As I started putting up my Christmas decorations, I realized I have plenty of Christmas tree skirts to choose from. They are all handmade and, of course, all paper pieced.
Any tree skirt pattern can be created as a table topper instead, just don’t cut the hole in the center. The BEARY-Y CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT would also make a super cute table centerpiece.
When I am decorating using a more farmhouse look, I use this tree skirt.
I absolutley loved using my GNOME FOR CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT last year when I decorated my tree with gnomes! I used some of these gnome patterns to create some gift bags and stockings, too!
Here’s a more traditional rendition of the Gnome Tree Skirt. I call it the CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT SAMPLER, and comes with 8 more typical Christmas images.
My 2 newest Christmas related gnomes are both Mrs. Claus blocks…
Most of my patterns are 20% off through the month of November for CYBER DAYS! I hope this helps to motivate you to start some of your holiday projects! Have fun creating!
C&T Publishing’s Piecing Palooza is pure summertime fun. A four-hour event with over a dozen live sessions, a panel discussion, and a keynote speaker to help you become an expert piecer!
We gathered quilt piecing experts to share all their pro tips, tricks, and techniques with you. Alex Anderson, co-host of The Quilt Show, kicks off the fun as the opening keynote. A beloved figure in the quilting community, Alex sets the tone for the event by sharing her love of patchwork.
Next, get inspired with 12 30-minute workshops! You’ll get a bespoke experience by joining breakout rooms of your choice that focus on specific piecing subjects, from working with fabric scraps to hand piecing to sewing accurate Flying Geese every time — and so much more!
Sessions include:
Color Schemes for Scrap Quilting (Judy Gauthier)
Find your Zen with Hand-piecing (Becky Goldsmith)
Beyond Basic Dresdens: Piecing within the Wedge (Candyce Grisham)
Foundation Paper Piecing 101 (Mary Hertel)
Playful Piecing with Panels (Cyndi McChesney)
Rapid Piecing with Precision (Lee Chappell Monroe)
No Fuss Flying Geese Blocks (Patty Murphy)
Making Piece With your Sewing Machine (Bernie Tobisch)
Pinless Piecing & Press as You Go (Shelley Scott-Tobisch)
Mastering Color Palettes with Gray-Tone Block Tools (Amy Barrett-Daffin)
Building Your Skills with C&T’s Block Tools (Gailen Runge)
Whether you love paper piecing, hand piecing, or want to be a better precision piecer, every quilter can gain valuable skills to level up their craft.
Worried you’ll miss out on a session? No worries! If you are unable to attend live, all sessions will be recorded for viewing at your leisure.
BEARY MERRY MUG RUG
I will be teaching FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING 101 in my 30 minute session. You will learn all the steps to paper piece this adorable polar bear, and receive the pattern for the Polar Bear block and the directions for the mug rug.
What to expect at Piecing Palooza:
Choose your own learning adventure! Each session breaks into smaller groups for live interaction with your instructors.
Whether you love paper piecing, hand piecing, or want to be a better precision piecer, every quilter can gain valuable skills to level up their craft.
Win big with live prize giveaways throughout the event
All guests receive a virtual swag bag with goodies from the instructors
This is not a webinar. See fellow quilters and ask questions with a mic (or chat)!
Includes access to recordings of all the instructions afterward
While I have been relaxing at the cabin, sipping Bailey’s and coffee, and enjoying the serenity, my friends and customers have been hard at work paper piecing!
I am super impressed with Anita’s fabulous adaptation of my HAY GIRL horse quilt pattern! Wow. Blue and brown has always been my favorite color combination. Didn’t she do an awesome job?
Christine made this charming birthday pillow using just one of the horse blocks. I love how she choose neutral colors, which will match anyone’s decor. This pony is one of my all time favorite horse patterns. I even have it on my computer screen saver!
Besides the 12 ponies in the HAY GIRL pattern, here are some of my other iconic horse patterns…
My sweet customer Julie suggested I design some paper pieced Camping/Glamping blocks. I’m not so clear on the “glamping”, but the “camping” suggestion was spot on, especially with summer just starting.
Two more adorable pups have been added to my paper pieced dog block collection. Betty sent me photos of her sweet AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD to inspire me to create this new dog block.
Australian Shepherd
Here is a side by side comparison photo of my block and Betty’s pup.
I love how expressive he turned out! Find the pattern HERE on Etsy.
It was also brought to my attention that I did not have an IRISH SETTER in the collection.
Irish Setter
Making an image that has wavy or curly hair is very difficult in paper piecing. It is all an illusion, made from straight seams. I have always loved the beautiful fur on an Irish Setter, and am pretty in love with his soft wavy ears. You can find this cutie HERE on Etsy.
Last week I had so much fun paper piecing with the Village Quilters of Lake Bluff, Illinois.
Such a lovely group of quilters! It is inspiring being with friends who love to paper piece as much as I do. When I returned home, I was motivated to do more designing.
Carol, a customer from the West Bend Quilt Guild asked me create a set of blocks that would work for a special child who loves Paris. We brainstormed a bit about things that might work for the “Parisian Collection”.
Eiffel Tower Block
The EIFFEL TOWER is one of the images that Carol specifically requested. This grey check, used on the bias, worked well to give the illusion of the delicate lines criss crossing the structure.
Fifi the Poodle Block
FIFI THE POODLE needs a lot of small pieces since there’s quite a bit of detail in this block. I’m using gray and pink in all 3 designs to make them look like a complete collection.
Tiara Block
The TIARA BLOCK completes this Parisian Collection (for now!). I hope these images will work for Carol. I had lots of fun creating them. All blocks measure 8″x 8″ unfinished.
Please let me know what new paper pieced images you would like to see!
If you want to learn to paper piece and live near the Fox Cities, keep reading. The Darting Needles Quilt Guild from Appleton, WI is sponsoring me to hold an all day workshop on Paper Piecing Basics, Friday 14 from 9 to 3. This class will be held at the Fox Cities Quilt Company in Appleton.
Those attending the workshop will learn how to paper piece simple and combination blocks from my Sew Yourself A Merry Little Christmas book.
SIMPLE BLOCKCOMBINATION BLOCK
On Thursday, the day before the workshop, I will be lecturing on” Paper Piecing, and Selecting the Right Fabric for your Projects”. Join me for an evening of fun held at the First United Methodist Church on Franklin St, Appleton at 7pm. The lecture is free!
Contact JoAnn Nemitz for information about the Paper Piecing Workshop, (920) 731-3722.
This was such an exciting week! My visit to F&W Media, home of the top quilting magazines, was so inspiring!
Boyfriend Tom (left), Mary (AKA Marney), and brother Jim (right)
When I was visiting my brother Jim who lives near Golden, CO, I asked my friends at F & W Media if I could stop by for a visit.
Mary with Lori Baker
Lori Baker, Acquisitions Editor, was there to meet me at the door and give me a tour.
The F & W “Crew”
Here I am with the F & W Crew. F & W Media publishes our favorite quilting books and magazines, like Quilty, Quilting, Quiltmaker, Easy Quilts, Quilting Quickly, Quick Quilts, Quilting Arts, and Modern Patchwork.
We sat down and had a lovely discussion about paper piecing, designing patterns, life, and great places to eat!
Here’s one of F & W’s many publications. My “RIBBIT, RIBBIT” pattern is in the Spring 2019 issue of EASY QUILTS. That’s my froggie on the cover!
This cute little table topper measures 15″ x 15″, and is so fun to paper piece. A great pattern for beginners! Those wonky eyes are made from buttons.
A great vacation full of exploring new vistas, eating at fun restaurants, and meeting new friends. As Tom and I are heading home to Wisconsin, I want to send a big thank you to F & W for the warm welcome!
