Posted on Leave a comment

Patterns, Facebook Live, YouTube Channel and First Fabric Collection

Coco Chic Collection

We have been very busy creating many patterns, which we hope you will enjoy. We’ve done Facebook Lives with other talented designers over the summer. We created a YouTube channel. And, we have our first fabric collection.

We have been busy sewing lots of face masks. We even found a Quilt in a Day scallop ruler which helped cut out the mask shapes. Even the bears got into the act. Silly Reed thought you could wear them on top of your head but Beauregard Bear showed him the correct way.

Reed with masks
Reed with masks
Bear with mask
Bear with mask
QIAD ruler
QIAD ruler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Quilt Cruise to Alaska did not happen in June due to the pandemic, but it was fun thinking about the possibility and we hope to schedule another quilt cruise in the future when we can all be together.

 

We have two new fun summer sailing patterns we created for Accuquillt. One is called Ahoy Mate Table Runner.

Ahoy Mate Table Runner
Ahoy Mate Table Runner

 

You can get the free pattern here: https://www.accuquilt.com/go-ahoy-mate-table-runner-pattern.html

 

 

The other is called Let’s Go Sailing, which is a fun combination of signal codes.

Let's Go Sailing Quilt
Let’s Go Sailing Quilt

 

Let's Go Sailing
Let’s Go Sailing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is where you will find that free pattern: https://www.accuquilt.com/go-let-s-go-sailing-quilt-pattern.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have had a bunch of quilts in magazines. The first one was Firework Flowers in May/June 2020 Love of Quilting magazine.

Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers
Firework Flowers
Firework Flowers Quilt
Firework Flowers Quilt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt brought some joy to my 4th of July this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next was 50’s Diner in the May/June 2020 McCall’s Quilting magazine.

50's Diner Quilt
50’s Diner Quilt
may/june mccalls 2020
may/june mccalls 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t you just imagine drinking an ice cream soda at the soda fountain with your date?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever tried curved piecing like you would find in the Drunkard’s Path block? The Waverly Path quilt was in the July/August 2020 issue of Quiltmaker magazine.

Waverly Path
Waverly Path
Waverly Path
Waverly Path
QM July/August 2020
QM July/August 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, named after a grand niece, Thoroughly Modern Vivs was in the premier issue of Fons and Porter Quick and Easy Quilts. It was such an honor to be in this magazine with so many esteemed designers.

Modern Vivs Quilt
Modern Vivs Quilt
Quick-Easy
Quick-Easy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We created several patterns for Timeless Treasures new collections. They are There’s a Bear in My Watermelon Patch 2, using their One in a Mellon collection; Patriotic Polka, using their Treats Freedom collection; Adore Him, using the Come Let Us Adore Him collection; Peaceful Valley, using the Winter Blessing collection and Cowboy Claus, which uses the Ho Ho Hoedown collection. These fabric lines are at quilt shops now and you can purchase these quilt patterns on our website.

There's a Bear in my Watermelon Patch 2
There’s a Bear in my Watermelon Patch 2
Patriotic Polka
Patriotic Polka
Adore Him
Adore Him
Peace in the Valley
Peace in the Valley
Cowboy Claus
Cowboy Claus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Facebook, we did four facebook lives covering a virtual trunk show, accurate cutting, fussy cutting tips and our top 20 favorite quilting notions. We also have a video debuting our first ever fabric collection. If you missed any of these, you can catch them all on our YouTube Channel.

BBQ You Tube
BBQ You Tube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see the videos on YouTube on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSRJrsvJV2uIdS1aquYw8JA

Speaking of a new fabric collection, our first fabric collection is with QT Fabrics and it is called Coco Chic.

Coco Chic
Coco Chic
Coco Chic Collection
Coco Chic Collection

It will be available in quilt shops in January 2021. This fabric collection was inspired by authentic 1920’s fabric from deep in the QT Fabrics archives. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a Great Gatsby or Roaring 20’s party using these fabrics from the time period. We see this fabric being used in quilts, bags, lady’s dresses and men’s shirts. We hope you are as excited about this collection as we are.

 

 

Be sure to ask you local quilt shop if they will be carrying Coco Chic. We have designed several quilts using the collection and will have demos on Youtube using the fabrics. Stay tuned for much more regarding this exciting fabric collection.

On August 4th, we will be participating in Quilt Block Mania, A blog hop with other designers, where they all will be giving away a free block pattern with the theme of Back to School. Watch for this coming soon! Keep on quilting. Oh, and Beauregard says Hi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Blue Bear Quilts is doing Virtual Quilt Trunk Show on Facebook Live April 5th 4 pm EST.

Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show
Quilt Candy Virtual Trunk Show

There is going to be a Quilter’s Eye Candy Trunk Show Event on Facebook from April 1st through April 10th. Since you can’t come to the designers, they are going to come to you. Many quilt pattern designers will be holding a trunk show on their Facebook page. These will be Facebook Live presentations that will be 15 minutes long and will occur throughout the day, on the hour, from 12-8 pm. EST. Blue Bear Quilts will be doing our trunk show on April 5th at 4 p.m.EST. We hope you will join us and also check out many of the other fabulous designers that will also being doing Facebook Live trunk shows. If you would like to become familiar with the different designers before their trunk shows, click on the links to go to their Facebook page. This should be a lot of fun! The schedule is listed below.  #quilterseyecandytrunkshow #fblivetrunkshow #quilterscandytrunkshow

April 1 

12 pm EST Andi Stanfield facebook.com/Anditruebluequilts
1 pm EST Nancy Scott
facebook.com/MasterpieceQ
2 pm EST becky jorgensen
https://www.facebook.com/patchworkposse/
3 pm EST carolina moore
facebook.com/alwaysexpectmoore
4 pm EST Jackie Kunkel
https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/
5 pm EST Connie Jonson Sayler
https://www.facebook.com/PacificRimQuiltCompany/
6 pm EST
Laura Piland/Slice of Pi Quilts  https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
7 pm EST Sandra Starley https://www.facebook.com/TextileTimeTravels
8 pm EST Swan Sheridan www.facebook.com/swanamitystudios

April 2
 
12 pm EST Lisa Ruble https://www.facebook.com/LoveToColorMyWorld/
1 pm EST Beth Helfter EvaPaige Quilt Designs
2 pm EST Diane Bohn/From Blank Pages
https://facebook.com/fromblankpages
3 pm EST Deb Eggers/the cottage rose
https://www.facebook.com/cottagerosequilt/
4 pm EST Heidi Pridemore/The Whimsical Workshop
https:/www.facebook.com/thewhimsicalworkshop
5 pm EST Kate Colleran
https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
6 pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/
April 3
 
12 pm EST Darcy Hunter www.facebook.com/darcydoodlequilts
1 pm EST Teresa Weaver www.facebook.com/yoursewingfriend
2 pm EST Annette Ornelas
https://www.facebook.com/southwind.designs/
3 pm EST Jo Westfoot – The Crafty Nomad
www.facebook.com/thecraftynomad
4 pm EST Lynn Kane
https://facebook.com/puppygirllynn
5 pm EST Geeky Bobbin
https://facebook.com/geekybobbinApril 3 6pm EST
7 pm EST Laura Strickland
https://m.facebook.com/orangeblossomquilt/
8 pm EST Jen Frost
https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndFabric/

 

April 4
12 pm EST Sherry Shish – Powered By Quilting facebook.com/poweredbyquilting
1 pm EST Bill Locke – Bill Locke Designs
https://www.facebook.com/bill.locke.96
2 pm EST Toni Smith/Quiltoni
https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
3 pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis
https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/
4 pm EST Jennifer Fulton
https://www.facebook.com/inquiringquilter/
5 pm EST Jessica Caldwell/ Desert Bloom Quilting
https://www.facebook.com/desertbloomquilting/
6 pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug’s Cabin
https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/
7 pm EST Heather Long / Coffee and Quilts
https://m.facebook.com/Coffee-and-Quilts-197254351073271/?__tn__=C-R
8 pm EST Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/


April 5

*4 pm EST Reed Johnson https://www.facebook.com/BlueBearQuilts/
5 pm EST Diane Harris
https://www.facebook.com/stashbandit/
7 pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudioApril 5 8pm EST
April 6
 

12 pm EST Margaret Willingham/ Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design https://www.facebook.com/EyeoftheBeholderQuilt/
1 pm EST Kate Colleran/Seams Like A Dream Design
https://www.facebook.com/SeamsLikeaDreamQuilts/
2 pm EST Barbara Cline
https://www.facebook.com/barbara.cline.520
3 pm EST Barbara Persing
https://www.facebook.com/bpquilts/
4 pm EST Ms P Designs USA/ Sharon Andersen
https://www.facebook.com/MsPDesignsUSA/

 

12pm EST Tina Dillard/Quilting Affection Designs https://www.facebook.com/quiltingaffectiondesigns/
1pm EST Raija Salomaa/Quilters’ Treasure Chest
https://www.facebook.com/quilterstreasurechest/
2pm EST Robin Koehler//NESTLINGS by Robin
https://www.facebook.com/NestlingsbyRobin/
3pm EST Terri Vanden Bosch
https://www.facebook.com/lizardcreekquilting/
4pm EST Jackie Kunkel
https://www.facebook.com/cantonvillagequiltworks/

5pm EST Leanne Parsons https://www.facebook.com/devotedquilterdesigns
6pm EST Laura Piland/Slice of Pi Quilts  https://www.facebook.com/sliceofpiquilts/
7pm EST
Ebony Love https://www.facebook.com/LoveBugStudios/
8pm EST Tammy Silvers/Tamarinis
https://www.facebook.com/tamarinis/

April 9
 
1 pm EST Nancy Scott
facebook.com/MasterpieceQApril 9 2pm EST Jayme Crow/Bella Nonna Design Studio  
4 pm EST
Jen Frost https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndFabric/
5 pm EST      Annie Smith https://www.facebook.com/anniesmithqs/

6 pm EST Karen L. Miller / Redbird Quilt Co. https://www.facebook.com/RedbirdQuiltCo/
7 pm EST Kathryn LeBlanc/Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
https://www.facebook.com/dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio
8 pm EST Monique Kleinhans / Ladybug’s Cabin
https://www.facebook.com/ladybugscabin/

April 10

 
  7 pm Toni Smith/Quiltoni https://www.facebook.com/Quiltoni/
  8 pm Marija Vujcic, Mara Quilt Designs https://www.facebook.com/MaraQuiltDesigns/
Posted on 1 Comment

Tutorial For Sewing the Accuquilt Hattie’s Choice Block

Hattie's Choice block

We have a pattern on our website called Fit For a King and we also designed the pattern called Antique Americana on the Accuquilt website, so I thought it might be fun to do a tutorial for sewing this block. Here are photos of those two quilts.

Fit For a King Quilt Pattern
Fit For a King Quilt Pattern
Antique Americana
Antique Americana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is what the Accuquilt Die looks like.

Hattie's Choice
Hattie’s Choice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The die has three shapes on it labeled A, B & C. Now at first glance, you may think that shape “A” is an equilateral triangle, and the die packaging would lead you to believe that it is an equilateral triangle, but it is not. When piecing this shape, there is a correct orientation for laying it out and piecing it.

Look at one of the shape A’s laid over another one, as in the photo below,  and you can see that they are not the same on all sides.

Shape A laid over another
Shape A laid over another

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a distinct orientation for correctly piecing shape “A.” You need to identify the top of Shape” A and stack them all with the top on top.

Shape A next to shape B
Shape A next to shape B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next photo shows the correct orientation of shape A on the right side of the shape B Diamond. You flip shape A over to the left on top of shape B per the photo below. Notice the orientation of shape A on top of shape B for sewing.

shape A flipped onto shape B
shape A flipped onto shape B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It helps if you sew with leaders and enders. These are scraps of fabric you start sewing on before sewing on your quilt pieces and stop on after you have sewn your chain of quilt pieces. This prevents the corners of your pieces from getting jammed down in the feed dogs.  This next picture shows the 1/4″ seam sewn. Notice how the seam starts on the top point and ends by going through the bottom point.

Leader
Leader
Seam on 1st shape A and B
Seam on 1st shape A and B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next press the seam toward the triangle.

press toward shape A triangle
press toward shape A triangle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place another shape A onto the B diamond. Notice the orientation of the top on shape A.

Adding 2nd shape A
Adding 2nd shape A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look at the 1/4″ seam below. Notice how the it starts at the top point and ends by going through the bottom point.

Seam on 2d shape A
Seam on 2d shape A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press toward second shape A. Second photo is view from the back. Make 4 of these combined units.

Press toward 2d shape A
Press toward 2d shape A
View from the back
View from the back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layout these combine units with shape Cs to the left of them.

Adding shape C
Adding shape C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flip the combined units onto shape C as depicted below. Note how they are sewn from point to point.

Combined units laid out on Shape C
Combined units laid out on Shape C
1/4" seam
1/4″ seam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press toward shape C. View from the back. Make 4 of these units.

pressed toward shape C
pressed toward shape C
back view
back view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lay out the 4 units per the photo below.

4 units laid out
4 units laid out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place one of the units on top of another and sew along the right edge with a 1/4 ” seam. Second photo below is view of seam from back.

units laid out on top of each other
units laid out on top of each other
combined units showing 1/4" seam
combined units showing 1/4″ seam

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press seam toward shape C.

Press toward shape C
Press toward shape C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lay out two half units.

Two half units
Two half units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flip one half unit onto the other and pin where the diamonds intersect. Note the 1/4″ seam line in the second photo.

half units flipped onto each other.
half units flipped onto each other.
1/4" seam on half units
1/4″ seam on half units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press the center seam open.

Center seam pressed open
Center seam pressed open

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voila! You have a completed Hattie’s Choice block. In a perfect world, these blocks would measure 8.5″, but you can see that mine are only 8.25.” This will be fine as long as all of your blocks are consistently the same measurement.

Hattie's Choice block
Hattie’s Choice block
size of unfinished block
size of unfinished block

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Happy Holidays!

We have lots of news to share with you. We were the runner up in the Accuquilt Block Design Contest this year with our Sea Glass block. Here are pictures of the block that won this year, me saying goodbye to last year’s winning block and a pic of where my block will be displayed in the Accuquilt headquarters for the next year. Going to Nebraska for the unveiling event is always a good time and a great opportunity to explore the midwest. I met Kaye England, who brought a trunk show, and she was fabulous. I wrote a guest blog article about my trip on the QT Fabrics blog and here is a link to that article so that you can read all about my trip. https://qtfabrics.blog/2018/09/26/guest-reed-johnson-of-blue-bear-quilts/   While there, we saw the most amazing statue, called Dignity.

Sea Glass
Sea Glass
Goodbye Purple Rose
Goodbye Purple Rose
Sea Glass Block displayed
Sea Glass Block displayed
Dignity Statue
Dignity Statue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We designed several new patterns for Accuquilt, which are available as free downloads from their website. They are Lilac Table Topper and Fall Frolic Table Runner. We will have two new ones coming out soon called Spring Medley Mug Rugs and Cleopatra’s Garden Gate.

Lilac Table Topper
Lilac Table Topper
Fall Frolic Table Runner
Fall Frolic Table Runner

 

We designed four quilt patterns using QT Fabrics fabric. Two of the quilts, Seahorses in the Reeds and Pixie Party, were featured in the QT Fabric’s booth at Quilt Market 2018 in Houston. The other two are called Kaleidoscope, and Rhythm of the Stars. All patterns are sold through QT Fabrics and should be available at your local quilt shop soon. We will have them for sale on our website soon as well.

QT Fabrics Patterns
QT Fabrics Patterns
Quilts at Quilt Market 2018
Quilts at Quilt Market 2018
Seahorses in the Reeds
Seahorses in the Reeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pixie Party
Pixie Party

We taught several fun classes this fall and several of my favorites were the Triaxial Weave Pillow, the Snapshots quilt and the Jinny Beyer Sew Along Mystery Quilt. When Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably were giving their workshops at Happy Apple Quilts, I was able to be their assistant for a day and had a blast.

Student's Triaxial Weave pillow
Student’s Triaxial Weave pillow
Snapshots Quilt class
Snapshots Quilt class
Jinny Beyer Mystery Quilt almost finished
Jinny Beyer Mystery Quilt almost finished
Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably
Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably

 

 

Several of our quilts are about to have their patterns published in the May/ June and July/ August issues of Love of Quilting and the July/ August issue of McCall’s Quilting magazine. I can’t show you the quilts yet, but here is a pic of a block from Momma’s Garden, which is in the May/June issue of Love of Quilting. This quilt uses a new line of batiks from McKenna Ryan called “Seed to Blossom” from Hoffman Fabrics. I love her fabric designs.

Momma's Garden block
Momma’s Garden block

 

 

Quilt Cruise to Alaska
Quilt Cruise to Alaska

We will be hosting a quilting cruise in 2020 going to the Inside Passage of Alaska, where there will be quilt shops at every port. The cruise will depart Seattle on June 6, 2020. So if you have ever wanted to quilt while on a cruise, or travel to Alaska, or do both at the same time, this is the cruise for you. We will have lots of fun. Start saving now. Stay tune for details on how to sign up and what the quilting project will be for the cruise. It is not on their website yet, but in the meantime, if you can’t wait, the travel company is call Quilt Retreat at Sea and their number is 210-858-6399. Call Michelle and tell her that you would like to sign up for this cruise.

 

Whew! That was a lot of information! Thanks for reading to the bottom. We wish you a very Happy Holiday season and look forward to sharing many exciting adventures with you in 2019. Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Busy Summer

Kaleidoscope Quilt

It has been a very busy summer, designing new quilt patterns, teaching classes, attending a Niece’s wedding, designing quilt patterns for magazine submissions and entering a contest.

We entered the Accuquilt Block Design contest again this year. They should be announcing the winners very soon. Here are a few of the blocks that I entered this year. Thank you to everyone that voted for my blocks. I appreciate it very much!

X Marks the Spot
X Marks the Spot
Snow Cones
Snow Cones
Sea Glass
Sea Glass
Blue Diamond
Blue Diamond
Big Star Grid.
Big Star Grid.

 

Before attending a wedding, we went to a family farm, in Northern Minnesota, and I was able to walk across the Mississippi River, in Itasca State Park. This is where the great river originates and it is very narrow and shallow, enabling you to walk across. I would not try that in New Orleans where it is deep and wide. I also saw amazing sunflower fields and llamas.

Reed at start of Mississippi
Reed at start of Mississippi
Crossing Mississippi
Crossing Mississippi
Llamas
Llamas
Sunflower Field
Sunflower Field

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Niece got married this August in Stillwater, Minnesota. It was beautiful wedding at a flower farm and the rehearsal dinner was on a riverboat.  I also went to the Como Park Conservatory, which has amazing floral displays.

Niece and husband
Niece and husband
Stillwater Riverboat
Stillwater Riverboat
Lights at Wedding
Lights at Wedding
Wedding Bouquet
Wedding Bouquet
Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
Como Park Conservatory
Como Park Conservatory
Very large hibiscus
Very large hibiscus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly at flower farm
Butterfly at flower farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I taught a Quilt-in-a-Day class on Kylee’s Kite at Bear Patch Quilting Company in White Bear Lake Minnesota. Everyone had a great time. Several students brought in their completed tops from this year and last year.

Kylee’s Kite
Kylee's Kite class
Kylee’s Kite class
Student's Kylee's Kite
Student’s Kylee’s Kite
Student's Bear in My Watermelon Patch
Student’s Bear in My Watermelon Patch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t reveal the quilt designs for the magazines yet, or several new patterns I developed with QT Fabrics. However, I can show you the Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats that were designed for Accuquilt and the pattern is available as a free download on their website https://www.accuquilt.com/go-northwoods-medley-holiday-placemats.html 

Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats
Northwoods Holiday Medley Placemats

I can also show you our latest pattern, Kaleidoscope, that was designed with QT Fabrics. This pattern is available on our website, Craftsy, and coming to a quilt shop near you soon.

Kaleidoscope Quilt
Kaleidoscope Quilt

It is going to be a busy fall writing patterns and making a sample quilt for QT Fabrics that will be displayed at quilt market this November, utilizing a new line of fabrics for them.

 

Also, Blue Bear will be teaching on a cruise in 2020. We are very excited about this and hope to be able to provide you with details soon. When it is this far out, it will give you lots of time to plan and save for a quilting cruise. We are so excited to have the opportunity to quilt and cruise with you! Stay tuned.

Posted on Leave a comment

Secret Sewing Projects

In the Jungle Quilt

At Blue Bear Quilts, we have been very busy getting ready for the summer 2018 classes. We also have been working on some secret sewing projects for Accuquilt that we can’t wait to share with you. We also have been designing patterns with QT Fabrics. Hopefully, we will be able to share these projects with you very soon.

Triaxial Weave Pillow
Triaxial Weave Pillow

 

Here are some of the exciting classes that we have coming up this summer. We will be offering a Triaxial Weave Pillow at Keep Me in Stitches on May 22& 29 in Tampa and July 12 & 19 in Largo. This is a weaving project that has little sewing and offers many creative ideas to incorporate into your sewing projects like garments, bags, and quilts.

 

 

We have an exciting Electric Quilt 8/ Accuquilt Event coming up at Keep Me in Stitches on May 25 & 26 in Tampa, and June 22 &23 in Largo. In this two-day event, you will learn the basic functions of EQ8 and learn how to create the “In the Jungle” quilt in EQ8 incorporating Accuquilt die shapes. The second day, we will cut out the quilt pieces using an Accuquilt cutter and die and sew the quilt together.

In the Jungle Quilt
In the Jungle Quilt

Finally, at Keep Me in Stitches, we have an Accuquilt party called “Patriotic Windings Ways,” perfect for the 4th of July, on June 8 & 9, in Largo, and June 15 & 16 in Tampa;  a 3D Pinwheel Serger Blanket for the Baby Lock Serger Club, and the Bright Hope Quilt, in Tampa,  on June 7 & 14th, and, in Largo, on August 20 & 27th.

Patriotic Winding Ways
3D Pinwheel Serger Blanket
Bright Hope Quilt

At Happy Apple Quilts, We are offering “Hawaiian Stars” on May 31st and “Box of Chocolate Covered Cherries” on June 28th.

Hawaiian Stars Quilt
Box Chocolate Covered Cherries

 

Country Quilts and Bears in Clearwater will have two offerings this summer. The first is our Accuquilt block contest fan favorite, “Not Your Grandmother’s Flower Garden”  on May 23 & 30 and then “Water Wheel,” on July 14th, A Quilt in a Day Pattern.

Water Wheel

At Bear Patch Quilting Company in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on August 8th, we will be teaching a Quilt in a Day pattern called “Kylee’s Kite,” which we have put a modern spin on it with black and white fabrics and lots of geometric quilting.

Kylee’s Kite

 

Finally here are some photos from classes that we held this last session: Zippered serger pouch, Wonky Heart Pillow, Hawaiian Stars, and Snapshots Quilt.

Hawaiian Stars Class
Snapshot Quilt
Snapshot Quilt
Snapshot Quilt
Snapshot Quilt
Wonky Heart Class
Barbie Snapshot Block

Serger Zipper Pouch

Posted on Leave a comment

Learn Electric Quilt 8

Today, I participated in Electric Quilt’s Design and Discover Strip Quilt Lesson, which can be found at http://www.doyoueq.com, and designed two quilts using a vertical strip layout. The quilts were easy to design, but I would not want to rotary cut them, so I think they would be best as paper pieced blocks. The first one is called Royal Court and the second is Tumbling Hearts. What do you think of them?

Royal Court
Royal Court
Tumbling Hearts
Tumbling Hearts

During the third quarter of 2018, from May through August, at Keep Me in Stitches, I will be teaching at an event, where on the first day students will learn the basic operation of Electric Quilt 8 (EQ8) and to design a basic quilt. Then on the second day, we will use the Accuquilt Go Big Electric cutter to cut out the shapes for the quilt we designed, and then sew it together. Students will be provided a free two week trial of the EQ8 software and will be able to use the Accuquilt die and cutter, without having to purchase them first. This will be a great opportunity for students to test out EQ8 and an Accuquilt cutter. I will update this blog when the dates of the event have been determined.

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Happy 2018!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Bear wishes everyone a Happy New Year! It’s going to be an exciting new year, with new looks and exciting new patterns.

Blue Bear
Blue Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am in a catoonish image with my new look. Going for a more artsy.

 

Here are two of Blue Bear’s latest patterns. They are sure to warm up any home during this cold and brutal winter.

Pineapple Welcome Quilt
Pineapple Welcome Quilt
Bright Hope Quilt Pattern
Bright Hope Quilt Pattern
Posted on Leave a comment

Drumroll Please! Announcing the Grand Champion Prize Winner of the Accuquilt Block Design Contest.

I entered several blocks in the 2017 Accuquilt Block Design Contest. By popular vote, these two entries were the most popular.

Here were my other entries:

 

 

But the Grand Champion was my Purple Rose. It will be unveiled on the billboard outside the Accuquilt headquarters in Interstate 80 for an entire year. I am in the process of designing a quilt and a pattern for this block, which will be available in our shop.

 

I also entered this contest in 2016 and here were my entries from that year.

 

But the one that won Fan Favorite was Not Your Grandmother’s Flower Garden a.k.a. What Happens When Grandpa Tells Grandma No More Trips to the Fabric Store.It was designed with the Accuquilt Dresden Plate Die and Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

As a result of winning Fan Favorite, I was honored with a trip to Julien California to spend a week with Eleanor Burns, from Quilt in a Day, at her Fall quilt retreat at Camp Cedar Glen in the mountains. It was a wonderful time for which I am forever grateful.

Here are some photos from that trip. 

Posted on 14 Comments

Greek Isles Modern Quilt

For the 2017 Blogger’s Quilt Festival, I thought I would share Blue Bear’s most popular pattern, Greek Isles Modern. 

This pattern is much easier than it looks. It is made with 2.5″ strips of white and 2.5″ strips of light, medium and dark batiks, that you may obtain from jelly rolls, or cut on your 2.5″ strip die with your Accuquilt Go! Cutter. The blocks are all constructed the same way, and placement is what determines the pattern. At 70 x 90,” it is the perfect quilt to curl up with on the couch for binge watching your favorite Netflix shows.

Here is a picture of Kim at Keep Me in Stitches in Largo, Florida, quilting this beauty; followed by a close up of her fantastic quilting.

 

Here are several more photos of the quilt out and about.

 

 

I have taught this class several times and here are some of my students interpretations of the quilt. Click on the links for short videos. They did a fantastic job!

4D1F584E-4BF0-4F0B-9EC4-06091ACAE8FC

IMG_0865

If you would like to purchase this pattern, it is available on our website here, www.bluebearquilts.com, or on Craftsy here- https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/patterns/greek-isles-modern-quilt/490532

Greek Isles Modern Quilt Cover

Sharing at the Blogger’s Quilt Festival hosted by Amy’s Creative Side.