Retreat Preparations and Pattern of the Week

 Hello Everyone,

On these hot summer days, I'm thinking snow as in my Row-Mancing Alaska pattern which is my pattern of the week in my Etsy shop on sale HERE.

I made this quilt when I was asked to teach it on a cruise to Alaska.  It was so much fun!

This was my first row by row quilt that I designed and my first using batiks. I wanted this to be a reflection of Alaska from the heavens to the earth.

This row-by-row quilt captures the spirit of the wild with blocks inspired by iconic Alaskan imagery:

- Aurora

- Midnight Sun

- Flying Geese

- EEagle’s Nest

- Black Spruce

- Glacier Bay

- Bear Paw walking atop Gold Rush

From celestial skies to rugged terrain, each stitch brings Alaska’s breathtaking beauty to life. The finished quilt measures 52" x 71", making it a stunning tribute to nature’s grandeur.

I’ve been deep in retreat prep mode for my August gathering, which kicks off Sunday, August 24th. Bit by bit, I’m working through my to-do list—finishing bindings, printing and stuffing patterns, cutting bundles, and pricing. At this point, my garage could easily be mistaken for a very enthusiastic (and slightly chaotic) quilt shop!

Some of my quilters start rolling into town on Saturday, so the countdown is officially on. And just to keep things interesting—I still need to tackle a full cabin de-cobwebbing before the tour. Sadly, it’s not close enough to Halloween to pass them off as festive décor!

Soon,

Lynn

Bridle Path Pattern of the Week

 Hello Everyone,

My pattern of the week is Bridle Path and is on sale in my Etsy shop HERE.

This quilt hangs proudly in our cabin bedroom; a space I lovingly call the Hearthstone Room. Every quilt you see here was made with fabric from my Hearthstone line from Marcus Fabrics—a collection that holds a special place in my heart as it was my first fabric line.  Laurel Ridge, the 2025 BOM for The Quilt Show is hanging on the wall on the left.  Double Dutch Treat is next to it. Emilie Elizabeth gifted to me by my dear friend Deborah is over the headboard. Spring Frolic is on the bench at the end of the bed. 

I change the quilts out with the seasons, and this grouping will be in the bedroom throughout the summer months.

The following are snapshots of the blocks in the quilt. Each of the blocks finish at 10" x 10".  The entire quilt measure 98" x 98".  If you want to make the quilt larger, all you need to do is cut the borders wider.

This block is the most complex, but the pattern includes a block layout sheet which is the map to your success.

Heading out to the Bear Valley Music Festival this afternoon—Broadway tunes and showstoppers await! Mr. Joe’s not much for musicals, so he’ll be holding down the fort with Mazey while I’m away. All the girls are coming back to the cabin for dinner tonight, which means my morning’s packed with prep work before I head out. Mr. Joe’s got his own timetable: top priority is firing up the barbecue and getting the roast on the rotisserie. Fingers crossed I’ll have everything else squared away before I leave!

Is it wrong to say I invite company just so I’m forced to clean the cabin? Let’s call it strategic hospitality.

Soon,

Lynn

Cozy Country Christmas

 Hello Everyone,

It’s been a full and fulfilling week beneath the oaks and pines at Sew’n Wild Oaks. I put the finishing stitches on my new Cozy Country Christmas quilt—machine quilting complete and ready to shine through the Christmas season.

I love to machine quilt, but I do not love loading the quilt on the machine.  It takes me a fair bit of time to get everything lined up properly before I get to the creative magic.

I'm a slow machine quilter and I spent quite a few hours listening to audible books while working on this one.  Usually, I listen to music while quilting so I can concentrate of the quilting.  This time I listened to books, and I was able to walk and chew gum at the same time.....amazing!

I'll get Cozy Country Christmas trimmed today and prepare the plaid binding on the bias.

I’ve been busy assembling kits for my upcoming retreats, and let me tell you—they’re just too darn cute to take apart! If any extras remain, I’ll post them for sale in my Etsy shop come November.

Next week, I’ll wrap up writing the pattern just in time for my Sew’n Wild Oaks retreat at the end of August. Once it’s ready, I’ll list it in my Etsy shop along with fabric requirements so you can stitch up your own Cozy Country Christmas quilt while the fabric is still available in stores.

I've been volunteering at Independence Hall in preparation for the giant Flea Market kicking off tomorrow—and if you're anywhere near Arnold, you won't want to miss it! It's hands-down the most well-organized Flea Market I've ever seen.

While I plan to steer clear of the shopping frenzy, I’ll be there tomorrow late afternoon helping tidy up and get everything ready for Sunday’s big draw: half-price day. Next week, local organizations are invited to come and take what they need, followed by an open invitation to the community to do the same. I truly admire the organizers for their commitment to excellence—every detail has been thoughtfully planned. Best of all, every dollar raised will go toward a new roof for Independence Hall.

Don't forget my Patchwork Math book is on sale until Sunday in my Etsy shop HERE. 

I have a fun weekend ahead. My sister, cousin, and a friend are arriving in town tomorrow, and on Sunday, there are five of us girls heading to the final show at the Bear Valley Music Festival. The title of the show is Climb Every Mountain, which is fitting since we will be driving up to higher elevations (7,000') to get to the show and listen to show tunes. Mr. Joe is bowing out of this one and will let us girls enjoy the event. After the concert, we’ll gather back at the cabin for a cozy dinner and some good old-fashioned catching up.  Laughter is guaranteed—and there just might be a margarita (or two) in the mix!

Soon,

Lynn