New Magazine & PWSC Show-N-Tell

Have you seen this new American Patchwork & Quilting special edition magazine just for Precuts??



It's on the newsstand right now and is filled with loads of great projects.  Some of my favorite designers have quilt projects in there....maybe they're some of your favorites, too!

Quilt Designed by my pal Lynne Hagmeier ~ Kansas Troubles Quilters

Not surprising.....this is my favorite quilt!!  I've always, always loved Kansas Troubles fabrics and Lynne put her signature twist on making this classic quilt block.
Treat yourself to a copy of this magazine.  You won't be sorry!!

Time to share more Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club Show 'N Tell photos!

 
These lovely Prairie Women gather together at Erica's Craft & Sewing Center in South Bend, IN



They are busy making Yo-yos and showing their Leap of Faith quilts.  Love it with the dark background fabric, don't you?

I'm also loving how the Heartland Crossing quilt turned out! 

 

Prairie Women Sewing Circle club at Erica's Craft & Sewing Center ~ South Bend, IN

Looks like all of the Prairie Women at Erica's haven't had idle hands and have been very

 productive.  Great job, ladies!!

While we're in Indiana....let's mosey over to The Back Door Quilt Shop in Greenwood, IN.

This quilt is called Seneca Falls.....very nicely done!!

These Prairie Women are all showing off their Mrs. Olson's Hatbox tablerunners! 

And this cutie quilt is a wonderful version of  At Mama's Knee.  Love the colors and fabrics, don't you?

I am so proud and touched by the work everyone has done.  Thank you for sharing your Show 'N Tells with all of us.

Remember a few months ago when I told you all about my friend Tara's new book Simply Charming?  I said every quilt in the book was awesome and you'd love it!  Well, it seems that I wasn't the only quilter who thought that....because......Tara's book is among the Top 20 books with a major distributor!!!  Congratulations Tara!!! 

I'm not surprised at all and am so happy for her!  If you haven't picked up a copy yet, you're missing something very good!!!

Happy Stitchin'!  Pam





Quilter's Rest Stop ~ Really?

A year ago as I was traveling home from Iowa along I-80, I happened to stop at one of the hundreds of highway rest stops and was quite surprised to find all kinds of quilt blocks all over the facility.  I knew I had to stop there again and - yes - show you photos of a highway rest stop.  I can hardly believe I'm writing about this either....but take a look!



This rest stop is located along a portion of the infamous Underground Railroad.

This plaque tells the Underground Railroad story to travelers.

The building is loaded with quilt blocks and other symbols of the Underground Railroad and its quilted path.  Kinda neat, huh?

As soon as you walk in the door.....

All of the Underground Railroad blocks are inlaid in the floor. 

Inside, the route for safe passage is depicted on the floor, too.

A colorful tile quilt brightens the room.

Well, I don't know about you, but I thought it a very nice surprise, and a wonderful tribute to a piece of American history and the part quilting played in it.  You can find it at mile marker 270 as you travel eastbound along I-80 in Iowa.  

Happy stitching!  Pam 

Please note: It has been brought to my attention that, in recent years, quilting historians have disspelled the role of quilts/quilt blocks regarding the Underground Railroad as myth not fact.  It was never my intention with this blog post to either promote or disspell their role regarding the Underground Railroad, but merely to talk about a most unusual highway rest stop.  To read more about recent findings regarding the Underground Railroad,
Click Here

Iowa Road Trip - Days Three & Four

I guess I'm a teacher at heart 'cause I love to teach.  Put me in a room with some fabric lovin' quilters and it's a banner day....and that's just what I had on Sunday!  Eighteen of the most delightful ladies  from the Eastern Polk Quilter's Guild and I spent the day talking shop.  We worked on skill building and honing quilting techniques. 

At the end our time together, I had fun doing what I love and they learned some new tricks of the trade.

I filled their heads with a whole lotta quilting hints, tips and secrets!  They taught me a few things, too, and I love that!

On Monday evening I was given a warm Iowa welcome from all the members of the Eastern Polk Quilter's Guild! 

Scattered Leaves Quilt - featured in (and on the cover of ) American Patchwork & Quilting magazine

They listened to my program about, among other things, the most useful quilting secrets, hints and tips I know (and wrestled from other quilting professionals!), as well as my (now almost famous) starch recipe for how I prepare my fabrics for piecing. 

Antique "Make-Do Primer" quilt

And took a look at a few quilts I brought for show-n-tell.  We had a lot of fun during our time together and I sure hope I get to come back to Iowa some day.  If you find yourself in the Des Moines, IA area, take the time to visit the quilt shops, go antiquing, and eat at a terrific array of wonderful restaurants because you'll be treated to some fine Iowa hospitality!!  My heartfelt thanks to everyone!!  Nicki and I had a wonderful time. 

Iowa Road Trip - Day Two

Quilting Connection shop owner Kelly Irwin and Prairie Women Sewing Circle leader Cathy Sanders

 
Yesterday, I began my shop hop at the Quilting Connection in Ames.  When I walked in, the shop was buzzing with activity.  There was a weekend quilting retreat in progress, another group taking a handbag class, shoppers looking for fabrics and planning their next quilt, and others showing off their gorgeous work. 

Saying The Quilting Connection is a full service shop is an understatement.  They have everything! 

Every kind of fabric you would ever want.

Books, notions, and sewing machines are supported by the shop's friendly staff.  I enjoyed my time there, and best of all, had a chance to chat with Cathy who runs the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club that boasts 50 plus members! 

My second stop was in Adel.  What would you do if you saw this?

 

Park and check it out, of course!  This cute barn is your first welcome to Adel Quilting & Dry Goods.



Owner Jacque Johnson (center) and her very friendly shop girls

As soon as you walk in the door, you're awash with warmth and inspiration. 

They have a very nice selection of fabrics with something for everyone.  Lots of Moda Bake Shop items and great kits, too.  Need to take a class?  No problem..they offer classes as well.

Goodies all over the place!  I just stood there and looked around trying to take it all in.  You know how that is when there is so much good stuff to look at and you don't want to miss anything?  Naturally, I found a few things I couldn't live without.

I had the most delightful surprise when I walked in the door.....a group of the Adel Prairie Women had arrived to meet me.  We had a very nice time talking about the club.  Their club of 35 members just finished Journey One and are looking forward to beginning Journey Two shortly.  Time got away from me gabbing with the ladies and before we even gave a thought to taking pictures, most had left the shop, but here I am with two lovely Adel Prairie Women.  We hit it off so well, we could have easily just kept on going!

I'm off to teach a workshop today and give a lecture tomorrow.  I may find a few hours to scrounge at an antique mall and see what treasures may await.  I'll be sure to post again soon.  Thanks for visiting Iowa with me!  Pam

Iowa Road Trip - Day One

My daughter & I had the best day for travel....just the way I like it...sunny and dry, no road construction..no traffic to speak of.  We left home headed for Williamsburg, IA..home of The Woolen Needle Quilt Shop.  I found out about The Woolen Needle when it was featured in the last issue of Quilt Sampler magazine.  The photos they had made me drool.  I hoped that what I saw in the magazine was what I would find when I visited.  Take a look....

Everywhere you look it's glorious eye candy.  The store is smaller than I thought it would be, but it's packed with wonderful goodies in every nook and cranny.  The Valdani display is a feast for the eyes, too!

Beautiful cotton fabrics are one feature of the shop.  You can find a large selection of Andover - Jo Morton, Judie R and others from Marcus Bros, Julie Hendricksen and Windham, Kansas Troubles, and a very large selection of hard to find Daiwabos.  Then....for all you wool lovers (me included), it's knock your socks off wool yardage for applique, and several width cuts for rug hooking. 

Look at the cute displays!  There are kits for cotton quilts, wool projects of all kinds and combos of both cotton and wool. 

Fabrics are mixed in with antiques and vintage goodies everywhere.  Look how cute the kitchen is!  I want to move in.

Even the screen door to the shop office is adorable!

Best of all...the ladies at the shop were warm and welcoming.  I thank them for allowing me to take these pictures to share with all of you.  I didn't buy any kits...I was sorely tempted, but I resisted because I have at least 2 more quilt shops to visit tomorrow....and I have to pass this way again going home.  Don't giggle at me!  You all know you would do the same thing!!!!  I did buy enough fabric to qualify for a free Quilt Diva T-Shirt.  Oh yeah.....that's me alright....Quilt Diva.  I know you're all ROTFL!  Me too!!  More adventures in Iowa tomorrow.  Pam

End of Winter Road Trip!!

The touch of spring we are enjoying makes me want to be out of the house, and luckily for me, I have a trip planned.  Tomorrow morning, my daughter Nicki and I will be headed to the Des Moines, Iowa area to give a lecture and workshop, do some shop hopping, meet with Prairie Women, and have some fun! 

While Friday will be a travel day, I do plan on stopping at The Woolen Needle in Williamsburg, IA....a shop that was featured in the last Quilt Sampler issue and one I really want to see.  It's my kind of shop and has not only lovely cottons but wool, too!

Saturday will bring me to two special quilt shops where I will not only get to shop, but also get to spend time with the ladies who belong to the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle clubs.  In the morning, I will visit The Quilting Connection in Ames, IA, and in the afternoon, I'll be at Adel Quilting & Dry Goods shop in Adel.  I am soooo looking forward to meeting everyone!

The ladies from the Eastern Polk Quilter's Guild invited me to give a workshop on Sunday, and a lecture on Monday evening....so, if you're in the area, please join us!  I promise that I will take pictures and post blog reports about the goodies I find along the way!  I'm also gonna try to post frequently about my trip on Facebook.  I'm not too good with Facebook just yet, but Nicki has a masters degree for Facebook, so she can assist her poor, clueless mom!  Stay tuned and enjoy your springy weekend!  Pam

Error By Omission

Dear Sweet, Kind, Understanding Quilting Friends,

I had one of those ~ Oh, NO!!!! ~ moments when out of the blue, it dawned on me that perhaps I left out some very important information from the Sugar Mountain pattern. Information you'd really need - kinda like to have - if making the quilt.  Horrified...I rushed to my computer, powered up Word, and scanned the pattern.  UGH!  DRATS!  CURSES!  I did forget!!!  I forgot to include the cutting instructions for the side, setting and corner triangles as well as the borders.  Geez, Pam.....(I said pretty words in my head I won't repeat here). 

So...if you printed the Sugar Mountain pattern the other day, it's now a liner for your birdcage.  My sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you!  I've added the needed information to the pattern and you can now download the new and improved Sugar Mountain pattern by clicking here!  Let's hope I never have to do this again!!  I feel awful.....so sorry.....I need to sit in time out......no cookies for me later......bad, bad Pam......

Sugar Mountain Freebie Pattern!

My Dear Quilting Friends~

Today I feel like Rocky when he reached the top of the stairs in Philly, pumping his arms in the air!  Why?  Because I'm not a computer whiz by any stretch of the imagination and usually have to fumble thru new tasks.  Today, after several hours of trial and error, I conquered my task....to make my freebie pattern Sugar Mountain available to you all just by saying.... Click Here !!  Actually, you'll be able to get the pattern from the next posting above.



Sugar Mountain ~ Copyright 2011 Pam Buda

Sugar Mountain was a lot of fun to make.  The simple Friendship Star block is jazzed up a bit with the addition of pink squares showing the block on point.  Naturally, I added a few Make-Do blocks in there.  Not surprised, are you?

While the color theme of the quilt are pinks and blues, I added one cute black print Friendship Star block because black prints are common Make-Do substitutions for blue prints and vice versa.  I love the way it looks!

Can you spot more Make-Do blocks? 

I chose a simple blue border to frame the quilt.   Sometimes.....simple is the best.  The Farmer's Daughter version does have a pieced border...but for now...that's all I can say!

I have a collection of antique pink and blue quilts and will welcome this little quilt into the mix.  Once it's quilted and bound, I'll be sure to post a photo.  Speaking of photos.....if you make Sugar Mountain...please email me a photo.  I'd like to do a show-n-tell post one day.

Thanks for stopping by!  Pam

P.S.  I've received several comments and dozens of emails requesting more information about how I make my labels.  I will post more about this in the near future.

A Sense of Accomplishment

I finally finished the pink and blue quilt I was working on.  Don't you love that feeling of accomplishment when you've finished a quilt top?  Even more so when you're satisfied with the result! I've made more than a few quilts where I haven't loved it at the end, not because it didn't look great, but somehow....we spent too much time together.  I was never so happy when it was finally finished....funny 'cause I was so excited when I began!  Then...you have a break from it while it's gone to the quilter.  You begin working on something else - different fabrics - different palette - different blocks....you forget about how you felt.  When the quilt comes back from the quilter, you're loving it all over again!

Has that happened to you, too?

What comes right after completing the quilt top?  Yup...making the backing, binding, and the label.  Most of the time, I make the binding right away.....that is if I know what fabric I want to use for the binding.  In this case, I want to wait to see how the quilt looks after it's quilted, so no binding for now, but I did make a couple of labels. 

The large quilt I just finished is called The Farmer's Daughter.  It will be unveiled in a few weeks....I promise!  I print my labels on my computer using background fabrics from my stash that will match the others in the quilt.  I then add borders to the label from the leftover scraps, and turn the borders under creating a frame.  Then, the framed label is sewn onto the backing fabric.  That way, it will be quilted right into the quilt.  I really like doing it this way because I don't have to piece it into the backing.  I love how labels look when they're pieced in, but I just won't take the time to do it, so this is a good option for me.  Another nice thing is that by creating labels like this, I can add them to a quilt at any point.....later after they've been quilted, or to an older project, or an antique I purchased.  Nice to have options!

The small version of The Farmer's Daugher ~ the quilt I will be giving you the freebie directions for ~ is called Sugar Mountain.  When I print labels on my computer, I do two at a time.....so while I was in "label mode" I made this one too.  Don't you love the backing fabric?!  It's from the Little Pink Stars line by Margo Krager for Blue Hill.  It was the perfect fabric for both of my quilts....especially since it's the same color palette.  The blocks are done, and I will be sewing the top together today.  If all goes well, I hope to have the photo and pattern for you by the end of the week. 

Keep your fingers crossed!  Pam

Weekend Update

I had a busy, productive and fun weekend.  It had its frustrating moments, though.  On Saturday, I taught a class at The Quilt Merchant and spent the day with lovely ladies who made the day fun.  It's always a pleasure to teach when you have a good group.  It's nice to take a class with a fun energetic group, too. 

On Sunday, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to spend the day.  Then, my dear, sweet, lovely daughter offered to cook dinner.  YES!  She's cooking.....she gets to choose what to cook.  She chose a Rachel Ray recipe - Cheeseburger Meatloaf.  Hhmmmm.  Not one I can say I'd ever chose myself, but let's give it a whirl.  It was pretty good.  Think cheeseburger without the bun....pickles and all.  I digress.  Being relieved of cooking duties I had more choices as to what to do with my time.  I decided to sew for a few hours on something I've been working on just for me.  This is a small quilt and I have the perfect place to display it.  In a year, I've made one block.  Now wait.......let me explain.  In my previous blog post, I mentioned that I adore small blocks.  These are very small blocks.  Very small scrappy blocks.  I made one block and realized that I needed to acquire scraps.  So, for many months now, as I cut any quilt or new fabric arrivals, I've been cutting 1.25 inch strips.  LOTS of strips.....to make these cuties.

These Courthouse Step blocks finish to 4 inches.  Each log is a 1/4 inch.  Rest assured....paper pieced!

Each block takes me an hour to make, so this represents 4 hours work.  These are the last four blocks I made. 



This is the first block I made yesterday.  I love how the fabrics look.  Notice something off?  Something not quite right?  Yes.....the plaid fabric on the left side is a bit wider than the right.  I skipped a rotation on the left side.  ARGH!!!!!   GRRRRRR!!!!!  There's no going back.  No ripping out.  An hour wasted. I can't use it because the plaid on the right will always be 1/2 inch while the others are 1/4 inch.  I can't bring myself to throw it away...it's kinda cute.  Maybe I'll make a pincushion out of it.  For now it's an orphan.  Don't you just hate when you do things like this????  We all have these moments and I just thought I'd share mine with you.  Well....I'll keep cutting strips and when I have a few found hours, I'll stitch a couple more blocks.  I hope I get it done before I decide to redecorate the room!

On another note....I am still working on making the quilt using these blocks.  I'm hoping to be done tomorrow.  Its taken a bit longer than I thought (don't they all!)  I don't mean to tease you, but when I do finish, I'll be keeping it a secret a bit longer. I'll reveal the finished quilt around the beginning of April.  I've made some extra blocks to make a smaller quilt and promised to share the pattern with you and I will do that very soon....so hang in there....don't give up on me just yet! 

Oh...and don't forget to take a look at the 2011 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop.com!!!  It's been on their Top Seller List ever since the announcement!  There's still time, it's soooo cute and you don't want to miss out!

Here's hoping you have a week free of Argh and Grrrr moments! 

Pam

Quilting Recess

Today, I enjoyed an hour of quilting recess....the kind of recess we enjoyed when we were in grammer school.  You know, the hour of play time to get away from your school work and do something fun.  Now... I have to qualify that with an explaination 'cause the work I do is very fun....but this is a bit different. 

There are quilts that nudge and nag me.....quilts I want to make....no doubt hundreds of them!  I have oodles of patterns and kits all patiently waiting for me.  The kit or pattern I just bought is the one I'm most excited to make....until the next one comes along.  Sound familar?  Uh huh!  But there are those special quilts that stay with you....no forgetting about them 'cause you just have to make them. 

Well, I've begun to reorganize my scrap bins (this is yet another stage in the ongoing house renovation project!) and as I've been working thru the bins and piles trying to organize them, I've also been pulling fabrics for ongoing scrappy projects.   Some of these fabrics haven't seen the light of day in many years....but actually, that's nice because it's like seeing an old friend.  As I sort, I'm thinking.....oh....that will make a great basket (for the Blackbird Designs basket quilt I'm working on) and when I come across a narrow strip, I grab that one for a Courthouse Steps I'm working on....you get the idea.  Well....getting back to that quilt that keeps on nudging me.  When I was sorting, I started to make a pile for a Thimbles quilt I've been dying to make.  I just keep thinking about it. 

 



It all started with this book.  It's one of my all time favorites!   It combines small blocks, which I am crazy about, and stunning scrap quilts.

Guess what's in there??  This wonderful Thimble quilt called Rocky Mountain Thimbles.  It has 6,536 Thimbles in there.   Hhmmmm.....I'll aspire to this...but isn't it wonderful?  Ever since I bought the book, this quilt has tugged at me. 

Then....along came Tara Darr's new book, Simply Charming.  (See my post of January 25th to read more about Tara's book!). 

Guess what's inside?

Yup......another Thimbles quilt!  I love it.....I covet it....I want it!  More nudging and nagging.  Hhmmm...this time, I only need 380 Thimbles.  Very doable.  So, yesterday, after collecting a pile of scraps, I made my template and traced a bunch of Thimbles.  Last night, while watching TV, I cut them.

This morning.....I took an hour of recess from work to try my hand at making one row from the pattern in Tara's book.

Ta Da!  It was soooo fun!  I loved trying my hand at sewing something new....something I've never done before.  Not too bad for my first try!  I'm gonna love putting this little quilt together.  It won't be done anytime soon because I don't have anywhere near the 380 Thimbles cut out and ready to go, but that's ok.  I don't have all of my basket fabrics together either, but as I work on other projects and sort thru my scraps, I add to the pile.  And...I'll add to my Thimble pile, too. 

I like having long term projects to work on.  If I trace a bunch, I can cut them out while talking on the phone or watching TV.  It's also great to have a project that uses smaller scraps because you can make use of that last little bit instead of throwing it away.  These scrap quilts feel like freebies, too, don't they?  And....as Tara says, even the ugliest of fabrics look great when they're cut small and added to a scrap quilt.  Reproduction quilts need those "uglies" as they give them more of an authentic feel. 

One more thing I wanted to share with you.  Having the right tools for the job makes any job easier, right?  Well, recently, my girlfriends told me about the scissors you see on the left.  They're called Cutter Bee scissors.  They are very light weight, easy to handle and sharp, sharp, sharp.  Best of all, they're only $5.99 at JoAnn's!  You can find them in the scrapbooking dept.  (They may be available elsewhere, but that's where I got mine.)  Between the Fiskar's and Cutter Bee's my hands were never sore from cutting my Thimbles.

So....take my advice and take a little quilting recess.  Make a block you've been dying to try.  Start a new project and quiet those nagging urges.  If anyone gives you grief, just say Pam said I just have to do it!