Two winners chosen at 4 pm New Year's Day. I notified Patty and Kathryn. The contest is over. It's coming! It's coming! 2013 is coming SOON! Are you ready? Do you have any New Year's resolutions? And how did you do last year? Can I share with you what my resolution (yes, only one, let's be realistic here) was for 2012? I resolved to always listen to the voices in my head. Wait! Don't leave! I'm not crazy. We all recognize those little, tiny, insistent "voices" that seem to compel us to take a different path, to make a different choice. And most are based on good information. I paid more attention to my hunches in 2012 and I was very thankful I did. Don't speak that sharp word. Stop speeding. Only eat one cookie (and not 5). Be kind to the person you don't like. Happy New Year blocks from my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar And what about quilters' resolutions? What are yours for 2013? At the bottom of this post I'll ask ...

This is my favorite Christmas quilt, though it was originally made without Christmas in mind. It is based on two antique blocks: Oak Leaf (the one with the four large green leaves in diagonal position) and Rose Wreath (the four stylized applique flowers). I made this quilt at least 15 years ago and planned on hand applique. I threw the first block into the trash can and then pulled out the fusible web, my sewing machine and made the whole quilt by machine and was very happy doing it. I even machine quilted it. This quilt appeared in the Winter 1997 issue of Quilt Magazine. The blocks are 14" and the quilt is 51" x 51" Red and green quilts are historic and traditional and there have been years that this quilt hangs in my home when it's not Christmas. This year she graces my kitchen and I enjoy it all day long! Single block Rose Wreath quilt Here is another favorite, though this one has gone to another home to live in. My editor, Jean Ann Wright, gave me ...

Two of my favorite holiday quilts - quick, easy and DONE! The contest is over and I have notified the winner, Carol M. Thanks to all who participated! I've been busy decorating my home with all my Christmas quilts. A neighbor came over last week and said, "Gee. You keep a lot of quilts!" Sure. Why not? It's just that I have them everywhere. The holidays are filled with parties. What about parties for quilters? Party time at the Quilting Gallery . They are celebrating their 5th birthday with links to 150 quilting blogs with giveaways at every one! The Quilting Gallery's 5th Birthday Celebration What is that? Here, let them say it in their own words: Meet thousands of quilters from around the world in the quilting bloggers directory, then browse the quilt shop locator for quilting retailers and professionals. Find connections in our world-wide directory of quilt guilds and search for the latest in quilting books, patterns and notions in the qui...

My Hanukkah quilt, made years ago and gifted to a Jewish friend Today is December 9th, Hanukkah or Chanukah (it's been spelled differently). It is the Festival of Lights. It's more than just a magical lamp that had enough oil to burn for 8 days during an uprising in ancient Israel. Jewish people were overcoming their oppressors and there is more to the story. I am a Christian and not Jewish, but this story is very powerful about a strong willed people wanting their freedom to worship as they wished. I celebrate this strong will and believe all people should be free to worship as they wish - or if they don't wish! We in America respect this and I say to my Jewish friends, Happy Hanukkah!

Easy and quick gift cards These were made several years ago and appeared in one of the magazines I worked for. I used holiday panel fabrics, fussy cut motifs, and fused them onto card stock. Some are single pieces of paper with a hole punch for stringing ribbon through. Others I folded like a card so I could write more inside. You can even see the little card on the top left where I used my faithful Bernina 1230's alphabet to write "Merry Merry" around the sides and top. And Santa's head? It's the center of a mini log cabin block that I layered with batting and backing and quick stitched for some extra color. Look through your stash to find those little holiday prints (or any prints, for that matter) that you can cut out and fuse to card stock (I used a fusible web; glue will work also). You can use this idea for any time of the year for any occasion. I just happened to have a whole set of these for a class I taught a few years ago. Enjoy the inspiration!

This contest is over (ended midnight Friday December 7)   My trusty Random Number Generator selected my winner. Alas, one of the numbers was for someone who was a "no-reply" commenter, so I had to go to the next number. I'm waiting for Cecilia to reply so I can get her mailing info. Windham Wednesdays and a new collection that is fabulous. The Socky Collection by Whistler Studios is the sock puppet who entertains us all with his smile and his antics. As it says on the Windham web site (and I didn't know this!): The Socky Collection by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics Sock Monkeys have been around since the late 1800's.  During the Depression, Sock Monkeys were at the height of their popularity.  In 1920, a Sock Monkey was constructed out of a pair of Rockford Red Heel Socks and sent to the company, Nelson Knitting Mills.  The company thought it was a genius idea and Nelson started including Sock Monkey instructions with every pair of Rockfor...

Teapots Collection by Blank Quilting The contest is over and my Random Number Generator selected #7 and #22 to win my two prizes. I have contacted these ladies. Remember, I have Giveaways often and if you are a follower, you will know about them right away!   I received a small amount of a new collection of fabrics from Blank Quilting . These feature teapots from the personal collection of Diana Mancini, the Marketing Director for Blank. They are so beautiful and it's so much fun to see them in fabric. I took pictures of the companion fabrics yesterday and I wanted to get YOUR opinion of what sorts of things I should sew with them (yes, I can get more fabric!) I want to appeal to the younger crowd, those who are new to sewing, don't have a lot of time to create things for their homes. I am thinking tea cozy (yawn?), table runner (what do you think?), kitchey things. What do these fabrics say to you? I have companion blenders from Blank that will pick up any of the c...

Last day of November. Don't even want to think about Christmas! (And yes, I have some Hanukkah quilts; they're coming!) I do have a lot of quilts that I can share in the next few weeks and maybe even a few patterns. The first one I thought of is my paper pieced sampler. In looking through my computer files I see that this was published in 2003, so probably made a year before. It also appeared in my 2007 Block a Day Calendar. Winter's Favorite Things, appeared in Quilt Magazine 2003 I'm going to dig around to see what I can find. If you still have the 2007 calendar, this appears in December (natch!). Winter's Favorite Things from the 2007 Block a Day Calendar These sorts of projects appear in my 2013 Block a Day calendar. 2013 Block a Day Calendar (hundreds of blocks, about 70 quilt projects)  You can still order the 2013 Block a Day calendar . I have so many quilts to share. I'm going to find a pdf of one of those foundation patterns and a...

My Random Number Generator selected Alberta P. as the winner of my Spiderweb Ruler and set of 2 patterns ( from Wednesday's post ). Thanks to all 59 of those who commented and gave me their opinions of how to set those 16 Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks . I am close to putting them together, and it won't even be like the two options presented. I've been sleuthing! Sometimes it's just fun to play with novelty prints. This new collection, Bugalicious by Blank Quilting was perfect for my current theme: The Joys of Hex/Turning 60. One buggy hexagon and four spotted triangles These were cut with a 60 degree ruler (not to be confused with a Kaleidoscope or Tri-Recs tool) 15 blocks stacked in rows of 5; dotted vertical sashing. Fun! I combined all 3 of the colorways (green, yellow and blue). These butterflies, ladybugs and caterpillars will put a smile on any child, young or old. These blocks were cut using my 60 degree Spiderweb ruler. So, tell me a...

You've probably noticed that many of my most recent posts are about hexagons and the 60 degree angle. It's my "Turning 60" series, subtitled "The Joys of Hex." This is Friday and I like to post about Benartex fabrics on Fridays. A new collection that I had no idea what to do with finally spoke loud enough to me to let me know what it wanted! This is the Feathers and Fancy Collection that is full of peacocks and beautiful, sophisticated curvy patterns. I discovered a block someone has called the Twisted Hexagon and I used my own half-hexagon template to cut out the patches. First the block: Twisted Hexagon block using Feathers & Fancy by Benartex I discovered that the center hexagon shape can be fussy cut to include the entire peacock! How cool is that? The center hexagon is twice the finished height of the half-hexagon (of course!) Full hexagon, fussy cut center using a freezer paper template cut from the half-hex tool Cutting the half-...

It's Wednesday and I made more of those New Colonies blocks. Remember the collection from last week? New Colonies Collection by Windham Fabrics And remember the block I showed sewn all by machine? Well, how did I cut those hexagons using my Spiderweb/60 degree ruler? This is part of a future pattern series, so I won't be spelling everything out. Just showing the basics. Fold strip in half along length. Align any 60 degree ruler along horizontal line that corresponds with cut strip minus 1/4". Cut along both sides of the ruler. (BTW, my name is on that ruler for when I teach this class and there are 20 rulers that all look alike!) Well, how many did I make? (You can see my process in last week's post: New Colonies .) 16 Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks - all by machine! Now, here is where I need your help. I can't decide how to arrange them. I will be stitching them to a white on white background fabric. I have pinned them up...

City Traffic Quilt by Pam Rocco, as seen in the latest issue of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine It is very rare that I would make someone else's pattern. I don't get paid to make anything other than my own patterns. So, you know I was quite taken by Pam's quilt. The fun part is that the blocks are a combination improvisation and paper piecing. And it's a FREE PATTERN at the QNM web site. I asked permission from both QNM and Pam to share this and the blocks I am making for my oldest, favorite grandson (his little brother was born October 30, so he's my favorite youngest grandson.) City Traffic Quilt is a free download at the QNM site and is very easy to follow and is several pages of color. I am making my blocks with a white background and got the cool idea to put people and critters in the windows. And my oldest daughter Audrey suggested I print pics of family members and put them in the windows! How cool is that? Here are the blocks I have so far. S...

I must confess: I am not a big fan of the muddy colors of reproduction fabrics. But when I saw this new collection from Windham Fabrics, New Colonies , I was immediately taken by them. Why? Who asks "why" when you have new fabric? You pull out your rotary cutter and start playing. New Colonies fabrics by Windham . A bundle of 1/6 yards (12" x 22") Aren't they beautiful?!!  I am in my current streak "Turning 60" and my favorite shape, the HEXAGON, was beckoning. I had a set of 3" English Paper Piecing papers from years ago and started cutting out rectangles. Oh, you don't cut rectangles when you EPP? It sure is easier than skimpy hexagons and a lot quicker to cut. Block #1 (fits on a 12-1/2" square). Notice the messy folds. You don't think I'm going to leave the backs of the hexagons looking like this, do you? It is faster to whip stitch around the corners (but not through the papers). Then I forgot about the hand...