What a Week!

The 2027 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show was announced in May 2026 and there has been much "BUZZ" about it: Flight of the Bumblebee. Designed by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson, it will be taught by the three of us beginning in January 2027. Here are the mockups people where shown:

The hand-dyed fabrics from Bali, Indonesia are being made right now. Pre-orders of the Fabric Kits were only available until May 31, 2026 so a final count could be made for production. There was a LOT of interest.

My job is to test the pattern by making Alex's quilt top in the Mountain Meadows colorway, and then provide additional instruction and support throughout next year to all those around the world who will be making this quilt. I will be making another one of these, for myself this time, in the Ocean Waves colorway. Mine will be a little different--I have a few ideas to make it my own. Stay tuned.

I spent much of April and May making all the pieced sections. I estimate about 60 plus hours went into them. And I learned things!

August 28 I received all the applique sections from Alex Anderson. It was time to add them to all the pieced sections I made and get the top complete. 

The decision was made to have Patty Wilson, a local longarm quilter extraordinaire, quilt it before I fly it to California September 27. That's a big deal and Patty was gracious enough to fit this big job into her schedule.

From Friday until Tuesday I spent 30 hours completing the top. There was some additional applique and embroidery to complete after the sections were joined--they go over the seams in the Flower Garden backgrounds. 

I got it done, in less time than expected but I was TIRED when it was done. Patty has it now and will work her magic to make it spectacular!

Just a few photos to inspire you. After the quilting there will be many more photos: 

Ta-da! The top is done!  84" square

Once done, I thought, "Wow, I have an extra two weeks now to get ready for the week long teaching trip in California."

That same night I got the email I have been hoping for: I will be teaching for AQS, the American Quilters Society, on one of their fabulous SEAM quilt cruises. March 17-26, 2028. Sailing the Southern Caribbean, to four ports I haven't been to yet. Holland America is a new-to-me cruise line, so that is exciting too.

Lots more information to come--this is just a HEADS UP--SAVE YOUR MONEY---you are going to WANT to JOIN US! Registration won't open for a while yet--so just get ready.

What that means for me is that these next two weeks will be spent making brand new samples, writing Supply Lists and pattern instructions--all the things it takes to teach for amazing quilters like you.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

BLOCK OF THE MONTH OUTSTANDING QUILTS Part 2

Every year since 2008 THE QUILT SHOW has presented a beautiful BLOCK OF THE MONTH quilt project FREE for Star Members. These quilts have been created exclusively for The Quilt Show by the various designers, available only for that year from this worldwide quilting community, an Internet based show. 

These quilts always provide excellent instruction for exceptional designs. Everyone who completes one of these quilts has learned a lot and can be proud of their accomplishment.

Here are just a few of the many BOM quilts that have won awards at quilt shows around the world. Enjoy and be inspired:

 2021 COLOR MY WORLD designed by Wendy Williams. When I first saw this design, two years before it was our BOM, I loved it and knew it would be a success. The taping for the January 2021 show had to be done in August 2020. Do you remember the PANDEMIC? It was clear in April that Wendy would not be able to travel from Australia to the US to tape the show. I was sent the kit and had 8 weeks to make it, quilt it, and travel to Dallas for the taping. Here is mine:

                                                        

This quilt has won MANY awards at shows worldwide. It often wins VIEWERS CHOICE. This next quilt deserves special recognition. Carole Berry made this as her FIRST QUILT EVER. And she used WOOL! 

As she was making it, she shared progress photos on the FORUM of The Quilt Show. When it was complete, I told her she simply had to enter it in major competitions. So she did. 

Let her tell you how this quilt has done in competition. Don't think she is bragging, she is humble and gracious and deserves all the awards this quilt has brought her way:

Carole Berry "HOME"  Quilted by Cindy Paulson

FROM CAROLE: Attached is photo from the 2024 AQS Daytona Beach Show where I got first place in my category of Wall Quilts-Moveable Machine Quilted and Viewers Choice.

Other accolades "Home" received:

 

2023

AQS Grand Rapids 2nd Place

Maine Quilts 1st Place, Exceptional Handwork, Viewers Choice

Cocheco Quilters Guild 1st Place, Exceptional Merit, Viewers Choice

 

2024

Road to California 2nd Place

AQS Daytona Beach 1st Place, Viewers Choice

AQS Branson 3rd Place

AQS Paducah 3rd Place

AQS Lancaster 3rd Place

 

2027

AQS Engagement Calendar 

Thank you for encouraging me to show this quilt! I never imagined all the places it would bring me and the wonderful people I would meet. I’m currently working on a temperature quilt to commemorate our travels in 2024 following Home around the country. 

Here are photos I was sent from The Quilt Show members: 

Barbara Colvin York Quilters Guild

Karon Rufenacht  Natrona County WY fair - People's choice, 1st place and sweepstakes ribbon.  WY state fair - blue ribbon

Cec Larsen

Jacquelyn Jacobi 1^st place ribbon at the Victoria (BC Canada) biennial judged quilt show. In the bottom left I have substituted the Parliament Building in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, and in the bottom right I have substituted the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls Ontario, my home town. 

Jan Aji Ribbon Winner at her local show. 

Sandra Bonomo kept hers round when she had printing trouble and decided this was large enough. It is hanging at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier. She made a facing and adding tubing to create the perfectly round shape for display.

Several people made this design their own by changing the Skyscrapers in the four diagonal corners to represent buildings important to them.. Here is one of my favorites, made by Sunday Sew and Sew Donna Daniel. She added her church, the bell tower at the University of Alabama, the Saturn V Rocket at the Space Center here in Huntsville and the Washington Monument:  

                                            

2022 GARDEN PARTY DOWN UNDER designed by Irene Blanck. The taping for this BOM was August 2021 and guess what? The world was still on lockdown and Irene could not travel from Australia to Dallas for taping. So, once again, I had 8 weeks to make this quilt, quilt it and travel to the taping.

This was only possible with the help of my Sunday Sew and Sews. And since the kit would not be available for months yet I used my own fabric. Over two long days Joan Cook helped me cut kits for 9 of us to use--each person made one pieced block and one appliqued block. They had exactly one month to complete their task--all met the deadline. In the second month I made the borders, assembled, basted and quilted it. This is one of my most favorite quilts because of the friendships that made it happen. Here it is on the set of The Quilt Show in Dallas:

                                                

Others I was sent:

Barbara Colvin Best Use of Color, York Quilters Guild

Janet Miller, Best of Show, 1st place Large Appliqué Quilts, and Best Domestic Quilting, The Arapahoe County Quilters, Festival of Quilts, 2023. Located in Colorado.

Liz Anderson Viewer's Choice and Best of Show, Cadiz, Ky show

2023 HOMEWARD BOUND designed by Sarah Fielke: 

Susan Wolak Quiltfest Rochester NY 2024

Joyce Cambron On Display at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show 2025

2024 PICK A PETAL designed by Jen Kingwell:

Pick a Petal by Jen Kingwell 

2025 LAUREL RIDGE designed by Lynne Wilder:

Barbara Colvin York Quilters Guild, First Place and Best Traditional Quilt  

Evelyn Spaudling, Teal Time, Fanfare 2026 Huntsville AL 

2026 GAME ON! designed by Becky Goldsmith--this is the current year's BOM so no one has entered it in any shows yet. I expect to see ribbons on this design in the future too:

I recently completed both the SOLID and PRINT tops: 

2027 FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE, designed by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson. This is a spectacular design that will teach you a LOT! I am learning things. Patterns will be released monthly starting in January 2027, FREE for Star Members Only:

OCEAN WAVES Colorway

MOUNTAIN MEADOWS Colorway

I will be helping to teach this project with lots of tips and suggestions. I sure hope you will join us on this Joyful Journey!

NOTE: A few of the photos were taken from the GALLERY on The Quilt Show. There are many quilts there to inspire and educate you. 

To see the Block of the Month quilts from 2008-2020 see PART 1

Let's quilt.

Barbara

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU!

 By now you may have seen and heard all the BUZZ! The 2027 Block of the Month from THE QUILT SHOW is FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE:

Designed by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson, this project will be a year-long journey that is sure to TEACH YOU THINGS--I am learning new things. Ricky and Alex and I will teach you lots of techniques during this joint adventure of learning and creating together. 

The Kits of both colorways are ONLY AVAILABLE as a pre-order from the Shop at The Quilt Show. Pre-orders are due by May 31, 2026 to allow all the time necessary for Riley Blake Fabrics to get the thousands of yards of hand-dyed Batiks made in time for shipping later this year. So everyone is ready to begin January 1, 2027 when FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE takes off.

The Kit includes almost 28 yards of top quality hand-dyed Batiks and a few great extra things. The price of $399 with FREE SHIPPING in the US is a bargain, hard as that is to say. When I got both Kits last Fall I was amazed at just how beautiful these fabrics are. And they will not all be available in stores--they are being specifically hand-dyed for The Quilt Show. I can think of several quilts I could easily choose to make with these beautiful and carefully curated collections of Batiks.

I have been "Secret Sewing" on this project since December 2025. Using the Mountain Meadows colorway, I am helping Alex Anderson get her sample made. I am piecing it, she is doing the applique. 

Just a few of my photos, taken to use when I start writing blogs and going LIVE monthly:

Honeydrops

Curved Flying Geese

Center Wedges in progress

All my parts on the wall—awaiting the appliqué parts

During 2027 I will be making the OCEAN WAVES version for myself. And if you know me, I have a few ideas for making this quilt my own. There won't be nearly as much applique in mine. Stay tuned for future ideas.

If you want one of these two KITS: DON'T WAIT. You only have until May 31, 2026 to order. 

2026 FALL RETREATERS--for all my WEST COAST FRIENDS: 

See the Flyer larger here: Fall Retreaters Quilt Retreat

I don't get to the West Coast very often to teach. Going forward it is likely to only be at Empty Spools Seminars. This is YOUR CHANCE if you are anywhere near Livermore, CA.

October 1 and 2, 2026 I am teaching TWO classes at the Fall Retreaters Quilt Retreat in Livermore, CA.

I will be there for the two Add-On days too--September 29 and 30. During those days I will be working on MY Ocean Waves 2027 BOM quilt. You can see me in action, ask all the questions you want, see a lot of the various techniques you will learn THREE MONTHS BEFORE  the first month's pattern is released. No, you won't get the patterns. No, I won't tell you EVERYTHING. But this may be just the spark you need to see that this amazing quilt project is something YOU can do.

 Also in attendance as a participant will be Alex Anderson. I will have Alex's Mountain Meadows completed top to present to her. Come hang out with BOTH OF US!

For more information or to register contact Debbie Stevens: quiltretreatdebbie@gmail.com or call 

1-925-321-8435

I hope you will take advantage of these opportunities if you can. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara