Upcycling from the quilt room floor

I'm working on a scrap quilt that is producing lots of tiny scraps. (Notice the irony here? I didn't, at first.) They looked so pretty on the floor, I decided to arrange them on a white 10" square with a dab of glue behind each scrap. Then starting from the outer edge, I sewed  a  big spiral all the way to the middle. I was going to make a wreath, but why leave the middle empty when there are so many nice fabrics?

I don't know if this will ever be a quilt but it looks great on the design wall in the meantime.

Two Flying Geese Quilts

Joan made this quilt last summer using the Quilt in a Day flying geese ruler. You can read more about it at Needle Turnings. 

This is "Geese Flying Over the Pond" by Tia of Tia Curtis Quilts. A customer sent her a pile of fat quarters and asked for a 60" quilt...no other instructions. I love the fabric with the brown dots. Nice quilting too!

Flying Geese Inspiration

This is Kelly's flying geese quilt on her design wall last summer. She was surprised to see that it looked like a Christmas quilt. I like the busy look and the unlikely fabric combinations keep me searching. The little bit of black is perfect! Nice job, Kelly! See her blog: Kelly Girl Quilts.

Help Dig a Well, Maybe Win a Quilt

My friend Pam in Tennessee put her heart into this big hand-quilted quilt! She was making it for her Dad. He's in a nursing home now and wouldn't enjoy this big quilt, so Pam came up with a great idea. Raise funds to dig a well in Africa and give the quilt to one of the lucky contributors! She's planning to raise $7,000.

Take a look at her blog post and consider a donation. Drawing is at the end of March.

Also, please share this info on FB, Pinterest, etc.

P.S. Isn't this quilt gorgeous? Years ago, Pam won the Workmanship award for quilting at the TN State Fair. And she has her own sheep for spinning wool, and she home-schools...Pam is one amazing lady!

Wedges Quilt Pattern: Fast, Fun and Modern

Here's the latest quilt pattern, a modern improv wedge quilt. 

This bright, modern quilt is made by eye! There is very little measuring. Basically, you “wing it” and then tweak it. Using this method, the quilt goes together fast so trust your instincts and enjoy!

Could you please Pin, FB, etc? Thanks!!

I hope you're having some quilt fun today.

I'm going to visit with my sister (and quilting buddy) Eileen tonight! 

Classic Quilt

Isn't this a pretty quilt? It was made by Dede in California. She sells on Etsy at PeppersAttic. This quilt is listed for $225 and it measures 52" x 69." It has muslin on the back and it's nicely machine quilted with big swirls. How can she offer such a great price? I think I'll ask her and I'll report back to you.

REPORT: I just heard back from Dede. She says she's been making rag quilts for years, but due to arthritis in her hands, she's transitioning over to traditionally pieced quilts. She's starting out with low prices.

Garen's "Kisses" Quilt

 "Kisses" was made by Garen. She's from the USA and now lives in the UK. On one of her trips "home" to visit family, we met for lunch and had the best time talking quilts. Please come again, Garen!

Isn't this a happy quilt? Nice job!

Fine Lines Quilt Pattern is Finished!

How fine, you may ask? How about 1/4" finished! This is fun to make. Take a look.

I love how this quilt came out. I was stumped for a while with the border, but then it all worked out. The border looks like a big blanket stitch. It's machine quilted with wavy lines in the sashing, both vertically and horizontally. (Haha, for me, that's a lot of quilting! Piecing is my passion, not quilting.) 

Like the others, this pattern is a pdf, so you get it fast by email. 

If you're on Facebook or Pinterest etc, please spread this around. Thanks!!

When This You See Remember Me

This quilt was made in memory of my two grandmothers, Gladys and Barbara. You probably recognize the sentiment that was popular in old embroidered samplers: "When this you see remember me." These words are written with lots of old buttons, even one from an old Girl Scout uniform. One of the borders is full of buttons too. The rick rack is regular size and extra-jumbo. There are lots of memories represented in this quilt including an old pearl necklace and tea bag tags. 

Make a good memory today.

Thin Sticks, a Modern Quilt

Today I'm finishing "Thin Sticks." There's a long narrow scrap of gray in the upper right corner showing what the binding will look like. The outer edge looks like a blanket stitch, doesn't it? 

This quilt is fun to make. Lots of improvisation. Depending on the order you add the sticks, they look like they are in front of, and behind each other. More details soon!

We're having perfect quilting weather. The wind is howling and there's a crust of ice on everything. Can't do anything but sew, right?

Vote for Rain Dance!

"Rain Dance" by California artist Karen Tarlton.

She is a FINALIST in Artiste's contest. The winning painting will be featured on a wine label. 

Right now she's #3; we just have to push her over the top.

Follow this link and click LIKE in the upper right corner. Then scroll down to "Rain Dance" and vote.

See more of Karen's paintings on Etsy: Karen's Fine Art.  

I'll let you know how she does.

Thimbles Quilt Pattern is Ready!

The pattern for Thimbles is ready! This is a fun stash-busting scrap quilt with optional embroidered stars and ties. And of course there are lots of fabrics with little surprises hidden in there. I love to do that. 

My goal has been to publish a pattern/month, and now I'm a little ahead of the game. I'm trying to make hay while it's winter. 

Happy quilting!

Thimbles Quilt is Finished!

The Thimbles quilt is finished! There are little stars embroidered on the thimbles and a red running stitch along the light green inner border. I never get tired of using novelty fabrics to add little surprises here and there.

Thank you for your suggestions about this quilt!

Checkers Quilt Makes a Fresh Start

This checkered quilt has a new name: "Checkers."  

The first name "Nantucket" and the focus on the quilt's nautical characteristics was a little confusing. So I'm simplifying things. Here's the pattern.

I'm finishing the Thimbles quilt today. Photo coming soon! Thanks for your input on that one.

Spider Web Selvage Quilt

This selvage quilt by Tanya in Utah was featured on her Squares and Triangles blog. She used an 18 degree Dresden Plate ruler to cut the azure "background" shape. She likes the squared off shapes of the webs. Notice the bright orange binding too. Great job Tanya! 

Mom's Cactus Photo

Here's Mom's cactus photo that I told you about yesterday. Isn't it beautiful? She added the photo below to show what the whole plant looks like. Look at all those buds! Nice job, Mom!

P.S. Mom lives in Connecticut, just 30 minutes from me. She likes to visit Arizona to visit her cousin Joan. She always brings home some great photos.

Photo Contest

My mom and I are in a camera club together. At the meeting last night, my photo "Fisher Towers, Utah" was awarded a 9 (the highest possible score). If Mom sends me her cactus photo, I'll show you. That one got a 9 also, but neither of us won "Print of the Month." We had dinner at Panera with another member. It's fun to go out and play with my Mom.

Thanks for all the comments about steam ironing vs. dry. Lots of good thoughts. My non-quilting sister was impressed that we all had so much to say about steam. Haha.

Do You Prefer Steam or No Steam?

When you're piecing quilt tops do you prefer steam or no steam?

I've read dry ironing is better because steam can distort raw edges, but I use steam...the more the better.

How about you?

Thimbles Quilt Needs Something

This is what I'm up to this morning: Thimbles, and lots of "low volume" playful improvisation. But it needs something. I'm trying to figure out what. Maybe something orderly in the border to calm things down. I do like how the thimbles dance across the quilt. I think I like the 4 apples too. Any thoughts?

Nantucket Quilt Pattern!

This classic nautical quilt sparkles with summer colors. The backing and binding are solid ecru, like sails. The ecru ties look like seagulls in the air, and upon close inspection the little knots resemble boat rigging. 

See pattern here.

This pattern is for a quilt 61" wide x 85" long. It will keep your tallest loved one warm and cozy. Perfect size for college dorm beds: XL Twin. Yardage per block is provided so you can easily make your quilt any size you like. 

If you are new to the idea of improvisational quilt design, this pattern is for you! You'll see how to lay out the quilt 2 ways: the traditional way and using improvisation. Directions for optional tying included. 
Skill level: EASY