All of our social quilting events have come to a grinding halt. I was in the middle of an Atlanta teaching event for the Sewing Expo when the last day was abruptly cancelled (March 13, a Friday. - Hey, Friday the 13th really was bad this year, right?) My Saturday class, Flying Swallows, never happened. Flying Swallows with NO templates or y-seams! And then 6 more contracts were cancelled. Whew! I totally understood, but that certainly knocked the wind out of me. I have created a quick, 6 question  SURVEY  to find out YOUR thoughts on plans for Fall quilting events. What safety features do you need? What's your guild doing? And you can even leave me comments. I'm not tracking anyone, honest. I'd love to hear from you. If you are on my MailChimp list, then you already got the info. No need to take it twice. I would really appreciate it if you could give me your feedback . Just because I know you like quilt pics here, I'll show you the classes that were cancel...

The traditional day for Memorial Day observance is May 31. It has changed over the years to be scheduled over a weekend (for parties and parades and graveside memorials). We observed it last Monday (the 25th). I designed this quilt, Hey, Hey, USA for Windham Fabrics to go with their Pride and Honor Collection of fabrics. Perfect for any Americana observance (remember: July 4th is coming!). Hey, Hey, USA : 60" x 81". 18" blocks This also meets the Quilts of Valor size requirement! These are blocks I designed in 2004 for my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar (Martingale). I have shown the blocks here before. Why not again?! Here's Old Glory Star, which is my July 4 Block: Old Glory Star This is how Patricia Bryant in Australia (who made ALL 366 blocks) staged hers: Old Glory Star by Patricia Bryant And Yankee Charm: Yankee Charm Patricia's Block: Yankee Charm by Patricia Bryant Star Spangled Banner Block: Star Spangled Banner ...

Today I want to show you my Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam Quilt (you've seen it before) made with Log Cabin blocks and 9 appliqués. First, a small Sunbonnet Sue quilt I made in 2004. Very vintage. Blue dresses for both ladies! And this little pillow I made from a tiny appliquéd block (3-1/2"). Added a ruffle and it now resides with my little granddaughter A few years ago I was asked by Windham Fabrics to create a design using one of their 1930s reproduction collections, which would then be a pattern in Keepsake Catalog. What's more in tune with 30s fabrics than Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam ? 16" Blocks (4 log cabins). 48" x 48" quilt (no borders) Oh, you want to see some of the blocks up close? Certainly! Each of the 9 blocks uses solids for the appliqué and a variety of prints with white. This is how I got ready to make the blocks. I like to say, "Some days I like to cut; some days I like to sew." Strips ready f...

Welcome to Day Four, Thursday. Let's talk about curves! Here is my little model all dressed up in her prom dress with a tiny hat on her head, just hanging out on my desk with the geraniums. She is next to my Curvy Log Cabin quilt which, you will see in a bit, looks very much like Pac Man! Little Model lounging on my deck with the flowers This runner was made about 25 years ago and published in Quilt Magazine. I still own it and she's on my dining room table. The curves for this Log Cabin are created by using thin strips on two contiguous sides and thicker strips on the other two contiguous sides. Don't know what "contiguous" means? That's why we have Dictionary.com! Celestial curvy log cabin table runner You can see the logs in these blocks - and the MISTAKE block in the bottom right! Notice the two sizes of logs: thick and thin. That's what creates the curves. Beginnings with only silver and blue I decided to add 3 more colors. Again...

Here we are at Wednesday. Today I want to share my Baby Logs quilts. All of these are Off Center Log Cabins. That means you begin with a square and then add logs to two sides only. The center is, well, OFF!  I've made this almost a dozen times! First, here's the latest one (which is only in the block stage) that was inspired by a set of rainbow colored elastic bands in the Dollar Store! Can you see that lollipop looking thing in the plant? There are 12 colored elastic hairbands woven together. Stepping out with rainbows! You can see my process steps and detailed notes here: Rainbow Baby Logs . A variation of Sweet Baby Logs using bright fabrics from the Bedrock Collection My first off center Log Cabin quilt was with a sweet collection called Stella. I called it Sweet Baby Logs because it's so, well - sweet! I made this using a fat quarter bundle - yes! Just fat quarters! There are TWO widths of logs which are added to one side only. But it still finishes s...

Tuesday. Are you with me? Do you love Log Cabin quilts as much as I do? As much as most quilters do? I probably have made at least 2 dozen log cabin quilts in my 30 years of quilting and I'm sure I'm not done yet! They even make fabric panels printed as Log Cabins (more on those later). Log Cabin panel by Benartex from several years ago I love scrappy quilts. Here are two little quilts I made from some leftover/orphan blocks that my friend (and former editor) Jean Ann Wright gave me. (Jean Ann has a fabulous online store filled with Log Cabin inspirations, patterns and helpful rulers: Jean Ann Quilts .) Traditional Log Cabin blocks in Star centers These are also scrappy, but the arrangement is Courthouse Steps. Courthouse Steps Log Cabin blocks on their way to becoming birdhouses! I added some Flying Geese and poles to make these very scrappy Birdhouses! Four very scrappy Birdhouses So, we have birdhouses, but what about PEOPLE houses? This is called...