3.31.2016

Black & Gold Star Quilt - Edge to Edge Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Carol made this beautiful black & gold quilt and brought it to me for some edge to edge machine quilting. The quilt is gorgeous and Carol did a fabulous job piecing it.


3.26.2016

Flower Garden Quilt - Edge to Edge Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Donna sent me this gorgeous hexagon quilt and asked me to machine quilt it for her. The quilt was all had pieced tiny hexagons, I think they were about 2" finished, maybe smaller. 
Donna wanted the quilt to keep an antique look so she chose this fun edge to edge pattern.

3.25.2016

Chicks & Flowers - Edge to Edge Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Over the last few months I've shared several of Cat's quilts. She's been one busy lady, UFO busting like crazy and I've had so much fun machine quilting quilts for her! Her quilts have all be so cute and unique!
This fun quilt was another darling quilt, I just love it!

3.24.2016

Front Porch Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Lolly made this darling Front Porch quilt and brought it to me for some custom machine quilting. She picked this quilt up for this fun kit from my local quilt shop, Quilted Works, they actually laser cut all of the applique pieces making the quilt so much quicker to put together.

3.23.2016

Rah Rah Rally Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Kathy made this darling Rah Rah Rally quilt as a graduation gift. The quilt is darling and I was so excited to custom machine quilt it for her. The quilt is going to a girl so Kathy asked me to machine quilt it with a bit of a girly flair. I decided to mix modern, because the pattern is a bit modern, and girly, so I machine quilted straight lines and swirls and flowers. I love how it turned out.


3.18.2016

International Quilting Weekend with The Quilt Show.com & a Give-Away!

Did you know that this weekend, March 18-20th is International Quilting Weekend with The Quilt Show.com? What a perfect weekend to hit your local quilt shop, do some online fabric shopping, spend some time sewing or even watch a few episodes of The Quilt Sow.com

To help celebrate this fabulous weekend, Alex Anderson & Ricky Tims, hosts of the The Quilt Show.com are hosting some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G give-aways, you definitely want to enter to win!

3.17.2016

Gingerbread Village - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

I recently finished custom machine quilting this fun Gingerbread Village quilt for Marilyn. Even though it's not Christmas time, it's fun to switch things up and quilt a Christmas quilt in March. :)

Marilyn made this fun quilt as a block of the month through Quilted Works, they laser cut all of those applique pieces, so putting the quilt together is so much easier. It looks like they still have a few kits available on their website, if you want to pick one up.


3.14.2016

Thankful - A Fall Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Around here I don't think it matters what the season is, I'm always machine quilting something. :) Marilyn made this beautiful Thankful quilt and brought it to me and asked me to custom machine quilt it for her. She liked how I had custom machine quilted another version of this quilt for Quilted Works and wanted something similar. If you know me, you know it's pretty rare that I quilt two quilts exactly the same, so it was fun to change this one up a bit, but still have some fun custom machine quilting it. 


3.13.2016

String Tulips - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner


























Carla made this gorgeous String Tulips quilt and sent it to me for some custom machine quilting. She liked a quilt that I had custom machine quilted with crosshatching in the background and asked me to quilt hers similar. Crosshatching is just such a classic pattern, you can never go wrong with it.


3.11.2016

Spider Star Quilt Pattern - The Battle Against Breast Cancer

After several requests for this fun Spider Star quilt block to be converted into a 72" quilt I finally have the math all figured out and the instructions written. 

Thank you again to all of you who have supported my mom, in raising funds to help pay for her breast cancer expenses.

This PDF pattern is now available for purchase, for $5.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 


When I decided to convert this block into a 72" square I chose to write the instructions using half square triangles instead of flying geese. The blocks are big, and in my opinion when blocks get too big it becomes hard to keep things square. So, working with half square triangles will create no waste and be a bit easier to manage.


I've sketched out this pattern in simple two color palates, but I'd love to see it made more scrappy. I think it could be so cheery.

*****

I have to share just a few of the sweet comments, they are all so heartwarming.

Hi Natalia, Hope your mother is doing well! I love your patterns that you are selling to raise money for your mother! What a wonderful idea! I just need to find time to make some quilts! Prayers for your family. - Donna, Missouri

You and your family are in my prayers xoxo - Marcy, New Hampshire

Easter Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Can you believe that Easter is right around the corner? I can't! Where is time going? 

I recently custom machine quilted this darling Easter quilt for one of my local quilt shops, Quilted Works. I love how cheery and refreshing this fun quilt is! Perfect for spring and Easter!

3.10.2016

Metro Twist - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

I recently custom machine quilted this gorgeous Metro Twist quilt for Raquel. Raquel did a fabulous job piecing this beautiful quilt and I had so much fun machine quilting it for her. I love the bit of white, negative space where I was able to add a bit of subtle detail with my machine quilting

3.09.2016

Rotating Snowballs - Red Rock Modern Quilt Guild

In my local modern quilt guild, Red Rock Modern Quilt Guild, we are doing a fun block exchange. Everyone that signed up agreed to make 12" finished black and white quilt blocks. We could use any black and white fabrics and any pattern that we want, as long as the block finishes at 12" square. 

In our last Saturday sew day I was feeling quite overwhelmed by other deadlines and things in my life, I was joking with the ladies at the sew day saying that my block might just be a 12" square of black and white fabric. Then one of the ladies said, "just make snowballs, that would be fast and easy". Well, that night when I got home I sat in my living room, and inspiration struck.

3.08.2016

Navajo Star Quilt Pattern - The Battle Against Breast Cancer

Hello my amazing, supportive quilting friends. I can't even write these blog posts without coming to tears. This community has been absolutely amazing in supporting my mom, Kathleen Whiting, in her fight against Breast Cancer. I hope that you will all know just how much every single one of you are truly appreciated.

Today I've got another fun quilt/block pattern, this pattern is the Navajo Star. I designed this pattern to use every bit of fabric, no waste. So the blocks are easy, big half square triangles and the quilt goes together really quickly!

The image above I used Prairie by Cory Yoder, I'm really crushing on that fabric line right now. The image below is decided to make a reverse version. I really love it too.
This PDF pattern is now available for purchase, for $5.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 


*****

I have to share just a few of the sweet comments, they are all so heartwarming.

wishing your mom strength and recovery!! - Melinda, Washington

Natalia, I wish all the best for your mom. Several of my friends have had breast cancer and all are happy, smiling, and cancer free! Hugs and prayers to you and your mom. I have followed your blog for years and use your first machine quilting book as my bible! Take care! - Lesley, Canada

Prayers to your Ohana from the Euto Ohana. Aloha - Maxine, Virginia

Positive thoughts, take care - Kerri, Canada

3.07.2016

Blithe - The Quilt & A Give-Away!

I was able to sneak in a little bit of sewing just for me, just for fun over the weekend. It really doesn't happen all that often, but when it does it's so rejuvenating, and totally reminds me why I fell in love with this hobby/career.

My friends over at Fat Quarter Shop have teamed up again with Art Gallery Fabrics to create another fun quilt. This quilt is called Blithe. When I selected my fabrics I decided to go with a few prints from April Rhodes Bound collection.

3.06.2016

Ohana - Ohana Means Family - The Battle Against Breast Cancer

Why Ohana? Ohana means family in the Hawaiian culture. No, I'm not from Hawaii, and I have only been to visit a couple of times, however my family has some pretty strong Hawaiian ties. When my mom was growing up her grandparents moved from Idaho to Hawaii to help build BYU Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, this was supposed to be for just a couple of years, but they fell in love with Hawaii, the people and the culture, so much that they stayed there for over 20 years. So, my mom's childhood was filled with trips to Hawaii to visit their grandparents and later her sister and other family. 

Last fall, one of my cousins came up with the idea that for our grandma's birthday we should have a family quilt block exchange. She thought it would be fun to make big, 20" quilt blocks, 2 different patterns in a particular fabric line, each make a bunch of blocks and then swap them for grandma's birthday! My mom came to me with the idea and asked me if I would design a pattern that could be our family block exchange. So, I created this fun, Ohana Quilt. We decided to use Prairie fabric by Cory Yoder for Moda Fabrics.

Each of us made at least 9 blocks, some of us are still working on finishing them, but when we get them all complete, we'll all sew our tops together. 
I'm still working on my quilt, but I can't wait to share it when it's all complete.

I've been keeping this design to just our family ever since I designed it. I absolutely love the pattern, but because I had created it just for our family exchange I knew that it needed a special purpose.

After coming up with the idea for the Battle Against Cancer blocks, I knew this quilt was the perfect quilt to go along with that series. What better way for all of my family to help my mom fight!

The quilt blocks are all 20", so with the sashing the quilt finishes at about 69" square, if you wanted it bigger you could easily make more blocks, or add a border. 

The Ohana PDF pattern is available for purchase for $10.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 


*****

Thank you again to all of you who have supported my mom in this cause. I wanted to share a few more thoughtful and supportive notes from this amazing quilting community, oh, and I love reading about all of the survivors!!!


Sending my best wishes to you and your mum and all your family. - Lynn, Great Britain

Best wishes to Kathleen. I survived 2 bouts with breast cancer and am still quilting! - Judy, Colorado

Sending positive thoughts and prayers for your mother and for you to find strength and encouragement to be there to support. - Darlene, California

Prayers and Thoughts for your Mom & You! May she feel the love of the quilting community. - Julie, Arizona

I hope your mother will recover. - Vivi, Denmark

I am keeping your Mom in my thoughts as she recovers from her surgery and a big hug for you. - Deb, California

Best wishes for a full recovery for your Mom. - Rose, California

Natalia - This year I'll celebrate 9 years of being cancer-free. I'm hopeful for your mom and will keep you and your family in my thoughts. Hugs. - Lisa, Oregon

Best wishes to your mom! - Melinda, Washington

My sister has stage 4 breast cancer. We believe she will beat it. Good luck and God bless your mother and the entire family. - Joanne, Idaho

Best wishes to your mother for a quick recovery! - Mary, Arizona

3.04.2016

Machine Quilting a Panel - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

I always thing it's fun, and a little bit amazing that custom machine quilting can really bring a panel to life. Deloris sent me this fun panel quilt and asked me to custom machine quilt it for her. I immediately knew that I need to treat each of the flowers, and leaves like they were applique pieces, actually, whenever I'm going to custom machine quilt any panel that's how I like to treat them.

3.03.2016

Flower Star Quilt Pattern - The Battle Against Breast Cancer

I'm writing today's post through a lot of tears, mostly tears of gratitude. As I write this post my mom, Kathleen is currently in surgery. We are praying all will go well and the Dr.'s will have great success in removing the cancer, so that she can begin the healing process. 

When I came up with the idea to sell these patterns to raise a little bit of money to help my mom I had no idea the outpouring of love that would be felt & received by this amazing quilting community. I did this without telling my mom. I sent her a message after the first night telling her that I started this and I had transferred some money to her. Her response, "I can't stop crying, thank you so much."

Thank you all! Thank you for filling not only my heart, but my mom's heart. I know that the support that you all have given her has lifted her spirits in so many ways. 

Today I've got another fun block pattern. This pattern is called Flower Star. I love how bright and cheery this block is.

I've sketched this block out in two color-ways, the top illustration features Prairie fabric by Cory Yoder, and the illustration below features A Bright Sun by A Quilting Life.
This PDF pattern is now available for purchase, for $5.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 


I have to share just a few of the sweet comments, they are all just so heartwarming.

I am a breast cancer survivor, praying for you and your mom. Have faith - this is a disease that can be beaten. I plan to order all the patterns that you get rewritten. -Kathleen, Ohio

xoxoxoxo - Erin, Kentucky

I pray your Mother receives all she requires in the way of hope, peace and healing. - Carol, California

Prayers and blessings to your mom during this time. -Trish, Wisconsin

God bless your mom and you. - Betty Jane, New Jersey

Wishing the best for Kathleen, one of the most lovely women I've ever met. Miss you, Natalia! - Susan, Utah

Love this pattern! Hope you sell a million of them! What a wonderful idea to help your mom! Please let us know how many you sell and when your next one is available! - Donna, Missouri

Great idea to help your Mom! - Kathie, Pennsylvania

My thoughts and prayers are with your mom! - Cheryl, Connecticut

Praying for your Mom and your family. - Kristine, Oregon

Lifting your mom in prayer . Cancer is an ugly word! - Melinda, Missouri

So sorry to hear about your Mom's diagnosis, Natalia! Best wishes to her and your family! - Deonn, Utah

Wishing your mom many blessings. She is a wonderful woman. - Mary, California

I am so sorry to hear of your mother's diagnosis. Best of luck to her and your family. - Zina, California

3.02.2016

Splendid Sampler - Focal Point Quilt Block by Natalia Bonner

I'm super excited today to introduce you to my block design for the Splendid Sampler! If you've all been following along you'll know that my block, Focal Point, is the 6th block. 

However, if you're just learning about the Splendid Sampler, you'll want to visit the Splendid Sampler website to read all about this fun sew-along!

3.01.2016

The Battle Against Breast Cancer - Fighting For My Mom

In January, actually while I was in California teaching at Road to California, right in the middle of one of my classes I got the text message that one one ever wants to receive, from anyone....."I have cancer". Luckily it was lunch time when I read this text and I was able to gather my thoughts and pull it together enough to finish teaching all of my classes that week. 

My mom, as many of you probably know her, the co-author of Modern One-Block Quilts and also, Cabin Fever: 20 Modern Log Cabin Quilts had found a lump on her breast, immediately had a mammogram, and other testing and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 

Since that day I've been wracking my brain, how can I help? What can I do to help my family? Because I live about 300 miles away, and still have a little family to take care of and provide for, I knew that I couldn't drop everything to be there throughout the duration of her fight. I'm not wealthy, and don't come from great fortunes, however, I do think I'm creative and I think I've finally come up with a plan, hoping that I might be able to help just a little bit.

Last year a I created a few tutorial series' with free quilt block tutorials. I've had a great response to those tutorials and have had several asking for me to create the tutorials with patterns for larger, one block quilt size blocks. Last week it finally hit me! That's exactly what I can do for my mom! I can re-write my tutorials in the giant size and sell them, with 100% of the proceeds from the pattern sales being donated to my mom to help ease the financial burden that is being placed on her. 

Today I've got the first pattern available, the Morning Star, I'm hoping to get several of these written into the 72" quilt size over the next few months. 
If there are any of the patterns that you'd like to see in the 72" size, please, leave a comment and let me know.

The PDF pattern is available for purchase here for just $5.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 
I have sketched the pattern in two different color-ways the first using A Bright Sun by A Quilting Life and the second using Prairie by Cory Yoder.