In the Meadow and Giveaway

Primitive Quilts and Projects is celebrating their 5th Anniversary with yet another beautiful installment of their one-of-a-kind magazine!  It's the Summer 2016 issue and it's now available both in stores and online through the PQP website.

And on page 46 of the magazine you'll find my In the Meadow table runner... 

When we first built our home in New Hampshire, we had a sunny patch of ground on the edge of our yard that I thought needed a bit of color.  So I bought a big container of wild flower seeds, roughed up the soil in the sunny patch, and shook out the seeds.  I'm not exactly a strong gardener, so I didn't hold out much hope for my $10 investment.  But to my surprise, the next year and every year since, that patch of land has yielded the most beautiful, colorful "wild" flowers!  We get daisies and black eyed Susans and lupine and some other yellow flower that I can't name because again, not a strong gardener, and of course, coneflowers.  And with the flowers come the dragonflies -- my inspiration for In the Meadow!

In the Meadow is the perfect quilt for a beginner and a fast project for a more advanced quilter.  The scrappy patchwork couldn't be simpler -- just raid your stash of greens and neutrals and start cutting.  The whipstitched wool appliqué is fast and easy and the stems are made by couching wool yarn.  To finish this quilt, I hand-quilted a cross hatch pattern on the background and I think it definitely adds to its timeworn appeal.

And now, as promised, to celebrate Primitive Quilts and Projects 5th anniversary, I'm hosting a giveaway!  If you'd like a chance to win a copy of PQP's gorgeous Summer 2016 issue, please leave a comment on this post by clicking the word "comments" below.  You'll be redirected to a "Post a Comment" window.  Once there, either scroll to the bottom of the window or click "Jump to Comment Form" and follow the directions to leave your comment.  This contest will remain open for a week and next Friday, May 6th, I'll draw one name at random, so please make sure I have your email address!

This contest is now closed.  Congratulations to Linda -- I hope you enjoy your Summer 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects!  And thanks to you all for your comments.  Remember, you can still purchase a copy of this beautiful magazine at PQP's website.

Happy quilting!

Beyond the Bottleneck

It's been a long winter and I've been churning through the quilts.  I LOVE machine piecing – so fast and so fun!  But now I'm in that tricky place where I've got a stack of quilt tops all awaiting finishing and the guilt is becoming more than I can bear.  

You know the drill – layer and baste, quilt as desired, bind.  Three simple steps.  No problem, right?  After all, you've already made all the big decisions about pattern and colors and fabrics.  You've already slogged through the cutting and pinning and piecing and you're looking at a finished quilt top.  Nearly there.  So close but yet soooooo far.  Because those three simple steps aren't simple at all.  Those three steps can be your undoing.  You've reached the bottleneck.

The problem is that finishing a quilt top gives you a pretty good sense of accomplishment midway through the process.  Your questions about whether or not you'll like the pattern or whether your chosen colors will play nicely together or whether you should have included that chartreuse green have now been answered.  The mystery, for the most part, has been solved.

To muster the energy to press on instead of starting the next project can be rough – all those new fabrics to play with, new blocks to try.  And this winter (ok, this year) I haven't been able to resist the siren's call of the next project and now my stack of finished quilt tops is 12 deep, not including the two basted quilts awaiting quilting and the two quilted quilts awaiting binding.  Hence the guilt.

It's a daunting pile of work, especially when I plan to finish a lot of it by hand, and it would be all too easy to reach for my rotary cutter instead of the batting.

But I remember what it feels like to FULLY finish a project.  To stitch down those last few inches of binding, bury the last knot, and set aside my needle.  To get up, shake out the quilt, and lay it out flat on the floor, finished.  To admire the clean, crisp edges of the binding and realize that, in fact, the quilting really does make the quilt.

And even though it's just another Wednesday night, you feel like trumpets should sound and fireworks should explode because you've finished!  You've used your imagination and your will to create something that did not exist before and it is gorgeous!  You stand there, hands on hips, gazing at your finished quilt and in that moment you feel like an artist, a rock star, maybe even a hero.

Joy, pride, triumph, and yes, relief, are all waiting beyond the bottleneck.  Press on.

Nor'easter Schmor'easter mini quilt - free pattern

It may say that it's now Spring on the calendar and it may be gloriously sunny for the moment, but baby, it's cold outside!  And with a nor'easter headed for New England (although maybe not quite as far inland as central New Hampshire), the colorful flowers that I'm longing to see still seem a long way off.  Once again, quilting comes to the rescue...

Here's a fast and fun little mini quilt that's charming hanging from a door knob or any place you'd like to see a bit of color.

I'm calling it my "Nor'easter Schmor'easter mini quilt" and here's the pattern:

You'll need:

Pink batik:  4 -- 2¼" x 2¼" squares

Yellow batik:  2 -- 2½" x 2½" squares, further cut once diagonally to form 4 triangles

Green batik:  2 -- 1½" x 2" rectangles

     1 -- 1½" x 3½" rectangle

     2 -- 2½" x 2½" squares

     1 strip 2¼" x 40" for binding

Ivory batik:  6 -- 1½" x 1½" squares

     2 -- 1½" x 2½" rectangle

     5 -- 2½" x 2½" squares, further cut once diagonally to form 10 triangles

First we'll tackle the stem and leaf portion of the quilt:

1.  On the back of 4 of the ivory batik 1½" x 1½" squares use a pencil to lightly draw a line diagonally from one corner to the other.

2.  Layer the 4 ivory batik 1½" x 1½" squares atop the 2 green batik 2½" x 2½" squares with right sides together as follows and stitch on the drawn lines.

3.  Press seams open towards the ivory batik and trim seam allowances to ¼".

4.  Stitch 1 ivory batik 1½" x 2½" to each of the units created in step 1-3 above.  Press seams open towards the ivory batik.

5.  Stitch together the units created in step 4 above and the green batik 1½" x 3½" rectangle as follows.  Press seams open towards the green batik "stem".

Now onto the flower portion of the quilt:

1.  Paper piece 4 petal units as follows using the remaining pink, yellow, green, and ivory patches.  Here's the link for petal unit 1 (bottom left); and the link for petal unit 2 (bottom right); and finally the link for petal unit 3 (top -- you'll make two of these units).  It might help to color the sections with colored pencils before starting to stay organized.  And if you're new to paper piecing, here's a link to a basic paper piecing tutorial on Craftsy.

2.  Stitch the 4 petal units together as follows:

3.  Finally stitch the flower unit to the stem/leaf unit, quilt as desired and bind.  I machine quilted just outside the edge of the flower, stem, and leaves using ivory thread.  I also quilted a diamond about ½" inside the yellow flower center to help it lie flat.

And that's it!  Make one flower or a garden of them!  No need to wait for Mother Nature!

Happy Spring!

You Can Take the Girl Away from her Quilts...

During my kids' winter break, we somehow managed to string together a couple of days without hockey practices or robotics or orthodontist appointments and we jumped at the chance to visit Boston.  Our goal was to leave everything behind -- including quilting -- but walking around Boston on a gorgeously warm day, I still manged to see quilts everywhere.

I saw this design painted on a stall in Downtown Crossing and thought of Amish quilts...

I saw this brick pattern on the sidewalk near the Boston Public Library and thought of square-in-a-square blocks...

I found this mosaic outside The Cheesecake Factory and thought of orange peel blocks (and of course cheesecake, but I kept on walking)...

And I saw this garland hanging in 10,000 Villages and thought of appliquéd flowers...

And then there were the colors.

This is the back of a rug I saw and the picture's not much to look at, but something about the colors grabbed my interest.

Back at home, I uploaded it into Play Craft's Palette Builder and after playing around for a bit, here's what I got...

Three gorgeous color palettes and all because the coral flower caught my eye.

Here's a necklace I found and although it's not exactly my style, the colorful tropical palette called to me.

I uploaded the necklace picture into the Palette Builder and discovered the lighter side of tropical...

And the darker side, hmmm almost jewel tones...

And finally, my favorite...

Shades of scarlet and green with an orangey-yellow thrown in for contrast.  Yum!

Finally I saw these darling little birds.  I love them both for their shapes (think an abstract appliqué pattern) and their soft, springy colors.

Here are two different versions of this quiet, restful palette -- I really love the butter yellow in both...

And here's a monochromatic green palette taken from the bird on the left...

So much color!  Can you tell I'm longing for Spring?!

And by the way, keep your phones handy -- you never know where the inspiration for your next project might come from!

Sew Sweet Pincushion

Here's a sweet little pincushion pattern just in time for Valentine's Day -- cutting it a bit close, aren't I!

You'll need:

• Floral print:  2 - 5" x 5" squares (I used two left over charm squares from the Regent Street collection by Sentimental Studios for Moda - yum)
• Ivory solid:  1 - 4" x 4" square
• foundation pattern* for 4½" x 4½" square in a square block -- click here for link.  When you print the foundation, make sure that it measures 5" from dotted line to dotted line (4½" from solid line to solid line).
• embroidery floss (I used pink (DMC's #3731), blue (DMC's #931), and ecru)
• 9" x 9" piece white flannel or thin batting
• fiberfill or other stuffing material
• also helpful:  washout marking pen, spray basting adhesive, embroidery hoop

 *  I paper pieced the square in a square block for accuracy.  If you're new to paper piecing, here's a link to Craftsy tutorial to get you started.

Assemble Pincushion:

1. Before paper piecing your block, take one of your print 5" x 5" squares and cut it diagonally from corner to corner twice.  You'll end up with 4 triangles.
2. Foundation piece your square in a square block covering section A1 with the ivory solid 4" x 4" square and sections A2, A3, A5, and A5 with the floral print triangles created in step 1 above -- if you use a scant ¼" to overlap the lines between the ivory solid section and the floral print sections, the triangles should be plenty big.
3. With paper side up, trim block on dotted lines.  The unfinished block should measure 4½" x 4½".  Remove paper from behind block.
4. Using your favorite method, transfer the embroidery design to your block.  I used a light box and a wash out marking pen.  Here's the link for the embroidery design.
5. Your block will be a bit small to embroider at this point, so it's best to baste it to a larger piece of flannel or thin batting.  I used spray basting adhesive to baste my block to the center of a 9" x 9" piece of white flannel.
6. Using an embroidery hoop, two strands of embroidery floss, and a backstitch, embroider the eight hearts on the block.  
7. Trim block with attached flannel to 5" x 5".
8. With right sides together, layer embroidered square in a square block and remaining floral print 5" x 5" square, matching all edges.
9. Stitch around all four sides using a ¼" seam allowance and leaving a small opening for turning.
10. Trim corners and turn the pincushion right side out.  Press lightly.
11. Stuff pin cushion as desired and use a blind stitch to sew the opening closed.

And that's it!  Two charm squares + a bit of stitching = one sweet pincushion! 

If you don't need another pincushion or you're out of fiberfill, leave this little project unstuffed after turning and sew the opening closed to make a charming mug rug!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Home Is Where the Heart Is

The Spring 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine is available now in bookstores and in quilt shops and it is GORGEOUS!

Even the cover is beautiful-- I think the fuchsia bricks and mums in the background of this picture are stunning!

Inside the pages of this yummy magazine, you'll find 16 inspiring projects that showcase a variety of materials and techniques.

And on page 94, you'll find my Home Is Where the Heart Is quilt...

Home Is Where the Heart Is is a fun and scrappy medallion quilt that features machine piecing, wool appliqué, and embroidery -- something for everyone.

There's a lot to this quilt, but when you break it down, the various blocks, embroidery, and wool appliqué are pretty simple.

Here's a close-up of the embroidery and wool appliqué.  I used only the Backstitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, and French Knots for the vine and lettering and the wool is appliquéd using embroidery floss and a Whipstitch -- fast and easy.

The complete instructions and templates for Home Is Where the Heart Is are included in the Spring 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine.  Check out the PQP website too, you'll find a gallery of project photos for all of their magazines, free patterns, and more!

p.s.  If you like the look of my Home Is Where the Heart Is quilt, you might want to give my Peace on Earth wall hanging a try.

It's also a skill-building project that features piecing, embroidery, and wool appliqué, and I shared the free pattern for this little quilt on my blog throughout the month of December (2015).

Happy Quilting!

Eye Candy

I'm working away on this unbelievably beautiful winter day, but I wanted to take a moment for a little show and tell.  I've just received one last Christmas present.  It's something that I picked out for myself and even though I used gift certificates from my family to buy it, it feels like a major splurge.

No, it's not jewelry or a new handbag or a new pair of boots -- although I did recently get a new pair of boots that actually make me feel like a better person.  Who knew?!

It's even better.

It's a fat quarter bundle of Kim Diehl's latest fabric collection Sunday Best, and it is AMAZING!!!

Here it is tied up in a sweet ribbon compliments of Fat Quarter Shop -- they do such a great job with their packaging!

Here's the flip side...

I had to force myself to untie the ribbon for a closer look.

Here is the dark side of the bundle...

And the lighter side...  Have a favorite?

I cannot imagine taking this bundle apart to pre-wash it, much less cut into it!

Here are the darks and lights side by side...

 

And here's the entire collection fanned out.

Be still my beating heart.