Do you like block of the month quilts? Do you have just a little time to sew each month? Do you have the winter blues? If you have answered “Yes” to any of these questions, we have just the pattern for you!

My Quilt Village presents our “Village Garden” pattern, free for you to download. Each month from January through October, you can read our posts around the first of each month to find the link to the next block patterns. Village Garden, designed by Karen Montgomery, is a happy mix of simple pieced and applique blocks. All you need is 2 1/2 yards of background fabric, a handful of scraps, and you can play along. If you would like to purchase a kit , contact any village shop. ($54.99 + shipping)  For instructions and patterns, click here then click on the month you want.  The links to the pattern and instructions are there.

Let quilts be a part of your home decor!

Whether you chose something as small as a table runner or as large as a quilt, projects made with today’s beautiful fabrics will add style and charm to your home.  The shop owners and designers at My Quilt Village have made it easy for you to unleash your creativity.

Quilting Possibilities www.quiltingpossibilities.net “Floral Four Patch” Wile away cool summer nights with a simply gorgeous Four Patch Quilt!  Easy cutting & piecing combine with pretty floral fabric to make this summer themed lap quilt.  $77.99	Quilted Treasures http://www.quiltedtreasures.net “All Squared Up” Spruce up your 3 season porch décor with this batik beauty. Soft shades of teal, burgundy and terra cotta reflect the outdoors with this quick to piece quilt. Optional Cuddle backing makes this 52 x 72 lap quilt extra cozy. Kit (includes pattern):$79.99 Cuddle Backing: $39.99
Cozy Cottage Fabrics, LLC http://www.cozycottagefabrics.com/catalog.php?item=696 “Saltwater Taffy “ 64″ square quilt is sweet in any type of bright fabric, including batiks or 1930’s. Price:    $7.99	The Quilt Company www.thequiltcompany.com “Frick Park” Frick Park measures 56” square.  The appliqué can be done by hand or machine and the pattern includes foundation paper piecing for the star points.  The kit for the project includes the pattern, batik fabrics for the top and the binding and illustrated instructions for $70 + shipping and handling.  The pattern only is available for $9 + shipping.

We are really excited to offer Sue Garman’s new block of the month, Washington Medallion.  The majority of the fabrics will be from Alex Anderson’s new redwork line of fabric.  We really love the red and white colors and the quilt, too.  Below is an example of the center of the 84 1/2″ x 84 1/2″ quilt. (shown in red and white)  The pattern offers two methods to make the blocks, traditional piecing and paper piecing.  Paper piecing is a wonderful way to achieve perfect points on blocks such as the feathered star which is the center of the quilt. 

There are many beautiful blocks in the quilt, as you can see in the photo of the completed quilt below. (shown in traditional colors) I love sampler quilts with a lot of variety in block and fabric styles, don’t you?  The blocks surrounding the center medallion are just beautiful.

The block of the month will begin next year.   Our website is in the process of being redesigned and we are not able to accept on-line registrations at this time so just cut and paste the following, “Washington Medallion”, in the subject line of an email to me at sandy@quiltcountry.com.  I will contact you know when our registration page is up and running.  Please include your name in the email.

Email us today to sign up for this beautiful quilt.  Registration fee is $24.95  and then $24.95 + shipping & handling per month.

I’m off to retreat this weekend.  Four days of sewing and being with like-minded people.  I can’t wait.  It’s always so inspiring to see what other people are working on.  I’ve got my camera packed and will take lots of photos and post them on my blog for all to enjoy.  I’ve got several projects cut and ready to go.  Here’s hoping I’m as productive as I think I’m going to be!

With the holidays coming, I’m looking for quick and easy gifts that I can stitch up in time.  Panels are a perfect way to jump start a project.  I have several that may help you out with your holiday sewing, too.

I’m a huge nursery rhyme fan, and Goldilocks and The Three Bears is such a classic. I was lucky enough to find an old quilt with this design on it.  We reproduced it as a panel in the original green as well as a yellow/orange colorway.  I had great fun adding a ruffled edge to the main part of the panel.  My Elna has a ruffling foot that made the most perfect ruffles!  There are also two pillow panels included.

I’d hate to have to count how many vintage butterfly quilts I have in my collection, but they sure came in handy when I was designing the Butterfly Panel. I chose 8 different designs to feature on this panel.  I love the way the blocks look in the Butterflies on My Piano Keys quilt.  It looks as though they were hand appliqued and buttonhole stitched!  This is available as a kit in red or orange.

And my latest fun with this panel is the Lilly Apron Kit.

Speaking of aprons, the Saucy Circle Apron Panel makes a great apron.  It’s so easy to stitch up.  You can buy just the panel or the specially priced kit.

The Sweet Pea line makes my heart sing.  The colors are so fresh and fun and the Panel with the Little Dresses is so sweet. You can’t get much easier for a quilt for a little girl than this Baby Doll kit.

You could also make your favorite little girl this Sweet Pea Jumper!

The Through My Window Wall Hanging Kit is a perfect gift that keeps giving all year long.  Just make the simple house and every month change the block from the panel.  You can stitch the blocks, color them with crayons of use them the way they are!

Merry Margaret was my very first line of fabric. The Merry Margaret Panel shows a sweet little miss doing her daily chores.  When the manufacturer was finished printing this line, I bought multiple bolts–I just couldn’t bear to run out!  And I’m so glad I did, as I can still offer kits of this adorable quilt, Merry Margaret in Red/Blue or Merry Margaret in Purple/Green/Orange.

Here’s what you’ve been waiting for  – the finishing instructions for the My Quilt Village kit.  We’re all so excited that so many of you have made your blocks and are now ready to finish your quilts.  When you have them done, please send photos to karen@annalena.com and we’ll post them here for all to see.  After all, isn’t that one of the best things about quilting – sharing what you’ve done!

Village Garden Finishing Instructions (pdf)

It’s always so inspiring to go to Quilt Market.  There’s been lots of chatter on lots of blogs about all the great new things that were seen there.  One of my favorite things wasn’t something new, but something old.  This late 1800’s quilt.

The blocks were mostly wool, and there was feather stitching over all the seams.  It was truly incredible.

Market is also a great time to catch up with friends and colleagues.   The eight shop owners/designers that bring you this blog are spread out all across the country.  While we “chat” online nearly everyday, there’s nothing like getting together at Market.  I thought perhaps you’d like to see everyone!

This is Karen Montgomery from The Quilt Company in Allison Park, Pennsylvania.  She’s giving a Schoolhouse presentation and showing off her newest line of fabric with Timeless Treasures Fabrics.

Kris Gianetti from Cozy Cottage Fabrics in Brea, California is sitting at the Hoffman booth ordering lots of new batiks!  Kris was one of my roommates.

On the left, that’s Debbie Welsh (my other roommate) from Quilting Possibilities in Forked River, New Jersey.  With her is our friend Brenda Lou.

Here I am (that’s me in the orange sweater) with Jill Reicks.  Her shop is Pine Needles Sewing Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Here’s another Midwesterner–Mary Wilberg who owns Quilted Treasures in Rogers, Minnesota.

Sorry I keep showing up in these last few photos.  It was the last day and I wanted to be sure to get a snap of everyone.  Why I thought I had to be in the photo, I don’t know!

Almost in the opposite corner of the country from me is Suzanne Leimer from Suzanne’s Quilt Shop in Moultrie, Georgia.

And last but not least, Sandy Brawner who owns Quilt Country in Lewisville, Texas.

I hope you enjoyed seeing everyone!

Held twice a year, Quilt Market is the wholesale show for the quilting industry. There new fabrics, patterns, notions, threads, techniques, personalities – you name it! – are introduced to the quilt world. It’s a time for quilt shop owners to see the new trends, network with other shops, buy for the coming months but best of all – to see friends who are scattered around the country.

The 8 of us will hook up for breakfast at least once, lunches whenever we can grab them and some evenings to talk about our shops, the industry, a book, class or pattern that has worked well for us & more. We’ll come back rejevenated, raring to go and EXHAUSTED! But we’ll have a great time!

Check back – we will post pictures, as long as the technology gods look favorably upon us!

A bird's eye view of PART of the market sales floor.

The air is crisp, nights are cool, leaves are changing – fall is coming to the Jersey Shore!  It’s definitely time to get going on fall & holiday projects!  Those of you who have organized souls are probably just finishing up or have already hung your fall projects – we won’t discuss the beach themed ones hanging in my hallway & kitchen! 

My mantra for this holiday season is the KISS theory – Keep It Simple Stupid.  I like to make gifts for loved ones but find that my reality is not lodged in the real world reality & it never happens.  I dream of big huge quilts as gifts & it’s just not possible.  This year I’m thinking smaller things. 

Pineboughs Table Runner

My sister-in-laws love handmade gifts so I’ve been whipping up store samples from the Easy Stripe Table Runner our own Karen

Fall Bounty Table Runner

Montgomery of the Quilt Company designed.  You can see the kits on our website by clicking here.

I can whip these table runners up in about 45 minutes – quilted!  And look Ma – no binding!  I love the fall one – sorry sisters-in-laws, I’m keeping that one!

Abby's Treasure Box

For the 20 somethings girls in my life, I’m making Abby’s Treasure Boxes – a cute little purse just big enough for the neccessites and the gift card I’ll put inside.  You can find the pattern here

My Mom is a tough one to buy for.  She’s reached the stage where she doesn’t want anything or need anything for that matter.  She says she’s trying to downsize – ha!, she’s giving it all to me instead.  She’s always cold though, there’s a neat new pattern for a shawl with sleeves, as soon as I get that sample done, I’ll post it.  I think it will make her very stylish at my nephew’s soccer games this winter in FL.

Jewel Crazy Quilt

And if you’re looking for something new & different for you – check out our newest block of the month – CRAZY QUILTING!  I’m having a blast buying stuff for it.  It just started so there’s plenty of time for you to join us.  Click here to see.

Join me on Facebook to keep up to the minute with QP by clicking here!

Until next time!

Debbie  Quilting Possibilities  www.quiltingpossibilities.net

Have you seen the beautiful quilts for Patchwork Party Fall 2009? They feature the beautiful Samsara fabric collection by Benartex. Twelve sampler quilt blocks were designed by Marti Michell. Twelve shops were chosen to design quilts with these quilt blocks. They are awesom.

Suzanne’s Quilt Shop is a charter member of Patchwork Party. In 2006 Deb Lutrell of Stitch’n Heaven developed this idea. Fall 2009 is our 7th PatchworkParty. Deb selects the fabric and we come up with a design for our quilt. The look is always new and different.

The Samsara collection is Jacobean inspired. I chose a medallion setting with a Tree of Life. Many years ago when I was a new quilter I hand pieced and hand quilted this Tree of Life pattern. It was fun to draft it and write directions for machine piecing. The medallion is encircled with the 12 patchwork party blocks. There is open space to show off pretty quilting by hand or machine. The final borders include the Samsara border print with mitered corners. Don’t be afraid of mitered corners. They are easy to do especially with Marti Michell’s mitering ruler.

My staff made beautiful coordinating pillowcases, throw pillow and bed skirt to accompany the Jacobean Tree of Life quilt. Go ahead and splurge and decorate your entrie room around this quilt.

Samsara Throw Pillow

Samsara Pillowcase

To be involved in the party purchase a quilt block from each of the participating online shops. Make sure you keep track of where you have shopped. There is a list you can print out to help you keep track. Then decided on your favorite way to finish your quilt.

http://www.patchworkparty2009.com

To view Suzanne’s Patchwork Party http://www.suzannesquilts.com/patchwork_party2009.asp

Happy Quilting,

Suzanne

Suzanne’s Quilt Shop

Moultrie, GA

1-888-798-0934

www.suzannesquilts.com

Here’s the final block in the Village Garden quilt.

Click here for the block 9 rolling star instructions.

Solids