Holiday Sewing Season / Beauties Pageant 335

Every summer, fabric manufacturers release their winter-themed fabric lines. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it may be hard to reconcile our longer days and ample sunshine with, say, a snowman project, but I think it’s always more enjoyable to tackle holiday projects in advance. Doing so makes for a saner November and December, and the holidays always seem to come and go so quickly ... I might as well get into the spirit in the off-season and then enjoy the fruits of my quilty labors when winter is here.

It’s little wonder, then, that we’re expecting a high of 84 degrees today in New England, and I am plotting my new snowflake pattern. 

But can you blame me? I picked up a fat quarter bundle of Kim Kight’s Merry Happy, and I am totally smitten. I love a holiday collection with a surprise or two, and this one features gummy bears, pickle ornaments, and a pink colorway. Nontraditional colorways get me every time -- I love a good Christmas line with blue or black -- and this pink is so, so good!

I was spinning my wheels on this idea for a while. When I couldn’t decide upon a layout, I took to Instagram for some instantaneous feedback. The masses spoke, and I took their advice: The third layout, with tight off-set rows, is what I am running with now.

Layout 1: On Point

Layout 2: Offset and Loose

 

Layout 3: Offset and Tight

I am calling this beauty "Festive Flurries" and expect to have a sample and finalized pattern ready to share next month!

It anyone else out there plotting winter- or Christmas-themed projects? 

 

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• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

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Airing on June 14: Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, and Me! / Beauties Pageant 334

Last summer, I had the opportunity to fly to Louisville, Kentucky, and meet with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, hosts of The Quilt Show. Doing this required taking a big step out of my comfort zone, but the experience was well worth the time, travel, and courage!

My afternoon with Alex and Ricky started off with an interview when we talked about how I got into quilting and where I draw my inspiration from. I showed them my quilt about my son with Down syndrome, the project that originated from seeing the shingles on my eye doctor’s roof (true story!), and many other finished quilts. 

Then we filmed two additional segments that focused on nitty-gritty techniques. In the first, I share with Alex my tips for working with jelly roll strips. In the second, I show Ricky how I finish my binding with chunky hand stitches.

If you’ve seen Ricky’s award-winning quilt The Visitation, it also features a special binding treatment. Ricky wrote a poem about the quilt and embroidered it into the binding with a technique he calls "free-motion bobbin embroidery." He takes us through this novel technique step-by-step in the episode.

How You Can Watch 

Truth be told, I can’t bear to watch videos of myself—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t (ha!). These segments become available to Quilt Show subscribers this Sunday, June 14. If you don’t subscribe and would like to watch my segments (or hundreds of other episodes featuring talented quilters), you can sign up for a free seven-day trial here.

Thank You!

To all of you who’ve been showing up week after week to read my humble posts and peruse snapshots of my latest projects, thank you! I have had all sorts of new experiences over the past year or two—teaching at both guilds and regional shows, presenting to groups, publishing a book. In my mind, you share in those triumphs with me. I have appreciated all of the encouragement and emails and comments over the years. Truly, I am a better quilter for being a part in this little online community.

Related content: Read the post after I returned from Louisville last August.

Upcoming Teaching Event

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The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Let's Make a Date: Patchwork Power! / Beauties Pageant 333

Register here! (Use code PP26MichelleC to get $20 off)

How many times do I wish we could sit down and chat about quilts in person? Although I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many of you in real life, too many of you live in a different state or country! I think I’ve figured out our next-best option to grabbing a cup of coffee and gabbing about our latest quilting projects ...

I’ll be teaching at Patchwork Power, a one-of-a-kind virtual quilting event. My session is called Jelly Roll Boot Camp, and it’s all about making the most of those 2.5" strips with smart techniques and fresh design ideas. We’ll talk about:

    •    Precise strip-sewing methods for better results
    •    Ways to add supplemental fabrics with confidence
    •    Creative strategies for using leftovers
    •    New ideas, tools, and approaches for rethinking every jelly roll

This session is designed to help you see jelly rolls in a whole new way. I’ll be sharing practical methods and inspiring examples that show how versatile precut strips can be, so you can move beyond the basics and create quilts that feel fresh, striking, and uniquely your own.

Jelly Roll Are Just the Beginning

Patchwork Power is a live virtual retreat designed to help quilters sharpen their skills, refine their process, and build more confidence at every stage of quilting. The day includes expert-led sessions on precision piecing, ruler work, digital design, curves, wool applique, one-block wonders, and more! Presenters include makers whose work you likely already know, including Amber Elliot, Karen Montgomery, Carolina Moore, Geraldine Wilkins, and others.

This Event Comes with Lifetime Access

Patchwork Power takes place live on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 10 am PST / 1 pm ET. If you can’t attend the live sessions, recordings will be available after the event with lifetime access. Attendees will also receive bonus resources, a digital swag bag, and access to special event offers.

Use my code to save $20 on registration: PP26MichelleC 

I’d love to have you join me for a day of fresh ideas, practical techniques, and creative quilting inspiration.

"See" you in July!

Michelle

Register here! (Use code PP26MichelleC to get $20 off)

p.s. Want to see some of the quilts we’ll look at and talk about? Check out these beauties ...

Myriad

Pod Patrol

Meow Mates

Five-Star Experience

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* * *

The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter