Back again for the 11th year and I thoroughly enjoy getting to Atlanta and my many students who make my teaching so worthwhile! The Atlanta Original Sewing and Quilt Expo is March 8-10, and there is a special Day Before on Wednesday, March 7th. Check this out because I teach two classes on that day. Wednesday, March 7: 9 am - 5 pm  More the Day Before with Machine Quilting and the Gretchen Quilt We learn beginning Machine Quilting in the morning, have a lunch break (lunch provided) and then the afternoon is spent making my easy Gretchen Quilt! We start with the basics in Machine Quilting, including some stencils. We learn about stencils  And my Love Dove is traceable and then we doodle inside: I have LOTS of samples to inspire and teach!                                                             ...

Memorial weekend in Des Moines? That's where I'll be and teaching 5 classes at the Quilts of Valor Show . Let me show you the projects and if you're in town (or know of someone in that area), I'd love to have you consider taking one! Coffee Filter Mariner's Compass  - yes, you read that right! Thursday, May 26, 6 - 9 pm A wonderful new way to create the popular Mariner’s Compass, precise points and all.  Begin with a 100 cup coffee filter (20" diameter) as your base. Draw a few lines, foundation piece the center spikes, add a halo of flying geese and learn how to sew the curved background pieces to finish this stunning 32" Mariner's Compass quilt top.  Bring your own fabric, see supply list for details. Yes, they are 20" in diameter!  Don't you just love the grays for a background? With a halo of Flying Geese around the compass Ezekiel's Crown Friday morning (May 27) from 8:30 - 11:30 am Satisfy your desire to learn b...

I pulled out my Stacked Hearts pattern and created a freezer paper stencil so that I could free motion quilt in a whole cloth manner. First, I traced the applique onto the paper side of freezer paper. Stacked Hearts appliqué pattern Then I cut it out and ironed it to the center of a shaded pink rectangle of fabric. Layered with Warm and Natural batting and a backing. Selected pink thread to blend with the pink. Iron freezer paper template to center What was my approach? First, I would stitch around the  Stacked Hearts  template. Then, I peel off the paper and free motion quilt INSIDE the hearts. Then, I quilted outside the shapes. Simple. Easy. It sure is better than following a stencil. Just a simple outline. The rest is just doodling.  Now the fun begins. Let's see the first quilt I made, under the HQ Sweet 16 needle: Stacked Hearts quilt being quilted. Yes, those are my humble machine quilting helpers And can we see the quilt, huh? Stac...

Just wanted to show you some new quilts that are new workshops. I begin teaching these in March for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo . First comes Atlanta and then Lakeland, Florida. A week off and then to Cleveland, OH. Ezekiel's Crown is a paper piecing project that adds curved piecing. It is not for novices but for those wanting to learn several techniques to expand their skills. Not hard, just takes a little time to put it all together. Don't you love the center? It's what I call "When Four Blocks Make Five." Ezekiel's Crown Quilt Second is Patty's Summer Parasol , a redo of an old, traditional block. This is a variation on a Double Wedding Ring (can you believe it?) It appeared in newspapers in 1953. Can you believe these templates? Patty's Summer Parasols 12" Blocks. Paper Pieced Arcs And the paper pieced arcs: Pixie Sticks is returning from last fall, since I did not teach it yet in Atlanta, Lakeland or Clevela...