Patterns At Last!
It has taken me months but I finally have a new set of patterns complete and ready for sale. The Kay's Bouquets series consists of 4 small art quilts fused and stitched. You've already met Pretty Pansies and Blue Cosmos. Now meet Trio of Tulips and Plaid Sunflowers. (These are actual flowers I have in my garden. Sort of Scottish sunflowers.)

The pattern directions include the wrapped binding that gives the quilt that wavy edge. If you'd like to try one, please visit my pattern page.

Now I must find something else to do.

Cover Girl
I was delighted to find out that my quilt, Sprouts, is on the cover of the Danish Quilters' Association's magazine called Kludamagasinet. I'm not sure how the quilt arrived there, but I did meet a some lovely Danish quilters when I was teaching in Spain.
Soon the mystery will be solved, I hope, when I receive a copy of the magazine. The next feat will be finding a Danish speaker in my neighborhood to translate for me!

Creatively Crazy
I've just discovered Kerri Murphy's blog, Crazy Stitcher. I am amazed at how creatively she uses stitching to make her beautiful embroidery work. (Kerri uses my Size 5, 8 and 12 cotton threads along with others.) Her stitch combinations and color choices are inspired!

Compared to Kerri, I'm a piker! Here is the latest in the Kay's Bouquets series that I am developing as patterns. Blue Cosmos has lots of French Knots, some straight stitches, and cross stitches. Easy but effective.

Pretty Pansies
Here is another quilt in the Kay's Bouquets series. Pretty Pansies measures 12" x 12" and is destined to be a pattern available in the Artfabrik store soon.
When designing patterns, I've discovered that I have to simplify the design so I can describe the construction process. Writing directions requires a lot of concentration and mumbling. The mumbling is the most important part.

Serial Quilter
It seems natural to me to work in a series. I like taking a theme and making variations on that theme when creating art work. Past series categories are blue chairs, housing, and the redoubtable chickens series. Here is my latest idea based upon my garden flowers and the many containers I have to hold and display them. It is called Kay's Bouquets #6. Of course hand stitching with Size 8 thread is most important.

If you are in the Rockford, IL neighborhood on June 4, you can attend my lecture, Diary of a Serial Quilter at the Sinnissippi Quilt Guild meeting at 1:00. The program covers my series work from the past as well as new ideas.

Yes, singing is involved.

Stitching in the South of France
Imagine my delight when I received this picture from Veronique, who lives in the South of France. She and a group of textile artists meet and share ideas on a regular basis.
This pillow, created by Veronique, was inspired by my article in the February/March 2009 edition of Quilting Arts Magazine call Power to the Hand Stitcher.
Here is my version of the heart quilt, Joyful Heart #21, from the article. I like Veronique's version much better. Her stitching is exquisite! Proving once again that hand embroidery transforms a quilt from flat to vibrant and beautiful.

We Have a Winner!
Congratulations to Bairbre Bible for her first place win in the Hill Country Quilt Guild Show with this quilt, Lady of Shallot! I had a lovely visit while teaching the ladies of Texas in 2008 where Bairbre and I met.
Do you recognize the fabric background? That is a piece of my hand dyed fabric called Italian Prune. I love the way she used the color striations found in the fabric to her advantage. This is an excellent example of how to use a hand dyed fabric.
Great quilt Bairbre! You deserve that first place award.