The thing was, I didn’t enjoy the process of sewing words for the quilt. Eventually I shelved the unsatisfying project and designed a new quilt that tapped into my craving for scrappy patchwork. That is how Pas de Deux BOM was born - a complete joy to make and a business success.

But what to do with my patchwork selfie remnants? Eventually, I joined them like so, trying to motivate myself to finish the quilt in some form. Still, it wasn’t to be. The project gave off a negative energy. Nothing about it sparked joy.

This week I’ve pulled out the flimsy with the idea of breaking it up for usable parts. I guess it has sat long enough in this form that I am ready to cut my losses and salvage what I can.

I have other orphan blocks, of course. During my move I was confronted with them as one is confronted by all their excess baggage at such a time. Hmmm… what if I make a new quilt combining elements of the patchwork selfie with misc. orphan blocks. Could I create an orphan medley?

I go through my orphan blocks with an eye to color. All the elements that might work with the colors of the patchwork selfie project are spread out here on my cutting mat. To the left is a stack of brighter, cleaner orphan elements, which I will save for a future project.

Now I am ripping seams in my patchwork selfie to separate the elements into smaller parts. I’m removing some of the embroidery and allowing myself to reject bits that irritate. It feels good.

Meanwhile I am beginning to create patchwork pictures with my orphan blocks. It feels good to challenge myself, to set out without any idea where this project will go.

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Unicorn quilt by Esthernath

I was delighted when Esthernath contacted me about quilting projects for her girls. Girly quilts are some of favs. And this time I was promised unicorns!

Oh my! What a dreamy quilt, right down to the rainbow manes. Estherneth sewed Elizabeth Hartman’s Lisa the Unicorn on a soft gray background with starry horns and a pink, starry backing.

She wanted the project finished with star quilting, but none of the patterns that I already had seemed right for her project. I was excited when I found this Shooting Star quilting motif and happy when she agreed it was perfect.

We are both thrilled with how it came out! Anyone else need unicorns quilted?

Penguin quilt by Esthernath

Next up was a penguin quilt, pattern also by Elizabeth Hartman.

Simply adorable, don’t you think?

There are also stars involved here, so we consider the shooting star quilting motif, but I’m glad that we opted for this angular Prismatic quilting instead. It reminds me vaguely of broken ice and differentiates the quilt a bit more from her sister’s.

Sawtooth Star quilt by Julia P.

I think that the last quilt I finished at my old home was this classic sawtooth star by Julia.

I remember at the time feeling sad to be leaving behind my dedicated studio space and worried about how life at the apartment would shake out. How nice to find that I can look at this photo now without sadness. Things have settled into place very well.

Back to Julia’s quilt. I never tire of sawtooth stars, and at this scale, I find them especially cute.

Julia’s idea for orange peel quilting was spot on. The soft curves add a cozy feeling to the beautiful star shapes.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Little Fabric Shop

In keeping with today’s unicorn and stars theme, have you seen the Mystic Fable collection by Alexia Marcelle Abegg? It’s a pocket full of rainbows and magic for your patchwork pleasure! In stock now at Little Fabric Shop.

Yellow Unicorn Love by Katrin U.

And now, the very first quilt that I quilted in the apartment….

Yeah! This stunner was made by my friend Katrin, the very same angel who spent a few days with me after my move helping me paint the apartment. I have named her quilt (unofficially) Yellow Unicorn Love because it combines one of my favorite colors with unicorns. Clearly this was love at first sight for me and a delight to quilt.

Katrin opted for Pineapple Skin quilting. Wow, it adds such a delicious, modern texture!

And the pretty backing is also not to be missed.

The scattered unicorns are pieced in as part of the low volume patchwork elements, with the exception of this very special appliqué addition. Yes, that’s a unicorn in a bumble outfit. Adorable. Eccentric. Fantastic.

Just like Katrin herself =)

I’d be happy to finish your projects with a beautiful quilting texture too. My services are available to those who live throughout the European region. Please be in touch if you have any questions or start the process off by placing your order. I can’t wait to collaborate on YOUR quilt!

Order Quilting

My latest patchwork pattern is releasing today for immediate download. Spinny is a 64” throw quilt or 32” baby quilt. There are no templates needed, no special rulers, and no advanced techniques. This is a pattern suitable for the confident beginner!

The spiderweb is a traditional patchwork style beloved by scrap quilters. It’s the fancy cousin of the straightforward string quilt, so named for the long, thin “string” scraps handy for this patchwork. Like the string quilt, the spiderweb quilt gobbles up string scraps. But unique to the spiderweb are the stars that form between the webs.

I developed this pattern when I couldn’t find something similar online. My blocks are a generous 16” finished, so that you spend a little less time marking foundations. Each block features a complete spiderweb. This makes it easier to sew cohesive webs, and much easier to sew with a group, in my view.

What do you need to get started? Well, if you are an avid scrap quilters you don’t need anything but your scraps. We don’t use a consistent background fabric, so there’s no need to buy additional yardage. The largest cuts are 9” squares. Those are the “backgrounds” which form stars when the blocks are joined together.

Are you newer to quilting? Have a modest scrap collection and/or fabric stash? You can very efficiently use fat quarters for your background fabrics. Just 8 cool-colored fat quarters and 8 warm-colored fat quarters are enough to sew a throw sized quilt. Add your string scraps, and you’re set!

COLOR CAREFUL - HELPING YOU EXPLORE COLOR

Spinny quilt pattern is part of my Color Mentor series. Scrap quilts are some of the best quilts, but do you ever find that your scraps don't seem to play well together? Sewing a scrap quilt can be daunting for the color-careful quilter. With Spinny quilt, learn to use warm vs. cool color to unify diverse scraps. This Level 1 Color Mentor pattern is an excellent place to develop your relationship with color.

The pattern begins with the color wheel, an overview of warm vs. cool color theory and tips for sorting your scraps.

Get Spinny

I’m glad to release Spinny into your creative hands! I’m so curious to see what you make with her. I’m certainly not finished with spiderwebs myself. My next will probably feature solid fabrics for the stars and wild prints for the webs!

Here’s to happy scrappy patchwork!

Here she is, the finished Spiderweb quilt! She’s a scrappy number, made in collaboration with the Comfort circle of do. Good Stitches. Each bee member made one web block, and I made a few. Together they’ve become 62” square of cheerful, busy color.

The best part? Those webs are sewn from long, thin fabric scraps of random length and width without pre-trimming!

I am putting the finishing touches of the pattern for this quilt today. Expect a release later this week, should you like to make your own.

For this quilt we made webs with warm vs. cool contrast. There are 8 blocks in total with warm-colored webs and cool-colored backgrounds; and 8 blocks with cool webs and warm backgrounds. It was a simple way to create some order, while otherwise leaving us free to let all the happy colors play.

I love the joyful energy of the finished work and the drama of all those diagonal lines. It makes me think of a very vibrant stained glasswork or a saturated painting.

On the back I sewed large leftover cuts of a wideback fabric with a fun blue patchwork strip sandwiched in between. The quilting is a simple organic design called Cotton Seed. I felt the quilt needed some quilted curves to soften all the dramatic lines in the spiderweb patchwork.

The do. Good Stitches tag is sewn into the back, creating a little record of this quilt’s origins. It will be donated soon to children in need.

Would you like to get involved with charity quilt making? Project Linus and Wrap Them in Love are two US-based organizations that would love to receive your quilt. Or, if you prefer the idea of making quilts with a group, consider getting involved with do. Good Stitches. We have circles all over the world, and we are always in need of new members who will take a turn leading and finishing the quilt, as I did with this spiderweb creation.

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I am so happy to welcome you to the first finished room in my new home. Step inside my bedroom. Why not? We’re already pretty good friends ;)

Let’s sit down and share a pot of tea. I don’t have a sofa in this apartment (my longarm sewing machine claimed that real estate), but these two vintage chairs stand in pretty well. Sitting in them feels as nice as they look!

The view from our chairs is pretty good too. On the one hand there’s Rosie Coin quilt looking like the goddess she is against those Rangwali pink walls. Do you know what? I’m not going to hang a thing above this bed. I adore being drenched in all that intense color.

On the other hand there’s this little scene by the door, courtesy of my notions dresser. This was just the place for that oil painting found last year at a vintage market. From my char I can peak through to the hallway and spy the wallpaper in the entry. More on that soon!

And do you know what I see when I wake up every morning?

Oh my gosh, this quilt! I chose the wall color to compliment this quilt and then made Rosie Coin quilt to coordinate. The effect is stunning! I love the way the little bright pink squares pop and the deep reds get even more intense.

Inhibition quilt is one of my personal faves and she’s loaded with personal meaning about longing and boundaries in relationship, as well as personal independence. It’s a good anchor piece for this time in my life.

Of course, the room is functional as well. I have a whole wall of wardrobes to maximize storage for clothing and linens. The bright white also reflects the light coming into the room to keep things cheery.

This vintage nightstand has a lovely, warm hue. Its ample drawers hold normal nightstand things as well as correspondence, cables and my laptop, when I’d like to clear my living room/work room table.

And today I just finished hemming these Ikea curtains. They make the room nice and dark for sleeping, all while adding another shade of pink. Because more pink is more pretty. ;)

This image captures almost all the pretty things in one fell swoop! Well, friends, I’m in love with this space! I literally feel like a princess getting to sit and sleep here. Suffice it to say, I’m feeling right at home.

Thanks for coming to visit!

Notes: Wall color is Rangwali by Farrow and Ball, mixed in Sikkens Alphacryl Pure Mat paint. The vintage chairs and nightstand were purchased from Tijdperk Vintage, a Dutch shop that offers furniture from the 1950s to the 1980s, with a focus on high-quality Scandinavian, Dutch and other European pieces.

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I zeroed in on these Tilda prints from the Pie in the Sky collection. They often feel too busy in combination with my other fabrics, so I figured this would be a good way to use them. Fingers crossed that the Tilda low volume with the tiny leaves (bottom) will provide enough contrast.

The center of this quilt block is shaped like a snowball block. Triangles are added to the corners via the stitch and flip method. I tend to avoid this method because I don’t get very accurate results. Invariably my snowball ends up a little smaller than the original square. But it is quick and easy!

When I need to mark diagonal lines on fabric, I always use a Hera marker. That’s this white tool, which creates a precise crease on the fabric. So simple, but very effective.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Winter Creek Cloth

Are you looking to boost the variety of certain colors in your stash? Check out the Remix Bundles at Winter Creek Cloth. Each one is chock full of helpful fabrics that are easy to mix and match with most anything! I have my eye on this fresh, limey green bundle.

For each Cover Girl Star block we need four identical flying geese blocks. Our queen bee provided a second download for creating flying geese 4-at-a-time, from the Quilting Jetgirl blog. This was new for me, so I went with the intermediate level approach. It turned out pretty well!

That’s one great thing about a quilting group - you learn new techniques from each other and try things you wouldn’t otherwise.

Thank goodness that my Juki is home and humming along properly! I definitely benefit from the accuracy of this straight stitch machine. It ups my precision by several notches, no exaggeration.

Tada! Here are the finished blocks enjoying a moment on my wall before heading off in the mail to queen bee. What do you think about that low volume print? To me there is enough contrast for the block, but a simpler low volume would be more to my taste.

But to each her own! To a Tilda fan, these blocks will be heaven, and I think they’re pretty too. =)

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Let’s start with the blocks that I have already collected from my bee mates. Here they are in all their glory on my new design wall (eeeee!). Wow, that is a colorful bunch!

If you really stare at it and search for a color pattern, you might maybe notice that there is a cool/warm color contrast at work. Cool webs are surrounded by warm backgrounds and warm webs are surrounded by cool backgrounds. These different types of blocks alternate. With the blocks laid out like this I can see that I need to sew three more cool web blocks and one more warm web block.

Okee dokee.

I drafted this pattern so that each block makes a complete spiderweb. You start by cutting background squares, which are then cut in half to create foundation triangles.

The foundation triangles allow you to see exactly how large each string scrap needs to be to cover the foundation. I like to sort my scraps by approximate length so that I can use them most efficiently. I love that you don’t have to cut scraps to width or length, but can just keep sewing until the foundation is covered.

At the end of the process, I often use a triangle scrap for the tip. Using a combination of short, thin string scraps and triangle scraps makes me a very happy quilter! These are some of my most difficult-to-use shapes.

After the triangles are complete, I join them with pressed-open seams, as is my habit. You can see the background fabric foundations from the wrong side.

So, here are today’s new blocks! Oh my goodness, I adore them. I have avoided darker scraps so that the overall blocks are light and bright. The overall effect is perfectly delightful.

Since there is so much enthusiasm for a Spiderweb patchwork pattern, I will be producing this design as a stand-alone pattern in the coming months! I’m not sure it if it will happen right away, as in April, or sometime early summer, but you won’t have to wait long.

Keep those scraps ready!

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But, some of those pieces are super long. The main bars are 3.5 meters or 138 inches long, and the triple bar is not only that long, but also too heavy for one man to carry. So, yeah, my longarm always presents a challenge when moving house.

This is my new apartment building! I live on the 10th floor, but on moving day we simply used the elevator for everything, from furniture to boxes. Except the longarm bars, which I figured would go up the stairwell. Ahem.

Well friends, the first bar went up the stairwell, but it was too long to turn the corner to come into the apartment foyer. So down it went again, to my utter dismay. Have I bought an apartment where I can’t work? Oh my gosh, what have I done!

These are all the pieces that we couldn’t get into the apartment ourselves. While I tried not to panic, Floris starting making phone calls. Within about 20 minutes he had found a crane that would do the heavy lifting a few days later.

Did I want to know the price? Well, I figured anything would be cheaper than moving again. :/

Here is my rescuer in action! Jeroen from Maathuis Kraanverhuur worked quickly and confidently, sending these heavy polls flying up to my 10th floor balcony.

Where he and Floris caught them and brought them straight into the sewing room (aka living room).

The whole thing was over in less than an hour, all those long pieces lying neatly stacked and ready to be assembled for just 500 euros. Totally worth it.

I guess everyone knows I’m here now ;).

Maybe the fact that I can’t even move the longarm out of the apartment myself will help me stay put, do you think? Oh my gosh, I SO want to stay put for years and years. Somebody glue me to the floor.

And my longarm is working!

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The second surprise came when I sat down at my Juki to sew.. and the dear machine didn’t work. My beloved Juki TL2010Q is at the sewing machine shop now, so I’m working on my backup machine, a Janome that I mainly use for zigzag stitching my quilt bindings. I am finding its straight stitch abilities frustrating in comparison to the Juki experience.

Across from my sewing seat is a big white wall that will be my design wall someday. Maybe also tomorrow? Meanwhile I’m enjoying looking at Floris’ drawing, which I plan to hang elsewhere in this space.

I have yet to sew a stitch of patchwork at the new place. Sigh. But at least I have patchwork from my bee mates to cheer me up. These colorful spiderweb blocks came in by mail just before my move.

I popped them up on my old design wall to get a look, knowing that it would take some time to get my design wall set up anew.

Well, isn’t that pretty? Now seeing this is again good motivation for me to bite the bullet and start sewing with my Janome. I am itching to make more of these blocks.

We’re alternating cool webs with warm backgrounds or vice versa - warm webs with cool backgrounds. The “backgrounds” become the stars between the webs. This warm/cool contrast adds just a touch of order to a vibrantly chaotic story. I have a ton of scraps that want to come out and play.

First a bit of sewing, then make that new design wall?

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Ta da! She’s become an intricate and beautiful tapestry. I sewed her according the color value rules which I designed with my first Tapestry Garden quilt. Even in mostly neutral shades, she really does sparkle thanks to the value proportions.

Each unique block brings special elements. Some with curves, some with points or plusses, some with echoing or exploding shapes.

The quilt is so interesting up close, yet it tells a coherent story as a whole. Yay!

For the backing I used black yardage combined with a half meter of a gray and cream Fableism woven from Floyd the Fox. I’m loving the combination of austere black with the swooping continuous eights in light gray thread. It’s minimalist, but not.

And then there’s a fine line of text print at the right side because the backing was a wee bit too small. Don’t you love how with patchwork such shortcomings are just an invitation to improve the original idea?

We photographed Tapestry Garden in Winter at the Melkhal in Enschede. It’s an industrial building that used to be a milk processing center. After standing empty for decades, it’s been restored as a grocery and shopping center with much of the original architecture intact. The light inside is beautifully filtered through a glass ceiling, and there are some fantastic blue walls for future photo backgrounds. I’ll have to remember this location.

Would you like to give this quilt a home? Tapestry Garden is listed for sale today in my Handmades shop.

Would you rather create your own? Join us for Round 2 of the Tapestry Garden sew-along. It’s starting fresh right today, with the month of April being the first of 6 months. Come learn about value in quilting and sew your own beautiful tapestry!

Sew Tapestry Garden

The assignment? Sew postage stamp blocks made up of 2.5” squares. We were tasked to use one pastel solid per block and to alternate the solid squares with random scraps of any color.

Random scraps?!!? YES! That feels like cleaning up, you know?

First I cut a ton of multi colored scraps into tidy 2.5” squares. Then I cut 2.5” strips from my pastel fabrics. No need to cut those pastel fabrics into individual squares. It’s faster to chain piece the scraps to the pastel strips, as above.

After sewing, I press my seams open. Then, I cut apart the solid/scrap combos into happy little pairs. Easy. Tidy. Quick.

I only made two blocks, as per the assignment, but I could have made oodles. This is one of those simple projects that’s perfect for eating up scraps. After moving I am keenly aware of just how many scraps I have…

I’d love to make my own postage stamp in this style, when the moment is right!

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BEST OF STITCHED IN COLOR {March}

• Trellis Candy Quilt

• this mauve Iris

• my visit to Paris, Part 1 + Part 2

On My Mind

Experimenting:: with new paint colors and new sewing room furniture. I’ve moved my sewing room a lot since landing in The Netherlands, but the space has pretty much always looked the same. Same furniture. Mostly white walls.

In my new space I am experimenting with green walls, using the color Yeabridge Green from Farrow and Ball. The color reminds me of my very first sewing space circa 2012. I’m also bringing in some vintage pieces for my work table and scrap storage. Curious to see how it works when everything is situated!

Reading:: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. When I left for Paris, I pulled this book off the shelf of a friend. I wanted something fun and that would totally pull me in. Success! I thought due to the plot that it might be really sultry, but it’s not. The writing is suburb, really bringing you into the tension of the story.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

The Confident Stitch

Confident Stitch is ecstatic to announce the addition of Aurifil 50wt Mako Cotton thread! Available in a full spectrum of colors, and wound on their iconic orange spool, the 50wt is strong and thin, resulting in remarkably flat and crisp seams, making it our first choice for piecing quilts.

Celebrating:: Susan Thomson’s rendition of my Nineteen Thirty quilt pattern.

This beautiful work is called Michigan Summer and has been exhibited in multiple quilt shows. It will also be featured in the 2027 AQS calendar. From the artist:

I upcycled vintage handkerchiefs and embroidery to honor an annual tradition. The names and initials are those of five generations of women in my family who have summered in Northwest Michigan, from my great-grandmother to my daughter. I made the quilt in a class taught by Jan Wisor at Capital Quilts in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Anticipating:: Getting fully moved in, of course. There’s nothing I’d rather do at the moment than organize and install all the random things that make a home a home. I’m excited to see how it all comes together!

Featured Freebie

So Easy Ironing Board Cover tutorial

Stitched in Color includes a library of free tutorials, more than 10 years in the making. Each month I’ll feature one to spread the good news.

In honor of moving house and setting up a sewing space, let’s celebrate this tutorial for recovering an ironing board. I have had the same wooden ironing board forever. It always looks new and fresh thanks to easy cover updates!

Today marks one week that I’ve been sleeping in my new apartment. I got the keys on the 20th, moved on the 21st and started painting on the 22nd! It was a whirlwind, but no regrets. I like getting things done.

My friend Katrin came from Germany to help me paint and settle in. We painted three rooms in three days! Today the longarm is humming over its first post-move project. So, yeah, things are starting to slot into place. I will of course give you a tour once all traces of moving boxes are vanished and the decor is hung.

The good news is that I like it, and Elora does too! In fact, I really, really like living up high. We’re on the 10th floor, from which we can see the whole city of Enschede and even out to Germany. The views are amazing at every time of day, even in a storm, and also at night.

I guess I shouldn’t be too rash to declare myself a happy apartment-owner, but the first week was definitely positive. Yahoo!

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It was mostly simple patchwork, traditional piecing, peaceful work.

Allowing me to fill in the holes in my quilt sampler with final bits of patchwork sweetness. Allowing me to finish my time in that space with a full design wall, one last time.

The very last block I sewed was made up of many 2.5” squares. It’s a perfect catch-all for all the bits leftover from such a quilt. While I cut scrappy squares I invited myself to create space for all the feelings of the moment.

Next to the excitement of finally moving, finally taking this independent step, I also felt sad to be leaving behind my light-filled space. Having two adjacent rooms all to myself, with sliding glass dividing doors, was nothing short of luxurious. Setting up my new space will take lots of energy. I hope it turns out well.

I guess that’s kind of like sewing patchwork. No matter how carefully you choose the fabrics, you don’t really know how it will turn out until you cut and sew those shapes. I’ve done a lot of dreaming and planning about my new home, but I’m more nervous than usual about the actual outcome because of space constraints. Working it out in reality is the only way to know.

Now my quilty puzzle is complete! Every block has found its place. I’m eager to sew it together. Hopefully I’ll have a finished quilt to share with you soon.

join Round 2 of Tapestry Garden

Feeling the itch to sew your own Tapestry Garden? In celebration of my soon-to-be-finished Winter Tapestry Garden, we’ll kick off a 6-month version of Tapestry Garden in April. Members will receive all the same materials as the 12-month club, only at a brisker pace, with two patchwork groups per month. As such the 6-month club will finish in September, well clear of the holidays.

Come join the fun!

Daisy is a complete dresden block that falls at the upper right corner of the quilt. Seedbeds are the little rectangular elements. The tiny squares remind me of seed starters =)

When I finished that first Daisy block, I wasn’t so happy with the low contrast between the two different fabrics used for dresden blades. With that in mind, I’ve chosen black vs. gray petals for today’s dresden block. That should up the contrast.

And it does! What also makes an impact is the contrast between the horizontal text print and the organic gray floral. I like! Now to create a circle for the center and attach everything to my block background...

I’ll create matching Seedbed blocks using this dreamy Fableism Sprout Woven in Mulberry from Floyd the Fox. Such a cool, moody shade.

Each of these patchwork groups from the Tapestry Garden block-of-the-month is just right for an afternoon of sewing. It’s a treat to have a clear start, a satisfying finish and something new each time.

Now, just one more patchwork group and it’ll be time to sew this winter beauty together. I better hurry. Spring is coming!

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To start I am selecting medium value background squares for the coneflower blocks by setting the squares up on the design wall. I have a variety of medium value grays and browns. At this point, I am definitely repeating fabrics, which makes the quilt naturally quite harmonious.

The dresden blades are cut from low volume solids and low volume prints, while the coneflower cones are contrasting dark values. The eye will be most drawn to those dark cones, which create a strong rhythm for this patchwork group.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Dragonfly Quiltworks

Simply the best selection of wideback fabrics around! Finish off your quilt quickly and easily with a 108” wide backing fabric from my friends at Dragonfly Quiltworks. Ships from Florida.

The coneflowers in Tapestry Garden quilt are quarter dresden shapes. As such, each block sports a series of five dresden blades. I like that we can piece the cone curves, rather than appliquéing the cones overtop. That’s quick and clean.

Then the quarter dresdens are appliquéd to the block backgrounds. And done!

Every time that I make this block, I so enjoy the process. I’ve already made three quilts using my corresponding Drummer Boy Dresdens pattern. But maybe there is yet another quilt in me…

Still, it is nice to make just nine blocks and call it a day. That’s the charm of a sampler quilt. Little tastes are often the sweetest!

As for my winter coneflowers, I think that they turned out well. The little fabric details make for charming blocks, even if the colors are subtle. I’m happy to add them to my sampler layout and look forward to sewing the next addition soon.

join Round 2 of Tapestry Garden

Feeling the itch to sew your own Tapestry Garden? In celebration of my soon-to-be-finished Winter Tapestry Garden, we’ll kick off a 6-month version of Tapestry Garden in April. Members will receive all the same materials as the 12-month club, only at a brisker pace, with two patchwork groups per month. As such the 6-month club will finish in September, well clear of the holidays.

Come join the fun!

It always begins the same way: choosing fabrics, cutting shapes. These are simply choices, that don’t matter much in the grand scheme of things. If I do go the “wrong” way I can almost always back up, take out a seam, try something else.

I’m sewing hourglass blocks today, which is one of my patchwork favorites. The blocks come together like magic. Follow the recipe and you get perfect quadrants of triangle delightfulness, every time.

After creating a satisfying batch of hourglass blocks, it’s back to the cutting board for the low volume sashing. And do you know that I love cutting just as much as sewing? Random pieces turn into satisfying, identically-shaped rectangles. Tidy.

Yep, I adore the patchwork process - hook, line and sinker.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Little Fabric Shop

Have you seen the new Ruby Star Society Webbing?!?!? If there was ever a time to sew a bag, this is IT, people. Webbing is ideal for bag straps, handles, and eye-catching accents. I’m imagining a summer tote bag or a duffle like this.

I am surrounding my hourglass blocks with cornerstone stashing to create a series of stepping stones for Tapestry Garden quilt.

Tada! This is Stone Path in the winter. Now stonier than ever.

Once added onto the design wall, my latest blocks seem to melt away into the whole. Mmmm… The quilt is taking on an elegant, complicated beauty. Like a poem. Or a black and white image. Or the city skyline at night.

I’m eager to get back to this second and very different Tapestry Garden.

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Day 3: Museum D’Orsay

It’s hard to choose from all the museums on offer in Paris. Floris and I choose D’Orsay for its collection of impressionist art. As a nice bonus, it had beautiful furniture exhibits as well.

D’Orsay is a medium-sized museum. You can spend several hours there, and we did, but it’s not some mammoth that you could get lost in, like the Louvre. The most popular area hosts paintings by Degas, Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir.

I took a selfie by this Degas painting, which has been in my life in the form of a stationery set since my childhood. The stationery is used up, but I still have the tin. It was unreal to look at the actual painting after decades of holding it in my hands.

But the artist who inspires me most is Van Gogh. His use of color is unparalleled. I found a new favorite, Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase, and bought a poster print to take home.

I was also captivated by the top half of Van Gogh’s The Church at Auvers. I know that it is naughty to photograph just the top, but it reminds me to focus on the drama of the blue-black sky. I’m intrigued by this vibrant blue, which seems to be appeal to me in every combination lately. I’d like to experiment with such a blue in a quilt soon.

I was thrilled that D’ Orsay also had an Art Nouveau furnishings exhibit, since I am particularly drawn to this style lately. Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing lines, organic shapes and floral elements. I didn’t realize before going to Paris, that Art Nouveau has its roots in this city.

In particular the architecture and furnishings of Hector Guimard still fascinate all. He’s left marks all over Paris, from doors to buildings to metro entrances.

And people like me even visit department stores like La Samaritaine just to gawk at the Art Nouveau architecture.

If you’re also an Art Nouveau fan, also plan a drink or a meal at Bouillon Julien. You’ll step over this mosaic threshold to enter the monument.

Make a reservation to be seated in the most lovely part of the restaurant. The food is kind of so-so, but the environment is amazing with uniquely gorgeous Art Nouveau ladies painted all around.

Day 4: Museum de l’Orangerie

On our last full day in Paris, we had tickets for the museum known for its Monet waterlilies.

L’Orangerie is a relatively small museum, but nevertheless a very special experience. The shape and lighting of the waterlily rooms was designed by Monet to create a meditative and artistic mood.

With curved walls and a figure-eight design, you walk through the rooms, viewing murals painted to reflect the transformation of his garden from morning to night.

This was my favorite section of the murals. The deep green colors swim gloriously with that rich blue and red-burgundy shades. I particularly liked the combination with this lady’s shirt and hair. Color inspiration is everywhere!

Besides Monet’s waterlilies, this museum also boasts a collection of special pieces by Picasso, Matisse and more. My favorite was the works of Maurice Utrillo. His Notre Dame plays with green splendidly.

After the museum, we walked all the way to Montmartre, reaching the Sacré-Cœur at sunset. It was a fabulous way to round out the day and our trip.

If I went back to Paris, I would spend more time in Montmartre and also at the wine bars, bookstores and chocolate shops of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I suppose that there will be another visit someday, but for now I am sated. Paris was lovely. Its art and architecture were quite inspiring. Now it feels good to back home in my studio, creating again.

The thing is, I prefer to make quilts more compactly. Focused. Continuous. I’m not a little bit here, little bit there kind of maker, so sewing along with a project all year doesn’t suit me.

This March I am making block after block for Tapestry Garden quilt sampler. I feel myself getting into the swing of choose fabrics, understanding more intuitively what I am doing. It may also be just that I’ve sewn enough blocks to “see” it, but in any case, it’s nice to be in the flow.

This is the beginnings of Waterlily, a very special block in our sampler. It has a foundation pieced base.

I like to use a directional fabric here so that the flower has an opening gesture. At this stage it’s time to remove the foundation papers and piece in those curves - the quarter circle shapes.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Floyd the Fox

My source for Art Gallery Fabrics, Fableism + more modern fabrics in Europe!

Almost done! This block is fairly neutral, with all those gray tones. I inserted a blush of color with little squares of peachy rainbows at the edges.

Ta da! Each time I sew this block it feels like such a triumph. Would you like to sew one too?

Join Round 2 of Tapestry Garden

I will be offering a faster-paced version of Tapestry Gardens for those of you who are just now joining or for those of you in the 12-month club who would like to pick up the pace later this year. In celebration of my soon-to-be-finished Winter Tapestry Garden, we’ll kick off a 6-month version of Tapestry Garden in April. Members will receive all the same materials as the 12-month club, only at a brisker pace, with two patchwork groups or blocks like Waterlily per month. As such the 6-month club will finish in September, well clear of the holidays.

Come join the fun!

I started planning a trip to Paris in December. I thought I would go alone, because it felt like time and I was tired of waiting for the “right” co-traveler. I had never traveled alone. Maybe I would like it? There is certainly enough to do in Paris.

I was there for four full days. If that sounds long, it’s not! Paris is so big and so rich in landmarks, food, culture, museums. I decided to focus on the artistic beauty of Paris which turned into two museums, one architecture tour and lots and lots of walking.

Day 1: Walking to the Eiffel Tower

As it turned out, my boyfriend, Floris, decided to come along. He drove from our Enschede, The Netherlands, which is about 7 hours on the road. We stayed in a suburb of Paris called Suresnes. On our first full day, he suggested that we walk to the Eiffel Tower from our AirBnB. According to Google Maps, it should be an hour and 45 minute trek, one way.

Great decision. On such a long walk, you can really take in the vibe of the city, from the outskirts where people are living their regular life on into the center where tourists gather.

Along the way I captured images of buildings with beautiful colors or unique textures. Some of the buildings are as artistic as a hand painted tapestry.

We wondered along until we came upon the Eiffel Tower by accident. We saw some people gathering across the street, up a flight of stairs and wondered why. At the top of the stairs was just a boring street, but when we turned around, there was the Eiffel Tower! That viewing spot was next to the Jardins du Trocadéro, a lovely and quiet park where we took our fill of Eiffel Tower shots.

Or so I thought. Actually, Floris loves photographing things, especially me. So the photos just kept coming…

It was a full day of exploring, and a great way to orient ourselves to Paris.

Is that me, or Pippi?

Day 2: Covered Passageways

On our second day in Paris, I ventured out alone for an architectural tour called Covered Passageways. My guide was a Parisian woman and I was the only attendee. Lucky me! I loved the relaxed, but informative atmosphere and that we could stop to buy chocolate when she recommended a store. Truly that chocolate bar was the BEST one I’ve ever had. Wish I could have another!

The passageways were built in the 1700’s and 1800’s to create safe, dry places for wealthy women to shop. They are like streets, each with unique glass ceilings to let in natural light. Think of them as the original shopping malls.

Now the are monuments, but still used mostly for shopping. In the passageways you’ll find vintage stores and unique boutiques, instead of all the big designer names on popular Parisian streets today. I liked the vibe.

The stunning Galerie Vivenne was my favorite for its style.

Inspirational for sure!

There are also restaurants inside the passageways. Some have lovely frescos and detailed woodwork, preserved thanks to the “indoor” conditions. Just think all the lives that have passed through here? Imagine the stories those tables could tell.

I love a guided tour because it helps me to slow down and really take in the details of a place. My guide pointed out how each ceiling in each passageway is different, which creates a different light. Each passageway has a clock and never has a straight layout. With multiple entrances and the odd turn, the passageways were also an opportunity for secret meetings.

After my day out and about on my own, I was only too glad to return to my special someone, fortunately no secrecy required. I guess I can travel alone, but I just don’t like it. It’s feels so much nicer to share lovely moments with someone you love.

On Monday, I’ll be back with Part 2. I hope that you are enjoying the view!

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While cutting low volume squares for my latest Tapestry Garden block, I was processing the latest argument with my ex. We are selling the house we own together in a few weeks, which is bringing certain disagreements to a boil. I am noticing a small voice inside me that suggests less engagement, less words, less energy might be the best way forward. Hmm?

At any rate, It’s a nice feeling to work on a block like Garden Gate when times are tough. It’s a simple set of patchwork with scrappy elements and pretty patterns. Here are my pieces all cut and ready to be sewn.

I’ve sewn it together column by column, in a meditative way.

And the finished block pleases me plenty! I really love the black flowers which spring up at all four sides. That and the mauve daisies. They look so cheerful amidst such serene tones.

Now I’ve added my Garden Gate block to the quilt layout on my design wall. It is nestled in the corner of that wall, hence the funny distorted look! But, yeah, I am pleased with how it contributes to the whole. The black flowers are an echo of the flower in the long Trellis block. Simple and effective.

Now, on to the next block!

join Tapestry Garden

P.S. If you wish to sew-along, Tapestry Garden block-of-the-month is still welcoming new sign ups. You’ll receive January - March materials right away so that you can catch up and join on in!