Letting the Cat out of the Bag!

Modern

One-Block Quilts

22 Fresh Patchwork Projects

Natalia Bonner & Kathleen Whiting

Each in 3 sizes, Baby, Twin & Queen

2012 & 2013 have been busy for Kathleen and I.... why you might ask, well because we have a brand new book coming out this fall. Kathleen and I had a lot of fun writing, creating and designing the quilts for our new book, and we are so excited to share it with all of you!

Modern One-Block Quilts by Natalia Bonner and Kathleen Whiting proves that all you need is one simple block pattern to make 22 quilts! From throws and wall hangings to queen-sized blankets, sewists of all skill levels will be inspired to create something new by manipulating these simple block patterns with interesting fabrics, unusual shapes and expressive lines. Clear step-by-step instructions and a basic quiltmaking overview help you from start to finish.

Our new book will begin shipping  October 2013, you can pre-order signed copies here, or it's also available for pre-order on Amazon!

YIPEE!

Quilting for Myself!

photo via instagram

These days it seems like it's not very often that I machine quilt anything that I actually get to keep, or better yet, just for the heck of it.

Well, today, I made a point of machine quilting a little something for myself.

My daughter was at swimming lessons and my baby was sleeping so things here were moving quite smoothly. :) I never get quiet time like that. 

A few years back I machine quilted a chevron pattern for the first time, ever since that day I have been wanting to quilt something of my own with chevrons. Today I machine quilted the chevrons on one of my "fresh mini quilts". 

I love how it's looking!

I hope to have Kathleen attach the bindings on all 3 later this week and then I'll share more pictures!

Hope you're all having a great Monday!

Slice

photo via instagram

How many of you are familiar with Slice? I've seen demos and read little bits about this cool little fabric and paper cutting machine but haven't ever tried it out. 

Well, this week Slice made it's way to my studio and I'm super excited to try it out and share a fun tutorial with you all.

Before I get started, are any of you already Slice users?

Do you have any slice tips for me?

Fresh Mini Quilt Club - Playing Catch-up

Sometimes life just gets in the way of my "fun" sewing. 

This has been happening a lot here lately.

A few months ago I joined Megan's Fresh Mini Quilt Club. I was super ambitious in the beginning and got my first one made quickly, I love how it turned out, it's on my kitchen table now. But, since I made that first one I've been slacking and haven't made the next three...until last week. Kathleen had a day off from her "real" job, she and I spent some time and got all 3 of my Fresh Mini Quilt Club quilts all pieced. Now I just need to quilt them.

Here are some little snippets of them. :)

When I made my first one I used some of Sue Spargo's darling fabrics from a fat quarter bundle that I had picked up. I've decided to continue with that theme and make all of my Fresh Mini's from the same bundle. So far I'm loving what I'm seeing.

Hope you're all having a great week, I've been busy machine quilting quilts for my customers, quilts for magazines and other publications that I can't share here, just yet. I'll have more eye candy soon! :)

Yummy Quilt

MaryAnn pieced this darling version of "Yummy" for one of her granddaughters.

She sent it to me for some machine quilting, I quilted an all over flower pattern.  I love how happy and cute it turned out. 

The machine quilting pattern is one of my new designs that will be available to long-arm quilter in digital and paper pantograph patterns in August. I can't wait to share more about that. :)

Pattern for Yummy is designed by Julie of Jaybird Quilts.

Kelly Marie Quilt

Kimberly from Main Street Market Designs designed this darling Kelly Marie quilt.

It's a fun quilt with a modern yet traditional feel.

Kimberly brought it to me and asked for some modern custom machine quilting, something to really make those white squares pop and give the quilt a more modern feeling.

I think it turned out really cool!

Take a minute to hop over to Main Street Market Designs to see all of Kimberly's beautiful quilts.

Scrappy Trip Along #scrappytripalong

I mentioned a couple months back that these Scrappy Trip Along quilts are on my bucket list. I still love them and totally want to make one.

MaryAnn made this darling version, I love the color scheme that she has going on here, even though it's scrappy it flows so nicely.

MaryAnn asked me to machine quilt an all over pattern, she loves circles so I machine quilted an all over circle & swirl pattern, I love the softness that it added to the quilt.

Thanks so much for letting me machine quilt your darling quilt MaryAnn!

Here is another darling Scrappy Trip Along that I machine quilted a few months back.

Creative Mojo!

I am so excited and nervous I swear I might have peed my pants a little!

Today, the MARK LIPINKSI called me and asked me to be on his Creative Mojo radio show tomorrow! EEEKKK!!!

If you have a moment I hope you'll tune in and listen to me chatting with Mark, I'll be on there at about 1:50 MST. :)

Transforming a Simple 9-Patch Quilt

This super cool quilt was pieced by my friend Jamie. She pieced this quilt as a gift for a friends 50th birthday. How sweet is that!

Jamie sent the quilt to me and told me that she wanted custom machine quilting, but basically I could do whatever I wanted. So I just did whatever I felt like at that moment. :)

I really wan't too sure how I was going to quilt it in the beginning, so I took a picture of it, sometimes when I see quilts in a photo then I can see the pattern better and get more ideas how to machine quilt it.

It's kinda cool to see the before and after pictures.

Jamie did ask me to machine quilt a 50 somewhere in the quilt. Since it is a birthday gift. I love how it turned out, it's there, but it's very subtle.

It was a very fun quilt to custom machine quilt.

I thought the back turned out really cool too, so I had to share a picture. :)

And if this isn't enough of a picture overload....here are a few from Instagram. 

Applique Flower Quilt

Terry pieced this beautiful applique quilt.

She sent it to me for some custom machine quilting, she really likes swirls and pebbles so I quilted all the background in tiny pebbles and swirls, I love how they made the flying geese and flowers just pop.

All of the background was pieced so I did add in a few little quilting designs in those areas, just to add extra interest.

I love how your quilt turned out Terry! Thanks for letting me machine quilt for you!

Car Quilts ~ Quilts for Little Boys

A few months back Becky had me machine quilt a couple of little car quilts for some grand-babies. I thought they turned out pretty dang cute and so did she, she loved them so much that she sent me 3 more!

I custom machine quilted these just like the first time. Seriously aren't they the cutest little quilts!

Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe

I shared a little peek into this new book, Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe last fall, but today I get to share again, and...... if you read to the bottom you'll have a chance to win a FREE copy!

Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe is a fabulous "modern" type quilt book published by Martingale/That Patchowrk Place.

I feel so honored that I was asked, among so many rockstar pattern designers to share one of my quilts in this beautiful book.

Knots is the quilt that I designed for this book, it's a fun pattern and with just one quilt block you get an awesome illusion of "knots".

You can read more or purchase this awesome book over on Martingale's website. 

If you'd like to enter to win a FREE copy of this book, click here!

America Makes Fast Quilts - I quilted 3 quilts!

My brilliant friends over at It's Sew Emma have designed some fantastic quilts....again!

This time they have 3 patterns in the Spring 2013 issue of McCalls Quilting, America Makes Fast Quilts.

I custom machine quilted all 3 of these quilts for them and it's always so much fun to see something that you've worked on appear in a magazine. :)

First up is Pick Up Sticks, designed by Sara Price for It's Sew Emma, machine quilted by Natalia Bonner.

Next is Funfetti designed by Jocelyn Ueng for It's Sew Emma, machine quilted by Natalia Bonner. Kits available at Fat Quarter Shop.

Odds and Ends is also featured in America Makes Fast Quilts. Designed by Jocelyn Ueng for It's Sew Emma. Machine quilted by Natalia Bonner. Kits are available at Fat Quarters Shop.