I promised a FREE pattern for one of the blocks in my 2016 Wall Calendar of Blocks . I showed the fabrics I would use: Wonderful selection of red prints and blenders from Benartex I fashioned some letters and scattered them around, mixing them up, planning on making an "I Love You" quilt. Never got that far. I Love You letters Then my newest wall calendar of blocks came out. I looked through and found a perfect block to use some of these letters. This block comes from my 2007 desktop calendar of blocks. The wall calendar does not include patterns for the 365 blocks, but my publisher and I agree that I should share some "Blocks of the Moment" with my blogger buddies. Here is the first one: Love Bug Quilt (can you see the tiny ladybugs in the inner border strip?) Each letter is appliqued to a rectangle of white fabric cut to 5-1/2" x 7-1/2". Then the four are stitched together as shown. The outer 3-strip borders are composed of three 1-1/2...

I was working on my USA series of paper pieced states on Sunday and came to South Carolina. I stopped and thought, "Wow! I need to sew this in honor of those who lost their lives." I wanted fabrics that read solid with a rich, deep color. Beautiful colors, but not dancing brights like I typically choose. Here is my South Carolina Star. South Carolina Star (12") with simple borders I finally had a project for the Artisan Cottons by Windham Fabrics. The shot cottons are a beautiful array of colors, don't you think? Can you see the red warp thread in the purple fabric below? These are special cottons with two different colors of thread used in the weaving process. I love shot cottons. Color rich Artisan Cottons Here is the block by itself, made with these fabrics and a standard white background. I hope this block helps us remember that life is about putting things together and not ripping them apart. South Carolina Star using Windham's Artisa...

I'm so excited. The newest of my calendars has arrived and I received my author shipment a few days ago. I've been creating these calendars since 2006, but I am still thrilled to get one right off the presses. 2016 Wall Calendar of Quilt Blocks This calendar is different in that there are no patterns (GASP!) Just a picture of a quilt block every single day for all of 2016. I plan on sharing what I've termed "Blocks of the Moment" as often as I can. That means that I will be sharing the PATTERNS for some of these blocks as we head into the Summer and Fall. I want you to go looking for it! Ask your local quilt shop to carry it (I just arranged with Checker Distributors to carry it). What patterns do I have in mind? How about one of the Laurel Wreath birds? Laurel Wreath blocks are 12" x 12" Or perhaps a Hawaiian applique block, 14" square (with full size template)? 14" Hawaiian Applique Block And one of my favorites - LOVE Lett...

I have a soft spot for patriotic fabrics and keep them all together in my stash. Here is a new one from Windham Fabrics titled simply "USA." With denim backgrounds and plenty of stars and stripes, this is a grouping that works well for those fabulous Quilts of Valor many are making. USA Collection by Windham Fabrics Yes, I know that the 4th of July is in 2 weeks, but these fabrics can be used all year long. Stay tuned for my reveal in 2 weeks with not one, not two, but FOUR large 18" blocks made with this collection. "Oh, that's easy," you say. Not if I split up the collection with my friend Jeannine so she could make something with them herself. We each took 4 fat quarters (one by one), and then split the last four fat quarters. So, my fabrics were limited. (I did add some plain white fabric.) I think it will be fun to see what the two of us come up with. Jeannine does not sew for a living and makes things other than quilts with her fabric. Me? I ...

Over the weekend I realized I have one more quilt using the donut shape (to carry National Donut Day a little longer). I call it Ezekiel's Wheel and it was designed for Windham Fabrics using their Moonstruck Collection . I actually made the entire quilt which is yet to be quilted. Don't you just love that lime green! Ezekiel's Wheel : 62" x 62" Can you see how 4 blocks can give the illusion of 5 blocks when part of the block is turned 90 degrees? The center "block" is actually composed of one unit from each of the 4 real blocks. I have made about a dozen quilts using this illusion and I love it. 9" unit with the donut shape You can see the tutorial for sewing the block here and the pattern is also available with full size templates. The 18" blocks (there are four of them) are made of four 9"units with that donut shape. I somehow got through the weekend without eating a single donut. I didn't say I didn't eat any yum...

I love them but can't eat them like I used to. Can't burn those calories, but there are times I give in and have a powdered sugar coated jelly doughnut. Yum, yum! How about a calorie free fabric doughnut? You can have as many as you like. Today I'm reposting about three quilts and giving the free pattern for the block so you can try your hand at these doughnut shaped fabric patches. The first appeared in a Fons & Porter magazine in Spring 2012. I used a Benartex Collection called Ebony and Ivory. I made the quilt and still own it. Here is the digital rendition: Ebony & Ivory: 54" x 66" The blocks are 12" and the alternate patches and half-units finish at 6". The curves are raw edge appliqued. If you still have the Spring 2012 issue, the pattern is there. Now for the next rendition of this pattern. I designed this for Quiltmaker Magazine 100 Blocks. It uses the Arianna Collection from Benartex. These doughnut shapes are not appliqued, b...

Today is Wednesday and if I have any new Windham Fabrics , I like to feature them on this day. I like the alliteration of "Windham Wednesdays," don't you? (That's me wearing my high school English teacher hat, I guess). This collection is called Stella and is designed for Windham by Lotta Jansdotter. I love all of her fabrics and so do my two married daughters. They are in their 30s and when they say they love fabrics in my stash, then I know it's a home run for those fabrics in the shops. Stella Collection by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics I have pondered what to do with these for the past few weeks. I wasn't in a hurry since they weren't available for shops to buy until May and won't ship to the stores until August. But, May is over and August is right around the corner! I got an idea to make a variation of the Off Center Log Cabin blocks I made with some of Windham's 1930s reproduction prints. Here are the blocks: 6" O...