A few years ago I randomly created some 2" EPP hexagons using some Michael Miller gingham fabrics. Then, I was inspired to recreate a version of an older quilt that I used when I taught EPP workshops. One of my students said this was her favorite quilt. Her name was Lori. So, I named the quilt "Lori's Garden Favorite." Easy enough! Lori's Garden Favorite I made the above quilt using some Benartex Fossil Ferns and some other Benartex collections for the borders. Yes, those borders don't "match." But, they work and that's what matters. Sometimes you don't have enough of a single fabric to have all 4 borders match. Who cares? I think this is more interesting. Here is one of the blocks up close: Single GFG variation block: 14" x 20" I still have the original quilt that I made 22 years ago with the same rectangle block, but this time I used sashing. I called it Grandma's Night Garden. It was published in Quilt Magazine and then it a...

Fairy Frost and Gingham Play are fabrics from Michael Miller. I had two large sets of these and had a project in mind. I pulled coordinating fabrics from each line and began cutting to make some awesome English Paper Piecing blocks.  Gingham Play and Fairy Frost I used 2" hexagon papers and 1" (2" on the long sides) jewels to make the hearts I've shared these blocks before. The large background squares (15" x 15") are also cut from fat quarters. Grandmother's Flower Garden with Hearts, pinks Here is one in orange. I used a soft print for the backgrounds. GFG in oranges I made 9 blocks and thought about how to put them together. I wanted more color and added sashing around each block.  Bright rainbow fabrics for sashings Boring. So, I added the corner triangles and that made me happy. Adding corner triangles to each block And here are the 9 blocks for my quilt center: Grandma's Garden quilt in the garden: 56" x 56" I still have more Gingham...

To give you an idea of the size of various hexagons, I like to show my students my stack of GFG blocks with the smallest (that I make) being 3/4" hexagons. That's the blue one on the top with the yellow center. The next size is the pink one made using 1" hexagons. Then 1-1/2" (missing 1-1/4"), 1-3/4" and the bottom turquoise floral uses 2" hexagons. Stack of GFG blocks to show how size matters! I was working with some lovely Northcott sparkly fabrics in blues and browns and I decided to add another round. First, a block I made about 15 years ago using 1" hexagons. I appliquéd it to a background square in 2013. Still waits for a finish! Triple round GFG using 1" hexagons More on that block at a later date. Here is a closeup of the blocks I made using 3/4" hexagons. There are 6 medium brown hexagons surrounding the center dark brown hexagon and then 12 turquoise hexagons in that 3rd round. GFG using 3/4" hexagons And one with the colo...

I cut and stitch and sew whatever my little brain decides. I look at a stack of fabric and it whispers to me (honest, but don't call the men in white coats!) This little quilt began on a cross country trip for teaching. I used 3/4" hexagons to create little Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks (GFG). Then I appliquéd them to hexagon backgrounds. First the little GFG blocks. This one was stitched at 35,000 feet flying home from Des Moines. GFG using 3/4" hexagons (on an airplane tray at 35,000 feet!) Another block from the back with the papers still on Papers are easy to remove using those punched holes. And one after removing the papers I cut larger hexagon backgrounds and then appliquéd the blocks on. And I will not have any y-seams! Wrong side of an appliquéd GFG unit I did this to six blocks and added some setting triangles . . . Six hexagon blocks with green setting triangles pinned Press the triangles, and then I'll stitch them into a circle The 7th center hexa...

I came upon a fat quarter bundle of these fabrics that I hadn't done anything with. They just so happened to be the colors I needed to set some of my GFG blocks done with 3/4" hexagons. Legendary Loves by Windham Fabrics (2017) I had made these small blocks several years ago with some sparkly fabrics. Then I had so many I used them with some diamond backgrounds. And I still had 7 GFG left! Auditioning the GFG blocks with the cream diamonds So, I used 6 of the diamonds (with the appliquéd GFG blocks) and stitched those together. Now the Legendary Loves fabric come into play. The cream 60 degree diamonds are cut 5-1/2" (from flat side to flat side). The rose print triangles are also cut 5-1/2" (using a 60 degree triangle ruler). I made 6 of these units. GFG appliquéd to 5-1/2" diamond. Added triangles I auditioned some cream 30 degree side triangles and yes, they'll work! See that empty center where the diamonds come together? I have a plan! Center needs some...

I truly love these sparkling blenders. And they really DO sparkle! Here's a sneak peek at my Christmas in July post as I needed to pre-wash my Fairy Frost before combining them with the Minky. They were a little worried, but I assured them they would be fine in the washer - just a little bath before bedtime! Fairy Frost about to get a bath! I made 6 large Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks with that first set of matching Fairy Frost and Gingham Play. Aren't these yummy? Candy with no calories! Here are my blocks from the back. You can see how I stitch these hexagons. And my papers were cut from a variety of card stock that I had. Blocks from the back And aren't they beautiful from the front? Still unsure how I'm going to combine them with the others that used the Cotton Couture for the centers. It will eventually come to me! In the meantime, I was busy stitching some little hearts. These are called jewels and two jewels make a heart. I'm auditioning them on so...