Let it Snow

Happy New Year!!
The holidays are great fun, we really enjoyed spending time with family and friends. We loved eating and staying up too late, watching movies and giving gifts. Sadly it is time to get back to a routine and some resemblance of bedtime, well that part I am looking forward to. So as promised last month here is 'Let it Snow' This is a wonderful and wonderfully easy applique banner made from cotton and wool felt appliques. Start with a solid fabric top, no piecing here, stitch your appliques in place, sandwich with batting and in our case the same fabric for backing. Then some quick machine quilting, I tried a new continuous line pattern, so much fun, some binding and your done. It was really fun to design and put together. We hope you enjoy and let us know if you have any questions and what you think. Happy Quilting, Darcy

'Tis the Season

What a wonderful and wonderfully busy time of the year. Our lives have been complicated due to some personal health concerns but with this added tension comes the perspective of what really matters. So we are focused on our children and extended family and a little less on the hustle and bustle of shopping and those things. We have hosted a great Christmas and Baby party so we are now looking forward to a great family night of wrapping presents, some home made and all to be given with love. An unexpected stay in the hospital has delayed the addition of a great winter banner, 'Let it Snow' to our pattern line but in the New Year I will add it, unfortunately here in Canada and in many other places there will be enough winter left to still "enjoy" its sentiments. From our family to yours may you find joy, peace and His love at this wonderful time of the year. Merry Christmas.

Fall Leaves Table Runner and Pre-Christmas Fun

Things are good and lots of fun, my 26 month old is so very busy learning to say new words every day, our dog's name this last week. The newborn is somehow 4 months old and technically not so new born anymore, she is wonderful and holds her head by herself. We have had family weddings, family reunions and mini vacations in the last few months, with many memories made. I have been busy teaching classes, designing and sewing new patterns and with Christmas around the corner I am looking forward to the months ahead. The table runner pattern shown with the Fall Leaves and Acorn Applique Pattern is ready. It is a lot of fun, the seams are straightforward and create an interesting and easy home decor project. We are always being inspired and designing, updating the web site and I enjoy my posts here, just about monthly. We love your comments and feedback as we move forward, if there is a pattern or project you would like to suggest please let us know. I love talking quilts and sewing, send me an email! Happy Quilting

Putting it all Together

Well three months can go by faster than you want. Things are busy and wonderful. Our children are truly a miracle and so much fun. I have been able to put some things together amid my new family of four.

The foundation quilt pattern for Easter Delight can be found here. This quilt pattern works up very quickly and is quite fun to put together. I like it because I know that the appliqués will be the focus and who am I kidding, straight seams are always easier :) You can adjust any number of the design elements, larger boxes or sashing for example to accommodate your appliqué. This quilt pattern is great for any appliqué project, center your designs within the nine squares or arrange your designs to off set the openings and 'think out side the box' as it were.

My Scrappy Irish Chain class went very well in September, we have even had a follow-up get together in early October. My personal project is coming together nicely and Emi's quilt top will hopefully be ready for Christmas. You can see the original quilt I made in tones of pink in the background and in my hands is the current project in shades of teal and chocolate It was great to work with some great ladies as I taught this quilt pattern for the first time. I love the fusible interfacing appliqué technique we used and I think the participants appreciated the time they saved as they appliquéd. I will post further pictures as the top is finished and I have the quilting completed.

There are several new patterns in the works, a great fall leaves and acorn pattern that I am completing the table runner example for today, hopefully. I am trying to echo quilt it and the learning curve is a little steep. All in good fun, Happy Quilting

Birthdays and Appliques

What a weekend, second birthday parties are a lot of fun and a lot of work. The party went great and we all had a so much fun. Thank you to all our friends and family for taking the time to share and play with us.
So I have been at my machine just tying up some loose ends, I have nearly finished quilting a lap quilt I started at least five years ago. I have finished some receiving blankets for a new niece or nephew due in April and I have made some example blocks for a quilt class coming up in mid September. I am quite excited to have the opportunity to teach the quilting class. I have adapted a Scrappy Irish Chain pattern I found years ago, my appliqué block is completed with fusible interfacing rather than the needle turn method as described. I find it is easier, more accurate and saves my fingers from the tip of my iron. Ouch is all I have to say. The night should be a lot of fun, I will take some pictures and recap how things go. Happy quilting, Darcy

Our family of Four

New addition to our family, Emilee Mae was born July 8, 2008. She arrived two weeks ahead of her due date with only minor complications, all is well now and we are loving having her here. Things are very busy and not much sleep seems like normal already. There are projects on the go and we are planning and desiging some great patterns so keep watching in the next few months as things settle out in my house and I have the opportunity to put my thoughts to paper and then fabric. Thank you to all those who have helped support my family in the past weeks and months to come.

Easter Delight is Finished

As with most things, it is

worth the wait.

Anna is getting so big, although in this picture she is only five months old. Speaking of getting big, so is my baby belly. The three of us, and Dad when he can, are hiding out from the summer heat in our basement, in Grandma's pool or at the lake. Little Emilee should be here soon so I am trying to get things tided up before I get to blissfully busy to care!!!!


I say that I can put my sewing down but even with Anna there was always a project on the go. Two little girls might just be enough, no who am I kidding, there are rooms to decorate and scrapbooks to finish, to much fun.


Anyways its done!!! Anna's Easter quilt, Easter Delight. I am quite happy with how it turned out. It is an original design, the appliques are fleece and wool felt and the quilt top is cotton. It is machine quilted, that is one of my favorite things to do, I was able to quilt it one afternoon as Anna had one of her marathon naps. The pattern is available at The Pattern Place web site. You can download the bunnies separately for now or the complete pattern; bunnies and flowers together. I am working on the pattern and written instructions for the quilt top, it will be available here on The Pattern Place blog when finished. I have so many things to look forward to, a new little baby added to an already wonderful little family is so exciting. I am thankful and grateful for all the wonderful blessings in my life. Happy Quilting