1. Your designs are beautiful and based on the traditional Lone Star pattern. Can you describe the process of how you take the Lone Star that one step farther?
I think of each diamond as a “block”. This diamond block then is broken down into smaller pieces which can create design beyond the diamond block. There are examples in the book to see just how these diamonds can be broken down.
2. Most of us know that when working with diamond shapes, you will end up with bias edges. In your book you talk about a popular technique of blocking. Can you explain, why this is a great technique and what it does to the diamond?
This is a great technique because all edges of the diamond block will measure the same and fit perfectly into the completed quilt causing the quilt to lay nice and flat.
3. Throughout your book you speak of life lessons, which I love, do you have any others, that are not in the book, to share?
Yes, here is one I will share.
The Secret to Smooth Sailing
Have you ever observed your neighbors across the fence or the couple in the next pew at church
and concluded that they have a perfect marriage? That is exactly how I felt after we were
married. I would think if only Terry and I would always agree then life would sail smoothly on. One day I heard a well known talk show host share a personal story of a healthy argument between him and his wife. As his story unfolded, they were each sharing their feelings and discussing openly what had transpired.
This immediately caught my attention as I began to realize that even the experts must deal with conflict in marriage. I became aware that all relationships including marriage have some rough spots. The secret to success is learning to be open, to share and to bend as we work through our issues.
Now I know that the happy couple next door is one that knows how to work together navigating the rough water to the smooth sailing of married bliss. For it is not the weather, but the ability to handle the storm that makes the differences.
LESSON: Be willing to deal with conflict in a positive way.
4. I love the "Create Your Own" section of your book and my favorite quilt in this section is the Delightful Diamond Chain. Do you have a favorite quilt in this book and why is it a favorite?
My favorite quilt in the book is “Stitches That Bind”. A deadline for the book was coming up and I was running out of time. It was Labor Day and my daughters had off work. They agreed to put in a day of sewing for me. We picked out the fabrics in the morning and by evening we were ready to sew the blocks together. We had a wonderful mini sewing retreat that day.
