The Creative Mind

Written by Diane Harris on December 20, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

For better or worse, I am right-brained.

Most of the time I am grateful for it. Being right-brained generally suggests you’re creative, artistic and imaginative. These are good qualities for a quilter!

For me, being right-brained also means that I’m not analytical or methodical. I don’t think in a straight line—I think in circles. Today has been a day where my brain full of ideas, plans and possibilities has nearly derailed me. The long and the short of it is this: I booked a flight to Seattle for Christmas, and I got the day wrong.

When I went to check in at 6:30 this morning for tomorrow’s 6:30 flight, I did a double take. The flight was TODAY.

Let me cut to the chase and tell you that eventually I was able to get on tomorrow’s flights and it turned out all right. But for a few hours, I was really sweating.

I keep asking myself, “How did this happen?!”

There are a couple of possibilities and it was probably the perfect storm of these factors:

• Stress
• One new carrier in Kearney
• One change of plans
• One missed email
• Two family members who thought I was flying on Tuesday but didn’t ask

In the end it will cost me between four and eight hundred dollars for this mistake. That’s painful. But I’m also incredibly grateful that I was able to rebook and that my husband was ever so nice about my error. (He is staying here to host his daughter and her family over the long weekend.) It probably helped that today is our wedding anniversary.

I’ll leave you with some Christmas quilt images. I can’t get enough of sewing for Christmas!

I was going to make Christmas pillowcases for my grandchildren but I ran out of time. The idea will keep until next year.

We are expecting extreme winter weather Wednesday night into Thursday. The temps will be frigid and the winds will howl.

Wherever you are, stay safe and warm.

And double check your tickets.

Quilt on,

P.S. On a related note, I think your creativity is directly tied to how many times a day you lose your phone. Who’s with me?

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Three Wise Men and One Quilter

Written by Diane Harris on December 15, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Today’s post falls under true confessions.

I’m a thrifter. I like garage sales and flea markets and thrift stores. I visit them when I travel and here at home. I adore a good bargain and I love a treasure hunt. (That’s not the confession.)

When I visited my daughter in Seattle recently, I headed to the Goodwill one rainy afternoon. And just about the first thing I spied was a set of three giant wise men by Jim Shore.

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Best Books for Scrappy Quilts

Written by Diane Harris on December 12, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I have a lovely surprise for you today!

Martingale is one of the leading book publishers in our industry and they’re having a BIG sale. Many books are priced at just $8. This includes titles released very recently, and this price is way below the wholesale price for books. Depending on the original price of a book, sometimes it’s more than 70% off.

Here are my recommendations for the best books featuring scrappy quilts. I’ve learned a lot by studying scrappy quilts made by others and I think you could, too.

Where else can you get 44 scrap quilt patterns for $10? This is an absolute steal. Find it here.

I love LOVE the quilts in this book: Fresh Start Quilts. This title comes from the Iowa gals Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene collectively known as Country Threads.

Isn’t that cover quilt just beautiful?! The book is on sale for $8, down from $26.99. Find it here.

Kim Brackett has written most of my all-time favorite scrappy quilt books, and her latest one ranks up with the rest.

Scrap-Basket Knockouts delivers a punch and I wonder how Kim keeps a full-time day job AND continues to put out these dynamite designs. She’s my scrap quilt idol. Find the book for just $8 here.

A couple of others that are well worth owning at any price are 99 Machine Quilting Designs by Christa Watson…which is $8 on sale.

And Feed Sacks by Linzee Kull McCray—so many wonderful pictures and a wealth of information if you like historical fabrics as I do.

I’ve only had my copy for a few months but it’s dog-eared already! Marked down to $8 from $29.99. Get it here.

You should know that these are not affiliate links and I’m not making money off your purchases. I just think it’s a great opportunity to get some helpful resources on scrappy quilts and other topics. See the entire sale right here: ShopMartingale.com

Quilt on,

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Christmas Cheer in QUILTS!

Written by Diane Harris on December 9, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

Would you like to enjoy some holiday quilts?

Could you use an hour to yourself? Let me wash your Christmas cares away with the

JINGLE BELLS TRUNK SHOW on Zoom.

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2022, 7 pm Central

The trunk show will be recorded so that if you can’t attend live, you may watch it later at your convenience for up to a week.

Tickets are $20 right here. Get yours now!

There are all kinds of quilts to see. Quick and easy quilts, more challenging quilts, and quite a few in between.

There are wonky quilts and traditional quilts. Big quilts and small quilts.

There’s a little something for everyone. You’ll get a sneak peek of upcoming holiday quilts, too. You’ll have a front row seat because that’s how Zoom works. Everyone sees everything perfectly. It’s a wonderful invention and I consider it the silver lining of the pandemic.

Tickets are $20 and they’re worth every penny.

Get your ticket now!

I can’t wait to see you!

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Made by Hand vs Made by Machine

Written by Diane Harris on December 1, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I read obituaries—whether I knew the deceased or not. I think they’re fascinating.

Recently there was an obituary in a local daily and it started me thinking. I’ve mulled this over at length. Here’s what caught my eye:

You have to assume that this quilter’s family wrote the obituary. What I found interesting was how they seem to suggest that sewing and quilting by hand are superior to work done by machine.

This idea isn’t new.

But I was surprised to realize that it still exists at all. For those of us in the quilting world, the “hand versus machine” debate seems to have died long ago. We know there are masterpieces in all of the realms.

The first person who comes to mind is Hollis Chatelain. Her quilts will take your breath away. I can’t begin to describe these quilts, because anything I say will fall short.

Hollis is an internationally recognized and award-winning artist whose work addresses challenging social and environmental themes. You can see much more of her work on her website: hollisart.com. I’d encourage you to visit—it’s inspiring!

In contrast, I looked up the recent winners in the Hand Quilting/Handmade category at International Quilt Festival’s Judged Show in Houston. You can usually count on at least one of the winners in this group being from Japan.

Sure enough, first place went to Isako Wada from Tomiya-City, Miyagi, Japan for “In the square where the refreshing breeze is blowing.” I have to think the name of this quilt was less cumbersome in Japanese, but here is some of its story.

Here’s a detail shot by Jenny K. Lyon.

I could cite more examples of masterpieces made by hand, and many more made by machine, but I think you understand my point: These quilts are exquisite in every way, no matter how you slice it.

It almost doesn’t matter how they were made.

I know that the obituary writer wasn’t talking about these kinds of masterpiece quilts. This maker’s work was likely similar to the kind of quilts you and I produce: everyday and commonplace, created to warm, both physically and emotionally, someone we love. So here’s the bottom line:

However you make quilts, keep on making!

Best wishes,

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Open to all: Jingle Bells Trunk Show

Written by Diane Harris on November 19, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

Let’s Zoom: Thurs eve Dec 1, Christmas quilts galore!

I’m really excited to be sharing the Jingle Bells Trunk Show on Zoom. Lots and lots of Christmas quilts for you to just sit back and enjoy from the comfort of home. This presentation is open to all and tickets are on sale now.

Everyone has a front row seat and there are plenty of detail shots. Since I sew mostly scrappy quilts, I’ll share my ideas about what makes each quilt work (or sometimes not work). If you enjoy scrap quilts, there will be some great takeaways.

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So close and yet so far

Written by Diane Harris on November 3, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Magazines, Quilt Lifestyle

I was really excited a few weeks back to add the last few border strips to my Daydream sampler quilt in scrappy Christmas colors. I started this project when I was freelancing for Quilter’s World a couple of years back.

Below is designer Carolyn Beam’s original Daydream in Moda fabrics by Corey Yoder.

I wanted a more scrappy look and I had several yards of this great candy cane print.

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Last minute spots in Tango

Written by Diane Harris on October 3, 2022. Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone, Quilt Lifestyle

If you’re free on Friday, Oct 7, there are spots available in a Tango workshop I’m teaching online.

I teach this one infrequently so it’s a nice opportunity if you want to make a quilt that’s fast, easy and attractive. You can see the supply list here.

This quilt looks great in any fabrics or color recipe you can dream up. My students have done amazing things with it!

Your background can be dark or light—it looks great either way.

Not only will you learn to make this quilt design, we’ll talk a lot about color and contrast, value and scale, texture, mood and more. I love unlocking the secrets to these ideas for quilters!

As you can see, there are myriad options for color choices. I am going to start a new Tango this week in Figo Fabrics that I got at Mangelsen’s in Omaha recently. They are delicious.

This is my original Tango in bright, happy colors on white. I still love this quilt. Okay, here are the details of Friday’s class:

Time: 9:30 to 4:30 Eastern
Place: Zoom
Tickets: $65 (click here to register)
Experience: Priceless 😊

Thank you for reading! If you’ve taken Tango already, feel free to leave a comment with your feedback. Much appreciated!

Quilt on,

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Numbers, numbers

Written by Diane Harris on October 1, 2022. Posted in Blog, Inspiration, Magazines, Quilt Lifestyle

I started quilting when I was 24 and expecting my first child. It was 1984.

There happens to be a well-known piece of literature entitled 1984, by the way. Maybe that vintage book cover will help you think back.

I’m inviting you to remember how quilting used to be.

When I started quilting, I didn’t belong to a quilt guild because there weren’t any nearby. I subscribed to only one quilting magazine because the others on the newsstand were questionable—the lines around the templates were very fat, and even I knew that those were problematic.

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Old patterns = old friends

Written by Diane Harris on September 27, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I’ve been sorting through piles of quilt patterns and more.

Some were purchased, others were pulled from magazines or outdated books. There are articles and ideas galore.

I go through the piles every few years in order to make room for other things. I’ve been making quilts and saving quilt-related “stuff” for almost 40 years.

Some patterns have consistently made the cut. Although I may have had something for a few decades, I’m still interested in making it should the opportunity arise. And who’s to say it won’t? Remember when we were suddenly locked up tight in 2020?

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