New Fabric and Block of the Month

Hello. I thought I would pop in and post a bit of an update. I don't know how many of you are still reading blogs. It's getting harder and harder to find time for everything and Facebook and Instagram are so fast. But... just in case there are some of you who read blogs but don't use other social media platforms, this is for you. 

I debuted a new fabric line at quilt market a few weeks ago. It's called A Common Thread and is with Diamond Textiles. The prints are designed to mix and match with the gorgeous wovens they already produce. The photo above shows the bolts at market with The Farmhouse Sampler BOM. I am taking sign ups for the BOM through June 18. It's a 10 month program and uses the exact fabrics. You can find more info HERE.

This is a close up of the prints. They are all produced from antique samples from my personal collection and recolored to my palette. There is a Valdani 35wt hand dyed thread set to coordinate with the line. This thread is great for machine or hand quilting. 

This is Westchester. It uses most of the line with navy and cream wovens replacing the green. Love this quilt!

This is Roundabout. It uses the two blues and two wovens. This is such a fast and fun quilt to make. The pattern comes with custom acrylic template/rulers for fast cutting. 

Before quilt market we were in France for the quilt show Pour l'Amour du Fil.

And I leave on Wednesday for the KCRQF. I am teaching 5 classes and will have a booth. Maybe I will see you there!

Happy Quilting,

Dawn

Splendid Thursday

Hello again fellow quilters. Here we are on block 18! This is called Flower Child by Carolee McMullin, ah applique. Two more free blocks and then we will begin sewing from the book. 

Do you have your copy yet? We will start sewing blocks that are in the book on November the 8th. My book arrived last week and I am so pleased with the quality. I am playing around with my blocks and I don't think I want to add any sashing- just join the blocks - what do you think?

I think there is enough going on that adding sashing will just be another design element to catch your eye. Just thinking out loud but that's the direction I am leaning. You can get your block pattern at www.thesplendidsampler.com. Remember I will be gone on vacation for the next two Thursdays so be sure to hop on over and get your patterns. 

The winter issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects has arrived and I have them in stock in the online store. Lots fabulous winter projects in this issue. 

This is my project Mistletoe. It is a wool on wool table topper. Great for all winter long. 

So until next time......

Happy Quilting, Dawn

It's a Chilly but Splendid Thursday

Hello fellow quilters! It's a little chilly here in Missouri so this week's block will send warm vibes your way. This is Fashionable Pineapple by Jane Davidson. I love pineapples, both the fruit and the motif. 

The original block looks a bit different from mine.

Jane used reverse applique and made all those little squares on hers. That is just a bit too fiddly for me. These are 6" blocks so the pieces are small. I tend to favor 18" blocks with chunky pieces so I chose a big floral print to dress up my pineapple and skipped the tiny squares. Also, I just finished a quilt with pineapples of my own design that will be making it's debut next summer in a magazine near you. I can't show you that quilt or they'll have my head so here is Waverly. 

I love this quilt! It's from my book From The Linen Closet- lots of pineapples. So that it is all for now, you can get your block at www.thesplendidsampler.com. I will be here next week with a block and then I will be missing for two weeks as I am headed to Thailand for vacation so you will have to wait on me. Sorry!

Happy Quilting,

Dawn

Double The Splendor

So I am playing catch up this week. I was out of town last week for the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Show and didn't get the block posted. Last week's block is on the left and is called Cat Nap by Nicole Vos Van Avezathe. I traced the embroidery, cut my applique pieces, grabbed supplies and went only to find that the applique shapes were reversed for fusing. Aaargh! so I did some creative flipping and there they are. I left off some of the embroidery as I didn't want it to compete with the cat. I am a little ambivalent about this block. It turned out better than I thought. 

The block on the right is this week's block and is called Cathedral Windows by Jenny Doan. While the finished block looks nice and was fast to create I am less than thrilled with the method. Wow, is that a lot of layers! That center area is four layers of fabric! While being ok for one block I sure wouldn't want to make a quilt with a bunch of these. Lots of waste and a very thick cumbersome block to quilt through, in my humble opinion.   You can get your blocks at www.thesplendidsampler.com . 

 Until next week....

Happy Quilting, Dawn

Oh The Splendor

So here we are with block #13. There are only 7 more free blocks and the book release date is just around the corner. This week's block is Fruit Bowl by Jo Avery. I love this block! The pattern calls for piecing the bowl and I really intended to piece it but in the end I just appliqued it. It was really fast easy to applique it and move on. You can get your block at www.thesplendidsampler.com and find out more about Jo.

I'm loving seeing all the different color ways folks are using for these blocks. If you didn't know there is a Facebook group for people who are doing the Splendid Sampler or who just simply want to look. I am trying to figure out how I want to set my blocks together. I think something simple will be best as all the blocks are so different. Any thoughts?

Not much of a side note this week. I have been traveling to guilds doing trunkshows and workshops. I will be in Springfield Mo next week for the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Show.

I am doing three different program/trunkshows and vending . If you are in the area, stop in and say hello.

Happy Quilting,

Dawn

Feeling Splendid

Hello Quilters! This week's block is Betty's Bloom from Carl Hentsch and it has us paper piecing again. This block went a lot more smoothly than the last paper pieced one I did. It had been years since I had paper pieced and that last block took a bit to get in the swing of things again. I was ready this time! 

The paper I use is from That Patchwork Place. I like it because I don't have issues running it through my printer yet it is easy to sew through and remove. I used darker fabrics for my block to create more contrast with the cream script print. I think it gives the block a nice graphic quality. 

That's quite a pile of loveliness! You can get your block at www.thesplendidsampler.com. 

The Autumn issue of Simply Vintage will be here tomorrow and listed on the website. Until next week...

Happy Quilting, 

Dawn

Splendid Thursday

Hello fellow quilters. This week's block is from Irene Blanck. I love Irene's work! She does lots of gorgeous applique and I have to say that she is a super nice person to boot. You know there will be no grumbling from me this week- birds and applique make me a happy girl! You can head on over to www.thesplendidsampler.com to get your pattern and learn more about Irene and her work. 

The stack of blocks has grown and it kills me a little to not start sewing them together but I know I have to wait. When you are doing something like a sampler you really need to wait until you have your blocks all finished to set them together. That gives you the chance to lay them all out and choose the most pleasing arrangement. Also, I never know for sure how I will set my blocks or what borders I'm doing until I can lay out the blocks and really see what is needed. 

My side note this week is that the new issue of Simply Vintage is on it's way. I will have them in my online shop next week. This issue contains Part 3 of my Manor House Mystery Quilt.

I'm excited to share this block as it is the block with the manor house that the quilt is named for and it gives you a good idea now of what the quilt will look like. If you are participating in the BOM kits, they will start shipping this week. I am finishing up the cutting.  Until next week.....

Happy Quilting, 

Dawn

It's Thursday So It Must Be Splendid

Hello All! Last week was a break and there wasn't a block released for Splendid Sampler 2. This week we have a pieced block titled Tulip in Bloom by Nadra Ridgeway. It was a less than pleasant task making this block. I am no fan of stitch n flip. I am not a fan of cutting units way too big and then cutting them down and I am not a fan of waste. This block is composed of stitch n flip, make it big and cut it down, and waste. We all have our likes and dislikes and I am sure that when my applique block is released there will piecers who don't care for it so I will keep my grumbling to myself. The block looks a little modern for my tastes on it's own but when thrown into the mix of blocks it blends right in.

Again, the cool thing about doing a project like this is it gets you out of your wheelhouse and pushes you to try new things which is always a win. I am grateful to be a part of the design team for this project.  You can get your block and learn more about Nadra at www.thesplendidsampler.com

Fall is just around the corner and I am getting excited about decorating the house. I have been sharing fall themed quilts on my Instagram and I am amazed at how many fall themed quilts and projects I have! I am working on some new fall themed punch needle designs right now and am expecting a delivery from Moda today for some super cute Halloween fabric that I will be listing on the website so keep tuned for that. Until next week...

Happy Stitching,

Dawn

Splendid Thursday

Good Morning Quilters! This week's block is Around Four Corners by Rachaeldaisy. Easy piecing and applique- what's not to love? This was a quick little block to whip up and I love the graphic quality of the design. 

We are up to ten blocks now and I am running out of room to photograph them. Going to have to find a new spot! My tip for this week is to put Fray Check around the edges of your finished blocks. These blocks will get moved around and handled quite a bit as we go forward and you do not want your seam allowances raveling away. Not only that, you don't want one side to lose more threads than another and create the dreaded distortion. If you just run a quick line of Fray Check around each one as you finish they will remain in the pristine condition they started in! You can snag your block  here- www.thesplendidsampler.com

My side note for this week is I will be re-releasing a retired design of mine for the fall. This is Pumpkin Blossoms. This pattern has remained extremely popular and I have decided to release it for fall. Look for the pattern in my online shop in the next week or so. Until then....

Happy Quilting, Dawn