Well, the name of the fabric collection is Forest Parade , but they all look like they could be buddies with any little child! And, yes: I was sent fat quarters and the challenge was on! First, let's see the fabrics . . . Forest Parade by Petit Collage for Windham Fabrics What did I decide to make with these sweet fabrics? Hmmm. I think I will rummage in my quilt vault and pull out a tried and true pattern that I've made twice before. Once for my first book Bold, Black and Beautiful Quilts. The quilt was stolen back in 2005 (I've told this story before). Here's a picture: 98 Dancing Squares Windham asked me to make a quilt using their Bright Basics Collection (2009). And it was patterned and you can have the pattern at the end of this post. Here is the remake of my Happy Squares quilt: Happy Squares for Windham Fabrics So, let's see how I used the Forest Parade fat quarters to make this quilt for the third time. First, I cut two 6-1/2" and t

It never gets old, though it's happened hundreds of times. Having quilts published in magazines is still a thrill for me (and the quilts think it's akin to being a rock star - and they act like it, too!) The latest issue of Modern Patchwork (Spring 2015) has two of my quilts and the pictures are so lovely! Modern Patchwork Spring 2015 Can I show them to you? First is a project I designed using one of my templates (from the EZ Double Wedding Ring set). I used the Cream and Sugar Collection from Windham Fabrics. I still have some large scraps leftover and want to use every single one. I take this little table topper on the road with me when I teach beginning free motion quilting. Flower Power: 17" x 17" Flower Power The second project is a little quilt made using leftovers from my Thousand Pyramids quilt (which appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of Modern Patchwork): Thousand Pyramids Quilt: 21" x 22" from the Summer issue I used a charm

I had the pleasure to create 8 patterns for Windham using the Gee's Bend collection of solids. With permission from the Gee's Bend quilters, we patterned 8 of their improvisational works. I even helped decide which colors Windham would produce in fabric. While those fabrics are no longer available (they had the feel of batiks and the look of hand dyes), Windham does have similar solids. (My Gee's Bend patterns can be found at my Craftsy site .) Fractured Jewels using Gee's Bend Solids I created this little sample for a workshop a few years ago using the Gee's Bend fabrics. Last Saturday my oldest daughter Audrey asked, "Mom, can I have that quilt for our apartment?" "Of course," I said. And she took it right off my wall. Yes, she did. And where did it end up? In the play space of my little 15 month old granddaughter, at her eye level! Even little people need to see quilts at their eye level, right? Windham liked my quilt so muc

I designed a butterflies pattern for Cut Loose Press using Jean Ann Wright's 6" Curvy Log Cabin ruler . My little quilt uses browns, which don't inspire me in the midst of the color riot in Spring. Sunshine Butterflies. 47" x 47" A Wisconsin quilt shop, Quilting Divas Sewing Boutique, sent me their finished quilt that they are featuring during their shop hop in June. Isn't this just the cheeriest? Sunshine Butterflies by Quilting Divas The Wisconsin State Shop Hop is in June, so those of you who live there are in for a treat. Here is the info for the Quilting Divas: Quilting Divas Sewing Boutique LLC 445 Cardinal Ln Ste 108 Green Bay WI 54313 920-434-9980 quiltingdivassew@gmail.com You can order the pattern from me, but you MUST have the 6" ruler for the pattern to make sense. It was designed and created using that ruler. Three of the blocks make one butterfly (the head and antennae are appliqued to a plain square). So, each butterfly is

Here I am revisiting the quilt I shared last Wednesday made from the beautiful Peyton Collection by Windham Fabrics. I was sent a bundle of fat quarters. I love the challenge of having a limited amount of fabric and setting out to make something bigger than a pot holder or place mat! Peyton's Star. 28" x 28" This is not meant to be a pattern, but general instructions on my process. This is a FAT QUARTER FRIENDLY quilt! For the 19" center star, I used one fat quarter of: -- Red -- Green -- Khaki -- Large scale floral print For the borders I used two more fat quarters (light red floral print and the light red blender) and a few scraps from the star fabrics. Remember, this Lone Star has NO y-seams. Everything is straight seam sewing! The fabrics again: Peyton Collection by Nancy Gere for Windham Fabrics I selected the colors over on the right for my quilt. So, how did I make that 28" x 28" Lone Star quilt from just fat quarters? I&

I've rediscovered this cute collection of fabrics from Benartex from 2007 (yes, a LONG time ago if you are a piece of fabric). I have some usable scraps left over from making my Playful Pups quilt, which I think appeared in a past issue of a Fons and Porter magazine. Isn't this the cutest? I no longer own it, but I'm thinking of remaking something like it for a little child. Playful Pups Quilt They also included cats and I have some scraps of that. I think this sort of novelty print surely captures the attention of a little child. Not much more to share today. Remember, tomorrow is Windham Wednesday's where I'll share my tutorial on making that Lone Star quilt with no y-seams. Hope to see you then (and yes, there's a giveaway).

My son in law (Daniel) has a new coworker from Valencia, Spain who is doing post doctorate work with him in his lab at Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, MD). He and his wife have two young daughters and they moved here in January (think snow). Valencia Spain: think San Diego! What a SHOCK! I met them for the first time at Audrey's house on Easter. I felt compelled to take two quilts for the little girls. After all, quilts are so American and are very comforting if you're feeling like a stranger in a strange new world. Here are the two I pulled from my stash. The first one was featured in my 2012 wall calendar of quilts. I made it for Windham Fabrics in January of 2009 and once it was photographed, it dutifully went to live in my closet. Such a shame it had to wait so long! I gave this one to Nairara who is 9 years old. Dancing Flower Pots. 46" x 58" The second one I made in 2007. Pitched it every so often to a magazine. No one picked it up (sigh). Was a workshop in

Can you believe it? I not only sewed this little quilt in one day, but I also quilted it. And, yes, I took process photos for a tutorial. Come back next Wednesday for the tutorial. For now, just look at the lovely fabrics. And think about winning the purple group of this Peyton Collection . I used only the red/green/khaki group for what I call Peyton's Star. Peyton's Star. Block Size: 19" x 19". Quilt Size: 28" x 28" First, let's look at the collection of fat quarters that Windham sent: Peyton Collection by Windham Fabrics I stayed with the fabrics on the right side. I used one of my "go to" patterns, a rotary cut Lone Star with NO set in seams. Next week, if you come back, I'll show the steps for creating this. And I will have a giveaway of the purple group on the left side: 5 fat quarters of Peyton So, think about it. Have a great week. See you here next Wednesday, right?