What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

During my week of radiation, I stopped at Cotton Creek Mill quilt shop in West Branch, Iowa. I almost didn’t go, but it was only 20 minutes from my hotel…and when would I go again?? Before I went in, I had a little talk with myself, reminding myself what are okay purchases. Fat quarters… yes, …

Quilt Shop Tour: Cotton Creek Mill Read More »

Next week I’m off to Paducah, KY to teach at AQS!

But when I get back, I will get to work on my Fairy Boutique One Block Wonder.

This beautiful collection is by Lumin Fabrics.

These are the fabrics I requested to make a magical One Block Wonder (OBW). I will be using my Star 60 Tool to create some Hollow Cube 60’s and Star 60’s with these coordinating fabrics. Terri Butler of Mama Said Sew, LLC will be creating one of her gorgeous OBW Jackets.

Follow us both on our Facebook page Mama Said These Threads ...

A little bit of perspective of why I do what I do...

Some of you have figured out that I'm an overthinker (especially since I've mentioned it before). Some of you may even think I overshare things, but it's only about my quilting. I do a lot of thinking out loud and while I'm penning a post to this blog...it's just me. I've been this way for most of my life. I am also a planner and with that, I anticipate a completion that often differs from what really happens (for instance, what ...

In the mix of everything that is going on with me, I got an email from American Patchwork and Quilting. They were featuring some of their designers and wanted permission to feature my daughter, Kelli, and me. The plan was to add a designer spotlight page for us. I said sure. I was okay with …

We’re so Flattered… Read More »

Now that I am feeling more like myself, it was great to have a day to work on the next project. I had one more mug that needed a mat for the guild gift shop. The mug was purchased at a Chimney Rock merchant after the hurricane, but it has sat unused. We already have too many coffee mugs. So, I thought I would put a North Carolina motif on a mat for it. I selected a design and then selected threads and arranged them in order in an egg carton.

The design stitched out nicely. I did change the ...

Download this Free Panel Quilt Pattern with Flying Geese. We always need ideas for quick projects, and this one is super fast!

Ladies Love Flowers – click here to download the pattern

I designed Ladies Love Flowers for the Love Bugs collection by Janet Nesbitt for Henry Glass Fabrics. It measures 53″ x 53,” and the blocks finish at 6″. The ladybug blocks on the corners are fused and machine appliqué. The fabric pieces are easy to manage, so you will whip them up quickly.

As always, I worked with The Electric Quilt Company’s EQ8 software to create this project ...

When I went to Iowa City last week for radiation, I ended up stopping at a thrift store. When I left, I didn’t pack a jacket or a sweatshirt. That was a mistake. The Spring warm weather was no longer, and I needed some kind of something to cover me up. I knew there was …

Thrift Store Finds Read More »

 It has been raining all night and all day. But that's good; it will help clean up the ground. The wetland on one side of the pond is finally free of ice and I flushed a pair of ducks when taking this photo last week. The Peepers are finally making their spring calls early morning. They can sound quite raucous and I read why...the females choose their mates by the volume of their sounds. 

Every so often, questions and comments come from readers, and I think others would like to hear my response.  That’s when I feature them on the blog.  This is one of those days. The question today comes from the comment section…and emails. I have been asked numerous times about the tape measure on my long arm. I’ve …

Ask Jo: The Tape Measure Read More »

This beginner-friendly Log Cabin Rings Modern Quilt is a fun twist on a traditional block. Turn the blocks this way and that, and voilà!

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM AMERICAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING®.
©2025 MEREDITH OPERATIONS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Happy Day! My quilt, Rainbow Petals, was just published in the Summer 2026 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine! It measures 46″ x 46,” and the blocks finish at 10″. I worked with Confetti Cottons by Riley Blake Designs and some fabrics from Blank Quilting’s Lower the Volume collection for the background. If you look closely, though, you will find a ...

Oh, finally, some days warm enough to run around in my roadster with the top down! Now that I am feeling better, it is lovely to have the trees leafing out and my azaleas blooming. I adore white flowers, and these are pristine this year. They had not formed buds when we had our last hard freeze, so the blooms are stunning.

This is just the first plant to bloom, we have several white ones. The sun was just coming up, and I need to take some better photos later in the day when the sun will be shining on ...

Hello Friends,

I hope you have had a good week! I am very happy to announce I just added a new pattern to my Etsy shop.

Chain Mail is a traditional bed quilt that will instantaneously give your bed a glow up!

Click HERE to purchase the pattern.

MORE PICTURES HERE

This is one of my all-time favorite quilts to make. I hope you will enjoy making yours as well!

Take care, and have a great rest of your week!

..and progress was made.

Antelope Canyon will be a flimsy soon-ish...the ...

I had quite a varied week at work with some teaching, some quilting and making a movie about a new Accuquilt die with Karen. 

Nella came to stay and we had a super 4 day weekend. Plenty of chocolate was consumed, we went to see Mel in Looe and visited Lydford Gorge with its stunning White Lady waterfall. 

The sun came out at last so I could cut my grass. I was glad of an assistant to put my pop-up budget greenhouse from Lidl together. I was sorely tempted to purchase a hanging egg chair from Tesco but common sense ...

The Scrappy Sampler top (my version) is at the quilters. Hope to have it to share soon. In the meantime, I made a pair of potholders (slightly different sizes, due to quilt math).

It is a great way to use up small pieces, units or even entire blocks at the end of a quilt.

As I was moving fabric bins the other day, I peeked into the flannel tub. These have been in here for many years and I suddenly felt like I ought to do something with them. I still liked these, but I didn't have any plan or direction for them and I needed some coordinating pieces to move them forward.So I grabbed a piece of paper and started scratching out some ideas and notes for simple designs.

Audrey awoke from her deep sleep with a level of activity never before witnessed. Later tonight or early tomorrow morning the fermentation process for sweet dough begins. I’m making a double batch to share. As I started this the delightful memories of checking a book on how to make a loaf of bread out of… Continue reading whew – it’s April

 Field of Valor – A Patriotic Take on the St. Paddy’s Field QuiltThis quilt may look familiar… and that’s because Field of Valor is simply a different colorway of my St. Paddy’s Field quilt pattern. Changing fabrics can completely transform the story a quilt tells, and this version speaks to something very close to my heart — patriotism, gratitude, and honoring those who have served our

Even I still can't believe it's done, and it's been almost a year since it was completed.

Patti packing up her office, and unpacking the quilt

That's MaryBeth holding it up so Patti could see everything on ...

Last year I ended up working on two BOMs, which kept me pretty busy while also trying to work on various other projects. One of those BOMs was one that our quilt group decided to do as a group project, though everyone did her own version. Some of us did 12″ blocks, and some of […]