Sunday, August 29, 2010


We're busy making baby quilt kits again. I designed this easy pattern for a quick quilt that "shows off" the main print. These two happen to be flannel, but it works equally well in cotton.
We really have lots of new baby and child prints right now.
I've been working on quilts for three of my nieces who are expecting this Fall. I'll post photos as I finish them.
When I have time, I like to make extra baby quilts to have on hand. They don't take much time and it's an unbeatable gift or donation.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010


I just finished Doll Quilt #10 in our fourth series. I'm really starting to like blue again. It used to be my favorite for quilts and then I sort of got tired of it. I especially like it with brown.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Have you seen the latest issue of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting? That's my Prairie Star Baskets on the cover. Earlier this Summer, I "hot needled" the sample to make the deadline. The photography that they do for publications is amazing. Our kits for this should be available next week. Let us know if you'd like us to save one for you.

Registrations are coming in for this year's Pumpkin Gathering Sept. 10 and 11. See the events page on our website for details.

Friday, August 20, 2010

I just finished the binding on this fun convenience quilt aka. "cheater". The colors really say Fall. I can see lots of uses for this fabric - a "pieced" border without the piecing? an easy runner? How about cutting it into sixteen patch blocks and sashing them?
"Cheaters" might seem like a new invention to us, but really they go way back. Antique quilts from the Civil War era have been found that use pre printed quilt fabric as backing.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Pat brought her quilt to show us. It's her version of our Christmas Star which I showed you a couple of weeks ago. I love the half-square
units she added and her color choice is great. Blue has really become popular again.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Purple for Halloween! Carol came up with this cute little quilt that's been getting lots of comments. It's called Haunted House.

Today I made a presentation at the Danish Immigrant Museum. I chose to talk about quilts made by groups - album quilts, friendship quilts, fundraising quilts, etc. I enjoyed doing some research for it.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

We recently received this fun fabric. It would make a great bag. We have at least thirty bag pattens and lots of the "good stuff" to go with them - trims, handle webbing, the right interfacings, rings, snaps, magnet closings, handles, zippers and buttons, buttons, buttons.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

I've been showing you lots of Christmas samples and have almost skipped Fall and Halloween. That's kind of because for the most part the Christmas fabric arrives at the shop before the other two. I've never been able to figure out why. Any way, this year there are some particularly beautiful Fall prints.
We've had a nice group from Nebraska sewing in the Retreat Center this weekend. It looked like they were getting a lot done and also having a good time. I'll say it agsain, quilters are the nicest people.

Friday, August 6, 2010

We have realy been working on Christmas samples. Nadine made this one using a really nice panel, Noel from Benartex.

Thursday, August 5, 2010







We're getting ready to mail out registration forms for this year's Pumpkin Gathering. Here are photos of Shar and Pam's samples of Pumpkin Bar.
Please visit the EVENTS page of our website for details and a printable registration form.




Wednesday, August 4, 2010


Gisselle is a new fabric line and we've made a new runner using it. These Modern projects are a fun way to try working with the new fabric in small amounts.

Monday, August 2, 2010


One of the newest things at Quilt Market this Spring was cotton knit. I bought a few pieces from Michael Miller. It was being shown for garments, mostly for kids. It really is nice quality, but because it is 100% cotton it must be pre washed ( supposed to shrink almost 20%). It is extra wide. We'll be trying to make some up soon.
Just received this eighteen wheeler fabric from Alexander Henry. This is an impressive large print. The whole semi is about 16" long -very realistic.