Arboretum

It is absolutely gorgeous weather here in Northern Virginia - sunny, breezy and temps in the 60s and low 70s. To celebrate this delightful day, here is a brand new quilt/pattern - layer cake friendly and on sale! It is 25% off till Sunday, June 7, 2026. 

Thank you, Paul

Arboretum is a layer cake friendly quilt that I made for the Norwegian Quilt Magazine, Quilteblad. 

Arboretum on the Cover

It is the fabrics, Garden Glory - an original collection by Claudia Pfeil for Island Batik, that enchanted me. 

I love every fabric in this collection, no exceptions. So I designed a quilt using all 20 of them. The orange, rust and maroons became the trees, cleverly cut to minimize waste. The greens were used to make the Irish chain blocks. The leftovers became the scrappy border. 

White Background, Brown Tree Trunk

I used a white background and a coffee brown for tree trunks. Arboretum finished at 60" by 80". The size is perfect for Quilts of Valor, large throw, charity quilts, picnics, car rides and TV watching. 

So if you have a layer cake waiting in the wings, the Arboretum Quilt pattern can help you transform those 40 squares into a star.

I am already grateful but sometimes I get lucky :-) See the picture below.

I could write a poem or an essay about the perfect juxtaposition of the Fall colors in Arboretum against the orange and yellow kayaks, but then a picture is worth a thousand words.

The waters are murky and the reflection is shaky but my feeling of triumph is intact. 

Oh Paul, you are my sunshine!

Arboretum Quilt Pattern is available in my Etsy shop. I have included detailed instructions with colored graphics for each step. The clever cutting technique makes piecing a breeze, limits waste and minimizes the number of seams.

Scrappy Border - Pinned in Place

The leftovers are put to good use in a fun scrappy border.  Although I have written the instructions for 10" squares, the pattern can be easily adapted to 2.5" strips. You can also use your stash/scraps. To audition your fabric choices, I have also included a Coloring Sheet.  

With 11 pages of graphics and instructions, it is a steal at $12. But Arboretum Quilt Pattern can be yours for just $9 till Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Giveaway Update

The winner is #10 - Alycia. Email sent.

But if you'd like a copy of the pattern for free, leave me a comment on this post. I will announce the winner on June 7, 2026. If you are Anonymous/No-Reply Blogger, please make sure you include your email so that I can reach you.

Thank you, Wooden Horse

In other news, I am participating in the Sunflower Spice Blog Hop. The blog hop begins June 1 and I'll be posting on June 7. Watch this space.

Here is a peek of the backing.

Mari (The Academic Quilter) usually starts her post with a note about the weather and I tease her about this. How's the weather, professor? Since she has been quiet, I am channeling her vibes in my post today. What/Whom are you thinking about today?

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Rainbow Sprouts Quilt

Rainbow Sprouts is a multicolored, beginner-friendly, scrapbuster quilt pattern that was first published in Make Modern Magazine's Issue #68.

Rainbow Sprouts

Rainbow Sprouts is now available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop.

Made with Island Batik's Basics, Rainbow Sprouts is the answer to the question - Why do leaves have to be (mostly) green?

Yellow, Orange & Red

Each leaf has a dark and a light fabric and the number of those combinations is only limited by your imagination.

Teal and Green too

Finishing at 61" by 84", Rainbow Sprouts uses 16 fabrics (8 light and 8 dark) plus Solid Black (Stems) and Egg White (Background). 

It is an excellent way to showcase your favorite fabrics. I am showing off Island Batik Basics including Chambray & Harbor (Blues), Flamingo & Candy (Pinks), Banana & Taxi (Yellows), Chameleon & Parakeet (Teals), Mystic & Caribbean (Aquas), Ballerina & Rosewood (Reddish Purples), Marmalade & Flame (Oranges), and Pistachio & Apple (Greens). 

Love these Colors

To make Rainbow Sprouts, you need 4.5 yards of background fabric and the rest can easily come from your stash. Make it scrappy with many fabrics or control the chaos with a monochromatic color scheme. 

Thank you, Paul

I had fun making this quilt and these hues are yummy enough to eat. The pattern is super simple but that is not all.

Glaze (Island Batik Neutral) Backing

Let me show you the Bonus Project. The off-cuts make a smaller quilt that is cute as a button.

Bonus Project

I am calling it Rainbow Seeds. We went to the children's playground to take some fun pictures.

Rainbow Seeds, 44" by 55"

Island Batik fabrics are wider than most fabrics, so I still had some leftovers. I used them to piece a fun backing, making sure to use every bit of the gorgeous fabrics.

Fun Backing

The Rainbow Sprouts Quilt Pattern is detailed with step by step guidance and colored graphics for each step.  I am offering it at a 25% discount till Sunday, 5/10/26. 

Yes, of course there is a giveaway too.  If you'd like a copy of the Rainbow Sprouts Quilt Pattern, leave me a comment on this post answering any of the following three questions.

What is the best Mother's Day gift you have received? What is the best Mother's Day gift that you gave? What is the best book you've read in 2026?

If you don't want to participate in the giveaway, leave me a comment anyway but mention the no giveaway thing. I will announce the winners next week.

Update - The two winners are #1 and #14. Emails have been sent.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.