If it's Wednesday, I'm probably focusing on more beautiful fabric from Windham. Today I am sharing the amazing collection called Grand Illusion . It has gilded prints in some of my favorite colors and a gorgeous main print with kaleidoscope motifs. Just because it is an octagon doesn't mean I won't use it for my hexagon patterns. Want to see? First, one of the motifs. Yes, you can see that I'm planning to center it in the middle of some block. I cut a freezer paper window template and ironed it to the fabric for cutting out. Fussy cutting a beautiful motif in the Grand Illusion collection I'm going to make another of my Rose Star blocks. It will be super-sized once I add borders. So, I cut a lot of kite shaped pieces of fabric. Some of the fabrics in the Grand Illusion collection Can I show you where I'm going? I'm not there yet, but I do have my digital file to guide me along the way. That fussy cut hexagon motif will go in the center. ...

This is a repost from 2012. Always worth repeating. You will find the link to the free pattern below. You may already have it if you've been with me these years. I hope you enjoy it. Take some time today to REMEMBER those who gave everything so we could have the freedom to enjoy the simple things we seem to take for granted. We remember - and honor - those who gave their all for our freedom For we Americans, this weekend is for remembering our fallen heroes. A lot of shopping goes on, but hopefully the parades and events honoring all our veterans and those who lost their lives will take center stage. I made this quilt in 2005, using some Americana fabric resembling the stripes of our flag. I took a simple heart shape and divided it both vertically and horizontally and cut out appliqués. Just another project for me, published in one of our QUILT magazines that year. But then the nephew of our dear friends died in Afghanistan. He was so young and now he was gone. I knew this ...

Yes, you read that right! Not just one FREE pattern, but two. The first is in honor of Memorial Day. While you certainly won't be able to stitch it in a day or two so you can hang it at your Memorial Day picnic, you can work on it and maybe have it ready for the Fourth of July! This is my first game board quilt which I called Parcheesi. It appeared in Quilt Magazine in the Spring of 2004 (which means I made it mid 2003). This is based on a wooden vintage game board I saw. Obviously, the game board was NOT 40" x 40". Parcheesi Game Board Quilt: 40" x 40" Here is the FREE pattern I created for Red Rooster Fabrics in 2017. While you may not be able to get the same fabrics, there is always a wonderful selection of patriotic colors to choose from (and I bet you even have some in your stash!) Sweet Land of Liberty : 41" x 41" The second FREE pattern is one that no longer is available anywhere online (though it should be)! I designed this for R...

I have just made available my Modern Vortex Quilt (and variations) at my Etsy store. This is the HARD COPY pattern with the multi-size acrylic cutting template. Check it out: Modern Vortex . I want to share some pics of my older Dresden Plate quilts. These were used when I taught this workshop back in 2012 - 2013. This first one is from my first book, Bold, Black & Beautiful Quilts (AQS 2004). I struggled about what to use for a border. My (smart) daughter Hilary said, "Forget it, mom. No border. It's done!" Wow. That's why I sent her to an ivy league college to study design, right? Chrysanthemums at Night: 40" x 40"  One whole block and two halves. Split Dresdens Table Runner  Same quilt using 1930s prints. The center measures 20" x 40". 1930s prints And what about 16 quarter blocks arranged in my "When Four Blocks Make Five" setting? This creates the illusion of a 5th block in the center Remember, these...

I seem to go back to making dresden plate quilts over and over again! I created my red and white Modern Vortex quilt in 2012 as the result of a blog challenge to work with dots. Well, those dots became the setting triangles with my red and white strip pieced dresden block center stage! A single block set on point with pieced setting triangles. No funky templates or difficult stitching. My pattern as I taught it for my workshop students teaches a simple way to make those pieced triangles. It looks like I appliquéd that dresden block into those triangles, doesn't it? An old trick that goes back 20 years from my quilting magazine days. Modern Vortex Quilt : 28" x 28"  Here is the quilt by itself. No extra borders. I've now added the HARD COPY VORTEX pattern in my Etsy shop. 12 well illustrated pages with the multi-sized acrylic template. Modern Vortex . Block Size: 20" x 20". Set on point: 28" x 28" Here is the block in blue and white:...

It's been a few weeks since I shared my gingham blocks. I decided to go bigger and added an extra vertical and horizontal row of blocks so that this could be a nice lap sized quilt. I'm using the blender collection of Bedrock by Windham Fabrics . Remember the blocks? You can see my cutting and piecing on my April 24 post . Sets of 3 different 9 Patch blocks using white I had initially made these using the cream: Sets of 3 different 9 Patch blocks using cream When I began to put these together, I realized that I could combine the two sets to make a larger quilt. No kidding! You honestly can't tell the difference, can you? I shot this picture outside on my deck. We've had days and days of rain, so this was the only semi-dry spot. Will get another one soon. Here's the quilt and you tell me where the cream and where the white blocks are! Of course, it doesn't help that you can see through the top. Gingham quilt top: 6 x 6 blocks. 50" x 50...

Kathy L. of Nixa, Missouri is the winner of the gorgeous Harvest Gold fabrics by Benartex. Congratulations, Kathy!  Can we see those fabrics again? Harvest Gold fabrics I have enjoyed sewing with these and I would love to quilt my Harvest Gold  Rose Star quilt sometime soon. I was able to set up my Handi Quilter Sweet 16 after 5 long months in the box. She was so happy to get out and help me finish a few quilt tops last week. Quilting my Double Hexie Star Also, I put my Rose Star pattern with template up on my Etsy site. It is $13.00 plus $2 postage for USA orders only. I checked the postage for the UK and it was $14.50! Prohibitive. So, I also have a digital version. Here are two photos of the Rose Star : Rose Star topper (30" x 34")  And my first Rose Star : Rose Star in Kaffe Fassett fabrics And let's see some of those awesome kites. My template has four marking holes (one in each corner), but with my quick method, you only need to mark th...

Yes. An entire week! Benartex is having an blog hop called Autumn in the Air. Each day's post will go live at 9:30 am. Each of you will have a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the fabrics featured for that day. My post goes live tomorrow. Here is a sneak peek at the fabrics I was given to create with. They are called Harvest Gold . I had fun making something, but you won't know until tomorrow! Harvest Gold fabrics by Benartes Here is the schedule for this week. Keep this in mind and hop over to each one through the week and enter to win some glorious fabrics. Autumn in the Air Hop Schedule Lisa @  Love to Color My World  using  Harvest Berry  by Cheryl Haynes Debby @  Debby Kratovil Quilts  using  Harvest Gold   Sandra @  Mmm! Quilts  using  Thankful  by Amanda Murphy Alison @  Little Bunny Quilts  using  Faboolous Fun I hope to see you back here tomorrow!

Here it is May Day and I have the fifth and final block in my Red Hat 2019 Block of the Month. In order for me to make my little quilt top, I had to make FOUR of these Dancing Shoe blocks. Here's the quilt, still not quilted (but I'm getting closer because I unpacked my Handi Quilter Sweet 16 just the other day and it's waiting for me to get to work). Red Hat Quilt top I have two red shoes pointing left. . . Dancing Shoe pointing left - I made two! And two blue shoes pointing right: Dancing Shoe pointing right - I made two of these, too! And here is a picture of what my stitching looks like from the wrong side. Stitching on the wrong side This block is different in that I added 3 thin strips of fabric to the cream rectangle. I just wanted a little interest in those blocks. What do you think? You can find this pattern in my Etsy shop . I hope to get working on that quilt this month. I plan on stitching the blocks using my walking foot in the ve...