I have to admit, when I first heard about Texture Magic I was skeptical.  Texture Magic will tend to shrink the fabric you use with it by about 30%.   What?!  I want something that will cause my stash to grow not shrink!  But the results are so unusual.  It only takes a little bit to really add some pizzazz to any project.

If you’ve never used it, here’s some details.  It looks like a very thin curtain sheers, and is very wispy.   When you open the package and take your bit of “magic” out, it will have creases from being folded.  You’ll be tempted to iron it smooth.  DON’T!  And don’t worry about the wrinkles – they will all come out when you actually “activate” the “magic”.   So take your fabric and put the texture magic on the wrong side of the fabric.  If you want, for additional texture, you can add batting between the fabric and the texture magic.   Stitch on your fabric.  Have fun with it.  You can quilt straight lines, free motion meandering, or even one of your fancy stitches.   Then take it to the ironing board with the Texture Magic side up.  Set your iron to steam.   Holding your iron just above the Texture Magic steam the bejeepers out of it.  Steam, steam, steam.   Turn your piece over and see the “magic”.

Lisa’s Bag Purse Pattern is the quick and easy to make.   The flap and exterior pockets use Texture Magic to jazz it up.   It’s the perfect pattern to use to experiment with Texture Magic.

Texture Magic takes the Lizzie Purse Pattern by Claudia Atchison for Black Cat Creations from ordinary to extraordinary.   14″ x 9″ x 3.5″

Try Texture Magic once and you’ll come up with lots of ideas for using it.  Have fun!

Do you have too many fat quarters?  Silly question.  How could anyone have too much fabric?!  Let me rephrase that.  Do you have lots of fat quarters and you’d just love to use some and see them in a quilt?  Here’s a few fat quarter friendly patterns.

Grab some of those colorful fat quarters and add some blue fat quarters to create Up A Lazy River.  This pattern from Far Flung Quilts comes with instructions for three sizes: Lap, Full/Queen, and King.

Candy Wrappers by Celine Perkins is made from one simple block, plus sashing and cornerstones.   Instructions are included for three sizes: Throw, Twin, and Queen.  The skill level is described as “organized beginner” – love that!

The Fat Quarter Table Runner Pattern uses four fat quarters.  Constructed with simple strip piecing and quilt-as-you-go methods, you’ll have it together in no time.   If you like this pattern, Out Of The Blue has several more fat quarter table runner patterns for you to try.

Here’s a quick project, and all you need is two fat quarters.  The 2 Fat Quarter Clutch Bag is so easy you’ll definately want to make more than one.  Let’s see.. soft and feminine with florals, fun and flirty with A Cappella Hearts, moody with some dark batiks… so many ways to go.  Just have fun with it!

That’s four to get you started.   Be sure to check back with us soon as there is an awesome giveaway coming up!

It’s been a long winter and the month of March is surely welcome.  Spring will follow soon.  I’ve even seen a few crocuses’ leaves poking through the ground.  Have you seen any signs of Spring yet?  If not, here’s a few Spring quilt patterns to hold you until the real thing gets here.

Pieces of Spring is constructed with log cabin blocks and fusible applique. Pull out your spring fabrics and fussy cut squares for the border.  Then embellish with buttons galore and you have a quilt that will brighten any room.

Spring Row Quilt features flowers and bird houses and combines paper piecing and applique.  Ivy vines are climbing the poles on the bird houses.  This color way is fine, but wouldn’t this be fun with colorful scraps… leave the ivy vines and leaves green and then really play with color when sewing the flowers and bird houses.

Just nine 10″ blocks make up the Tulip Twirl!  Keep the green and change out the red with your favorite tulip color.  The tulip blocks and the swag border can be appliqued by hand or by machine.  Quilt finishes at 51″ x 51″ and would be just right to brighten up your breakfast nook or the three season room that you can start using again soon.

It BEE Spring is easy to piece, with Broken Dishes blocks in the center and Checkerboard blocks in the corners.  The rest of the quilt is abuzz with bees and flowers.  Your quilting becomes the bee flight path as they travel from flower to flower – how cute is that?!

That’s just four…. there are so many more Spring quilt patterns.  Go ahead and browse.  You’ll be sure to find one that you like.

I don’t know about your neck of the woods but here we are enjoying sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures today… and loving it.  Makes a person want to think about decorating the house for Spring… maybe pick out a new table runner pattern and get ready!

Grandma’s Clematis will be blooming soon.   Beautiful, bright flowers are set on a trellis background and the whole thing is finished with rounded corners.  Pattern includes easy-to-follow instructions and full size patterns for the flowers.   Table runner finishes at 17 1/2″ x 47″.

Spring Pocket is one of Briarwood Cottage’s cute little pocket patterns.  These patterns are sold in small pocket size packages (approx 4″ x 6″) and they come with a small price to match.  Spring Pocket has instructions for a 14″ x 30″ table runner and matching 12″ x 18″ placemats.

Can’t you just see all these pinwheels blowing in the Spring breezes?  Sew Darn Easy has instructions for 10 different blocks to use in your table runner.  Use them all for a sampler look, or just choose your favorites.  You’ll be able to make several table runners before you tire of this pattern.

Garden Path is a new pattern.   When you finish the table runner you can make the placemats.  Then a lap quilt.  Plus, there are four more sizes included!  It’s like a Spring festival!

Check out the rest of the table runner patterns.  There are literally hundreds from which to choose.

(Don’t forget to leave a comment for another chance to win a pattern!)

Have you made any of these patterns?                                                                            

 Sunflower Farm has the look of a sampler quilt, but is really only four simple blocks.  The wool applique is free edged and held down with a few easy embroidery stitches.  Finishing at 75″ x 87″, whether you lay this quilt on a bed or hang it on a wall, it will brighten up the space.

The Trail Mix quilt pattern is made of a combination of oversized blocks and smaller accent blocks.  This pattern is perfect for the beginner; it will yield  quick, striking results.   At 72″ x 72″, it’s bigger than you’d think.  Use this pattern for teaching a friend to quilt.   If you are an old pro, you can whip up a couple of coordinating quilts for tossing on the couch and a chair in the family room.

On The Edge has an easy center so you can concentrate on the borders.  Use a panel fabric or a favorite fabric that you just haven’t been able to cut into.  Then select your border.  At 36″ x 45″ these make great baby shower gifts.

My Favorite Bag is a versatile pattern. There are three strap options – choose the one that works for you.  With lots of pockets all your ‘stuff’ will have a place.  The outside back has a 6″ x 8″ pocket.  The inside of the bag has double pockets on each side of the lining. These pocket can be divided to suit your needs and what you carry.   

Will you be adding any of these to your ‘must-do’ list?

Claudia has been sewing nearly all her life.  She was making her own clothes by the age of 12, so I wonder how old she was when she actually took her first stitch! 

Claudia’s patterns aren’t just for quilts.  She has several purse and bag patterns. 

I hate to pick favorites, but isn’t this just the cutest?!?!  Texture Magic gives those flowers some texture and makes them pop.  You’ll love carrying this Lizzie bag around.  

Here’s a great idea.  The Quick Change Bag pattern is for a reversible bag with a separate lining.   Pull out the lining, reverse the bag, replace the lining.  Ready to go!

And Claudia’s patterns aren’t just for cotton.  Her “Yard” patterns are table runners of beautiful flowers.  They are designed for wool, which gives a beautiful three dimensional quality to the finished piece. 

Hand embroidery and beading create additional interest on A Yard of Roses.  This quilt measures 10″ x 36″ when finished.

But, never fear, Claudia DOES have quilt patterns too.  And not boring, same old same old patterns.   Her quilt patterns are not each like the other.  Some of them are bold and graphic.

Sunflower Farm is a good example.  The design is striking, yet fairly easy to construct.  Four basic blocks and some simple applique… before you know it you’ll be snuggling under this quilt dreaming of Spring.

Ramblin’ Rose is another one of the bold, graphic designs and I’m excited to be making it over the next couple weeks…. I’ll share progress with you.

And then there are the beautiful, gently graceful quilts, such as Morning Star. 

Flowers in varying shades of purple flow across an ever so subtle pieced background.   Before adding the beads to embellish the flowers it might be fun to do a little free motion quilting on the flowers and leaves. 

So there’s a peek at a bit of what Claudia Atchison is all about. Be sure to check back with us over the next two weeks.   We’ll be posting an interview with Claudia and some pictures of where she creates, there will be progess on Ramblin’ Rose to report, we’ll look at some more patterns, and of course a giveaway!