I really enjoy hand making gifts for Christmas and am always looking for cool, different projects to surprise my family and friends. That is why I love this book I've just received for review: Celebrate Christmas with That Patchwork Place - 22 Festive Projects to Quilt and Sew. The projects are beautiful and creative, using traditional colors in innovative, modern, and fun designs. Whether you have plenty of time to work on a quilt, or can only handle a pillow or tree ornaments, you will find … [Read more...] about Christmas Heads Up!

Happy National Sewing and Quilting Month! Fat Quarter Shop is  hosting the “I Love Quilting and Sewing” Blog Tour all month long to celebrate the art of sewing and quilting. They have challenged us to make something we haven’t made before, and to answer four questions.  Let's start with my brief answers so you can understand my choice of project:   FQS: How did you start quilting/sewing? DR: I learned how to sew many years ago from a seamstress in Brazil. However, sewing clothes … [Read more...] about “I Love Quilting and Sewing” Blog Tour

I made this kitchen towel this afternoon and thought I would share the tutorial with you. In my mother's kitchen, we always used flour sack kitchen towels, and the same is true in my kitchen. They are perfect for drying dishes and hands. Also, they add a cozy touch to any kitchen. You will need: Flour sack 2-1/2" (by width of flour sack) strip of fabric 4" (by width of flour sack) strip of same or matching fabric sewing supplies (Aurifil thread is my choice for piecing and topstitching) My … [Read more...] about Flour sack kitchen towel Tutorial

Just got these Moda fabrics at American Quilting in Orem, Utah. As if I needed more Christmas-themed fabric but, as usual, I cannot resist these my favorite colors. I am working on a fall quilt which is only missing a little bit more of applique - the pieces are all there except for the matching threads. Will have to order more Aurifil 28 wt and 12 wt via Follow that Thread. In the meantime, I got a book for review filled with projects for the Winter. I am placing my fabrics next to its copy, … [Read more...] about New fabric, lots of possibilities

Whenever I need a mental break, I think of this quilt I made a few years ago. Far from perfect, it provides the clues I need to transport me to that location. Closing my eyes, I pretend I am sitting on one of those rockers and can almost feel the mountain breeze. Visualization does help calm one's mind very quickly. I have the itch to work on another landscape quilt. I just need to hang the background fabric on the design wall. All the fabrics I might use will be piled next to it and, as days … [Read more...] about Landscape quilting

Look what I found while checking out Moda Bake Shop. The tutorial is very easy to follow, by Emily Herrick at Crazy Old Ladies, who comes up with wonderful, creative patterns. It makes a perfect gift when you know the recipient's favorite color. This is on my list of Christmas gifts to make for this year. It would also look very nice with beige to brown gradient, with black strips instead of white. If you wanted to try a modern project, here you go! Happy weekend, … [Read more...] about Fast placemats