As promised a few weeks ago, I am offering a free pattern which I call Ezekiel's Wheel, using fabrics by Windham Fabrics . Ezekiel's Wheel Quilt First, let me show you the two quilts that inspired me to make this third one. This is my first Ezekiel's Wheel quilt I drafted and sewed this quilt, hoping to have it featured in my upcoming book #3, Perfect Paper Pieced Points by Martingale Publishers (February 2013). They didn't want it (I offered 22 quilts, and told them I will only let them have 12-14. I remember the pain of publishing a 22 quilt book with Supersize 'Em Quilts!) I used the same pattern but resized it to a 6" unit for a 12" block. It appears in the Quiltmaker's 100 Best Blocks and they asked if I wanted to make a quilt using the block; I did, they changed their mind. Poor little quilt. She whimpers in the hallway, wanting to be noticed. I told her I would "publish" her here. What do you think? Flowerburst Garden Qu...

More fun today with children's fabrics, designed by Kimberly Bourne for . . . Benartex Fabrics Under the Big Top valance and counting mats You can see all the fabrics in this brand new collection here: Under the Big Top This fun ensemble has several colorways and a variety of fun prints - dots, triangles, printed words and of course, animals. I cut apart the Counting Panel and added a variety of small motifs from another panel and tried to add them as they relate to the number on the panel. I was only able to finish 5 of them and will not bind them but zigzag around the outside edges. I free motion quilted these on my Pfaff 2144 with Fairfield Fusi-Boo (fusible batting which is a delight to work with). Here are the panels up close: The starting panel (6" center, 10" block) Number 1 with a single motif (for counting) in the corner Number 2 with 3-2-1 motif so child can identify the 2s Number 3: 3 bears, 3 stars motif, umbrella with 3 pane...

Bella's House 32" x 46" - Eye Candy from Windham Fabrics She needs a chimney and door knob, coming soon! The Bella Collection by Lotta Jansdotter  One of my generous fabric partners is Windham Fabrics . I have been sewing for them since 2006 and I've never met a fabric I didn't like! This new Bella Collection (in stores NOW, as in August 2012) is very exciting with clean open spaces, clear colors and nature motifs: tiny birds, flowers and trees. They were designed by Lotta Jansdotter. I showed this pile of 1/2 yard cuts to my daughter Audrey (32 years old) and I wasn't surprised at her enthusiastic response: "Mom! I want these. I want to make curtains for my kitchen and some other things for my new apartment." I told her my plan for building a house with them and that's how Bella's House came to be. Don't you just love the trees and flowers?!! I began by cutting windows and doors. But the two sets of windows I first had w...

Antique Yo Yo Quilt - 48" x 65" My friend and former editor, Jean Ann Wright (Eitel, in the olden days) gave me this antique yo yo quilt about 15 years ago after it had been gifted to her from a reader. (Can you believe someone parted with this?) All these authentic 1930s prints are phenomenal! My oldest daughter Audrey fell in love with it and begged for it and so it sat in a cotton pillowcase for years. Every so often she would pull it out and say, "Mom. I really need to get this framed." My opinion was that it would cost SO MUCH, and so it went back into the pillowcase. Last week she came over with the quilt and said, "We've got to do something. I want to hang it in my guest bedroom (in her new apartment)." I put on my thinking cap and we did the following: 1. Measured the length and width of the quilt (yes, I know, a yo yo quilt isn't really one) 2. Made a trip to Home Depot and bought a piece of foam core (the type used in insula...

The winner of my fat quarter giveaway (7 luscious fabrics from the Addison Collection by Windham Fabrics ) has been notified, but I don't know her name yet. I will announce it asap, when she responds. The fabrics are singing and dancing out in the hallway, awaiting a new home so they can be used. The French Connection free pattern Now, on to the pattern for that gorgeous Savoy Quilt I featured last week Monday. I call it The French Connection and you can have the free pattern (as a downloadable pdf) right here. You will enjoy making this because the pieces are easy and there are only 4 blocks. The French Connection is made using the Savoy Collection by Blank Quilting . They are available now in quilt shops all over the USA and maybe some European countries.

Thanks to all of you who made my Monday with Blank Fabrics a very popular blog post. I teach my Magical Mitering lesson all the time with many happy students! Today I share a 6 block quilt made with the Noblesse Collection in the cream colorway. Magical Miters and the Noblesse Collection by Blank Fabrics The fabric does all the work. And I didn't bother to fussy cut the flowers; I just let my rotary cutter made that decision for me (and I also didn't have more than 1/2 yard!). How did I make this, you may be wondering? Well, I shared it all in last Monday's post and you can find it HERE . This version uses strips around all 4 sides of the center square, instead of only two sides for an Attic Window. This really has a graphic counterpoint to the curves of the flowers. I only had 3 fabrics for each of the two colorways. I used the other two in the border; simple rectangles for a border. If you have read this far, then I want to let you know that on WEDNESDAY I am shari...

Milky Way commemorative tin 1997  History alert! One of my students in the Sugarloaf Jewels class this afternoon had this tin as her sewing box. I was so taken with it I logged into eBay (in class - shhh! don't tell my boss) to see if I could find a value or if anyone was selling one. Nope! I am more intrigued with the quilt pattern (is it based on a REAL historic quilt or just a digital composite) rather than wanting to own it. I would appreciate any info on this particular tin box. OK. Where is Monroeville, PA? Time's up - Pittsburgh suburbs. The Original Sewing and Quilting Expo has a new venue with an awesome convention center to house it. And it is filled with all sorts of locals and those who've traveled a distance to find something "quilty" right here! What am I teaching? Yesterday: Basic Free Motion Quilting  And Batik Braids (pattern and template available thru my web site or send an email): Batik Braids - 35" x 49" Technico...