Happy Spring!

I've been a BAD blogger lately, even after pledging to do better!  I spend an enormous amount of time with all things quilting (lucky me) but, occasionally, other things have to come first.  Bad for the blog, but good for me---I re-did my kitchen!  Lots and lots of work, most of which I did myself, but I'm so happy with the results.  That job led to cleaning out cabinets and drawers, which led to cleaning out closets, a storage room, and (yikes) my sewing room..........I was a maniac!  I ran out of steam after four weekends spent cleaning, but it feels so good to have all those jobs done. Then, I finally got a pretty weekend, so I spent two days working in the backyard (my sanctuary during pretty weather) and cleaning up the water garden/fish pond.  Needless to say, I have a very severe case of spring fever now.  I want to plant flowers!

Spring has sprung at the shop, too.  Lots of new fabric is arriving. Such pretty spring-y colors, too.  Here are some pictures of a few:

Sisely

Nested Owls

 

Aren't the owls and garden frogs adorable?  I've already put together a zig zag quilt using the Sisely collection and have my pieces cut out and one block completed for a cute woven-look quilt using both the Nested Owls and the Sisely collections.  Check out the Moda Bakeshop for the free pattern.  It's called Simply Woven.

I also finished the Tennessee Waltz quilt made with one of the new French General collections from Moda.  I think it turned out great.  What looks sort of grey in the picture is actually a soft bluish-green from Moda's Fellowship collection.

 

 

I've also completed a quilt with some of the new batiks that have arrived.  I'll try to remember to take a picture and post it soon, but it's gorgeous!  It makes me think of a tropical island.  I used the Disappearing 4-patch for that one.  If you haven't tried this block yet, it's an easy, fun one.  Here is how I did mine:

 

 

I sewed up some 4-patches using 5" squares.  I measured 1 1/2" from the center seam and made a cut.  I rotated the block and did the same on each side to make 9 pieces. The nifty rotating mat is really handy for this, because you don't want to move the pieces.  You can cut at whatever measurement you want, but I went with 1 1/2".

 

Turn the center 4-patch block and switch out the corner blocks so that the colors alternate. Sew them together again!  I made blocks from a variety of colors and put them together with a pretty white tone-on-tone sashing with cornerstones.  Simple, but very pretty.

 

Now that the Women of Courage Block of the Month is coming to a close and all the finishing kits are cut, the remaining fabric in the line is now available.  All fabrics in the collection are available except for the border fabric.  I tried hard to get more, but it's all sold out.  Not surprising, of course, if you've seen it!  I saw a great looking Labyrinth quilt made with these fabrics and I'm sure any pattern would look good!  For those of you who participated in the Block of the Month, you might want to consider some pillow shams from the matching fabric.

 

 

 

I had lots of catching up to do, but that's it for now.  Hope to see you soon in the shop.