A Little Summer Baking

Strawberry Coffee Cake Muffins

I come from a long line of bakers.  My grandma and my aunts were all excellent bakers.  I love to cook and especially love to bake.  Probably because I love eating the stuff, and quite frankly, store bought doesn't hold up to home baked.  

Being that berry season is just beginning, I wanted to share this wonderful recipe for Strawberry Coffee Cake Muffins with you.  If you like to bake, you will LOVE this recipe!
They taste like the muffins my grandma used to make.  You can make them with just about any fruit....it doesn't have to be strawberries.  But, I love to make them with strawberries because there are so few recipes that use them.  

The batter is made with buttermilk.  You don't have to use buttermilk but you should.  Something magical happens in baked goods when sour cream or buttermilk are used.  The results are just that much better!  It's worth it.  

Some of the berries get mixed into the batter and then more are sprinkled on top.  The muffins have a delicious crumble topping....oh, what's not to love?!!!

They are absolutely delicious!!!  Recipe makes 12 muffins.  If you don't gobble them up in a day or two, they can be frozen.

Click here for the Strawberry Coffee Cake Muffin recipe and let me know what you think if you make a batch!  

Happy Berry Season!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Can you believe it's been 21 weeks since we began in January?  We're making great progress!

Just keep sewing, just keep sewing, just keep sewing........

Kansas City Market Review

I think I've finally adjusted to a normal schedule after the whirlwind that is quilt market.  Early rising and going to bed late is all part of the experience.  Going to bed late is not my norm, but who's gonna miss out when there's fun to be had?!

Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue   Designed by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts

I'm so, so jazzed that Tokens of the Past: Gathering in Blue was a success.  Everyone loved them!  I will have them on the website very soon along with the option of a kit with all the exact fabrics I used in mine.  Just waiting for the precuts to be delivered.  

Tokens of the Past: Two Color Classics    Designed by Pam Buda for Heartspun Quilts

I brought my Tokens: Two Color Classics quilts as they had not been seen other than at Houston market.  Click here to see the kits for all three of these quilts!

Same goes for Plantation Stars.  Took a lot of orders on both of them.  

Did you know kits are available for Plantation Stars?  I used many of the blues from Mrs. Miller's Apprentice!  You can find the kits here.

Stars Over Union Hill   Designed by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts

 Stars Over Union Hill did catch a lot of attention with it's unique wool star blocks.  Many shop owners took the patterns back to the shop with them.  You can also order the pattern here.

Scrappy Letters From Grace  Designed by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts

Lastly, Scrappy Letters From Grace made its debut to an interested audience.  Market attendance was pretty good so a lot of shop owners stopped in.  Friday and Saturday were quite busy.  I always love meeting everyone and putting faces to names I only hear on the phone.  

As you visit your local quilt shops, please ask for these items there.  It is always very important to support your local shops!  Without you, they won't continue to exist!!  So important!!  

And now, for the winning comments from last week's blog.  Here are two comments for two winners.  Each win a copy of both Stars Over Union Hill and Scrappy Letters From Grace.  

ThreadCatcher commented.......

I like the scrappy re-make of your pattern. Scrappy quilts are the best! Thanks for the chance at your giveaway

 Sewing Rose commented....

Scrappy Letters from Grace is a Super Dazzle on point! I will make it! Hope I have enough of the correct size 4 patch already done! And if not I'll make more....

Please email your name and mailing address to Pam@HeartspunQuilts.com so I can get those patterns right out to you!  

Thanks for all the comments.  They all mean a lot to me!

Hope you can find some time to stitch today and do your heart and soul some good!  

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Here's this weeks batch of beauties.  Have you seen fabrics you've used in your blocks?  Some you've never seen before?

I'm wondering if you tried the Best Press tip I shared last week??  Let me know what you think?

Scrappy Letters From Grace ~ A New Twist on a Old Favorite!

I decided to make-over one of my favorite patterns, Letters From Grace.

Letters From Grace, as you can see, was originally designed for a two color quilt.  I've made this quilt in plums and in greens.   I love this pattern and it's easy, peasy.


I adore this star block and have always wanted to try it with scrappy fabrics.

So that's what I did!




I changed the name so there wouldn't be any confusion when ordering the pattern.  Scrappy or two color......it's a really great quilt to make.  I hope you like the new scrappy version as much as I do.  Change the border colors if you like and make it your own!!  

Quilt size is 59 3/4 x 72 3/4.   Patterns are ready to go and you can order yours here.

Post a comment on my blog (no email comments, please) to win a copy of both of my new patterns, Scrappy Letters From Grace AND Stars Over Union Hill!!  I'll pick a winner May 22nd when I return from market.  

Stay tuned for the new Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue pattern coming soon!  

As you're reading this, I'm at quilt market in Kansas City.   I'll try to post pictures on Facebook and Instagram where you can see a lot of my new stuff and much, much more!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks & A Great Tip!

Here's this weeks blocks.  Coming soon....a noticeable improvement to the photos.

A week ago, I was giving a few workshops at Sauder Village in Ohio and we were trading hints and tips.  I picked up a wonderful tip from two ladies who are big time fabric starchers (girls after my own heart!)  Note: they starch their fabric as yardage before they cut.  That's very important!!  Here's what they shared with us.....

  We all have those moments when, despite our best pressing efforts, a seam does not want to lay flat.

They use Mary Ellen's Best Press to help.  What is important is that you choose the bottle with the finger pump spray (not the handle spray) because it emits a very fine mist over the seam.

I misted these seams, and boy....they stayed flat as a board!

Easy, peasy!  So get on over to your Local Quilt Shop and buy some.  Oh, and while you're there....peruse the aisles for some new shirtings and prints.  Your stash can always use to be fed and it keeps our quilt shops in business!!  

Pass it on....it's a very good thing!  

Introducing Stars Over Union Hill

I'm so jazzed to finally begin showing you my new patterns!  This is a project that has been a long time coming.  I think I began making the pieced blocks 5 years ago.  Yes!  5 years!  I made them from extra Half Square Triangles and squares that I cut up while making other projects, so I just worked on it here and there.  Finally, last year I had made all the pieced blocks and set about making the stars.  Don't you just love those stars???  

I love them because they are so different.  The stars and the half rounds are all done in wool.  The look of wool and cotton is such a great combination.  

I named the pattern from the many stars that are seen in early American structures and on barns.  There's a little star history in the pattern for your enjoyment.

 Oh, and I made a little pinkeep, too!  The pattern includes instructions and templates for both the quilt and the pinkeep.  

The pattern is ready to go so if you'd like to put your scraps to good use...you can order the pattern here.

Hope you like Stars Over Union Hill as much as I do.  Now that it's done, it was so worth the wait!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks - Ooops!

I checked my blog and realized I forgot to post block photos on Monday.  I thought I had taken care of that before I went out of town.  Too busy lately.  Sorry I forgot.  I think I'm back on track with the block postings, but if not...forgive me!  

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Sauder Village, a living history museum in Archbold, OH.  I gave lectures and did a few workshops to a great group of women.  What a pleasure spending the day with quilters as we learn and share our passion for quilting with one another! Really loved meeting everyone there.  

While I had some spare time, I wandered around the quilt show.  Gorgeous quilts on display for all to enjoy.  I turned the corner and was shocked to see Mrs. Miller's Apprentice on a quilt frame being hand quilted while we watched!!!  

I don't hand quilt much as I'm a beginner, and have never sat at a frame like this.  I was totally intrigued!  It was so great to talk with the ladies who were hand quilting.  They had a lot of  quilting experience for sure and I just tried to soak it all in.  Love watching their hands quilt as women have for a hundred years plus!

I L*O*V*E the border design they chose.  So sweet and perfect for how the two borders meet. 

There is a whole lot to do at Sauder Village.  The quilt shop is on premises inside the village with acres of old buildings and homes with reenactors working with wood, spinning wool, making things as they would have way back when.  There is full restaurant, and a bakery that sells yummy cookies, oh, and the pies are to die for!  You can stay at the Sauder Heritage Hotel as well.  If you get a chance, don't miss visiting.  By the way....a little birdie told me Lisa Bongean is next year's national teacher!

Back to market prep.  Watch for 3 new pattern releases very soon!!  

Talk About Being Surprised!!

I've been a dedicated subscriber to American Patchwork & Quilting magazine for more than 20 years.  It is my favorite quilting magazine because there's usually a quilt I pine over, many I have made, and I find the articles to be very helpful and entertaining. 

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

As I browsed the inspiring pages of the June, 2019 issue (on newsstands now), I came upon this gorgeous quilt.  I wasn't surprised to read that it was designed and made by my dear friend, Tara Lynn Baisden of Quilters Ridge.  

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

As I turned the page, I was stunned to read the dedication above.  Seriously....you could have blown me over with a feather!  I had no idea that my sweet friend, Tara did this.  Apparently, it was in the works for a long time.  How did everyone keep this secret??  

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

She named the quilt Heartspun Friendship and is all made with fabrics I have designed for Marcus Fabrics.  Isn't the quilt stunning?  What a really great scrap quilt!

I was brought to tears to say the least.  I didn't know what to say and still kinda don't.  This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done in my honor.  Totally unexpected.  Tara dedicated it to our friendship and now I'd like to tell you a bit about Tara.

We met many years ago, I think at quilt market one year.  I was totally drawn to her work as she sure has an eye for color and design.  I soon learned that we only lived about 30 minutes from each other.  We arranged to meet for lunches and dinners to chat and then joined our local quilt guild together.  She is so easy to talk to and such fun.  We laughed a lot and found a kindred spirit in each other in that we both love traditional quilts and historic fabrics.  We've shopped and antiqued together and shared life's challenges.  

If you're not familiar with Tara's work, you need to!!  She has authored many books and designed more quilts than I could count.  She has been featured in many magazines, and currently has  no less than 3 quilts in magazines at the moment....with one on the cover!  Her eye for design and color is so, so good, and I am her biggest fan!  She posts so many fun things on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  How she finds all this good stuff, I don't know, but we all get to enjoy it, for sure.  She hand pieces and hand quilts, too, and comes by it from a long family history of quilters.  About 5 years ago, Tara moved to West Virginia to be closer to family. 

They say that into every life a little rain must fall and Tara has had more than her share of rainy days.  Several years ago, she was in a car accident, hit by a young man who was texting.  Her injuries were catastrophic.   Those of us who love her and still live here weren't able to help her much with day to day living.  I knew her family was taking care of her, but I still wanted to help.  I did what any friend would do....I showed support for my friend going through a rough time. 

I was not surprised in the least that Tara handled her life then as she does now with great perseverance and strength, grace and dignity.  She is back to piecing by hand and machine, designing and hand quilting at a rate that I can't believe!!  I am overjoyed that she is so active in the quilting community as we're all the better for it.  This girl is on fire and doing well!!  Yay!

Thank you, Tara, my sweet friend.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.  

You're sure to enjoy Tara's work, so check her out at Quilters Ridge.  She has a blog, and as I said, nearly daily posts on Instagram and Facebook that are fun and inspiring.  

Tell the dear friends in your life how much they mean to you.  And, thank you, my dear readers, for being there for me.  I truly appreciate you!

Be sure to buy a copy of the June, 2019 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine for yourself!  It's at your LQS and newsstands right now.