We are home from the hay fields

and it is time to get the flowers watered... 

Cheeto popping in to say hello!

It’s been awhile since my last post so I thought I’d take time to share some photos and provide an update. Let’s start with some new quilted wall art I made:

Last Christmas, Kent sent me four aboriginal-inspired fabric art panels he found here in town. At first I wasn’t sure how to use them but I quickly decided to hand embroider blocks of Australian animals I might meet on our travels using variegated floss. I used Solid-ish fabric strips to sash the blocks to the panels. I just love ...

We found this a few weeks ago...

we thought it would make a great

island for our kitchen

The 2022 BOM Blitz II quilt-along has begun!

This is a FREE program and if you follow along, you’ll have the quilt top finished by early December! I hope you’ll join me on this fun-filled, skill building journey. It’s absolutely not too late to join, and you can work in the comfort of your own sewing space — at your own pace — while I walk you through construction process, step by step!

What you’ll need:

The supplies you need are simple. You’ll need 3 yards of one background fabric (includes the binding), one Jelly Roll with ...

Sometimes we have to put our quilting or crafting on hold while we deal with a big life event or situation. Because we have been moving into a new-to-us home here in Australia — all while scheduling work to be done (electrical, painting, new cabinets, plumbing, etc.), I haven’t had the opportunity to sew anything quilting related in the past six weeks. For me, that’s a long stretch of time without fiber therapy!

Creating is better with a bestie.

However, I did have a wonderful “last creative fling” with a dear friend just before I flew to Australia in ...

I’m so excited to introduce the Boxed Bag Template to you! The Boxed Bag Template is a brand new notion that I

Every Quilt has a story...

She carefully chose the flannel fabrics.

I asked her, "what do you want to do with these?"

She replied, "I want to sew all the pieces together

to make a quilt for my bed."

This was a FAST and FUN project !

I know someone with a big, white bench...

just in time for Mother's Day !

CLICK HERE to view making this

CLICK HERE to view all Fabulous Finishes 2022

About having fun with googly eyes, cocktails on a rooftop terrace, chocolate, marble runs and blowing bubbles. XXX Annika Continue reading →

It is SPRING here in Western Oregon

Nothing is ironed down yet,

but this is as far as I got for today.

I am hoping to get back to this soon

while it is still SPRING !

CLICK HERE to view all ...

What can you do with mini charm squares?

A quick selfie with Danielle (c) and Anne (r) to kick off our “Janome Girls’ Sewing Retreat!”

Last week, I experienced the restorative power of friendship and laughter with two dear friends who came for a sewing retreat here in my mountain studio. Words are simply inadequate to express how much this gift of time and the safe space to open up, be silly, creative, and truly authentic meant to me. We talked, we laughed, we sewed, and we visited the quilt show, Road2CA for a day in nearby Ontario, CA. 

In the booth at Road2CA, Sam Fung showed off ...

Pour yourself a cup of tea and settle in for a newsy update…

Many of you have been following our newest big adventure I first wrote about last summer. (In case you missed it, CLICK HERE.) Admittedly, my blog posts were rather sparse during the last quarter of 2021 because we put our plan into motion and my husband actually made the big transition and moved down under in early November. We spent the holidays apart for the first time in 34 years, but we chose to make the season merry despite our circumstances. As for my poor husband’s ...

Taking a look back...

January 2021

February 2021

Mary Blackfeather had the first baby of the year !

March 2021

April 2021

have returned to Western Oregon

May 2021

moving cattle to Spring pastures

Designed the borders on the Orange ...

Hi there! I am really excited to share with your the newest set of easypatchwork Paper Doll Fairy, Leticia and Jolean. This collection of fairies is made with 16" foundation paper pieced figures, a great size to get into paper piecing and create a throw pillow for a special person in your life.

The 2022 fairy, Leticia, was just too cute not to have her sister, Jolean, join in the celebration this year. Each one has her own style. You can even mix the heads, bodices and dresses from both figures to create more if you wish.

Leticia - 2022 Fairy ...

Did Santa forget one of his reindeer last night?

Enjoy the Video:

This is actually an elk calf 

that has been living with our cow herd 

the last several weeks.

Not sure what happened to its' mama?

It feels safe with the cows and doesn't seem

to mind the Cowboy and I feeding the cattle

each morning.

We are hoping an elk herd passes through soon

that this calf can join up with.

Merry Christmas with Love

The Kessi Ranch

 Back in October I made this

Charm Square Scarf...

Paw through your fabric cupboard

and find those charm square packs you bought

and didn't know what to do with...

stitch up a few scarves in time for the holidays ...

If you’re a subscriber to American Quilter Magazine, I invite you to read my Stray Threads column in the January, 2022 issue. This particular article is near and dear to my heart because I was able to share the story of my incredible chance encounter with a special quilt in the museum in my hometown of Canal Fulton, Ohio. 

The backstory

I took my husband to visit Canal Fulton during their annual summer carnival, Canal Days, last July. We visited the museum and while there, I saw a beautiful quilt hanging on the wall depicting the history, important buildings ...

Turn those candy bags into...

Zip Cases

Today begins a new, long term series Quilted Features, this will cover all the interesting things I would have covered at Quilt Market. I’m slowly reaching out to companies who were going to vend at Quilt Market for an opportunity to show off their wares, new fabric lines, notions, patterns, or the quilt/sewing related things… Continue reading Quilted Features: Quilt Basket & Cutie Patterns