Quilt Show and Etsy Updates

 Hello Everyone,

Since the quilt show, I've been busy decompressing after the show then ramping it back up to get ready for my last Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat for the year.  I wanted to share my friend's Calico Cottages quilt which she entered in the show.

Diane’s quilt is absolutely spectacular! Every stitch reflects her incredible attention to detail and precision. I especially loved her use of low-volume sashing; it frames each block beautifully and really lets the design shine. It’s also a brilliant way to put those scrap bins to good use… and don’t pretend you don’t have a few overflowing ones tucked away. This is scrap quilting at its finest

Toward the end of the show, my sister Gail and I got a little giddy.  We roped Diane into taking our picture in the booth, but not before we perfected our strategy for disguising our double chins. 

After much thought, I’ve decided to begin offering my patterns on Etsy as digital downloads. This wasn’t an easy decision. Copyright infringement is a serious concern. I've seen my designs and patterns resold across the internet by people who didn’t create them. It’s disheartening, to say the least.

That said, I’ll still offer my original paper patterns for those who prefer a printed copy. But several factors have nudged me toward this change. Tariffs have driven up the cost of paper, toner, and even the plastic bags I use for packaging. Printing expenses are climbing fast, and it’s simply not sustainable.

Sending patterns as PDFs feels like a more eco-friendly option, too—less waste, less shipping, and less daily order fulfillment on my end. It’s a shift, but one I hope will make things smoother for all of us while still honoring the heart of what I love to do: sharing beautiful, thoughtful patterns with fellow quilters. 

In my Etsy site, you will see two listings for each pattern.  The digital copy will always cost less and is clearly marked DIGITAL.  It takes me awhile to create a new listing, so I'm slowly converting over to digital.  As of this morning, I only have three patterns listed digitally. I will be working on this over the next few weeks. 

I hope this will help all of the quilters across the world by making my patterns more accessible at a lower cost and no shipping charges!

Here's what I have converted so far:

Cozy Country Christmas is located HERE. 

Country Courthouse is located HERE.

Calico Cottages is located HERE. The download for Calico Cottages also includes my tutorial which I use when I'm teaching this pattern. I have to review my own tutorial prior to teaching paper piecing just to wrap my head around this technique.

On a humorous note, the bathroom facilities at the quilt show chose the worst possible time to throw a hissy fit—shutting down multiple times throughout the show. Not ideal when you’ve got hundreds of women of a certain age who appreciate regular access to such amenities. One resourceful guild member took it upon herself to make shuttle trips (yes, we cringed at the word “runs”) to a nearby business called The Glory Hole, offering much-needed relief to those in urgent need of a pit stop.  You just can't make this stuff up!

Soon,

Lynn

 

If Quilts Could Talk

 Hello Everyone,

My booth is set and ready for quilters at the Independence Hall Quilt Show at the Fairgrounds in Angels Camp, CA.

The majority of the quilts and projects in my booth are made with Marcus Fabrics.  I'm delighted to use the phrase Make it with Marcus when talking about my booth.  This image shows the new Country Charmer pattern and Cozy Country Christmas made with Cozy Christmas fabric designed by Katie Solberg.

I have bolts and bundles of Cozy Christmas.  I love the old basinet filled with Christmas joy instead of a bundle of joy.  You can also see Country Courthouse peeking over the bolts.  Gentry's Mill is draped in the corner next to Bridle Path is on the right.

Calico Cottages is on the left with bolts of Cheddar and Coal by Pam Buda are in the front.  Harvest of Hope is the appliqued and pieced quilt on the right.  I have a few bolts and bundles of my Gentry's Mill line.  Heritage and Lil' Orphan Scrappy grace the top of the tables.

Stardance in on display over the bolts of Gentry's Mill.  Country Courthouse is peeking out again along with Harvest of Hope.

October Magic is next to Calico Cottages. Simple Elegance is making her debut under the lights in the corner.  Little mice are peaking out at you from Peek-A-Boo Pumpkins.  

There’s something magical about gathering all my quilts and projects in one place and seeing them on display. Usually, the ‘girls’ are scattered throughout the cabin—draped over couches, tucked on beds, hanging on walls, or catching the breeze on the front porch. They rarely come together like this. Oh, if quilts could talk… what stories they’d tell about late night binding sessions or early morning stitching marathons over a cup of coffee, or the retreats they've been too. Maybe they would gossip about who gets the prized spots in the master bedroom or get to hang as the welcoming quilt on the front porch.  Quilts would talk about love, comfort, happy memories and the seasons they've seen.  What do you want your quilts to say?

Soon,

Lynn

Independence Hall Quilt Show

Hello Everyone,

Thanks to the incredible help of dear friends, my booth at the Independence Hall Quilt Show in Angels Camp is nearly all set up!

Yesterday, we rolled in with three SUVs packed to the brim—quilts, bolts of fabric, patterns, and kits tucked into every nook and cranny. We’ll bring one more load down today to finish the setup. The show kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday, and I’d love to see many of you there!

For me, the true joy of a quilt show is the people—the chance to visit with so many quilters whose paths have crossed mine over the years. You've become cherished friends and loyal followers, and I’m genuinely grateful for each and every one of you. Your stories, your creativity, sharing pictures of your quilts and your kindness make these gatherings feel like home.

Angels Camp, CA is a charming foothill town with a literary twist—made famous by Mark Twain’s short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Every year during the Frog Jump Jubilee, the town leans into its quirky heritage: overalls, corsets, and even bloomers dangle playfully across Main Street, turning the whole place into a joyful tribute to Twain’s frontier humor.

We once took a friend and visitor from China to Angels Camp, and she thought this was one of the funniest things she'd ever seen.  Those crazy Americans!

The sidewalks are lined with the names of the winners on a bronze plaque. 

Angels Camp will be my cozy corner for the next few days—come on by and swap a few howdies! I’d love to see familiar faces and share a smile and a hug or two.

Soon,

Lynn

Taking the bull by the horns

 Hello Everyone,

As usual my week has been filled with catching up after the quilt show in Modesto.  I had trouble downloading the pictures at the hotel, so I'm going to post a few today.  My sister Gail helped 'man' the booth.

I had a small booth by the entrance of the show, and it was so much fun meeting everyone!  It was like old home week since I knew so many of you who stopped by.  The hardest thing was remembering names.

I had 128 fat 1/8's of wool in this cheese wheel at the beginning of the show.

This is what was left.

Kits were a popular item too.  I'll take an inventory today, and I may put some kits out on my Etsy site for Spring Frolic.  The pattern for Spring Frolic is now available in my Etsy shop HERE.

I've been working on my new super-secret project and it's coming along.  I keep getting pulled in other directions with Zoom meetings and other deadlines for Marcus Fabrics.  I will be getting the strike-offs for my next line in the next few weeks.  I've been designing a new BOM with that fabric and I'm writing the directions.

Yesterday I played hooky, and we drove to Oakdale, about 1-1/2 hours away to watch our grandson participate in the Chute Doggin' competition. 

Jess jumped the gun and grabbed the horns before the steer's horns passed over the white line and he got a 10 second penalty which put him out of the money.

He has another opportunity today and his two scores will be averaged.  We are staying put today so I can work on my projects.  I realized that I need to put a spreadsheet together so I can see exactly what needs to be done and by when.  If I see it in print, I may flee from the room and say no, no, NO!

Today, and all this week, I'm going to take the bull by the horns and get some of these pressing things off of my list.  When I can reveal what I'm working on, you will understand and see the complexity of my to-do list.

Soon,

Lynn

Heart of the Valley Quilt Show

 Hello Everyone,

Here's just a very small sampling of some of the product that will be in my booth this weekend at the Heart of the Valley Quilt Show at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, CA this weekend. 

My friend Diane helped me put half yard bundles together of my Hearthstone fabric line.  They are yummy.  Diane got very distracted fondling the fabrics!

While watching TV the other night I rolled 128 wool fat 1/8's.  These look good enough to eat.

I have 175 patterns and books packed and lots of bundles of other fabric lines that will be for sale in my booth.  I haven't done a show in a long time, by choice, since it is a lot of work.  I'm rusty thinking about what I need to bring, and my master list is missing in action.  Then there's the fact of just how much can I get packed in the car?

I'll head down to the valley on Thursday to get set up for the show on Friday and Saturday.  My sister Gail will be in my booth with me, and we'd love to see you and make some new friends.

While getting ready for the show, I've also been working on a new BOM for Marcus Fabrics.  I just submitted my final, final fabric requirements for my BOM using the new fabric line.  I'm SOOOOOOO excited about this new line!  I can't wait to start working with it in my new design.  There's just so much swirling all around me and it's all GOOD!  But there are days when I don't know which end is up and what needs to be done first.

Soon,

Lynn

Sierra Gold Quilters Show

 Hello Everyone,

I spent a wonderful, warm fall day with friends and family and traveled to Plymouth, CA for the Sierra Gold Quilters Show.  I loved seeing this version of my October Magic pattern!  It was so well done, and I loved the colors.

The first booth we saw was the beautiful and colorful booth by Material Girlfriends.  We stopped to take a picture with our buddies Carolyn, Lisa, and Laura.  Lisa and I worked together at In Between Stitches eons ago and look at us now!  Both Lisa, Laura and I are now designers for Marcus Fabrics.

We also saw some of our buddies from my last retreat and there were hugs all around.

Here are just a few of the lovely quilts at the show.

A trip to Plymouth wouldn't be complete without a trip to a winery or four.  The grapes are busting from the vines!

We also did a photoshoot of my Mondays with Marcus project.  I'll be posting those pictures with the rollout of the free pattern on Monday the 16th.  This week I will be making a limited number of kits for my project.

I also have to pull everything together for my Schoolhouse session which I'm teaching in Houston at the International Quilt Festival at the end of the month.  Mr. Joe and I are going to be taking a road trip to Houston.  Road trips are so much fun!  

Soon,

Lynn

The Winemaker's Choice

 

Hello Everyone,

I was absolutely thrilled yesterday when I found out my quilt, 'A Ribbon Runs Through It', was selected as the Winemaker's Choice at the Mountain Heirloom Quilt Faire at Ironstone Winery!

I feel so honored to have won this award as there were so many beautiful quilts at the show made by the Independence Hall Quilters Guild.  

I spent my day yesterday talking to the quilters at my demo in the vendor room.  There were so many familiar faces, a lot of hugs, and it was a pleasure meeting many of you that I've not met before.  You quilters are just delightful!  I love meeting you and chatting about quilts and life in general.  So many of you shared that you followed my travelogue as Gail, and I drove to North Dakota and back. I was happy to take you all along for the ride....and what a ride we had!

My quilty friends and Mr. Joe came by the booth to help me pack up at the end of the day and head back to the cabin.  

Today is another very special day as thirty-five quilters are coming to the mountains to attend my 4th and last Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat for the year.

I still have enough gas in my tank to get me through the week.  The laughter and the joy of being with the girls will energize my battery and fill my tank to overflowing.

Soon,

Lynn

P.S. I have more A Ribbon Runs Through It patterns on order and I'll list them in my Etsy as soon as they arrive from my printer.

Mountain Heirloom Quilt Faire Part 2

 Hello Everyone,

Here are just a few of the quilts on display at the Mountain Heirloom Quilt Faire at Ironstone Vineyards.

These quilts are very special.  The quilt on the left was made by the grandmother of the woman who made the quilt on the right.

This is a fabulous version of my Leaf Peepers. quilt.  I love it!

What a lucky person I am!  I get to sit and talk about quilting with wonderful quilters all day long. So many of you came by to say hello.  I really appreciate the time you took to stop by.  It means so much to me.

I'm off for a repeat performance today.

Soon,

Lynn