Monsoon

"It looks like giant raindrops", said Lesley, when I showed her a picture on my phone. Hence, I named him Monsoon.

Work in progress

Working on improvisational piecing helps me destress. The process is the focus - making small decisions - color, shape, size, and setting - keeps me in the moment. The destination will reveal itself.

The first block

For background, I used a white fabric I purchased several years ago from Mook Fabrics in Pennsylvania when Mari and I went to the Lancaster Quilt Show.

Eye-popping price :-D

Working with scraps from a long time ago, I pieced triangle leftovers with white background. Then "tried" matching those very fiddly points, in the base of the triangles. Similar shapes were easy but pairing a long skinny triangle with a lumpy one was challenging.

Decisions, Decisions

Columns of Diamonds

I celebrated well-matched points and accepted those that misbehaved, giving myself permission to just be. Combining small blocks with bog ones and skinny ones with wide ones, I assembled similar sized units into columns, using coping strips to bring them to size.

The batting is Thermore. The backing is scrappy and pieced. I quilted in one direction with squiggly lines. The binding matches the white background.

Monsoon finished at 47" by 60". Time for pictures!

Thank you, Bob

It was a busy day at Lake Anne and I could not get exclusive time with Bob. 

Thank you, Paul

Thank you, Wooden Horse

Monsoon

If there is a mirror-like surface, let there be a reflection.

Mirror Image

Good Picture, Bad Resolution

Easy Being Green :-)

Let get closer.

Get the Point?

A Pointed Discussion

Tall & Short

Small Points

Labelled

Whatever tiny scraps I did not use, I discarded.  This is new for me. I am certainly past the mid-point of my life and I have begun to carefully examine what I need vs. what I need to lose.

In other news, I resigned from my stressful job.  Paul's unwavering support gave me the courage to cut loose. On my last day, I received this card from a sweet co-worker (she understood my reasons).

Yes, Kristen. We are!

I have joined a Yoga class. It is time to focus on my health and well-being. I am anticipating more quilting, blogging and commenting :-) And of course, more cooking for Paul. All's well in this household.

Two quilts of mine were published in two different magazines. That blogpost is next. 

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. 

Joyful in July +TGIFF

It is July and the dog days of summer are upon us. 

Me: Must be time for Christmas!
Paul: Christmas? In July?
Me: Christmas in July. It is a statement, not a question.
Paul: Christmas in July is a thing?
Me: For quilters, yes it is. This is when we start our Christmas projects to have them completed by the holiday.

Meet Joyful.

Joyful

This pattern was published in the Special Christmas Publication by Annie's Attic Quilting. 

Published

Special Publication

Nine Festive Projects

Originally designed with black accents, Joyful finishes at 51" by 53". Bright yellow replaced black in the actual quilt.

The Mock-Up in EQ8

I used leftover fabrics from Island Batik collections and Foundations. The background as well as the  binding is Solid White.  The batting for Joyful was provided (so very generously) by Hobbs. I used Thermore - it is my favorite, light batting. 

Red and Green Island Batik Fabrics

The stars are slightly improv resulting in uneven points for a twinkling effect. Do you see it?                    

It wouldn't be Christmas without a twinkle.

Work in progress

Setting Triangles

I completed, photographed and sent Joyful to Annie's last year. It was published recently but it is only now that the publication is available online. It is a good thing I am a patient person (AHEM)!

Honestly, there is so much going on at any time that there is no time to dwell upon any one thing. And if I must dwell upon anything (or anyone), it would be my model :-)

Beautiful Day, on the banks of Potomac

It is not a surprise that he does the same, sometimes catching me mid-shot.

Seriously, Paul?

I am Joyful

Do you have any holiday projects in the works?  Do let me know.

In other news (and there is plenty), I completed my Orange RSC blocks for June. Here they are in their juicy goodness.

Angela has announced that the color for July is Purple. I have gathered my Island Batik Purple scraps. 

Purple for July - Island Batik Scraps

We have received our Island Batik Ambassador boxes, the goodies and supplies for the second half of the year. I will be showing off those beauties soon in both still and video format. That blogpost is next. Stay tuned.

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, including Angela's. See full list on the sidebar.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Niko

Have you met Niko? 

Niko

He is handsome and stylish. He is friendly to jelly rolls and he can be yours!

Niko was first published in Make Modern Issue 62, published in January 2025.  

Published

Designed in EQ8 and made with the Island Batik collection Shadow Blooms, Niko finished at 60" by 84", making him suitable for TV time and naps on the couch. He is a perfect picnic partner and just as happy to go on car rides.

Finding Happiness

But Niko isn't just fun and games. He is also just right for charity quilts including Quilts of Valor.

Since Niko is jelly-roll friendly (which you already have) all you need is 2.5 yards of background fabric and you are in business. The step by step directions and colored graphics for every step ensure success.

Jelly-Roll Friendly

But what I like best about Niko is this - simple blocks come together to make a fun secondary pattern. Dancing Pinwheels remind me that we are better when we are together. The elongated Granny Square like negative space also offers room to show off your quilting design.

Dancing Pinwheels

Niko is now available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop. Marked at $12, Niko is on sale for just $9 till May 8, 2025.

Labelled

But wait there is more. Leave me a comment on this blogpost to be entered into a giveaway contest for a downloadable PDF copy of the Niko Quilt Pattern. I will announce the two winners on May 8, 2025.

UPDATE - The two winners are #7 (Jocelyn) and #27 (Jan). Emails are on the way.

What are you waiting for?

What is happening on May 8, 2025? 

Island Batik and Accuquilt have teamed to sponsor the Irish Chain BlogHop and Challenge beginning May 5 and I will be posting on May 8. I will be using this gorgeous collection - Fusion  by Jerry Khiev for Swan Amity Studios.

And one more thing. Angela has announced the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for May. It is green and here is my fabric pull. All gorgeous greens are from Island Batik.

Island Batik Greens for May RSC

I will be sharing with Quilting Jetgirl's Favorite Finish and all my favorite linky parties including Angela's. See full list on the sidebar.