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Monday, July 29, 2019

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks & Sizing Mystery

By now, most of you know I am a huge believer in treating my fabric with sizing or starch before I cut into it.  The benefits are many and well worth your time.  

A little while ago, my friend and co-worker, Debbie, and I became a little panicked when we couldn't find my favorite Magic sizing anywhere.  It was gone!  For weeks!!  Oh no!  

I had been using it for years....now what?  Let's make a long story short...
They released this new look on the can.  Sigh....don't ya hate when they repackage something you've been using for years, and then you can't find it or don't know what version is your favorite?

So....I hope to save you the trouble of looking for our old Magic sizing spray, and look for this new can.  Same good stuff on the inside.  Works like a charm!  


Thursday, July 25, 2019

Look Between The Lines

Recently, I was showing a group of quilters my Endearments print and talking about all the ways to fussy cut these prints.  They commented that I should blog about this....so here goes.

My Endearment print comes in two color-ways.  Antique brown is on the bottom of the photo and the soldier blue is at the top.  Obviously, you can (and should!) fussy cut the three Endearment phrases for pieced blocks or quilt labels to add a little something special to your quilt.  But...these prints have more to offer!

In the photo above, I have outlined the sweet little floral motif which can be cut to 1.5 inches and finish at 1 inch.  

I've also outlined the tiny background stars.  Why not fussy cut those as well?  Cut to 1 inch and finishing at 1/2 inch, these are perfect for most any block you are making.  

Read between the lines....so to speak, and get the most of every fabric you own! 

Look for both of the Endearment prints at your LQS or buy them here.  They make a fabulous backing for a quilt, too!

Monday, July 22, 2019

Circa 1880 Nine Patch

I'm back home after nearly 2 full weeks of travel.  I've been to 5 states, 5 hotels, 3 quilt shops and had wonderful classes with some amazing, talented and very friendly quilters.  It was fun.

I'm pooped.  This is all I have in me for this week's post.  Gonna take a nap.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Circa 1880 Nine Patch

I'm back from my Washington, D.C. trip and accomplished two great things.....I visited Delaware and West Virginia.  What's the big deal about that, you ask?  Well, I am on a quest to step foot in all 50 states and visiting DE and WV crossed off 48 and 49.  I have one left to go!!!  

Wondering which state is left?  Louisiana....not by design.  It just worked out that way.  So, I'll be planning a trip to NOLA as soon as I can go.  I can't wait to reach my goal!!  

Packing to go to Stitching With The Stars....I'll be back soon.  When I get home, I'll be working on a whole bunch of new things. 

My next trip in August is to visit The Little Red Hen quilt shop in Muscatine, Iowa.  I have heard so many great things about this shop, I can hardly wait to go.  Click here to read all of the details.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Cruise With Me In 2020!!!

I'm so jazzed to announce that I am teaching on another Caribbean cruise next May, 2020!! 

Oh...it's such a great time on a quilting cruise.  Sew when you want to, lay by the pool when you want to, see wonderful ports and feast on to-die-for food.  What's not to love??!!!  

We're sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica.  I have been to all of these ports and really enjoyed them all.  

If you've ever been tempted to go on a quilting cruise....do it!!!   You won't regret it.

You can find all of the details here.  

Hope you are enjoying a fun summer!! 

Monday, July 8, 2019

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks & Stitching With The Stars

As you read this, I am in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. and soon headed to Maryland to give workshops at two quilt shops, Traditions at the White Swan and Spring Water Designs.

Next week, I invite you to join me at another wonderful quilt shop, Quilter's Station in Lee's Summit, MO.  I am one of eleven teachers giving classes on a wide variety of wonderful things to do with needle and thread!  

Click here to find out more about Stitching With The Stars.  We'd LOVE for you to join us!

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue



At last!  It seems like forever since I introduced my new Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue trio at Quilt Market.  It's been a couple of months, and I've been anxious to spread the word about it, but I wanted to wait until all of the fabric, namely the 10 x 10 precuts of Mrs. Miller's Apprentice were ready.  

What would be the point of telling you all about this pattern whereby all of the units and blocks for all three quilts are made from just one 10 inch precut of Mrs. Miller's Apprentice when the precut wasn't ready?  

It's ready now and available at your local quilt shop!!  






First up is Color Me Blue.  A wonderful star quilt in many shades of blue.  The quilt measures 18 x 18.  
Second is this sweet postage stamp quilt called Check My Stars.  I love this quilt so much.  It was so fun to piece and play with all those fabrics.  I am definitely in a "postage stamp" phase in designing right now.  Love, love piecing little squares.  Perfect leader/ender projects.  Quilt measures 13.5 x 13.5 inches.
Third and last is Blue Angel.  It has a little applique with the orange peel shapes and is very easy to do.  It applique is a FOUR letter word to you, you can sub wool appliques if you like, or play with more HST.  Quilt measures 20 x 20 inches. 

Please ask for the pattern and Mrs. Miller's Apprentice fabrics at your local quilt shop.  We simply must make it a priority to buy our quilting goodies from our LQS to support them!!!  We can't afford not one more shop to close its doors.  Seriously...my friends. 

If your LQS isn't into reproductions, or you don't have a shop nearby, you can order the Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue pattern and a complete kit (with all the same fabrics I used) from my website here.

Or...if you'd just like the Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue pattern, you can order it here.


My new Kentucky Crossroads quilt top is being assembled now.  All of the blocks are done and the top is coming together.  Looking so, so good!!  It's exciting to see a new quilt come together.

I'm also beginning to pack for my next trip.  I just returned home from the Atlanta, GA area where I visited with the quilters of East Cobb Quilters Guild.  Had the best time with them!!  Great ladies to spend time with, delicious food and quilts to die for from their members.  Thank you all for a terrific time.  

I'm off to spend a few days of vacation in the Washington, DC area with my hubby.  We will travel to visit the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, and the Harper's Ferry CW battlefield in West Virginia, after which I can cross off two more states in my quest to visit all 50.  That will leave me with just one left!!!!!!  

Then, onto Maryland to give a workshop at Traditions at the White Swan in Hagerstown, and Spring Water Designs in Columbia.  

After that....off to Lee's Summit, MO for Stitching With The Stars.  I'd sure love to see you there!!!

Grab an iced tea and a comfy chair on the porch this evening and do a little stitching.  Sounds lovely, doesn't it?






Monday, July 1, 2019

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

This marks week 26 which means.....we are half way through the year of making Circa 1880 Nine Patch blocks.  WOW!

There are two people in the Circa Facebook group who have completed their quilts!  Honest!  That is absolutely amazing to me.  Making this quilt is not a race...it should take its sweet 'ol time and get it done rather than become a magnificent UFO.  

It's so exciting to see so many quilters loving the quilt that I became totally obsessed over love.  

Fast or slow, by hand or by machine.....keep on stitchin'!