Garden of Quilts @Thanksgiving Point

Hey! Just checking in to let you know I'll be teaching at the Garden of Quilts event at Thanksgiving Point (Ashton Gardens) in Lehi, UT September 12-14. I don't teach very often anymore, but I made an exception here for this beautiful venue. I grew up in the area and distinctly remember when it was built. Needless to say, it feels pretty special to be invited to be part of this event. 

I have a couple different classes I'm offering--the first is the Dishes quilt. Come hang out with me and learn a bit about the basics of curved piecing. If you've been nervous to piece curves, you are going to love it! The original Friday class (Sep. 13th 1-4 pm) is sold out, so we've added a Saturday 9/14 class 9 am-12 pm. Reserve your spot in the Saturday morning class here. (Registration closes Sep. 1.) Dishes is made with a Layer Cake (precut 10'' squares). The sample below is made with a Layer Cake of Hello Darling by Bonnie & Camille for Moda.

For this class, I highly recommend bringing the Creative Grids Circle Savvy Ruler. It is AWESOME and makes cutting curves a piece of cake. Your other option is to bring template plastic and prepare your own templates from the pattern.

The other class I'm offering is for the Mini Open Heart Pin Cushion. This class is all about itty bitty piecing and will be held Saturday afternoon Sep. 14th 1-4 pm, registration here. Just grab a Mini Charm Pack (aka precut bundles of 42 squares 2½" x 2½"); and come join in the fun. Each Mini Charm Pack will yield the pieces needed for 3 pin cushions (including a scrappy patchwork back). Sample below uses Lollipop Garden fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics.

If you'd prefer to talk to someone at Thanksgiving Point about ticket availability and event info, call 801.768.2300. Hope to see you there. Don't forget registration closes Sep. 1!

Jelly Filled - 18 Quilts from 2 1/2'' Strips

Quilt: Cake Box
Fabric is Le Vintage Chic by AGF Studio for Art Gallery Fabrics
with Bella Solid in Tea Rose  (background) by Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen,  quilting by Marion Bott.

"Of all the places I have lived, New York City literally takes the cake. Weekends were spent exploring the city's vast food culture, indulging in its delicious offerings. I still dream about the decadent waffles from Max Brenner, the rich cookies of Levain Bakery, and the glorious banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery. It's a good thing I did so much walking in that city--many bakery visits ended with a cake box in my arms (and plenty of calories) to take home. Happy memories like these sometimes find a way into my quilting... This quilt reminds me of those cake boxes--open at last, with their sides flattened out as an invitation to partake of the delectable contents inside." 

     -excerpt from Jelly Filled - 18 Quilts from 2½" Squares 

September is just around the corner--which means my newest book will be releasing very soon. Guess it's time for a little preview. The book is called Jelly Filled - 18 Quilts from 2½: Strips, published by C&T Publishing (Stash Books). Ask your favorite quilt shop to reserve a copy for you--you won't want to miss it! It's a sequel (sort of) to my first book Charm School - 18 Quilts from 5'' Squares, meaning it follows a similar format--but this time around, you'll find 18 quilt "recipes" where precut 2½" strips (Jelly Rolls) are the star ingredient.

 

Jelly Rolls, by the way, are Moda Fabrics' fancy name for 2½" x 40" strips rolled up in a concentric, cinnamon-roll style (just as irresistible as the edible kind). Even though precut Jelly Roll strips are the inspiration for this book, I'll show you how easy it is to make substitutions using what you already have in your fabric pantry. But if you decide to go with precuts, I use Moda Fabrics' brand of Jelly Rolls as the standard since they always contain 40 strips 2½" x 40". (This is important to remember if you use a different manufacturer's version--be sure to check how many strips are in each precut package and make adjustments accordingly.)

Fabric: Lollipop Garden by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics

We'll start with basic techniques, and gradually work our way up to more advanced skills. Whether you are newer to quilting, or have a lot of experience, there is something for everyone to enjoy making.  

Quilt: Marbled Cheesecake
Fabric: Sunnyside Up by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics
with Grunge in Vanilla by BasicGrey for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilting by Allison Black.

Quilt: Sprinkles on Top
Fabric: Catnip by Gingiber for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by April Rosenthal, quilted by Kaitlyn Howell.

One thing you might not have known about me is I'm a pretty avid baker and have been since I was little. All of the Jelly Filled quilts tie into my love of baking/sweets in some way or another.

Quilt: Cookie Cutter
Fabric: Return to Winter's Lane by Kate & Birdie for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Natalia Bonner.

We'll explore concepts like strip piecing, easy corner triangles, half-square triangles, log cabins, and briefly touch upon some advanced techniques in the last chapter, just to get our feet wet.

Quilt: Parade
Fabric: Nest by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Marion Bott.

As you thumb through the book, you may recognize one of my oldest designs that has been resurrected from its out-of-print status--Heartthrob!

Quilt: Heartthrob
Fabric: Garden Variety by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Natalia Bonner.

One of my favorite chapters covers log cabin quilts. They're a classic and such a perfect fit when it comes to using up Jelly Roll strips because of that 40" width of fabric. I'm pretty sure I could write a whole book about my love of log cabin quilts and all the bazillion variations... maybe another day ;) 

Quilt: Parfait
Fabrics: Assorted Lella Boutique collections (scraps) for Moda Fabrics
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Allison Black.

The quilts will build upon the concepts covered in previous chapters (for example, strip piecing) to make a traditional idea (like log cabin construction) even more interesting.

Quilt: Potluck
Fabric: Feed Sacks in True Blue by Linzee McCray for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Marion Bott.

Quilt: In the Mix
Fabrics: The Good Life by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics.
Pieced by Vanessa Goertzen, quilted by Marion Bott.

These are just a few of the quilts you'll find in the book (18 total!). I hope you've enjoyed this preview. Jelly Filled is scheduled to ship toward the end of September 2019.

Oh and a quick word about fabric choices... Because a book takes such a long time to write, most of the fabric collections shown are not current. While it's not impossible to find them and make the exact quilts you see, it can be a challenge. I find it sometimes helpful to keep in mind that many designers have signature color palettes which means it is likely you'll be able to find a similar collection in look and feel in the future from the same designer. But also, don't be afraid to add your own spin with something completely different than what I've made. That's half the fun! In November, watch for a Jelly Filled quilt parade showcasing some of the book's patterns reinterpreted by my designer friends. Stay tuned for more details.

Kaleidoscope in August

I blinked and summer is already drawing to a close. August means school is starting + a new $5 pattern of the month is here. This time around, I've resurrected an old favorite made with a Jelly Roll--Kaleidoscope. September is National Sew a Jelly Roll Month; here's a head start for an idea.

 

The last one I pieced (above) uses Sugar Pie fabric, but has a very similar look to a mockup in Lollipop Garden (below).

 

This quilt can be made with 1 Jelly Roll--or with yardage for a single-print version like the one below. I plan to make a solid version for my home very soon--after I figure out just which room will get it, so I can pick a color scheme. 

 

This pattern is definitely a fan-favorite and has gone through several reprintings over the years. Here's the original circa 2015 in Gooseberry fabric. This is one of those quilt pattern designs looks good dressed in any collection. 

Speaking of Jelly Rolls, next month my new book rolls out: Jelly Filled - 18 Quilts from 2 1/2'' Strips. Can't wait to tell you all about it--there have already been a few peeks on Instagram @lellaboutique. Do you like Jelly Rolls? Do you have a favorite Jelly Roll pattern?

Moda Summer Charm Swap - Week 6

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. It's my turn to share a free project for the Moda Summer Charm Pack challenge.

First, I wanted to issue a quick reminder that today is the last day to snag a copy of  the Aviator quilt pattern as July's $5 Pattern of the Month. This is a fat quarter pattern and so much fun to make. I used a lot of old scraps (mainly Persimmon by BasicGrey and Modern Neutrals by Amy Ellis for Moda Fabrics, both sadly out of print). No paper piecing required!

 

Back to the charm swap... I was given Star & Stripe Gathering by Primitive Gatherings (Lisa Bongean) for Moda Fabrics. This was supposed to be a challenge to my normal color palettes (and technically, it is), but I loved and excuse to make a project using patriotic colors. I came up with a table runner. Of course there is nothing inherently patriotic about the design, so pick whatever fabrics suit the occasion!

This is a miniature block version of my Chandelier quilt pattern--a popular quilt from my book: Charm School - 18 Quilts from 5" Squares. To make the table runner top, you'll need 1 Charm Pack + 1 1/8 yards background fabric + the free Chandelier Mini Table Runner PDF pattern found here. Hope you enjoy making this as much as I did.

This is final Moda Summer Charm Swap project release, but here's the complete schedule list so you can access all the patterns on each designer's blog:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles 

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique

Thank for stopping by!

Moda Summer Charm Swap {Week 5}

Happy Wednesday! Time for your new project today for the Moda Summer Charm Swap! Check out today's free charm pack pattern over at Lisa Bongean's Primitive Gatherings blog.

And once again, here's the full schedule:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles 

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique

Next week is the final week--and my turn--so be sure to come back for my free charm pattern. Have you figured out whose fabric I used (by process of elimination)? 

Moda Summer Charm Swap {Week 4}

Hello again! Isn't summer just flying by? There's a new project today for the Moda Summer Charm Swap! Check out today's free charm pack pattern over at Me & My Sister's blog.

And if you're new to the charm swap, here's the full schedule:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles 

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique  

Something Extra

Just a little note to say the shop is back up after my little medical vacation! Also - I got my hands on some mini charms of Harvest Road--which means all shipped orders over $25 will include one of these sweet little stacks. 

Moda Summer Charm Swap {Week 3}

Hey everybody! It's Week 3 of the Moda Summer Charm Swap and today is Laurie Simpson's day to share. Just a reminder to head over to her blog here to get your copy!

And if you're new to the charm swap, here's the full schedule:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles 

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique  

Takeoff

It's taken me a minute to post--I'm recovering from a tonsillectomy--but there's a new $5 Pattern of the Month in the shop. It's Aviator--my most popular quilt of all time. This is a fat quarter quilt--with each fat quarter yielding both (1) background and (1) airplane. Choose a mix of dark and light prints and mix 'em all around to get this scrappy delight!

I made this pattern several years ago for my little boy. It's made from scraps--I used mostly Modern Neutrals by Amy Ellis, Persimmon by BasicGrey, and various text/low volume prints I'd been collecting. Unfortunately, most of them are out of print and near impossible to find. It's looking so sweet in my little boy's room, don't you think?

Because I'm recovering from surgery, please be advised that paper patterns will resume shipping by 7/15/19. (If you're excited to get started on a project, PDF patterns are your best bet.)

Moda Summer Charm Swap - Week 2

Hey everybody! It's Week 2 of the Moda Summer Charm Swap and today is Sherri McConnell's day to share. Just a reminder to head over to her blog here to get your copy!

And if you're new to the charm swap, here's the full schedule:

• June 26 - Kansas Troubles 

• July 3 - Sherri McConnell

• July 10 - Laurie Simpson

• July 17 - Me and My Sister Designs

• July 24 - Primitive Gatherings

• July 31 - Lella Boutique