Many of us are enjoying the outdoors while the weather is good.  Sadly that doesn’t leave as much time for quilting.  But you can take a book along with you when you go to the beach or the pool or on a picnic.  Or maybe you like to sit on the porch and read. 

Once Upon A Summer is a book of twelve projects inspired by a summer trip to California.  Heather Mulder of Anka’s Treasures spent her honeymoon in the San Francisco Bay area and just couldn’t help but think about quilts.
Amish Wall Quilts by Rachel Pellman contains fifteen projects.  This book will show you how to replicate Amish quilts in a wall quilt size. Rachel has lots of knowledge and information to share with you.

Simple Quilts includes instructions for 20 quilts from lap size to queen size, each in two color ways.  Nicole Chambers explains what makes these simple patterns produce stunning quilts.  And if you enjoy this book, there is a “sequel” called More Simple Quilts.

Another winner by Nicole Chambers, The Quilt Maniac’s Playbook has instructions for twelve quilts and six table runners in a wide variety of styles.  Plus Nicole will teach you all about color and in a way you can understand and use to select just the right colors for your next project.

That’s just a few of the quilting books available.  There are over 150 from which to choose.  So settle down with a good book while you enjoy the outdoors.  Learn some more about your quilting passion and at the same time, plan you next project.

Project Linus and Avlyn Fabrics has teamed up and created a fabric collection called Komfort Kids by designer Patrick Lose.

This one is Sweet Dreams, the feature design. You could make a fast quilt with a large piece of this fabric bordered by one of the tone on tone fabrics.

The tone on tone fabrics are covered in Project Linus style hearts. Aside from the Magenta shown here, there is Tangerine, Yellow, and Lime.

The Twinkle Stars also comes in four colors: Periwinkle (shown here), Tangerine, Teal and Magenta all with yellow stars.

The Bubbles are lots of different colors with backgrounds in Teal, Periwinkle and Magenta.
The last fabric in the collection is Sweethearts. A checkerboard of Project Linus style hearts going in every direction, in lots of colors, with lots of different backgrounds.
So many fun fabrics it’ll be hard to choose which ones to use to make your next Project Linus quilt. That just means you’ll have to make more than one! And the bonus is that Avlyn will donate 8% of the sales of this collection to Project Linus.

Summertime usually means lots of “out and about”, trips to the beach or the zoo or the woods for a picnic. And that means a big bag to carry everything you might need while you are out. Do you need an extra bag? Or a bigger bag? Or a bag for one of the kids? Here’s a few you might like . . .

The Out and About Bag is nice and big. Perfect for the beach with lots of room for a towel, flip flops, a book, sunscreen and you are ready! The flying geese border is really different but if you’re in a hurry you can make a plain border. This is an easy bag to make from Among Brenda’s Quilts.

The Jelly Roll Bag by Cabbage Rose is 17″ BIG and has lots of pockets. A jelly roll will speed things up, but you can cut your own strips if you’re fresh out of jelly rolls.

The Totally Awesome Tote finishes at 14″ X 17″ and will go together in half a day . . . sew in the morning and head out for the afternoon. This bag by Karen West of For The Love Of Fabric has pockets inside and out to help keep you organized.

If you’re worried about your stuff falling out of your bag, Summer Tote has a zipper closure to keep everything secure inside. It also features TEN pockets! And you know it won’t be hard to make because it was designed by Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Designs.

That’s just four of the manybag patterns available. Quilters Warehouse Bags and Purses pages have literally hundreds of patterns. You’re sure to find something to fit your needs.

Fun & Done Quilt Patterns from Prairie Sky Quilting are just that.  Fun to make – you can see you quilt come together right before your eyes.  And they are Done before you know it.  Finish the top and you are Done!

If you stopped at Prairieland Quilts during the shop hop that’s going on now, then you may have seen Suzanne demonstrate this easy quilt-as-you-go method.  (And there’s still time! The shop hop is going until the end of the day tomorrow.) 

The Batting Budding is a template that will make the process easier but you can make one of these quilts without it, too.   Use the outer template to cut your backing; use the inner template to cut your batting.  Lay down your backing, then use the outer template again to help center the batting on the backing.

Then start sewing your top pieces on.  There are templates included in the patterns to get you started.  After you complete one block, you trim the top and the batting; you’ll have backing extending beyond the block.  The excess backing will be use to sew the blocks together.

After you have a row of blocks sewn together the backing between the blocks is folded over to each side with the raw edges under the fold and these pieces are top-stitched down. 

See? Almost done!  The rows are sewn together.  The backing is brought around to the front all along the edges, turned under and topstitched to create the binding. And now you ARE done!

Here’s a finished Fun & Done Quilt . . .

If you’re ready to try this there are a dozen patterns from which to choose.

The Quilters Warehouse website has been totally updated.  There is a whole new look with just enough of the old to make you feel comfortable.  As with anything new there were a few days of glitches and adjustments but the “breaking in” period seems to be mostly over and TAH DAH!!!!!  Enjoy!  Here’s some highlights . . .

John says “…finding what you are looking for is easier.  Along the left side you’ll find a link to every fabric manufacturer and pattern company.  This means you can go right to your favorite and look at all they have to offer.”

“We’ve widened the pages so that you get full use of your screen.  And we’ve managed to fit many more images on each page.  As always, just click on an item that you are interested in and you’ll get more details.  You can then use the left or right arrows to scroll through the rest of the items or use the up arrow to go back to the page you started on.” 

If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for there are a couple of ways to browse.  The links under “Browse Categories” will open up a page of categories.  Some of these are categories you might not have thought of and they are an excellent source of inspiration. 

Another way to browse is to use the links in the red bar at the top.  These will open a whole new treasure chest of items to explore.    Also, at the bottom of the page you will see a list of popular links – see where these take you.  Some of these links can also be found at the top of the page (right side) under the “Special Interest” heading.

You’ll notice changes when it comes time to order too. 

“We’ve streamlined the checkout process and made it easier.  Adding an item to your cart won’t take you away from your shopping.  You’ll be able to continue browsing and shopping and not review your cart until you want to”  says John.   “Updating your cart is quicker, too” 

Sewing Machines, Fabric, Kits, and Quilt Patterns galore! Go ahead and check out the new Quilters Warehouse website. And tell us what you think.

If you are anywhere near East-Central Illinois or West-Central Indiana don’t miss the Illiana Quilter’s Shop Hop.  This year’s shop hop will take place June 16 – 20.   Ten quilts shops will be participating.   Purchase a passport for $5 at any one of the shops and start traveling! 

Participating shops are: 

• Prairieland Quilts, Cissna Park IL
• Threads of Time, Danville IL
• Rossville Quilts, Rossville IL
• Cheryls Quilt Shop, West Lafayette IN
• The Needle & I, Rantoul IL
• Top Shelf Quilts, Frankfort IL
• B & J’s Sewing Center, Bourbonnais IL
• A Quilting Bee, Mahomet IL
• Sewing Boutique, Hoopeston IL
• Sew Sassy, Urbana IL

Prizes:

• Grand Prize: 50 yards of fabric in 5yd coordinated packages
• 2nd Prize: 100 fat quarters
• 3rd Prizes: $50 Gift Certificates, one from each shop

        To be eligible for the above prizes get your passport stamped at each shop.

        Each shop will also hold individual door prize drawings for a $25 Gift Certificate.

Each store has designed a block and each store has designed a quilt around the 10 blocks and will have the quilt on display.  Purchase the block from each store and purchasing the finishing kit at the store that designed the layout you like best. 

So, have fun, enjoy exploring new to you shops, build your stash, and become eligible for prizes!  Fun, fun, fun.

Another plus:  20% of all passport money will go to the National Children of Veterans Foundation Assoc.