Be Prepared!

Do you know any Boy or Girl Scouts with too many badges for their uniforms? I designed these banners for my nephew and niece to display their excess awards, and they have them both quite full now! These projects were presented as free web patterns on the McCall's Quilting website. Download the instructions here and show your Scout how proud you are of their accomplishments!

Top Five Reasons Quilters Love Their Pets

Meet my poodle/lhasa apso/maltese mix, Zuzu. She's a year and a half old, and she makes me laugh every day. She's also going to be in the January 2014 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts, modeling her car quilt and coordinating tote bag. So many quilters love, love, love their pets, and for very good reasons. These get my nomination for the top five:

1. They neither question nor object to the acquisition of new fabric.
2. They're content to sit by your feet or by your side during marathon sewing sessions.
3. They remind us that EVERYTHING can be seen as fun, including fabric scraps, dangling iron cords, starch overspray, and unguarded batting.
4. They don't mind if you don't take time to make a "real" dinner, as long as the snacks keep coming.
5. And they genuinely appreciate and love to snuggle up in our work (see Exhibit A above).

If you have a pet, I'd love to hear how they support you in your quilting. Pet stories are great!

Shopping (Ahem) Accident

Is it a shopping accident if I did it on purpose? Today I ordered fabrics for a new project, a Valentine table runner for a 2014 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts. I'm still working on the design but I have a rough idea, and I think these fabrics plus some others from my stash should do the job. Just looking at all the pink fabrics online made me smile. Did you know that some scientists argue that THERE IS NO PINK? You can read an article explaining this argument here. But I don't care if it's "real" or not...I love you, everything pink! And this table runner project is going to be fun. I'll keep you posted!

Studio Stash on a Rainy Day

Fabrics courtesy of Robert Kaufman

We don't get many rainy days in Golden, with over 300 sunny days a year and lots of the others snowy, but today is one! This stack of all 37 fabrics from the Studio Stash collection by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman is calling my name. I've been playing with these textures and prints as I make blocks for the upcoming McCall's Quick Quilts sampler project (beginning in the January 2014 issue), and the color range is absolutely scrumptious. Just what I need on a gray day. So I think I'll dive in and make a few more blocks. Check back for an update soon!

Patterning Quilts in the Wild, Wild West

This is what I'm doing today...patterning quilts for the next McCall's Quilting America Loves Scrap Quilts special issue. I get to play with my colored pencils, and it's one of my favorite job duties, but it's not quite as much fun as actually working on a quilt! Meanwhile, outside my window....

Yes, those are cowboys. This weekend is Buffalo Bill Days here in Golden, CO, and the Saturday morning parade is essential to the festivities. 

There was also an Indian chief, and a US Marshal...

plus the jail where they lock up wayward dance hall girls.

The most inspiring thing in the parade to me are the balloon vendors...color, color, color.

But, this being Golden, CO, there were also garbage trucks, John Deere tractors, and this huge beer truck. Way different than an East coast parade, but always fun, even when I can't get out and mingle.

Well, it's back to patterning for me. What are you doing on this lovely summer Saturday?

Mini Madness

Honestly, it's worse than potato chips. I can't stop working on this miniature quilt! It's a tiny remake of an antique quilt from York County, PA, and the hand applique is absolutely addicting, in the nicest possible way. Do you see how itty bitty those ovals are? Like, 1/2" or so, that's how itty bitty. The blocks finish at 5", and the quilt will be about 23" square. The original is 91" square, so this is a quarter-size version. The print fabrics are by American Jane for Moda and I'm really liking them for this design. But I digress...the point is, I can't stop working on it, and it's after midnight. Tomorrow morning my eyes will feel like sandtraps. But tonight...we sew!