Big Ruler is On Sale

Hi Quilters, if you have put off buying the big 20 1/2″ ruler but you are sure you are going to make another Crazy Shortcut Quilt, now’s the time to go get it. I paid almost $50 for mine, but they are on sale [online at JoAnn's] for $19.99. I am thinking about buying two more! I just love these rulers and use them on all of my quilts, not just our crazy shortcut ones.

Happy quilting! Marguerita

Meet Katrina

She is a Crazy Shortcut Quilts teacher and she has some of her student’s quilt posted on her blog as well as a few other gorgeous quilts! Take a peek …..

Introducing ‘Roly Poly’ – a 2½″ Strips Quilt

Here is our way to use your 2½″ strips – Scrappy, Jelly Roll or Bali Pops! I designed this years ago and then tossed the drawings aside. Sarah took them, make the quilt and I just fell in love with it! It’s just gorgeous!

Our friend Laura McDonnel asked me one day if we had ever thought about doing a design with 2½″ strips and she was happy to hear that Sarah had already made one because she wanted the pattern immediately The problem was, we never really wrote it down.

So, enter two of my pals from the Stashbusters group on Yahoo, who I begged for help (many thanks to Trudy and Michele!). They made up some strip sets for me and Laura grabbed her pre-cut rolls and we started cutting and quilting.

This is a very quick to make top, but if you use all your decorative stitches, like Sarah did on hers, that takes a bit of time. I am sure she quilted a few squares a day (there are sixteen squares in her quilt) and was done in no time, with absolutely elegant results.












I am still working through mine and Laura is almost finished with hers, but here’s a tiny preview from me:

I am also learning how to make my photos look better, and how to write better downloadable patterns. I would LOVE to hear your comments and suggestions and most of all, I wish you fun and happiness in your quilting!

You can download The Roly Poly Quilt Pattern here.

Need Help with your Sewing?

Meet Debbie (from Ohio) of Squiggly Twigs Designs!

She emailed me (you know that I love email, right?) and she asked if she could use my video about chain piecing on her site. Of course I said yes, then immediately went to her blog to find out more about her. WOW!

She is offering FREE help for people with sewing issues!!

So, In addition to checking out her blog and seeing her great patterns (too cute for words) I read about how she’s helping people with sewing problems and I am impressed!

Her offer is only good for another week, so dig out that old pattern you were working on and drop her a note about the reason you tossed it into a drawer a year ago.

I love people who help others!! Yay Debbie!!

This is just fascinating

Is it spring yet?

This is the second halibut boat I’ve seen leaving the bay today. It’s warm (for Seward) 37 degrees or so.

The snow is melting and the bunnies are usually waiting for me on the doorstep when I get home from work.

I am working on moving things around (spring fever?) and cleaning and sorting stuff.

Awesome Amy!

My friend Amy has posted another beautiful Crazy Shortcut Quilt on her blog. Take a peek!

Your Way

I just watched a video of a quilter who insisted a quilting technique is bad and wrong and doesn’t make any sense.

BLEH. This “video quilt show wanna-be” has been quilting for just a couple of years, at best. I’ve been machine quilting, teaching, professionally quilting and been published for fifteen years – and I teach the technique that she disparages.

I sure wish the world were less filled with people who insist that their way is the only way and that everyone else is wrong.

I hope that you do things YOUR way and I know that I will be happy as I continue to do things MY way.

Finishing Up

I spent some time sorting out fabrics and unfinished projects this morning. The unfinished projects pile is now larger than my “stash” pile of fabrics. That’s good about the fabrics, but now the projects are nagging me. I am a member of the “Stashbusters” group on Yahoo and every day I read about the quilters who are successfully using their stash of fabrics. It has been good for me to be a member of that group – the messages are very inspirational and motivational

But, they talk a lot too about finishing up projects. The acronyms used just crack me up! PIGS (projects in grocery bags); WHIMMS (Works I have in my mind); and so many more. Believe me, I have lots of those too.

I had never collected enough fabric to open a shop, like some of the quilters I know, but I had collected more than I want to be saddled with and it’s time to use them up. I still have lots of “Whimms” that I want to make, but like so many other quilters, I am making a vow: Finish one (or two) before starting something new. Oh, and stay off eBay for a while (wish me luck on that, it probably won’t happen

Meet Wendy….

…and her Crazy Shortcut Quilt

I love those colors, they remind me of spring. I love how she says her backing reminds her of watermelon!

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