SUNDAY STASH SALE # 1

Currently, I am de-stashing my enormous fabric "collection", thinning the shelves to have more room for storage. And having LESS makes it easier for me when pulling fabrics for upcoming projects.

After thinking about it for at least a year, I decided it was time to DO IT. How to start? First, I pulled all the fabrics in one color family from the closet. I started with BLUEs. Then I selected those I had to keep, and let the rest go. Next, I gathered fabrics into 5 yard BUNDLES and photographed them.

Wanting to see if there was any interest, I posted photos of those bundles on my local guild's private Facebook group. They got snapped up quickly so I knew it made sense to keep going.

Some is 25 years old, some less than 4 years old, all first-quality quilt shop fabrics. Some is even pre-washed, most is not. A wide variety of sizes, each bundle is at least 5 yards unless noted.

Here is my RED fabric straight out of the closet:

All the RED Yardage, before sorting what I needed to keep

RED yardage that was available for sale

A dear local friend asked to see my REDs before offering them publicly as she wants to increase her stash of RED. Instantly, she bought most of these fabrics. Easy, no bundling, no shipping necessary.

On to the NEUTRALS. I have many of these and need to keep enough for queen and king size backgrounds. But there is still plenty to share:

NEUTRALS before bundling

NEUTRALS FOR SALE--5 Yard bundles, $20/bundle unless otherwise noted. Plus shipping. If you see something you want, comment below. If Anonymous, please provide email so I can contact you.

NEUTRAL # 1:  SOLD

NEUTRAL # 2: 

NEUTRAL # 3: fabric in the center is Victorian Wheeling by Jennifer Sampou:  SOLD

NEUTRAL # 4: lower right fabric is Sky Garden by Jennifer Sampou:    SOLD

NEUTRAL # 5:  SOLD

NEUTRAL # 6:  SOLD

OTHER FABRICS AVAILABLE FOR SALE:

GREEN # 1:  SOLD

GREEN # 2: SOLD

GREEN # 4:  SOLD

GREEN # 5: SOLD

PURPLE # 5:  SOLD

PURPLE # 6:  SOLD

PURPLE # 8:  SOLD

BLACK # 1: SOLD

BLACK # 2:  SOLD

BLACK # 3:    5.25 yards, one continuous piece, new fabric, $30: SOLD

LEOPARDS anyone?  1 yard, $10, Dakturi Stripe by Alexander Henry:

BLACK, WHITE OR GRAY # 2:  SOLD

BLACK/WHITE # 4:  SOLD

BLACK/WHITE # 6: SOLD

RED # 1: SOLD

ORANGE # 1:  5.167 yards, green/orange stripe is BATIK,  $25:  SOLD

The hardest thing about this process is the sorting into approximately 5 yards bundles. And the SHIPPING. That is expensive, at least $10 for one bundle and up to $30 for at least 3 bundles. I will ship non-priority to save a little if you're not in a hurry.

Once each month going forward I will have more fabrics for sale. Still to come: BATIKS, ORIENTAL PRINTS, LARGE FLORALS and a LOT of 1800's REPRODUCTION fabrics--those will be the most difficult to part with. And this is just the YARDAGE--fat quarters and such will come later.

Help me, help you! I need breathing room, you get great fabrics at rock bottom prices. If you work with groups making donation quilts or Girl Scouts or church organizations, let them know about this opportunity.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 5

Laurel Ridge is the 2025 Block of the Month quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show.  Star Members have FREE access to the patterns starting January 1, 2025. Made in two colorways, the complete patterns are excellent. You will love making this quilt. Lynn supports the pattern instructions with Videos too. 

This month we make Basket Blocks, 20 of them. Many people love basket blocks, as I do, and I am happy to see them in this wonderful sampler quilt.

As usual, the pattern directions are excellent. I made very few cutting adjustments. 

First, before cutting any BACKGROUND fabric, I checked my "leftovers" from the past 5 months to see what I could cut from it. I keep all the "leftovers" in a large ziploc bag, separate from the Kit yardage. Fortunately, I could cut several of the pieces needed for Month 5 from the background leftovers. So check there first before cutting lots of new strips from the yardage.

CUTTING ADJUSTMENTS:

Background  D outside corner triangle--I cut the strip 3" instead of 2 7/8", my personal preference. 

Feet of the Basket  G--I cut the strip 2" instead of 1 7/8". This did mean I had to carefully trim the block before adding the D outside corner to complete the block. See photo below.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

Making 8 Half Square Triangles at once is a great thing I have learned from this project. I often make 24 at once, or 4, or "some", but Lynn's method for making 8 all the same is very handy in this, and many other quilts.  This month we NEED 20 Half Square Triangles for the middle of the block. The technique makes 24. So, don't panic, you will have 4 HST leftover. 

CONSTRUCTION:

My pieces laid out. Be careful to get the small HSTs going in the correct orientation:

These two speed-sewing units will make 8 HSTs each of the two sizes needed:

Cut apart on the North/South and East/West axis first, then cut on the drawn diagonal lines:

Press toward the darker fabric then "Trim to Perfection" to the correct size:

With small sizes like those used in this quilt, precise piecing really matters. The instructions tell you what size the various units need to be. It pays to take time to check that yours are the right size with each seam. I often find I need to trim small amounts from a unit because I tend to have a narrow seam allowance. I want to find my mistake AS SOON AS I MAKE IT, rather than after the block is complete and is too big:

There is one extra step I needed to take because I cut the G triangles slightly larger than needed. The two BLUE small triangles (from the Spring Kit) need to be 1/4" away from the outside edge where the D white background triangle joins them. 

I simply used a ruler, placing the 1/4" line on the center place where the two BLUE triangles meet, trimming away a slight amount to get that outside seam ready:

What a help it is to now have a 5.5" Quilters Select Square ruler to check my blocks, being sure they are the correct size!  It is such a help:

What a lovely little basket.

Next month we will make the LARGER APPLIQUE blocks. I will show my "optional alternative" pieced blocks. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

OH MY STARS! CLASSES AVAILABLE

 

I love this quilt. Oh My Stars had been saved on my Pinterest board for quite awhile. Last year, looking for a new project, I found it and sent for the pattern. 

My version:

The pattern version:

As usual, I have written a detailed supplement of instructions for students. These are often described by students as "worth the price of admission". 

NOW IS THE TIME TO REGISTER FOR EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026! I will be teaching this as a 5 day Seminar there at SESSION 5, April 30-May 4, 2026. Registration opened Saturday April 26, 2025, 10 am PST. Classes fill up FAST so don't delay. If you are flying to Monterey, and need to rent a Bernina sewing machine for your use all  week, DON'T DELAY. There are a limited number of machines available for rent. Students have come from all over the country: Hawaii, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and all the western states. Ten teachers each Session make for lots of happy students.

This is one of the best quilting experiences you can have. Read my previous posts about the MAGICAL EXPERIENCE Empty Spools Seminars truly is:

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

MY 2025 EXPERIENCE

OH MY STARS will teach you a LOT! 

    How to improve your  precision piecing

    How to make 45 degree angle seams meet every time

    How to sew Y-seams

    How to avoid Y-seams

    How to make perfect small flying geese for the sashing Stars

    How to avoid flying geese and make Floating Stars

    How to make pieced borders really FIT

    And just about everything else I know and have learned in more than 40 years of quilt making.

LOCALS:  you have ONE chance to take this class at home. Friday and Saturday June 27-28, 2025 at SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING. Register today if you want to be included. (NOTE:  the supplemental handout fee is $10, payable directly to me in class.)  Out-of-towners are welcome, Spring Hill Suites hotel nearby is great place to stay.  This is the only local class I am offering this year. 

If you can't make either of these classes you have ONE MORE CHANCE: International Quilt Festival in Houston, Thursday October 9, 2025, 9-5. Enrollment for this class opens in early summer and I do expect it to fill quickly. 

Join me for a fun, full, rewarding class as you add so many tools to your quiltmaking toolbox.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

CURRENT PROJECTS

This could be called "what am I doing?" After being gone much of March and early April I hit the ground running when I came home.

First, it was two Teeny Tiny Two For One quilts, made as gifts. Each time I teach Two For One, I want to come home and make another one. I don't need another bed quilt so I made Teeny Tiny ones:

Those squares are 1/2" finished

Mug Rugs, each about 11" square

I can honestly say I am "over" the urge for now. The squares are 1/2" finished. How long can these small things take to make? Far longer than I thought, especially when I occasionally sewed the wrong thing to the wrong thing. They are on their way to their new homes, all fabrics are returned to the closet and I am on to the next task.

The 2025 Block of the Month quilt for TheQuiltShow.com is Laurel Ridge, designed by Lynn Wilder. Not as far along as I should be by now, but it's getting there. I made a Feathered Star as a possible substitute middle block. The jury is still out on that, there is another large block I will make to see if I prefer it:

While working on these two projects, I have been sewing the adorable Old Italian blocks I showed a few weeks ago--they are the perfect Leader/Ender blocks. YES, there WILL BE A SUMMER SEW A LONG for you! I will provide instructions for this great block in 3 sizes, your choice, Here are a few of my 3" ones:

The other night I was able to attend my local guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville. I don't get to attend very often due to my teaching travels but I wanted to be at this one. My friend, Dr. Jan Davis, an astronaut who has flown in space on 3 missions, including being the Payload Commander of her third flight in 1997, talked about her journey as a quilter and an astronaut. She has the distinction of being the first quilter in space. She gave a great talk, the large crowd was very enthusiastic:

Recently I got a new "techno toy". An Apple Watch. I have to be dragged kicking and screaming into new technology as it takes me a while to learn what's what. I don't like feeling that I don't know how to do things. But this was EASY! Everything syncs from my phone. I LOVE using it to track my outdoor daily walk, 2 hours, 8 miles/7 days a week. My husband has been urging me to get one for a few years. Honey, you were RIGHT:

Speaking of my husband, earlier this month we celebrated 49 years of marriage. In some ways it seems like time has flown and other ways it seems like a long journey together. I wonder what we will do for 50:

Today is Easter Sunday for us and we are happy to be celebrating with our son's family. There will be 10 of us at the table, including 3 children, who always make it a fun day. My contribution to the menu was easy, GUACAMOLE ATX and two Key Lime pies. The guac recipe I got from a great friend in Austin and I love it. Recipe linked above:

The Key Lime Pie recipe comes from the bottle of Nellie and Joe's Key West Lime Juice, easily found in the supermarket:

Happy Spring to everyone. Let's quilt.

Barbara

EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2025

 It is hard to describe the Empty Spools Seminar experience to those who have never been there. For 40 years quilters have gathered at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove CA to attend one of 5 seminars. Each session lasts 5 and a half days, and each student is with the same teacher for all of those days.

First, I will just show photos of this magical place. This is my second year teaching there and it is such an incredible experience--for both students and teachers:

My bedroom with the class quilt: Two For One

The view of "my tree"

Deer are just some of the wildlife we see here every day

Power breakfast to keep me going all day

The ocean soothes my soul--I arrived a day early so got to enjoy walking the beach trails in the daylight

The landscape is wild and craggy, unlike beaches I am more familiar with

Many of the buildings are historic--the place was begun in 1913 as a YWCA camp. These steps lead to Merrill Hall and show some of the amazing stone work around the campus

"My Tree" from the outside

The Pacific Ocean ahead

A CA State beach, the property is well-maintained. I enjoyed the educational signs

My daily walk starts at 5:30 am, it's dark. I use a flashlight and feel like I have the place to myself

 Sunrise on the way

I love the ocean, sand, waves, everything about the beach

As if the PLACE isn't wonderful enough, the chance to spend almost a week with truly great students and other well-known teachers makes this truly a very special experience:

Merrill Hall. The Cotton Patch sets up a small store for the week. Evening events are held here. And my classroom was in this main room--a wonderful place to teach

My students were the best! They worked hard and learned a lot. Two of them were in my Full Circle class last year and one took a class with me in Houston last Fall. Another one follows my blog regularly. All four of them are ready to register for my class next year, when Registration opens April 26, 2025 at 10 am PST. 

Work from all my students on the wall--it could be a full quilt!

The last afternoon is "Walk Around" when all other classes are invited to tour each of the other 9 classrooms to see what's been happening. My students filled their design boards to show their work.

Happy students, wonderful blocks, amazing weather! And the Pacific Ocean in the background is included in the price of the Seminar--no extra charge!

Many students come to Empty Spools Seminars every year, they wouldn't miss it. Lifelong friendships are formed. And the opportunity to study with one teacher over an extended time is very beneficial. I was very happy to see several students from my class last year, Full Circle, around the campus. A couple of them hope to take my class next year. 

Teachers at Empty Spools also love the experience. On the one evening there is no program the teachers traditionally go out to dinner at Fish Wife, a local seafood house we can walk to:

Jennifer Sampou, Maria Shell, me, Andrea Brokenshire, Phyllis Lewis, Sandra Mollon, Linda Neal, Judy Coates Perez and Judy's husband, Phil. Missing was Sue Heinz and David Owen Hastings. It was Andrea's birthday, another good reason to celebrate.

This year I had the most amazing thing happen on Day 1:

Linda Herrera and me

The flowers and the card 

As I was preparing my classroom, this lovely woman walked up to me and said "You don't know me but I feel like I really know you." She told me how much she enjoys the Block of the Month quilts from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. She has completed several of them, won awards for them, and even got her quilt juried in to International Quilt Festival in Houston last year. She presented me with beautiful flowers and a special card. Her kind words in the card expressed her appreciation for my help with my blogs and LIVE videos throughout the years. She was not a student this session, she drove 30 miles to meet me when she heard me say on the previous LIVE that I would be there.  I was gob-smacked! It is this INTANGIBLE thing that keeps me going as a quilter and teacher. The chance to share what I have learned with those who want to know it too. This one thing made my entire year! Thank you, Linda!

Another great thing that happens is when last year's students "Show and Share" their completed work:

Mollie Gilliam's FULL CIRCLE

Anne Flanigan's FULL CIRCLE

I was thrilled to see their amazing work. This is a very challenging project that takes a lot of time. Wonderful job, you two!

OH MY STARS--my 2026 class. Five days will make you very confident in precision piecing, Y-seams or how to avoid those if you want to and give you a chance to learn everything I know--or close. 

    

The quilt from the pattern

My version 97" square

Oh My SMALL Stars, a sample that is easy to carry when I travel 

Find all the information you need about the 2026 Empty Spools Seminars here: EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026. I am in Session 5--late April to early May--the weather will be perfect!

Many of the classes fill very quickly so I encourage you to be ready to register as soon as you can. This is an experience unlike any other for  those who want to learn, share their passion for our artform, and add lifelong skills to their toolbox. I hope to see you there. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara