What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 A new week already!  And almost a new month! 

Last week on Tuesday I took my sewing machine in for a spa treatment - AKA deep cleaning and tune up.  The shop told me they were about 2 weeks out and they would call me when it was ready. That was fine because my smaller machine is a good backup.  However, Friday morning they called and said my machine was ready to pick up. Really - only 3 days?  Awesome!  I hit the road to pick it up.

On my way out of town, in the rain, I stopped at my local ...

My OMG for April was finishing the April challenge quilt, which had no name in March. The quilt was based on a pattern called Ruffles by Sew Be It. I ended up naming it Freeze Frame.

I painted the background fabric because I didn’t have anything in my stash that I liked with the reds I picked for the flower petals. The fabric in the flower center was painted years ago and textured with salt. I added a second layer of batting under the center that I thought made it too puffy. I added beads to the center to ...

I chuckled this morning when I remembered the title of yesterday's post—Writing Quilt Patterns. During the Virtual Retreat, we discussed how some patterns are good and some are notoriously bad. Why is that? Do these people not have pattern testers? Do they not get feedback from their audience? 

Most designers will have changes (for free) on their websites, but one designer (I won't mention the name) is famous for writing confusing patterns. And then, I guess once they get enough bad feedback, they reissue the pattern with the same name but a different version—i.e., Backpack ...

Good Morning Quilters!

I saw this paragraph on the internet last week, and wanted to share it with you:

     Some people get addicted to chain-smoking their problems. They spend all day going from sorrow to sorrow. It doesn't have to be that way. You can live each day going from joy to joy—like a sunflower that turns to face the sun as it moves across the sky. It's not about having a problem-free life, but about focusing on the light. Sunflowers still have shadows, but they are always behind them.

Today is a day to look toward ...

I was inspired by this version of Flower Pop by Sew Kind of Wonderful to turn my one block into another mini quilt for SCBU.

I used up yellow scraps from my scrap basket and cut into a few fat quarters to make two scrappy vertical borders.

I then quilted it with straight lines on my long arm which I've not done before. I also realised that I need to investigate getting Prostitch Designer back on my computer after lots of programmes were deleted during an update.

I chose a pink fabric from my stash that picked up the ...

An excellent start to yesterday. A bit more Quilty water falling from the clouds that put pay to any outside chores and gardening. Quilty Quarters provided a few hours entertainment.  I love sewing with an audio book talking to me, such a relaxing way to spend time. Especially time I thought I would be 'choring'. So here you go.

 One more finished and rather fabulous Lap Quilt, sofa throw or wall hanging. It's just a display quilt for me. Hopefully to inspire folk. I changed threads for each colour as I quilted and, I hope you can see, I ...

I got a message yesterday late afternoon from a quilter who informed me she’ll send me 5 quilts today.  Even though I’ve been doing this for a couple of years, receiving a parcel still feels like Christmas, not knowing what to expect.  I had to smile as when I got my machine, I thought it might come in handy one on a pension for that little extra income.  In my wildest dreams, I could not imagine this escalating so fast.  I am not complaining though.

The last of the memory quilt for this specific family is made up ...

Looking for a garden-inspired quilting design? There are plenty of quilting ideas out there for flowers and leaves, but how about adding a garden path to your pattern library?

This garden path design is based on the flow of the filler design called pebbles / pebbling. Instead of repeating tiny circles though, we use irregular shapes. Shapes you would find in a flagstone garden path. Pieced to fit together like a complex puzzle, each shape different from the other.

Having each shape being different gives you a lot freedom to fill any area, and it will allow you to vary the ...

I’m glad it’s Monday and the weekend is over. I honestly did no sewing all weekend….you won’t hear me say that very often, but I just wasn’t in the mood. In fact, the little machine I use at home is still packed up from last week’s workshop. 

I delivered Barbara Black to the Austin airport Saturday morning. We left Victoria at 7:30 am, and I dropped her off at the airport around 9:45. I took the quickest route to get there, but coming back, I decided to return through Smithville and Shiner ...

But we had rainy weather so I can’t get an outside photo until later today I bet.  But finally the binding is done, Hunter’s Star has been washed and dried – so here is an inside photo for now. The back Most of the Mercantile block was appliqued in place and I will finish it […]

It has been rainy here in NE Iowa and that means I can’t do much outside. I did sneak out to mow the lawn but other than that, I’ve been in the house…so I got caught up on housework…and that means I had time to SEW!!!!!! It’s been a bit since I had a really …

What I’m Working On… Read More »

I’m just got back from teaching in Paducah, Kentucky and had an amazing time. One thing that the pandemic made me realize is how much I love teaching live and in person. When I wasn’t able to do that, it truly felt like something was missing. If you missed seeing me last week, your next opportunity to do so will be at Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California, July 24-27, 2024.

I’m excited to be teaching a full slate of workshops, including two of my signature full-day classes: Walking Foot Bootcamp & Free Motion Bootcamp. Taken ...

Hello blogland!  I hope you have had a calm, pleasant, and productive April.  I did.

The Chookshed linky party for April is below.  Feel free to add a link and visit the others.

How did you do?

This is the mystery quilt.  I was able to use up fabrics that didn ...

This morning, I woke early. Was in a little pain.  It's more skin pain then inside pain. But that's part of life. 

My day was pretty much - not doing much. I played on my game. Mom dropped off QOV quilt that needs a label - now I have 9. She picked up her water bottle. Then I worked a little on the puzzle but not much. Katt called and we chatted. 

I did get 2 laps in with Ron. He's back from CA. He turned 94 the first of the month. 

I called and chatted with Sharon, whom ...

I was asked to be a pattern tester for Rachel at Kohatu Patterns last week.  She is releasing a new pattern on May 10th in time for Mother's Day!

Since Rachel gives 2 different sizes for her Daisy pattern, I decided to make a Daisy in both sizes.  (Rachel also tells you how to make other sizes, too).

I picked a 'Sunset' background for the 12"x18" block.

I decided to do a blue sky background for the smaller block (7"x10").  Sorry, it was raining when I took the photo, so the blue looks a bit washed out ...

Yesterday’s designs were fiddly … these are too, but they would be pretty on the bed.

The first design was a fee range garden, the second design a much more formal garden.

I just returned from the Quilting Friends Retreat this week. I have honestly been sewing with most of these ladies for over 20 years. I have known them from work, quilt classes I have taught, guild, and Church. We are all so close, and love runs deep between us.  Many of them watched me grow up from a young mother to a soon-to-retire woman. Yes, I took days off work to attend. I don't miss this retreat EVER.

I made this Mystery Quilt entirely from my stash. 

Here are some others that were made from the same pattern.

Holly ...