There's a new Creative Grids ruler out (actually, two of them) created by my talented friend Jean Ann Wright. Rulers are available at her web site: Jean Ann Quilts . They make a Square in a Square block without precise piecing. The trimming is all done with the ruler. You can see a demo at CG's Facebook page ) I made two quilts to go with the rulers. Here they are. They debuted today and are available ONLY in your local quilt shop (even I don't sell them). This uses the 8" ruler for 8" blocks. Rulers can be seen and ordered here: Jean Ann Quilts . You can see all her other Creative Grids rulers there, too. Sunflower Trails - 42" x 42" I first made four blocks using a green, but I didn't have enough contrast. What do you think? Four Snail's Trail blocks And then my second quilt makes a 6" block. I called this Lots o' Dots: Lots 'o Dots These are taking a trip to Houston for the International Quilt Market in a few

They've taken over my life! I had several projects in mind that I went crazy cutting and stitching and cutting some more. I was getting ready for my Seven Sisters Table Topper class. And I had all sorts of other plans for them, too. Now, what was I thinking? Happy candy colored triangles Happy candy colored diamonds Where am I going with these? Can't tell yet! OK, maybe a little hint. Visit my Quilt Shop Patterns tab link above  and see Connie's Diamond Runner . Only this isn't going to be a runner. You can't keep warm with a table runner on your lap, now can you? Triangles to the left of me; Triangles to the right. Stuck in the middle with you, Diamond! (Who remembers that song?) Other diamonds and triangles . . . More happy diamonds with stark white triangles Happier diamonds with two triangles each! Using some Asian inspired fabrics from Benartex: Diamonds! Pinks and greens and gold - oh, my! And how they look: one diamond a

Oh, maybe not. But he might! To be sure you're ready, how about a pumpkin quilt or two? Kitty in the Pumpkin Patch This is one of my favorite pumpkin quilts. The blocks are paper pieced and all the fabrics are batiks. And spiders? I don't like them, but these pjs for my grandsons are certainly part of the season! Scary spiders ready for pumpkin day Now for the FREE Harvest Pumpkin Quilt pattern. Yes, I said FREE (well, I typed it, but you know what I mean). I wanted to share it now, in September, because you need to be ready when the Great Pumpkin comes by and wants to see how sincere you are. Harvest Pumpkins - 25" x 34"; 8" block This appeared in Quilt Magazine several years ago and was also featured in my 2012 Wall Calendar of Quilts. I've been "paid" for it twice, so that's why it's free. You can get it at my Craftsy Store where it's a FREE download. I find it works better to offload my patterns there than to clo

I've been busy. I'm always busy. What I mean is that I've been busy without my sewing machine and computer! I've shared before about my favorite cotton potholders. Crochet. Easy. Cotton. And I will share the link to the free pattern. What have I been up to? Well, this Happy Hooker made almost 2 dozen of these addictive things in the past few months. It's time to start working on scarves and cowls for my daughters, I think! 21 cotton double-folded potholders I took two as a hostess gift on Saturday night, so now I'm down to 19! Always like to have them on hand for little gifts. Here are a few I made with this amazing Isaac Mizrahi cotton yarn that feels glorious. Two variegated yarns make lovely Double Folded Potholders  Aren't these colors wonderful? Used a K hook Sometimes I use a G or an H hook. They all work I even save the little extra pieces of my cotton yarn. I have a guard keeping watch so as to keep the Yarn Thieves from sna

I teach Beginning Machine Quilting for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo and am always looking for new ways to keep the classes interesting. I have a LOT of small and medium sized samples that I bring with me and my students love to look at these for inspiration. My next show is Fredericksburg , Virginia. If you're looking for a little inspiration for machine quilting, consider joining me on Saturday October 3 in the Handi Quilter studio. I love to use simple shapes cut out from freezer paper. When they are ironed to a fabric, there's no need to mark the fabric in the traditional way (ie, with a pen, chalk, etc). The outside of the shape provides the sewing guide. What do I mean? First, tracing a stencil from one of my favorite quilting motif books, "501 Quilting Motifs." This is a compilation of stencils from Quiltmaker. An awesome book! I bring it to every class and highly recommend it. Tracing a pattern from 501 Quilting Motifs (Martingale) This was

Not wanting to make a big deal of such sad memories from so long ago. Fourteen years, to be exact. I realized I have a quilt I designed for Windham Fabrics in 2008 using their Coverlets Collection (1830 - 1850). What a wonderful group of fabrics. The pattern was designed by Leslie Sonkin (who used to work for Windham). They asked me to sew and pattern it. It hangs in their corporate office. Coverlet Flag Quilt (before quilting): 43" x 53" They have a new line coming out called Stars and Stripes. Not in their fabric gallery online yet, but here is my digital rendition: Updated Flag Quilt using a new collection I salute all the heroes from that day. I mourn those who lost their lives. I celebrate all who jumped in to save others. This is a story that could be written in ANY country because we are all human. We all care. God bless the USA, is all I can say.

Made the quilt. Made it again. Made it a 3rd time. Only the 3rd time I just let her sit in the closet after she was beautifully quilted by Connie Gallant, awaiting the binding. I even cut and stitched the binding together, so why did it take so long? Three years? Yikes!! I'm talking about my Strips and Strings quilt using Amy Butler fabrics (no, I'm not smoking anything). Here's the original quilt by Mary Lee Bendolph of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Mary Lee Bendolph and her Strips & Strings quilt (49" x 74") Windham Fabrics received permission to partner with the Gee's Bend Collective to pattern and kit 8 of their quilts. They commissioned me to adapt the quilts for patterns. How can you pattern an improvisational quilt? Believe me, I thought I was going to pull my hair out, but it actually became easier after the first one. Here is my rendition of this quilt: Strips and Strings adaptation  - 50" x 75" And here's the quilt that

I have received several photos of the progress of the Galaxy of Stars blocks from YOU bloggers. I wanted to share them with you. Yes, it's OK to NOT have made even one of the blocks yet. I often work that way: save up all the patterns and then make them all at once. But, I do know many of you have been trying to stay up to date. Here are some of the pics! Amy O. sent these just yesterday: Amy O's blocks so far! Marie T's blocks If you sent me pics of your blocks and they're not here, please email me and remind me. I have a very full in-box and sometimes things get overlooked! If you would like to see your blocks here (even if you've only done one), please do send pics. We would all be inspired! Thanks, blogging friends. Keep up the sewing. There are close to 1,000 of you who are participating in this BOM. And, yes, I'm planning another BOM for 2016. Maybe even two. What are you interested in? While it may not change my plans, I do like to hear

Wow! Already September. I love Fall and the cooler weather. Our 9th block in this series is called Royal Star . Perhaps you've seen this block appear another time or two here on my blog. Yes, it's the STAR of my quilt with the same title. The block is from the early 1900s and is considered very traditional. The Royal Star quilt is available for free: FREE pattern for Royal Star quilt (uses 8-1/2" blocks) I converted the piecing of the points to paper piecing. You can find a picture tutorial HERE for how to piece those points. For this 12" size, you will also need to paper piece the center Nine Patch. 12" Royal Star Block for September There are almost 1,000 people downloading these blocks each month. I only hear from a handful of you. I am convinced you are busy sewing and keeping up, right? I do like to see blocks you've created so send me your renditions of these, won't you? The 2 page pdf this month was also used in 2006 for Quilt Mag