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.

Beauty and the Beast - Vitrine

Once upon a time before the great pandemic, I was at a fancy store admiring beautiful jewelry.  I have plenty of jewelry including some exquisite pieces from India. But the glittering stones beckoned to me.

Jewelry from India - Necklace, Earrings and Bangles

Only if I had all MY jewelry in a catalogue/showcase that I could admire every time temptation struck. 

This is how this quilt feels - my pretty and adorable fabrics, including low volume beauties in a transparent display case. Hence I have named it Vitrine, a fancy word for a glass display case :-)

New Finish!!!

I had made these blocks starting here, whined about hunter green here, shared my positivity in pinks here, talked about pain via purples here, celebrated with reds here, and ended with yellows here.

Green Jewel Blocks

Teal and Aqua

Cuteness in Orange

Got the Blues

Hunting for the Hunter (Green)

Pretty in Pink

Going to the Dark (Blue) side

Eggplant, Mauve, Lavender, Geranium etc.

Ravishing Reds

Wine and Cherries :-)

You light up my life

I tried taking  stock of all blocks here but I was distracted by a squirrel. Eventually I did count them all, made a few more and came up with a plan to finish it.  It was too large and had to be pieced in quadrants.

Piecing Plan

Border Layout

Bottom Left

Bottom Right

Top Right

And when the four quadrants were put together, the seams were a bit off. YIKES!!! 

But then so is life - beautiful but not perfect.

Finished Flimsy

Pieced in Winter, Quilted in Spring and Photographed in Summer.  

And here we are!!! Finally!!! PHEW!!! With 180 blocks, arranged 12 by 15, this quilt ended at 84" by 105". And that is HUGE!!! The Beauty is also the Beast.

Finished at 84" by 105"

A dark (black and gray) border to frame the low volume blocks and a red plaid binding completed the picture.

Lots to see

Find the robots?

A Monkey and a Llama walk into a quilt...

Hello Charlie Brown!

Lots of Color

Dark Border, Red Binding

My elephant is turquoise!!!

Of course I got sewing supplies

Celebrating low-volume loveliness

This quilt is not just a showcase of fabric it is also a documentation of the year 2020 and the rollercoaster of experiences that it was. Just as capturing the year 2020 in words or pictures is a challenge so also photographing this beast of a beauty was an ordeal. I could not do it alone.  In fact, I had two handsome men help me :-)

Bob is always happy to model

Bright colors and Beaming Bob

Handsome Model, Happy Me :-)

Thanks to Bob, Paul got some respite

Paul was there to hold me and comfort me during the year and he was a perfect model to hold the quilt for the photoshoot.

Found this little gem of a garden with a fountain. I will be coming here for future photoshoots.

Serendipitous Find

I screamed "lower, lower, lower" from across the little lake till the quilt was inches away from the water surface. I was nervous but Paul held tight. 

Thank you Paul!!!

Notice the water zebras?

Ooh the reflection!!!

And here is Paul - holding the beauty while the beast was conquered.

Oh Baby!!!

This my 21st finish (including the Novella Wall Hanging) of the year and I am very happy with my Showcase Quilt - Vitrine. Four new finishes coming soon, but that is for the next blogpost.

Speaking of items I want to showcase (or shamelessly show off) here are two quilt magazines, both featuring the International Sister Quilt Block. 

Rikstacket from Sweden

Swedish Quilt Magazine

Gail's Abigail Angel and me

Quilteblad from Norway

Norwegian Quilt Magazine

Featuring International Sister Quilt Block

And Gail too with her Abigail Angel

The International Sister Quilt Block was earlier featured in the Canadian Quilter in Fall 2020 issue. 

Here they are - all three magazines  :-)

Yes, I am showing off :-)

Sisters without Borders

Paul: You are popular in cold climates.  

Me: It is the International Sister Quilt Block that is popular. 

Paul: So you take no responsibility?

Me: I am happy to bask in the popularity of the quilt block.

Paul: But why only cold countries?

Me: Guess they make a lot of quilts to stay warm.

Paul: So what country comes next?

Me: Dunno. But if the International Sister Quilt Block goes to Finland or Denmark, I won't be surprised.

Paul: Conquering Scandinavia, I suppose

Me: The Sisters are very adaptable and if they have reached Sweden, Finland is only next door.

I do not know Swedish or Norwegian but that has not stopped me from gleaming. 

Glossy Magazine

Glowing me :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties including Angela's Linky Party. See full list on the sidebar. But my party is incomplete without your comments. So do let me know what is making you glow today.