Sometimes sewing that first block is the easiest. You begin with so much energy, so much enthusiasm. But sometimes the first block is the hardest. To improvise is to welcome change, answer challenge and celebrate the serendipitous. With such a project I know that I am growing too.
Read MoreIt is the first day of August, the warmest month, when the wild days of summer burn themselves out. I have begun a new quilt with green as my mental starting point. Lively, living green. It brings the energy of growth and the relaxing cool of the shade.
Read MoreWeaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Best of July, beginning with GREEN for a new quilt, reading a great children’s nature series and celebrating the beauty of Friesland, The Netherlands.
Read MoreSabine Hofferer (@la_boite_a_couleur) loves working with bright, vibrant colors and especially favors fabrics that feature the art of Charley Harper. Her Pas de Deux quilt certainly does Harper justice, with a playful personality that matches the fabrics themselves.
Read MoreTa da! I’ve dubbed this design Circus Log Cabins, for the stripey log style that reminds me of circus tent stripes. I started sewing blocks for this on a whim, inspired by log cabin blocks made for a bee quilt. My multi-colored scraps were begging to be used. I don’t think I’ve ever used them so successfully!
Read More“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.
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreHere’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!
Read MoreThere 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.
Read MoreA 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.
Read MoreTypically 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.
Read MoreHere 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?
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreLong 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.
Read MoreMy 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.
Read MoreWeaving 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.
Read MoreSewing 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.
Read MoreCan 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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