Lilacs, A Cat, and the Winners!

Hello Everyone,This weekend I had the opportunity to take a walk around my yard and inspect some of my gardens. Right now one of my most favorite plants is in bloom, the lilacs!! I love them for several reasons, they are colorful, fragrant and just plain beautiful. Here is a site that I found that sells 90 different cultivars!! Check it out here. Amazing, who knew there where that many?I have 3 different varieties, which I love and will show in the photos below.These two photos are of the most common lilac that I see. The light lavender colorIt looks...

Celebrate May Day!!

Hello Everyone,Happy May!! Please help me to celebrate spring!Canton Village Quilt Works is having a 3 day sale to welcome in May!! Beginning on Saturday, May 1 and wrapping up on Monday, May 3, you will receive $5 off your total if your order is a minimum of $50. Use the code fifty5. If your order is a minimum of $100 you will receive $15 off the total. Use the code 100fifteen.**And for every order that is placed you will be entered into a drawing for a fat quarter bundle of 8 different Essex Cotton/Linen blends, pictured below!**Just click here...

Batik Inspiration Vol. III

Hello Everyone,This "inspirational" post is kind of like a two for... I used batiks and my own printed fabric!! So let's get right into it. This is a small quilt, usually I do big, but on this one I was playing. The process was making my own fabric first. The blocks are made up of a digital photo that I manipulated with Kaleidoscope Kreator. It is a software program that you can use to create kaleidoscope images of any photo you have. The photo I used was one of water lilies. All of the images were created using the same...

Hand Dyed Inspiration Vol II

Hello Everyone,In my last post, I had indicated I couldn't remember the name of the batik pattern or book it came from. Well, right away my friend Maria e-mailed me. She remembered that I had completed the top at a quilting retreat that we were on and actually posted about it previously here! I guess as I get older, my memory is not as sharp. I digress... Anyway, she also told me the book was Twisted Classics and the pattern name is Diamond Twist!! Yay, thank you Maria.Yes, I do own the book. But if you would like to you...

25!!

Hello Everyone,Today only, you can save 25% off all Windham Storybook VII c.1930 fabric in the shop!!Just enter the code story25 at checkout. Yes, this includes any pre-cuts too! But remember it is only for April 24th! Click here to let the fun begin.Until Next Time...

Batik Inspiration Vol. II

Hello Everyone,I think I am on a roll! I was able to take many of my quilt tops or quilts out and take lots of photos. So in my quest to provide you with more fabric inspiration, this is my second installment of Batik Inspiration... Vol. II.This next quilt that you will see, I immediately fell in love with when I spied it in a book. Right now the name of the book escapes me. It will be my quest to go through my quilting library and get back to you with the name of the pattern and book.This quilt...

Hand Dyed Inspiration

Hello Everyone,After lots of your suggestions, I have decided to definitely do an ongoing series of quilts that I have made from specific fabric inspirations of mine. The last post was about a batik quilt. There will be more on batik fabrics in future posts. This one is on hand dyed fabrics. There will be several posts on hand dyed fabrics as well.I know that many of us love hand dyed fabrics and I am one of them!! I have a bit of a stash that is just hand dyes. I find them very versatile and just plain quite beautiful.Many...

Batik Inspiration

Hello Everyone,First I want to say that I am still reading all your comments from the last post! Thank you so much for all your wonderful suggestions. Some of them I am already working on as I sit here. They are all terrific, every one! If you want to be inspired go back and check some of them out and don't forget to leave your own comment there to be entered in the giveaway, it is open through April 30th.So many people asked for me to show what inspires me and things that I am working on. This one fits...

I'm In a Bind and Could Use Your Help

Hello Everyone,Yes, these are actual binding for quilts that I have already bound. They are leftover. I keep them because you never know when you could use those pre-cut strips. But anyway, onto why I am in a bind....My dilemma is that I just posted my 12th Podcast!! I can't believe it has been a whole year since I began Podcasting. This is a wonderful episode too. It is the sequel to Karen Griska's first interview in Episode 11. She also has a surprise on the podcast too. You can listen to it here or grab it from iTunes!But any...

New African Stash

Hello Everyone,As promised, I have some more African stash. But this is brandie new to me courtesy of Evelyn. Evelyn saw my post about the African fabric that I picked up in Lancaster and she sent me an e-mail asking if I would like this wonderful little bundle of African Fabric goodness.Of course, I said yes!! She was really speedy too. I received it just 2 days later. Thank you, Evelyn!!Aren't they gorgeous? All different prints, different sizes, and wonderful color!They will be put to good use in the project that I am planning for my husband. You can see...

Please Join Me

Hello Everyone,Please join me for a Saturday Sales Blitz... On sale today in my shop, all Art Gallery Fabrics are 20% off!!Just enter the code art20 when checking out! But remember the sale is today only! I know you will love these fabrics. Just click here to let the fun begins!Until Next Time...

The Caravan is Here!!

Hello Everyone,I bet you all remember this post. I was in search of an out of print book that wasn't going to cost me an arm and a leg! Lots of great suggestions but nothing panned out. Then along came Marian from the U.K.!! She sent me a private e-mail saying she had the book and would be willing to send it to me NO strings attached. How gracious and kind of her. Thank you so much Marian!! All I have to say is watch your mailbox!Well it arrived this week!! I am so ecstatic!Not only is the book in...

I Am So Excited!!!

Hello Everyone,The June/July 2010 Quilt Magazine is here! And I am so excited about it for many reasons. First look at that beautiful Kaffe quilt on the cover. How can you resist??But there is a little story here, about 1 month ago Lisa Ruble, Managing Editor, phoned me and asked if she could interview me for a little feature article!! I was tickled, and of course I said yes. She was wonderful to speak with and super nice. Thank you Lisa for this terrific opportunity!Here you can see the article. Each issue they feature quilt shops and online retailers and...

This is What Started it All

Hello Everyone,So the other day I did a post about the loot that I picked up at the AQS show and that really sparked some wonderful comments and e-mails. I decided it really deserved some more attention.As you are all now aware, I have a "secret" collection/stash of authentic African fabrics. I totally and utterly blame my husband for this. You see in 2005 he took a trip to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with my brother and some friends. He was gone for two weeks, and knowing my love for fabric, he purchased the fabrics in the picture below...

Spring

Hello Everyone,Wishing you all a wonderful and Happy Easter! With Easter it brings signs of new life. I would like to share with you some that is around my house.Hellebores.Star Magnolia.Hellebores.Daffodils.If you want to know more about each flower, just click on their name underneath each photo. Enjoy your day!Happy Easter!Until Next Time...

Sugar

Hello Everyone,Just a quick note to let you know that new fabric from Art Gallery has arrived in the shop!! It is the complete Sugar Collection in the Fruity Sherbet palette. There are also 3 coordinates to complement the collection. Just click here to browse!Have a great weekend and a Happy Easter to everyone!Until Next Time...

AQS Review and Loot

Hello Everyone,Sorry this has taken so long. I got back on Sunday and just uploaded the pictures last night. But as many of you may have read already, AQS will not allow anyone to post pictures of the quilts without express consent from them or the owner of the quilt. So luckily, I knew someone who owned two of the quilts. I got consent from her to post them. Some of you may already know my friend Karen Eckmeier, she is a national quilt teacher, designer, and author. Not to mention an accomplished quilter. She entered 2 quilts into the...

New Project??

Hello Everyone,I know we all are working on multiple projects at any given time. I am just like everyone else. It seems like I am always thinking ahead. I have been collecting dotty fabric for quite some time now. It appears that I now have them in every color way possible. This is just a glimpse into what I have in my stash.Darks, lights, different color backgrounds from red to blue. Saved up for one special project.The cover quilt on this Spring, 2006 issue of Quilts and More.It is called Dotty Stars and is by Piece O Cake designs. I...

Hexagon Progress

Hello Everyone,I thought you might like to see my progress on my hexagons! My hand piecing is going slow as of late. Unfortunately, other things are getting in the way of me actually sitting down to relax. But since the last time I have posted this, I think I have managed two more new GFG blocks.They really do look quite nice. I do enjoy the hand piecing. I just wish I had more time these days.You can see the multitude of colors that I have. I love using the 1930s fabrics. I think it will make the quilt feel "old...

Hexagon Progress

Hello Everyone,I thought you might like to see my progress on my hexagons! My hand piecing is going slow as of late. Unfortunately, other things are getting in the way of me actually sitting down to relax. But since the last time I have posted this, I think I have managed two more new GFG blocks.They really do look quite nice. I do enjoy the hand piecing. I just wish I had more time these days.You can see the multitude of colors that I have. I love using the 1930s fabrics. I think it will make the quilt feel "old...