The Sunday Sew and Sews meet at my house once a quarter for friendship and to show off progress on their Feathered Star quilts. Read more about that project here: FEATHERED STARS PERFECTLY PAPER PIECED Part 1  As this was the weekend just before the total eclipse, three of our group had gone "eclipse seeking", two to Texas, one to Kentucky. They all saw a great sight, and I am glad for them. Here is our Show and Tell: Cheryl's Patchwork Barn top ready for quilting Donna's precise Feathered Star, the first of many Victoria's Roger and Rita, a loving pair ..read more

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of my blog with timely news you might enjoy: The news is out! My story of how I lost 110 pounds is featured in an upcoming issue of Woman’s World magazine. The April 29, 2024 issue hits newsstands very soon for just one week.  Here are teaser photos of the issue: My son, professional photographer Joshua Black Wilkins, was the photographer, hired by the magazine. Hair and makeup was done by the incomparable Chelsea Thompson. I felt like a model and the images are superb. Here are some “behind the scenes” shots my husband took at the recent photo shoot in Josh ..read more

 My local guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville AL recently had our every-other year quilt show. Held at the Von Braun Center, this show has a great reputation as one not to be missed if you are anywhere in the Southeast USA. This show didn't disappoint. More than 200 quilts were entered in the judged show. There were several Special Exhibits, and a lot of great vendors. Here is a sampling of the quilts and the show. In no particular order: Core Values  Elaine Wick Poplin Blue Star Baby Sam Swieszcz Karma  Trish Harmon Best of Show Patty ..read more

 For 5 years I have hosted a Retreat at the Red Rooster Retreat Center in Crane Hill, AL. This year I missed it because my flight home from EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR was canceled due to weather. I got stuck for two extra nights in Dallas. So the SECRET PLAN to have me surprise everyone by showing up unexpectedly was for naught.  But it looks like they had a great time. These photos were shared with me. And we did FACETIME  a couple times. Enjoy! Conna One part of the room Cyndi Julie Kathy--who makes everything run smoothly ..read more

 PICK A PETAL is the 2024 Block of the Month quilt designed by Jen Kingwell exclusively for The Quilt Show. It is FREE to Star Members, join today to take advantage of this great bonus. WATCH Jen's Show to see how she makes this quilt--it is FREE for EVERYONE all of 2024: Jen Kingwell Show 3401 This month we make the Log Cabin blocks from light neutrals/low volume prints. They will form a border that gets lots of applique and embroidery embellishment.  Jen's blocks from her quilt: The idea is to use very low contrast fabrics for the log cabins so the embellishments ..read more

 Recently I had a BUCKET LIST experience, teaching at EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS. There is so much to share I will write two blogs--this one on the event and another on the class I taught. This is the 39th year for Empty Spools Seminars. I have always wanted to attend but couldn't for various reasons. When I was recommended for Faculty there, more than two years ago, I knew this was my dream come true. Asilomar Conference Center is 105 acres on the Monterey Peninsula, built in 1913. Originally a YWCA center, much of the property was designed by Julia Morgan, the first woman architect in C ..read more

As this posts, I am at my Joyful Journey Retreat, #5, at Red Rooster Retreat Center in Crane Hill, AL. My attendance there is a SECRET--only my friend and co-conspirator Kathy R knows I am going to arrive two days late. From February 29-March 7, 2024 I was teaching FULL CIRCLE at Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar Conference Center in CA. There will be a BIG post about that next week. So today I am encouraging you to look at this previous post from 11 years ago about the LESSONS TO LEARN FROM AN OLD QUILT--click on this LINK to find it:  Antique Ohio Star Chri ..read more

As this posts, I am teaching at EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR  at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove CA. I am sure we are having an awesome time, more than 20 students with me for 5.5 days learning to make FULL CIRCLE. The pattern is by Wendy Williams and has a lot to teach. I am sure I will have much to report when I get home. The Sunday Sew and Sews are a group of friends who meet at my home to support and encourage each other with quilting projects. Usually we are working on one project, the Block of the Month from The Quilt Show, for example. It's fun to see how everyone ..read more

 PICK A PETAL is the 2024 Block of the Month quilt designed by Jen Kingwell exclusively for The Quilt Show. It is FREE to Star Members, join today to take advantage of this great bonus. WATCH Jen's Show to see how she makes this quilt--it is FREE for EVERYONE all of 2024: Jen Kingwell Show 3401 Month 3 introduces Block 2, a unique block with curves and petals, ideally made with hand piecing: Jen's block from the sample quilt, all hand pieced  I studied this block for a while, trying to find an easy way to machine piece it. I made several:  1. Complete ..read more

 This is a little "class" on making Feathered Star blocks with a paper foundation. Find the first lesson here: PART 1 My block is now done. Let me show you how I did it: Once all the units are made, I laid them out where they go. The paper is still on the back of each unit now: Starting with one diagonal row I removed the paper from units just before sewing those units. Tweezers can help remove tiny bits of paper that may be stuck in seam allowances. Joining these two units shows how those outer edges fit perfectly with the blunted off corners printed on the pattern: Once those units ..read more