A simple bedsheet was languishing on a table at an antique vending mall. I was drawn in to the beauty of the sophisticated hand embroidery. One dollar? That's all you want? She's mine! It sat in my closet for a few years. I would pull it out from time to time and then it hit me - this is NOT going to be a bedsheet for any one of my grandkids! This is NOT going to be subject to bed wetting and throwing up and go into the washer over and over. I was teaching free motion quilting classes and I decided to use what I taught to transform this. Here she is up close: Mary's Little Lamb I gave this to my sweet granddaughter Eva and her mom promptly hung it over her bed. Here is the full quilt/sheet. Quilted lamb bedsheet with wide binding And here it is hanging above Eva's bed (with another of my quilts on the bed). It is good to rescue these things. Whoever the maker was, I'm sure she would be thrilled to know that I elevated it from bed wetting to glorious wall art!

I've made a lot of quilts with hearts. In fact, the very first quilt I made was a kit I bought from Family Circle magazine that featured hearts and 9 patches. Do you remember those kits that were advertised in the back of the magazines? I think I paid almost $50 for this kit back in the early 1980s! I was choking on the price, and then I saw how easy it would have been for me to have gone to the store to buy the little bits of fabric! NEVER AGAIN HAVE I BOUGHT A KIT!!! My first quilt from a kit (and last quilt from a kit!) I hand quilted it and I still own it. Faded but well loved. Here's a recent quilt block I made using a pattern from 2012. I pulled some Kaffe Fassett prints and supplemented with some blenders. The center Stacked Hearts block (the rectangle) is raw edge appliqué. Stacked Hearts mini: 21" x 21" Here is the first one I made (the original pattern was digital and in my 2012 desktop calendar). Stacked Hearts : 21" x 21" Let me show you some o...

Year # 11 for teaching with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo! I love being able to create new workshops annually; it really animates me to do new things with new fabric for old and new students. What's happening in  Lakeland, FL  March 15-17, 2018? Well, here are the classes I'm offering. Big Block Lone Star : Thursday, March 15, 8:30 - 11:30 am Big Block Lone Star . Block: 29" x 29". Quilt with borders: 40" x 40" Make a Lone Star Quilt in a day! No need to tediously cut out templates when you can simply rotary cut and strip piece for accuracy with NO y-seams. This is a wonderful BIG block (29”) and makes a great wall or child’s quilt (40” with borders).  Bring your own fabric, see supply list for details. And just to show you that this is one of my "go-to" patterns, a few other quilts made with this VERY easy technique. No y-seams, btw! Big Block Lone Star appeared in my Supersize 'Em Quilts book (2009) And, of course, the...

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!                                                             ...

The Sewing Expo Returns to Atlanta March 10 - 12, 2016 This is my 10th year teaching for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo and I'm delighted to be returning to Atlanta! I lived there for 8 years and always love to be back. And I get to see my favorite youngest daughter, too! Here are my classes. 1. Ezekiel’s Crown:  http://www.sewingexpo.com/AtlantaGA/ClassDetail/tabid/676/EventID/125/ClassID/9248/Default.aspx           Thursday, March 10 at 8:30 - 11:30 am Foundation piece this awesome block and learn how easy it is to incorporate gentle curves for a show-stopper project Ezekiel's Crown: 9" blocks, 40" x 40" quilt 2. Machine Quilting: Basics and Beyond:  http://www.sewingexpo.com/AtlantaGA/ClassDetail/tabid/676/EventID/125/ClassID/9246/Default.aspx      Thursday, March 10 from 1 - 4 pm in the Handi Quilter sit down studio  Machine Quilting using stencils Using freezer paper for a simple outline...