Hi everyone!

Guess what is on newsstands right now? The fourth issue of Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks! I’ll be giving away a free issue of this fun magazine later on in this post and so will a lot of other designers. Not to mention there are other GREAT prizes.  Hop on over to Quiltmaker to find out more.

 
This issue is so much fun and is a great bargain too!  I designed a block in Veranda using a combination of applique and piecing this time.

Three of these in a row would make a great springtime table runner.  But wait… we haven’t even gotten to Christmas – why am I talking about spring? 

Speaking of the holidays, I have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to prepare for them.  I haven’t made a gift, bought a present, or even thought about decorations.  I HAVE driven an inordinate amount of carpools shuttling kids to Nutcracker rehearsals, so that should count for something.  Is anyone else in such a quandry? 

But I know there are more organized souls out there who start sewing gifts in July and I would love to hear yours ideas.  So, to enter the giveaway for Volume 4 of Quiltermaker’s 100 Blocks, leave a comment describing something you have been working on for someone else (or for yourself !).  And if you are hopelessly behind, like me, tell me what you would like to make.  You must be a follower to enter and please leave me a way to contact you should you win. The deadline to enter is this Sunday, the 13th, at midnight.

This giveaway is now closed… Thanks for your interest!
Good luck and happy sewing!
Amanda

Hi everyone,

Hope you are having a great week!  I wanted to take a moment to introduce Cafe Mocha.  She was originally published in Quiltmaker, but was popular enough to bring back as a pattern in my line. 

I think this is because she is a great vehicle for scraps of feature prints.  Sometimes it is hard to know what to do with large-scale prints, especially when you have less than a quarter yard of them.  The rectangle blocks here are work wonderfully for those – so scour your house for those modern scraps!

I used a dark background with light horizontal bars, but you could do the opposite as well.

This pattern is also deceptively simple because it is assembled in columns.  If you follow the pressing directions all the seams lock and it looks like the blocks are interwoven!

atterns should arrive in the mail today or tomorrow and I’m so excited.  To make Cafe Mocha, you will need:
Accent Rectangles – 2-1/2 yards total from an assortment of fabrics
Background – 2-7/8 yards dark brown fabric
Horizontal Bands and Middle Border – 1-3/4 yards cream fabric
Inner Border – 1/2 yard caramel fabric
Outer Border and Binding – 2 yards yard dark blue fabric
Backing – 6 yards
As an aside, the folks over at Robert Kaufman are mourning the loss of Saul Kaufman, who ran the company for years.  Many employees have written about him on the Robert Kaufman blog.  Gosh – we should all have such nice things said about us at the end of our lives.  I never actually met him, but after reading those comments I wish I had.

Enjoy making a project for someone special in your life.

And if you get a chance, hop on over to Caroline Simas’ blog.  She found some wonderful vintage linens and is looking for advice for how to use them.

Happy sewing!
Amanda