Gazebo Collection by Windham Fabrics OK, I know it's still the dead of winter (we had ice earlier in the week), but there's nothing to cheer me up faster than happy, warm-weather fabrics with garden motifs and sunflowers! I had no idea what to make with these fabrics so I asked them (my usual method): "Hey. What do you want to be when you grow up?" They huddled around each other and then noticed a new book on my sewing table. They grabbed it (I'm NOT making this up) and flipped through it and then pointed to the cover. "WE WANT TO BE THIS; AND WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE GROW UP." What did they see? Paper Piecing Perfect Points - February 2013 (You can see ALL the quilts from the book HERE.) Yes, they insisted they wanted to be like the center block. I had no choice - I selected fabrics, did some cutting, printed my foundations and set to work. I chose the 3 solid reading fabrics and a Windham white To get really, really sharp ...

Faithful Bernina 1230 and a cleaned up work surface  I foolishly volunteered to show my sewing space and UFOs a few weeks ago and now I have to fess up. It's not always neat (really?!!) and certainly not organized (did I tell you I'm an adult with ADHD?) 30 year old kitchen bar, a perfect height for cutting fabric Yes, this is where I slave most days. A converted bedroom (10' x 15', but no kids living at home). One wall has my stash, very "matchey-matchey". I keep collections together, colors together and try to keep blenders/solids near each other. It gets so messy after about a month or two that I have to stop everything and re-organize it. And, guess what? I discover some long-lost, forgotten piece that renews my creativity! Now, what was I doing this weekend? Audrey (oldest daughter, 32, a high school English teacher who is very interested in crafts for herself and home) called and asked to come over to sew. She decided to snap a photo and make...

Remember my puny Vortex quilt? Here is one on a grand scale (72" x 72") My fellow quilting teacher, Erin Underwood, wowed me last summer where we taught together at the MAQ retreat. ( Mid Appalachian Quilters, Emmitsburg, Maryland in July ) She had this AWESOME quilt on display and I immediately rushed over to her table and after gasping and stuttering, asked her how she did this. Remember, I have fallen in love with the red and white Vortex quilt, ca 1900, as you can see below: Vortex Quilt, ca 1900, maker unknown Erin developed her own ruler in partnership with Creative Grids (so you know it is accurate) and a pattern to recreate this historic - and mind blowing - quilt. It is all straight seam sewing - honest. I saw the seams "up close and personal." Erin Underwood's 15° ruler, 24-1/2" long for fans - and the VORTEX This companion ruler allows you to create all the wonderful patterns in the Fan-Tastic Fan series . Perfect for all sorts o...

The contest is closed and we have a winner: Wendy from Alabama. Congratulations! Today begins the "Dare to Dresden" Blog Hop and many thanks to Madame Samm and Christine of Quilt Monster Closet . As soon as I saw the theme, I jumped right in because I love, love, love Dresden Plate blocks and quilts. I have made about a dozen in various sizes, published most of them and taught classes using my simple template. Well, enough of words; let's see quilts! Authentic 1930s feedsacks for the butterfly wings This butterfly block was made over ten years ago as a result of a math mistake (did I ever tell you I used to be a high school math teacher? Go figure!) I had divided up a full circle of Dresden wedges and thought I was creating 4 equal groups, instead divided wrong and came up with THREE! What can you do with THREE sets of 4 blades? I threw them down on my table and they landed just like a pair of butterfly wings. Hence, my new design! I made another quilt using bla...

This is the next to the last posting of the remaining 31 blocks in my crazy personal challenge from 2002 when I set out to sew a block a day for a year. Read my first posting and my second posting here.) I only got through March, but I had a great time. Remember, you can vote on these as to your favorite and I will select a winner on the last day. What? You mean I can win all of these blocks and the rest of the fabrics? You got it! They've been sitting in a box for 11 years and I think I've seen the writing on the wall - they need to go to a good, loving home! Vote for your favorite in the comments. January 16: 3" Nine Patch Block January 17: Southern Belle Block January 18: 8" Whirligig Block January 19: 5-1/4" Log Cabin Block January 20: 4" x 8" Trees Block January 21: 10" Irish Chain Block January 22: 9" Hourglass Block January 23: 12" Monday's Child Block Don't forget to vote for your fa...

I can't even remember who I gave this to! I pulled out a box of paper pieced Double Wedding Ring wedges that I began almost 5 years ago. I seemed to remember that I had made other DWR quilts in the past (some I remember, like the one in my first book). But the yellow and blue one in the picture above I honestly completely forgot about it. It was a flannel rag quilt and was gifted eons ago. Not even sure when it was published, but it really had to be over 10 years ago. Now, back to those DWR paper pieced units. I started and stopped so many times that I thought - "Maybe today is my lucky day!" I took out my two DWR books just to get some inspiration for layout. I think I'm getting close! I used a variety of 1930s reproduction prints; precut my strips for quick sewing Paper piecing is sewing through the paper, on the lines, creating accurate patches Trim along outside paper line; remove paper; add first teardrop wedge A square on each end of anot...

Chinoiserie Collection by Anna Griffin CONTEST IS OVER. Congratulations to Deborah B of Michigan. A new fabric collection by Anna Griffin has a name I can't pronounce, but I am captivated by its beauty and elegance. Chinoiserie just takes my breath away. But, as I always say: Words mean things. And what does this mysterious word mean? Let Wikipedia help you (as they helped me). Chinoiserie , a French term, signifying "Chinese-esque", and pronounced [ʃinwazʁi] ) refers to a recurring theme in European artistic styles since the seventeenth century, which reflect Chinese artistic influences. It is characterized by the use of fanciful imagery of an imaginary China, by asymmetry in format and whimsical contrasts of scale, and by the attempts to imitate Chinese porcelain and the use of lacquerlike materials and decoration. A stack of books covered in Chinoserie and a pillow bolster. And the quilt in the background . . . Enough of words! What did I do with...