One of my girlfriends was able to share in the enjoyment of the Hawaiian Mystery BOM. Part of the fun was that fabric requirements were given and it was up to us to pick our fabrics. While I picked a beach sand background, she went with a strong red. The Tikis look just as incredible and her flowers soften the big bold colors. One word, INTENSE.

Murder mystery book and quilt, what could be more fun than that? That’s why I was one of the first to join. This online block of the month was set up where you received a chapter and block pattern each month. The Tiki masks were paper pieced, four six-inch blocks at a time. The remaining blocks are arranged to represent a lei on beach. I used left over fabrics for the border, quilted it in an all over banana leaf pattern and found a pink and Hawaiian flower backing. It’s like a tropical vacation!

I just couldn’t wait to quilt the “Ghastly” edge to edge design on this quilt featuring Ghastly fabrics. It made the backing fabrics look like part of the fabric line. I used a smokey monofilament on the front so that it blended with the prints but showed on the more solid fabrics. The result is incredible and ghastly!

This piecer is new to quilting and was excited to take her grandmothers blocks and make them into a quilt top. I outlined and echoed Sue and added a swirl background fill. Daisies and vines run through the sashing and border to finish the quilt.

If I could garden, it would look like this! Love all the bright applique flowers and the multitude of green background fabrics. Made with love for a dear sister, the quilting design is full of hearts.

I was thrilled to work on this quilt for multiple reasons. One, because the designer, Betty Standiferd, is a friend of mine and because I personally made this quilt design using machine applique about 15 years ago. These blocks are made using machine embroidery. This piecer added the name of each of the pueblos which adds historical information to the Indian pots. I quilted the blocks similar to my own and added a southwest motif in the chocolate sashing.

Beautiful embroidered butterflies, butterfly backing and butterfly quilting almost make this quilt fly! The lower right block had beadwork and embellishments and I had to change the quilting by masking out the block and coming back and custom quilting around the embellishments. Delightful.

Fun animal fabric, two layouts and a barnyard animal quilting pattern are perfect for this child’s quilt. Notice that the list of animals are in alphabetical order. Lots of ways to interact and teach with this incredible quilt.

There is just something sweet about this quilt! Did you know that Ideal Stitches frequently applies binding just to one side so that the customer can finish the binding by hand. While I offer machine finished and hand finished bindings, I am also happy to come alongside and stitch the binding to the front of the quilt only.

Fun toddler quilt! Patchwork blocks on the front and inset panels on the back. Add a farm animal edge to edge and you have a quilt that sure to please!

When the granddaughter did an exchange program in Japan, she brought back fabrics for her Grandmother. Now the fabrics have been pieced and quilted and will be a graduation gift. Full Circle!

Although this is the fifth ZIA that I have quilted, there are many things that make it unique! One is the use of batik fabrics and another is the subtle addition of purple with the turquoise fabrics. It is also a complete quilt from my Zia class and finished student project is gratifying to me. Lots of ruler work combine with a few computerized motifs; mainly the spirals and give this additional southwest flair. Finally there is the orange red bobbin thread showcased on the purple backing. Magnificent!!

Beautiful batiks in turquoise, purple and lime set the stage for this leaf pattern. I choose a gorgeous teal thread and it just dances across the quilt.

I don’t typically show a close up as my featured image, however, I wanted to emphasize the fabric that was the inspiration for the quilting. The front is a scrappy block layout of coordination fabric in this holiday line. I used a gold thread that added brightness and elegance to the quilt.

Look at the green and turquoise variegated thread on this quilt. As well as color, the thread and quilting pattern give this scrappy quilt texture and interest.

Ideal Stitches was commissioned to make a wall hanging with three stipulations; one use the upholstery fabric so that it matches the chair cushions in the kitchen nook. Two, make it southwest style and three, here are four fat quarters to use in the design. I used the fat quarters in a bargello style to make the background for these large applique kokopelli figures and the upholstery fabric as the border. It came out incredible!