Posts Tagged ‘trunk shows’

Threads Across Nebraska: Quilts, shopping, fun!

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

If you’re in or near Nebraska, I hope you’ll join me at Threads Across Nebraska in Kearney Friday and Saturday.

I’m very excited to have 30 of my quilts on exhibit during this event, hosted by Nebraska State Quilt Guild. And I’ll have more quilts in my vendor booth, something that is new for me. I might be in over my head with the vending but I trust that people will give me grace as I learn how to do it.

I’ll be doing a “walk-and-talk” through my exhibit at least once each day, likely around 10 each morning.

This is a casual stroll past the quilts, chatting about the quilts and sharing some of their stories. I’m looking forward to this a lot. I realized yesterday that I’m not nervous about this because it will just feel like talking about quilts with my friends. Nothing comes more naturally to me!

My quilts hung at Maine Quilts in July, and it was interesting to watch people analyze, enjoy or be inspired!

I had to leave out a few quilts that I wish I could have included but they’ll be in my booth so I hope you will stop by to see them. I’ll have a bunch of stuff for sale:

Featherweight sewing machines, vintage quilts and tops, Stash Bandit scrap bags, curated fat quarter bundles and several patterns of my designs.

Raspberry Limeade, a new quilt, pattern coming soon.
Quilted by Julie Lecher.

I’m also running a special for quilt guilds to which I can drive: Book a trunk show for $425 ($100 off) and a class for $500 ($200 off) and pay only one-way mileage (50% off) when you book by October 15! 

If this sounds good, be sure to get in touch soon and we’ll find a date that works for both of us. My 2026 is filling up fast so please don’t delay. I’d love to visit your group!

Lingering Effects by Diane Harris, quilted by Julie Lechner

If you’re not close enough to attend Threads, I’m putting together some exciting things for 2026 and I can’t wait to tell you all about them. Until then, quilt on!


Houston heat, improv patchwork and a lizard

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

Last week I visited Quilt Guild of Greater Houston with a trunk show and workshop. It was a great trip with some adventure.

Spring is nearly over in that part of Texas and it was almost hot with high humidity. My hostess Elizabeth took me to Houston Botanical Garden where things are very much in progress, beautiful nonetheless.

Amaryllis in bloom

This cactus was so happy—it was covered in new growth.

Free week! What to do?!

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

I was supposed to spend the next eight days with my grandchildren in Washington. But life had other plans.

A nasty stomach virus is making its way through the family of two adults and four children.

We decided late last night that I should postpone my visit. While I’m bummed not to see them, there’s an up side:

I have a free week!! Oh my gosh, what a gift!!!

I’ve been brainstorming all night (when I should have been sleeping) about how to spend the time. Here are some of the things I want to do.

  • Make shortbread cookies (for the first time) using this recipe
  • Learn Cat Bordhi’s “magical knitting” and create a Moebius scarf
  • Clean up the studio
  • Finish writing a long overdue pattern
  • Prepare for Quilted! The Virtual Summit (happens Tuesday and Wednesday, don’t miss it!)
  • Finally sell my countertop compost maker (because I need more compost than it can make)
  • Try some new recipes; get the groceries needed
  • Walk, walk, walk (because we’ve been having warm weather for January in Nebraska)
  • Layer, baste and quilt one of the tops in my huge pile
  • Ready one top for the longarm quilter @beenquiltin
  • Make an appointment at Calico Cottage to rent their longarm

Make sure you don’t miss this event that starts tomorrow!

I’m giving a talk on bricks, which are one of my favorite shapes. There is so much you can do with them!

Click right here for your free ticket.

And here’s another brick quilt, just for fun.

Have a wonderful week!

New Talk: Build a Scrap Quilt Brick by Brick

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

You’re invited to an online presentation I’m giving soon:

Build a Scrap Quilt Brick by Brick, tickets $20 on Eventbrite

It happens live Sat Aug 24 but it will be recorded to watch at your convenience, too.

Brick Block baby quilt by Diane Harris, EQ rendering

If you attended the Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit and upgraded to the bundle, then a ticket to this talk is included. But if you didn’t and you’d like to come, you may purchase a ticket any time this week.

Just Bricks by Diane Harris

One of my interests is taking simple ideas and seeing how far I can run with them. I love designing quilts that feature just one patch, such as a brick.

In this talk, some of the things we’ll cover include:

  • What IS a brick
  • What sizes to cut
  • Many ways to use bricks for scrap quilts
  • The Brick Block
  • The L Block
  • The Frameup Block
  • The Windmill Block
  • Pictorial quilts with bricks
  • And more!
Basic Baby Windmills quilt by Diane Harris. Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

And the best part? I’m creating a handout that will show you how the bricks are arranged for many of these ideas! You can print it and have it at your fingertips as you begin your own journey with bricks. Normally, each quilt idea would be developed into a pattern for sale, which would retail for around $12. So if you get 10 ideas worth $12 each, that’s $120 worth of content that is included with your $20 ticket to the talk.

Trust me when I say that you’re going to get excited about making scrap quilts with bricks!

Get your ticket now and I’ll see you on Saturday. And remember, you can watch the recording if you can’t attend live. 😊

Home for Christmas is a brick quilt by Diane Harris.

If you’re new to Stash Bandit, welcome!

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

You’ll find lots of scrappy fun, tips, tricks and ideas for making diverse fabrics work together beautifully.

I’m Diane Harris and I think of myself as a scrap quilt specialist. I like to let the fabric do the work! My patchwork is usually simple. The way the fabrics play together is a little more complex, but totally achievable if you know a few tricks!

Star Silhouettes by Diane Harris
Quilting by Julie Lechner

Star Silhouettes is a simple design that packs a punch. It’s made from just one patch size and it features a little unit I call a StarQuar because it’s one-fourth of a basic star block.

It appeared on the cover of American Patchwork & Quilting’s August ’22 issue, and you can still get the pattern here.

Lingering Effects by Diane Harris
Quilting by Julie Lechner

I designed Lingering Effects in response to a rough patch I went through coming out of the pandemic. The idea behind the red crosses was “send help.” I almost gave up on that border but now I think it’s the most striking feature of the quilt. This design appeared on the cover of Quiltmaker’s Jan/Feb ’24 issue. You can get the pattern from the publisher here.

Scrap quilts to love: Ideas and fun by quilters!

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

There was a wealth of scrappy inspiration at the guilds I visited recently.

This quilt, made by Becki in Arlington, Texas, was one of my favorites. She worked with third graders after a guild friend hosted a similar project for her grandchildren.

Becki’s finished group quilt ready to gift

It exudes joy and I fell in love with it. Becki is on the left during show and tell at the Trinity Valley Quilters’ Guild meeting, where I shared One Hundred Small Quilts.

Becki observed that it was pretty easy to tell which blocks were made by girls and which ones were by the boys. I think that’s a fascinating part of human nature.

Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts on Zoom

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

I’m sharing my most popular trunk show Thursday evening, March 21 at 7 pm on Zoom and you’re invited to join me. Tickets are $15.

A guild here in Nebraska was badly snowed out recently. I’ve invited them to this trunk show on a complimentary basis, and I decided to offer tickets to others at the last minute.

Get your $15 ticket from Eventbrite by clicking here!

I’ll be sharing some of my best tips and tricks for making great scrappy quilts. Just above is Lingering Effects, which appeared on the cover of Quiltmaker Jan/Feb ’24. I think the border is what takes this quilt to the next level.

Asterisk, above, is a design by Karen Griska that I’ve been teaching with permission. It was quilted by Julie Lechner.

It is one of those designs you just can’t mess up. Any and all fabrics look terrific. There’s one secret to each block, and I’ll tell you what it is in Thursday night’s talk.

Row Your ‘Bow was a thoroughly entertaining quilt to plan and create. There is so much clash in these fabrics, and that’s what makes them sing! It was quilted by Julie Lechner. You can see this quilt in the 4200 series of Love of Quilting on PBS. It hasn’t aired in my area yet so if you’ve seen, it, you’re ahead of me!

There will be lots to see and many ideas to consider in the Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts trunk show. This is a great chance to kick back and enjoy it. Get a ticket now for just $15!

I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes,

Bask in winter warmth: Quilt Cruise Hawaii

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

It’s one of my favorite places, and you’re invited to join me there next January!

I’m beyond excited to extend a warm welcome to Quilt Bee at Sea: Hawaii 2025. Join me and World of Quilts Travel as we set sail on Holland America’s the Koningsdam Jan. 11 to 28, 2025.

Maui sunset, photo by Diane Harris

Of the places I’ve been, Hawaii is one of my all-time favorites. It is truly magical. And that’s why I’m so enthused about this trip! And when you add in all the fun times of quilting together, teaching and learning and making new friends, I can hardly stand it.

Maui blossom, photo by Diane Harris

And I’m a flower gardener, so the tropical varieties of the South Pacific are endlessly fascinating. There’s a new blossom everywhere you look.

Holland America’s the Koningsdam

Holland America has a great reputation, and the Koningsdam is one of its loveliest ships.

I will teach Log Jam on the Quilt Bee at Sea.

We’ll depart from San Diego and our days at sea will be for classes. Once we’re in Hawaii we’ll simply enjoy the islands. And while we cruise back home, we’ll learn in classes once again.

If you’d rather simply sit and sew – we have you covered with a dedicated sewing space just for you! Bring your UFOs and join our exclusive Quilt ’til You Wilt marathon group. You get to choose how you cruise! The other (amazing) instructors will be Debbie Maddy and Dana Woodard.

I will teach “StarQuar Scrap Quilts” on the Quilt Bee at Sea.

Quilt cruises are a wonderful opportunity to travel with quilting friends and to make new pals who share your passion. The camaraderie is second to none; many quilters develop lifelong friendships on similar cruises.

Sea turtles on Maui, photo by Diane Harris

Non-quilters are welcome, so consider bringing a companion or your family. There will be something for every interest on board and in port. There are no additional charges for non-quilters who travel along.

Too excited to keep reading? Go to the cruise page now!

Fascinating plant life is abundant. Photo by Diane Harris.

The 2024 cruise sold out quickly. Don’t wait too long to book—I don’t want to sail away without you!

Read reviews from past participants:

Click here to check it out on World of Quilts Travel today!

~ Aloha ~

When scrappy gets the best of you

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

I don’t always get scrappy quilts right. This week I got one really wrong.

I had time to sew over Christmas so I pulled out a UFO (UnFinished Object) with a Christmas theme: Tannenbaum by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

Where I began with this quilt UFO

There are 10 elements making up the Christmas tree, and I had three done. But it’s not a large quilt so it seemed doable, especially since it was snowing and blowing and I’d not be venturing out soon.

I opted for rickrack handles on the baskets (which led to a half day of reorganizing my rickrack collection) and that went pretty well.

I’d had the good sense to buy pre-cut applique shapes with the fusible web already added. I think they’re worth the money.

I made steady progress and was feeling confident. My reds and greens were just scrappy enough. My plan was to go scrappy with the backgrounds too, which looks fine in the rows.

But when I started adding the backgrounds, everything took a nosedive. Do you see how the backgrounds don’t really blend together? It appears to have columns on the sides. The floral backgrounds don’t blend in at all. The tree doesn’t stand out nicely from the background either.

You might wonder why I didn’t stop right there. Good question.

I didn’t want to unsew and lose the progress I’d made. The finish line was in sight. Surely I could salvage it! I bulldozed forward.

I decided that for the tree to show up, I’d need to outline the sections. Rickrack would be the solution. I toyed with using several colors of green (above) but decided on just one deep shade.

This is where it currently stands. I don’t think it works.

So what went wrong?

  • I didn’t make the backgrounds in the piecing lighter than the backgrounds for the tree. See how that works in the pattern image, below?
This is the image from the quilt pattern cover.
  • The backgrounds should have all been more similar.
  • They should have been placed randomly instead of symmetrically.
  • I should have stopped sooner, as soon as I realized it wasn’t working.

What are my options at this point? I could:

  • Leave it unfinished and chalk it up to lessons learned.
  • Put it on my guild’s garage sale in February.
  • Take it apart and fix it.
  • Add an interesting border to distract from the center.

I don’t love any of these options and right now I’m just really unhappy about the whole debacle. What would you do? Please leave me a comment.

On the plus side, a valuable takeaway for me as a teacher is this:

Doing scrappy well is not easy, and I will keep learning about it for as long as I make quilts. It’s even harder if you have never tried it or you’re not confident that you can do it.

If this experience makes me a better teacher, more patient and more compassionate toward quilters who struggle with scrappy, then it’s a win. Because now I know for certain that no matter how many scrappy quilts you’ve made…

Scrappy can go crappy in a hurry.
And there’s not always an easy fix.

Quilt on,

You might like these posts:

My favorite little quilt block pattern (free!)

Understanding Stitch Length

Pumpkins on Parade in APQ

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

Today I’m happy to introduce a new quilt design, Pumpkins on Parade, which appears in the Sept/Oct issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.

Pumpkins on Parade by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit.
Quilted by Julie Lechner @beenquiltin

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2023 Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved.

This issue is on newsstands now and there are lots of great quilts inside. I love the cover quilt by Joanna Figueroa. Get a digital issue instantly right here.

A few years back I had the idea of putting an object at the intersection of an Irish Chain-type of block, and I fleshed it out in this new design.