Did You Hear I Have A Fabric Line?

I'm not sure how many of you follow me on social media, such as Facebook or Instagram.  It is very easy to post a snapshot in time on social media.  Blogging is better to tell a story.  Having said that, I do post a lot more on IG and FB.  It's quick and easy and the feedback from readers is immediate.

I recently shared that I am now a fabric designer with Hoffman International.  You won't be surprised to learn that it's a mosaic print based on batiks.  There are 16 SKUs or colorways.

The name of the collecction is Mosaic Masterpiece.  Here's an unboxing video:

I wasn't too excited, was I?

I am currently working on patterns to feature the fabric.   Pattern designers have different ways of working. I used my Queen Bee Mini Mosaic Quilt and turned it into an applique pattern, 

but BIGGER!   

The applique Queen Bee Mosaic Masterpiece pattern will feature 2 sizes. The small one is a wallhanging (about 20" x 24")

 and the large size will make a nice crib quilt, measuring about 36"x48".

The large one has a Curvalicious border.

Much easier when the fabric looks like tiny pieces of fabric mosaics.

Actually, both of those quilts are digital images. 

 Here are two of the small quilts that I made with the fabric, for sales rep samples.

The fabric will arrive in your local quilt shop in October. (But I may do a giveaway or 2 before then.)

I will keep working on the patterns (there will be 5) and they will be available in July.

One more thing.  I'm offering a  3 hour Mini Mosaic workshop on Zoom on Saturday, 5/9.  It's $25 and you will be working on your own project.  If you need one, order it soon and I will ship it out immediately and you will have it by Saturday.

Click HERE to find the class.

Click HERE to purchase a pattern or kit.

How To Create A Scalloped Border For Your Quilt

In my last blog post I shared my most recent mosaic quilt, "Whitney Lake".  If you missed it, you can find it HERE.

I like using a scalloped border, whether it is the inner, outer or edge.  

It really makes a plain border, very elegant and special.

I used it on my quilt, "South of France", as the inner border:

and on my first large mosaic quilt," Keyfetti Fish", created while wintering in Key West. This border is scalloped and a facing was used to finish the edge. (It was photographed on a black background.)

35" x 48"

I have used a few diffferent methods to create a scalloped border for a quilt.  The key to them all is, Curvalicious.It's a cutting guide I developed about 5 years ago.  I designed it to make curved looking quilts, but I found out that I could use it for amazing and complex looking borders.

It measures 24" long.  The Curvalicious website shares lots of ways to use it as well as a link to my YouTube video demoing it as a border tool.

When the quilt's dimensions are divisble by 6, a mitered border might be the best method to use.  Otherwise, the method I used for Whitney Lake works well and is pretty simple.

First, I added a 4" border all the way around the quilt.

 After quilting the border, scallop the border using Curvalicious and a 28mm rotary cutter.

 It is a bit of a challenge to cut through all the layers, but it's so worth it. Sometimes you need a little scissors help. To achieve balanced corners, make sure you stop about 6" from the edge.

Using tracing paper or parchment paper, or any paper  you can see  through, create a curved corner.  I fold  the paper in half to make sure it's symmetrical. I use that template to trim each corner.

Then I made a 2" strip of bias binding.  After stitching it to the front with 1/4" seam allowance, I turned it to the back and with the help of wonder clips, I handstitched it to the back.

And Voila!

A border that really frames a quilt.

My Newest Mosaic Art Quilt

40" x 50"

I have fnished my newest mosaic quilt. I could have named it many things, but I've decided to keep it simple and call it Whitney Lake.  We have had a vacation home on Whitney Lake in Hawley, PA for 30 years.  There is so much Lynch  history there.  While our boys were growing up we spent a good part of the summers there.  There was swimming and fishing and blueberry picking.  There were video games on the rainy days and  a gang of boys that hung together and sometimes got into a little mischief. We spent Thanksgiving there and President's weekend ice fishing on the frozen lake.  I have wonderful memories of quilt retreats with girlfriends and students.  There was a little lull in our visits as the boys got interested in sports and headed off to college.  Fortunately, they both dated girls who loved it there too and both of them  married those girls lakeside. So it's a place with lots of memories.

I started the quilt 2 years ago using lots of photos to "stitch" together and construct the scene and thought often about those two empty chairs on our dock.  It has been a long road.  There was a 1 year hiatus where I just couldn't work on it.  Then when I finally returned to working on it I  had some issues with the lake water and contrast.  (Oh contrast, my nemesis!)
Here's an overview:

First the left side and then the right.

And now it's done, and it feels good!

I did debate wether to use a Curvalicious border since all of my mosaic art quilts include it for the border. So I scallopped the border this time and it's just perfect. My next post will have details of the  quilting and borders. You can purchase Curvalicious HERE and watch how to use Curvalicious to create an amazing border HERE:

"Whitney Lake"has now entered the inner circle of my most favorite quilts.
And what would a special quilt be without a special label.

It's a great time to finish a special quilt.

Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show

I realize I haven't written a blog post since August, but it was my plan to streamline the writing that I do.  I have been doing most of my  sharing on FB, IG and in my FB Group.  If you want to join my FB Group, click HERE.

I am writing this post to share a wonderful diversion with all the locations in one place. The Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show is located on FB.  It started April 1 and runs though the 10th.  Each day from noon to 8PM, 60 quilt designers are giving a trunk show with a variety of their quilts  for 15  minutes, every hour on the hour.  Look at the  schedule below and click on the link.   I have been keeping my ipad next to my sewing machine with a timer to remind me.

My turn is on April 6, Monday, at 2:00 EST.  I'm going to share my Mini Mosaic quilts and the inspiration.  Hope you can join me.

I hope you've been staying safe and have plenty of quilting/reading/gardening to do.  I've been working on an alphabet  instruction book (I'll be sharing the  cover quilt during my trunk show) and making quilts with my new fabric line that I will be able to share soon.

April 4

April 4 12pm EST Sherry Shish - Powered By Quilting facebook.com/poweredbyquilting
April 4 1pm EST Bill Locke - Bill Locke Designs https://www.facebook.com/bill.locke.96
April 4 2pm EST Toni Smith/Quiltoni https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
April 4 3pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/
April 4 4pm EST Jennifer Fulton https://www.facebook.com/inquiringquilter/
April 4 5pm EST Jessica Caldwell/ Desert Bloom Quilting https://www.facebook.com/desertbloomquilting/
April 4 6pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug's Cabin https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/
April 4 7pm EST Heather Long / Coffee and Quilts https://m.facebook.com/Coffee-and-Quilts-197254351073271/?__tn__=C-R

April 4 8pm EST Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/

April 5

April 5 12pm EST Ebony Love https://www.facebook.com/LoveBugStudios/
April 5 1pm EST Bill Locke https://www.facebook.com/bill.locke.96
April 5 2pm EST Marlene Oddie https://www.facebook.com/kissedquilts/
April 5 3pm EST Sandy Fitzpatrick https://www.facebook.com/HissyfitzDesigns
April 5 4pm EST Reed Johnson https://www.facebook.com/BlueBearQuilts/
April 5 5pm EST Diane Harris https://www.facebook.com/stashbandit/
April 5 6pm EST
April 5 7pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudioApril 5 8pm EST

April 6

April 6 12pm EST Becca Fenstermaker https://www.facebook.com/prettypiney/
April 6 1pm EST Cherry Guidry https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomsQuiltingStudio
April 6 2pm EST Cheryl Lynch www.facebook.com/CherylLynchFiberArts
April 6 3pm EST Annie Smith https://www.facebook.com/anniesmithqs

April 6 4pm EST
April 6 5pm EST Reeze Hanson https://www.facebook.com/Morningglorydesigns/
April 6 6pm EST
April 6 7pm EST Melissa Marginet https://www.facebook.com/melissa.marginet.quilter/
April 6 8pm EST


April 7

April 7 12pm EST Margaret Willingham/ Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design https://www.facebook.com/EyeoftheBeholderQuilt/
April 7 1pm EST Kate Colleran/Seams Like A Dream Design https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
April 7 2pm EST Barbara Cline https://www.facebook.com/barbara.cline.520
April 7 3pm EST Barbara Persing https://www.facebook.com/bpquilts/
April 7 4pm EST Ms P Designs USA/ Sharon Andersen https://www.facebook.com/MsPDesignsUSA/

April 7 5pm EST
April 7 6pm EST
April 7 7pm EST Diane Harris https://www.facebook.com/stashbandit/
April 7 8pm EST Christa Watson https://www.facebook.com/groups/christaquilts/


April 8

April 8 12pm EST Tina Dillard/Quilting Affection Designs https://www.facebook.com/quiltingaffectiondesigns/
April 8 1pm EST Raija Salomaa/Quilters' Treasure Chest https://www.facebook.com/quilterstreasurechest/
April 8 2pm EST Robin Koehler//NESTLINGS by Robin https://www.facebook.com/NestlingsbyRobin/
April 8 3pm EST Terri Vanden Bosch https://www.facebook.com/lizardcreekquilting/
April 8 4pm EST Jackie Kunkel https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/

April 8 5pm EST Leanne Parsons https://www.facebook.com/devotedquilterdesigns
April 8 6pm EST Laura Piland/Slice of Pi Quilts  https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
April 8 7pm EST Ebony Love https://www.facebook.com/LoveBugStudios/
April 8 8pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/


April 9

April 9 12pm EST
April 9 1pm EST Nancy Scott facebook.com/MasterpieceQApril 9 2pm EST Jayme Crow/Bella Nonna Design Studio
April 9 3pm EST
April 9 4pm EST Jen Frost https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndFabric/
April 9 5pm EST      Annie Smith https://www.facebook.com/anniesmithqs/

April 9 6pm EST Karen L. Miller / Redbird Quilt Co. https://www.facebook.com/RedbirdQuiltCo/
April 9 7pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio
April 9 8pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug's Cabin https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/

April 10

April 10  12pm  Sarah Maxwell https://www.facebook.com/DesignsSarahJMaxwell
April 10     1pm  Teresa Weaver www.facebook.com/yoursewingfriendApril 10     2pm  Karen Overton https://www.facebook.com/TheQuiltRambler

April 10  3pm Alison Stothard https://www.facebook.com/hexadoodlequilts

April 10     4pm

April 10  5pm Pat Sloan https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithPatSloan/ 

April 10  6pm Cherry Guidry https://www.facebook.com/CherryBlossomsQuiltingStudio

April 10  7pm Toni Smith/Quiltoni https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/

April 10     8pm Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/

Grieving with Gratitude - Finale

This is my last post under the title of Grieving with Gratitude.  I'll still blog occasionally, but sometimes it's time to move on.  This topic has been cathartic for me to be able to share my feelings.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm still grieving and  I am still grateful. 

When Don passed away, I received many, many cards in the mail and many, many e-mails with expressions of support, love and sympathy.  I appreciated every single one of them.

I treasured every one and still do.  I have kept them in a pile on my kitchen counter.  

I needed a way to store them, but so I could still see them - to be reminded of your support.

I came upon a tutorial for a fabric basket.  Aha!

Here's the tutorial: https://conniekresin.com/2014/12/fabric-baskets-tutorial.html

I made my basket from 2 -16" squares of my favorite Tula Pink fabric:

After looking through the cards and re-reading them, I tucked them into the basket and will be looking for the perfect spot for them.

Thanks you all for your love, support, patience and kindness.

And don't forget to watch for my newsletter on September 6.  I'll be having a storewide sale to celebrate my birthday!

Farm Sitting

I was so excited to spend the weekend tending to Loren & Roger's farm.  

They named the farm after us! Double (Don) Clover (Cheryl) and love. 

 Talk about a tear jerker moment.

They have been working hard to turn the fields into pasture and tending to the chickens, roosters, ducks and THREE pigs!  The pigs were the size of Bailey when Loren brought them home.  But now they are MUCH bigger.  Everyone gets along, even Bailey!

I just had to feed them in the morning, evening and tuck them in for the night.  I just wanted to make sure that nothing died on my watch.

I viewed the rest of the days as a Staycation.  I completed all my entries for my business bookkeeping.  I organized my contract binder and updated my schedule for my lectures and workshops thru 2020 on my website.  You can check it out HERE. And I ordered printed thank you postcards to include with all my Etsy orders.  That's something I have wanted to do for a couple of years.

I've been working on finding a source for pretty tweezers like these:

The company from which  I purchased the  striped tweezers went out of business.  Now that I am getting close to running out of tweezers to sell, I wish I had bought out the rest of their stock. So, I'm on the hunt for a new source.  What do you think?

I also have created a new Curvalicious top.  I'm calling it Curvalicious Mod.  Looking for someone to do a smashing job with that negative space.  

The month of August has been quiet.  The only travelling I have done is up to the Poconos.  So it's been a good time to be working on a really exciting project.  I can't share yet, but I will when I can.  I'm just hoping it will move forward.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

What Do These 3 Things Have in Common?

I had an amazing week.  What do these 3 things have in common?

KINDNESS!!

It is easy to be on the giving side of kindness, if we think about it.  Sometimes we don't even think about it.  But to receive kindness is sometimes hard.  I know it has been hard for me, but it makes my heart burst.  

Judy Veltidi, who has become a dear friend of mine, from the Warwick Quilt Guild gave me her extra umbrella, because I am never prepared when it's time to unload/load my car during my guild visits.  And there I have driven through a lot of rain this Spring.  Thank you Judy.  

The scraps of batiks arrived in the mail and what a lovely surprise.  Thank you to Kathy Nester, who was one of my first students in my "Design Your Own Mosaic".

And a heartfelt hug to Rita McLaughlin who sent me a wonderful book, but more importantly a note in which she shared her experience in losing her husband.  I gain so much strength from other women who have gone down this path before me.

So don't underestimate how uplifting one of your kind deeds can be.

Share some kindness.