Got scraps? Matching scraps? Well, this is the perfect way to use up those scraps to make lovely gifts for teachers, friends, stocking stuffers, and just about any occasion to say "I care." This is a repost from 2017 and I've shared this technique many times on this blog. Always good to see it again. Here's a link to a  TUTORIAL . Remember? 7 little tissue holders made with Windham  "It's a Hoot"  Collection Then I made some with my Kaffe Fassett scraps. And I have a LOT of them. Here they are: 4 little tissue holders using my Kaffe scraps Now for some quick steps (which were shared in more detail at that  previous post  using the What a Hoot collection): Two rectangles. The outside (wavy print) is cut 6" x 7". The inside lining (dots) is cut larger at 6" x 8-1/4". Start with two rectangles Sew the two short sides together as shown. Yes, the rectangles are not the same size. There's a reason for this! Sew the two rectangles togeth...

We all have them - leftover blocks from quilts or other projects, but we're not motivated to make more so they can fit into another quilt. Everyone can use a tabletop trivet or potholder, right? I made two (maybe more) quilts using the Bella Collection by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics. This is from 2012. They are fresh and modern and I loved working with them. Bella fabrics from 2012 Here is the first quilt I made. It was improvisational and I had hoped that a magazine would have picked it up. Pink slip! I guess they didn't want to figure out how to pattern it. I called it Bella's House. It hangs in my house year round. Bella's House. Beautifully quilted by Kathy Gray. I made some simple trivets and stitched them together and patterned this for Creative Grids. One of my daughters owns this. Two strips sewn together and then cut with a 60 degree ruler. Here's one of my orphan blocks. I since removed the white triangles on the sides. Orphan block looking for a ...

13 Quilts for $15.00. You can't beat that! This was a wall calendar of quilts published in 2012 and I've put everything into a 92 page pdf on CD. Full color. Well illustrated. Check out the slide show I put together with Smilebox . If you view it, try to avoid a phone or iPad. It gets crazy on those devices (and I hope Smilebox can fix it for me). Pattern in Etsy shop . Check out the slide show on Smilebox to see all of the quilts This is NOT available for download. It's just too big. Here's the back cover of the original calendar: 2012 Wall Calendar of Quilts Royal Star is there. This was inspired by an early 1900s block made with templates! Mine is quick rotary cut (9 patches) and easy paper piecing those corner points. Royal Star: 49" x 49" So is my Snow Crystals. Again: inspired by a vintage block. Also paper pieced. Snow Crystals: 33" x 33" Several of these individual quilts are in my Etsy shop. But you can have ...

Now for just a few more variations. This is from a student of mine last summer. Susan H. decided she wanted to put a mini Lone Star in the corners of her One Day Lone Star quilt (35" block). This little pieced Lone Star measures 11" x 11" finished. How's that for tiny pieces? Mini Lone Star by Susan H. Here is her gorgeous quilt with FOUR of these minis in the corners! These 9-Patch diamonds are stitched using 3-1/2" strips. Lone Star Quilt by Susan H. I found this quilt online years ago. It is from the Lapp Family in Smoketown, PA. Very Amish looking with those solids. Don't you love how those diamonds radiate out from the center. Don't look at it for too long - you can get dizzy! Lapp Family Lone Star I decided to dip into my Kaffe Fassett scrap bin. I cut out 6-1/2" diamonds (NOT tip to tip but from flat side to flat side). Ever wonder about those 45 degree lines on your acrylic rulers? String Pieced Diamonds Then I cut th...

I've shared my adaptations of the 8 Gee's Bend quilts from several years ago. I have new blog followers all the time and thought I'd do it again with some quilts I made using my own improvisational stitching (at the bottom of this post). First, let's see my version of the Housetop Denim quilt. My  Housetop Denim : 51" x 62" And the very improvisational one created by Rita Mae Pettway: Rita Mae Pettway's  Housetop Denim: 70" x 84" You can read a LOT of background info on these talented quilters and see dozens more quilts. I discovered this last year and it's a gold mine! The site is called  The Gee's Bend Quiltmakers . As most of you know, I had a CONTRACTUAL agreement with Windham Fabrics to adapt these quilts, signed off on by the Gee's Bend Collective. I own all rights to my adaptations. There is no copyright theft here (as I've had someone accuse me of). Now, back to this awesome  web site . Since it...