I came across a photo of a quilt I made in 2000 and had published in Quilt Magazine in 2001. It's the result of an AOL quilt bulletin board block swap! Do you remember those? I participated in several. House Sampler from 2001 You can see my house block in the center, 3 blocks down (it has my old address on it). I made 12 of these for the swap! I can hardly believe I did that! I think they were a uniform 12" x 12", though I have no way to know - I can't find the directions. I wanted something more than just setting the blocks in a 3 x 4 assembly. I had fun with that border, for sure! Stars at the top; trees on the sides (with some checkerboards); and mountains on the bottom (sort of hard to see in the photo). I gave this away LONG ago and  can't even remember to who; but I hope it is still bringing joy to them! My upcoming calendar has a lot of star blocks and a few tree blocks. One of the quilts a calendar owner made with my first perpetual calendar was made with...

I like to be challenged with limited amounts of fabric. Fat quarters. Jelly rolls. Charm squares. And even Layer Cakes. I was asked to work with "pre-cuts" for the new Benartex Collection by The Modern Quilt Studio called 2025 LTD . I chose a Layer Cake and some fabrics for borders. A set of 10" squares from the 2025 LTD collection I decided to make 3 blocks from my upcoming calendar , but I had to fudge on the size. But you never would know by looking at them. My upcoming Block a Day Calendar by C&T Publishing That's ok - like I said - challenges are fun! I call them Colorburst Squares (#1-3). The centers of these simple Cobblestone blocks move around based on how I cut the side fabrics. Block 1 is a simple Cobblestone block Here is Block 1 in the calendar. My blocks will be smaller than the calendar blocks (due to the seams). And Block 2 has that center square floating more toward the edge than Block 1. Colorburst Squares Block 2 And Block 3 has that center squ...

So many blocks. Not enough time to make them all - but we'll try, won't we?! How about selecting a few blocks and building quilts around them? Of course - let's go! Cover for the Quilter's New Perpetual Block-a-Day Calendar Let's begin with a few May blocks for one quilt idea.  Colorburst Squares 1, 2 and 3 are featured in these quilts. Yes, I've made this several times. I love these blocks because they're so simple and cause your eyes to swing back and forth because the center squares swing back and forth! This is a variation of the Cobblestone block (like the first round of a log cabin). Colorburst Squares with 16 blocks These appear on May 13, 14 and 15. They are 10" blocks. Here is a much larger quilt. Colorburst Squares with 30 blocks (10" size) How about some florals? And no borders - she's done when she's done! These use the Meadow Whispers Collection by Windham Fabrics. Colorburst Squares with 30 blocks in florals Here's one don...

Yes, I'm going to talk about my new calendar again! But blocks aren't what excites us as quilters; it's what the blocks become, right? Calendar by C&T Publishing I've been searching my computer files for quilt images to support my calendar blocks. You mean I forgot? Well, I've designed thousands of blocks and quilts over the past 32 years (and sewn several hundred quilts), it's hard to remember all of them! There are 2 blocks in my calendar that are very traditional and common. When they are combined they create the Double Irish Chain. Here's a version from my first book ( Bold, Black and Beautiful, AQS 2004 ).  Double Irish Chain using two November blocks My calendar blocks are much larger than I used in the quilt above, but notice how the plain (black) fabric in the Domino Chain block is perfect for adding some machine embroidery! The Star Chain block in the calendar is a simple Ohio Star with some extra smaller squares. But it would be easy to use th...

Well, what's a kimono without props? I designed this block about 25 years ago for paper piecing. Then I turned it into one for rotary cutting and sewing. I call it my Japanese Lantern. It is the April 17 block in my upcoming Block a Day Calendar by C&T Publishing. Japanese Lantern: 9" I realized (too late) that I should have made it 12" so that it can be used with the Kimono from yesterday. So, I will offer this to calendar owners in the 12" size, too. Once it comes out I will make that announcement. Then the two blocks can go together! Here is a digital file created 25 years ago for Quilt Magazine. The kimono is slightly different, but this is how I envision the two blocks together in a simple quilt: All I need to do is add a simple strip to the bottom of the Lantern to make it the 14" height. Here are two blocks I made yesterday using the Equinox Collection by Benartex. I am going to remake them one more time using a lighter blue for the Lantern (and a lar...

Today is April 16 and the block featured in my new calendar is the Kimono. Wanna see? Tiny Kimono Oh, dang! How'd that slip in? But, isn't this cute? I made a 4 x 6 postcard about 20 years ago and even found some sandals I could cut out and attach. Here's a quilt made using the calendar block. I just gave this to a dear friend last week. She was SO delighted! Bamboo Garden Kimono quilt The block in the calendar is 12" x 14" ( The blocks in the quilt above are larger.  )Yes, they are 12" x 14"! I just checked.  And you can get the pattern for the quilt above in my Etsy store . The calendar is due to hit your local quilt shops and Amazon by mid June. It is published by C&T Publishing - check out their Facebook page to see all sorts of other gorgeous craft book offerings. (Evidently their page was shut down for 2 years and they had to start all over again! What a shame) New Block a Day Calendar The Kimono block is easy and quick. And it's NOT squar...

I had a request yesterday from someone for my Hearts on Fire quilt pattern. I realized I didn't have it up at my Etsy shop, so I reactivated it. Do you remember this? All raw edge appliqué using batiks. Hearts on Fire : 46" x 63" I made this quilt almost 25 years ago. I donated it for a charity fund raiser (never doing that again!) and I truly hope the new owner treasures it. Here are a few of the steps I took when I made a smaller quilt using some Benartex fabrics: Five block Hearts on Fire What's fun is that when you cut out the larger hearts, you get a small heart as a bonus! A left and right half-heart with bonus tiny heart halves Then, as you cut using freezer paper as your template, you can get another set of small hearts out of the fabric rectangles. Here is a single block from the front after stitching. The rectangle halves are stitched FIRST, and then joined with the center vertical seam. Single heart block Here is a closeup from the back. Yes, I clipped awa...