'Blueberry Hill' by Nancy Arseneault

Nancy has used my 'Diamond Hill' pattern and created her own marvelous version she has named 'Blueberry Hill'. Isn't it gorgeous? Nancy came up with this striking 'cheddar and periwinkle' color scheme after being inspired by a box of Kleenex!

I just love knowing these little quirky details and when Nancy sent me that info in an email, it put a huge grin on my face. I'm really rather keen on cheddar yellow since I explored Georgian colour schemes back in 2013 for my 1790 coverlet 'Love Entwined'. Seeing it in use on an actual quilt is an eye opener, it's striking and fresh. I love it.

Thanks for submitting your quilt to the Open Gallery for everyone to enjoy Nancy, I hope we'll get to see even more pics of this stunning quilt in the future.

If you'd like to read more about Diamond Hill, you can check out the Diamond Hill post archive right here on this blog by clicking the image below. 

'Diamond Hill' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

------------------------ Open Quilt Gallery------------------------ 

Thanks to Nancy for sharing her finished quilt pics with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

Meet 'Juliette': My Fabulous New Quilt Is Launched!

I'm so happy to share my latest quilt with you. Juliette is a quilt I sketched into existence years ago- I had a Mediterranean colourscheme in mind: crisp whites and radiant blues twirling around a quilt top framed by red baskets. When I checked my Quilty To Do List, I realized that Juliette was next on the list and I was delighted. It feels wonderful to release new designs that have been patiently waiting for me to get around to making them.

I know we all have lots of fabric at our disposal. There are so many ranges being released so thick and fast it makes my head spin. Somehow I end up with lots of bits and pieces from several collections knocking about together in 'themes' in various boxes around my studio. This is the perfect quilt for those half and half stashes. The applique is large and easy and the blocks come together quicker than expected. The end result is impressive and seeing your favourite prints put to use will be completely satisfying.

The finished size is 77 x 77 inches.

This is a really interesting design: it's based on octagon tiles. The sashing between the blocks that create so much depth and interest actually comes together when the blocks are pieced alongside each other. This is because the sashing is part of the block. And this design detail can create a stunning impact according to your fabric choices.

Speaking of fabrics, there's lots of room for showcasing your favourite gorgeous prints in the fussy cut boxes of the centre and in the triangles of Border 4. It looks fabulous with a dark background yet also works in a low contrast pallette.

As you can see, I've had a lot of fun playing between colour schemes and love how the attitude of each quilt top completely changes depending on the fabric in use. I love this bright breezy scheme above but can also see myself loving the modern black and white stash  mix up below. 

Juliette 

Complete PDF Pattern

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WOW: Queen's Garden (Current Free BOM) Progress..

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays 

  This is Glenda Jean Hepburn's 'Queen's Garden' quilt top progress  

Here's a WIP going places! Today I'm proud to show you Glenda's progress on my Free BOM pattern, 'Queen's Garden'. Isn't is stunning? I am growing more and more in love with this design with each block and top I see made up. Gorgeous!

In an ideal world I'd make all my quilts. Of course, in that world I'd have staff making up all my designs around the clock and domestic help at home too. A woman can dream, can't she? In real life, there simply isn't enough time for me to keep up with myself. 

As it is, it would take me 10 years to catch up with my current quilt design output at my current rate of completion; stark facts indeed! So, I'm really lucky that I have such generous and thoughtful friends who keep me supplied with real time progress pics. Often they're actually ahead of time. It's extraordinary to me that Glenda finds the time to make my designs. I don't want you to think I'm some kind of task master - I do tell her not to keep making my quilts, but she's an unstoppable force. 

As a Group Moderator she simply can't help herself. Whenever I release a pattern, I warn her not to try and attempt getting it done. After all, this is a feat that I can't even manage, so I certainly don't expect anyone else to. Yet, she somehow manages to squeeze them all in! How? I don't know. I can never find enough hours in the day. I keep asking her how she does it and she won't tell me the secret. All we can do is admire her skills and eye for colour. 

Look at this beautiful use of colour: using colours that I know I wouldn't and yet I am so in love with this pallette, it positively shines! I overthink all my fabric choices and drive myself crazy with indecision so it's refreshing to see everyone else somehow manage to bypass this issue I suffer from! I'm in awe of your talent Glenda! 

As for me, I'm busy working behind the scenes.. creating more WIPs!

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Love Entwined by Faith Mcleod (WIP)

Faith Mcleod has created an outstanding Love Entwined quilt; the applique is beautifully crafted in beige tones that create a sophisticated quilt of low contrasts; this allows the pinks, purples and blues to shine as subtle highlights. 

This pallette is intriguing, holding our attention and inviting us to look deeper into each block - what a beauty!

This quilt is still an unfinished quilt top, Faith has assured us that she will add images of the finished and quilted top once it's been quilted. I cannot wait..

------------------------------------------- LE Quilt Gallery------------------------------------------- 

Thanks to Faith Mcleod for sharing her finished quilt pics with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.

WOW: Signs of Creative Progress

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

An over flowing applique bin is a sure sign of progress. As a rule, on Wednesdays I don't care about housework, I set this day aside to get on top of my projects and WIPs. Now that it's almost mid July, I am in full swing to get my yearly list completed - I have things to do and exciting plans to put to work.

I can't wait to share them with you as the year progresses. But today, they're still under wraps.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Queen's Garden: The Current Free BOM

We're past the half way point for my bright and fabulous free BOM 

'Queen's Garden' 

I love sharing my designs and I love releasing a stunning design each year for free. And by free I, of course, mean completely free. There are no pesky sign ups or email lists or other hurdles. You're all more than welcome to take part. Now, just lately I've been getting a lot of emails about this BOM, there's been a sudden and unexpected surge of interest. So I thought I'd post this reminder of how and where to access this fun Block of the Month. 

This is a 10 Part BOM: the files are released each month. I always release BOMs on the 15th of the month, although this year I've been posting them a bit earlier, usually in the first week of the month owing to other conflicting schedules and overlap. The Finished Size is: 70 x 70 inches. The pattern is released in 10 parts: January - October 2018.

You can download the pattern via the FILES area of my Free BOM Group. This Group is hosted over on Facebook and is also a fabulous spot to share your ideas and pics in a friendly and busy spot. We've built a wonderful community over there, thanks to our Moderators, so be sure to join and get involved. I'm sure you'll stay long after Queen's Garden is finished, we really are a hub of creatives.

There is also a dedicated 'Queen's Garden Group' which is an offshoot of the large quilter's Applique Group. It's also located over on Facebook and the parts are also available in the Group's FILES area.

For those of you who hate Facebook and don't want to do anything there, you can also download all pattern parts from my Pattern Area over on Craftsy. Again, it's completely free.

If you love this pattern, be sure to let all your quilting friends know it's available and please remember to submit an image of your finished quilt or project to my OPEN GALLERY when you're done - this allows me to swoon over all the talent out there. 

​

WOW: New Habits

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I've started two new working habits that are motivating me a lot more than I expected they would. The first is purely celebratory - each time I finish a design or pattern, I buy a bunch of flowers. Look at these lilies! This photo doesn't do them justice, they are a bright, deep orange in real life and I am smiling each time I pass them on my kitchen table. Designing is a celebration, especially at my age.

When I started quilting I had no idea that my new hobby would take me into such a new direction. After all, I am supposed to be retired. But I work more now than I ever have. It's a curious turn in life events and one I am grateful for. I only wish I'd started 30 years earlier!

With so much of my day taken up by my creative pursuits, my reading has mostly fallen away. I feel completely out of the loop when it comes to modern literature. I found that I couldn't keep up with my book group about 10 years ago and simply stopped going. Recently, I've been missing my reading time. My DD suggested that I listen to Audio Books whilst I prep applique pieces and do those boring bits. At first it didn't appeal. I sometimes already watch the Quilt Show on my laptop for company when I'm in the mood for it. But as I'm sewing and doing things, I often lose track of what's happening on screen. I was reluctant to spend money on audio books for the same reason. I just couldn't see myself getting enough value from them.

Boy, was I wrong! Call me the new Queen of Audio Titles! I have 30 in my library at the moment and it's growing at a rate of 2-3 a week. I know 'netflix' bingeing is a thing with younger people, well I am doing the same thing with audio books. Except, instead of sitting in front of a screen, I am working away and enjoying every minute. In fact sometimes, I keep working beyond what I planned just to finish the chapter! I use an app on my phone and simply listen whenever I feel like it. I really don't know how the Audible revolution passed me by before this. I can't recommend it enough for an afternoon of creativity. I love it.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

'Nelke' by Lin McQuiston

I was delighted when I saw Lin's 'Nelke' quilt: for one thing, her fabrics are beautiful, I am head over heels with this whole warm, soft pallette. You know, when I was thinking up a name for my quilt, I had always 'seen' it in my mind's eye as being hazelnuts, gingers and reds - a nutty pallette if you like. And Nelke literally means 'clove' so it fit perfectly.

Lin's use of lighter green on the large outer leaves add an air of delicacy to this quilt visually and it all works together in perfect balance. I was super impressed when I saw the fabric border, I think the print Lin chose is ideal, it looks custom made!

Look at this superb quilting - it offsets the applique beautifully.

I love everything about your Nelke, Lin. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us all.

Have you made Nelke? Lin made changes to this quilt to make it suit her. And since the pattern was released, I have added an extra bird and bows to the corners. This was one quilt I simply couldn't help 'updating' so for this reason, you will see several varieties out there. Each is as gorgeous as the next. 

If you'd like to read more about Nelke, you can check out the Nelke post archive right here on this blog by clicking the image below. 

'Nelke' 

Read more about this quilt by clicking here now

------------------------------------------- Open Quilt Gallery------------------------------------------- 

Thanks to Lin McQuiston for sharing her finished quilt pics with us all to take inspiration from. If you'd like to see more finished quilts made from any of my patterns, visit my Open Gallery. It's a place for all quilters who make any of my quilts to show off their creations in a central online gallery. It's new and I hope you'll join us by adding your own quilt there. Submitting your quilt pics is easily done via an upload screen directly on my website. Clear here now if you'd like to submit your own quilt.