Karen Eckmeir will teach you her trick of topstitching layers to create beautiful fabric landscapes in her book Accidental Landscapes.   Look around you … the inspiration for your next quilt might be right in front of you.  Imagine having a quilt to hold memories of your vacation.

Embellishment Potpourri explores many facets of embelling your quilts.  Fabrics that are folded, tied, stitched and gathered can create beautiful detailed accents.  Thread, yarn, buttons, beads, glitz… it’s all here.   This book is loaded with inspiration.  Watch your next project take on a new life.

The Quilt Maniac’s Playbook by Nicole Chambers includes detailed instructions for twelve quilts and six table runner.  Nicole also teaches you all about developing your eye for color.  You’ll learn easy to use color concepts that will aid you in choosing fabrics.  And we all know that color can make or break your quilts.  You’ll shop with color confidence.

 

 

Simple Quilts, another book by Nicole Chambers, includes instructions for twenty projects. These quilts make a big impact but are easy to make.  The sizes range from lap quilts to queen size.  Each quilt is shown in two color ways and Nicole discusses the different looks that are achieved by changing the fabric choices.   

 

We have over 150 Quilting Books available.  It will be hard to choose just one.  Take your time, enjoy the summer and your beverage, read slowly and think about the quilting you will do.  Think about the projects you want to try first, which fabrics will look best with which quilt, who you will be gifting with your finished pieces. 

Jo Morton has been quilting for over thirty years.  Not long after that she began creating small quilts that were new, but had the look of “olde”.  With a long list of teaching experience to her credit at quilds, shops, retreats and shows, she has also appeared on Simply Quilts and Love Of Quilting. Her quilts are in public and private collections across the country. Since publishing her first book in 2000, she has written and published well over a dozen books. 

You have almost certainly seen her fabulous lines of fabric that she designs for Andover fabrics.  The new collections of Jo Morton fabrics will take you back to the 19th century with beautiful interpretations of period fabrics.

Coming Home is 92 pages of projects and inspiration.  With a new layout and revised directions to make it easier to follow, you will find pieced quilt patterns as well as applique quilt patterns.  Twelve quilt projects, plus two more from Jo’s Little Women Club 7 that are “Worth Repeating”.  

Pre-order now so you can get your hands on this one as soon as it is available!

       

Sittin’ Pretty placemats make good use of any charm pack.  This will sew up fast and look so pretty with all the coordinating fabrics.  Designed by Amy Cotham of Black Cat Creations these are 13″ x 18″ when finished.

 

Charming Trio – The Baby Collection offers three patterns in one, specially designed for charm packs.  The adorable Hugs and Kisses quilt can be used to cover baby or hang on the wall in the nursery.  Also included are two pillow patterns (one for the hugs and one for the kisses!) and a diaper bag.

This generous sized lap quilt looks like it would take quite a long time with all the little squares but with a jelly roll and strip piecing and a secret or two, it’s easy and you’ll have a Pretty Zig-Zag quilt before you know it!

   

A Jelly Sandwich never looked so good. This colorful throw size quilt (50.5″ x 58.5″) was designed by Barbara Grove of Me & My Sisters Designs.

   

Lemon Blush is another pattern  by Barbara Grove.  The long strips of braids look great surrounded by the light lemon colored fabric.  Or you could change the background color and make it Orange Crush, Grape Luscious….

 

So that will get you started… there are plenty more patterns designed for charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, honey buns… all the sweet fabric packs.  Don’t hold back – Zero calories!

These Swaying Sunflowers just cannot be contained. . . they are blowing in the wind and out of the borders.   The pattern for this 18″ x 44″ tablerunner includes full size applique artwork.  Easy to follow instructions will help you with the pillow-turn technique.

Outside The Box is the perfect pattern for a favorite fabric that you don’t want to cut too small, but would rather show off in larger pieces.  An easy quilt in two sizes: 34″ x 48″ and 60″x 80″.

 

 

Even Witches need a Night Out!  These colorful “ladies” seem to have taken up line dancing to relieve the stress of being so witchy.

 

 

I wonder if the witches ran into these ladies who are doing the Snowshoe Shuffle?  Brightened with a colorful pieced border, this wall hanging finishes at 19 1/2″ x 23 1/2″.

 

 

 

Have you got That Lovin’ Feline?  The sight of these two kitties snuggling under a bright parasol will make any cat lover smile.  Look at their tails… isn’t that sweet?!

 

 

 

This Tender Tulip is an example of the realistic flowers you’ll find in Friendship Desingns patterns.   Hanging a grouping of these sure would look pretty.

 

 

Columbine flowers are the subject of Picture Perfect.  Easy to follow instructions and full size applique artwork will ensure you success with this wall hanging. Instructions include hand and fusible applique methods.

Check out the rest of Sue and Sue’s patterns.  Then if you still have some coffee in your cup and some time on your hands, check out all the other quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.

Coastlines is number 6 in the Accidental Landscapes series from the Quilted Lizard. Easy construction (no templates needed!) yields a one of a kind landscape quilt.

Using Batik Cascade Baby Blue will give you a full range of blue for the ocean.

Save the leftover blue for the sky in Golf Courses. You can make good use of Batik Cascade Grass in this quilt. Use it for the trees, the green, the fairway and the rough. Wow… all from one piece of fabric!

West Coast & Lagoon quilt landscape scenes have colorful skies and one features a sandy beach. Batik Cascade Cerise will give you many different shades for the beautiful sunsets. And Batik Cascade Khaki will work great for the beach areas.

The change in shade in all of the Batik Cascade colors moves from the most pale shade to a very deep dark shade. These fabrics will be useful in so many quilt projects. They are great for applique, giving your flowers from flat to full of interest and depth. Even simple log cabin blocks will take on a certain pizzazz. Try a few and have fun experimenting.

Tulips Spring from MH Designs is constructed with paper foundation piecing.  Full detailed instructions make this pattern easy enough for beginners.  A practice sheet is even included.  Wall hanging finishes at 11″ x18″ and will brighten any room.

Celebrate Spring with Tulip Table Runner by Liz Roehr of Pals 4 Ever, featuring bouquets of delicate two-toned tulips.  Choose your favorite method… fusible machine applique or hand applique.

Cheryl Haynas of Prairiegrove Peddler designed Tulips In Bloom, a collection of patterns covered in tulips.  Includes instructions for two quilts (55″ square and 31″ square), two table runners (one just a bit longer than the other) and two pillows (13″ and 18″). 

Pieces of Spring is a bright, colorful 44″ square quilt with log cabin piecing surrounding four applique blocks. One of the blocks features a watering can filled with tulips, the other blocks have a butterfly, a birdhouse and a basketful of cute, cuddly kitties. The large blocks are bordered by smaller applique blocks.  Make the entire quilt or you can make the center blocks each as a separate projects.  This quilt just shouts Spring!

Have you ever seen 9-patch blocks look this spectacular.  Appliqued tulips really dress up these blocks.  Aunt Maggie’s Tulips is shown here in 30’s reproduction fabrics, or you can use pastels or pull out your scraps. 

So many pretty tulip projects…. you can almost hear the blooms opening!

Here’s two cute wallhangings…

Birdhouse Welcome can be made with a charm park  or pull out your scraps.  The pattern includes full size templates for the letters.  This wallhanging will go together quickly and then will brighten your home.

If you prefer flowers to birds, Flower Welcome will do the job.  Full size templates are provided for the letters and for the flowers.  Use hand applique or fusible.  One charm pack and one fat quarter will complete this wallhanging.

Grab your brightest charm pack and some additional coordinating fabric for Blooms for Madilyn.  This quilt goes together in rows so that simplifies the process.  Bright and cheery, it would look good hanging in a breakfast nook, a sunroom, or a little (or big!) girl’s room.

And what girl wouldn’t love to have this quilt in her room?  Olivia is fat quarter friendly and you can make it bright and bold or use pastels and make it soft and quiet.

If you want to skip over Spring right to Summer here’s a patriotic wall hanging that is perfect for the Summer holidays.  Let Freedom Ring can be made in a day with a charm pack.

Check out the rest of  the Bloom Creek quilt patterns.  There are lots more!

P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page on Friday for a Facebook First Friday coupon. It’s another good one!  You ARE a fan, aren’t you?

Sweet Season Quilts

The designs look complicated but they really are not.  Paper piecing makes for straight lines and sharp corners.  Fusible applique adds the extra touches.  And traditional piecing pulls it all together.  Sue’s patterns are very clear, with simple step by step instructions and they include full size templates and applique patterns.  Diagrams and tips provide additional help.

These are from the Painted Lady Series…

The Quilt Shop has quilt blocks on the window shades and on the door.  Do you see the kitty in the window…. seems quilters and kitties go together.

After shopping you can stop in for some refreshments at the Bakery & Cafe.  There’s a table for two on the balcony. And a bright cardinal sits at the top of the shop.   

You will also find a Flower Shop and a Boutique in this series.

The individual patterns in this group measure 16″ x 34″ and can be made to stand alone or to be grouped together.

Another group, the Shop Ladies Series, has several more shops.  There are ten in all. 

Sweet Season Quilts

Measuring 10″ x 22″ each of these patterns can stand alone as a wall hanging.   Or you can make as many as you want and put them together for an entire street scene.

So start shopping…. I mean quilting!

This Welcome Spring wallhanging will brighten your entryway.  The flowers bloom from half-square triangles, squares and rectangles. 

Spring, Book 1 in the Table Topper Series has a different pattern for each month of Spring:  Shamrocks for March, Tulips for April and Blooms for May.

Ode To Spring is a cheerful sampler with flowers, birds, bees and bunnies.   This is a perfect learning project as many different methods are used in the construction of this quilt.  Foundation piecing,  two kinds of applique, simple embroidery…. all equal fun!

Three cute little chicks announce Spring Is Here!  Aren’t they adorable?!  Measuring 25 x 15, this quilt will go together very quickly and you can use the chicks for other projects too.

This bright Poppy will liven up any room.  Finishing at 24″ x 24″ it is paper pieced so it’s guaranteed to come out just right.  If orange doesn’t fit your color scheme make it red, or yellow or any color you want. 

Tulips In Bloom is made quickly with simple piecing. If you use 5″ charm squares it’ll go together even faster.   Pictured here in soft faded colors but it’ll look great in bright cheery colors too.  Are you a beginner quilter?  This is the perfect pattern for you.  Experienced? It’ll go together faster than you can say Spring is almost here!

Chase the winter blues away…. grab your favorite fabrics and a quilt pattern and start getting ready for Spring.