Ants to Sugar

I haven’t been bashful about my love for mountains. There are probably complete strangers who, after one encounter in a Baton Rouge park, know every mountain range I’ve called home and how much I miss higher ground. Blue Ridge Mountains. White Mountains. Rocky Mountains. Sierras. I’m not really picky, but those are some of my favorites. They are all far far away from me now, and when it came time…

I love old houses. Old houses have history. Old houses have charm. They have a sturdiness that stems from decades of existing, as though that’s proof enough that they will exist for many more. And yet, old houses need upkeep and updating in order to continue to be comfortable. Our kitchen had little of either, and we didn’t debate whether it should be at the top of the list for renovation after…

A few weeks ago, some friends and I decided to put our design skills to the test by coming up with patterns that would appeal to a diverse crowd of quilters – as well as fit on a 4″ x 6″ notecard. We decided we wanted a collection of patterns that reflected a simple, modern aesthetic – our “Quilt Theory,” so to speak. Cross Cabins is my first quilt under the Quilt Theory brand.…

Sparkle is my block for Cloud9’s New Block Blog Hop featuring their Organic Cirrus Solids. The blog hop hosts, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, have curated the “Berry Harvest” bundle, and Cloud9 is supplying each participant with a fat quarter bundle. Blocks made for the hop will be collected and made into quilts for donation. (A list of…

Summer on the Beach

Glass Snail Crawling was in charge of May’s do. Good Stitches blocks, and she not only did she come up with a wonderful design, her color palette is surprising and delightful. Check out her blog post with directions for recreating both. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js I always say this, but I’m not less genuine this time – I’m excited to see how these blocks come together. This is…

I’ve fallen in love with the speed and ease of a quick Instagram photograph.  I enjoy scrolling through images there, and I appreciate the quick feedback that happens when you post a question.  But there’s something about posting projects here on the blog that is still a priority to me. I like having a lasting record of what I’ve made, or what I’ve helped make.…

Red Sky at Night for do. Good Stitches

Last November, I asked the quilters of the Love Circle of do. Good Stitches to make blocks using the tutorials on Jodi’s blog, Tales of Cloth. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js I suggested a palette of dark blue, gold, light blue, warm reds, and creamy low volumes. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js For the back, I used some much-loved coordinating half yards and fat quarters. I’d…

Simple HST’s

Repetition of color can make such a profound statement in even the simplest of blocks. Take these guys. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js There’s not much that’s simpler than the half square triangle, but by making these in batches of 8, there are tons of design options that pack a powerful punch. I had a good time experimenting with the ones I made for Rachel at Stitched in Color for…

As you know, I’m a big fan of blue. And yes, the pun is intended.  I think these fan blocks are pretty awesome. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js This blue fan comes to you from the do Good Stitches Love Circle and the ever-inspiring Ara Jane of You Know What I Love? Ara Jane found her inspiration from a vintage quilt in Unconventional and Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar…

Colour Blog Series: Blue

Blue is versatile. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js “I’m feeling blue” means someone is melancholy. Blue skies are pleasant and happy. “Icy blue” can give us chills, and the expression “out of the blue” implies some magical, mysterious place.  True blue means being loyal or faithful, and we have all kinds of blue objects in this culture that conjure up specific common ideas: blue ribbon,…

Blithe Quilt for AG Stitched and Fat Quarter Shop

//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js There’s a new favorite around here. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Her name is Blithe, but I kept thinking about carnival and the circus and parties with pendant flags as I pieced and quilted this project. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Fat Quarter Shop has teamed up with Art Gallery Fabrics to present to you, AGF Stitched with…

Together Quilt for Succulence Blog Hop

Disclosures: I received four fat quarters from Bonnie Christine to make something for the Succulence blog hop. Also, this post contains Amazon affiliate links, and if you decide to shop there, I get a small kickback. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Bonnie Christine has released her new line, Succulence, and it is absolutely wonderful! Art Gallery Fabrics shares: Succulents represent the…

There’s something serendipitous about this block – I’ve been feeling a little double-crossed lately. The new year promised so much productivity and project progress, but I got knocked down by a terrible cold. Then, an 8-family camping trip to Chicot State Park delivered fun times and, upon return home, a quick descent into terrible flu symptoms.  I’m catching up on deadlines, and it feels so good…

I’ve slowed down a bit in December. I enjoyed time at my inlaws where I let my husband’s sister talk me into a little paper crafting. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js These little stars have many names – Froebel Stern, Flettede Stjerner, Moravian Paper Star, but since my SIL learned them from her Norwegian cousin, I call them Norwegian Paper Stars. If you’re interested in learning,…

Great Granny Squared with a Twist

I accepted a challenge from the Fat Quarter Shop. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js My task? Sew up a project from Lori Holt’s Great Granny Squared book but add my own twist to it. I wanted my twist to involve a secondary design of some sort. I haven’t experimented with designing larger quilts, so I drew up a Great Granny Square quilt in Illustrator and did some coloring in Photoshop.  I…

Braided Table Runner with Triangles on a Roll

Life is like a bowl of bananas. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Wait that’s not how it goes. Well, it’s kind of how it goes around here these days. So let me help you out. When things are bananas, make your piecing simple and grab some paper. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Or a roll of paper. Specifically, Triangles on a Roll. And while you’re doing some paper piecing with…

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

Welcome! //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Today’s the day that Sew Mama Sew hosts a link up for giveaways across the quilting and sewing blog world. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js If you’re new here, click on my logo in the upper left corner to see some of my recent work. //embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js Or, you can search through the Categories tab on the left to…