Ready for Fall??

So I walked out to the mailbox today, opened it up to find this waiting for me...

...and did a happy dance right there in the street that probably scared away the wildlife and definitely shocked my neighbors.  "Why?" You may ask.  Well, the latest issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects has arrived—certainly reason enough for a happy dance—and this one is special.  See that table runner on the cover??  It's mine!!  Woo-hoo!!

I'm thrilled not only because I LOVE Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine, and to have one of my quilts on the cover is such an honor, but also because the photo of my quilt is just so beautiful! 

So let me give you the details.  The quilt is my Cozy Cabins table runner and you can find the complete pattern on page 12 of the Fall 2016 issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects—available now both online through the PQP website and wherever quilting magazines are sold.  I made Cozy Cabins with homespun, woven, and brushed flannel fabrics from my stash and embellished the outer border with wool appliqué leaves and acorns.  Here's a closer look:

Kind of makes you want to pull on a sweater and curl up with a mug of hot apple cider and a good book, doesn't it?  Seriously though, it's way too hot out there for a sweater and hot cider!  But it's not too soon to start a fall project!  Happy quilting!

Happy!! - Free Mini Charm Pack Pattern

I can't believe it's already July!  To celebrate summer, I've got a new project to share with you—it's my Happy!! table runner, and it's a featured recipe today at the Moda Bake Shop.

This little quilt is so easy and so much fun to make.  I made the square in a square blocks in the center of the quilt with a bit of white background fabric and two mini charm packs of "Brighten Up!" fabric by Me and My Sister Designs—gorgeous fabrics that remind me, for some reason, of rainbow sherbet!

But what really makes this quilt sing, and what made me happy enough to name the quilt Happy!!, is the cheerful embroidered flowers.

I used two strands of floss and a backstitch to embroider the flowers and I loved watching each one emerge.  In fact, I enjoyed making Happy!! so much, that I made it twice.  Here's my second version made with April Rosenthal's "Meadowbloom" fabric—this one makes me think of sunshine.

Happy!! is a great take along project—perfect for summer.  I've been carrying my quilt and floss around with me and embroidering whenever I have a few minutes of downtime.  I stitched the "Meadowbloom" version of the quilt while sitting on a grassy patch overlooking the Connecticut River during my son's crew practices.  Bliss!

The free tutorial for Happy!! is available at the Moda Bake Shop.  My tutorial includes instructions for making the square in a square blocks two ways—paper pieced and traditionally pieced.  I've also included a quick how-to for the backstitch, so you should find everything you need all in one place.

Happy!! Quilting!