Posts Tagged ‘fabric’

Have you heard the one about…

Written by Diane Harris on April 11, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

Have you heard the one about the couple who decides to retire for the night?

It goes something like this. The man turns off the TV, brushes his teeth and goes to bed. The woman picks up some toys and notices dishes in the sink, so she sticks them in the dishwasher and wipes down the counters, and as puts the dishtowels in the laundry, remembers she forgot to switch out the washer and dryer, so she does that.

And that reminds her that her daughter needs a clean uniform for tomorrow’s soccer game, so she starts another load, which reminds her that her friend wanted to know about that new detergent she liked so she sends a text with the info.

I forgot to remember.

Written by Diane Harris on March 8, 2022. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

While I was traveling last month, a book arrived in the mail. According to the invoice, I ordered it while I was away from home.

It’s a great book full of intriguing quilts.

But I don’t remember why I bought it.

I keep paging through as if that will remind me but so far, no luck.

Then there are these strips, about 500 of them, cut 1-1/4″ x 4-1/2″.

They’re all stacked neatly together as if for a project. But I have no recollection of what it was. A few of the strips are narrower and a few are shorter. Was I just careless or was there a reason?

No idea.

And then I have these brand-new rolls of 2-1/2″ strips from Robert Kaufman. Why did I buy them?

One is greys and grids by Carolyn Friedlander and the other is beautiful neutral solids.

They really are lovely but I have no hint of what I planned to make with them.

Do any of these look familiar to you? Maybe someone else will recognize what I cannot recall. 😳

Quilt on,

Sunday Sew-In Sept. 19

Written by Diane Harris on September 13, 2021. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone, Quilt Lifestyle

I’ve scheduled another Sunday Sew-In for next week on Sept. 19 and I’d love to have you join me.

This is a time to sew together, get inspired by a new scrappy block pattern and make some new friends!

I hosted a Sunday Sew-In in June and it was an experiment but I enjoyed it and others seemed to enjoy it, so this time I have a better idea of how to do it.

I’m in! Take me to the tickets ($5) on Eventbrite.

Giveaway #5 at Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on April 3, 2021. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, Quilt Lifestyle

We’re up to the fifth giveaway of 10. I’m going to try and get all the rest of the giveaways posted within the next 10 days so stop back often to leave your comments on all of them for a chance to win.

Today’s giveaway features a variety of really cool stuff! The Fat Quarter Shop is one of my favorite businesses and I’m a big fan of their products of all kinds. A while back they purchased the Triangles on a Roll business and it’s a marriage made in heaven!

Day 2 Giveaway: Fabric!

Written by Diane Harris on February 22, 2021. Posted in Blog, Complimentary, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration

Stash Bandit is celebrating with 10 days of giveaways and this is Day 2!

I recently finished piecing a throw-size version of a quilt called Maisy Daisy, which I ran across in a back issue of McCall’s Quilting. Its scrappy deliciousness called to me.

Maisy Daisy, designed by Maho Schwartz, made by Diane Harris

Then I made the exciting discovery that McCall’s put the pattern online at no charge, so if you like it, be sure to grab it here.

The quilt was designed by Maho Schwartz. I made just 12 blocks but the original has more. Totally up to you!

Modern by the Yard

Written by Diane Harris on February 5, 2021. Posted in How-tos and Ideas

Fabric Fun with Benartex

A while back Lisa Ruble with Benartex got in touch and asked if I’d like to take part in a feature in their ezine, Modern by the Yard. I said yes!

If you haven’t discovered Modern by the Yard, this is your invitation. It’s full of inspiration in the form of new fabrics and complimentary quilt patterns. What’s not to love?!

Prismatic Shadows by Jen Shaffer, complimentary pattern in
Modern by the Yard ezine from Benartex

If you don’t think of yourself as a modern quilter, not to worry. There are plenty of projects with broad appeal, like Prismatic Shadows by Jen Shaffer, above.

Look at some of the fabric lines featured, like Crescendo by Amanda Murphy, above. Isn’t it pretty? I think the lines between modern and traditional or any other type of quilter and quilt practice are becoming less distinct.

I’m a fan of Radiant Paisley, above. Won’t that make a great fall quilt?

My part in Modern by the Yard was to curate a fabric bundle from current Benartex, Kanvas and Contempo collections. It was great fun!

Three “modern quilters” took on this task and our selections became the Mix & Match feature. I named my group (bottom right in the photo above) Merry Merry Mod, because I envision making a Christmas quilt from it.

It’s what you might call an alternative holiday palette, but I love it! And yes, I’m dreaming up Christmas quilts because I do that all year. I want to add to my Jingle Bells Trunk Show all the time to keep it fresh!

Connections by Charisma Horton in fabrics by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo.

My favorite quilt design in this issue is by Charisma Horton and is called Connections. Those colorful triangles in a sea of white are so peppy! The fabrics are from the Good Vibes line by Christa Watson of Christa Quilts.

Good Vibes by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo

I found some of these at my local quilt shop and let me tell you, the hand is fabulous!

Oh! Did you know…

The way that a fabric feels to the touch is called its “hand.” And these Good Vibes prints have a luxurious, silky, drapey hand that I love. They’re a pleasure to sew.

I enjoyed being part of Mix & Match and I hope you’ll check out Modern by the Yard soon!

Here are links related to today’s post:

Modern by the Yard Issue 15

Benartex homepage

Christa Quilts Homepage

Good Vibes fabric for sale from Christa Quilts

Charisma’s Corner

Subscribe to my occasional newsletter so you never miss a beat!

From Craftsy to Bluprint to “It Was Good While It Lasted”

Written by Diane Harris on May 23, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

Yesterday, online learning platform Bluprint, formerly Craftsy, sent an email to instructors saying the company would be closing over the next few months. This was at once surprising and completely unsurprising.

When Craftsy began about 10 years ago (because a guy received a quilt from his aunt), the quilters I knew loved it. It provided something new in the form of online learning, and it was well done. You could interact with the instructors, get answers to your questions, post your progress and make friends with others in your classes. It was amazing.

A Nice Surprise at Quilt Guild

Written by Diane Harris on February 17, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

My favorite night of the quilt guild’s year is the garage sale, hands down. There are always things to be shared and treasures to be found. My small guild in Holdrege, Nebraska had a garage sale in January. I tried hard to find interesting things in my studio that I no longer needed to benefit the group in a small way.

I recreated this image and it doesn’t do justice to the hundreds of 1-1/2″ strips I had on hand. The strips were passed to me from a co-worker (I think) at Quiltmaker quite a few years ago. They were of every persuasion and they weren’t terribly appealing. I knew they wouldn’t do well just stuffed in a bag but I had an idea.

Textile Mills in Lowell, Mass and a New Quilting Friend

Written by Diane Harris on November 8, 2019. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

I’d never been to New Hampshire until this week, and only to Massachusetts once. It surprised me to hear locals call it “Mass,” as if Massachusetts is just too much of a mouthful.

Michelle of Little Pup Designs picked me up at the airport on behalf of the Hannah Dustin Quilt Guild in Hudson, NH.

Being from the Great Plains, I’ve sometimes been led to believe that New England folks are cold and aloof. But I haven’t found that to be true. When your hostess hails you at the airport holding a nearly life-size logo for your little quilting business, you know it’s going to be a good week.

When We Don’t Live Long Enough…

Written by Diane Harris on December 12, 2018. Posted in Blog, Quilt Lifestyle

I have been trying to write this post for a week. I can’t put my finger on what it is I want to say.

The family of a recently deceased guild member invited us into her home last week to shop her fabric stash. Two dollars a pound. I keep trying to find words for how this made me feel. I don’t seem to have the words.