. This quilt shop offers 2,800 bolts of gorgeous fabric, plus tools, books, patterns, longarm quilting services, and lessons...That must be why they call it "Quiltworks," they have the works!

 L to R: Fandango, Blue Lagoon, and a Gee's Bend-style Retro Christmas quilt.

Winding Trails (center), and my sister Eileen Lovett's green Hummingbird quilt (draped on the table) which was the featured quilt for March in Curated Quilts' 2019 Calendar.

This Bourgoing Surrounded quilt made from silk dupioni, includes buttons, beads and hand embroidery.

Little Dolls quilt and Puzzle quilt. Owners Catherine and Bill Kane do a nice job arranging the exhibit. Their whole shop is a delight to visit. 

Just Finished a Super Hero Baby Quilt - Now Waiting For the Baby

This super hero baby quilt is for my DIL's friend in Louisville who is having a baby boy this month. 

DIL provided the comic fabrics. The photo below shows the backing and the striped binding. It measures 40" x 41." First I fussy-cut the images, then filled in around them. All the dotted fabrics and striped binding are from my stash. I love the big black dots on the white background, and the cheddar and black too. This was a new challenge, but it was fun to create. I hope the little guy enjoys it.

Red and White Tumbler Wall Quilt

Do you know someone who's collecting red and white quilts? Here's my latest, a Tumbler wall quilt. It measures 33" x 38." You can see it in my Etsy shop. I haven't made a pattern yet for this quilt. I like the crisp points. Oops, the quilt is upside-down in these photos (which only matters if you want to use the sleeve to hang it.) 

Click HERE to see my post about Red and White Quilts.

Another Quilt Finish and a Useful FMQ Tip

Here's another wall quilt (33" x 39") that I made to practice free-motion quilting skills.

Here's a fmq tip for you: Leave the feed-dogs up and set the stitch length to "0."

It seems wrong but I tried it both ways and this is better! It's a big help. 

Box Wall Quilt with Hidden Apples

My latest finish! I made this quilt top for the purpose of practicing my free-motion quilting, and I'm surprised that I really like it. You can see the quilting better in the close-ups below.

See more photos of this quilt here.

I bought some Fons and Porter quilting gloves at JoAnn. They're supposed to be rubbery so that moving the quilt under the needle is easier. But these gloves aren't very rubbery at all, so I don't recommend them. I ordered some Machingers online from Leah Day. Her online videos of fmq designs are wonderful (and numerous!). 

Red apples appear in only one block. 

Sea Glass Quilt Pattern!

"Sea Glass" is a fusible applique quilt that measures 36" x 54." I just finished the "Sea Glass" pattern yesterday. I did a Google search of "sea glass" to get ideas before making this quilt and I saw photos of an amazing beach in California that's loaded with this stuff. It's called Glass Beach near Ft. Bragg. Apparently the locals used the beach as a dump in the 1940's (I know!) and now it's all nicely tumbled. Visitors like to take bags of it home with them. Scroll down to see a photo of it.

Glass Beach, Ft. Bragg, California. Read more here.

Wabi Sabi Quilt: Off-Center Medallion

This is the center medallion of the third wabi sabi quilt (except that the medallion won't be quite in the center). I like the batik in the middle. See the close-up photo below. I found both dark batiks at the Quilted Ewe in Winsted, CT. The green fabric that looks like grass came from there too. Mary (the owner) has lots of great fabrics. I always find some treasures there. I'll show you when this quilt is finished.

Wabi Sabi Quilt 2

 This is quilt top #2 in my new Wabi Sabi series. It measures 63" x 82." The actual sewing was fast, but it took me some time to consider the layout. It was fun to make. The close-up photo below shows the individual fabrics a little better. The background is taupe (Kona Sand). Now I'm daydreaming about #3.

Custom Quilt for Melanie is Finished!

Melanie asked for a quilt like the Serendipity quilt, 72" x 84," with fabrics that she  chose to go with a rug and ceiling painting in her home. This quilt will hang in her 2-story foyer. It should be there Wednesday.

Pine Burr Quilt and Pattern are Finished!

Now I can cross this off my Bucket List! It really is an amazing quilt with so much texture that you can't help but pet it. It's fun to make too. See the pattern here.

See my Pine Burr pattern. Please Pin this for me. Thanks! 

How to Make a String Quilt Block

This is a post for newbie quilters. Here's how to make a string quilt block. Use your 6" square ruler. Don't have a 6"? That's okay, use another size. Or another shape. 

You might want to make the center strip (above) using the same fabric in all the blocks so that you get a lattice effect. Make some blocks and play with them on your design wall. 

I like the yellow flower in the upper corner of this block. All the strips don't have to be the same width. The  strips are 1 1/4"- 1 1/2" wide.  But cut them whatever widths you like. This is a very casual method.

You might use sashing between the blocks. Maybe add an outer border. So many possibilities!

Have fun!

New Pattern! Quick Trip Around the World

This twin size quilt has 1,280 little squares in it! But with the Quick Trip quilt pattern you use the tube method to avoid lots of work. If you have 2 1/2" x 41" strips, jelly rolls, or fat quarters, you're ready to get started. I really like this combination of solid red and low volume prints. 

See below for more ways to arrange this block. I used the last one, #6. 

If you're a Pinner, would you please Pin this pattern for me? Thanks.

String Quilts 101

If you're a new quilter, take a look at this fun and easy way to make a string quilt. Make your block bigger than your ruler, then trim. Easy, right? Use any size ruler you like. I used a 6" square in this photo. These strips are about 1 1/2" wide but you can vary the widths.

If you like this, please Pin It. Thanks.

See more patterns here. 

Gatsby Quilt is Finished!

This string quilt is loaded with floral fabrics arranged in rows and divided by narrow strips with the black background. That narrow strip sort of comes into view, then hides. There are also lots of surprise images: teacups, jellybeans, etc. This formal garden/party treats theme led to the name "Gatsby." 

You can see more about this quilt here. I may make a pattern for newbies. It's easy; no seams to match.

It measures 67" x 84." It was machine quilted by Linda Aquavia of New Hartford, CT.

16-Patch Wedding Quilt

I like this quilt so much that I decided to offer similar custom quilts on Etsy. 

Would you Pin, facebook, blog or Tweet this photo and link? Thanks so much.

This weekend at the wedding I'll try to get a photo of the bride and groom with their new quilt. 

The backing is lighter and prettier than it looks on my screen. I always add a sleeve just in case anyone wants to put it on a wall. It might be charming on a guest room wall. I like that fabric with the sticks on it (see below, bottom right). It's new from DearStellaDesign. 

Junk Mail Selvage Quilt

 

I made "Junk Mail" in 2011 using some of my favorite selvages and novelty fabrics. 

I like how black and white prints go with selvages. The outer border has a serrated postage stamp look, consistent with the junk mail theme.