Orphan Block Sampler

Do you have THAT box?... you know, the one with all the orphaned blocks from past quilts? I've had it in my head for quite some time now to make good use of a few of the blocks that had been packed away in THAT box. I was first inspired to make an orphan block sampler from Julie... I just needed to accumulate enough blocks that didn't make the cut were set aside for their special day. It was actually quite fun to pull them out again and think about what had inspired me to make each one of them in the first place.  You might even recognize a few from some of my previous projects. These first two blocks are actually from my most recent finish... any ideas? ... yup, that's Tiptoe...

Read More

March Design Wall

Before I share about all the moving and shifting that's been happening on my design wall these days, just in case you happened to miss it... today is the last day to say 20% in my Payhip shop to celebrate the release of my Tiptoe Through The Tulips quilt pattern (sale code: Tiptoe) ... so, you may recall seeing one of my most recent design debates when I started my half square triangle project with no real plan in mind... honestly, I was just trying to use up some too-good-to-throw-away cut-offs.  but, as usual, I decided to add to it, it grew, and well, you know the rest. As I suspected of myself, I didn't go with any of the layouts that I had first played around with, but an offset...

Read More

Tiptoe Through The Tulips RELEASE!

May I formally and officially introduce you to...   Tiptoe Through The Tulips, my second quilt pattern, for the intermediate to advanced quilter who enjoys working with a variety of techniques. With curved piecing, traditional piecing, bias tape appliqué, and traditional appliqué, there is a good mixture of quilting methods to make sure that there is never a dull moment. This pattern includes the required drunkard’s path and appliqué templates, two coloring pages to help you create your own custom version, as well an bonus table runner project.  ... and what better way to celebrate than with a 20% discount on my Tiptoe Through The Tulips AND Jeweled Kaleidoscope quilt patterns now...

Read More

Tiptoe Through The Tulips FINISH!

Tomorrow is the official release of my Tiptoe Though The Tulips quilt pattern, but I wanted to first share the finished photos of my biggest quilt to date... a  whopping 108" (ca. 275 cm)! Wheh!... when someone says "go big or go home", it would appear that I take it quite literally!  I sent my quilt off to Iva again to work her magic. Under my old machine, I could imagine that I would still be wrestling this beast at least until Christmas. She did an all over design of leaves and blooms that seemed quite fitting to this pattern. The majority of these pictures are taken at an old historic water mill in the area... I don't have to look very far to find a great background...

Read More

Bonus Table Runner Project

Next Wednesday, March 15th, will officially mark the release of my Tiptoe Through The Tulips pattern, and I couldn't be more excited! To say that this is a large block would be quite the understatement finishing at 24"... yeah, I know that's BIG! I think that sometimes working with such oversized blocks can really give a more modern feel as opposed to a standard 6" or 12" block. With that in mind, I wanted to include an additional project in the pattern for those that would prefer a smaller project rather than a twin or king size quilt. After playing around with it a bit, I was able to come up with this sweet table runner, using the same units found in the pattern, which would be perfect for...

Read More

Tiptoe Through The Tulips Pillow

I love the drastic transformation a quilt can make with just a simple fabric change. Dark backgrounds can give such a dramatic look, and my favorite go-to background that I seem to grab over and over again is my Essex Linen. These rich chocolate tones really make those brights pop, don't you think? Don't you just love those kill-two-birds-with-one-stone projects? I wanted to work up a second colorway option for my Tiptoe Through The Tulips quilt pattern, which is to be released on March 15th, and still have something that I could use in my living room. I think this red chair is the most photographed piece of furniture in my house. I'm not just finishing projects for my house, but hitting...

Read More