Distraction

Distraction, January 2026

It's no secret that purple is my favorite color, even though there aren't too many hues that I don't like. I'm definitely a color lovin' woman. For this simple design, I wanted to use some large and medium florals that have been in my stash for a while.

I added pink, purple, and green scraps in coordinating colors along with a white-on-white print and black & white mini gingham. These half and quarter square triangles are easy to stitch, especially on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight.

A sweet paisley print in purple, green & cream was perfect for backing and binding this 50” square quilt called Distraction. I quilted on the Janome with pale gray thread, using a utility zig-zag stitch in diagonal rows, plus straight stitching along horizontal and vertical seams.

I'm off to do some more rain dancing, since we are so very dry. April showers are needed for May flowers, and we have only had 0.65” so far this whole month. Not your usual rainy April in Tennessee, despite several storms passing us by.

Accuquilt dies used:

55001 HST 6½”

55002 QST 6½”

55017 Strips 2½”

Good Fortune

Good Fortune, February 2026

I just can't let a good remnant go to waste! I love combining colorful scraps with neutral hues in some of my quilts. They're a little less busy, emphasizing the block design.

Today's quilt features the Road to Fortune block. I chose light gray linen print with black & white weaver, both fabrics from Marshall Dry Goods, to go with my bright colors.

I did layout in EQ8, then pieced the blocks on Laney, my lovely painted Singer 301. Simple straight stitch quilting with light gray thread in vertical lines 1½” apart was completed on my Janome MC9450. Good Fortune is 46” square.

Die used: Accuquilt 55586 Road To Fortune 9" BOB

Minnie Deakins quilts

Side note: Last Friday I attended the 36^th Annual Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival in Algood, Tennessee. Oh, the amazing quilts I saw! Displays of antique and new creations with intricate stitching, in both modern and traditional layouts. Such talented quilters! I'm freshly inspired with ideas and color combinations. My wish list is now miles long.

I think my favorite display was the quilts of Miss Minnie Deakins. Her tiny hand stitched miniature pieces were astounding. I don't think I'll ever attempt ½” blocks, but seeing them in person made my day. She lived to be 101, quilted all her life, and was featured in several magazine articles over the years.

Tried & True

Tried & True - January 2026

This is what happens when you have lots of tiny remnants and find a die on sale that uses small pieces. It was a perfect project for that snowy, icy week in January.

I upended my scrap baskets to dig out navy, blue, and aqua bits for this one, combining with natural muslin. Layout alternated the 6” Priscilla Stripes and simple half-square triangle blocks, with a border added.

Piecing was done on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight with her perfect little stitches. I switched to the Janome for quilting, using a ruler guide and walking foot to sew a 3” cross hatch pattern with cream thread.

Tried & True finished out at 49” square. I'll definitely be using this die again for a random scrappy quilt to use more leftover fabric. Could be time to schedule a marathon cutting session to manage those overflowing bins of bits!

Accuquilt dies used:

55607 Priscilla Stripe 6” finished
55009 HST 3½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding
55032 Strips 3½” border

Savannah Spring

Savannah Spring, December 2025

Colors of springtime include lilac and lavender, and they happen to be my favorites. I added in a dash of lime for contrast to make this quilt sing.

Large 8” triangles made piecing easy on my Singer 221 Featherweight, Annie. Switching to the Janome, I used lilac thread and a walking foot to quilt straight lines along all seams to emphasize the triangle shapes.

Finished and gifted last December, Savannah Spring finished out at 48” x 50” size. I wanted to keep this one, but I can and mostly likely will make another in similar colors.

I've been resting some from our improvement projects, and sneezing my way through this unpredictable spring weather. There's a new set of allergens over this way, but I'm getting a handle on it.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6568 Equilateral Triangle 8”
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2”