Time for Romance is perfect for Valentine’s Day, but would also make a great anniversary quilt.  Appliqued heart blocks and redwork embroidered heart blocks combine with pieced hour glass blocks for a 24″ square wall hanging.  Personalize this quilt by adding initials in the arrow pierced hearts.

For My Tweetheart…. a cute wallhanging with a cute name.  The two lovebirds have gone “out on a limb” for each other.   I love the “heart smoke” coming out of the chimney.  This is part of the Tiny Treasures series of twelve projects, one for each month. 

These sweet Crazy Quilt Valentines have pockets to hold little notes.  Each pattern includes a story too.   They look like such fun… any little girl (big girls, too!) would love these and treasure them for years.

Hearts In Bloom is a 18″ tote pattern with simple piecing and easy applique.  It’s a bright, cheery tote you’ll love, and you’ll probably get lots of adoring comments…. better be ready to make a few as gifts!

A smorgasbord of Ribbons & Hearts…. this Bacon Bits ‘N Pieces pattern includes applique drawings and piecing guide, plus instructions for both hand applique or fusible; you can choose which method you prefer.  Did you notice the “key to my heart”?  Cute, huh?!

Check out the rest of the valentine themed quilt patterns… many of them are appropriate for year-round use.

Berry Cherry by Thistledown & Co (you can’t find a Thistledown pattern that isn’t cheery!) is a penny rug.   Batiks, felted wool, and simple stitches make this adorable rug.  Quilting design is included.

This one makes me think “picnic”.    Cherry Blossom is a 54″ square quilt by Sandy Kop of American Jane Patterns.  The appliqued flowers sprinkled across the top add some whimsey.

Me and My Sister Designs created this Cherry Turnover quilt.  You can use charm squares and turnovers, and you won’t have to do any cutting for the main body of the quilt….. you’ll finish in no time!

Since we are still deep in winter, we’ll be seeing Cherry Blossoms before we see any cherries.  Yo-yos with stitched centers create the three dimensional flowers.  Other techniques used in the project are fusible applique, piecing (for the border) and the vase is stuffed to give it more dimension.  Full size applique patterns are included.

Very Cherry is a Bloom Creek pattern.  Easy pieced blocks are alternated with appliqued cherry blocks for a bright cheery quilt.  This easy quilt will brighten up any room.

You enjoy browsing quilt patterns…. I’m off to find a piece of cherry pie!

Square Up by Janet Pittman is a fat quarter friendly quilt.  This lap size quilt (42″ x 54″) is fast and easy to make.  

Break out of the box with this break-some-rules design.  Syncopated Ribbons will let you dig into your scrap bag to create a truly one of a kind quilt.  

What a beautiful quilt for hanging on a dining room wall…  or in your French Country kitchen.  It soothing and pleasing to view.  China Dishes is a quick, easy quilt finishing at 57″ x 63″.

Here’s another quick & easy quilt.  Dutch Treat from Rasmatazz Designs is 64″ square so it on the table or on the wall.  It’s rather striking, don’t you think?  The designer, Susan Nelson, suggests using a color that coordinates with your favorite dishes.

These patterns were designed for a simple color palette, but you can take almost any pattern and make it monochromatic.  If you’re not sure if you’ll like the effect with a particular pattern, just make a couple blocks.  If you’re not thrilled enough to make an entire quilt you can use the blocks for a tote bag or mini table topper.

Here’s what you need to do (it’s so easy!):

Visit Janome.com each day and read their daily post.  You’ll learn a little something every day, so even if you don’t win the fantastic prize package, you are still coming out ahead!  Then leave a comment on the post.  This part is important – the comment is what enters you into the contest.

Then head over to the Janome Facebook page and “like” Janome so you can watch the number of “likes” grow.  As soon as it hits 20,000 one of those Janome.com commenters is going to be making room in their sewing room for TWO new pink ribbon Janome machines!

As Laura states, “these endearing, poignant, and sometimes hilarious letters provide a unique window into the lives of children in rural America at the turn of the 20th century”.   

Following the letters is a section with complete, detailed assembly instructions and illustrations for each block.

  The book includes a CD with templates, foundation patterns where needed, and full sized line drawings of each block.  There are assembly diagrams for not only the queen size, but also king, lap and twin. 

Sampler quilts are always interesting to make and this one is even more so.   Just two blocks a week and you’ll be finished this time next year even if you take a few weeks off.   The Pony Club Sampler Quilt would make a great project for a quilt guild and would provide for interesting conversation.

You may want to join the Yahoo group “The Farmer’s Wife Pony Club Quilt“.   There you can chat with other quilters about your progress, post pics of your finished blocks, and view pics of other members’ work.

Laura Hird has been collecting copies of the Farmer’s Wife magazine and has one of the most complete collections in existence.  You can follow her blog, The Farmer’s Wife Quilt, where she posts excerpts from the magazines, and discusses upcoming projects.

Before you take down and store all your Christmas decorations, have a look around.  Is there anything missing?  Is there anything that really has seen better days and perhaps should be replaced or updated?  Don’t wait until next year when you pull out the decorations again to take note of what you need.  By then you’ll be pressed for time and have to make something in a rush, or rush out and buy something.   Take a few minutes now.   You don’t have to purchase fabric yet, just buy the patterns and then throughout the year, when you are in the mood, or have a lull, you can look for fabric and get started.  Even if you wait until fall, at least you’ll know what needs to be done without relying on your memory. (I don’t know about you, but my memory gets worse every year!) Get ready now and make next Christmas less stressful.

How are the stockings?  Are they getting worn?  Are there new family members that need one.  Have there been any announcements of impending births?  (screeee!!!!)  The new baby will definitely need a new stocking.  Choose a stocking pattern now and write a note right on the pattern to remind you who needs it. 

Do you have an empty spot on a wall that’s just begging for a cute wall hanging?   We have well over a hundred Christmas Wall Hangings; you’re sure to find something that will add to your decor.

Now would be the perfect time to start a Christmas Block of the Month quilt.  Come December of next year, you’ll be glad you did!

Don’t forget tree skirts, ornaments, dolls, table toppers…. better yet, check out our entire Christmas pattern section.  Browse, plan, and enjoy the good feeling of being prepared!

Christmas Celebrations Tree Skirt will put presents under the tree before you even do any shopping!  Measuring 54″ x 54″, appliqued lights and candy canes with holly leaves are scattered among the presents.

You get lots of choices with the Tablecloth/Tree Skirt pattern from the Quilters Patch.  The 12″ squares can be pieced blocks, embroidered, appliqued or fussy cut a holiday print/scene.  Make a tree skirt or a tablecloth (or both!). Scallop the edges… or not! Your choice!

Kathleen Colleran designed this art deco looking elegant tree skirt.  It would make a terrific wall hanging as well.  Winterberry Star would work with other fabrics and could be a year-round wall hanging.

Poinsettia & Holly decorate this tree skirt.  The points look tricky but they are really easy to do with detailed instructions and lots of illustrations.  Two sizes, 52″ and 66″, so you can pick which would work best for your tree. 

Got a soft spot for Scotties? Let them parade around your tree is this Scottie Tree Skirt.  Look, they are all dressed up for the occassion!  This American Jane pattern, designed by Sandy Clop, measures 50″ x 50″ and will be certain to be the envy of many of your dog loving friends.

Holly, Berries & Pine from Prairiegrove Peddler offers instructions for a 42″ tree skirt, a 16″ pillow, and a 17″ x 34″ table runner, all on a light background.  You could make the background a shade darker, and use brighter greens and reds for the holy and Berries.

There’s more! Check out the rest of the tree skirt patterns and pick a favorite.

My Three Bears measures 43″ x 53″ and would make a perfect baby or toddler quilt.  A little one can cuddle with three favorite friends instead of just one!  Adjust the colors of the patchwork portion to coordinate with the nursery colors.

Do you have a fondness for the Bear’s Paw Block?  Bears And Paws is an oversized nine patch layout with trios of bears and Bear’s Paw blocks.  A couple of mischevious bears have escaped to the outer border.  This fun quilt works as a crib quilt or as a wall hanging in the baby’s room.

Merry Beary is a 20″ jointed teddy bear all dressed up in a Santa outfit, complete with a Santa bag.  Instant Christmas personality for any room!

This is so cute – a quilt poem!  Teach your grandchild the poem that goes with the quilt “pictures” and it will be a treasured childhood memory…

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around, touch the ground, show your shoe, that will do.  Go up the stairs, say your prayers, turn out the light, say good night.

Patterns for pillows and seven quilts are included in this book by Linda Hohag.  The Alphabears can be used to make an alphabet cute or use them to spell out a child’s name, or a verse, or a special message.   Easy piecing and both traditional and fusible applique methods are used for these projects.

Go ahead, find a bear to fall in love with and commence sewing some comfort!

Triple Spin includes instructions for a 14″ x 35″ table runner and a 13.5″ x 13.5″ table topper that could also be used in a place setting.  Using high contrast fabrics allows the spinning block to really stand out.

Spinners kicks up the motion a little more.  Again, high contrast fabrics would be best.  Instructions are for placemats, and table runners in two sizes.  It might be fun to use a gold background for the table topper with red for the pinwheels and, with the same background in the placemats, use green for the placemats…. coordinating but not matchy-matchy.

The Ribbon Dance pattern has wide enough borders that are perfect for a  holiday themed medium scale print fabric.  The center is a neutral background with two different fabrics intertwining to look like cascading ribbon.  Two sizes: 13.75″ x 28.5″ and 18″ x47″ 

A table topper, a table runner, and a candle mat make up the Irish Chain pattern.  How cute would these look with fussy cut Santas or Snowmen in the center squares?!

Browse the rest of D Hall Designs patterns.  Discover Denise’s quick and easy piecing methods and try her “flip and sew” technique, all while making beautiful gifts.

 All Star Quilt allows you to choose a theme and then showcase it in the large center of the simple blocks.  The instructions are easy to follow.  Create a quilt that will mean something special.

Amazon Reflections takes a new approach to the stack-n-whack method.  Change your color palette and change the mood of the quilt, but you’ll still end up with a “wow” piece.

Snowball blocks and modified nine patches come together easily (even for a beginner!) to create Playful Rings.  No one has to know how easy it was to make this complicated looking quilt!

Traditional patchwork and machine applique come together to create this contemporary design, Caribbean Fiesta.  You’ll have to work a little harder for this one, but what a splash it makes, right?!   In these colors it kind of makes me want to play Parchessi.

Believe it or not, Whirligig is made up of only squares! Looks hard, but it really isn’t.  Take the opportunity to play with color, fabric and composition.

Nelly’s clear, concise instructions will walk you through the process of paper piecing this masterpiece, Sunset on Ellis Island.  Then you can say “I did that!”

From simple to complicated, all of Nelly’s designs are colorful and interesting.