Christmas Projects--New Pattern for September

I know, I know... it's WAY too early to be thinking about Christmas!

It's not even officially fall yet!

But, I did want to give you lots of time to get these projects done before the crazy holiday season descends on us.

So here's my latest Christmas pattern called "A Primitive Christmas" (it's a two for one kinda deal)!

 Included in the pattern is a 9" x 12" (inside frame measurements) primitive stitchery.

It includes fun little motifs like an angel, stocking, house with Christmas lights, tree, manger, candy-canes, snowman, mittens, bells, holly, Santa, and a skate.

I've kept the embroidery simple, outlining the shapes and filling in with random cross-stitches.

 Then, there's also a pattern for this 13" diameter wool penny rug, included.

You can see it uses the same simple motifs but this time they're appliquéd in wool onto the pennies.

(It's really not this bright.)

You can find this pattern on the New Patterns page of my website.

While you're there, make sure to check out my other new offerings!

That's it for now!

New Patterns for Summer

Where, oh where, did summer go?

Here it is the end of August already!

I did manage to complete patterns for July and August in spite of home reno's and vacation time (just didn't get around to blogging about them) and  here they are...

 The first one is called "Churndash Chains".

It measures about 60" x 60" and uses only four fabrics.

The blocks are arranged to give the illusion of interlocking churndash blocks.

Super easy!

The second one is called "Sunrise, Sunset"

It measures about 57" x 57" and uses four fabric combinations--

blue/purple, green/grey, orange/red,and gold/cream,

accented with the rich black fabrics that I love.

The stars are fusible appliqué.

I'll be posting them on my website tomorrow

and they'll also be ready for instant download at www.patternspot.com at that time.

Hope you like them!

Sweet Spring

How time flies!

I can't believe that April is almost over, which makes us 1/3 of the way through 2013!

Hope spring has finally reached all of you.

Some of you may remember this pattern,

featured on the cover of "Primitive Quilts and Projects" magazine for Spring 2013.

It's now available for purchase as an individual pattern on my website on the New Patterns page.

 I've also got a few issues of the magazine left for sale on the same page of my website.

Here's a glimpse of spring in my backyard garden.

If you order the pattern, you'll see that I used this picture as a background on the cover.

I've also made a bunch of primitive buntings to sell on my Etsy shop.

So if you haven't visited for awhile, please take a moment to stop by.

Happy sweet spring, everyone!

New Pattern--Summer Daze

I love summer.

I've been wanting to make a summer quilt for awhile

and just finished this one--the pattern's now for sale on my website.

The checkers remind me of red-checked picnic table-cloths

and I think the colours convey the bright and cheery mood of the season.

But it took a long time for all the pieces to come together.

I'd made this quilt top a couple of years ago

because I'd wanted to make one with a watermelon garland

but I never much liked how it looked.

So I removed the appliqued watermelons from the border

and set them aside waiting for inspiration to strike

for another quilt in which they could be used.

After I figured out the design above,

I added a new border and reappliqued them to it.

 Whew!

And speaking of redoing projects, I have to share this email I received from a quilting friend in Sweden.  She says,"I just finished your lovely pattern "Around the Block" for the second time (!), as my first quilt ended up staying at my friend's house in CT, USA when we moved back to Sweden (my home country) after  couple of years as expats in CT.
Since I missed my quilt so much. I simply had to make it all over again. " 

Didn't she do a gorgeous job?



Then she said, "I also made two of your "Peaceful Valley" since one of them also got "stuck" back in Connecticut...."

Now, that's dedication!

 Thanks Villemo, and all you other faithful quilters out there!

You're why I do what I do.

Odds and Ends

Lately I've felt like I'm in a bit of a slump.

Maybe it's the time of the year, I don't know,

but inspiration for new projects isn't striking.

What to do?

Well, I guess I could clean up some of my odds and ends

left over from other projects.

So I found some sample blocks I'd made for my first book for Martingale.

This one was from "Prairie Stars".

I made the sample block into a little pillow.

I took my sample block from "Tulip Time",

added some wool applique and embroidery 

and made a little table topper.

 This block was from the cover quilt.

I added some handquilting and binding and made a...
could be a pot holder or a candle mat.


 I had a bunch of strip sets from
(no idea where).
Made them into a double nine-patch block, stitched and bound it.



This was my finished version of "Autumn Equinox". 

My first try at the patchwork center didn't turn out quite like I hoped but
I couldn't bear to throw it away.
So I added a different border and machine quilted it. 

I think I'll keep this one for now. 

The other odds and ends will go to "Creekside Home Decor",

a local shop where I sell things on consignment.

Still waiting for inspiration

but now I've got a bit more space to work in when it (eventually) strikes!



New Pattern--Barnyard Buddies

The flu hit our home this week--yuk.  Who knew there were so many places on one's body that could hurt?  Even my hair!  A good excuse to curl up on the couch with a good book and be waited on for a change!

On to happier topics.  I've actually had this quilt finished for a few weeks but when you live on the wet coast of Canada, it sometimes can take awhile for the sun to come out so I can hang the quilt on my washline and photograph it.  So the sun shone today and it's supposed to rain again tomorrow so I ran out and got the picture.

The quilt is called "Barnyard Buddies" and it will be going to the printer on Monday and will be available on my website right after that.

Like a lot of my projects, there's a mixture of patchwork and applique.

It measures 60" x 72".

I love the quirky animals!

Like the horse with his buck teeth.

The cow, not at all anatomically correct!

Mommy pig so proud of her little ones!

The fat sheep,

And Mother chicken with her brood.

Of course, I've got to stick a crow in there someplace!

Why not on the barn?

 Isn't it fun?

What do you think?

A Great Weekend for a Quilt Show

This past week was grey, dreary, and rainy on the west coast--perfect weather to attend a quilt show, I think. I was a vendor at the Piecemakers Guild show in Chilliwack, BC, a show I've done for several years now.  Here are a few pictures of my booth in the Merchants' Mall:

And here are some pictures of my favourite quilts in the show.

I LOVE the machine quilting on this one!

Isn't it gorgeous?

The quilting designs are original, done by Darlene Epp.

This 76" square "Barn raising Log Cabin" quilt by Sandra Lounsbury is all pieced with 1" wide strips.

Another quilt by Sandra Lounsbury, measuring 90" x 102", each block about 4" square, constructed during her commute to work each day.  Now there's a good use of travel time!

Another quilt by Darlene Epp.  This one is paper-pieced and took over a year to create. 

A mystery quilt created by Lisa van den Brink.

I love the colours she chose.

I forgot to get the name of the creator of this masterpiece.

I'm always amazed by anyone who has the talent to make so many precise points!!

And finally, this 36" x 61" quilt by Ursula Yeo, called "60 Little Houses".

Isn't it charming?

With all the work involved in preparing for a show, I often find myself thinking, "Maybe I'm getting too old for this."  But when I'm there and get to meet amazing, talented women like these and get to see their beautiful creations, I'm reminded again of why I love quilting.

Thanks, Piecemakers, for including me in your wonderful show!

Springtime Sampler - A New Pattern

Hot off the press--here's a new pattern for you to work on during those long winter nights that are heading our way.

It's called "Springtime Sampler" and is a mixture of patchwork and applique, made up in several sections and then pieced together.  By the time spring comes, you'll be ready to display it!  Go to the New Patterns page on my website if you'd like to order it from me, or ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Book Blog Tour--A Surprise Ending

A trip to New England in fall has long been on my bucket list and this year hubby Ben and I decided to finally do it. I booked our flights and planned our agenda way back in spring, including a few days in Boston around the weekend of September 23.   When September rolled around, I found out that Suzanne, the winner of the book giveaway (week 6) worked in Boston and wanted her book mailed to her at her workplace. I figured, why not drop it off in person and surprise her?  This is how my devious little mind works. The opportunity was just too perfect to pass up. 

So on Monday morning we showed up at her office and the receptionist called her down and I handed her her gift.  What fun!

Suzanne works on the 35th floor and invited us up to her office for a breathtaking view of Boston harbor.

After we'd said our good-byes, it was time to walk around this beautiful, historic city.

First, to the site of the Boston Tea Party.

And then to Paul Revere's house.

He's a pretty big guy around here--there are statues and plaques about him everywhere.

Watching a game at Fenway Park was a highlight for Ben this weekend.

And stopping here for a drink was a highlight for me!



So the moral of the story is... be careful when entering one of my giveaways.  I just might drop in at your place when you're least expecting it and surprise you!