how to have a happy relationship with your professional quilter.

I'm a quilter and I have a pet peeve. It's quilt borders that WON'T LIE FLAT!

There, I said it and I feel better.

I do quilting for others and I find that there may be some lazy quilters out there. Or, maybe it's just that by the time they get to the borders, they just want to git 'er done! Or, maybe proper border application was something they've missed. Well, I've taken off many a border and re sewn them to customers' quilts so that I could actually quilt the quilt. With this in mind, I decided to post simple directions for adding borders to your quilt top so they aren't wavy, (not that any of YOU do them incorrectly, I'm just saying...) I'm also planning on giving these directions to all my customers!

Determine the Length of Side Borders

1. Measure the quilt from top to bottom through its vertical midpoint.
2. Cut two border strips that match the measurement exactly, using the width you've already determined looks best with the quilt. Borders made with crosswise grain strips are somewhat stretchier than lengthwise grain border strips, but either type is suitable.

Sew Side Borders to the Quilt

1. Find the center of the long side of the border strip, pin to mark this point. Find the quilt's horizontal center and place a pin in this point.
2. Pin the border to the side of the quilt, right sides together matching the center points. Pin through both layers at the match to keep them from shifting.
3. Match and pin the bottom end of the border to the bottom edge of the quilt, then match and pin the other end to the top edge of the quilt.
4. Continue matching and pinning the border to the entire side of the quilt, pinning at close intervals if you must ease in fullness to coax the two lengths to match. Raw edges should be aligned along the quilt's entire side.
5. Sew the border to the quilt with a 1/4" seam allowance, removing pins as the needle approaches them. If you had to ease in fullness, sew with the longest piece next to the feed dogs.
6. Press the seam allowance towards the border.
7. Use the same method to sew the remaining border to the opposite side of the quilt.

Determine Top & Bottom Border Length

1. Measure the quilt from side-to-side through its horizontal midpoint, including the width of the side borders. Cut two borders this length.
2. Find the center of the border strip and mark with a pin. Pin the center of the border strip to the vertical center at the top of the quilt, right sides together and raw edges matched.
3. Continue matching and pinning the border to the quilt just as you did side borders, working with ends first then matching and pinning the remaining length.
4. Sew the border to the quilt with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seam allowance towards the border.
5. Repeat to sew the bottom border to the quilt.
6. Repeat all steps if you want to add another border around the first.

DO NOT just sew your border strip onto the quilt and cut it off even with the quilt edge when you get to the end! This results in a wavy quilt that does not lay flat and is very difficult to baste or load on the quilt machine. ALWAYS measure, measure, measure!

Happy Monday!

Time for a quilt picture to hopefully brighten your day. 'In Bloom' is a quilt I designed for Timeless Treasures for the fall market in Houston, TX. I think the fabric is gorgeous. Timeless hung this quilt in one of there 'windows' at quilt market (I'll post pictures after the spring market in May that will show more of what I do for them and Blank quilting fabrics).

I love the challenge of finding ways to use border stripes without driving quilters crazy with wasting fabric, trying to do too much matching, etc. I think this is one of the best designs I've done. If you like this quilt, kits are available from Quilt Cove (web link to the right) and Keepsake Quilting. I'm always thrilled to have a quilt in Keepsake, it's almost like being in a magazine! I'm making another one just like it right now for a shop sample for Quilt Cove.

When I design a pattern for the fabric companies, they retain the rights to it for a year, I'm then free to use it as I wish. I think this will become a pattern in my line. It uses a 34" square of fabric for the center and as long as the fabric isn't directional, it will showcase one of those pieces you just don't want to cut. The quilt is 77" square overall and I think that when it's time to add it to my pattern line I will add an option of blocks at either end that will make it fit a bed. Untill then, I'll be searching for another floral line to use that will be more current at the release of the pattern. Quilts like this look great laying on a bed 'on point' over a plain bedspread.

If you ever have questions about the design process, etc. please feel free to contact me!

Happy quilting!

It's a new year

Even though we are a week into the new year, I still would like to extend the blessings of happiness, great health and prosperity to all. This is going to be an exciting year.

I've been really slack posting the last couple of weeks. My daughter, who is 4 weeks away from having our first grandchild, was here over Christmas so no posting for me. My niece and a friend of my daughter's had a lovely shower for her last Sunday. Hard to get all those goodies, luggage and the dog back into the car for her drive home!
I must admit to not having started a quilt for baby Evelyn. The plan is for later this week. I have fabric, a pattern, just lack time. But then, we seem to make time for what is really important, don't we? She's not going without blankies, great grandma crocheted 2 beautiful afghans for her.

So, in my quilting world this week, I am doing the final editing of the BOM patterns for Blank (the quilt pictures posted a few weeks back) and getting some quilting finished for others. It's that quilting that usually makes the college tuition payments, etc.!
After that I'm beginning work on a couple of new patterns that will use my Quilted Jewels templates. I'm doing a pine tree quilt that will have many sizes from small wall hanging to bed size quilt. I may even include a Christmas tree skirt in with this one. I'm excited about the possibilities! Hoffman Fabrics was kind enough to supply a fabulous assortment of green batiks for the trees. Another pattern will be a casserole carrier (or Hot Dish carrier, as we say in Minnesota). You can all keep me on task by frequently emailing me and asking if they are done!

Below is a link to a humorous song about Minnesota winter. I can relate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ii8lwN-edA

Happy quilting!

Glory to God in the Highest! I just want to wish a Merry Christmas to all and I pray for God's great blessings for you. May you have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Thank you all for supporting my business and just having followers on my blog is a great encouragement!

We have over 26" of snow so far this December, so no need to DREAM of a white Christmas we have one! A lovely sugar coating last night. Well, in as much as 5" is a sugar coating. We had 4" last Monday which changed over to drizzle. I shoveled a bit at my church and it was like creme brulee' (spelling!), the ice was just like the carmelized sugar coating on the vanilla pudding. MMMM.

So, why so much talk of snow? Well, it's a blessing. In Minnesota there are so many businesses that rely on it; ski slopes, plow companies, even the hardware stores ran out of shovels and snow blowers last week, everything was back ordered. Christmas shopping even picks up after the first snow, it gets people in the holiday mood. I love it!

Snow also reminds us of God's redeeming love. Did you know it's mentioned 22 times in scripture? A couple of my favorite verses are: Isaiah 55:10&11- For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
It shows that God's word does not fail. And, on Monday we had rain AND snow, I call that a double blessing!

Pictured is a view this morning out the patio door of the area where I sew. It's brighter out than the picture shows. The sun is peaking out even though fluffy flakes are still coming down.

Have a wonderful day!

The Love Of Quilting magazine

HI everyone! Welcome to a snowy December. I understand we are supposed to get about 8" of the fluffy white stuff later today. Good day to stay home and quilt, but what day isn't? I do quilting for others and I have LOADS to do. Some are gifts so I need to get crackin' on those.

I have a quilt featured in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, the January issue. I just picked my copy up at Barnes and Noble, couldn't wait to get mine in the mail! My quilt is Diamond Joy and it features my Quilted Jewels template set. There are paper templates in the magazine but plexiglass is so much better! There are 2 versions in the magazine, the darker one shown below and a smaller, light version. The fabric was designed by Hoodie for Blank quilting fabrics.

The quilts shown in the magazine are the pattern that comes with the template set. There are 3 others; Bling, the Christmas Tree Skirt & table topper and Tote bags (the tote bag pattern will be on my website very soon!). I'm working on couple more using the templates, one will be pine trees and the other, a casserole carrier and hobo style tote bag. So many ideas, so little time!!!

Back to the quilting machine!
May your points be pointy!

Time for another quilt! This is the green version of the BOM for Blank Quilting. I'm not sure which one I like better, I'm leaning toward the blue quilt posted earlier.

The colors are so vivid! Another great photo done by Charles Kopelson.

Again, it should be available in stores in January if everything goes as planned. Hopefully I can provide some stores for you to contact, if you're interested.



I'm up to my eyeballs in quilts to quilt for others. Some for Christmas gifts, some are just Christmas quilts. I'm happy for the work! My son is in college and any of you with kids in school know that means $$$! Lots of $$$!

Are any of you doing Christmas or Hanukkah quilts? What kind? Table runners, lap, bed size?I was hoping to make a couple of quilts for gifts but time is getting short, I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet! I know I don't need to shop for fabric (except in my own stash) so maybe there is hope for a couple of small ones.
Do you have a favorite pattern when you need a quick quilt? My personal favorite is the Double Irish Chain. OK, it's not just because it's my business name. I can do them fast and if you happen to have a copy of "Time For a Chain" by Possibilities and follow their cutting and pressing guidelines it may become one of your favorites as well.

Of course, I also have a favorite among my patterns and that would Be "Bless My Stars". It's an easy quilt and is one that looks more difficult than it is. Check it out on my website.
Happy Quilting!

HI everyone! I want to wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving and God's best to you throughout the holiday season. May you have the kind of peace and Joy that only He brings!


I have a fabulous cranberry salsa recipe that I think originally came out of the Mpls. Star/tribune newspaper. It's for one batch, but you might as well make 2. Like I said, it's fabulous! I had a 3lb bag of cranberries and quadrupled it when I made it today.
Here goes:
12 oz bag of cranberries, wash and drained
1 cup water
1 cup sugar (I usually use a bit less)
1 whole green onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cilantro
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon diced jalapenos

Bring the water and sugar to a boil. Add the cranberries and boil about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and gently stir in the remaining ingredients. Cool. Serve with chips or as your side for the turkey.

I'm sorry I didn't post this when you'd actually be able to get to the store and get everything but, I'm sure you've got some Christmas parties to attend. It will be a big hit!

I hope you all get some sewing done over this long weekend.
Happy quilting!