More Country Sampler Blocks

 Hello Everyone,

I'm still making more blocks for my Country Sampler quilt in preparation for my class at a retreat hosted by Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop in Fox River Grove, IL.

I combined the red polka dot from Maria's Sky fabric with Mary Ann's Gift fabric by Betsy Chutchian, and created this block.

I just love how all of Betsy Chutchian's fabrics play well together.  I stored the last two lines in an old toolbox.  Fabric has always been part of my decorating scheme.  I rotate fabrics through this toolbox since it is such a good way to see and have the fabric at my fingertips.

We had a dusting of snow the other day.  I took this picture of the lake in the early afternoon on our walk.  That water looked positively frigid!  By early evening, we had about 4 inches of snow.  It was so cold, that it froze overnight.  We couldn't get out of our driveway until noontime, and even then, had a bit of trouble on the road.  This is the first time in over 50 days that we've received any kind of precipitation.  This mega-drought is getting very scary.

I was in the classroom yesterday at Quail's Nest Quilt Shop in Sonora teaching A Ribbon Runs Through It to a delightful group of women.  I haven't been in a classroom very often due to Covid.  It felt so good to be in the company of quilters.

I had another Zoom call with the good people at Marcus Fabrics on Wednesday.  It's full steam ahead on my fabric line.  To say that I'm thrilled is an understatement.

Soon,

Lynn

New Tutorial for A Ribbon Runs Through It

 Hello Everyone,

I posted another tutorial covering the construction of the corner blocks for A Ribbon Runs Through It.  Those of you who have kits may want to work ahead, and make a few of these blocks for a change of pace.

After I make each component, I place it on the block layout sheet in the correct orientation.  This sheet helps to eliminate errors.

Prior to cutting, I spray my fabric with Faultless Heavy Duty Spray Starch.  It makes all the difference in the world.  After I thoroughly soak the fabric with starch, I let it dry on this old drying rack above my bathtub. This old antique comes in very handy!

As you can see, I hang quilts up in the bathrooms too!

Soon,

Lynn

Olympic Quilting Country Sampler

 Hello Everyone,

I've been doing some Olympic quilting this week as I prepare for the retreat for Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop in Fox River Grove, Illinois in March.  I'll be teaching my Country Sampler quilt which incorporates a lot of the quilting components from my Patchwork Math book.

It is my understanding the shop still has a couple of openings for the retreat.  Click HERE for the information about the retreat.  They are also putting bundles together using Kansas Troubles fabric.  Click HERE if you are interested in a kit.  You can purchase a kit even if you aren't attending the retreat.

When I finished the first version of the quilt, we took Country Sampler out to the country for a photoshoot.

Since Covid, I haven't been in a classroom, so I thought I need to brush off my teaching skills and remake this quilt using Rose fabric by Jo Morton.  All of the blocks are made and securely adhered to their block layout sheet.

The pattern includes a full-sized block layout sheet for each block.

I adhere the components to the block layout sheet with a Sewline glue stick.

I'll pack up the blocks and put them in the bottom of my suitcase for transport to the retreat.  My suitcase had better arrive with me or else I'll be making shadow puppets in from of the projector!

I'll get busy and make the sashing just as soon as my fabric arrives.

I really had fun making this quilt again. 

I bought this Wooly Presser Bar, and it has become my new go-to pressing bar and quilting clapper.  It is the best for pressing all of my little seams on the wool, then I put them under the wooden clapper to set the seams.  I bought mine at Pieceful Gathering during their online FaceBook presentation. It makes so much difference to have good tools that you use constantly to aid you in your quilting.  It's worth the investment.

The Country Sampler quilt pattern in available in my Etsy shop HERE.  It's a BIG pattern filled with cutting charts in full color and 9 full-sized block layout sheets.  

I'm going to do some marathon ironing and fabric organization during the Super Bowl.  I have a hard time just sitting and watching TV.  I have to be doing something to make maximum use of my time.  

I looked up the definition of "time".  This is what I found and is something to think about.

Time - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

So, I will be involved in my continued progress of existence at the ironing board during the game.  Now doesn't that sound exciting!!!!

Soon,

Lynn

My Quilting Journey

 Hello Everyone,

And so, it began in 2014.  I made my first Emilie Elizabeth quilt named after my maternal grandmother.

The quilt was on display at Prairie Queens Quilt Shop in San Jose, CA when the Vice President of sales for Marcus Fabrics came into the shop with their sales rep.

I was contacted by the VP and asked if I would remake it for them using their fabrics by Judie Rothermel called Judie's Album Quilt.  The kicker was that I had about ONE month to recreate this quilt so that it could be on display in Houston for Quilt Market.  I called my sister Gail and set up a sweat shop in my sewing room.  The deadline was met with barely a second to spare.

This is my first Emilie Elizabeth which looks downright dull compared to the new quilt.

Next came Heritage.  The VP sent me the fabrics, also created by Judie Rothermel.  I sat down with my EQ software and came up with this design.

This quilt has become my #1 bestseller.

This pattern has been in Keepsake Quilting catalog.

I helped my guild remake this quilt for our scholarship quilt.

It was featured in QuiltMania magazine.

Then came Prairie Flower.

I must have been crazy when I decided to quilt this quilt with all of this dense quilting.  It took me forever!

Mazey poses with every quilt.  She's my gorgeous model.

The fabric is called Conestoga Crossing by Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics.  This picture was just perfect for this quilt.  This quilt was also featured in Keepsake Quilting.

Then came Crossing the Pond where I used Journey to America fabric by Judie Rothermel.

This quilt was featured in QuiltMania magazine.

.....and then came A Ribbon Runs Through It.  What a whirlwind this Block of the Month became.

But wait, there's more!  Drumrolllll.......my name is now going to appear on the selvedge of Marcus Fabrics!  I signed a two-year contract with them after my Zoom call this week.  I am knee deep in designing my own fabric collection for them.  It is thrilling, it is scary, it is such an honor to even be considered to become part of the Marcus Fabrics designer team.  My head is swimming with ideas that I need to corral and get organized in a cohesive fabric line.  You can bet your booties it is going to include plaids, checks, and stripes.

This post is a testament that you are never too old to reach and achieve your dreams.  When I started my quilting journey with my first design in 2008, I never dreamed that this would happen.  This is my first design, The House on Edgewood Lane.  The rest is history with more history yet to be made.......

Soon,

Lynn

  

Retreat Project and Lots of Information

Hello Everyone,

I've been very busy in my sewing room over the past week.  I decided to resurrect my little houses and design a little wall hanging.  I was spurred into action after seeing Karen's quilt with the little houses.  Check out my previous post.

During my four Sew'n Wild Oaks retreats this year, I plan on teaching paper-piecing again.  These little beauties are three inches square.  You know I like little!  Every time I paper-piece I have to get out my own instructions and read them word for word and review all of the pictures.  I love to paper-piece because I love the precision.  I just get confused sometimes.  At my age, that happens often!

My retreats are held at my homeowner's association, Snowflake Lodge in Arnold, CA. I should have the contract in place this week, and then I can begin sending emails out to everyone who attended last year.  I will also be sending emails to those on the waiting list.  I added one more retreat this year, so I should be able to offer a spot to many if not all on the list.

I teach several classes during the retreat, and I'm still deciding what I want to do.  I have to get my act together as the first retreat will happen the end of April.  I have a separate lecture area, and quilters can listen in on the class or not.  It's a pretty loosey-goosey retreat.

If you are interested in being on the waiting list, just shoot an email to:  sewnwildoaks@gmail.com

Big day tomorrow.  I'm having a Zoom meeting with the higher ups at Marcus Fabrics about my fabric collection.  I'm trying to decide what to wear.  Here at the cabin, my normal daily dress is a flannel shirt and jeans. I'll put on my best flannel shirt tomorrow.....how's that? Well, maybe not come to think of it. I don't want to clash or get lost in the background and look like a talking head.

I put a lot of thought as to which quilt should be in back of me during the call.  It was a no-brainer once I got to looking around at my quilts. I decided on my Lil' Orphan Scrappy design. This quilt is a medley of only Marcus Fabrics.  I have always loved this quilt.  I absolutely love making scraps quilts so I can incorporate anything and everything.  It can be challenging at times, but so much fun!  I think this is the best quilt to use up your scraps. Do a search on in the search box on Lil Orphan Scrappy tutorial, and you will see the tutorials I put together so you can make this quilt.  The pattern is also available in my Etsy Shop HERE.

If you are making A Ribbon Runs Through It, I started a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section at the top of the blog.  You can access it by clicking HERE.  As the questions arise, I will be adding to this section.

So that's my week so far.  I also have a couple of other things that I'm working on.  I'm preparing for the retreat at Pieceful Gathering in Fox River Grove, IL where I will be teaching next month.  As soon as I get a little farther along on my project, I'll post the pictures.  I'm teaching my Country Sampler quilt. Does the ribbon border look familiar?

The shop is also offering kits for this quilt whether you attend their retreat or not.  Click HERE for the information about the kits.

Well, that's a lot of information that I've thrown into this post.  As you can read, there is no grass growing under me! It's a whirlwind of activity here under the oaks at Sew'n Wild Oaks.

Soon,

Lynn