After 10 years of successful publishing in quilting magazines, in 2002 I made my first book proposal (quilts) to C&T Publishing. Rejected! They never told me why. I sulked in a corner, licked my wounds and then listened to wise advice and went to another publisher (AQS). Book 1 published. Book 2 published. Book 3 published. 18 quilting calendars published. Now, who's come to ME and asked me to publish another calendar? Why, C&T! Due out in 2025. I truly think my brain is empty! Upcoming Block a Day Calendar (2025) They sent me an email and requested a Zoom meeting. I wasn't too crazy about it. I wanted to make sure ALL my rights belonged to me. They saw the calendar I had created for Martingale (That Patchwork Place) and thought it would make a great seller. Martingale has since gone out of business - big sigh! Desktop calendar with Martingale It stayed on the market for 10 years. I even published a companion CD of all the files, in 2 sizes and 12 quilt patterns! Glad I...

I'm working with another publisher to create another quilt block a day calendar! I have thousands of blocks from 18 different calendars (can you believe it?) I hope we can avoid templates and just stay with rotary cutting of the patches. But, as you can see from the next block, little leaves add some interest to a simple 16 Patch on point! Patches and Leaves is the March 21 in my Block a Day Calendar (Martingale, 2007-2017). It is a 12" finished block  as shown here created by Patricia Bryant of Australia. Patches and Leaves by Patricia Bryant and this digital quilt finishes to 56" x 68"! I had this as a project in the Calendar CD version. Patches and Leaves: 56" x 68" Here is a smaller quilt made by a participating quilt shop several years ago: Six block Patches and Leaves And how about a table runner? I made this using only three blocks: 3 Block Patches and Leaves Table Runner I'll keep you posted on the progress on the new calendar. Maybe rolling out...

A question for my quilting friends: Would a desktop block-a-day calendar interest you? I'm sure you remember all those that were on the market for years (I created 15, plus 4 wall calendars - I'm just saying . . .) It's not my own initiative and I just want to know the interest level. It began with the 2006 calendar. I initiated this because the 2004 calendar I received as a Christmas gift was so poorly done (from the viewpoint of a quilter). The publisher said: "OK. Let's see you do it!" I made their publishing deadline and from there it was only up! First of 15 desktop calendars  Why am I asking? A publisher wants to fill the empty niche out there and try to fill it with my work. The 2020 calendar was the last one I did. There were THOUSANDS of blocks designed over those years and hundreds of unique quilt patterns. But - IS THERE INTEREST? If you saw a new desktop quilting calendar for sale, would you want it? Would you buy it? I know my generation (those o...

We are a litigious society; lawyers, lawyers everywhere! Makes my head hurt, but I guess we need them to make sure the big and powerful don't trample on the little people. Yes, I've had to hire lawyers to look at the very complicated contracts I was given from publishers. The first Block a Day calendar I created was with a company called Accord Publishing. I received the 2004 calendar from my youngest daughter for Christmas and I was horrified at how primitive the work was. Cute designs but the execution was horrible. There were NO cutting instructions. You were supposed to just print the pages and cut the templates out!! 2004 Accord Block a Day Calendar I called the publisher and told him, "I can do better than that! I can do this the way it should be." He said, "OK. Prove it." This would involve 320 unique pages of art, patterns, instructions, etc! I sent him some sample files and then he said, "Can you supply a year's worth of files by our deadli...

In another week and a half we will welcome 2023. Actually, it comes whether we "welcome" it or not! I discovered that my Block a Day calendars can be recycled every 7 years! If you still have my 2017 calendar, the dates and days match what is upcoming in 2023. 2017 Quilting Calendar January 1 falls on a Sunday in 2023. It also fell on a Sunday in 2017! Here is the quilt that begins on that day. I call it Winter Blues. I have made all of these blocks at one time or another, except that bird! Winter Blues Quilt: 12" blocks; 48" x 48" quilt Now, some of the holidays may not coincide with the calendar dates (ie, Easter and Passover fall on different days each year), but if you want to have a calendar in your office or sewing room and you still own this, then pull it out! I do NOT have any remaining copies. I'm not sure if it even can be found online. I'm just saying that the calendar can be recycled without confusion! And you may have it in your closet some...

I work in some pretty powerful computer programs and sometimes I surprise myself! I was able to change the 2016 Calendar of 365 blocks to a 2022 calendar! It is just eye candy (no patterns), but I'm going to work on that once I identify where each block appeared in the 18 calendars I designed! I can only find them by name (and there are THOUSANDS). May 2022 Block a Day Calendar If you would like a copy for printing and hanging in your office or kitchen or sewing room, I would be delighted for you to have one. It must be PRINTED ON LEGAL SIZE PAPER. It's that long. I'm almost finished with the January through April months and I'll offer those here (I know - the months are gone, but there are some cute blocks.) Since I only recently realized I could repurpose my blocks, I'm doing some serious catchup. But go ahead and click the link for the pdf file of the  May 2022 Block a Day Calendar . And, once you look at them, let me know your favorite! kratovil@his.com Please D...

I received a request from someone wanting to know about my Fish Placemats from 1996. Do the math: that's 23 years ago. Yikes! They appeared in Quick Quilts Magazine and I've used these blocks in various calendars over the years. Fish Placemats I have been online since 1993, with a web presence since 1997. I created a HUGE "lessons" page and I think Judy must have happened on that treasure trove. Here are the 3 fish patterns I have in this very old lesson: Algernon the Angelfish, Thomas the Tuna, and Marvin the Mullet. Aren't they cute? Three little fish The patterns are offline (as I'm moving things from one server to another and also from Craftsy to Etsy ). I upsized them last year using a page from my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar (now out of print). That pattern is available in my Etsy store. All cutting directions and templates are included, but don't panic! Those fish fins are doable using a Tri-Recs ruler (the Recs ruler cuts a perfe...

I love the sound of birds. It is different in the Fall from how things sound in the Spring. I thought of my calendar block for today, Flock of Birds. Here is the block as made by Patricia Bryant of Australia. Click the link and you can see all 7 of the blocks she made from that week in the calendar! Flock of Birds by Patricia Bryant Now, can we see it up close? Yes, it's small, but that's how I had to make it for my Block a Day Calendar . Flock of Birds When I created the hard copy calendar, I also created a CD version of all the blocks in TWO sizes and 12 quilts. The CD is no longer in print (neither is the calendar). I offer the blocks in monthly pdfs at my Craftsy store (links at the end of this post). Here is the page from the October blocks (31 blocks in 2 sizes and 2 quilts). This is how each block is presented in the the version I created for the CD. You can make Flock of Birds in two sizes (12" and 18"). Go check out each month's listi...

Now, that is an intriguing title, isn't it? But like most quilters, we also love the yarn. I can only crochet. I've tried knitting but I just can't make it work. Today I want to share the 2019 yarn calendars from my publisher (Andrews McMeel publishes my quilting calendar). First the crochet (because I'm partial): 2019 Crochet Calendar And some of the projects. I even included that crocheted head of curlers (remember those ladies?). I always love shawl patterns. The crocheted basket is super using that variegated yarn. I love crocheted tea towel holders - now, that's a blast from the past! Just a few of the crochet projects Now, for you "Chicks with Sticks." Many of my friends are knitters. And some can do both. I gave it a try and now I'm too old to even consider it. 2019 Knitting Calendar Let me show you how far I got when I tried to learn in January. Yes, those are DROPPED stitches and I gave it up after this. Here are s...

It's hard to believe that I've been published these Quilter's Block a Day calendars for 13 years! It's true and the 2019 edition is now available. Here is the cover: 2019 Quilting Block and Pattern a Day Calendar Let me show you the various projects inside. There are 42 different quilts in various sizes and "personalities." Appliqué, rotary cutting, paper piecing - it's all there. Here are the January projects : Celebrate Snowflakes is 40" x 40" and is appliqué. I can almost see this also as a Hannukah quilt, couldn't you? Celebrate Snowflakes  MacDonald's Farm is both appliqué and piecing. Size: 40" x 40". Perfect for a child's quilt. MacDonald's Farm Stars and Roses is very traditional with both appliqué and piecing. Quilt Size: 72" x 72" Stars and Roses This is not available until July 17, but many places give you the option of pre-ordering. I'll have more blog posts this mo...

This is my 13th year creating this calendar. It's hard to believe I still have ideas remaining in my head (I'm working on the 2020 calendar/contract right now) Here is a sneak peek at the cover and one of the projects: 2019 Quilt Block a Day Calendar The above link will take you to Amazon (I do NOT have any of those annoying affiliate links with $$). Just check it out. Here is the back cover: Back cover of calendar for 2019 And an October project that is featured on Amazon: Autumn Colors Quilt One of the blocks: Autumn Blooms Block And the cutting for making the block: The back of the color page shows cutting  This is where I tear my hair out: the fabric calculations for each project. I DO NOT work in Electric Quilt which would have you purchase WAY more fabric than needed. I do this the old fashioned way - with my brain and a calculator. The yardage amounts and cutting for sashing and borders/binding You can visit the publisher's web sit...

Yes, another calendar. I started this in 2006. It actually started in the Christmas of 2003 when my favorite youngest daughter bought the 2004 calendar for me as a gift. When I opened it I was horrified at the primitive approach to the patterns. There was NO cutting chart for ANY block! The graphics were created in the still primitive Electric Quilt (all pixelated) and the way you got the pattern was to use a copy machine to increase at percentages like: 136%, 122%, 223%, and so on. First Block a Day calendar for Accord Publishing The designs were lovely and very creative. But, since the author was not a quilter (I kid you not!), but assigned to design the calendar by the publishing company, she gave it her very best. It's just that she didn't have any tools or skill in writing patterns (and I do NOT fault her in any way). It's what I did next that still surprises even me! I looked up the phone number of Accord Publishing, asked for the president, and then told...

Already the second week in August! Can you believe it?  Just a little housekeeping first: my winner in last week's Christmas in July with the Nordic Holiday fabrics is Janie M. of Browning, Illinois. Congratulations, Janie! And many thanks to all of you for your comments about this beautiful collection. And isn't that a fabulous Lone Star pattern? Our blocks for this week are: August 6: Tea Leaf August 6: Tea Leaf, 8"  August 7: Coxey's Camp August 7: Coxey's Camp, 10"  August 8: Diagonal Paths (Hey! What's with that very large alligator with VERY large teeth?) August 8: Diagonal Paths, 8"  August 9: Double Pinwheel August 9: Double Pinwheel, 8"  August 10: Farmer's Daughter August 10: Farmer's Daughter, 10"  August 11: Flying Dutchman August 11: Flying Dutchman, 12"  August 12: Free Trade Block August 12: Free Trade Block And if you own a copy of the calendar , here's a ...