Welcome Spring!

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and doing well. If you are a medical person or doing another essential job you probably don't have time to read this blog, but we really appreciate you! Thank you for getting out there and keeping our country going! Big thanks.

No these flowers are not from my garden (yeah, right). I found them on Google. We actually have snow on the ground, and not much color anywhere, except in my quilt room. But I can almost smell these bright cheery daffodils.

So, virtual hugs to you. Stay safe. I hope you get to enjoy some creative quilting time. :)

Connecticut Army National Guard bringing personal protective equipment to a hospital in CT. 

Susan Gardner's Surprise Pinwheel Blocks

Susan Gardner was making the Bunting quilt pattern when she saw that her scraps could easily be made into cute little pinwheels! Nice work, Susan! :)

Improv Tumbler Wall Quilt from African Wax Prints

This is one of my recent quilts in a series made with African wax prints, an improv tumbler design with a solid khaki (Kona) background. I source the fabrics on Etsy.com from sellers in Africa, the US and the UK. Buying a scrap bundle now and then adds even more variety to my collection.  Wax prints are a little bit shiny and stiff, but soften with washing. The fabrics come with large stickers attached. Sometimes it's hard to get the stickers off, and then there's the adhesive to deal with. So I just cut around the sticker if it's a tough case. JoAnn has started carrying similar prints in cotton (not wax) for three times the price ($30). They are found in the apparel section of the store.

Interestingly, African wax prints are made primarily in Holland. 

The quilt measures 55" x 65." It's available for purchase. 

Fifty-Nine Empty Spools in 2019!

I save my emptied thread spools and count them at year end. This year clocked 59 spools, compared to the usual 20! Increased machine quilting is the main reason. It was all Coats & Clarks Dual Duty, the least expensive choice. I've been thinking of trying fancier threads. Do you have a preference? 

I know how unscientific this measurement is. But it's kinda fun anyway. 

Wishing you all a very happy new year!!

African Wax Print Quilt

This quilt is the first in a series made from African wax prints. I love the African vibe that comes from using these bold colorful prints with solid black. The triangles are pieced, but the prints provide most of the design punch. I like that eye-catching sunflower in the middle.

This quilt is available for purchase on Etsy. Four are listed now, and more coming soon.

African wax prints are available online from Africa and the US. Etsy is a good place to start collecting wax prints. Most of these fabrics are offered for sale in 1 yard and 6 yard pieces. Scraps and precuts are also available. 

Madeline's Ferris Wheel Quilt

This beautiful Ferris Wheel quilt top is the creation of Madeline Reese of  Rio Rancho, New Mexico. She's enjoying the casual approach to making these fans "by eye." Nice job, Madeline!

Click to see my pattern for Ferris Wheel. This is the fun, no-fuss way to make fan blocks. No paper piecing, no foundation. There are so many ways to use fans, including as corner blocks in borders. 

Riel Nason's Selvage Quilt Book

This stunning selvage quilt is the creation of author/quilter Riel Nason of Canada. Her book is Modern Selvage Quilting, published by C&T Publishing. 

All of her work is truly extraordinary! 

Elizabeth Park Block-of-the-Month

Visit The Quilt BOM to see the free pattern for this Elizabeth Park quilt block.

Each month there will be a new block that we are using at the Hearthside Quilters guild in Harwinton, CT. If any of these ideas inspire you, help yourself. 

Trumpet Vine Quilt Pattern

Just finished this quilt and pattern. It's fun to make and there are so many very different ways to use this block! I'm working on a series now. Scrap quilts are the best, aren't they? Take a look at the pattern here: Trumpet Vine Quilt Pattern. If you buy the pattern and don't love it, let me know and I'll issue a refund.  Intended as a wall quilt (47" x 54") but this bear looks pretty comfy there!

My New Portrait, You Can Get One Too!

Yes, that's me. I just had my portrait done. By Alexjob on Fiverr.com for $10. 

This just cracks me up. He's very talented and can put your headshot (or that of your pet) on a vintage oil painting image. You can have multiple people too. Great gift idea.

Take a look at Alexjob here. 

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. 

ONLINE Block-of-the-Month Program!

Visit The Quilt BOM for free Block-of-the-Month projects starting (now) September 2019-June 2020.

I'm designing the blocks to be fast and fun to make (nothing fussy), blocks that will make a nice quilt, and can surely be made from existing stash.

My guild, Hearthside Quilters, will be using this site for our BOM. Your guild is invited to use it too and hold the drawings at your meetings. See The Quilt BOM for details.

See some layout ideas below for this block. Click HERE to see more quilt patterns.

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the sea urchin pincushion (see previous post below) is Wendy Caton Reed of Maine!

Thank you to everyone who helped promote my son's new Etsy shop: GriskaHandmade.

A tree recently fell on his workshop so he's not making any new products while repairs are underway. I'm glad to say that he wasn't in his workshop when the tree hit! 

Giveaway! Win a Sea Urchin Pincushion! And See My Sons

Win this colorful Sea Urchin Pincushion! 

I will choose a winner at random next Sunday August 4, 2019 from the Comments below.

To enter, go to www.etsy.com/shop/griskahandmade, or just click here. Take a look at my son Brian's brand new Etsy shop. He makes amazing knives and pipes by hand. Do some "favoriting," then come back here and leave a comment (enter the drawing). He's such a good guy, I'd like his shop to get some Internet love. 

Since many of us are moms, I'll share a pic of my sons when they were little. Brian's on the left, David's on the right. Cute, right? Now they're both 6'4" and have beards! Still cute tho.

P.S. I'll ship the pincushion anywhere. 

Irish Wedding Quilt

We are attending the wedding of Colin and Colleen this weekend. Colin is my "almost nephew." I've been friends with his Mom since she was born. She's only three years younger than me, but I have a good memory. And she had red hair which I had never seen before, so there's that. 

I just finished this quilt for them today. It measures 72" square. A classic string quilt design, it has lots of hidden treasures such as peanuts, goldfish, a sock monkey, an owl, and lots more. Over the years maybe family members will have fun searching for little surprises in this quilt top.

This quilt was machine pieced and machine quilted (free motion stippling, and a curly vine in the white sashing). The backing is white with a tiny green design. The batting is Warm and White.

This couple will live in Boston. Thier wedding invitation had an Irish vibe so I went with the same idea with green prints and shamrocks. I hope they use it up and wear it out. :)

A Quilter's Pin Dish

                            

This pretty pressed glass dish may have started out in life as a candy, nut or pickle dish, 

but now it's a quilter's pin dish! I use mine for straight pins and basting pins. It adds an elegant touch to my quilt studio. I enjoy the way it sparkles in the sunlight. 

These make terrific gifts because quilting time is "me time."

See the new gifts category in my Etsy shop.

Thumbs-Up at Brookside Quiltwork's Selvage Quilt Exhibit!

A visitor from Cornwall Bridge, CT gives a thumbs-up at Brookside Quiltworks in South Egremont, MA. She is viewing the "Red Zinger" selvage quilt made by Karen Griska.

There are twenty selvage quilts on exhibit until the end of May (this month!). Be sure to enter the free drawing for a selvage wall quilt from the exhibit. Take a look at the selvage lamp (I know, right?) and see all the little selvage pincushions! The quilts are for sale, or pick up a pattern and make one. ;)

Of course you'll want to see the owner Catherine's great selection of fabrics. Who can resist?

Selvage Quilt Exhibit at Brookside Quiltworks

Twenty of my selvage quilts are on exhibit at Brookside Quiltworks in S. Egremont, MA from now until the end of May. You can enter a free drawing to win the Monkey Wrench quilt. There are selvage pincushions with beaded pinsies available for purchase as well as patterns for many of the  quilts in the exhibit. 

And the gorgeous selection fabrics in this shop will inspire you too. I have my eye on her new shipment of Aboriginal prints. Next time.

This is my mom, Mary. We visited the exhibit yesterday, chatted with Catherine Kane the owner of Brookside Quiltworks, and then had a delicious lunch at Patisserie Lenox in nearby Great Barrington, Massachusetts. 

"Red Zinger" (above) is a popular favorite. Click here to see Zinger variations.

See the Red Zinger pattern here.

I love the optical illusion in "Glass Tumbling Blocks" above.

The First All-Selvage Quilt Exhibit!

Twenty of my selvage quilts are now on exhibit at Brookside Quiltworks in South Egremont, Massachusetts starting today and running until the end of May. Printed patterns for many of the quilts are available, and most of the quilts are available for purchase too. 

Catherine's shop is full of the most wonderful fabrics and quilt goodies! Lots of treasures and inspiration for any quilt project. 

Combine this with a nice lunch in nearby Great Barrington, MA and you have a fun outing!

Brookside Quiltworks is open Tuesday-Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-3.

Do You Know What's Coming Here Tomorrow?

Brookside Quiltworks is a wonderful fabric shop and quilt gallery in S. Egremont, Massachusetts. Come back tomorrow and see what's up!