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Want a jump start to the new year?  Are you a block-of-the-month-addict?  Do you love heirloom quilting?  Applique? 

Sign up now for "Love Always"  



Love Always in Red Colorway



Love Always in Multi Colorway

Now, this should satisfy every BOM craving.  Is this not a beauty....join now at Esther's Quilt Blog.  She's making it so easy to get the block each month while she celebrates a 10 year blogging and BOM career. 





 

Best Ever from Missouri Star and The Man Sewing

What a great idea!  A string quilt and half square triangles.  Rob Appell  is sewing with a Kaffe Fassett fat quarter bundle and 3 yards of an electric solid.  I'm loving this process from start to finish.

Go now and see how Rob sorts and cuts the fat quarter bundle for this oh, so easy string quilt.   Rob sews up a quick string/half square triangle block.  Intrigued?  Follow the "Get The Supplies"  or use your own.  There is a free pattern PDF that you'll want to copy to complete this foundation strip quilt. 

May there always be a string tugging at your heart.  Enjoy the moment with a smile. 






 

Giggles for you ~

'Twas the day after Christmas
where on AGF Studio
I found something to giggle about

"Giggles"  a quilt design free to download featuring the Nest fabric collection designed by AGF Studio.   Enjoy the day and remember to giggle.  It's a feel good feeling. 

There is no idea too wild.  There is no dream too big. 

 

What Day Is This?

Remember the other day, the day 2018 calendars (click on the link for your flashback)  were the feature.  Well, here's more.....now you may print your own 12 month 2018 calendar. 

Thank you Art Gallery Fabrics for even more quilting inspiration:  a free download picture calendar. 
Each month reminds us to be giving and  passionate, to stop and see the beauty of and explore the world,  to make life playful yet be still and listen.  I especially like the July thought...."remember the beauty of the process."   I can see new table place mats made from fabric crumbs and strings.  You must go see every month and linger a few moments on each.    

 

A page for every month.  Print it out and bring on  2018. 

Yes, it's coming so we may as well

be ready.

 

 

 

 

Public Television...something to think about ~

A Quilting Quiz.... sponsored by Wisconsin Public Television......a little something fun to test us on the subject we love to know so much about!

And a grand finale....a picture ~ of orphan blocks put together to complete another child-sized quilt.

What are orphan blocks?  Pieces and quilt blocks that are unwanted and without a home but are eager to be lovingly placed in a most unimaginable, uncharacteristic and caring quilt home. 





 

Little Quilted Buckets

A sweet treat ~

Photo Credit Christina Cameli
A Few Scraps

Little quilted buckets, just in time to fill for gift-giving now and all year round.   Be sure to thank Christina for this free pattern.....A Few Scraps is where she's found and where I found this perfectly sized little quilted bucket video and Christina's free pattern offered on her Craftsy page.

'Tis the season for joy. Go make buckets full to pass out to those you love.   

 

Ready, Set, "Go Fish"

This one just tickled my fancy.....featuring 'one fish two fish'  fabric designed by Maude Asbury for Blend Fabrics out of Atlanta.  It's a free downloadable quilt pattern designed by Mary Kay Davis.

 

 

It's A Challenge.....A Challenge It Is ~

How timely that I've been thinking about quilt challenges the past several days, when The Quilt Show hosted by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims opened up Show 2112 for everyone - even non-paying non-members - until Saturday December 16.  Here's the link that has a short life span featuring Queen of the Quilt Challenge, Mel Beach.  

But, just in case you miss the show, Mel Beach confesses to participating in 50 or more quilt challenges in the past 3 or so years.  Quilt challenges start with a specific theme or fabric or a twist on things that has to be accomplished.  Mel admits to enjoying the challenge of being pushed to try new fabrics, new quilt designs, new techniques....anything to get her out of her comfort zone.  Mel says she would never have completed....would on her own, never even have thought of, so many different style quilts without each quilt challenge prompt.  

Some of the challenges are spread out over a year long period, some monthly, but Mel says she even entered some that from start to finish last only one week.  She finds her challenges in many places, beginning with

• Quilt Magazines:  Modern Quilts Unlimited and Quilting Arts, for example.
• Fabric Companies:  Hoffman Fabric, Riley Blake, , Cherrywood Hand Dyes and American Made Brand, just to name a few.  Michael Miller Fabric teamed up with QuiltCon 2018 and American Patchwork and Quilting for a "Flying Geese" challenge. 
• On line....of course.  Start by searching for Quilt Challenges 2018 and see what pops out. 
• Friends:  Mel says that once the word gets out, your friends will bombard you with newly found quilt challenges.
• And most importantly.....Quilt Guild Challenges. The Modern Quilt Guild, of which several QGA are members, hosts a charity quilt challenge each year. 
• Stay tuned, there will be more to come on the Quilters' Guild Acadienne quilt challenges. 

Needing a nudge to give yourself a creative push?   Find a challenge....or two.

"I never lose.  I either win or learn."  Nelson Mandela

 

In The Holiday Spirit ~

I'm a stalker.....a blog stalker that is.  And a favorite creative spot to land is on Alisa Burke. Alisa is an artist, author, teacher, wife and mom who stretches herself to find ways to redefine creativity.  Today she gives to us holiday gift tags......just in the St. Nick of time.



Image Credit from
Alisa Burke who Redefines Creativity
 

Download, print on cardstock,  trim and tag each gift with an artfully created holiday gift tag.  Thank you, Alisa Burke for your generosity.  My gifts are tagged.

Pantone Color of the year ~ 2018

Enthusiastic Pantone color of the year....ultra violet.  A wonderful mixer and blender to be used in moderation by the feint of heart.  The I'm-in-control-get-out-of-my-way-type will go for the gold and use ultra violet with gusto. 




Image Credit
Talisman London

Ultra Violet.....a mix of blue and red.....loud and individualistic.  A color that allows creativity. 

Image Credit
Getty Image



 

Have yourself a most delightful weekend. May it be filled with enthusiasm and creativity. 

 

Fabric Christmas tree tutorial - fun no-sew project

2018 Quilting Calendars ~

Okay, here's the scoop:  I'm still a little bit old...urrrah, I mean old-fashioned!  and continue to use a calendar and even write on it to keep track of activities, important events, birthdays, and yes, even guild meeting date and time.

Thinking you might need a refrigerator calendar also, here's a (not) complete list of quilt related calendars to be found out there.

Quilts Wall Calendar by Wyman Publishing  featuring images of thread painted quilts by fibre artist,  Bridget O'Flaherty.

Images of thread painted quilts
by Bridget O'Flaherty

The Art of The Quilt  a  12" x 12" wall calendar by Willow Creek Press:  Quilts by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of Modern Quilt Studio....Includes patterns and instructions.

Quilts by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr

365 Day Desk Calendar  by Andrews McMeel Publishing.  A 365 day quilting desk calendar featuring quilting blocks and patterns by Debby Kratovil for your every day pleasure. 

Debby Kratovil's 2018
Block & Pattern-A-Day Calendar

 

Prayer Quilts by Cafe  Press.  Images of quilts made by Quilters at First Presbyterian Church of Monterey, California. 


 A delightful alternative and a fond reminder that every quilt doesn't have to be completed before pictured and put on a calendar.........Prayer Quilts in Process:

 

Missouri Star Quilt Company  where there's  a link to blocks and patterns.



That Patchwork Place found on Amazon.  A cheerful wall calendar with a variety of quilt designs to tempt each of us....includes complete instructions and patterns. 

That Patchwork Place
 

Quilt Art 2018 wall calendar by Klaudeen Hansen.  A spiral bound hand held calendar with 54  week-to-week images and plenty of room for note-taking. 

 

American Quilters' Society:   2018 wall calendar spotlights winning quilts from the 2017 Spring Paducah Quilt Show.

Go ahead now and get on with your day.  It's on the 2017 calendar which is just about to be obsolete
and ready to recycle.  Just sayin' .

 

Mini Stocking Socks and Tasty Lagniappe

I've been hankering to take a road trip all the way up to Sisters, Oregon, where I'm told has an outdoor quilt show!! and a beautiful quilt shop with loads and loads of workshops and retreats.    But, in the meantime, there's always the Stitchin' Post newsletter to enjoy. 

Need more Christmas tree ornaments?  How fun are these mini gift socks by Jean Wells - a PDF Pattern.

 What a delight to have several ready when holiday guests arrive....each mini sock stuffed with Jean's recipe for her chocolate crunch brownies or even better....a brownie or two.   These little cuties would also be a great surprise for every child to find their special stocking and little gift tucked inside.   Yes, 'Tis The Season for all things merry and bright with a bundle of fun tucked in. 

And a tasty Lagniappe - Jean's Chocolate Crunch Brownie recipe. 

 Jean Well's Chocolate Crunch Brownie recipe

 

What do you think of in your spare time?

Perhaps it's a waste of good sewing time,  but you are at the movie theater anyway, so may as well enjoy the moment(s).........searching for quilts on the big screen! 

Photo Credit - Houzz
Thanks for sharing your beach houzz  

 

I wasn't doing any kind of homework for a blog post, but out of curiosity, searched for 'quilts in movies' and lol, found this blog post by Petal Patsy back in 2009, in the garden web forum of all places.  Patsy remembers two movies....The Birdcage and She's Got Mail where quilts were in focus..... but the readers who shared their finds in the comments...oh, my.    Go ahead, go there and read all the comments.  Very enlightening as to how many other folks out there think of the darndest things - like wondering if there really are quilts in movies! 

Have a wonderful weekend, one filled with good movies and quilts.