Exciting things have been happening here lately.  In fact I've felt like I've been on a bit of a roller coaster ride with all the ups and downs of these exciting events.  First up, I finished quilting and binding this little Simply Charming Quilt.  You can find the tutorial for this easy charm square quilt here.  Next I packed up all my quilts, blog posts, and tutorials and moved them to my new website.  And like any move there were a few bumps along the way.  Fortunately I think we have all the kinks worked out.  And we are settling in.   Tomorr ..read more

Relieve the stiffness that can occur while you enjoy quilting.  These stretches are easy, work well, and can be done without leaving your sewing machine. Watch my five minute video.  Feel great!  And sew more ..read more

Before our lives were interrupted by the corona virus I would baste my quilts at the senior center with my Tuesday girls.  Now that that is not an option, I've had to alter things a little bit.  Let me share.  To baste your quilt you will need the parts of your quilt sandwich; top, back, and batting.  A large table, I have a banquet size table.  If using your dinning table you might want to put something down to protect the finish.  You will also need clips or clamps and lots of safety pins.  Make sure your clips are large enough to take in the thickness of y ..read more

I'm having so much fun playing with hsts.   These versatile little units bring me hours of joy.  If you get my newsletter You've received quilt options for each of these blocks.   In fact you've received two options for block four.  The corona virus has my brain a little mixed up.  At least that is what I'm blaming it on. I also took a friend their birthday present a week early, at least it wasn't late.  Because I had my days/weeks mixed up.  I'll give options 5 & 6 in the next newsletter.  If you've missed the previous quilt layouts.&nb ..read more

Nothing relaxes me more than making improvisational blocks from my scrap bins.  There is just something about mindlessly pulling scraps from my bins and sewing them together than eases my mind.  I get in the zone and hours can pass.  Before I know it I have a bunch of happy blocks.  That is what happened with my Scrap Bin Challenge.  Pull, sew, trim, pull sew trim.  Before I knew it this man quilt was done.  It finishes at 60" x 72".  I'm planning on giving it to my daughter's friend's father.  Her was recently diagnosed with cancer.  So a qui ..read more

I love all the pretty pictures I can take with my quilts in spring.  My sister, Becky, has a few ideas of places we can take more pictures; one with lilacs, the other mountain wild flowers.  Don't they both sound divine?  I have a little time before these flowers will bloom.  So I my goal is to get a few more quilts made.  Yesterday I pulled these fabrics.  Most of them are from the new line Bungalow, by Amy Gibson for Windham fabrics.  You can find this and other great fabric at the Fat Quarter Shop.  I bought a fat quarter bundle of it when I was at ma ..read more

I've been blessed with a wonderful mother who taught me to create.  It is very important to her.  She taught me to sew, cook, garden.  She even tried to teach me to paint.  That was not so successful.  Every year she helped us to create something to enter in the fair.  It was so rewarding when we won ribbons.  My first sewing machine came from my mom winning at the state fair.  I don't enter things in the fair anymore.  But I do love to create.    This little quilt in progress was inspired by my mother's desire to help her children d ..read more

As I've said before I love to draw on traditional quilt and find ways I can make them new.  I find the Dresden Plate to be one of those traditional blocks that lends itself to this practice.   This sweet little pillow is made from a Dresden my great grandmother made.  It is such a treasure to me.  I remember my grandma telling me how they would order bags of scraps and sometimes there would be a large enough piece to make a dress for my grandma.  I'm sure these blades were made from the smaller pieces in those bags. Over the years I've enjoyed teaching classes o ..read more

Every year I am so thankful to Sarah and all her readers.  Through her Hand 2 Help program I am able donate hundreds of quilts to valiant cancer patients.     Soon beautiful quilts will start showing up on my doorstep.  Quilters are super heroes.  I know these quilts bring love, comfort and tons of hope to those who receive them.   I've created this button.  In case, you would like to add it to your blog.  Let people know that during this time of social distancing you are giving some pretty awesome hugs.  If money is tight feel free to ..read more

I've got the words for another quote form Dieter F. Uchtdor's talk, Happiness, Your Heritage.  Since I can't decide on a quote.  I've decided to do a series of quilts.  I now have words done for two of them.  Ideas are churning on how to finish each.  I'm soooo excited!!!!  I hope to have a least one done for my birthday and the end of The Proverbial Quilt Along. In addition to making words I've also had a little fun making wonky log cabin blocks for the Scrap Bin Pull Challenge.  You can see my scrap pull here. So far I have a dozen blocks.  Six mo ..read more