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Monday, July 30, 2018

Stitching Summer Fun!!

I don't know about you, but I am stunned that it's almost August!  Where has the summer gone???

I, for one, am really looking forward to getting out of the house for a few quilty get-togethers!  

Perhaps you're ready to have some stitching fun too?

I'd be oh so delighted if you would join the fun as we 
meet in Lee's Summit, MO for the Stitching With The Stars event!  Look at the line-up of wonderful teachers.

Great projects in a wonderful hotel facility.  Not to mention the outstanding food the area has to offer.
I can hardly wait to get there.  

Honestly, you'll have a wonderful time.  Click here to check out all the details.


If you're in Illinois, consider coming to the Illinois Quilters Guild this Thursday, August 2nd.  I'll be giving a lecture  to the guild at the Beth Hillel Congregation facility in Wilmette, IL.  Meeting is a 7pm.   I will be giving workshops on Friday and Saturday, too.  

It sure will be good to be back in the swing of things....sorta, kinda.  I'm getting cabin fever after having spent so much time in the house recovering.  Hope to see you there!

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Meet Mrs. Miller's Apprentice

Last summer, I began working on a new Block of the Month for 2019.  I am really in an Indigo blue mood lately and wanted the new BOM to be in the classic Indigo and light palette.  After all these months of keeping it all a secret, I am so jazzed to introduce you to....

Mrs. Miller's Apprentice!
Mrs. Miller's Apprentice ~ 2019 BOM Program by Pam Buda & Marcus Fabrics
The quilt features sampler blocks in a traditional setting for the quilt center. I added a  stunning pieced border to finish the edge of the quilt in grand style!  

My Mrs. Miller's Apprentice fabric collection features a selection of light and blue prints in various shades to give sparkle to the quilt.  There are 27 prints for your piecing pleasure!

I have added another element to this new block of the month.  Each month you will journey to the mid-19th century and read a fictional diary written by Mrs. Miller as she tells the story of meeting young Ellie who just moved into the neighboring farm with her widower father.  When Ellie shows interest in learning to piece quilt blocks, Mrs. Miller takes her under her wing, and not only teaches her to piece, but helps her learn many other housekeeping skills she will need to know.  Every month you'll join them in creating a beautiful variety of sampler blocks and read the diary entries telling the story of their budding friendship.

The small blocks in and around the center star in the quilt center are those made by young Ellie as she learns to piece.  

The quilt is being pieced right now and soon I will have some blocks to share with you.  What better way to show off all the pretty fabrics than in pieced blocks?  For now, here are some photos of the fabrics.  
I chose a wide variety of prints to play with.  The blue floral at the far right is the main border print supporting the many different shades of blue in this quilt.  I just adore the blue version and the light tonal version.  I also added shirtings in both light and dark versions, and the tiny little sprig print comes in two shades.  So sweet!
I don't know about you, but I love, love a great paisley!  The blue paisley turned out so great - beyond my wildest dreams!!!  I can see using it as a border and setting print in a doll quilt.  I created a beige tonal of that paisley as well.  The middle three fabrics gave me terrific options for playing with shading and color.  And...the fabric on the far right gives movement to the print and adds a lot of interest in the quilt blocks, too.  I can't wait to show you how it looks in the finished blocks.  You're gonna love it!
All of the Mrs. Miller's Apprentice prints are historic reproductions taken from my collection of 19th century quilts.  I have been holding on to several prints for years, waiting for just the right collection and this quilt is just what I've been waiting for!  The three prints on the far left, which look like spinning petals, is one of the best - most classic 19th century prints ever!!  It has great movement and depth.  Love, Love, Love!!!!  The middle prints are sweet little ditsy prints that also have some movement in them.  The last two prints with the berries is one of my all time favorite prints ever.  I used it several years ago in my Treenware & Berries collection.  It was done in brown back then and I think it is gorgeous in Indigo!   Another classic print!
I wanted a beautiful medium blue print for this quilt and it had to be just the right kind of print, in just the right shades.  I found it in the floral print at the far right.  It;s definitely a medium but also features other shades of blues, tying all the shades together just as the main border print does.  It's really lovely in the darker blue version as well, I think.  Going left again is another shirting in light and dark grounds.  I can never have too many shirting prints. 
Lastly, at the far left is another print I have been hanging on to for a long time.  That sweet little flower just tugs on my heart.  Oh how I adore that print.  The Indigo version is perfect in its coloring, and the blue on light ground and beige tonal show off the print so well.  I think I have to order extra bolts of all of them just to have them in my stash for future Indigo quilts.  

I hope you have enjoyed meeting Mrs. Miller's Apprentice.  There is a story behind the name, and there really was a Mrs. Miller.  Who do you think was her apprentice?  More hints coming soon.

As with all of the Block of the Month programs I design for Marcus Fabrics, you must join the program through a participating quilt shop.  So...be sure to ask for Mrs. Miller's Apprentice at your favorite shop!  

Fabrics will be available in December.  The program will begin in January, 2019.  Quilt size is 77" x 89".  I'll post some pictures of the sampler blocks next time.  They're almost all done and then we'll assemble the quilt top.  

Until then, be well and hope you have time to stitch every day!






Friday, July 13, 2018

I Miss My Sewing Machine!!

My recovery from knee replacement surgery is coming along as expected.  Some bad days, some good days.  It's getting a little easier each day.  

So many of you have sent Get Well emails, messages through Facebook and cards in the mail, and I can't tell you how much it has all meant to me.

Thank you!!  

A week before my surgery, our daughter Nicki took a fall and broke her foot.  She's been in a boot and using crutches while attending nursing school and trying to work.  We are quite the sight, her and I.

Since I'm somewhat out of commission in the kitchen, and Nicki is on crutches, in an attempt to make meals easier on my hubby, I bought an Instant Pot before my surgery so we he could try to make one-pot meals quickly.  Naturally, Pinterest in full of recipes and we've tried a few that were pretty good.  

I'm wondering if you have an Instant Pot, and can tell me what you like to do with it, and perhaps what you favorite meals are?  I've never cooked with a pressure cooker before.  I know for many of you, a pressure cooker has been a life-long kitchen staple.
Jill Berger made my Old Mill Pond quilt and changed the colors up a whole lot, and I love it!
She chose reds and black and I think it looks just stunning!   Thanks, Jill, for sharing the photos of your very pretty quilt!
Here's is my original quilt made in greens and blues.  Click here for the Old Mill Pond pattern.
Mary Kate Donais of Manchester, NH sent me the photo of her blue and tan version of my Prairie Gathering quilt.  She made it for her son's 17th birthday.  LOVE IT!!  I think this quilt would be lovely no matter what two colors you chose.  Thanks Mary Kate for taking the time to send the photo,  I always love seeing what quilters do with the patterns I design.

Click here for the Prairie Gathering pattern.  

In anticipation of many hours of sitting with my leg elevated and ice on my knee, I did prepare a bunch of hand sewing to keep me busy.  I do love it, but I have to say that I really miss sewing on my machine!!  I have no less than seven new quilts to make for fall market, which will be here before you know it.  I am very anxious to get back to work!!  

I am going to try sewing a little bit over the weekend.  My new BOM is in production here and I must keep up with my super-secret-scrappy-project.  It's almost time to begin assembly of that quilt, too.  

The lazy days of summer are coming and all I want is to be back to normal and be busy not lazy!  All in good time....I tell myself.  But I'm not big on patience when I am bored!  

I hope you're enjoying your summer.  Be well and happy stitching!

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Happy Birthday, America!!


Wishing you all a very Happy Fourth of July!! 

Happy to be home to celebrate our nation's birthday.   
Hope you are with the people you love and are enjoying the summer.