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The Fat Quarter Shop and Art Gallery Fabrics have teamed up again to create a free pattern.  Let me introduce you to my version of The Fractal Quilt using Happy Home Fabrics by Caroline Hulse .   One of the best things about this project is that it uses y-seams and there is a video tutorial with instructions on how to construct the quilt.  This is a great project for anyone who is wanting to try y-seams for the first time, they really are not that scary! The only change I made to the pattern was to alternate Fabric D and Fabric H (the yellow and green) instead of having them always in the same location.  I just felt like this helped balance out my fabrics and didn't require any additional fabric yardage.   The Happy Home fabrics are gorgeous and include several great blenders.  I saved my absolute favorite print for the binding. and my other favorite for the backing.  Okay, maybe they are all my favorite.   Finished Size: 56.5" x 61.5" Patter...

Earlier this year I designed a project using Kona cottons and submitted it to Quilty.  A few weeks after it was accepted, I found out that Quilty was going to stop producing new issues and my quilt wasn't going to be published. Soon after this the good people at Robert Kaufman asked me if I would be interested in making the quilt for them and having it released as a free pattern.  Yes I would! This quilt uses almost all of my favorite Kona colors and come together pretty quickly considering that it is a 60"x75" quilt.  You can find more details about the quilt here and the free pattern will be available soon. Since this guy is sleeping much better . . . this photo is from a few weeks ago but it's my favorite :) and I am back from my sister's wedding . . . my youngest sister Kelly with her new husband, my kids, and another sister's kids I think I will be back to posting more regularly.  I appreciate all of the support in my efforts to make my time here more m...

One part of the quilting process that was the most difficult for me as a new quilter was fabric selection.  It was terrifying.  I am not very fashionable and have never been very artistic, so for a long time I sewed almost exclusively with collections of fabric. Now that I have been quilting for a few years, this is my favorite part of the process. I didn't say it is the easiest - it can still be challenging - but it is oh so much fun.  There are so many people out there who put together amazing fabric combinations and there are so many different ways to go about it, but I thought I would show you what I do. 1.  Build a stash of basics (of course there is a lot involved in building a stash and it deserves its own post, maybe someday).  It is up to you how much fabric you want to have on hand, but I think it is helpful to have basics.  These are fabrics that are primarily one color and that aren't too busy.  Probably about 90% of fabrics that I buy are ...

Yes, I am still here!  I have been sewing a little here and there - mostly projects that I have been committed to finish for a while and that I can share soon, but not yet. I have also been making bee blocks.  These are my do. Good Stitches blocks for Steph.  How cute are these little houses ? I have also been spending lots of time with my family.  My husband's office gave him 8 weeks of paid paternity leave which has been amazing. And having this time has given me a lot to think about regarding how I have been spending my time and how I would like to be spending my time.  This doesn't really have anything to do with quilting because I love the time that I am able to spend sewing and I consider it important for my sanity, but there are lots of things in my life that are not important.   But the main thing that does need to go: social media.  Not completely, because I like sharing and seeing what other people share, but it needs to move way down the pri...