Cotton Cuts Scavenger Quilt

Congratulations!  You have found the Cosmos Clue!

For those of you who are not in the know, here are the details:

Cotton Cuts Fall 2019 Puzzle Mystery Quilt starts next month! Cotton Cuts along with 8 other wonderful quilting bloggers/instagrammers are hosting a charity blog hop.

Each month, one of us will assemble a Puzzle Mystery Quilt clue and post about it. At the end of the 9 month project, Cotton Cuts will finish the quilt and we will raffle it off, with all proceeds going to Valley Industries. Valley Industries is a sheltered workshop for disabled individuals that Cotton Cuts uses for their box fulfillment process.

To learn more about the Cotton Cuts Fall 2019 Puzzle Mystery Quilt, click HERE.

To kick things off, we are doing a Cosmos Clue scavenger hunt. Look for this clue on the following sites and enter at each site to win prizes! Have fun and watch for my blog post in December!

Wefty Needle - https://www.instagram.com/weftyneedle/
Twiggy Opal - https://twiggyandopal.blogspot.com/

Clover and Violet - https://www.cloverandviolet.com/blog

Silly Mama Quilts - http://www.sillymamaquilts.com/

Color Girl Quilts - colorgirlquilts.com/blog

Debby Brown Quilts - http://higheredhands.blogspot.com/

TheYvetteRene - http://theywww.cottoncuts.com/blogvetterene.com/

Cotton Cuts - www.cottoncuts.com/blog

To enter to win a Cosmos fat quarter bundle of your choice, leave a comment and tell me the wildest color combination you ever put together in a quilt.  (Mine is periwinkle and coral.)

NOTE:  One winner will receive a Cosmos Puzzle Mystery Quilt Kit of their choice.

 W.  O.  W!

So:
1.  Leave a comment here with your wildest quilt color combination by June 28, 2019 for a chance to win.
2.  Visit all of the other sites and comment there for more chances to win.
3.  Shop for your Cosmos Mystery Quilt Kit HERE.
4.  Visit my website for free machine quilting videos and more!

New Free-Motion Class on Annie's Creative Studio

I have about 17 different jobs in the quilting world and one of them is filming for Annie's Creative Studio.  I've filmed over two dozen classes for them and anticipate filming many more!  Annie's Creative Studio is a subscription-based platform where you can learn from experts (like me!) how to quilt, knit, crochet, and more!  If you aren't a member yet, sign up for a free trial to watch the entire episode.

I've filmed a three-part series on free-motion quilting.  

Class description:

Are you tired of spending so much money having a long-armer finish your quilts? We have a new series to help you learn how to machine quilt your own quilts on your home sewing machine. In this part 1 Quilter’s Skill Builders episode, expert quilter Debby Brown presents her techniques for free-motion quilting success, and shares four attractive designs you can practice with her and then apply to any quilt. 

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

•             Quilt on your home sewing machine.

•             Plan and practice four quilting designs including zigzag, loops, leaves and flowers.

Sign in to Annie's Creative Studio and learn to free-motion quilt with me!

New Cutie Pattern -- Warp and Weft

One of the patterns I designed for Quilt Market is ready for you now.

I'm proud to present Warp and Weft!

This is my original pattern test.  I have some variations that I'll publish when the fabric is available.

This 60"x60" quilt is quick to piece.  Like all Cutie Patterns, Warp and Weft starts with a Cutie Pack (16 fat eighths).  Set with two different background fabrics, this quilt features large blocks perfect for the large prints that you don't want to cut up. 

Buy your pattern HERE.

A Tisket, A Tasket. I made a BASKET!

I make no secret of my love of all things Me and My Sister.*  I love their fabrics, their patterns, and them!

After Quilt Market, I received a care package in the mail from my favorite sisters.  Included was the pattern for this lovely basket:

The pattern calls for two fat quarters of fabric.  On Father's Day, I went through a pile of hubby's discarded clothing (worn cuffs and collars), cut them up, and made this manly basket!

I made the ties from long strips of one of my husband's shirts.  I sewed them together and needed to turn them inside out.  Sue O'Very's EZ Point and Turner Tool to the rescue!

I threaded the inside out tie onto one side of the tool, then slipped it inside out onto the other side of the tool:

Voila!

I need this basket in my life.  In every fabric I own.  Can you see yourself delivering gifts in this?  Or packing a lunch?  Or cookies?  OR CAKE??!!??!?!?!?

Check out A Tisket A Tasket basket pattern.
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*In case you doubt my love for all things Me and My Sister, check out
this quilt

or this quilt

or this quilt

how about this quilt

Free Pattern and Online Class

You can't see me, but I'm jumping up and down with excitement because I can offer you my latest online machine quilting class FREE!

The fabric is GORGEOUS and has delightful hints of frosting on the dandelions.  I wrote a simple pattern to showcase the fabric line; the pattern is included in the free class.

In this video class, I show how to machine quilt wavy lines using the walking foot of your home sewing machine.  This technique was inspired by this fabric but can likely be used on many of your UFOs.

Sign up for the class HERE.

Happy Quilting!

My Inner Productivity Geek Comes Out

I've mentioned that I'm a productivity and organizing geek.  I've read most books on the subject and I'm always trying to tweak my personal system.

Last month, on a whim, I bought something from an Instagram ad -- a Define My Day journal.

Shocking exactly no one, I bought a pink one:

And because Hello Kitty pink is a thing, I paired it with a pink pen.

This journal has changed my life!

Being self employed is challenging.  Traveling up to half of each month is challenging.  Planning creative future work is challenging.  Doing all of these while living with an autoimmune disease can be impossible at times.  Some days I wake up to discover that 'it's just not gonna happen today.'

In four weeks, I've come up with a pretty effective list of daily disciplines that, if that's all I can accomplish in a day, keeps my person, house, and work flowing.  On my better days, I add in one, two, or three priorities.  After a month of this, I know that on some days, the first priority has to be "rest," but I can also plan out blog posts, newsletters, work on future projects, and more.  I can't share some of what is on the future work list, but I promise it's exciting, and it's GETTING DONE!

I started a fresh pink journal Monday and can't wait to see what changes the next four weeks bring.

Fat Quarter Experiment -- Part 9 THE END!

I'm so excited to show you my finished fat quarter experiment!

I love this little quilt.  I was going to donate it to a quilt auction, but I fell in love and have to keep it.

To finish this quilt, I stitched very small horizontal lines behind the swirl on the right side of the quilt and in the blank area in the left area of the quilt.  I used DecoBob Antique White thread in top and bobbin. DecoBob is an 80 weight polyester thread; it's very thin so that the texture shows on the quilt but the thread doesn't overwhelm the design.

Then I trimmed the quilt and bound it with lovely Sun Tan Fossil Fern fabric and then I machine bound it.  For fun, I stitched the top of the binding down with Glamore 12 weight metallic thread.  It packs a serious visual punch and worked beautifully in my sewing machine.

I have plans for another Fossil Fern fat quarter experiment.  The colors will be completely different.  Some of the techniques will be repeated and I'll bring in other ones that are new.  And I don't yet know how it will turn out because it's an experiment.

If you want to play with the colors of this first experiment, I've put together a Fossil Fern fabric pack for you.  It includes:

one fat quarter of Pastel Almond for the background
one fat quarter of Wisteria for the bias strips
one fat eighth of Lemon Balm for the circles
one fat eighth of Peridot for the leaves
one half yard of Sun Tan for the flowers and the binding

It does not include instructions because this is an experiment and I want you to play and come up with your own quilt!

Stay tuned for the beginning of my next quilt!

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Friday Finish: A La Mode Cutie Quilt

This week's quilt finish is one of my easiest Cutie Patterns -- A La Mode.

I made this quilt top during Shari Butler's In The Meadow Blog Tour and finally quilted it.  I quilted an off-center walking-foot spiral using my FabuLux Rocking Horse thread, aka "the thread that goes with anything".

Have you ever quilted a walking-foot spiral?  You can learn how in my newest "How Do I Quilt This?" online quilt class, Bull's Eye.

For the first time ever, my husband asked me for a quilt to give away.

"I know you like to just give quilts away randomly," he said.

"Yes, I do!  There's always someone to give a quilt to," I replied.  "Why do you bring that up?"

"Well," he said, "There's a woman in my professional organization who just had a baby and I'm sure she'd like a quilt."

This quilt is for her.

Bull's Eye Cutie Quilt Machine Quilting Class

I'm delighted to announce another class in my "How Do I Quilt This?" machine quilting video series.  This class shows how to quilt my Bull's Eye Cutie Quilt with overlapping spirals using the walking foot of your home sewing machine.

Can you see the spirals?

They were so much fun!

This class is now available to purchase HERE.

Which Cutie Pattern should I film next?

Splendid Sampler 2

Did you know that I designed a block for The Splendid Sampler 2?

My block is named Ticker Tape.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Sew Inspired quilt shop in Simsbury, CT during their Splendid Sampler club.

We talked about how to paper piece this block and I talked about how I would machine quilt the block -- with ribbon candy, of course!

Are you working on The Splendid Sampler?  Have you made my block yet?  How would YOU quilt it?

Fat Quarter Experiment -- Part 8

My little fat quarter experiment is winding down.

Since I didn't plan this quilt or measure this quilt as I was designing it, I had a larger area left on the right side of the quilt that needed to be filled.  I decided to stitch a line of swirls. 

I grabbed my blue quilt marker and measured off one-inch squares.

I threaded my machine with WonderFil's Tutti Pansy thread and stitched a swirl in each box:

Is it ok that I have completely fallen in love with this little quilt? 

Next week I'll have it completed, so stay tuned.

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Part 6
Part 7

New on Annie's Creative Studio!

One of my "at-home" jobs is filming for Annie's Creative Studio.  I've filmed over two dozen classes for them and anticipate filming many more!  Annie's Creative Studio is a subscription-based platform where you can learn from experts (like me!) how to quilt, knit, crochet, and more!  If you aren't a member yet, sign up for a free trial to watch the entire episode.

My newest class, Study In Blue Dresden Topper, just went live.  One of these beauties lives on my kitchen table and another on my daughter's kitchen table.  I dare you to make just one!

Class description:

Do you have a favorite fat quarter bundle you've been holding onto to use on the perfect project? This eye-catching table topper can be made with just four fat quarters and a backing fabric. It’s a quick and easy project that will be an attractive addition to any room in your home! Learn, Make, Create! with quilting expert Debby Brown as she shows each step of this confident-beginner project.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

·               Cut pieces with a homemade template.

·               Piece and press units.

·               Find inspiration and advice to free-motion quilt the project.

Sign in to get your pattern and make some of these lovely table toppers for each season of the year!

Fat Quarter Experiment part 7

Here's where I left off last week:

I knew I wanted that ribbon candy to stand out, so I threaded my machine, top and bobbin, with DecoBob Antique White 80-weight polyester thread and stitched a close echo around the ribbon candy.

That echo will give me breathing room to stitch around the appliqued flowers without distracting from the ribbon candy.

And another view in better lighting:

I decided to stitch teeny, tiny pebble around the applique so that the flower petals would stand out:

And they did!

I did the same around the appliqued leaves:

If loving this quilt is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Stay tuned for next week!

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Part 6

Fat Quarter Experiment Part 6

I'm so excited to start machine quilting my little fat quarter experiment.  Here's the top:

I layered this top with two layers of batting and Funky Lime Fossil Fern backing.

Funky, right?

First I tried to stitch a simple purple line along the edge of the purple applique with my walking foot.

Look at how well that turned out!

OK, so after two tries, I really didn't like the line at all, so I fell back on ribbon candy and fell In LOVE!

I marked a line one inch from the appliqued ribbon with a ruler and a quilt marking pen:

Then I quilted all of the lines of ribbon candy using WonderFil Tutti shell cotton thread and an 80-weight DecoBob Antique White in the bobbin.

Since I consider this entire project an experiment, I didn't fail at stitching the purple line.  I learned that ribbon candy looks great when stitched on a spine!

What shall I quilt next?

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Love Me, Love My Platypus

I have a new friend and his name is Professor Platypus.  He is a Professor of Chemistry, Physics, and other fun subjects!

I bought the pattern the last time I was in Australia teaching at the Australasian Quilt Convention.  Finally, the pattern was properly ripened and ready to be stitched.

I love Northcott's Big Bang fabric line so much that I made a quilt from it, filmed a class using it, and made an apron from it.  I even have plans to make a dress from it.  The next project was the PLATYPUS!

This won't be my only platypus so I grabbed my Elmer's Tape Runner and taped the pattern to cardstock:

I'm a frugal person so I was able to use less cardstock by being fussy with the pattern placement:

I cut out the cardstock pattern with my non-fabric scissors:

Traced it on fabric,  pieced it, stuffed it...

And loved it!

If loving this platypus is wrong, I don't want to be right.

I'm not sure which animal I need to make next, but I promise there will be more animal friends in my future.

Houston Quilt Festival Report

Are you making plans to attend Houston Quilt Festival in October and wonder what to expect?  Check out my report from last year's Quilt Festival on Annie's Creative Studio.

Find inspiration and excitement through the eyes of those who attended the 2018 Houston Quilt Festival! In this Products We Love episode, expert quilter Debby Brown is at the show to check out the quilts, the excitement and all the quilty goodies you don't want to miss! In this episode:

• Hear from a quilter who shares her hobby with patients in recovery.
• Listen to a newbie attendee describe her first Quilt Festival.
• Be motivated to finish your projects and keep learning.

Quilt Festival is a "must go" for me every year, and not just because I teach there!  I hope to see you at the quilt show!

Annie's Creative Studio is a subscription-based platform where you can learn from experts (like me!) how to quilt, knit, crochet, and more!  If you aren't a member yet, sign up for a free trial to watch the entire episode.

FQE Part 5

This week I finished the hand applique on my little experiment:

I pulled out some Fossil Fern Peridot fabric, Lori Holt's Bloom templates, and a spool of InvisiFil Pastel Green thread and added some leaves to the outer yellow berries.

Since this quilt wasn't planned and I didn't measure and center everything, I had some unevenness to work through.  I might try away some edges of the quilt to even things up after quilting, but then again I might not.

I do believe that I am done with this quilt top.  Unless someone has an idea so great as to change my mind, the mystery will continue next week as I start to machine quilt this piece.  This quilt is either going to be beautiful or be used to wash the car; only time will tell.

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

To the Beach!

My favorite "I wish I had designed this" quilt pattern is Picnic Patch Cutie Pattern.

It's a gorgeous quilt and I get to stitch lovely ribbon candy in each of the sashing strips.  Making this quilt is a present to myself, and this quilt was just gifted as a present to someone retiring to Florida.  I picked the colors to match their new house and hope they have many happy years with this quilt!

If you'd like to make this same quilt, you can purchase the quilt kit HERE.

New Online Classes!

For the last half of 2018, I silently prepared to film two classes for Annie's Catalog and am excited to let you know that they are now online and available for purchase!

Machine Quilting with Rulers

I've brought two decades of quilting experience to this class, one of the most requested in-person classes that I teach.  I talk about picking the right type of rulers for your machine and show how to use each type of ruler safely effectively.

Learn to Machine Quilt Negative Space

This class includes the pattern for the quilt on the cover and instruction on how to design your own show-stopping quilting plan.  I show you, step by step, how to quilt a variety of negative space techniques on your own quilt.

It feels great to finally let you in on my secret.  Annie's is a great family to work with:  I write for Quilter's World Magazine, film for Annie's Creative Studio, and now film online classes.  Everyone there knows their stuff!

I hope you enjoy my new classes!

FQE part 4

My Fat Quarter Experiment is taking shape and I'm falling in love with the quilt.

For this step, I pulled out my bag of Lori Holt's Bloom templates, some Sun Tan Fossil Fern fabric, and a spool of Perfectly Pink InvisiFil thread.  I chose to hand applique these petals because I like to hand applique and the purpose of this quilt is to have fun and play and see what happens.

So far I like what is happening.

For my next step, I'm thinking either more applique or more thread or just start the machine quilting.  Hmmmmmm.....

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Fat Quarter Experiment
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3