Hi ,

It looks like we had some technical difficulty last week and our newsletter never broadcast. So this week's newsletter will catch you up on what we've been doing for the past two weeks.

That said, isn't this quilt absolutely stunning?

This amazing quilt is featured in my new favorite Craftsy class Introduction to Bargello with Karen Gibbs.

So what is bargello exactly? Originally this began as an hand embroidery style, but it's translated nicely to quilting in the form of strip piecing. Piece multiple strips together, then cut the strip collection into strips, then piece THOSE back together and...well it might be a better idea just to join the class for 25% off and let Karen explain the details.

Watching the class this week, I found myself itching with the impulse to go buy a jelly roll to try out some of the cool projects in this class. Karen has used bargello piecing to create amazing drama and texture in her quilts. I never thought to make half square triangles or try reverse applique with this technique, but she used both in this dramatic Something About Paris quilt (pictured at right).

We're continuing our work in a Pinwheel block with Spirals & Pebbling :

Click here to check out post #24: Free Motion Quilt Spirals & Pebbling in a Pinwheel Block

This might look really intense and difficult, but I honestly made my block easier by changing two Pebbling areas into a different design. The denser areas are actually stitched with Underwater Rocks, a super fast, super fluid design that breaks all the rules.

Josh had some issues with this block and you can see the thread problems he experienced in his video.


Just in case you're looking for an easier way to mark this block, it is now available as a 8 and 10 inch stencil from Quilting Creations Int. Click here for the 8 inch stencil that fits this block.

This design is not only super simple, it's also super fast! I knocked out this design in less than 10 minutes because there's no travel stitching involved. I also skipped stitching the block in the ditch, which saved several minutes of careful stitching too

Click here to check out this week's design, Wiggly Lines in a Pinwheel Block.

Josh has also stitched out this last pinwheel block, so don't miss his take on this super easy and fast design.

I love chance meetings and wonderful coincidences. This past spring Brandy Maslowski, the creator of Canadian Quilt Talk radio sent me a message about being on her radio show. With just a few clicks on her site, I ran across her kickstarter campaign she was using to fund a children's book about quilting called Kristy's Quilt.

I really loved this idea and helped fund the kickstarter campaign and spread the word on Facebook. So the campaign was a huge success and Kristy's Quilt is now in print! Click here to find this book!

Kristy's quilt is a fun children's picture book about a little girl learning how to make a quilt during a quilting retreat at her family's lodge. I love that it included real details on quiltmaking, like rotary cutting, piecing, and basting the quilt. A child reading this book will finish it knowing some of the steps we take to make a quilt and might just feel inspired to jump right in.

Not only is the book funny and entertaining, it's also beautifully illustrated by Marcia Stacy, who definitely understands what beautiful fabrics should look like on a page.

I have to say after reading this book I think this should be on every quilter's list to give to grandchildren - boys or girls. James loved the book and kept pointing out things he's seen me use - "There's a rotary cutter. She's basting, Mama!"

We need to inspire another generation of quilters with beautiful quilts to sleep under and inspiring books like this to read.

Until next week, let's go quilt,

Leah Day