Morning Madness--Its coming!

Psst . . . Pass it on. Picket Fence Fabrics is making room for lots of new fabrics in 2011! To accomplish this we are holding our Morning Madness Sale on Saturday, January 29 (last year it was in February). Sale starts at 8:00 a.m. Every fabric, book,pattern and notion will be on sale. Early Bird Specials include 40% on total purchase (some restrictions apply) and the best selection of the "Buy One getTwo free" bolts.

More details here and in the shop in the coming weeks.

Start making a list!

2011 My List of Lists

For me, a new year always begins with a day (or three) of sorting through my stash and planning a few quilts for gift-giving throughout the year. I do this to take stock of what I have and make a shopping list of fabrics and supplies I should be on the lookout for. This year was no exception.

This nesting/cleaning frenzy ends with lists of the quilts I want to finish last week, lists of fabrics and supplies I need, lists of quilts not finished last year that were supposed to be gifts. . . This year I organized the lists by month. I like lists—I could save my lists to make an art quilt! I usually lose the lists within hours of their creation! This year I made these lists on my new phone—there is an app for that you know! Still figuring that out. Heaven help me if I lose the phone!

So, from all the sorting and lists I plan to make, or at least start, a few scrap quilts. More on these quilts when I get through cutting but for now they are sorted and resting comfortably in their new stackable storage boxes. Scrap quilts aside, a few smaller things I wanted to finish got done .I did finish a few little things in the first week of this new year and thought it might provide some momentum to continue working through my lists. Wish me luck. I will post a list or two when I figure out how to get if from my phone.

So here are pics of a few projects completed! Only one was on a list.For now back to the machine on my day off!

Calendar Blocks from the new book Count on It from Art to Heart are a great small project. My numbers are a work in progress. For the Pumpkin I used a pattern by Happy Hollow Designs but instead of using men's neckties as they suggested I strip-pieced the fabrics.


Jennifer

Fantasy Flowers Instructions

Margaret Patty Angie and Mary can't wait to get started on their quilt so here is a jpeg of the pattern

A pdf of this, along with pictures will be posted shortly on the website and linked to the blog

A New Mystery Quilt from my Cupboard

While cleaning out my stash cupboard for the new mystery quilt I have been working on, I was reflecting on recent visits from my sons.

Whenever my oldest son came home from university he would point out the dated salad dressings and condiments in the refrigerator. We had to point out that we don't use these things as much now that the boys are all away from home.
Now, before my oldest comes home to visit, I check the "best before" dates on everything in the refrigerator and cupboards so as not to get him thinking his parents are losing it and he should be making plans for them.

I was determined to use up fabric from my stash for a new mystery quilt and realized that fabric probably has a "best before" date too, although it probably won't do as much damage as the old food in the refrigerator. This is a common theme we hear at the shop--"I have more fabric than I will ever use" This quilt is a great way to use some of those wonderful "mature" fat quarters taking up space in the cupboard that have passed the "best before" date.

Watch this space for details about this quilt. It is big and easy and a bit like a seven layer dip but without the calories! Now to come up with a name.

Fantasy Flowers Shop Hop Kit Quilt

The lucky winner of the June Shop Hop quilt top is Kelly Dillabough. Congratulations to Kelly. Thanks to everyone who purchased a kit from Picket Fence Fabrics. We look forward to seeing your finished quilts from the Freckles fabric at next year's Shop Hop.

Fantasy Flowers are what I saw when I started making the quilt for the annual June Shop Hop.
Simple instructions are available here. A picture of the Fantasy Flowers quilt is available here. The KaleidoRuler by Marti Michell makes easy work of the cutting for this quilt. If you use the paper pattern, check your printer settings are NOT set for print to fit. This setting may reduce the size of the template.

Start by following the cutting instructions. On a design wall or flannel sheet layout the fabric wedges in a pleasing layout.or follow the layout of the completed quilt. This is a quilt you can play with colour placement. I want to try it again in batiks just for the challenge of placing colours. The techniques I used to make the kaleidoscope flowers are in the attached images. Refer to these before construction of your blocks and you should have no problem with the blocks fitting together.

I look forward to seeing your completed quilts. If you did not participate in the shop hop and would like to order a fabric kit for this quilt please contact the shop by phone, or by email.

Thanks

Jennifer

Spring Day Trippers --BoM BoM BoM

Along with the great weather we have been experiencing we have been catching up with favourite quilting friends, lured out by the sunny skies for a day trip to Brockville. The visits started with annual Poker Run Shop Hop, which brought everyone out from winter hibernation. We love seeing the projects you have been working on this winter! This weekend a visit from the season's first cottager returning to their island cottages was a sure sign that summer is on its way!

We have new samples, kits and fabric to share with our summer friends. Our American Beauty Block of the Month still has a few spaces left.

Another Block of the Month, this one appliqued, is now kitted and ready to go. This angelic block is just one of the twelve in a series. Try just one, or all twelve in a lap quilt. This a perfect BoM for a summer of applique at the cottage.

Green and Purple scrap quilt

This green and purple scrap quilt is making a dent in my scrap pile. I cut a few rectangles every time I am in the sewing room, even taking a few minutes to cut while I am waiting for the iron to heat up to press my husband's shirts!

For each block you need 8 rectangles measuring 2 1/2" X 4 1/2". Sew together in pairs and then sew pairs into a four patch. Press seams in clockwise direction on the back , then all seams will nest together when sewing rows. This makes a great woven quilt.

When I have a few minutes to sew I make a block or two. Here are the results. The block in the bottom centre of the image shows the layout of the block.

I will post an image of the rows as they are assembled.