Because I have two roll-outs at the first of every month, I like to share my Block a Day Calendar blocks a little early. There are 31 blocks in TWO sizes, along with complete directions for one small quilt. This is the Trillium Wreath block (12") set on point. I have a quilt made from this block somewhere . . . Trillium Wreath Here is what four blocks would look like (the pattern is not in the set of May blocks, but I sure like this, don't you?) Four Trillium Wreath blocks Here is the REAL Trillium Wreath block made by Patricia Bryant of Australia. Very sweet! 12" Trillium Wreath block by Patricia Bryant The 45 page pdf has all 31 blocks in two sizes with all templates full size. A variety of sizes of blocks and colors and styles! Here are the links to the blog posts I had here last year that shows ALL the blocks from May. I share several quilts I've made from many of these blocks, so take a trip back in time to see more than just blocks. Week 1...

No, I'm not falling apart. That's the name of a new collection by Windham that mimics that of cork. There are 24 skus in these blender-type fabrics. Let's see them. Uncorked by Windham Fabrics  I decided to revisit a project I have made more than once. It's my Dancing Squares pattern. So, of course, I had to cut some squares! Squares cut from Uncorked Here is a little quilt I made using the Forest Parade Collection (Windham) from 2015. I just finished quilting it yesterday and hope to get the binding on today. I'll share that picture soon! Dancing Squares made with Forest Parade by Windham I made my Dancing Squares pattern using Uncorked and love how it turned out. The blocks are 6" x 6" and the quilt is 51" x 51". Uncorked Dancing Squares I will share more on this pattern soon. Very easy using two different sized squares. If you look close, those smaller squares are zigzag stitched onto the larger squares! My first ...

Well, not exactly ON the Front Porch. The name of the fabric line is  Front Porch . I was asked to come up with some quick and simple projects using this collection and the companion panel. First let's see the fabrics. Front Porch  by Cherry Guidry for Benartex I was asked to make something with the main panel. Ooohh! I love a challenge. As you can see, it has various squares and rectangles. The center was calling to me: Make me a pillow! The four little squares are a perfect size for mug rugs; I saw journals with real paper on the inside. And I even thought that I could make two good sized bookmarks with those tall, skinny rectangles. Front Porch panel: 23" x 42" Now, let's see how I did it. BOOKMARKS were made by cutting out the flower panels. I left a little bit of the white background fabric on to give me some trimming room. I then transferred fusible webbing to the wrong side and then ironed each one to card stock. I used my Fiscar specialty sciss...

I have been on a roll to try and make a dent in my stacks of unfinished quilts. I don't think I'll ever get them all done (I have at least 3 dozen or so). But here are 3 of my recent finishes (last week) that I enjoyed completing. All were quilted on my Handi Quilter Sweet 16. I made this quilt several years ago. I love making these tilt blocks using my own template set (Arrowheads) which are the same angle as Darlene Zimmerman's Tri-Recs. I've been making my tilt blocks for about 20 years. Cream and Sugar Tilted Squares: 47" x 51" Notice that I didn't use a single piece in the border. That's because I only had scraps from the remainders! I cut rectangles and squares and even extended the sashings into the border. I call this really making do! Next is a quilt that began in Paris, France in April 2001. My husband and I were on our way to Spain to visit our daughter who was studying abroad. I visited a quilt shop and bought the center toile pane...

Twilight is a lovely "mud cloth" type of fabric released by Windham Fabrics last year. Two of my daughters fell in love with it and claimed most of it for pillows (made by mom, of course). I blogged about them last Fall. Audrey (my oldest) claimed the darker fabrics. I made her a pillow.  Twilight Fabrics Then she wanted placemats for her dining room table - and she wanted them by Easter! She decided on a finished size of 13" x 18". Whew! I only had 1/2 yard cuts and knew I could get 3 cuts from each. I would need 16 cuts (front and back times 8). That's all I had of the dark fabrics plus that cream! Here they are. My husband and I took them to her house for Easter dinner. Here is my place. One of 8 placemats  And another of the placemats. She was so excited to use some tan linen napkins and the carved wooden African animal napkin holders that I brought home from Africa 40 years ago. A second placemat  Here is the table setting. Yes, t...

It's April   and I have another set of blocks from my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar. There are 30 blocks in TWO sizes, along with complete directions for one quilt! The free quilt pattern is Dancing Double Cross (12" block from April 6; 63" x 63" quilt). Dancing Double Cross FREE pattern with April Blocks I made a full size quilt from the Nonsense Block (yes, that's the traditional name for this). Here is my No Nonsense Jane quilt using the Jane Collection of fabrics from Blank Quilting. Block Size: 15". Quilt Size: 60" x 60" No Nonsense Jane Quilt In my calendar it is the April 18 Block. Would you like the free pattern for this quilt? Why not? You can get it at my Craftsy store FREE. I made it for Blank and I own all the rights to it. This is a fabulous way to feature a wonderful large scale print. For those who would like to see ALL of the April blocks, click the links below and they will take you to the weekly reveals of ...

Butterfly Dance by Windham Fabrics arrives in quilt shops in April. Not only are there butterflies, but some pretty sweet dragonflies are featured in both a light and dark print. Butterfly Dance by Sally Kelly for Windham Fabrics But, fabrics are really just blobs of material without a plan in mind, right? Windham sent me the 23 sku set of fat quarters and the challenge was on. Remember, a fat quarter is 18" x 22" and you are limited to making something small. NOT! I revisited one of my oldie-goldie patterns which I affectionately call Metropolitan Home Star . I first saw this in a 1982 Metropolitan Home magazine and tore out the page. I have carried it with me through several house moves and I eventually laminated it so it wouldn't be shredded. Here is the vintage quilt that inspired me. Vintage quilt from the 1920s I've made this quilt multiple times. In fact, it was featured on the cover of my second book, Supersize 'Em Quilts (Martingale, 2009)...