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February quilting goals

It’s that time of the month when I attempt to be an over-achiever and list out some lofty sewing goals to complete this month. Last month I started out strong, but then a nasty cold derailed my progress. Hopefully this month will see better results. Here’s my game plan for the month: Quilt, bind and […]

Win three yards of flannel backing fabric

This month’s winner will receive three yards of 108-inch wide flannel backing fabric in a tan marbled print. That’s enough to back a queen-sized quilt. If you’re new to the Block a Day Challenge, here’s how it works. Sew one quilt block each day and post a photo of it to our Flickr group. Each […]

New classes in eastern Iowa this winter

I’ve added some new classes to my schedule in eastern Iowa this winter. If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you at one of the classes. I’m also available to come to guilds and quilt shops in the Midwest, so let me know if you’d like to schedule a class. For a complete […]

The Block A Day Challenge has begun!

Ladies and gentlemen, start your sewing machines. The Block A Day Challenge has begun and this month’s prize is three spools Coats and Clark Multicolor mercerized cotton. Each spool has 1,200 yards of Egyptian cotton thread on it, which is perfect for finishing your quilts. I love it for free motion quilting  because the variegated thread helps […]

2015 finishes

I was fortunate enough to complete quite a few projects in 2015, baby dresses, chalk paint projects and, of course, quilts. The later is what I will share with you in today’s look back at 2015 finishes. The first finish of the year was the Block of the Month 2014, one of the two versions […]

September BOM 2016 tutorial

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day! It doesn’t feel like it here in the Midwest where I am but fall will be here soon and that means it is quilting time again. This month’s Block of the Month pattern is a small one. Finishing at just three inches square, I opted to use […]

Just Hangin’ Around

This is the first in a series of crib quilt I’m working on that takes a modern twist on pictorial kit quilts that were popular in the mid-20th Century. I have a few of the antique crib quilts in my collection. They feature one large image that is appliqued, embroidered or both. Some are on […]

‘Sonoma Rose’ characters have an edge

I started reading Jennifer Chiaverini’s new Elm Creek Quilts novel, “Sonoma Rose” last night and couldn’t put it down. I plowed through half of the book before I decided I absolutely had to go to bed if I was going to be of any use today. Part of what has me so enthralled in Chiaverini’s […]

A few things I’m working on

I’ve been working on some new (and old) projects now that I’ve finished the patriotic T-shirt quilt for a client. I’ll post pictures of the quilt later, as my camera died the morning I delivered it. I’m finally starting to sew together the signature blocks that guests signed at my wedding in August. We had […]

A future quilter is on the way

I came home from my honeymoon and was convinced I was pregnant. So what’s a new quilter to do? Buy an entire line of fabric, of course. Well, it was a false alarm, but 4 years later it’s finally time to pull out my line of Aspen’s Line by Avlyn and design a quilt top […]