February 28th, 2010
Autumn Days (full size)
Are you looking for a gorgeous and easy quilt in autumn colors?
Autumn Days was published in the October 2009 issue of Quilter’s World and is now available in our pattern catalog. Not everyone has a subscription to the magazine so I have made it available here. The pattern has full, queen and king sizes. The log cabin and point blocks are easy to make. I used batiks from Robert Kaufman fabrics but there are many beautiful batiks and fabrics that look like these.
You can find Autumn Days in our catalog with this link:
http://www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/catalog.php?item=109&catid=4&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D4
Happy quilting,
Rochelle
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February 15th, 2010
Here’s a super easy pattern using those lucious flannel print collections! This quilt used the Chillin’ flannel collection from Clothworks fabric company and was featured in Easy Quilts magazine by Fons & Porter.
I am offering the pattern here in sizes crib, throw and king. You can find it by clicking on the catalolink: http://www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/catalog.php?item=108&catid=2&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D2
This is a great time to take advantage of the flannel collection sales at your local quilt shop!
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February 2nd, 2010
Nina Newton has a fabulous post this week about touching the hearts of children. She herself has adopted two small girls from China. Here’s the link to her blog and post: http://mamaslittletreasures.typepad.com/
The quote she speaks on is this:
“He who can reach a child’s heart can reach the world’s heart.”
~ Rudyard Kipling
I have been priviledged to raise two beautiful children. I found the task daunting sometimes as I adjusted to new responsilbilies at each stage of their growth-a son and a daughter.
But I have found the quote above very true-our children reach people that we would never have met or known in our lives. Their personality and choices have been influenced by their parents,siblings and people they knew growing up.
I”m at the stage where most women my age are grandmothers so my heart is full of compassion for children who need love and care. Love your children, young mothers! Take time to hug and read a story to them today. You and they will treasure that memory for years.
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January 29th, 2010
Are you looking for a small, easy quilt project? Bluebell Meadow has beginner skill levels with simple fusible appliqué shapes.
Bluebell Meadow
Sized at 23″ x 32″ it makes a sweet seasonal accent for your home or office wall. The buttefly antenna and bodies are embroidered with a simple stitch.The colored fabric is from Kaufman’s fusion collection with assorted cream and tan prints for the background squares and border.
Here’s the link to the catalog page: http://www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/catalog.php?item=110&catid=1&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D1
Doesn’t it make you think of sunny spring days, meadow fields and sweet outdoor breezes?
Tags: butterflies, easy, pieced, spring, wall hanging
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January 17th, 2010
Here’s a resource for you to help the relief efforts in Haiti.
Craft Hope (http://www.crafthope.com) has set up an Esty shop that benefits Doctors without Borders working in Haiti. Here’s the link to the Craft Hope Esty shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/crafthope
The crafting community have generously donated craft items to be purchased. All the proceeds go to this worthy cause. If you would like to donate craft items visit the home website listed above in the first link.
Here’s another link you can visit to learn of 5 more groups working to help Haiti:
http://www.justimaginedesigns.com/helpothersarticle.html
Scroll down the page and a section is set aside just for Haiti. AND further down the page are listed many opportunities for you to help others all year long.
Tags: donations, Haiti, relief
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January 13th, 2010
Did you know that Polka Dot Day is a national holiday?
Polka Dot Day
Celebrate it at Cottonspice E-Pattern Shop!
You can find the link to the shop in the right hand side bar of our blog.
Patterns for many crafts are available-hope you find some treasures!
Tags: crafts, patterns, sale
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December 27th, 2009
We have a quilt in the Jan/Feb issue of Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting magazine called Dresden Garden! Below are two photos from the magazine.
Jan/Feb issue of Love of Quilting
The fabric is from Millie’s Garden collection from Clothworks. The quilt size is 83″ 101″ and you can purchase a kit from Love of Quilting for $139.
Dresden Garden
The design has strip piecing, machine appliqué and a quick-turn method for the Dresden Plate wedges. I loved putting it together! I’ll also be offering the pattern here later this year. Doreen Clink machine quilted it with lovely designs of dresden plate wedges and floral designs like the border print. Can’t wait to use it!
Tags: applique, bed size, Clothworks fabric company, Fons & Porter magazine, pieced
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December 20th, 2009
Beads on a String-throw size
Would you like to bust your stash? Here’s our newest pattern that will use your scraps, fat quarters or yardage-whatever you have that will make these beautiful two toned beads. AND it is a beginner skill level so that a young girl will supervision could make this her own project!
Beads on a String comes with throw and twin sizes included in the pattern. The string bead block and outer border can be strip pieced and went together in no time. Because my stash has many little pieces I cut out individual rectangles for the border-the pattern tells you how many to cut for each size if you want to do it that way too.
Wouldn’t it look great with a black background? Or even try it with oriental prints for a china bead quilt. Here’s the link to the catalog:
http://www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/catalog.php?item=107&catid=3&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D3
You will find it in the pieced and children’s designs groups.
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Rochelle
Tags: beads, beginner, buster, scraps, stash
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December 10th, 2009
Looking for new recipes for the holidays or all year long? Here’s your fabulous solution-a new cookbook put together by Michele Foster from the Quilter’s Gallery!
119 family favorite recipes have been contributed by more then 100 quilters from 9 countries. There’s a pasta salad recipe included from our family in it too plus a photo of each quilter’s favorite quilt.
Quilter’s Cookbook (volume 1) is in pdf form with the low price of $14. You can go to the cookbook’s page by using this link:
http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-cookbook/
I’ve downloaded my copy and have scrolled through the pages enjoying reading the recipes and looking at the personal comments from each quilter and her (and his) quilt. My head is buzzing with all the recipes I want to try!! I don’t know which one I want to make first. Thanks Michele for this wonderful collection!
Tags: favorite, quilter, recipe
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November 29th, 2009
Today I want to show you how to add richness to your quilts using hourglass blocks in the border. Just by moving the colors around the hourglass block can blend into the blocks it borders or stand out on its own to make the accent you want to achieve.
12" quilt block (finished size)
Here is a basic quilt block using four patch units in the corners a center square and four rectangles. By adding two 6 1/2″ (unfinished size) blocks on all four sides you add excitement to your quilt. Here is an hourglass block.
Hourglass block
See the difference when you add eight hourglass blocks and four corner blocks.
Hourglass block with red points.
Now change the color scheme to make the outside patches all dark instead of the gold print.
Hourglass block with gold print points.
A third option is to use the gold print on the outside patches again with the light flower print in the points.
Hourglass block with light red print points.
Using the light red print for the points gives the quilt a delicate or lacy look instead of the bold in-your-face green outside units or the red points.
A simple method to make a 6 1/2″ hourglass block is to cut into quarters a 7 1/4″ square of each print.
Cut a 7 1/4" square into four quarters.
Layout the triangles in your desired color scheme, sew together into a block using a 1/4″ seam allowance and press. The block should measure 6 1/2″ after pressing.
Experiment with your scraps and see what you can do with color and the hourglass block!
Tags: hourglass block, lesson, quilt, quilt borders
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