Kathleen visits Wisconsin

My sister Krachel lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, so for the long 4th of July weekend Kathleen went to visit her.

They've been having a lot of fun touring and sight-seeing. I've been having fun enjoying all the pictures they keep sending to me... I think they're trying to make me feel bad that I'm not there....and it's working!

They captured this awesome picture on the 4th of July while visiting Door County, Wisconsin. I love this picture so much!

Another awesome barn quilt in Door County, Wisconsin.

For Kathleen no vacation would be complete without a visit to a new quilt shop!

Kathleen and Krachel found Barn Door Quilt Shop in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Looks like they are having so much fun! Maybe next time I'll join them and visit Wisconsin!

Nine Patches & Sawtooth Stars

Carol recently bought a new RV, she decided that she wanted to dress it up a little by making a new quilt for the bed.

So she made this darling quilt.

I machine quilted an all over pattern with leaves and swirls, I really love how it softened up the quilt just a tiny bit.

Ghastlies Quilt

Susan made this darling ghastlies Halloween quilts as a block of the month though our local quilt shop, Seasons of Home.

Susan always makes beautiful quilts and they are pieced very beautifully!

I had fun machine quilting this quilt for her, it was fun to hide little spider-webs in.

A Look Inside - Modern One Block Quilts

After sharing the cover of our new book, Modern One-Block Quilts, last week, I knew I had to share a little look into what's inside the book!

Modern One-Block Quilts is truly a work of love. Kathleen, my mom, and I have always wanted to write a pattern book. After she helped me write my first book, Beginners' Guide to Free-Motion Quilting we decided it was time to do this together!

We sketched out all the quilts, got all the fabric, Kathleen cut every single quilt out and then it was time to sew......22 quilt tops in a few short months. At that point I think we realized that with my new-born baby, (yes we started sewing on the quilts in this book when he was just 3 days old) running my business and Kathleen working full-time we needed a little help. We have awesome family members, cousins, an aunt and my grandpa and grandma all spent countless hours helping to piece the beautiful quilts for our new book. We couldn't have done it without them!

You can pre-order signed copies of Modern-One Block Quilts here.

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.