New Patterns to Download!

Over the years some of my patterns have been published in different quilt magazines.  In case you missed them, I've added them to my inventory for you to purchase.  Here they are:

This first pattern measures 40" square.  It's called "Starry Glow" and was published in McCall's Quick Quilts in 2004.  It even made the cover!!!

The second quilt is called "Maple Leaf Weave".  It measures 51" square and was also published in McCall's Quick Quilts, in 2003.

And this one is called "Everything's Coming Up Roses".  It was published in The Canadian Quilter in 2006 and measures 38" x 38".

All of these patterns are available for instant download at these links: Patternmart and Patternspot.

I'll also be adding them to the New Patterns page of my website this week.

Valentine Gift Bag Tutorial

Here's a quick project you can whip up in time for Valentine's Day.  First, find an image you want to print onto some muslin.  I found this one at The Graphics Fairy .  There are lots of tutorials online to show you how to print pictures onto fabric, such as this one here. Print your picture onto a piece of muslin.

Trim away the excess fabric, 1/4" from the picture.

Cut out a piece of backing fabric and 2 pieces of lining fabric, the same size as the piece of fabric with the picture.  Right sides together and with a 1/4" seam, sew the lining pieces to the top of the picture piece and the backing piece.

Press the seams in opposite directions and "butt" them together, with the right sides of the fabric pieces on the inside.

If you want, you can add some batting to the bag, to give it a bit of weight.  Cut 2 pieces of cotton batt 1/4" shorter than the other pieces, so they line up with the seam and pin on the top and underneath the backing and picture pieces.

Starting at the short end of the lining pieces, sew a 1/4" seam around the entire piece, ending your stitching a couple of inches from where you started so that you have an opening for turning.  Clip all corners.

Pull the bag through the opening (I use a pointy chopstick to get into all the corners).  Hand-stitch the opening closed and push the lining back into the bag.

Poke a little hole near the top of the side seams and insert a length of rusty wire.  Twist the ends to secure.

Fill the bag with gifts for your sweetie--chocolates, a candle, dried flowers, whatever.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

And thanks to all of you for your words of comfort, following my previous blog.  They were all so very much appreciated.

A Calendar for 2012 and a sad Goodbye

Hi and welcome to 2012!

It was maybe a year ago when my friend Vero from Born to Quilt in France

asked me if I'd like to contribute a pattern for a 2012 calendar,

along with a few other designers.

Well, yeah!

This was the amazing result.

We each designed a placemat and a coaster.

The designers are Lynette Anderson from Australia,

Veronique Requena from France,

Polly Minick from the USA,

and Renee Plains, also from the USA.

(I can't believe I'm in such amazing company!)
Can you guess which one is mine?

If you chose this one, you're right!

I'm Miss September.

And here's my placemat for October.
We also each submitted a favourite recipe.

Here's a sneak peek at January.

I have a few left that I'd like to sell for $10 each plus shipping.

They measure 15" x 22" and are printed on very high-quality paper.

Here's the catch--everything is in FRENCH,

including the pattern and recipe instructions.

But if you want a gorgeous calendar to look at, just email me.

First come, first served.

Christmas 2011 was very difficult.

My amazing, beautiful mom passed away unexpectedly on December 24th,

at the age of 82.

In her life she made thousands of baby blankets and diapers to be sent to children overseas,

and with each one she said a prayer for the child who would receive it.

She left a wonderful legacy but I love and miss her so much.