Can you think of someone who has inspired you to become a quilter or improve your craft? Share it with us, and let's celebrate those who put us on the straight stitch path... One of the tributes (chosen by March 24) will receive a stack of fat quarters from the Romance collection by Willowberry Lane for Henry Glass & Co, just in time for Easter. You must be a member of this blog in order to participate. So, grab your pen... no... Start typing! Check back often, or submit your email … [Read more...] about Giveaway
Showcasing inspiration fabrics
If you have a fabric you really love but do not want to use it in a complicated pattern where its beauty may be overshadowed by other fabrics, or its motif cut into small pieces, try the pattern I used on the quilt pictured here. Simple rectangles surrounded by alternating borders, with the inspiration fabric used as border also. I wasted a bit of fabric when I was fussy cutting the borders as I wanted to show the beautiful teal leaves. I did not heavily quilt it, resulting in a much softer lap … [Read more...] about Showcasing inspiration fabrics
Permanent Wall Hanging
Italian mosaics are the source of inspiration for intricate, beautiful quilts. The book Bella Bella quilts: Stunning Designs from Italian Mosaics by Norah McMeeking (I found it here) is a great example of such quilts. I have at least two of them on my list of UFOs (Utterly Fun Objects!) In my case, it was the other way around. Quilts inspired this mosaic I pieced together on the back porch of my previous house. First, I designed the block. When I was satisfied, I applied grout to a … [Read more...] about Permanent Wall Hanging
Sugar – a child’s best friend?
This afternoon, my son Chris was in time out in the dining room, when all of a sudden I hear him call his younger brother, Ryan, and whisper something to him. Shortly after, I see Ryan come to the kitchen with a wet paper towel with blue spots on it. When I asked him what was going on, he told me that Chris had 'accidentally' broken a ballpoint pen on the table, on top of my white and red quilt. I immediately reached for the Oreo cookies, ate about 10 of them, then slowly walked to the … [Read more...] about Sugar – a child’s best friend?
Applique Group Quilt
Or should we call it The 3am Club, since I started this post at 3 am this morning? Anyway, I will start with a piece of background fabric and an applique motif for a wall hanging. Then, I will mail it to the next person, who will have TWO weeks to hand applique something new, hand embroider or embellish an existing addition, contributing to the work. She (or he?) will send it to the next person, who will add her (his?) own something special. We will send the project around as many times as … [Read more...] about Applique Group Quilt
Cat on quilt
As I watch Jamie, my oldest cat, sleeping and totally oblivious to the sound of my fingers on the keyboard, I imagine if someday I can portray her in one of my art quilts. She is no ordinary cat to me, although she has no particularly distinctive features. In the meantime, here is one of the cats I made a little while ago, which must be adorning a special home right now... The quilt on which he is sitting is from the book "The Best of Black Mountain Quilts" by Teri Christopherson (I found … [Read more...] about Cat on quilt