This is truly home stretch! Last week of the Quilter's Block a Day Calendar blocks created by Patricia Bryant of Australia. She sewed these in 2016 and posted them every day on the Martingale Facebook page. Let's see the final blocks (there are 8 because we go into another Sunday). If you would like to see ALL 366 blocks in one place, visit my Pinterest page: Patricia's Blocks from my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar ! You can view every single one as I've displayed them here week by week. And don't forget that you can see them in alphabetical order here: Quilter's Block a Day Calendar  in two sizes! I'm planning on re-releasing the calendar with the two sizes. I'll have more on that in 2018. December 24: Holiday Leaves Holiday Leaves: 12"  December 25 (Merry Christmas): Christmas Star Christmas Star: 15"  December 26: Shooting Star Shooting Star: 8" And another pic of Shooting Star Shooting Star: 8"   ...

It's here! December 21 and that means that the days are getting longer. I am not nuts (though my husband says that I am for this crazy nit-picking of minutes of sunlight). Did you see my previous posts? Winter Solstice  post from 2015. And then from last year? Here Comes the Sun (2016) . Just a few of the blocks with borders. I have since removed the border from the top quilt - too crazy! Winter Solstice block from my Double Hexie Star pattern  And don't you just love these extra rays? Winter Solstice block with extra rays This is my Double Hexie Star (a current workshop) that has been made several times. I love using Paula Nadelstern's kaleidoscope motifs as the centers! My youngest daughter Valery wanted a quilt with these blocks. She axed the border I chose and then asked for a green block. Not a problem (grrrr! rip, rip, rip) Two block quilt with "crazy" border (my daughter's words) I made a green block and replaced the orange and b...

I teased you last week with these lovely fabrics. Remember? I began a love story between Isadora and Titan . Isadora being adored by Titan This all began innocently enough, though they did meet in quite an unusual place: a warehouse in Jersey City, New Jersey (I'm not making this up). She was an orphan, with her entire family gone to new homes throughout the world. These homes were disguised as quilt shops. Somehow, she was left behind and she was desperately lonely. Her name is I sadora . A younger man arrived in the warehouse and while he wasn't flashy, he was solid and down to earth and had quite a colorful personality. Titan was his name and he was immediately besotted with Isadora. Yes, she was a bit older (and maybe wiser), but they were looking for companionship. He began to woo her with diamonds . . . Titan's diamonds And other gem shapes . . . Titan's gems Isadora was outwardly shy, but she was secretly thrilled to get so much attent...

Last two weeks of these fabulous blocks. Thank you, again, Patricia Bryant! December 17: Rocky Mountain Puzzle Rocky Mountain Puzzle: 8"  December 18: Double Hearts Double Hearts: 12"  December 19: Arkansas Traveler Arkansas Traveler: 12" Oooooh! I have some of these stacking dolls. My grandkids love to play with them when they come over. My husband bought them 25 years ago when he took a trip to Russia after the "wall" fell. Here is one set (I have several) that makes me chuckle every time I see it. Can you name them? Russian leaders stacking dolls December 20: Tiny Dancer Tiny Dancer: 7-1/2"  December 21: Garrett Window Garrett Window: 6"  December 22: Alpine Cross Alpine Cross: 10"  December 23: Market Square Market Square: 8" One more week to go. Seven more blocks!

No, this is not a story about two medieval lovers (though it sounds like it, right?) This is about a fabric collection ( Titan ) that I had no idea what to do with and then a lonely fat quarter appeared in the box of fabrics that Windham sent to me. Her name is Isadora and she is so lovely! She is a bit older than Titan (2016 release), but then again, we all enjoy those "older woman, younger man" stories at times. Isadora The Titan Collection is a wonderful group of "blenders." You know: those fabrics that aren't solids but can be used as solids. They have a small mini print that doesn't take away from their main color. But I did not feel inspired to make something with just these blenders! Titan fabrics surrounding the Isadora fat quarter. Fat quarters of Titan with the single Isadora fat quarter Next week I will share some delightful blocks made with these fabrics. I am so excited because it's as though these were made for each o...

Today we feature a collection by Matthew Pridemore, husband of the famous quilter, Heidi Pridemore.  Matthew's Mini Monsters  is the name of this fun collection of boy prints. Of course, girls would love these, too! We quilters have fabric stashes that are about 90% "girlie". Flowers, ribbons, bows, pink and sweetness all over the place. When you need to make a quilt for a boy or man, you have to look far and wide for masculine themed fabrics. I asked Benartex to lead me to something that caters to boys and they sent me these called " Matthew's Mini Monsters ." Many of us are familiar with the name Heidi Pridemore. She's been in the professional quilting industry as long as I have (25 years) and I have always like her playful, whimsical style. She is a natural artist and her quilt designs are always joyful. This collection was designed by her husband! Now, that's a family affair, right? Matthew's Mini Monsters The collection ...

I have made dozens of pillowcases using quilter's cottons and, to tell you the truth, it's EXPENSIVE! More than a yard of fabric to make a standard sized case. And at $10 - 13 a yard, that is pricey. 10 years ago I made a set of cases to match my Good Luck quilt and I used a set of purple cases I bought at Walmart for about $5.00. Let me show you what I did by using pics I took the other day making some for my two little grandsons. First, the Good Luck quilt (a VERY popular workshop for a few years). It is a vintage pattern that I tweaked to eliminate funky templates and everything is done with strips and your rotary cutter and ruler with NO waste. This is a good sized quilt at 79" x 79". Take a good look at my border fabric! The Good Luck Quilt  (pattern available at my Craftsy store) Here it is with the pillowcases: Good Luck quilt with matching pillowcases  Inside, to show there are no raw edges! (Tutorial below, so don't go away!) Inside th...

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words about these blocks. I also have thoroughly enjoyed what Patricia Bryant has done with my designs. We all are anxious to know how she will put them together. Remember her little pile? Patricia's stack of all 366 blocks from my calendar Let's see the next seven for Week #50. December 10: Gentleman's Fancy Gentleman's Fancy: 12" December 11: Holiday Mosaic Holiday Mosaic: 12" Just added: Deanna commented below that she would like to see Holiday Mosaic in a 4 block setting. I have this from the Calendar CD version. The blocks are turned 90 degrees and make an interesting arrangement, don't you think? Four Holiday Mosaic Blocks December 12: Honey's Choice Happy Chanukah to my Jewish bloggers! Honey's Choice: 10"  December 13: Around the Mountain Around the Mountain: 9" December 14: Odds and Ends Odds and Ends: 12" December 15: Slanted Diamonds What a ...