Scaredy Cats and String Stars

Writing new patterns kept me busy for the better part of July and early August, but, Yay!, they're finished!  I had so many requests to publish my pattern, "Scaredy Cats", that I finally got it done!

Scaredy Cats quilt pattern

It's now up on the website!

I have always had a fascination with string piecing, and have done quite a bit of it. One thing I had been wanting to try for many years, was to make a giant size string star. I was also thinking it might help to make a dent in my fabric stash. I finally drafted and cut out the foundation diamonds last Fall.

As I was moving back and forth in my studio writing my patterns, those foundation papers kept getting in my way. I finally decided to just take a break, and make the big string star, just to get those papers out of my way, at least!

It went very quickly, and I was so happy that my math was correct. The setting squares and triangles fit just perfectly! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I can report, however, that it did very little to reduce my fabric stash, although the background squares and triangles did take almost 2 yards.  I'm hoping to teach how to make the giant string star to fellow string star lovers in the future!

Giant String Star

With the 4 1/2" borders added, the quilt top is approximately 73" square.

I'll have more new patterns to post soon!

Until next time,

Martha

Weekend Getaway

My husband and I decided we needed a little break from the Phoenix summer heat, and so we headed down south for an overnight stay in Bisbee, Arizona. Bisbee is an old mining town situated in the Mule Mountains. It is the southernmost mile high city in the United States, so the weather is a lot milder than what we're used to in Phoenix.

We stayed in the Copper Queen Hotel, a hotel built by the Phelps Dodge Corporation and completed after four years in 1902. We didn't have reservations, so we were offered a choice of three rooms, one of which has claims of being haunted. We took a look at each of the rooms, but when we returned, the front desk apologized, and told us that one of their reserved guests had actually requested the haunted room, and could they give us the room that they had set aside for them? You bet! I like to get a good night's sleep when I stay in hotels.

Our first stop when we arrived in Bisbee was The Old Corner Quilt and Dry Goods Shop, a new shop just under 1 yr old. I had met Debbie, the owner, at Quilt Market in Kansas City, so I was looking forward to seeing her shop now that's it's open. Wow! The shop is wonderful! Her displays are so creative, and she is even expanding into another room and working on more displays and eventually a loft. Here are some pictures, but you'll have to go see for yourself if you get a chance!

Debbie in front of The Old Corner Quilt & Dry Goods Shop

Front Door, with wonderful front window display

Vintage Christmas!

Cute Display!

Valdani Threads display in buckets - cute!

Homespuns - like!

Hand dyed yarns

Cute display with old window, door and tin roof with lights

Debbie and Martha

Debbie's shop specializes in primitive style quilts and projects, and by the way, she also carries Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine. I'm a little late in posting this, but hopefully you've already picked up the Fall issue and seen my Scaredy Cats quilt inside --

Scaredy Cats

Right now I'm currently trying to finish another bunch of Halloween themed patterns. We'll see if I can get them finished before the big day!

Until next time,

Martha