Piecing Accurately by Cutting Larger

Low Volume Four Patches for 'En Provence'
A Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt Along

This wasn't the post I intended for today, but I've learned a technique that rocked my Quilt World. I've got to share it because it was so easy I'm almost ashamed to tell you--but we're all friends here. Right?

The Nasty Scant Quarter Inch Problem

The Secret to Making Lists

People have different ideas about which day starts their week. You'll notice calendars are split between which day is first at the top--Sunday or Monday. Many people make their To-Do Lists on Monday morning. It may be unusual, but Saturday morning is when I mentally set up my coming week. My weekends are more or less unstructured so I am free to sew if there aren't other commitments, and that means an extended time instead of a few minutes or hour here and there. Using that time wisely takes strategy, and I set up the rest of the week while I'm at it. I'm a serious list maker.

Black Friday: Things to Consider

When you are a quilter, and anticipating Black Friday to Cyber Monday sales, tell me what honestly goes through your mind? Great deals, gorgeous new fabric, the fresh smell? Oh, me, too! I love to shop for quilting supplies, but I have only once experienced a Black Friday in a store. It involved walking in with young kids in tow, and dropping my jaw. You had to be kidding! Where did all those people come from? I turned heel, and drove home. I know what things cost, and how most pricing structures work. That chaos is not worth the stress. Give me a comfy chair, and a lap top!

Antique Quilts & A Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is more than a feast for the belly. I have another one here for the eyes! This is one of my earliest posts, but I was reminded of it when I searched for a turkey post to link up with Val's Archives this week. I am thankful for so much in my life, but health, people and quilts top the list. Allow me to share a few special family quilts and their stories with you to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to each one of you, 

and remember on this day of thanks...

Above all, be kind.

All the quilts shown here belong to my husband's family. They were on loan awaiting a cloudy day to photograph. It gave me time to get to know them, and fall in love with this one most of all. I love every inch of this quilt! It has a lurid history that we are too proper to get in to here, but let it suffice to say, I think it's to die for. It's the ultimate Eye Candy. There's no firm date, but the family history puts it around the 1930's, and it appears to be made without a batting layer.

Clementine Flying Geese and More Traditional Longarming

All the Geese Ready to Sort

There has been a great deal of juggling this fall in the quilting studio. Both hard and soft customer deadlines, emergency jobs, and ongoing long term projects meant no linear progress anywhere. So frustrating!  A part of me wondered if I had anything to show you. As a quilter and a blogger, I sometimes lose my perspective. I see it all everyday, and it becomes old hat. But then there is a moment when a project comes together, and I say, "Wow. I like that!" That's when I know I have something you will enjoy, too. I think this is one.

Tiki Beads Update

Tiki Beads Hand Stitching Progress

The holidays are officially upon us because I am scattered to all four corners. Sadly, I disappear here when push comes to shove, but I am slowly digging my way out. I'm not telling you anything new. You know exactly what I mean because you're probably going through the same thing! It's less than a week before Thanksgiving, and 5 weeks before Christmas. 

Tiki Beads Quilt

TIKI BEADS

Even though my last post promised more details on the Super Scrap Project, I needed to clear my design wall before proceeding. This is a simple little project, and perfect to pack  for a weekend trip.

Second Chance Quilts Super Scrap Project

 Made by Irene Krall

Second Chance Quilts Are My True Love!

There comes a time in every avid quilter's life when she or he ask themselves what in the world will they do with the growing heaps of left over fabric. This dilemma hit me last year so I made the quilt below for Hands2Help. It was made entirely from scraps and stash. The beauty above was designed, made, and donated by a friend, The Scrap Queen, Irene Krall. It came to me for quilting, and I fell in love with it!

Made for the 2016 Hands2Help project.

#BraveQuilter Winner for October & New Direction

Congratulations, Sandra 

at Studio Sew of Course!

Sandra at Studio Sew of Course is the October winner for the #BraveQuilter link up. She set a goal of printing on fabric at the beginning of the month, and fulfilled her intent. She posted on Instagram HERE, and also at her blog. You can read the details, and find more information on both her posts. 

October #BraveQuilter Wrap Up Linky Is OPEN!

Someone will have a merry Christmas quilt!

The season is shifting quickly here in Ohio, and it is easy to think we will soon be in winter. The quilt above is one of two destined to be under a Christmas tree. That is a telling sign. 

Twin Quilts from the Darling 'Clementine' Collection

A Darling Fabric Collection

When the Clementine collection from Heather Bailey came out, I knew I had to have it. It was girly, graphic, folksy, and ageless. In other words, it had great potential as to what I could use it for, and who would like it. Family friends approached me about making matching quilts for 4 year old twins, and I knew right away it was a perfect match. I had met these sweet girls last summer on a walk, and they loved everything about the outdoors, and they loved PINK!

Pieced Pumpkin Patch: Eerie Nights Blog Hop Giveaway

Welcome to Pink Doxies--
and one stop on your Eerie Nights
Blog Hop today!

 

When Marian at Seams to Be Sew asked me if I wanted to join in a Halloween hop, I was all in. The hop is sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop, Aurifil, Timeless Treasures, and Quilter's Dream. Enter the Rafflecopter drawing at the end of this post, and each of the other 4 blogs listed for your chance to win your own fabulous treats! Because of scheduling conflicts, Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy is hosting in lieu of Marian. Thank you both. 

Happy Mail & Eerie Nights

Grocery Bag from Busy Hands Quilts

I love a good link party, and a newer one that I sincerely appreciate is over at Busy Hands Quilts. I am not someone who places the greatest value on a finish, and many link parties have focused on this one criteria. I would much rather surround myself with people who value the process over the end product, and that group is growing. When I saw Myra had a link party called, Finished or Not Friday, I let her know how much I personally appreciated it.

How to Talk to Your Longarmer & Eerie Nights Hop

"Quilt it however you decide."

Those are five words that stop me in my tracks as a longarm quilter. It's like telling your beautician or barber to cut off as much of your hair as they choose. How much is too much?

I will tell you it is often just as hard for a longarm quilter to make a decision about the quilting as it is yourself. Being able to share some ideas--even if they are what you don't want, will go a long way toward a good plan. It is likely you have some kind of idea about what you think your quilt needs or what you value most in fine quilting. Do not be afraid to tell your longarm quilter your thoughts.

Finished Mini Round Robin

2016 Mini Round Robin

Quilted and bound, but label-less. 
Finished, but technically not done.

Regardless of the fine points, this project is off the WIP list. 

Halloween Quilt & Eerie Nights Blog Hop

No, you're not lost! 
I'm working out of my comfort zone, 
and trying a more traditional design.

I have to chuckle to myself because I have succumbed to quilter's peer pressure. At last weekend's retreat, I watched as my friends picked up fabric in the stores. Not just what they bought, but what they needed to touch. It was not necessarily what I would have chosen, or in my color palette or style. I normally choose brighter hues, and silky smooth fabrics like Art Gallery and Michael Miller solids are glorious to me. But I saw fingers touching wovens, flannels, and fabric printed to resemble burlap. (Burlap=chills!, and I am allergic to all jute products.) Texture is a big deal for me, and I started wondering if I avoided more traditional fabrics because I associated them with certain textures.

Hosting QBIR: A Quilter Bloggers' Retreat

Quilter Bloggers' International Retreat

This past weekend I was honored to host the first QBIR in my studio. We all snickered to say it was international, but we had indeed included Canada. From my perspective, it was a smooth, successful weekend. Visit the blogs of the attendees (links at the end) to get their own take, but I thought I would give you my insight as to what it took to orchestrate the event. My hope is by sharing this that more people will consider it an option for themselves.

#BraveQuilter Winner for September & October Link Up OPEN

Welcome back to the #BraveQuilter link party!

Although anyone is welcome to link up, four quilters completed the challenge for September, linking up at both the beginning and end of the month. 

Using a random number generator, Angie at A Quilting Reader's Garden was chosen. She will receive a custom dyed bundle of fabric made here in my studio, and the "Be Brave" cup up above. Congratulations, Angie, and cheers to everyone who joined the challenge!

And now it's time to open 
the October link party!

September #BraveQuilter Wrap Up Linky is OPEN!

 Happy October! 

We can finally feel a little chill in the air, and morning comes later. Around here farmers are quick to harvest corn and beans during dry spells since fall rains have moved in. One nasty storm days ago knocked out our internet/cable so I have had to improvise this week wherever I could find a connection. We are in line to be restored when they get to us, but no promises. (And now you know the rest of the story. A part of me is actually enjoying the time of being unconnected for a few days, but my apologies for the #BraveQuilter party.)

Secret Sewing Becomes Secret Quilting

Can You See the Loose Threads?

Obviously, I could not before I took the picture or I would have removed them. They were from the first round of stitching that I did in the morning, and ripped out in the afternoon. I've had a lot of indecisiveness while designing this project.

Can I say up front that I don't do well with this Secret Sewing concept? I'd love to show you more, but the Hop isn't until January. If you're going to the Fall Market, this piece will be there. I've let a few dear friends see what I was involved with, but other than that I've been mum. This is the first quilt I've made entirely out of batiks so let me pass on a few things I've encountered.