This is a very clever tutorial.  Reusable, reversible and easy to make with 10 inch pre-cuts or fabric cut to that size. What a beautiful way to give gifts and won't take much of your time.

This music video is to celebrate 50 years since the release of "Tapestry" by Carole King. I was a big fan of Carole King in the 70's and still own the album I purchased when it came out.
​In the background of this video are wonderful quilts from the Salt Creek Quilters Guild in Western Springs, Illinois.  Their 2020 Quilt Challenge had the theme, Carole King, and the story gets really interesting on how it became part of the video.  Read on below the video!

Below are the quilts that you see in the background of the music video.  These were on the website for the Salt Creek Quilters Guild.  There are other wonderful quilts made by their members for the challenge, and well work checking those out also.  Click Here for a direct link to the Newsletter page, and to check out January & February 2021. The newsletter also gives the name of each quilt maker and the title of the quilt.
​PS - You can click on each photo to see a larger image.

Sometimes my quilting world collides in a good way!  In this case I received an email from a favorite vendor with a cool idea, and a link to explain the technique from Laura from SewVeryEasy on You Tube.   Of course I had to share it with you.
​It all starts with this video from SewVeryEasy:
​--Ann

And then Full Line Stencil goes a step further and uses their quilting stencils as a pattern to place the embellishment  Genius!
PS- I love their chalk that just irons off when you are done quilting!

I have to admit that I am not that fond of "stitch in the ditch" for quilting.  I am often not quite pleased with the results, especially if matching the seams is  a little off in places.  This video seemed like a good solution, so I recently gave it a try.  I used my domestic machine with a built in walking foot, and it allowed me to stitch fast with good accuracy using the seams as a guide. Well, it turned out very attractive, and the stitched lines added some character and texture.  Love it!  I suggest you might also give it a try, it is a nice option for your quilting toolbox.
--Ann

Pineapple blocks are fun, but very time consuming to make using paper piecing.  Here are a few other options to making these popular blocks by using piecing and trimming.   Enjoy.

Another option is using a Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool, which makes the process much faster.  Watch this video from Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company showing how to use the ruler tool.  If you search You Tube, there are a number of videos demonstrating the Trim Tool, but I happen to like this one the best.
PS- Creative Grids makes the Trim Tool in 2 sizes.  The large one makes 6-8-10 inch blocks.  The small one makes 4-5-6 inch blocks.  
PSS - You can use scraps for make these blocks too!

I love this project.  She starts with an "orphan block" and adds strips from her scraps to frame it and make the block bigger.  The next step surprised me, but is a great solution to make it perfect.  I could even see making multiples of this and using the big blocks to make a quilt.  Lots of creative fun from your stash!

This short video is delightful if you love quilting like we do.  Pokey Bolton included quilts to "decorate" her outdoor wedding this month, and it is a delight to get to see it in this video.  If you don't know of Pokey, among other things, she founded Quilting Arts Magazine and she currently runs the Craft Napa retreat near me in Napa, Calfornia.  Enjoy!

Ann
​PS- I was told that the small flags were made by guests to the wedding.  Lovely touch!

A big thanks to one of our members, Tomi, for letting us know about this short helpful video from AllPeopleQuilt.com.  Keeping the tools we use clean, means we are working at our best!

This video shows one method of sewing curves for your quilting projects.  The teacher also show some fun ways to use those curve blocks in a quilt.  Enjoy!

I have heard from some of our groups members that they like using Freezer Paper for paper piecing.  This video goes another step up and shows us how to use it for a large scale design.  Either way, we hope to use this technique as another tool for quilting.

I really enjoy this teacher on You Tube.  She makes everything so easy!  This video shows the entire process, including borders, binding, and the quilting. 

I am thinking about using a Charm Pack with Christmas Fabric to make something fun for my home. 
​Enjoy! Thx, Ann

Here are the links that Yoan mentions in the video:
You will need : 40x pcs of charm packs, 5” x 5“ (12.7 x 12.7 cm) fabric squares. https://amzn.to/3iAz1te, https://bit.ly/3y17NTa
21” x 42” batting https://amzn.to/3kSXZXw
2/3 yard backing fabric
1/6 yard border fabric
1/3 yard binding fabric
Note: yardage requirements are estimated, based on standard 44” wide cotton quilting fabric. Machine quilting thread, Basic sewing /quilting notions.

Our local newspaper, The Press Democrat, had a wonderful article about Sandy & Rick and their passion to paint beautiful barn quilts.  They amped up their painting when the pandemic hit, in hope of spreading some cheer with their community.  
I contacted them and asked if I could visit and get some pictures to share with other quilters, and they said yes!  I hope you enjoy these photos of their barn quilts and the lovely gardens they live in.
​--Ann
PS - To read the original Press Democrat newspaper article Click Here

I really like the suggestions in this video to make a sewing room or area more productive.  I thought my sewing room was great, but I have a few tweaks I want to make after watching this video from Tiny Orchard Quilts on You Tube.  Proves once again, we all can learn from each other!

I don't know about you, but I love watching Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  Her teaching videos are not only easy to follow, but she is just fun! 
This video is questions asked by her followers and gives a little peak into her very cute retro camper trailer that she has set up for sewing, of course.  I loved her tips on how to teach young kids to sew.  Enjoy!

I stumbled across this video on You Tube, and thought it was an interesting tip.  So of course I tried it.  I have to say it sure was easier to do than the traditional way I was taught.  Then I turned into a mad scientist to try different glues that are recommended for quilting fabric.  They all worked using the same method shown in the video, but some of them worked easier than others.  My favorite of those I tried?  Appli-Glue by Jillily Studio.  More expensive than the glue used in the video, but it held things a little better and was easier to apply.  What works best for you?

Sometimes a clever idea comes along, and I wonder why I didn't think of it myself!  Watch this video and you might have the same experience...   
From National Quilters Circle:
    Free motion quilting can be tricky to get the hang of when you are just starting out. One thing that can make it easier and less intimidating is drawing or transferring the quilting design or motif onto the quilt top or project.
    Ashley Hough shows you how to do this using freezer paper, which eliminates the need to draw directly on the fabric.
    Ashley begins by talking about the type of paper to use. You can use a standard freezer paper or any other kind of wax backed paper. The idea is that when the paper is ‘fused’ to the fabric using medium heat, dry iron – the paper temporarily sticks to the fabric. The paper can then be easily removed, moved, and reused as many times as the paper will still stick to the fabric.
    Ashley then shows how to easily trace a design onto the freezer paper. Because freezer paper is easy to see through, any design or motif can be traced without the need for a lightbox.
    Ashley then shows how to cut out the design and fuse it into place on the fabric.
   You can then use the design as a way to free motion quilt and trace the outer edges and quilt that shape onto your project, or do simple free motion quilting fill stitches around the design and leave that area un-stitched. While you can always stitch though the paper when quilting as a way to use it as a template, however, if you do so, you will need to rip the paper in order to remove it, making it non-reusable.

Actually, if you watch this video, you don't even need a pattern!
​I have been a fan of Donna Jordan at Jordan Fabrics for a long time.  Her family business is very generous with great videos teaching how to make quilts and use some of the fabrics they sell.  This is a free tutorial technique video to make a Bargello looking quilt without all the hard work.  Like always, if you follow this video, you can have a quick successful quilt too.  Below is her YouTube tutorial with all the instructions you need to try this yourself.