Quilting & Cruising ~ A Very Fine Combo!

Back row: Paula Barnes and me.  Front row: Connie Tesene and Mary Ellen Robison

My hubby and I just returned from a very fine week sailing the Caribbean on a quilting cruise.  Hubby did not sew of course, but had a wonderful time.  He was definitely not the only quilter's husband on board as many spouses came along.  I taught class along with fellow Marcus Fabrics designer Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts.  Connie Tesene of Country Threads rounded out the teaching staff as we sailed, sewed and visited with 100 quilters from all over.  I tell ya, teaching and spending the day with quilters is a fine day, indeed!

Quilting cruises are much more than just sewing (although who doesn't want to sew everyday, all day long and have meals included?!)  Connie brought a trunk show of the new quilts in her new book, Beyond the Battlefield, with co-author Mary Etherington.   Oh....I wanted to make them all!! 

We have classes the days we are at sea.  When we're in port, you can visit the sights, take an excursion, or sew.   We had never been to Jamaica before so we went exploring.  It was lovely!

Grab some friends and treat yourself to a week of quilting luxury!  There were several ladies who came alone and within hours, made new friends and had the best time.  Our cruise was produced by Stitchin' Heaven Travel.  Click here to see all the cruise offerings they have coming up.  

I wanted to invite you to join me in just a few weeks at Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio.  They are having their annual quilt show with vendors and workshops.  I will be teaching two classes, giving Schoolhouse lectures and a trunk show.  There are still a few spots open in the workshops.  Sauder Village is a living history museum.  What a great place to have a quilt show!   Click here for all the details.  I would sure love to meet you!  

Better get back to my To-Do list.  Have a wonderful day!  

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Back home from a very fun trip cruising with 100 wonderful quilters (More about the cruise in my next post) I did as I said....and absconded with lots of fabric scraps for more blocks.  I don't know about you, but I adore making these blocks.  We may all need a 12 step program after our quilts are complete.  

Aw, heck.....If we're happy making blocks, why stop? Right!  Therapy comes in many forms!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

I'm back from the cruise.  Had a wonderful time and I did beg, borrow and steal (well, not steal exactly) some scraps for more blocks.  Yay!  More scrappy happiness!  Did you make more blocks this week?  Off to starch, cut and sew some more.....

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Here are this weeks blocks.  While you're reading this, I am cruising the Caribbean teaching and no doubt having a blast with fellow Marcus pals Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts.  If you've never attended a quilting cruise, it really is a load of fun!  Think about joining us sometime.

There are no less than 100 quilters on this trip, all of whom brought fabric on board.  I think I'll stroll past them and see if they have any scraps I can use for more blocks!  Always on the lookout for more and more prints!  I'm shameless.

Jane ~ Before and After

This is Jane.  She's named after the nineteenth century best selling book, Jane Eyre.

She's featured on the cover of my Vintage Patchwork book for Martingale Publishing.

I came across this photo I took while I was piecing Jane.  It's just amazing how the squares shrink when you piece a small little quilt like this.  

I also wanted to show you how that you can certainly make the projects in the book anyway you'd like to.  These cuties were made by Valerie Langue, owner of The Quilt Merchant.  She made Scarlet (left) and Jane (right) out of Mrs. Miller's Apprentice fabrics.  Love them!

You might ask.....what would I do with a 5 inch quilt?  Well....several things come to mind.  I  attached a ribbon to the back of Jane.   Sometimes, I tuck the ribbon between pages of a large, old book (like a bookmark) and she is displayed in front of the book.  At the moment, I've taped her to this antique cutting board in my kitchen.  I think it makes a great display....a little patchwork always warms things up and adds color!

I used the new (to me) Wall-Safe tape.  It works just like a Post-It note as it sticks well, but leaves no residue behind.  It doesn't damage anything either.  Great stuff!

Tiny, bookshelf size quilts are quite versatile.
I love displaying them in places you wouldn't expect and I hope I've inspired you to give them a try. 

You can get a copy of  my Vintage Patchwork book here.  There are twelve small projects all made from just one 10 x 10 precut of my Pam's Prairie Basics fabric collection.  Or, as you can see, you can make them from fabrics of your choosing!

Any day spent quilting is a good day!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

If you're like me, every moment I was making my Circa Nine Patch blocks, I wanted more and more and more variety of fabrics.  My appetite for scrappy was insatiable!  If you're craving tons more fabric....trade blocks!  Oh....and I may have a fix in store for you.  Sixteen new Circa Essential Basic prints are coming soon.....and I love them all!!!!  Can't wait to share them with you.

Happy Stitches....have a great week!

Feeling A Little Blue is a Good Thing!

A few weeks ago, we sold out of my Mrs. Miller's Apprentice fat quarter bundles, but am happy to say, they're back in stock!

In this case, being in a blue mood isn't a bad thing at all!  Teehee!

And, there's a bunch of pretty lights for your truly sunny side.  

You can find Mrs. Miller's Apprentice yardage and bundles at your local quilt shop and right here.  

Last Friday, I happily put the finishing touches on the manuscript for my second book for Martingale.  Oh....I am so jazzed about this book!  It will be out next spring sometime.  Seems like so long to wait, doesn't it?  But, considering all the work that goes into creating the beautiful books they do, transforming a pile of type written pages into the glorious color filled books we love, we have to be patient and give them time.  Sigh...so hard to wait!

In the meantime, I'm making progress (with lots of help from Debbie) on three new patterns.  Tokens of the Past: Gathering In Blue is nearly done.  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for a few sneak peeks!  

There are no less than three new fabric lines in production as well.  I'll begin another next month sometime.  There's always something new brewing around here.  We have to keep our fabric stashes well fed.  Wink, wink!

With the manuscript now complete, I'm back to my early morning sewing.  I love starting the day that way.  It makes me feel so centered and happy.  I'm still making (read can't stop making!!) Circa 1880 Nine Patch blocks and never get tired of them.  They are such a happy, easy block to make.  I'm also sewing pieces for a new quilt (not a quilt in this new batch) as leader/enders with my morning sewing.  I feel like I get so much done before 9am!!

Well....back to getting things done for spring market.  Hope Spring has arrived at your doorstep!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Here are this week's cutie Circa 1880 Nine Patch blocks.  Off to make some more!

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

As you continue making your blocks, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter where you'll find out about anything new coming from my Heartspun Quilts studio!  It's easy!  Just visit my website and on the home page, scroll down to find the "Newsletter Sign Up envelope".  Enter your email address and that's it!  

All the folks that are signed up for my newsletter heard about The Circa 1880 Club before anyone else!!  You can sign up to receive my blog posts via email, too!  Scroll down and look for "Follow By Email" on the right hand side bar.  That's it!!  

I also invite you to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, too!  

Hope this week's blocks help inspire you!  

Happy National Quilting Day!

Happy National Quilting Day!!  

What's not to love about celebrating our life's passion?  Hope you all get to spend some time with needle and thread.

Last week when I was visiting the East Pasco Quilters in FL, several of my new quilting friends came to the workshop wearing this T shirt.  I loved it and had to have one!  

Even better....it's made by Life Is Good, so you know the quality and how super soft their T shirts are.  

They come in several colors and sizes XS to XXXL.  So, treat yourself to a new T shirt on this day of quilting celebration.  Shop here.

Life Is Good and I'm so happy to have you all in my life.  

I'm off to spend some time in my sewing room....

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

You know if you have made more than 20 blocks, you can begin piecing a row together.  You should!  It feels good to see those blocks sewn into a row and will give you a great sense of satisfaction in seeing progress.

Keep those blocks coming!!  Your quilt will be so beautiful and you're making a fantastic quilt that will be an heirloom forever.

Mrs. Miller on the Plantation

With the arrival of my new Mrs. Miller's Apprentice fabrics, I pulled together a new mix of blues to make kits for my
Plantation Stars pattern!

Gosh, I love this quilt!

There's a very pretty range of prints.....

And a gorgeous range of shades for all those stars to sparkle!  (The lighting makes them look much lighter than they really are.) 

I chose this floral for the border as it has all different shades of blues and ties the quilt together so well!  

Click here to read more details about the Plantation Stars quilt kit.  

Tomorrow, I'm heading for a much warmer climate!  At home today in Chicago, it's -12 temperature, so the 80's in Florida sound wonderful!  I'll be there giving a lecture and a bunch of workshops in the Tampa area for the East Pasco Quilters this Friday and Saturday.  So, come on and join the fun!!  

I'm also working toward the deadline later this month to submit the manuscript for book #2 for my next book with Martingale, and then there's the tax returns (groan) that are due.  

I'm also working on piecing the blocks together for a new, very different, large quilt called Stars Over Union Hill that is very scrappy and has some wool applique!  Ohhhh...fun stuff!

 And, at the same time, working on a new Tokens of the Past pattern, called Gathering in Blue, with three quilts made from a 10 inch precut of Mrs. Miller's Apprentice and border yardage.  Loving those 3 little cuties!  And...if time allows, maybe one or two more quilts before market in May.  

So...I'd better get packing.  The signs of spring are here somewhere.  The clocks change this weekend, and it's the beginning of Lent and Punchkie time (I know I didn't spell that correctly, but you know what I mean!)  Now, if Mother Nature could see to warmer weather....

Be Well and Stitch Happy!!  

Club Meeting Pics & Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

 Block Trade at Pieceful Gatherings Quilt Shop, Fox River Grove, IL

I thought you'd enjoy seeing the awesome block trade that took place last week at the Circa 1880 Club meeting at Pieceful Gatherings Quilt Shop in Fox River Grove, IL.  (That's my friend Karen on the right...she and I traded blocks while making my quilt!)  It's an amazing pile of sweet uneven Nine Patch blocks!!!  In addition to club members in the shop, they had members who also sent blocks by mail to trade as well!!  This is everything I had imagined when I created this club!!!  Makes me so happy to see so many enjoying this process, knowing wonderful, scrappy quilts will be made from them all!!  

Here's this week's look at more of the blocks in my quilt.

If you would like to find out more about the Circa 1880 Club, click here.

To find a participating Circa 1880 Club quilt shop, click here.

Circa 1880 Nine Patch Blocks

Fabric......piecing.......pressing.......Happiness!!