I’m channeling spring. We’ve had the winter to beat all winters in Minnesota, and I know many of you across the country have experienced the same thing. Mind you, I enjoy a pretty snowfall ~ in December and January and even February. But it is now the middle of March. Temps are in the single digits, bitter winds are howling, and we still have snowdrifts four feet high in the yard. Ugh! What’s the best way to get over those winter doldrums? By sewing and shopping, of course!
Do you recognize this pattern? It’s my free tutorial called On Point Pillow. I made this fresh version using a mini charm pack of Nantucket Summer (by Thimble Blossoms) recently given to me by the lovely ladies at Sweet Treasures Quilts. This fabric is absolutely sigh worthy!
I paired the Nantucket Summer mini charm squares with a crisp white and my favorite Moda Indigo Chambray. Then I finished it off with simple straight-line quilting. The soft gray stripe is left-over Christmas Morning fabric. That gray stripe is so versatile!
I’ve also been fighting those winter doldrums with a little retail therapy. I don’t feel too bad about my splurging, as I remind myself that I’m helping to support the economy, in particular our favorite quilt shops! Here’s a pretty picture of my order from Sweet Treasures. Nantucket Summer is getting harder to find, as it released last year, but Terri still has some in her shop. A few of the pieces I ordered are from Thimble Blossoms’ newer collection, Dwell, which plays nicely with Nantucket Summer.
If you read my post from a couple weeks ago (A recent finish: the Mod Fresh Granny Tote), you know that my friend Ibby and I had a sew and shop day. Just down the road from me there is a pretty quilt shop called Sweetwater Cotton Shoppe. Ibby and I stocked up on some lovely fat quarters and yardage. Here’s a picture of my haul, which includes Sweet Liberty (Brenda Riddle), Merry Little Christmas Woven (Thimble Blossoms), the Shores (Brenda Riddle), Threads that Bind (Blackbird Designs) and Sister Bay (3 Sisters). It’s so fun mix and match pieces from different designers.
I have a plan for both of my recent purchases, but I need to let my plans percolate a bit, just in case I change my mind. I also wanted to show you a new pattern I am working on, Banded Stars, which I hope to release this summer. Banded Stars features bold navy stars banded in two Moda Bella Solids (Etchings Stone and White Bleached). These are the Bella Solids that I use in my buffalo check patterns that many of you have enjoyed. They create a soothing, tonal effect.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Stay warm and get carried away quilting!
~Taunja
