Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect, June 2026

It’s amazing how color and layout can completely change the look of a design. A simple kaleidoscope block has the potential to make a wide variety of quilts.

I played with arrangements in Electric Quilt 8 before settling on this one. Going to my remnant baskets and leftover pieces gave me a rainbow of colors, hues, and fabrics to complement the off-white linen print that I bought at Marshall Dry Goods.

Triangles are one of my favorites to work with and Blue Wren’s Galaxy of Stars 9” die is a nice size for this snuggle quilt. I did all the piecing on Midnight, my lovely painted Singer 404. His gorgeous ¼” straight stitch seams made matching points effortless.

Switching to Janome, I quilted free motion ribbons across the off-white sections and straight stitch outlines along the colors. Ripple Effect finished at 46” square, just right for a baby quilt, table topper, or wall hanging.

My brain and my computer are full of more ideas since I finished this one back in June. I will likely never get them all done, but that’s my motivation to sew every day!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6969 Galaxy of Stars 9”

Flying Circus

 

Color. Stars. Action. 

This quilt has it all.  It started with two 5” charm packs of Tula Pink prints and solids that I bought last year. I've pulled them out several times but never found the right project.

This time, I hit on the perfect design and layout to showcase these bright dots and stripes. Depending on how you look at it, either the navy stars or the bright squares appear to float over the gray background. And sometimes I see the stars as latticework behind the squares. This one's open to interpretation.

Flying Circus is 45” x 52” size. I cut gray print rectangles and added small navy triangles to each corner to form the star sashing. I don't have a narrow signature die that size, so lots of trimming was involved but it was so worth the time. I always try to use what I have to make what's needed.

And it's cat approved.  During quilting I stepped away from the machine for a moment.  Callie likes to take my chair or the quilt I'm working on for her nap.  

Using gray thread, I quilted ¼” away from each side of the sashing. I didn't quilt inside the squares in order to feature those fabrics. Backing is a navy and gray tiny print with a solid border of navy added along one side for width.

Accuquilt dies used:
55059 2 ½” squares
55159 2 ½”x 4 ½” finished rectangle
55769 1 ⅛” finished half square triangle
55017 2 ½” strip (binding)
and if you don't have precut charm squares
55010 5” square

Sometimes

all you need

is a

SPLASH of COLOR

Busy Spring Days, Iris, and A Rainbow

Pretty spring days absolutely energize me. I start my day drinking coffee on the porch these warm sunny mornings, then head to the craft room. My latest wall hanging is a reversible one patch quilt using the tumbler block. I finished it during this week's thunderstorms and hail. Tumbling Sea and Sand on one side and Hexes Afloat on the back. 

There is so much to do in spring, I just love this season and it makes me so happy! I've been inspired to clean house, start restocking the camper, wash my car, weed flower beds, and pull out a few of my lighter clothes. We've had the windows open and laundry drying on the line. How did I get all this done when I was working?

Projects seem to sprout almost as fast as the grass, weeds and flowers. Have you noticed that everything is coming in about two weeks ahead of schedule?  We already mowed our grass, and this early iris bloomed yesterday.

The luck of the Irish was with us on St. Patrick's Day. Even though several thunderstorms rumbled throughout the day, we enjoyed seeing a perfect double rainbow low in the northeast sky.  It disappeared before I could get my camera.

Useful Notion: Nature's glorious colors blend and contrast in very pleasing combinations. Use them for home décor, crafts, makeup and fashion. There's no prettier palette than the one right outside your door.

“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear.”