I am rummaging around in my English Paper Piecing drawers getting organized for teaching classes in the Spring and Summer. I came across the little blocks I made using the My Little Chickadee fabrics from 2 years ago. I had a blog post, which you may remember: Christmas in July  post from 2016 Chickadees a la Ring You can see my steps for fussy cutting the birdies and adding the green triangles by clicking the links. I decided to make several blocks, fussy cutting those little chickadees: Twisted Hexagon block. Note that the Chickadee is pieced right along the neck! I can tell you don't believe me. But when Benartex sent me the fabrics, the cutter in the warehouse had sliced through several little birdies this way. Take a look at this next pic up close! He is SO happy to have his head back! Head and body put back together Another Chickadee auditioning atop 6 paper pieced patches. I eventually stitched him there. Don't you just love those berries?! I

I have a winner. Her name is Rhona L. from New Jersey. I don't know what Michael Miller will send for a prize, but you know it will be lovely fabric. Remember, the Festival of Lights fabric is in quilt shops now. Why not see if you can grab some for celebrating next Chanukah! Festival of Lights This is short and sweet because, as you know, I moved 2 weeks ago and my husband just had knee replacement surgery Monday. Sometimes I get this feeling like I'd like to run away. I'm just saying . . . But my sewing room (small bedroom) is up and running and I did do some sewing today. I hope to have another post or two before Christmas. We'll see! Thanks for stopping by.

This was a post that was featured on the Benartex blog last year featuring Jackie Robinson's collection called   Festive Season . I'm sitting with my morning coffee in my living room, looking at my finished quilt hanging over a very old chest of drawers. We moved into a new house (actually, 40+ years old) last week and I haven't hung any quilts yet. So, I've draped a few and this one "told" me to blog about it today! Here is what I wrote: I received a bundle of many of the prints, and what I was most excited about were the vertical panels of cardinals! I had plans to make a strippy quilt and use these birds. But, even after cutting dozens of half hexagons and piecing several vertical strips, I walked away and started something else! Vertical border print from  Festive Season  These are the half hexagons I cut, but then moved on to another idea! Half hexagons cut from most of the prints  Here are the fabrics that I began with. Fabrics from  F

My granddaughter Eva attended a Jewish preschool in Federal Hill (Baltimore) last year. Their family is not Jewish, but it was within walking distance of their apartment and Audrey loved the emphasis on education - both religious and secular - and so Eva spent 2 years there. Yes, we're Christians, but we embrace the Jewish observances as reflected in what we call the Old Testament. Those Holy Days have meaning for us, too! (Yes, I know Chanukah is not a "holy" day, but I think you get my drift.) Audrey asked me to make a signature quilt as a thank you. Of course - my kids always think their mom can produce almost any sort of quilt on quick notice, right?! (I've done this more times than I can believe.) First, a little diversion. Here's one of my holiday cards that I made using a pack of window cards I bought at the Dollar Store. Yes, one dollar for a pack of 10! Maybe they were meant for Christmas, but Hanukkah happens in December, so snowflakes are normal.