Free Sister Sampler Project: Ataraxy Envelope Pillows

Looking for some EXTRA Sister Sampler blocks in your life?  Well, you're in luck!  If you can't get enough of Sister Blocks (making blocks in pairs) -or- are curious to try some out before you embark on an entire sampler, there is a FREE project download available.

The envelope pillow set, Ataraxy and Ataraxy Inverse, are based on the block concept for the second sampler in the book, the Vice Versa Sampler.  In those blocks, we make the traditional block and then invert the colors in the second block.  The color goes to the background and background shades come to the foreground.  Fun!

You can try out a vice versa inverse block set and turn them into these fun pillows.  Actually, you can make ANY set of Sister Blocks from the book in the 12" size and turn them into these pillows.  You add a small border to make the 14" pillow envelopes.  See the pillow pattern for details.

I had fun making this set in such bright and picnic-y colors.  Then I used small 1/2" crosshatch quilting to make the design really pop.  Please share with us if you end up making these!  #sistersamplerquilts

American Patchwork & Quilting Radio - Mon. Jan. 18!

Eeeek!  Things are starting to get exciting around here.  I wanted to let you know that I'll be on American Patchwork & Quilting Radio with the lovely Pat Sloan next week!!

The show airs on Mondays at 4:00 EST.  You can see and listen to all the episodes here at AP&Q or here at Pat's site Creative Talk Network.  Listen for me at 4:00pm on Monday, January 18, 2016.  :)

The Moccasin BOM Sampler Quilt Finish

So.  Here we are.  It's the final post for the Moccasin Block of the Month Club 2015 - the one where I officially mark this quilt complete.  Although this quilt has been finished for over a year, it's still a work in progress to me as long as I am hosting the BOM and continuing to write and post it about it all year long. 

Oh my gosh, what a year it's been.  I genuinely thank you all for your support as I took my business to new levels with this BOM program.  2015 has been a pivotal year for me - and this quilt has been a huge portion of that.

The folks at RJR Fabrics contacted me in March of 2014 to see if I was interested in designing a Block of the Month program using their Cotton Supreme Solids.  I jumped at the chance, excited to begin and having no real idea what I was getting into. 

RJR has been absolutely fantastic to work with and helped me step into the printed pattern world.  Printed Patterns.  Those are just 2 small words, but there is SO much that goes along with that.  I have learned volumes about myself, my design process, my instruction writing, commercial printing, graphic design for printing, carrying, shipping and bookkeeping for inventory, distribution and wholesaling, oh my.  The list goes on and on.  And although this post is really just supposed to be showing you pretty pictures of a finished quilt, what these pictures cannot show you is how much I have grown this past year.  Both professionally and personally.  Thank you to Demi and RJR for everything over the past year.

You all have seen this finished quilt many times over the past year.
Moccasin attended Fall Market 2014 in Houston, TX and Spring Market 2015 in Minneapolis, MN.
Moccasin appeared in the QuiltCon 2015 Show in Austin, TX, making it on local TV coverage there.
And attended Bernina University in Scottsdale, AZ in the summer of 2015.

If you have seen this quilt in person, then you know we must give credit where credit is due.  Mindy Powell is the incredibly talented long arm quilter who quilted Moccasin for me.  Every time I show this quilt, it is met with that sound of inhaling air, as your breath is taken away.  Mindy's quilting is unbelievable.

When I sent this quilt top off to her, I only specified the pebbles and swirls I wanted in the navy blue background space.  Everything else I left up to her discretion.  The details that came back were jaw dropping.  Especially the motif she created around the center Dresden/Irish Chain detail in the middle of the quilt.  Thank you so much Mindy for taking this quilt and giving it life.

See?!?!?  I told you this quilt is my fourth child!

Moccasin now converts to a sampler at the close of the Block of the Month Club.  It is still available and is now purchased as a complete set of 12 patterns.  Check that out here.  Thank you all for a wonderful year!  I look forward to featuring some your Moccasins in January 2016.