What a difference a week makes! Living in south Texas during the winter makes one reasonably think of mild temps and sunny days. By now we all know there was a major deviation from that assumption. We were one of the lucky ones who never lost power in our tiny home but had temps set low to conserve and quilts to cover up in for warmth.

My cold week was spent being creative in my sewing room. My artisan dyed wool, vintage linens, lace and fabric combined with bright, cheerful commercial fabric. Process photos and measurements are included in this post so you can think about those scraps and ephemera and how they might come together for you.

Audition your favorite fabrics against the chosen motif and background.

  Start the applique then….

  Audition some more 

Continually thinking creatively and checking arrangement as you applique  is critical in the creative process. The finish will come next week with more details on the quilting.

You might have an orphan block that could come front and center in an arrangement similar to this or it might be a fussy cut motif from your favorite fabric. Play. Create. Enjoy! Watch for the finish photos next week.

From September of 2018 to March 2020 I offered a mystery quilt workshop called Around the Block. Visiting a friend today I noticed her finished quilt from that workshop hanging in her entry way and was reminded about the variety of looks that are generated from the same pattern with different fabric choices. There are many things to reflect on as 2020 comes to a close but I chose to look at the many photos from the workshops that I hope were as fun for the participants as for me. I share a baker’s dozen of the works in progress to show the versatility of the pattern and the creativity of quilters.

A mystery quilt can be quite intimidating when you have no idea what the finished project will be. Many willing participants braved the process, asked lots of questions as they were making their fabric selections before the workshop and many persevered to finish the quilting after the workshop.

Mystery quilt directions were written as clues to solving the cutting and construction for the wall hanging size quilt. Participants found that sometimes clues were misleading and critical thinking was as important as following directions to “solve” the mystery. As pointed out by several students there would have been easier ways to complete some of the steps but that wouldn’t have fit the format of setting up the mystery and following clues. I have now rewritten the pattern directions to conform to traditional construction. Any that are interested in accessing the pattern are welcome to contact me for more information.

I most sincerely wish a prosperous and healthy new year to all my friends and family as we bid farewell to 2020 and look forward to both reducing and renewing my fabric stash in 2021!

Happy New Year 2021!!

Check out my programs and workshops page to see two new workshops added for presentation at your guild or group. One is on learning the process of making a mock cathedral window project by making a small table clover or wall hanging in  your choice of fabrics, bright and colorful or muted and traditional.

The second program and workshop is on working with wool and has actually been available for several months.  The project that is offered after a presentation on working with wool is a simple introduction to using decorative threads on wool applique.

Contact me if this sounds like something your group or guild would like.