I shared the Flutterbye Butterflies pattern with Margery Tadder, an internet friend, a while ago. I asked her to keep it a secret until the book was closer to release. The book, 100 Whimsical Applique Designs, is available now for presale so it is time to share Margery’s Butterflies :-). I love it so much! At long last, I’m sending a picture of my butterflies using your lovely Flutterbye pattern. I’ll be 93 December 1st and compared to some of my contemporaries, am doing wondrously well. After surviving a long bout of pneumonia and slowly regaining energy, am back out and about and grateful f ..read more

Kathi Dineen sent me the story that goes with these 7 wonderful quilts… I have a Hand Appliquetion class every month. Last December I asked the ladies to bring a Christmas project—quilt table runner—pillow etc. I brought my Slice of Christmas quilt and all fell into “let’s do, it” Here you go 7 quilts finished this year!! Thank you for all you do-love your work!! Kathi at The Quilt Works, Albuquerque Linda and Kathi I love every one of these quilts! And how fun is it to see how different they are from each other :-). Lottie and Cheryl The Slice of Christmas book is out of print, but you ca ..read more

From Marian Phelps: I thought I would share my quilt with you.  I started it over 10 years ago in Virginia. My granddaughters would visit from Colorado every summer for several months. After work I would pick them up from the child minder and take them to the community pool. (Micky’s pool, as they called it). He was a friend who offered us free access to his community pool, his children had grown and no longer used it and he still had to pay for it as part of his homeowner’s dues. I would bring my Stars in the Garden blocks with me to hand applique, after watching your video ..read more

Mary Goyeau sent me these photos of her May Basket quilt for show and tell. Mary had never done applique before! I gave a presentation to Great Lakes Heritage Quilters last year, and that got her interested in appliqué. Well done, Mary! Thank you, Mary, for sharing your quilt and for letting me know that my presentation inspired you :-). Your applique looks good and your quilting stitches are lovely. I hope you continue to enjoy hand applique and quilting. It brings a special kind of happiness to your life. If you are interested in this digital pattern, click to find May Baskets on my websit ..read more

Renee Medley sent me pictures (and a letter!) in the mail with her show and tell. She wrote that her mother hand appliquéd this Thru Grandmother’s Window quilt top about 10 years ago but then passed away in 2016 before quilting it. Renee set quilting aside but, during the pandemic, began hand quilting again. This quilt is the 4th that she has finished in 2 years. Wonderful! Renee, your hand quilting is lovely. I know your mother must be smiling down on you. And what a joy it must be to sleep under. Thank you for sharing your quilt and your story with me. May you continue to have many happy s ..read more

Diane Rickenbach wrote to say: I have finally completed my version of your My Whimsical Quilt Garden pattern. I started collecting fabrics for it in 2014. The appliqué was my hand sewing project to take to quilt group gatherings for several years. During Covid lockdown I finished the last few blocks at home, created the borders, assembled the quilt top and machine quilted on my stationary machine. It was completed in time to display in the Palmetto Quilt Guild’s quilt show this weekend on Hilton Head Island, SC. I love this quilt and have hung it in my breakfast room. What a cheery way to sta ..read more

Pam Hill was in my Birds in Toyland class and she finished her quilt… Isn’t it wonderful! Birds in Toyland, made by Pam Hill I love the way she wrote ‘Merry Christmas’. The pattern for Birds in Toyland is included in my class on Creative Spark. The book with all of the patterns will be out Spring 2022. Click here to find the class ..read more