Bet you’ll never guess what I told them I need in my sewing hut to stay productive and well organized?

Barb

Mary and I have been using OLFA tools since the day we began quilting over 25 years ago. We carried them exclusively when we owned our quilt shop and continue to love and use them today.

We started quilting way back in the late 90’s and opened a quilt shop after making just 1 quilt! Actually the whole quilt wasn’t even finished yet and I sewed the binding on after we were in the shop several months but I knew I was hooked.

Quilting was booming and so were primitive style fabrics. My first quilt is an example of that!

We learned from our customers and our love of quilting grew and grew.
One of our customers even told us how she personally invented the rotary cutter! She lived on a farm, was tired of using scissors and decided to cut her fabric using the blade from her ham slicer. Funny but also very dangerous! I’m glad we don’t have to think of doing things like that anymore. Thanks OLFA!

Today we enjoy quilting more than ever. We don’t own that quilt shop anymore but we’re still active in many aspects of the industry. We were truly blessed when Moda Fabrics took us on as fabric designers all those years ago and we’ve designed more than 45 fabric groups with them. We’ve been able to teach and travel the world all because of that first quilt.

Our free May OLFA project is sure to get you in the mood for warmer summer months and picnics. It’s made using one of our newest fabric groups “Back Porch” that will ship this August.

It’s a fast, fun and easy table runner called “I Love You More!”

We’ve always worked with brightly colored fabrics and this is the first time we limited our palette to only red, white and blue. Mary loves to sew heart blocks and we both thought they’d be perfect for this project.

To get started visit the OLFA blog for this free “I Love You More!” pattern.

Happy Quilting!

Barb

It’s called the Double Wide 4 Patch Dresden Template!

The original ruler still makes the Dresden wedges faster, easier and fun to make!

It’s still available with the project book but we’ve decided to take your designing to the next level!
What if it was easy to create more complicated designs within the actual Dresden wedge itself?

Here’s how easy it is …

Lets start with some 3 inch fabric squares and the template.

Sew a 4 Patch and place the diagonal lines on the template over the stitch lines. The template should be placed so that the fabric you want at the tip of the wedge is under the wider edge of the template as shown.

I’ve decided to place a solid fabric in each of my four patches, in the same position every time, to create a repeating design at the tip of each wedge.

Using a rotary cutter, cut out the wedge and follow the standard instructions included with the template for completing the wedge.

I’ve changed the colors in my four patch but kept the solid fabric at the tip in each wedge.

After I sew my wedges together, I get a beautiful design that looks like I did some really complicated sewing!

And it was sew easy!

What if …

I used the same fabric for the body of the wedge and the tip? I’ve added different shades of blue to create a ribbon that will run all along the outside edge of my Dresden plate!

I accidentally turned my template around and as you can see with the single wedge on the far right, I created a completely different design! I’ll save this one for another project.

This template is perfect for making original and unique designs!

The Double Wide 4 Patch Dresden Template comes with a free pattern for the project you see here …

These scrappy wedges are cut from charm squares sewn together.

How much easier can this get?

The original book and ruler updated and made the traditional Dresden easy, but now with the companion template, things get super fun!

The basic instructions for making a wedge comes with the template. But YOUR imagination is the limit from here!

Some helpful tips … 1 ~ A turn table cutting mat is helpful but not necessary. 2 ~ Try using a smaller 25 mm rotary cutter. 3 ~ A point turner is VERY helpful. 4 ~ When turning wedges, open the seam with your thumb as far up against the as point possible. Pinch and then turn. This does 99 per cent of the work and after a quick push with a point turner, the job is perfectly done. 5 ~ Add four of those rubber ruler grips to each of the four quadrants of the template. It helps eliminate slipping and rocking of the template along the seam lines.

Time to get out some pink …

Order yours today!

Barb

We’ve been using OLFA products since we began to quilt over 35 years ago. We also carried them exclusively in our Quilt Shop.

This year we’ve been invited to join the 2020 OLFA team!

Its such an honor to be a small part of this team. Throughout the year we’ll get to try out the latest products and share them with all of you.

January’s newest item in the OLFA line up is the Beginner Craft Knife.

Some of you may already know that many of our fabric designs, especially our whimsical flowers, start with simple shapes cut from paper.

I usually do all my cutting with scissors but decided to try out the new Craft Knife. Now … I’m not a person that likes change BUT this new tool actually worked out very well. Cutting shapes this way could lead to a new and hard working relationship.

The knife is easy to use and I love the cute little egg shaped base to store my tool. There’s even a place on the underside of the knife holder to store my used blades.

This tool is a keeper!

Happy Designing!

Barb

Unfortunately the first is already sold out but there is a waiting list and the information to get on that is given below. It’s this June in Bennington, Kansas with our friends Lynne Hagmeier and Jenny Doan.

The good news is we’ve recently added 2 additional events!

Mary and I will be joining our quilting friends Lynne and Lisa at an event in Appleton, Wisconsin. It’s the first time we’ll be teaching in this area of the country and were so excited.

Please contact Kathy Limpic at 816- 377- 9699 between the hours of 10am to 5pm to get any additional information about either the waiting list for Kansas or the new Wisconsin retreat.  We announced the Wisconsin event last week and it’s already 3/4 full so be sure to contact Kathy asap.

Later in the year we’ll be in San Diego! Another first for us.

Please visit the Eternity Quilt Events website for all the details on this retreat. Sign up soon because space is limited and we want to see you there!

Happy Quilting!

Barb

Today is our day on the “Mix It Up” blog hop!

We had such a great time designing our quilt for this wonderful book.

Our quilt is featured on page 83 and is called “churn it up”.

Did you know that all the proceeds for the “Moda All Stars” series of books are donated to charities? This time they’ll be donated to Feeding America. School children go hungry every day and programs like this make sure they have food for dinner and on weekends.

So support meals for hungry children and enjoy a great quilt book at the same time!

To celebrate were having a little giveaway!

To win these items, simply leave a comment here on our blog AND increase your chances to win by also leaving a comment on our Instagram account. One winner will be chosen on Monday November 11th.

Please visit the other featured designers today and see what they’re up to …

Anne Sutton and Bunny Hill

Lisa Bongean and Primitive Gatherings

Sheri McConnell and A Quilting Life

Get your sewing machine, favorite fabrics and a good snack ready and “churn it up”!

Good luck to all!

Barb

The fabric collections are ready and most have shipped so it’s the perfect time to start sharing all the blocks!

Mary designed our block and I love it! It’s called Star Burst. She used some of our new Good Day fabrics and coordinated them with some of our favorite Bella Solids.

The instructions were to make a pillow from our block but you know Mary, she likes to over achieve and decided to make a table runner instead.

For the link to our free block pattern click here.

If you just joining us and would like to catch up, this is the event schedule:

9-23  Lella Boutique and Sheri & Chelsi
9-24  Kansas Troubles and and Corey Yoder
9-25  Crystal Manning and Me and My Sister Designs
9-26  Jan Patek
9-27  Robin Pickins
9-30  Basic Grey
10-1  Betsy Chutchian and Lisa Bongean
10-2  American Jane
10-3  Kathy Schmitz
10-4  Zen Chic and Deb Strain

Please visit everyone and we hope you enjoy the free patterns!

Barb

Thanks AGAIN for making this newest reprint possible!

Lets get those Layer Cakes ready to sew!
Barb

There have been 6 fabulous and free charm pack patterns over the last 6 weeks and I know that you’ve enjoyed them all.

In fact, I hope you’ve also managed to sew a few of them!

I’m about to enjoy the small quilt I made using our new Good Day fabrics as a table topper.

Should I invite a few friends over and have as small indoor picnic complete with cookies?

Those cookies look good enough to eat all by myself … maybe I will!

I won’t have to wash the dishes or run the vacuum cleaner because guests are coming and instead just sit in front of the TV and eat COOKIES!

Great Idea!

I case you’ve missed any of the patterns, visit the other designers to catch up:

June 26 ~ Kansas Troubles  http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/
July 3 ~ Sherri McConnell  https://www.aquiltinglife.com/   
July 10 ~ Laurie Simpson  http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
July 17 ~ Me and My Sister Designs  https://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/
July 24 ~ Primitive Gatherings  https://lisabongean.com/
July 31 ~ Lella Boutique  https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/

Charm Swapping is the BEST and the cookies aren’t bad either!

Barb

It’s officially week 6 and that means the delightful Vanessa from Lella Boutique will be dazzling us with her charm design.

Please visit Vanessa and her blog to download this newest pattern.

I can’t wait to see what she’s done!

Here’s the schedule again if you need to catch up:

June 26 ~ Kansas Troubles  http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/
July 3 ~ Sherri McConnell  https://www.aquiltinglife.com/   
July 10 ~ Laurie Simpson  http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
July 17 ~ Me and My Sister Designs  https://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/
July 24 ~ Primitive Gatherings  https://lisabongean.com/
July 31 ~ Lella Boutique  https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/

Happy Swapping!
Barb