ARE YOU BUSY?

 

Such a silly question, isn't everyone busy this time of year?

For Christmas I still have a few more gifts to figure out and buy. More cookies to bake. The usual things in the days before Christmas. 

In my Quilt Life, I am having SO MUCH FUN making two versions of Game On!--the 2026 BOM for The Quilt Show designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW. The patterns are FREE for Star Members, only $49 for a year membership gives you so much bang for your buck. 

My PRINTS VERSION, and I am making my borders on this one symmetrical, this has me through month 7:

My SOLIDS VERSION, I created a different left border--for Month 4: 

Both of them on the design wall. The SOLIDS version has the border for Month 5 made and waiting to be added:

The great thing about this design is how easy it is to make it your own. Not crazy about one particular border? Change it--I will show you how. Want to play with colors--so easy, I'll help you.

Becky's show premiers Sunday December 28, 2025, it's FREE FOR ALL to see.  Watch Becky show you how she will walk you through the year. And today you can see an interview with Becky and Alex Anderson in which Becky explains how she was inspired to create this design after seeing a museum exhibit of antique game boards--watch now: BECKY AND ALEX She discusses the exhibit starting at about 10 minutes in. 

I will be LIVE Monday December 29, 2025, noon Central time, to help get you started, with tips and tricks, and "what could possibly go wrong?" suggestions. I hope you'll join thousands of us as we get our "Game On!". 

Since I am home until mid-March 2026 I decided to take two online classes in January to improve my ruler work longarm quilting skills. 99 Strip+ Strip Designs by Natalia Bonner is a FREE class. My project is a Quilt of Valor I am making specifically for someone and the strips are just the right size to learn those designs:

Angela Walters has a new class coming in January: FREE MOTION CHALLENGE QUILT ALONG, featuring Arcs, Curves and Points with Rulers. I ordered both the large and small printed top, making it easy to be ready for the first class mid-January--I am doing the SMALL version:

42" x 56"--I just need to put it together with batting and a back

I will also have a little time to teach TWO LOCAL CLASSES: 

THE VILLAGE, January 23, 2026:

and CHARMING SAMPLER, March 5, 2026:

"Kaffe Charming"

Reproduction fabrics

Each teaches a lot and if you are local and ever want to take a class with me, now is your chance. Register online at SOUTHERN CHARM QUILTING

I do plan to submit proposals to teach at International Quilt Festival in Houston November 10-14, 2026. They will decide which classes of mine, if any, they want to offer. Let me know if there is one you really want to take so I can propose it. ALL my WORKSHOPS/CLASSES are listed in the tab above: WORKSHOPS. 

It is a good idea to offer at least one handwork class. I have a new one in mind--/big Hexagons for English Paper Piecing, 3 hours, with a Kit that includes everything except your fabric. This sample is still a "work in progress"--just enough to teach the basics. What is started in class can become a larger quilt or a single placemat. Sometimes that is big enough to teach you all you want to know about a technique. 

I always have a hand piecing project available and EPP is good for this purpose. The papers are still in this, I am not finished yet. I will finish off the edges the easy way--by appliqueing the piece to a background--no fussy edge treatment necessary:

I won't know until late February or so if I will be teaching there but I will let you know as soon as I get the word.

The other long-term project I am working on is my SECOND LIFETIME QUILT--the Old Italian Block, 3" size, that has been my "Leader/Ender" project this year. I provided lots of information on this as my SUMMER SEW A LONG 2025. 

I have 270 of the 289 blocks needed done so I am starting to think about layout and design. I'm not sure I want to do such careful color placement but it might be more fun than strictly random. Time will tell:

Well, I better get back to that Christmas shopping and baking. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa or simply peace and happiness now and in the future.

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

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LAUGH AND LEARN

September is when I get going on my Joyful Journey Retreat at Red Rooster Retreat center in Crane Hill, Alabama, even though it is 7 months away. Those who attend the current year are guaranteed a spot the next year. Their early bird advanced registration is going on right now. The middle of September I will invite others on the waitlist to fill any open spots. 

This retreat is different from the usual "open sew" retreats. The primary purpose is to build and foster great friendships among wonderful women who share a passion for quiltmaking. There is lots of laughing and learning, I am always teaching something, and our bonds grow stronger every year. My admin assistant Kathy and I put a lot of time, effort and thought into making this a special event the attendees don't want to miss. 

See these posts about previous Joyful Journey Retreats:

Joyful Journey Retreat #1 2020

Joyful Journey Retreat #2 2021 

Joyful Journey Retreat #3 2022

Joyful Journey Retreat #4 2023

Joyful Journey Retreat #5 2024

We limit the group to 19 total and I do expect to have a few open spots for March 5-9, 2025. If you would like to receive the registration information mid-September, please let me know right away. I maintain a waitlist of topnotch people who will be a good fit for this very special event. The cost is $475 for 4 nights, 11 great meals, lots of snacks and so much fun. It is payable with your registration. There is much more information available for those who want to join us. Don't wait to contact me if you are interested.

There are LOCAL CLASSES with me too. While I teach all over the country I still offer some classes locally. If you want to take a class from me and live near me, now is the time. 

One of my most favorite classes is TWO FOR ONE. I am offering it once more, and may not offer it again. I call it a "Doritos" quilt, you can't make just one. You will want to make more. Each set of 8 fabrics, from light to dark, makes two blocks, one DARK and one LIGHT:

Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches. Class is Saturday September 20, 10-4 AND October 11, 10-1. 

QUILTMAKING 101--the beginning class for those who want to learn lots of tips and tricks to be successful at quiltmaking pieced blocks. This is being offered on 3 Saturdays by request, September 28, October 5  and 19, 10-4. I have found that having all day with beginners is far better than 2.5 hours over 5-6 weeks. Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches

16 blocks made with basic Pieced Units

A simpler border variation

3 YARD QUILT: Here is a simple quilt that teaches the basics of accurate piecing. It only takes one yard of 3 different fabrics. Learn a lot in only one day, Friday September 27,10-4. Register by going to or calling Patches & Stitches

I hope you see something here that interests you. Don't wait to contact me about the Joyful Journey Retreat #6--when it is full, it's full. Don't miss out.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

TEACHING ALL OVER

Ten years ago when I retired from H&R Block and the Red and White--By the Numbers quilt put my name out there, I determined to spend the rest of  life teaching what I have learned to do as a quiltmaker to all who wanted to learn. And to continue making quilts for generations yet unborn.

It makes me happy that I get to travel all over the country, seeing new places, making new friends, as I spread my passion and joy as a quiltmaker. The recent Texas Tour 2024 is just a part of that travel.

Teaching locally still happens some. But I am surprised how few people take advantage of my local classes. Coming up this summer I have a few classes offered at Patches & Stitches--enroll in person or by phone today!

Quiltmaking 101 is my beginning class--one I have taught there to thousands of students over the past 35 years. Learn everything a new quilter needs to know in 3 all-day sessions:

with a pieced border

without a pieced border

TWO FOR ONE:   my most favorite class to teach, I call this a "Dorito quilt" because it's hard to make just one. I have made 3 bed size and two teeny-tiny-two-for-one quilts. Do not miss this chance to make this quilt, it won't be offered locally again for the foreseeable future:

SLOW STITCHING:   a brand new 3 hour class on hand piecing--learn how to use found bits of time to create a work of beauty. Learn the Y-seam, easy by hand, and I will also demo and discuss hand quilting, both fine and big stitch--easy and fast:

about 24" square

3 Yard Quilt--Byzantine Door:  want to learn the basics of quiltmaking in JUST ONE DAY? Here is a fast, simple quilt design that can easily be enlarged. Three fabulous fabrics you love make it truly your own:

46" x 61"

Local classes are the lifeblood of local shops. And teachers depend on them. The last few local classes I have offered have been lightly attended or canceled due to not enough students. If you want local classes to continue, please support them. Ask a friend to join you to double the fun and learning. And if you know someone who wants to learn from the beginning, encourage them to take either of my beginning classes discussed here.

Recently I taught FULL CIRCLE--A SPECIAL EVENT at Southern Charm Quilting. When I taught it there in September 2023 we had 15 students--they did an amazing job! Read about that class here:

FULL CLASS FOR FULL CIRCLE

This time we had 4 happy students. They had plenty of space and got lots done. Here they are at the end of the week, a bit tired but they learned a LOT:

Carol, Cherie, Evelyn, Leah

I taught this at Empty Spools Seminar in March 2024 to 20 students; see that amazing venue and class experience here:

FULL CIRCLE AT EMPTY SPOOLS

Registration for EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR 2025 opened May 13, 2024 and classes are filling FAST! Some classes filled the first day. People who attend every year, wouldn't miss it. People who attend for the first time know they have to come back. I cannot describe adequately what a MAGICAL and SPECIAL experience this is, for students and faculty. 

I am teaching TWO-FOR-ONE in the 5th session, March 30-April 4, 2025. The weather will be spectacular then and I just can hardly wait to get back there! More samples of this great quilt which students are likely to complete during our class time:

Twin size

Queen Size

Student work King size

Student work Queen size

And if waiting until 2025 seems too far away, I am thrilled to say I am teaching at Houston this Fall, classes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday October 28-30, 2024. Enrollment opens in June and I expect my classes to fill completely, as they did last year. Make plans to attend this 50 year Celebration and I hope to see you in class:

Monday DISAPPEARING PATCHWORK;

Mine was made with Neutrals

Tuesday SLOW STITCHING  as described above. Having handwork ready to go is so soothing and satisfying:

Wednesday CHARMING SAMPLER: one of my most popular classes at guilds all over the country. Use those Charm Packs and learn a variety of great and useful tips for piecing, sure to improve all your future quilts:

about 34" square

See student work from last year here:  Houston 2023 TEACHING

Teaching on QUILT CRUISES is another passion of mine. The next two I have scheduled, Alaska 2024 and New England/Canada 2025 are both SOLD OUT but there is a BRAND NEW CRUISE, to BERMUDA!, that has just been added to my schedule:

FRIENDS AT SEA, September 13-18, 2025 on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. Not sure you would love a quilt cruise? This 5-Day cruise is perfect. Two at-sea days where we will be in the classroom--work on the optional class project OR bring your own project. Either way, you will have your own new Bernina sewing machine to sew on. The other two days we are docked in Bermuda so you can come and go, on and off the ship, for two complete days.  What could be better?

Register NOW, this cruise will fill up:  FRIENDS AT SEA with STITCHIN HEAVEN and ME

I do love teaching as many students as possible and plan to continue as long as I can. When you see a class you want to take, the time to act is NOW. Enroll as soon as you can so you don't miss out.  I hope to see you in class!

Let's quilt,

Barbara

A New Project

 While teaching last April at the Virginia Consortium of Quilters I met Patty Murphy. She was teaching a great quilt I was really taken with:

This is Patty's photo, taken from her website, find all her information about this quilt here: Patty Murphy Handmade.

During Show and Tell at VCQ, I saw her students' work and how to make this quilt became apparent. First, make the background:

Then add the Orange Peels:

Isn't that great? I bought the pattern and started looking for background fabrics. 

I found 9 ombre pieces at  Southern Charm Quilting and bought them, along with a few large florals for some of the Orange Peels:

I recently had time to start making the background:

Then I started playing with the Orange Peels:

T

This is still a work in progress but it is fun.  Playing with the fabrics is part of the fun. I had to add more background fabrics from my stash. Now I have to cut and prepare more Orange Peels. Once they are made and placed, I will machine applique them to the background,

There are several ways to make the Orange Peels--mine have turned edges--but they could be easily cut and fused too. 

This will be a class at Southern Charm Quilting sometime in 2023--just as soon as I can get the top completed.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LOCAL CLASS REMINDER

 While I am away teaching in South Alabama, it is time to remind my local friends of the classes I am offering at home this Fall. 

These won't be offered again locally for several years, if ever, so I encourage you to take any of them now if you are interested. Local classes allow you to sleep in your own bed and experience what students all over the country get from my in-person classes. And cost a lot less than if you take them from me at a big show.

For Beginners:

Start Quilting--Soup to Nuts Southern Charm Quilting

Quiltmaking 101  Patches & Stitches   this is the last time I will teach this class at night--all new class coming in January

For those who love their fabric:

Two-For-One  Southern Charm Quilting this is a "Doritos quilt"--many people can't stop at one

For those who love to piece AND learn a great trick for Y-seams:

Antique Rose Star  Patches & Stitches  one of my most favorite quilts to make AND teach

For those who want an easy quilt that looks more complex:

Blueberry Hill  Southern Charm Quilting  This is the ONLY time this class will ever be taught

Sign up today so you don't miss out. I look forward to seeing you in class.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

BLUEBERRY HILL--The Quilting

 While looking for an idea for a quilt to make as a gift, I came across a quilt on Instagram that was perfect. Thimbles and Needles is an Australian company and she calls this quilt Blueberry Kisses. The pattern is available as a PDF download.

69" square

As usual, I made a change to the pattern--instead of half blocks in the perimeter triangles, I used a variety of dark blue fabrics. Visually, this provides a border and I saw no need to add any additional borders.

This was fast to make and fun to quilt. Here is how I did the quilting.

First, just a reminder, you may want to pre-wash fabrics when there is lots of dye--those dark blues can really run. One lighter blue got in with the whites and there was enough color in that Color Catcher to make me very glad I used it:

I LOVE ruler work, quilting with Templates, also called Rulers. There are my favorites and I use them with almost every quilt. The Line Tamer makes it a breeze to stitch in the ditch. Amanda Murphy's ruler sets are well-made and work very well--this is one of the circles. The Grip-Its are what work BEST for me for free-motion quilting--I have tried every other solution, gloves, rubber finger tips, big gripper rings, etc. The Grip-Its are so easy to use--you just rest your hands on them, the rubber bumps on the bottom make the quilt slide easily as you have fun playing with free-motion designs: 

Threads are an important part of the quilting plan. I am a fan of Superior Threads; these are the four I used on this quilt. The bobbin has Bottom Line, my usual choice for bobbin thread. The back is dark blue so the bobbin thread is too. Microquilter is a fine. strong thread, 100 wt, and I use it for stitch-in-the ditch work. I used a medium-dark blue for that. For the ruler work, I used Omni-V, a 40 wt thread that was slightly variegated with medium to dark blues--it worked very well for the designs made with rulers. Then I used So Fine, a 50 wt, 3 ply, in a light color for the free-motion done on the white/cream fabrics:

The ruler work with the dark blue Omni V thread: 

Curved Cross-Hatching is one of my most favorite designs, though it is hard to see on printed fabrics: 

The simple loop-de-loop free motion design on the light fabrics went very quickly. It was just enough to secure the sashing, and left about the same amount of open space as the ruler work designs:

I always include a hanging sleeve on the back of every quilt I make, regardless of size. Here you can see how the top edge of the sleeve is covered by the binding. I only have to hand sew the bottom edge. Be sure to lengthen the stitches when sewing on the binding--here I was sewing through 7 layers: 

I do enjoy the binding process, often done by hand.  A few Wonder Clips make it easy to stitch around the binding: 

Later this year I will give this quilt to a special person. The good news is, I am teaching this quilt as a one day class, Tuesday October 11, 2022, 10-3:30, at Southern Charm Quilting here in Huntsville. This is the only time this quilt will be offered since I won't own the quilt after that. 

Two color quilts are very striking and any two colors will work. School colors would be fun, as would red, white and blue, or red, green and white--3 colors work as well.

This entire quilt is made using 2.5" strips, except for the border triangles. Learn lots of great tricks to speed up the piecing process. And how to replace half blocks with triangles. I hope to see you there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara