I love to play with my rulers and find new ways to use them. I am NOT one to buy the latest (weird) ruler with all sorts of lines that promises to make one block and costs upwards of $30 or more. Yes, I've been a pattern designer for these rulers, but that doesn't mean I can't make it easier on myself or my customers. One such block is the Delectable Mountains. Traditionally sewn with odd templates, it can be stitched using patches cut from a traditional 60 degree triangle ruler. I've also called it the Arrowheads block. Here is a quilt I finished 10 years ago using some lovely Kaffe Fassett prints. Finally photographed in 2024! Arrowheads: 40" x 40" I patterned this for two fabric companies and a ruler company. I've made it half-a dozen times. I enjoy the easy process and I think you will, too. Here's the one I created for Michael Miller called Arrowheads in the Dessert. It was made using their Horse and Rider collection. You can find the pattern at m...

Many times I like to revisit my traditional patterns and traditional fabrics. They comfort me like no other! Constitution Oak is one I created for Windham Fabrics in 2015 based on an historic quilt. It was published many years ago in a magazine: Constitution Oak Quilt, unknown date I have used this block pattern in my Block a Day calendars. I love the symmetry of the blocks, don't you? And I also love appliqué - when I can do it using my sewing machine! I actually took the plunge and made the quilt from the digital pattern (which you can find the link for below). The center is a 64-patch of squares. The corners are appliqué. I used an older Windham Fabrics collection called The Coverlet Collection . Constitution Oak quilt top - 57" x 57" I selected my fabrics for the center 64-patch and made that checkerboard. Then it was time to make my templates for the corners. I printed the templates and then copied them to freezer paper, which I then can attach to the fabric by iro...

Today is June 18 and the block featured in my new calendar is Glorious Blooms. I've made this many times because it's a super way to feature an awesome print in the large, 11" center! Here is how it appears in the calendar: Glorious Blooms: 20" Here's my most recent block stitched in three fabrics by Windham: Glorious Blooms: 20" in the Solstice and Moonlit Collections Here is the first quilt I made. It appeared in the Fabric Trends magazine many years ago: I also put it in my book, Supersize 'Em Quilts (2009, Martingale): Glorious Blooms with four 20" blocks I made another quilt and gave it to my guild for our local charities: And just a few more blocks to show you how fun those centers can be: Glorious Blooms with lots of prints! And the single block I made using an older Anna Griffin collection: This is a great way to get to a good sized center quickly! As you can see, I love making this block and think you will, too.

Today is June 5 and the calendar block is Duck and Ducklings. Why it got that name, I don't know! Here is the block I made last year using the Windham Moonlit and Solstice Collections: June 5: Duck and Ducklings, 15" I also had this block in my first perpetual calendar by Martingale (2007) and it appeared on January 9. This was made by Patricia Bryant from Australia. Duck and Ducklings by Patricia Bryant Susan B. is one of my Calendar Girls and she made one also: Duck and Ducklings by Susan B. This is a vintage block and look at how it was published long ago! This appeared in the Kansas City Star with Ruby McKim's signature. Lovely blocks made with lovely fabric!

This is a repost from last year, but I love this block so much!  Not sure why this block has this name, but, that's the way it's been for about 100 years. Here it is from the early 1920s as shared by Ruby McKim for the Kansas City Star (newspaper). Goose in the Pond is the June 3 block in my new  Block a Day Calendar  and it is 15" square. First, the fabrics I chose: Windham Fabrics:  Moonlit  and Solstice Those 9 patch units are small! I did a lot of piecing, but sometimes you have to change your mind as you go. I didn't like the center square to be the light green. So, yes, I took it apart! 5 horizontal sections of the Goose in the Pond Variation Here is my finished block. Whew- what a lot of pieces! But, I do like that center better with one of the Solstice prints, don't you? Goose in the Pond Variation: 15" block I had a similar block in my 2007 calendar and this is how Patricia Bryant photographed it: Goose in the Pond by Patricia Bryant I really like com...

Such a funny name for a block, huh? But maybe not so funny to the man married to such a lady! Two Three  Four! of my Calendar Girlfriends chose to make this block for today. The 4th one came in yesterday and I am delighted to add it. And I actually have a digital quilt that uses it along with the block for tomorrow (Country Lanes), which I'll share tomorrow. Here is the block made by Kathy G using the Windham fabrics called Under the Canopy: Contrary Wife by Kathy G. - 12" And here's the block done by Julia R. with her fabulous Duchess Collection: Contrary Wife by Julia R. Kathy M. made her block using the Benartex Collection called Find Your Way: Contrary Wife by Kathy M. Diane L. made her Contrary Wife block using Windham's Grounded Collection: Contrary Wife by Diane L. Thank you, dear friends, for staying with me in this calendar journey. Most of my 12 Calendar Girls have stitched 12 blocks and so I eagerly wait to see how they want to put them together. I'll b...

Today is May 18 and our calendar block for today is Grandmother's Basket. It is 10" finished and you really have to pay attention to your 1/4" seam allowance. Here is a lovely block stitched by my Calendar Girl Karen B. She even stayed with the same colors in the printed calendar! Grandmother's Basket: 10"  She has been working with the Insectarium and Watermark Collections by Windham Fabrics: Thank you, Karen, for a lovely block. This is added to her other blocks: Can't wait to see how she puts these together into a quilt! There's still time to get that 15% coupon off the price of the calendar. It goes until the end of May. Of course, you will need your own copy of the  calendar  to know how to cut and stitch each of the 12 blocks. Remember, if you don't have yours yet, the 15% off coupon is still available until the end of this month (May).

More quilts to go with my 3 Colorburst Squares blocks in the calendar this week. The most recent was made using some Brandon Mably houses and some blenders called Bedrock from Windham Fabrics: Mabley's Houses: 40" x 50"  Here's the first quilt I made with this pattern using batiks Colorburst Squares: 62" x 72" Another one using a Windham collection from years past (Meadow Whispers): Meadow Whispers: 50" x 60" One more with the same fabrics! Yes, I squeezed a lot from that line. All these blocks are the same (from Wednesday - Blocl #1). And the last one is a digital image I did for a fabric company: Check out my pattern in my Etsy shop . And, don't forget to get your calendar (if you don't have one already) - C&T Publishing shop .

Today is April 30 and the calendar block for today is Country Fences. It is a 5 x 5 grid and works out to a 15" block. Here it is in a 12" size by Diane L. She said that she wanted it to fit with her other 12" calendar blocks that she's made from my calendar and so she engaged in some serious quilter's math! Country Fences by Diane L. I think she did an awesome job! The fat quarter collection she's been working with this past year is Grounded by Windham Fabrics . They were designed by Maria Carluccio. Grounded by Maria Carluccio I used this Country Fences block in a digital quilt designed for my 2010 Block a Day Calendar. This is my Trumpet Flower quilt. Trumpet Flower Quilt: 57" x 72" (blocks are 15") Isn't this a lovely alternate block to those appliquéd trumpet flowers? Check your local quilt shop for my  calendar . It's also back in stock with C&T and other retailers! on  Amazon at  C&T Publishing  (with a 15% off coupon whe...

Here is another April block from my  Quilter's New Perpetual Block a Day Calendar . It is called Rising Sun Variation.  Rising Sun Variation by Susan B: 18" Here is a quilt I designed for my 2014 Block a Day calendar that uses this same block: Here Comes the Sun quilt: 78" x 78" Compare it with the block I posted last week called  Rising Sun . Rising Sun  by me Susan is working with the Moonlit Collection by Windham Fabrics: Moonlit fat quarters Remember - there is a 15% off coupon for my calendar and expires at the end of May. Buy one for yourself and one for a friend! Check your local quilt shop for my  calendar . It's also back in stock with C&T and other retailers! on  Amazon at  C&T Publishing  (with a 15% off coupon when you click "add to cart") and in  Barnes & Noble  stores