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For those that know us our house home is a hopping place and furniture and space is moved and adjusted to fit the needs of our family.  This room is our “porch” and it has hosted theater cast parties of 50+, a small wedding reception, birthdays, holiday parties, sewing marathons and just plain quiet time.

We are a community. We all share the burden of these confusing days.

Come on along Peeps!  Suzie, Joy, our marvelous staff and I are going to take you on another exciting experience as we travel down the PNQS road into the future!  Guaranteed smiles ahead.

I know I say it every year, but fall really is my favorite season.  I really do love living in the Midwest for all 4 seasons, they are so, so different and when one starts to wane, lickity split you are in the midst of the next one. 

Wintertime to settle in, do some of the things that get put aside, fireplaces, warm sweaters & mittens, holidays and the land at rest with a sparkly white blanket on top, Springtime with everything so new, fresh and green, Summertime with vacations, ball games and time at the lake, and then Fabulous Fall, the bright vivid colors, Eagle Bluff Quilt Retreat, pumpkin flavored everything and more!  

My daughter Suzie and I commute back and forth to the shop everyday.  Usually we take the road less traveled, and for us that is County 1.  The drive has been amazing these last couple of weeks, each day the vista gets more brilliant.  It is full of curves and hills, cattle grazing in the fields, farmers harvesting (on the days it does not rain), just a great drive to start and end each day.

Right along with the fall season we have some beautiful kits in the shop right now, they are all made and hung in the shop, if you have a minute we would love to have you stop by and see them. They are so reminiscent of Autumn.

This kit is made of yummy Maywood flannels great for snuggling up with.  Finished size is 61x49.  Pattern included in kit.

This lovely quilt was made by Joy with a new line from Jo Morton called Shelbyville.  Quilt Patterns is Heathstone.  Finished size is 78 1/2  x 90.  Love it!

 

Next up is Nightlights.  Another cuddly quilt made with Maywood Woolies flannels from Bonnie Sullivan of All Through the Night. Finished size is 70x90. Pattern included in kit.

Farm Life is a super cute quilt with piecing and wool applique, the quilt finished 58x58, perfect size of a lap quilt or wall hanging.

 

Sorry, this picture does not at all do this quilt justice.  The wonderful Irish Chain is made with Quilt Minnesota 2019 and Cherrywood Hand Dyed cottons.  Larger size 74x94 would be great for anyone but especially for the guys in your life.  Simple to make and pattern is included with the kit.

This is favorite of mine - it is a 12 pack quilt called Pumpkin & Vine with various shades of green and oranges.  Kit includes 12 fat quarters, add a background fabric of your choice and there you have it!  Pattern included with kit.  Finished size 56x72

Sadly, it will not be long and we will be looking at this season from the rear view mirror the trees will lose their leaves and get ready for a winter sleep.  Enjoy it's beauty and bounty!  Sneak some quilting time in for good measure too!  You can enjoy fall with a little trip down the road or with any of these kits right at your sewing machine.

Happy Quilting

M

It’s time for our last block!  I cut this one out quickly with my Accuquilt cutter and the 6” Qube.  Many people think that with a 6” Qube, you are limited to 6” blocks, but I hope this quilt along has shown that there are many possibilities when you combine the shapes.  This 12” block has over 70 pieces!  The center section is a bit smaller than the other blocks so I did end up cutting the small triangles and rectangles with a ruler and rotary cutter.  Here is the block all cut and ready to be sewn.

Here we are on the final block. Our time together has flown past. Ideally, slightly darker fabric for the beige choice would have provided a more floral looking block. However, in this color choice the navy takes the front stage in the design choice.

We are getting so close to finishing our blocks!  I love how the pattern designer used a pinwheel block as the center of the first three blocks, and now a nine patch for the last three blocks.  It is a clever way to change things around.  I find that the nine patches go together quickly and I am eager to see these blocks completed. 

Can you believe it? We have tipped past the half way mark and I hope you are enjoying this quilt as much as I have.  I love the elegant colors and the imaginative flowers that unfold with each block.  This one looks a bit like a star flower.

This block was a fast and fun one to make!  It was also the first time I used a #6 Accuquilt die to cut units.  Don’t you love the square on point?  It was easy to figure out which die to use.  When you look at this block, it is essentially a 9 patch block.

Grids…..let’s consider them for a moment or two.  When I consider translating a quilt pattern from the original pattern and instructions for AccuQuilt or my specialty rulers---Half Square Triangle and Quarter Square Triangle Ruler---I consider how the block is divided. At this point, it does not matter what size the block is or what size the pieces are, what matters is how the block is divided into segments.  If you look closely at the block above, this block is a 4 x 4 grid.

The Big Reveal and other matters…..

Christmas and New Years came and went so fast…..as always I’m an early bird and waiting for the clue is a challenge for me...I’m with the Aussie’s, feels like I have been waiting all day to begin the fun.