“Hey, what ever happened to that star quilt that Rachel started hand-sewing three years ago?” Oh, it’s still here, friends! It’s my longest ever work-in-process and that’s just fine with me! But, it’s official, the end is in sight.
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This year Aria is a high school graduate - - - in The Netherlands! I think you’ll enjoy hearing about how this major milestone is experienced here, from the intensity of final exams to the Dutch graduation ceremony and how it is celebrated.
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Here’s a quilt straight from the pages of my book, The Quilter’s Field Guide to Color. I’ve transformed the Color Catalog palettes into charming 12-patch blocks. Each one a distinct palette; together a cozy quilt brimming with inspiration you can hold in your hands!
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There have been little uh-oh moments when my longarm has given me trouble, but this time - - -this time I really did it. I made a mistake and, as a result, my longarm tried valiantly to quilt over the metal clamps. That didn’t go so well.
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A sewing table filled with scraps? That’s my quilter’s candy. It draws me in like a fly to honey. I’ll squeeze in any chance to press, cut and sew those fabric scraps into a pretty order. 4 blocks, then 8 blocks, then more! She’s growing fast.
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Typically my fabric shopping process is indeed a thoughtful, intentional one. But not always. At times it’s good to simply be moved by the heart. Here’s how chance encounters and persistent attractions also play into my fabric shopping process.
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Here they are, my multicolor scraps in all their chaotic glory! With its heat and energy, summer is the perfect season for happy-go-lucky, scrappy sewing. Can I transform this wild abundance into something pleasing?
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As you delve deeper into the hobby of quilt making, you will build up some history with the craft. Soon you will find that there are are certain styles you’re drawn to again and again. Here’s how considering the past and the future can make you an extra smart shopper.
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Long projects make the best finishes! What a pleasure it is to see all the bits and pieces of this patchwork sampler dancing together as one. May I present my second Pas de Deux quilt - this time in pretty Sugar Plum shades.
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My fabric stash is my artist’s palette. I can only create with the colors and forms which I have on hand. What can I add that will help me create quilts from the heart? How can I express my truest self? What additions will spark joy?At the root of each answer is Color. That is why my fabric shopping always begins there.
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Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Best of June, planning a Fabric Shopping blog post series, a great cross-cultural parenting read and remembering the beauty and love in South Carolina.
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Sewing these blocks is like sipping a cold drink in a shady oasis. It’s rest for my brain, pleasant work for my hands and a bright spot of color for my spirit. As a quilter I’ve sewn lots of crazy, fun patchwork, yet through the years simple squares remain a favorite resting place.
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Can there be justice when your child’s life has been stolen by caregivers who didn’t seem to care? No, not really. Is there justice possible for Eleni, who knew so much suffering in her short life? Never. But there can be accountability, apology, recompense and financial support for the cost of those grevious mistakes.
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In 2015, after a healthy pregnancy, I was eagerly anticipating Eleni’s birth. Like you, I was completely shocked when that joyous event turned tragic. What happened? What exactly went so terribly wrong? Here’s the story I can finally tell.
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Weaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Best of May, anticipating a summer full of change, celebrating a scrappy Pas de Deux and a what I’ll be reading and sewing on the plane.
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Oh happy swirl of patchwork! The colors and shapes are so sweet and dainty. She’s a sugar plum fairy for sure. It feels soooo good to wrap this up before our trip. Plus, I can honestly say that after adding the last bits, it came together as I had hoped.
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Has it happened to you? You’re lying in bed, half asleep, when inspiration strikes. An idea for a new quilt drifts into your conscious with surprising clarity. I hadn’t been actively thinking about these scraps. I had been thinking about my book - - -
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You can bet that I’ll be doing some fabric shopping in the States. That means I’m reserving space in my suitcase on the way home. And that means I have a bit extra space on the way there. Perhaps it’s the chance to bring you something?
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