Patchwork of the Crosses

One of the fun things to do in Paducah during the AQS Quilt Show is to visit the Rotary where there is always a special exhibit of quilts, an exhibit of the Hofmann challenge quilts, and, of course, more vendors!  This year, the special exhibit featured Hexagon quilts from the collection of Mary Kerr. None of the quilts displayed were Lucy Boston quilts, but I thought you might enjoy seeing them anyway.
Some of the quilts were very old and fragile, but, they were really, the "stars" of the exhibit.

Often times, in days past, a quilter would display her prized quilt as a back drop for a family picture.  

I thought this vintage quilt was special because I've never seen this setting before in a hexagon quilt. Don't the chevrons give the quilt an interesting look?

This was a fairly large quilt done with small hexies - lots of work in this one!

This old quilt was in very good condition for it's age.  As you can see, it was constructed in 1842.  All four borders were the same with the embroidered initials and date.  It's great to see such an old quilt that has been so well preserved.

This was one of my favorites.  Imagine the amount of work that went into piecing all those stars!

Of course, the nice thing about hexagons is the unlimited number of patterns you can design.  While we tend to think of Grandmother's Flower Gardern patterns first, diamond patterns were also very popular.

This was an example of an older quilt with flower rosettes, but pieced into a diamond setting.

I was really amazed that so many of the old quilts were made with really small hexagon shapes making the designs look very intricate.  They almost made my 1" honeycomb shapes seem "jumbo"!

What a fun exhibit!  My mind is just over-whelmed with the unending possibilities with English paper piecing.  I see more new projects in my future!

We have an extensive seclection of English Paper Piecing supplies.  Check out our website to order.  If you don't see the size of templates and papers you need, just call us and we'll get them for you.

Check our Pinterest Board to see pictures of the lovely Lucy Boston blocks sent in by our customers.

Check out Inklingo if you prefer to hand piece your hexagons without using the paper templates.  Inklingo will print out cutting and stitching lines on your fabric using your computer printer.

Wool Hooked Rug Extravaganza

The 2nd Friday of every month  'wool lovers' gather to work on their wool projects. Deborah shared her Adam and Eve hooked rug and June showed the sheep hooked rug she's working on. Knitters, wool appliqué lovers, even rug braiders, meet in the class room for a morning of fun stitching.

Quilt Market reunion

One of the best parts of Market is reuniting with quilt buddies you have known and loved for years.  I am sure the conversation amongst these quilt designing, shop owning veterans was not to be missed.
Mary Ellen had dinner with Connie and Mary of Country Threads & Janet Nesbitt of One Sister Designs (formerly Buggy Barn) at Quilt Market in Minneapolis - they had a great time reminiscing! 

Calling all Sunbonnet Sue lovers...

Yoshiko and her friend brought in her Sunbonnet Sue blocks she's working on. She's adding sweet embroidery stitches. We have a great assortment of feedsack and 1930's and 40's fabrics.

Patchwork of the Crosses

A new block for May:

I love the way this stripe creates a  radiating pattern around the center.
The fabrics I used for this block:

  Have fun stitching!

Check our website to order additional supplies.

We are continually adding new Lucy Boston blocks to our Pinterest Board.  Check it regularly for new ideas.

Don't forget to check out Inklingo if you prefer hand piecing your blocks rather than English Paper Piecing.

We're in the Magazine!

We hope you all had a chance to enjoy the Blog Tour of Designers with quilt blocks featured in the new "Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 11" magazine.  If you weren't able to participate, you might like to check out the following series of videos that will give you a "mini-tour" through the magazine.  If you're looking for a specific style of block for your next quilt, some of the blocks have been categorized by style to make it easier to find the blocks you'd be interested in.  The Designer Gallery link will give you ideas on how others have turned the blocks into little quilts.  Hope you enjoy the videos and find just the block or quilt design you're looking for!
This is our featured block.  It's a combination of piecing and wool applique.  You will see it in the Mixed Techniques or Applique videos.

Click the links below to view the wonderful block designs in the magazine!

Full issue preview
Pieced Blocks
Foundation Blocks
Mixed Techniques
Applique Blocks
Designer Quilt Gallery
We still have a few copies of the issue left - call the shop if you'd like to order a copy!

May Day Show and Tell - Part 1. Hold Me Back...

 Eloise designed her own sweet star quilt.  What a great way to personalize a special quilt!  Eloise used the Moda Letters Booklet to add Clara’s name to the back of the quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Judy used T-shirts from past family reunions to make a very special family quilt

 

Pam made star sampler blocks in batiks for her quilt and then made it extra-special with a star border!

 

Patricia used her Second Saturday Sampler blocks from 2014 and Muriel’s setting pattern, but designed her own outer border for this beauty. Now don't you wish you can last year? Well, we can't go back but there is still time to get in on this year Sampler blocks. Put June 13 (sometime between 9:30 and 11) on you calendar and ask us how to get started.

 

 

Neutral Chain

LQ staff member Tricia just finished this double Irish Chain quilt as a wedding gift for a family member. She used beautiful greys which are very popular in decorating today. What a great gift.....sure to be timeless and enjoyed!

What A Mom Really Wants for Mother's Day

Buy mom a gift certificate or could this be you, if you take mom shopping!

Patchwork of the Crosses

A Modern-Day Fairy Tale                                

     Once upon a time, way back when I first started the Patchwork of the Crosses blog, a lady and her two friends decided to visit Little Quilts.  The lady was very charming and from a country far, far away - England, to be exact (her accent gave her away!).  Her name was Sarah.  Sarah had traveled to Canada to visit friends and they were on a trip down the East Coast of the US visiting lots and lots of quilt shops all along the way.  When they arrived at Little Quilts I couldn't resist asking Sarah if she had heard of Lucy Boston or the Patchwork of the Crosses quilt.  You would not believe my surprise when she told me she was a personal friend of Diana Boston (Lucy's daughter-in-law) and she lived three miles from the Manor House!  It was decided we would be friends forever and email each other with Sarah promising to occasionally send pictures of the Hemingsford Gray gardens and the town where Lucy lived.   

     I was so excited!  I couldn't wait to email my new friend!  Alas, I misplaced her email address. Surely, I thought, she still has my address and she will email me.  I waited and waited, but no message from Sarah.  I was afraid she had lost my address, too.  I was so disappointed to think I had no way to contact my new friend.

     But don't despair, dear readers... this fairy tale has a happy ending!  As it goes, I went to Paducah, KY, with Mary Ellen to help 'man our booth' at the world famous AQS Quilt Show.  We worked very hard to be sure our booth was set up in time for the show.  When the doors finally opened, our booth was swamped with customers.  Can you imagine my surprise when someone tapped my shoulder and there was Sarah!  Her mother had passed away shortly after she returned home and dealing with that sad occasion had kept her from emailing me.  But there we were, two friends half-way around the world from each other reunited once again in only a years time!  What a happy day!

     Isn't that a "happily ever after" ending to a great story?  Sarah and I promised to email each other again and Sarah plans to send pictures which I'll share with you as I get them.  

Sarah and Muriel reunited at the Little Quilts booth, AQS Quilt show, Paducah, KY!

I hope you had fun working on your blocks while I was in Paducah for the show.  I'll have another block ready for you next week.

Click here to see new blocks posted to our Pinterest Board

Click here it you need to reorder paper piecing supplies from our website.

Click here if you want information on how to make fussy-cut blocks using your computer printer.

100 Blocks Volume 11 Blog Tour

Welcome to Little Quilts!  We're so excited to have a block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 11.   We love flags and  everything patriotic.  We hope the upcoming patriotic holidays will inspire you to try our block, combining cotton with wool applique, to make this block as a pillow, little quilt, or a medallion center.

We pieced the background in scrappy reds, creams, and blues, and then added a wool applique swag. We carry hand dyed wool in the store and love using it in our blocks because it adds such rich color and texture and it's so easy to do! If you are 'allergic to traditional applique'...this is the block for you! Simply fuse the shapes down and use a hand or machine buttonhole stitch to secure the edges - no needle turn stitching or fraying edges!

We'd love to hear if you've tried wool applique before!  Share your comments below and one lucky winner will receive a free copy of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 11!

We hope you're having fun and finding lots of good quilting tips from all the designers.  Check out Quiltmaker for more information about other designers in the tour and how to win more prizes!

Patchwork of the Crosses

Time for another block...

I love making these blocks - it's so fun playing with fabric to get such beautiful crosses!

These are the fabrics I used for this block:

Check out our Pinterest Board for other beautiful design ideas.

Need more supplies?  Go to our website here.

Inklingo is perfect for those of you who prefer hand piecing to English paper piecing.  Get more information on how to print cutting and stitching lines on the fabric with your own printer. Also works great with English paper piecing.  Check it out here.

AQS Quilt Show 2015 - one heck of a good time

Not only did we have a prize winner in our midst but team LQ worked hard and played hard to wrap up another wonderful chance to introduce Little Quilt-ness to new customers and meet, greet and schmooze with our long distance long time friends.
Applause and a long nap go to Mary Ellen and Muriel who REPRESENT to KY  et al, what Little Quilts is all about. 
Work hard?  Oh for sure,  Check out our before and after.

 It was hard work, not a Fairy Godmother or quilting elves that made this kind of magic. 

Lucy Boston Show and Tell

I'm in Paducah this week helping Mary Ellen with the Little Quilts booth.  I'm hoping to find a Patchwork of the Crosses quilt somewhere in the show.   Pictures will follow if I find one! In the meantime, I thought you'd like to see some of the blocks from one our our newer Lucy Boston addicts...

Libby just started her Lucy Boston Quilt... and she is hooked. She's been in the shop several times shopping for neat stripes and floral fabrics as she 'fussy cuts to make beautiful combinations for these 'addicting blocks'.  She found lots of perfect fabrics in 'her stash' but is now adding neat stripes and border fabrics to have more to pick from. 
Check our website for details about how 'you too can get hooked on Lucy Boston.'!

Savannah Pattern from Red Crinoline Quilts.

Helen came in to select a backing for this quilt. It's for her son's graduation from law school for his new apartment. The pattern is Savannah from Red Crinoline quilts. An easy quilt to make. Helen selected paisleys and fabrics with a masculine feel for this quilt to use on his antique bed.

Winner, Winner...We Have a Winner!!!!

Good Morning Little Quilts Country!!
We awake this morning to big news!
Our friend, teacher, Little Quilts staff member...Elisabeth Frolet won first place in the small wall quilt - handquilted category, at the AQS Quilt Show - Paducah, Kentucky!!!!
Zoom in on this shot and see how well deserved this award is. 

Here is the sneak peek Mary Ellen got yesterday. More news to come. 

Supporting Military Families

Congratulations to Merri-Lynn Foss, the winner of Moda's Piece and Comfort Challenge for our shop.  Merri-Lynn's quilt will now enter into competition with winners from other participating shops for the opportunity to win some great prizes.  The Piece and Comfort Challenge is a special effort by Moda to recognize and honor the sacrifices that are made by our country's military families.  Proceeds from the challenge bwenefit USACares.org.  We wish you the best in the next level of competition, Merry-Lynn - we think you've got a winner!

Life is like a box of chocolates

Chocolate boxes for Judy's daughter - a real 'Choco - holic!!! Made from a charm pack of chocolate fabrics!

Patchwork of the Crosses

A new block with another great stripe.  This block is a different way to use a stripe.

All the honeycombs are cut from the stripe except for the four inner corners.  It's great practice in cutting honeycombs on an angle and a reverse angle!  

These are the fabrics I used for this block:

Need more paper piecing supplies?  Click here to go to our website.

Check our Pinterest Board for lots of examples of POTC blocks.

If you prefer hand piecing over English Paper Piecing, check out Inklingo to see how you can print cutting and sewing lines on your fabric using your printer.

March Second Saturday Show and Tell

What a beautiful day it was on Saturday to enjoy each others company with sunshine on our faces and to make the show and tell quilts look stunning.

Ali finished her Second Saturday quilt from 2014.  She used Muriel’s setting with her reproduction blocks, but turned one of the sections of the block frame settings around and ended up with the stars.  What a great idea!

Colleen finished her quilt from the Hunter’s Star class here at Little Quilts – all that’s left is to finish the binding and it will be ready for the East Cobb Quilt Show in June!  She decided to make the quilt for good friends who love hunting, the beach, and the great outdoors so she wanted colors that reflected nature’s beauty.  Beautiful!

 Jan finished her Second Saturday Sampler blocks in a simple setting, but set off with multiple borders.  Love the border fabrics she chose!

The ME Bee (Monday Evening quilters) completed this patriotic beauty and are donating it the Dobbin’s Air National Reserve for their auction this spring.  Perfect quilt for the upcoming patriotic holidays!

Jan finished two great quilts.  The first quilt was so unique!  Sandy used one fabric, but fussy cut four squares to make the block centers giving each block a different kaleidoscopic look.  So easy to do and so effective!

Jan used a pattern from Butterfly Threads Quilting by Dianne Knott for the second quilt.  I love the way bright colors sparkle on a black background.

 

Spring Wool Applique - 4 part Block of the Month

The flannels and wools have just arrived for Bertie’s Spring.  Our version of the wall hanging features wool appliqué on a flannel background.  So cheery for Spring!  This four-month Block of the Month begins in May – sign up by calling the shop or by ordering on our website. 

More Show and Tell from the March Bulloch Hall Quilt Show

Quilts made by staff members and owner of Little Quilts.

Mary Ellen's Lemoyne Star quilt made for the 25th Anniversary of Judie Rothermel fabrics. 25 stars for 25 years.

Janice's (on left)  Second Saturday Red and Brown Alternate Sampler from 2013

Linda W's (on right) UGA Music quilt made for twin sons using the 'Just Can't Cut It' pattern.

Janice's Round Robin quilt she did with her bee group.

 

What Are you Doing Tomorrow - Saturday April 11?

We will be offering our Second Saturday Sampler event from 9:30AM - 11AM.  You will make a block a month, complete with instructions and fabric.

Here is a finale showing of some of the quilts made using the blocks rom the 2014 version, as displayed at the Bulloch Hall Quilt Show last month.

Wanda H's 2014 Second Saturday Sampler

Muriel's 2014 Second Saturday Modern Alternate Sampler

Muriel's 2013 Second Saturday Black and White Alternate Sampler

Linda W's 2014 Second Saturday Red-Gold-Blue Alternate Sampler

Come back on Sunday for more photos from the quilt show.

Patchwork of the Crosses

I’ve been trying, rather unsuccessfully, to pace myself on reading the series of children’s books authored by Lucy Boston.  I tend to read books I really like too fast and I’m always disappointed when they’re finished!  In spite of all my rationing efforts, I finished reading the fifth book in the series, “An Enemy At Green Knowe”, last week.  Each of the books is so different it’s hard to resist seeing which direction Lucy Boston will head off in next.

You can just see the reflection of Lucy’s love for her surroundings and her home’s imagined history in all of her books.  I think you’ll love the enchanting way house, garden, and statuary become characters as important as the people!   All old houses, over time, gather some sort of magic, and none more so than Green Knowe.  Green Knowe is the old house, founded in Norman times, that turns into a refuge for ghosts, time travelers and gorillas alike in Lucy’s books.

In "An Enemy At Green Knowe" both Tolly and Ping are staying at the manor.  Mrs. Oldknow tells them the story of Doctor Vogel, a tutor and magician who came to a diabolical end at Green Knowe centuries before. The next day, Professor Melanie D. Powers appears, hunting for Vogel's occult papers.  Professor Powers' interest is far from academic, however, and a mounting confrontation between the holy magic of Green Knowe and the forces of Evil, represented by Melanie Powers, commences. Spells, potions, secret languages written on bat’s wings, cobwebs, black cats, snakes – it’s all in the story, but you’ll have to read the book to see how creatively Tolly and Ping thwart the evil!

With the introduction of witchcraft, this book takes a decidedly darker turn than previous novels in the series.  For me, that wasn’t a negative -there are certainly places where you hold your breath with anticipation - Dr Powers is genuinely scary - but the frightening episodes are over quite quickly, and not drawn out in a disturbing way for children.  There are minor victories all through the book, allowing for bedtime readings which see Tolly and Ping secure within the walls of Green Knowe for another night, at least.

Peter Boston's illustrations are an essential part of the Green Knowe books - done on scraperboard, they are rather hard to reproduce here, but, in the books, the intricacy of the drawings makes you want to study the detail. They provide the perfect reflection of the delicacy with which the stories are told, and their deep sense of magic and history.

Kennesaw Mountain Quilt

Marshall brought his color rendering of Kennesaw Mountain Quilt. Pattern by Red Crinoline Quilts. We love his border  and inner border color selection, don't you?

Bowtie Quilt circa. Repro.

Brenda brought in her quilt top to select a backing fabric. Would you believe she hand pieced this gorgeous bow tie quilt in 70 days! It’s 92” square. Brenda says it’s her ‘therapy’ while she is taking care of her granddaughter, and an elderly mother. Patchwork and working with your hands is the best therapy….it can be said that it can be easier to find small patches of time for handwork rather than the big chunk of time for machine work! Great job Brenda!

Patchwork of the Crosses

A beautiful block for Spring...

These are the fabrics I used:

Click here if you need to order paper piecing supplies from our website.

Check out our Pinterest Board here for new blocks that have been posted.

Find out more about the Inklingo method of hand piecing the POTC blocks. .