What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 Well summer is upon us...it happens around this time every year :) no matter what the weather or temperatures. And what a marvel it all is. From the very early morning light to later sunsets, I am trying my best to take it all in and appreciate it. For it all moves by quickly...take the Phoebes with their nest on the sound box on the back of the house, for instance. The family...three little ones, are already raised and gone. They must have snuck out in the dead of night for me to have missed them the way ...

Halfway through the year now and past the halfway point of June. I wonder where are all those hours we were promised for retirement...when time on your hands would hang heavy- an expression first recorded in 1760, btw.-I was curious enough to look up that expression. But no, though my days begin early there is still not enough hours to get everything done. I struggle not to have the feeling I'm getting behind. Behind what exactly is a bit of a mystery. But there is always something that needs doing and mostly, I'm thankful to be ...

The fabrics are native to Uganda. All but the tiniest scraps are in these pieces. The tablerunner was finished first. Back in February. But there were two more parts to go.

Now it is joined by a tree skirt (about 36″ diameter)

And a throw (55″ x 67″). The owner originally requested hand quilting, but there was no practical way to do that with the minky back. Hopefully she will like this look.

I hope the owner will like them, too. The purple binding is an unexpected, but perfect, touch, chosen by the owner.

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.  Today’s question is about my John Deere quilt. A week or so ago, I shared my finish of my John Deere quilt with you. …

Ask Jo: Clarification On My John Deere Quilt Read More »

Susan Nixon (desertskyquilts) was an angel in my life, and in the lives of many others. I met her online through blogging, and we became friends. She visited me, shared her knowledge, and loved my daughter (Sparkle Jane).

Near the end of her life, she sorted fabric and projects and shared some UFOs (and fabric) with me. This is one of them. So happy to see it finished.

It has been gifted to my aunt, who recently celebrated cancer remission.

Quilters live on through their work and the joy and warmth they bring to the world. Amen.

NOTE: I didn ...

A Creative Life There are times when one must exercise certain skills in order to maintain the level of proficiency one has, or in this case, someone requested cookies & cream something for a breakfast meeting we’re having. Baking is a skill wherein I’m still learning the rules as there are still so many things… Continue reading Baking, Quilting, Writing

Memorial Day 2025 Pattern $9.63 download. 28×31″.

Memorial Day at the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home in King, Wisconsin, always starts with the placement of ~ 6500 flags at dawn.  Anyone is welcome.  Every stone has its flag placed by volunteers….  local people, Boy Scouts, families of veterans, and veterans themselves.  It only takes 20 minutes for the entire cemetery to be decorated.  the inscriptions on the stones are a reminder of the real lives past.

“Loving Husband and Father and Grandpa”

“You are my Sunshine”

“Purple Heart”

“Co B   6th Wis. Inf.” (Civil War, no dates)

And came home and ...

Sometimes simple is best!

Today’s freemotion design is variation of the classic Stipple. The Comb design gives a bit more structure as there is a sequence of movements, but you are free to change up to rules to suit your needs!

The FMQ design is based on two shorter ‘fingers’ and one longer one. This longer one moves over the two shorter ones to ‘encapsulate’ them. If there is no room to do the actual ‘comb over’, let that longer shape move wherever it needs to go to fill your space.

Because of the ‘two short, one long’ sequence ...

Friend Julia came for a visit from Louisiana. She wanted to make a baby quilt. Her first quilt.

She had Mardis Gras fabric for the back.

We started pulling possibilities from my color bins. She ironed and I cut.

The FIRST BLOCK.

And, before she flew out, a finished top. (Quick info: 3″ squares. Finishes at 40″ square.)

She plans to connect with the quilting community back home. I assured her that there would be people ready and willing to help. I will share the finish when it happens.

There is another quilt kit cut and ready in her baggage ...

June is a month of new starts of all sorts!

The robins on the front veranda have started their family. I had the step ladder ready and waited till they were over on the far lawn to grab a quick shot of their nest. Two things that impress me about robins...their nest is always a thing of beauty in construction...so strong I've seen them last many winters and the other thing is the rich, gorgeous colour of the eggs they lay. Crayola makes a crayon that is robin's egg blue and the famous Tiffany's trademarked ...

Yesterday, we had a driving event with one of our car clubs. We met at a local grocery store, and drove back country roads for two hours (with a comfort stop halfway in) to the Highlands Motoring Festival in Highlands, NC. The drive route was so pretty, lush and green the whole way. We drove along the East Fork river, then into the higher mountains to the show.

Along the way, I know you love seeing these pastoral scenes of barns and fields.

At the show, there were lots of exotic cars. Ferrari was the featured marque, and Porsche had ...

Happy Flag Day!! I have the perfect project for you or little people in your life. I am having a craft day at my job at the local library. On Friday mornings, kids come in for craft day. Kids come in from 9-11, and we do a craft. Typically, the craft can take anywhere from …

Easy Sewing Project for Kids: Flags Read More »

I chose this panel for all the horses I have loved.

Mystical horse by Rubin Design Studio is so vibrant, I just love it.

This is me on Buck, our first horse. In 1966 I was living in Las Vegas. I was in the 4H Club. Every year we participated in a parade down the Las Vagas Strip. I was such a tomboy. I once caught a wild mustang and brought it home. He was tearing up the corral so bad I had to set him free the next day. At least he had water and a meal.

Mystical Horse ...

Join Vanessa LIVE to hear all about her latest online sewing course for making your own custom pair of quilted sneakers! Imagine a quilt around your feet- they are comfy and one-of-a-kind and only use 3 fat quarters worth of your favorite quilting cotton fabric!

Download the course calendar so you know exactly when all the different video lessons will be posted to your student account. Once you sign up you get unlimited access to the course- it never expires!

• Quilted Sneakers Course details: https://craftygemini.com/shop/quilted-sneakers-video-course/

• Sneaker kit: https://craftygemini.com/shop/quilted-sneakers-supply-kit/

• Join our email list ...

Welcome back to our Classic & Vintage Quilt Series! Today, we’re thrilled to introduce the Kansas Dust Storm Quilt, an advanced quilt pattern that’s worth dusting off your piecing skills for. Join us as we explore new techniques and the magic of piecing with this pattern and share a quilt block video tutorial!

The Kansas Dust Storm Quilt Pattern

DOWNLOAD THE KANSAS DUST STORM QUILT PATTERN

Our rendition of the Kansas Dust Storm Quilt Pattern offers Tablerunner, Lap, Twin, and Queen sizes, best tailored to advanced-level quilters. This pattern can also make ...

 Today I've got a baby quilt finish to share. It started with this bright jungle print I've had in my stash for over a decade. It's a magical jungle with unicorns and dinosaurs and walruses and horses mixed in with typical jungle animals, but when you're little, anything goes and I thought it was a cute print with fun primary colors. Plus, I remember it was in the clearance bin of 1

I have a bin of assorted 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles. They are handy for a leader-ender quilt. Yes, it is a little crazy, but someone will like it.

Here is THE BLOCK. This one finishes at 60″x72″.

Always fun to have a sneak peek at the backing.

It goes in the donation pile to brighten someone’s day.

Wallflowers, vintage tiles or star bursts? What does this quilting design look like to you?

The freemotion design Wallflower is a simple grid based quilting design that goes well with themes like flowers, tiling, kitchen, bathroom, vintage, retro, stars and the universe. Depending on your grid size, you may apply it as an edge to edge or as a background filler.

I lost the video footage of me quilting out this design and I had to redo it. You may spot the difference in fabric and thread colors in the photos. Redoing this design wasn’t a problem at all ...

Well, it's June and someone should tell the weather that. We had an overnight frost warning one night last week and someone told me there were snowflakes in the air one afternoon. I didn't see that, perhaps because of all the rain pouring down in spits and starts around us here at the wooden house. And it's been cold, single digits most of last week climbing into double by day's end. This week it's been climbing higher and yesterday we had a hint of humidity- so maybe the sputtering start is about to end. 

But ...