My mom/International Retail Distribution Manager (she prefers exalted titles) was here for a few days and I gave her a basic quilting tutuorial.  Some of you might remember that she tried quilting a few years ago.  Always overly enthusiastic…  ahem… she chose this pattern:

I finished it because she is my mom and also happens to be the most enthusiastic gift recipient ever.

This time we are starting with the basics. I taught her how to do flying geese units. (This is all part of my secret, diabolical plan to get her quilting by the time she moves down to North Carolina next year.) Mom is going to make up a bunch in Swiss Chocolate and we are going to make up a placemats, napkins, a table runner, and even upholster her piano bench and dining room chairs in the Mocha colorway. (Yes, I am a lucky recipient of that overly enthusiastic gene, so the two of us together are up to no good.) Patterns will appear here later next year.

You can do it, mom!

Also this week, I played more with the Lazy Angle Ruler. I have Joan’s Lazy and Lovin’ It Book, which has oodles of great ideas.

In addition to making (12-1/2″) blocks from 4 (6-1/2″) squares,I made some from 9 (4-1/2″) squares.

There are even more possibilities with 9 squares. I can’t decide which block I like best. I love this ruler!

Happy holidays!
Amanda

I finally finished Caitrin’s bag (now I have to make one in Swiss Chocolate!)

It coordinates with this picture that I mistakenly took at the Botanical Gardens.  I wish I knew how I did it so I could so it again!

Back to bags, we’ve also made Oragami Bags (also from Amy Butler’s new book, Style Stitches) for Christmas gifts.

The best part is that they nest inside each other!

Speaking of bags and sewing, the new book The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam makes a wonderful present for your favorite sewer.

It shows how to really customize your own bags from any pattern.  I already have learned a few new techniques for clasps, etc. that I haven’t tried before.  I am reading this fantastic how-to book cover to cover like a novel, proving, once again, that I am a sewing geek. 

(As if the fabric laying all over our family room floor left any doubt.)

Have a good week!
Amanda

P.S. I’ve had a few emails from people looking for kits for the Swiss Chocolate quilt that appears in the winter issue of Fabric Trends.  (Mine hasn’t come yet.  Boo hoo!)  Swiss Chocolate will ship in late February.  (One of the great things about Fabric Trends is that you get sneak peeks of fabric before it ships.  Of course, then you have to wait for the fabric to… ship.)  I trying to wait patiently (patience is not a virtue for me as far as fabric goes) as well as I almost completely used up one of the SKUs sewing quilts for magazines.  I had two inches left.  Talk about cutting it close!

Introducing “Patchwork Bouquet”, another complimentary pattern I designed for Robert Kaufman using their new line of Artisan Batiks – Emma.  It would work well in a wide variety of fabrics.  You can download it off of Robert Kaufman’s site.



Patchwork Bouquet  (Scrappy)




Patchwork Bouquet  (Lapis)




Patchwork Bouquet  (Petal)




Patchwork Bouquet  (Olive)




Patchwork Bouquet  (Peony)


Happy sewing!

One more note:  I have sold out of “Garden Beds” quilt kits already, but you can order the fabric for this kit  from Fabric Shack as they are carrying the entire line.