Author Archive

Valentine’s Day Giveaway

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Giveaways, Quilt Lifestyle

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I begin my 60th year on earth. In other words, I turn 59. I hope you’ll celebrate with me by joining in the giveaway fun. I have a prize bundle for one lucky reader.

A little love quilt by Diane Harris, yet to be quilted. Click the image to get the free pattern with my compliments.

It includes a new product from the Fat Quarter Shop and It’s Sew Emma: The Sew Hot Iron Rest. This mint green silicone mat is big enough for most home irons at 7″ x almost 11″.

 

It withstands heat up to 500º F or 260ºC so you can leave your iron in the down position as you work. If you’re pressing a lot of patchwork (and who isn’t), it’s a timesaver.

And I think it would be especially great if you have hand, wrist or shoulder pain or limitations.

 

 

Along with the iron rest, I have the Jan/Feb issue of Quiltmaker (above) as well as the March/April issue (below).

 

And in case that isn’t enough inspiration, there is the Jan/Feb issue of McCall’s Quilting, too.

 

 

I support these titles because they support me, and often publish my designs. I appreciate that.

While you’re here, please sign up for my newsletter so you hear about all the important giveaways, and there’s going to be a big one in the next few months. This is a special year for me and I’m going to share the excitement!

To have a chance at today’s giveaway, leave a comment below before midnight on Sunday, Feb. 18. I’ll pick a winner on Monday, Feb. 19 and announce it here. Thank you for visiting Stash Bandit!

The winner of the giveaway is Lori “spalady” and I have emailed her. Thanks for your comments. Watch for another giveaway soon!

Get the free pattern for my little heart quilts!

Thoughts on Purple and Some Big Magic

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

I’ve been working on a new quilt design to add to the Windy Wonders trunk show. That program is booked for Omaha Quilters’ Guild next week and I want to give them lots of eye candy. I thought a few more quilts would be nice, and since my sketchbook is overflowing, it wasn’t hard to do.

I grew up near a little town called Battle Creek here in Nebraska. Our colors were purple and gold so I spent many days in those colors. 

My Quilt Dilemma

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

I’m making a quilt of my own design that will become part of two guild programs,* but it’s not going well. I’m undecided about what to do. I know what I should do but I’m unwilling to do it.

This is it. It’s actually prettier than it looks here even if it is giving me fits. The biggest problem is this:

How to Fix a Broken Quilt

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

Featured image, above: “She Knew He Possessed Hidden Depths” by Jennevieve Schlemmer
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I saw the most interesting photo on Instagram last week. The South Sound Modern Quilt Guild in Olympia, Washington posted this image from their show and tell, and I had to find out more.

I mean who wouldn’t be curious about the story of this quilt? Giant octopus arms on a traditional Nine Patch? There has got to be a story there. 

Small Bear, Big Story: Part 3

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

Today’s feature is a guest post by my friend Donna di Natale. She’s a quilter and author with Nebraska roots. After retiring from the medical field, Donna was an editor for Kansas City Star Quilts. She lives in Lenexa, Kansas and enjoys history, antiques and vintage quilt treasures.  

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

Part 3
by Donna di Natale

I have procrastinated writing the last part of this post, hoping for something more positive to write. As with a lot of research, you look and look and ponder and hope, all to no avail. 

 

 

 

My last entry ended on a note of hope. A number of the people whose names were on the bear had been located through online genealogy resources, and there was a logical reason for these people to be associated with Mormon temples.

Add Movement with Diagonal Lines

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Trunk Shows

My lifetime adventures with Baby Windmills have led to quite a few quilt designs. Some of them have been sewn and some are still only on paper.

Christmas Dance by Diane Harris. Photo: Kristen Laing Photography.

The first designs were just sewing blocks together using a particular color recipe. Nice little scrap quilts like Christmas Dance, above, but pretty simplistic.

Small Bear, Big Story: Part 2

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Quilt Lifestyle

Today’s feature is a guest post by my friend Donna di Natale. She’s a quilter and author with Nebraska roots. After retiring from the medical field, Donna was an editor for Kansas City Star Quilts. She lives in Lenexa, Kansas and enjoys history, antiques and vintage quilt treasures.  

Read Part 1 if you need to.

Part 2
by Donna di Natale

On a recent trip to Hamilton, Missouri, I brought home a red and white signature bear. Wanting to learn more about the bear, it was time to do a little research.

I enjoy research, especially genealogy. As with all research, you start with what you know. In this case, I knew the bear was purchased in Hamilton, Caldwell County, Missouri, and that is where I began. 

Christmas Figs Done Scrappy, Part 2

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

During the early fall and again after Thanksgiving, I’ve been piecing a scrappy version of Christmas Figs by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts, published by the Fat Quarter Shop.

Their quilt features the Christmas Figs fabric line by Fig Tree for Moda Fabrics. I had a fat quarter bundle of those fabrics that I’d purchased, and that’s what I used for the first few blocks. But I began to wonder if the blocks would be interesting enough with just those fabrics.