I taught this as a workshop for a few years to probably 2 dozen classes. Such a great time because we didn't have to make the dreadful y-seam. We began by cutting 60 degree diamonds and triangles. Pieced them into these units: Diamonds and triangles And a few more for a second quilt sample: More diamonds and triangles Here is my first 7 Sisters quilt. It's actually a large table topper. No y-seams! Seven Sisters (stars) I made a 3 block runner in a Seven Sisters Variation, but I took it apart (who really needs another table runner)? 3 Block Table Runner I added 3 more blocks and this is what I got: I made another variation using some bright, primary colored fabrics. Still needs to be quilted. Will probably become another charity quilt for the infusion unit. Certainly not a sleepy quilt! Check out my borders - Didn't have a single fabric, so split it up into bars. Tried to reflect the colors in each of the blocks as they go round. Seven Sisters Variation: 49" x 60"...

 I created and taught a workshop based on the vintage block called Rose Star. I had acrylic templates made for my students and taught them how to make a y-seam. There honestly isn't any other way to get those 120 degree angles put together into the 3-patch unit. Patches cut with acrylic template Then 3 of these get pieced into triangle units. Yes, there's a y-seam in there! 3 Patch units with y-seam After piecing the 3 patches into the triangle, there are no more y-seams. I call this Stacked Kites. I turned these beautiful patches into a sweet quilt in 2020. Still waiting for borders. This one's going to stay with me. My oldest daughter loves ALL my 1930s quilts and probably will lay a claim to this (once I let her know about it!) 30s Stacked Kites: 44" x 50" My Rose Star workshop focused on making one block. I made several of these, but I didn't need another table runner, so I added side triangles to "square up" the hexagon. Here it is - 36" hi...

I pieced a backing for this quilt made several years ago. It is 55" x 55". I call it Disappearing Dresdens because I ran out of the black and red prints and had to make dresden plate blades from the white background fabric! Disappearing Dresdens: 55" x 55" There is one whole block (top right), two 3/4 blocks, one half block and one 1/4 block. But you still see dresdens, don't you? Here's a close up of the center of the quilt which measures 40" x 40". This quilt is going to be quilted and donated to our local charity endeavor that provides warm quilts to those who sit in those freezing hospital rooms getting chemo infusion. I'm sure it will be enjoyed! I made a smaller one in blues and white. I wasn't planning on only having this many units - it's all I could squeeze from the blue fabrics! How do you like my clever borders? That's what happens when you only have fat quarters to work with. Blue and White Disappearing Dresdens I have a...

 Oh, calm down. Not THAT kind of rattlesnake. Why would I do that to you? Some of this is a repost from 7 years ago because I've revisited my box of paper pieced rattle snake blocks this weekend. I rarely use anyone else's pattern (I don't get paid to do that), but I took a class 20  27 years ago with the Karen Stone paper pieced Rattlesnake pattern as the feature. I made a quilt out of flannels and it somehow fell into the hands of my daughter who used it for the dog to snuggle in. Want to see that? Original Rattlesnake quilt I used this pattern, published in 1996: Karen Stone's Rattlesnake pattern I have made a variety of units since that first quilt, some made with batiks. These will be stitched into background units to become 10" blocks: Batik paper pieced units This is what the unit looks like from the paper side after trimming: Single foundation Here are some of the batik blocks on my design wall. 10" Rattlesnake blocks being auditioned on my design wall...

I posted this earlier in the week. I took a bundle of 1/2 yard cuts and selected a few to use for borders.  Then I auditioned them against the 8 block quilt center (which is 52" square). I cut the strips at 6-1/2" width and kept the same print in the corner blocks (both sides). Until this gets quilted, I can only photograph it on my kitchen floor! (I really need to find a place in my small house to tack it onto a wall). 8 Block Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt: 64" x 64" No y-seams. No templates. Easy to machine piece. Here's one of those blocks up close: GFG Block finishes to 17-1/2" square I'm going to pull out my box of Fossil Ferns (by Benartex) and see what other blocks I can make using them and these very LARGE Kaffe Fassett prints. They go together SO well, don't they?

I have been sewing with Michael Miller's  Fairy Frost  fabrics since they first hit the market. They are still as lovely - and relevant - as the first day! They are the perfect blenders with a bit of "bling" added with the subtle metallics on top of each color. Here are two stacks (with Marble in the background) that came into my studio in June of 2021. Fairy Frost  Fat Quarters  I've shared several blog posts using these lovely fabrics. If you want to revisit them, do a Search for "Fairy Frost" or "Michael Miller" in the sidebar. Today I'm talking "diamonds", though the ones below were used for my Flying Swallows class sample. Fairy Frost diamonds for  Flying Swallows quilt I used these along with some Fairy Frost background fabrics to make my quilt center. Isn't she lovely? These are 45 degree diamonds and half-square triangles (no y-seams, btw). You can see my other  Flying Swallows  quilts in my Etsy shop. Flying Swallows  wit...

I love large scale prints. I never chop them into little, tiny pieces! That's why fabric companies like to work with me because I make BIG blocks that sell more of their fabric! You've seen these blocks before, but I now have some border fabrics for a glorious finish. Did I say there are NO y-seams in this block?!! Granny's Garden  with Japanese Chrysanthemum and Fossil Ferns These use some Kaffe Fassett fabrics with Fossil Ferns. This first one is my favorite! It is 18" x 18" unfinished. I added those top and bottom strips of Fossil Fern background fabric to "square" it up. Remember, a hexagon is wider than it is high and I wanted these to be square. And another one in pinks: Single block in Pinks with light yellow Fossil Fern background I wasn't able to fussy cut the flowers, but I did need to use my window template of freezer paper because I was really close to being short of fabric! My freezer paper window template for fussy cutting (sort of) I...

This is a repost from 2 years ago. I know the quilts will bring a smile to you! Today is Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) and is a celebration with parties and food in many Latin American countries. I remember many of my Mexican friends and school chums in California having fun with this day. I now have a finished quilt to celebrate the holiday. Yes, I KNOW these are fabrics that celebrate another holiday (Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos). Artistic license, ok? I'll check in with Windham to see if they mind! Fiesta  Pentagon Wreaths: 40" x 44" Do you remember my Sugar Skulls from 2020? While the fabrics may not be available in your local quilt shop, you may find something similar online. I love these from Windham called  Fiesta . If you click the link under the photo you can see the steps to this Dresden Plate block. Fiesta Sugar Skull Dresdens : 46" x 46" Back to the Sugar Skull wreaths. I had made one of my Pentagon Wreath blocks using another fussy cut Sugar Skull....