Make a quilt with stars for your home or as a gift for family and friends! This project is fast and easy and will make your home shine! "Piece of Heaven," my latest quilt, was just published in the November 2022 issue of the American Quilter magazine. You know I've had a thing with star blocks, likely because they always bring cheer and brilliance into my life - much needed this year! "Piece of Heaven" measures 58" x 58", and the blocks finish at 24" and 12". As you can see, it works … [Read more...] about Make a quilt with stars
Quilt book suggestions
More quilting books
I don't know about you, but I order books and then walk to the mail box the very next day, hoping that the book fairy rushed my order... What? You've never heard of the book fairy??? :-) These books arrived in the mail just last week: Kim Diehl's Simple Graces (2010), and Simple Traditions (2006). Both feature beautiful patterns for quilts, throw pillows, wall hangings, etc. The projects were executed with tasteful colors, well written instructions, and plenty of details about how they … [Read more...] about More quilting books
The process of quilt design
Nature is a constant source of inspiration for my quilts, whether traditional or artsy. Once I get an idea, it stays with me for a while until I finally get a chance to work on it. For art quilts, I start the design process by choosing the fabrics I would like to work with, instead of sketching the layout! I am not quite sure why, but paper and pencil do not work for me when composing art quilts, probably because I do not know how to draw... So, I go straight from brain to fabric. Occasionally, … [Read more...] about The process of quilt design
Flower Block
This iris was completed during a class I took at Thimbles and Threads in Draper, Utah. The class was taught by Lea Hardee, using Ruth McDowell's straight line method of piecing. Although not for beginners, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Batiks are so awesome, aren't they? Ruth has published many books. The one I have is called Design Workshop, and I find it indispensable in my library. If you also enjoy creating landscape quilts, you may want to have at least one of her … [Read more...] about Flower Block
Ribbonwork
Look what I learned today: flowers with ribbons! My friend Dora showed me how to make them this afternoon, while I was taking a break from hand quilting. When I got home and looked in my favorite ribbonwork book - Ribbonwork, The Complete Guide by Helen Gibb (I found it here), I learned how to make the leaves. For the large petals I used satin blanket binding since I did not have many ribbons available. For the smaller petals, I used grosgrain ribbon, and for the middle of the flower I used ric … [Read more...] about Ribbonwork
Embroidery and Applique Inspiration
As I always quilt my projects, I own a few books with quilting designs. Looking at them, one can easily see how they could be used as patterns for embroidery and applique. Have you used any designs as such? Those with continuous line lend themselves more readily for stitchery and applique. One book in particular comes to mind, with designs so lovely I have thumbed through its pages very often for inspiration: Hari Walner's Continuous-Line Quilting Designs: 80 Patterns for Blocks, Borders, … [Read more...] about Embroidery and Applique Inspiration