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!

New Pattern for June

Way back in January, I set a goal for myself to introduce a new pattern to you every month this year.

Well, I just managed to squeak this one in before the end of this month!

Here it is.... (drumroll please)

It's called "Harvest Dance" because I made it with all those gorgeous fall colours--

red, green, gold, orange, rust, brown--

which I just love!

Then I added some sunflowers and stars and berries with fusible appliqué.

The quilt measures 48" x 48", which isn't a huge project.

So, if you feel like making a quilt for fall, now would be the time to get started!

(Even though I don't like to think about summer being over, just yet!)

The pattern's available on my website, www.countryquilts.ca now so come on over!
And while you're there, check out the finished items I'm selling--
just click on the "Stuff for Sale" button on the left side of the page.

New Pattern

So here's my latest!

What do you think?

It's called "Pineapple Squares"

and measures 64" square.

I love scrappy quilts, don't you?

The little squares measure 1" after they're sewn together.

Here's a close-up of some of the exquisite custom quilting by 

Deb Sanderson of Surrey, BC.

And another one.

You've got to see the back!

Isn't it a work of art?

The pattern is now available on my website.

Hope you like it!

New Pattern for April

So who's ready for spring?

It can never come soon enough for me!

To celebrate its faithful return, I'm offering a new pattern, "Garden Blooms".

It measures 56" x 56" and features a large flower medallion in the center.

It's actually so new, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the pattern today, but it will be available for sale on the New Patterns page of my website, www.countryquilts.ca, within an hour or two!

Hope you like it!

Merry, merry spring, everyone!

New Pattern for March

Here it is--another new pattern for you!

It measures 64" square and I called it "Bumbleberry Pie" because it was inspired by all the wonderful berries that are grown here--blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries.

Many teenage summers were spent picking berries to earn pocket money and I can tell you, I'd much rather quilt them than pick them!

I have to thank Darlene Epp for her exquisite custom quilting.

Doesn't it just make the quilt?

You can order the pattern from my website, www.countryquilts.ca

or you can download it instantly at Patternspot and save on shipping costs!

Hope you like it!

Also, just to let you know that I have a few copies of my first book, Country Comforts, available on my website for the sale price of $15.95!  While quantities last.

Free Quilt Pattern for Instant Download!

Hi dear friends,

With Valentine's Day approaching, I want to give back to all of you who have made my patterns over the years, enabling me to continue doing what I love--designing and making quilts.

So here's a scrappy little quilt for you to whip up.

You can see it's very simple--just two blocks--the Half-square triangle and the Nine-patch.  So if you're new to quilting, this will get you started.  And it's not overwhelming--just 21" square.  And if you've been quilting awhile, this pattern will help you use up some of the scraps in your stash.

It's so quick and easy to make, you can whip up a bunch to give to friends on Valentine's Day.

Best of all, it's FREE!!!

I call it "Opposites Attract" (to make it work with the Valentine's Day theme)

and you can download it on my Patternspot page.

While you're there, check out my other patterns that are available for instant download.

(From the response to my last post, it seems that a lot of you like the idea of instant downloading patterns so here I go!)

Hope you like the pattern and have fun!

Suddenly, it's fall

Where did summer go?

 The grapes are ripe on the vines along our back porch.

 And I feel like creating a little fall project.

So I choose my favourite colours and make four of these 5" scrappy squares.

 Surround them with some star print fabric and add some fusible applique in one of the corners,

 And a second corner,

 And a third.

 Add the binding and voila!

A little mat for my fall table.

Happy fall 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?

First New Pattern for 2013!

Here it is, my first quilt pattern for the new year!

I call it "Starry Nights".

I decided to try designing some mini-quilts for a change, to use up some of the fabric and batting scraps that seem to reproduce themselves in my sewing room!

This little project measures just under 20" square.

It's based on the Irish Chain block and I've added wool stars and pennies as an accent.

I'm going to print up the pattern next week and make up some wool kits as well and then post them on my website.

If you prefer, you can download it now, by going to PatternMart and checking under "Country Quilts".

Hope you like it!

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.

Inch by Inch, Row by Row Part 2

Okay, so the first quarter of my quilt top is up on my design wall. I've sewn the pieces within each four-patch together, but haven't yet stitched the blocks into rows. I leave this until the entire quilt top is laid out on the wall and I'm happy with the total arrangement. So now I start assembling the bottom right corner of the quilt top.
This part goes a bit quicker since I'm just doing the reverse of the first quarter.
As I go, I graph the individual four-patch blocks and keep track of how many of each type I need to make. I check and double-check my figures to make sure when I write up the pattern, that it will be accurate.

The second quarter is now on my design wall and the bottom half of the quilt top is visible. Notice that when the medium-colored squares and diamonds intersect with each other a darker triangle is formed? How cool is that?

After I choose the fabrics out of my bins, I keep them next to me on the table. I know which fabrics work in this design which saves me some decision-making time and sometimes I find fabrics in my bins which I've forgotten were there. Of course, now the fabric pile on my table is a bit overwhelming!

Stay tuned!