The beauty of living on the East Coast is getting to experience the four seasons. Watching Nature change her clothes several times a year has given me a new appreciation of the steps involved in quilt making. A few years ago a catalog bulb company made an error in my order. Instead of one bushel of daffodil bulbs (200), they sent three!   Wild daffodils in my yard I went feverishly to work that November planting 600 spring bulbs, not knowing the wonderful surprise I would receive come March. The breathtaking display of yellow in all its glory was only enhanced by the spring green background. It was a welcome sight after a long, hard winter of gray, white and dull brown. It reminds me of the Daffodil Block from the Memory Bouquet quilt I made with my quilting friends from Atlanta 25 years ago. The Daffodil block from the Memory Bouquet quilt Here's the whole quilt in all its beauty! The blocks are 9" x 12" and the whole quilt is 63" x 63". Memory Bouquet Quilt ...

The first one was  March 5 !  And there have been two others, so you certainly can catch up! Here is the link where you can still sign up:  BenartExperts Spring Block Hop . And what are the 12 blocks that are offered? (Yes, that's my Squash Blossom block on the bottom left! She's SO thrilled to be there.) Block 1 is Coral Bell s. It is by Kari Matthews and is the 3rd one down on the left in quilt above. Block 2 is Starburst by Maude McDonald. It's the top left block above. Block 3 is released today and is Static Spin by Sarah Fulks. This is all based on the  Superior Solids Collection . Of course, you can use whatever fabrics you wish. With each block release, there will be a link (sent to your email - that's why you have to sign up) that takes you to each of the 12 BenartExpert's web site to get the FREE pattern. My block will be revealed April 23 and these are the fabrics I used: So, if you haven't seen the blocks yet, click those links to get the FREE pdfs....

Today is St. Patrick's Day and I'd like to share some lucky quilts with you! You've seen a few of these before, but I truly love revisiting them again and again. The first one is the oldest and I still own it. The label says 1994, but I know I made it several years earlier. All hand quilted! Yes, that's decorator fabric for the border! Irish Chain quilt early 1990s Here is one I made using the embroidery unit on my Pfaff sewing machine to add those little butterflies. It appeared in my first book (2004). I think I still have this somewhere. Black and Pink Irish Chain: 31" x 31" Here's a beauty sent by one of my Calendar Girls and she has it as a backdrop for a block she stitched later in the month. I just had to add it today! Diane L. quilted this herself. Irish Chain by Diane L. And, finally, my Irish Cross and Chain from years ago: Irish Cross and Chain Wishing you a very lucky St. Patrick's Day!

Lucky you - today is Friday the 13th again, but let's be positive! There is a gorgeous quilt being raffled here in Northern Virginia that is called "Women of the Bible." There are 40 blocks skillfully created by the Holy Quilters of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Haymarket, Virginia. First, the gorgeous quilt: Women of the Bible Quilt: 73" x 88" What's the reason for the raffle? The church is in desperate need of structural repairs. It was built in 1801, with some outbuildings built in early 1900s. As you know, old things fall apart! This historic church has been a cornerstone in Prince William County for many, many years. The quilt is made with high quality cotton fabrics in teals, blue, brown red and green. The pattern is taken from Stitchin' Tree Quilts. The quilt includes a hanging sleeve on the top back of the quilt (as you can see in photo above). Along with the quilt, the winner will receive a book with the biography of each woman as well a...

Today is March 11 and I named a block after my favorite middle daughter, Hilary. I even designed several quilts using the block. This block was made by Leslie P, one of my Calendar Girls. Hilary's Garden by Leslie P. - 15" block One of the quilts was made using a Benartex Collection called Arianna and appeared in a magazine about 10 years ago. That center square is 10"! Hilary's Garden using Arianna fabrics Here's one using a bold set of fabrics from Blank Quilting. Hilary's Garden Quilt Here's a quilt using some fun novelty prints from the Rumble Collection. Donated to a local kids' charity. Rumble Kid's quilt And one more: Dog Gone It Collection - quilt donated to kids' charity Now you can see how fun this block is, right?!!

Today's block is the Variable Star. It is a vintage block that's been around for a LONG time. Julia dressed it in some beautiful fabrics for an updated look. She's working with the Duchess Collection by Windham Fabrics.   12" Variable Star by Julia R. Again, let's see the fabrics she's working with in all her monthly blocks: Duchess Collection by Windham Fabrics And here's another March 7 block that just came in from Karen B. It's the Fox and Geese which I shared about yesterday. She has been working with the Insectarium Collection . Fox and Geese by Karen B. Thank you, Julia and Karen. Beautiful fabrics make for beautiful blocks!

More geese, this time there's a fox after them! Today's block in my calendar is Fox and Geese. Both Kathy G. and I made a block. First, here's Kathy's. Can you see that fox peeking out in the large triangle? Is he peering at the deer in the bottom large triangle? Is he hungry? Yikes!! Fox and Geese by Kathy G. Her fabrics are SO fun. She has the Under the Canopy Collection by Windham Fabrics. Here's my block made using Benartex's Equinox fabrics. Very simple block with a lot of possibilities. Do you have your calendar yet? I understand the next shipment has FINALLY arrived and should be in stores soon. You can click here  to see what's up. You can be notified when it comes in . . .