Don’t worry; be…

SCRAP-HAPPY! That’s a special feeling quilters get when they finally plow into that stash of scraps with a wonderful new way to use them up. It includes thriftiness, virtue, cleanliness, plus creativity. Yep, a good feeling!

I figure right now that if you aren’t making face masks, you’re longing to do a project, but missing the fabric shopping. While I know most quilters have UFO’s (if you don’t know what that means, you may not be a full-fledged quilter yet...UnFinished Objects!), they also have scraps. It just happens! And these days when the price of fabric can easily be upward of $10 a yd, we know every every inch counts.

That’s why I created this pattern–it uses nice big pieces to start with, then uses up a lot of little pieces on the corners. My “pocket lozenge” block is really an elongated “snowball,” a bit like an oval lozenge, with folded corners to make little 3D pockets. On sale for $3.50 for the next couple of weeks, click here.


Closeup of “Pocket Lozenge Throw” cc2311 by LJ Christensen

I know that some sewers absolutely refuse to buy fabric on line because it’s hard to check the color or drape. I get it. However, there are some fabrics that we know by company reputation, groups of fabrics that are color coordinated, and some fabrics on sale low enough that we don’t care–just want the yardage. (OK, that’s me…a coupon-clipper and sale-searcher). I’ve been buying fabric on line quite a bit this year, so I’ll share my favorites:

https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

Hancock’s of Paducah has a huge variety of fabrics and always has close-outs/sales for $3.99, $4.99, $5.99, and $6.99, but you have to watch because they sell out of the best stuff.

https://www.keepsakequilting.com/

Keepsake Quilting has most of the big-name designer fabrics and specializes in some wonderful 108″-wide prints for backings. You can save a little by joining, and they have sales as well.

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/

Missouri Star Quilt Company is a delight in its really cute communication. It also has a DAILY deal and weekly sales, with a focus on pre-cuts like 10″ pieces or jelly rolls. Most of the fabric is pricy, but they do carry lots of quilters’ jewelry, T-shirts and other paraphernalia of interest.

https://www.nancysnotions.com/

I haven’t seen much fabric I like at Nancy’s Notions, and the shipping is high, but they do have some great tools and occasionally good buys on embroidery designs. I watch for free shipping days and then stock up!

Maybe these will help you weather the stay-at-home blues. Getting a fabric package in the mail certainly brightens MY day!

Put away holiday decor and china…

but get out the Wedgwood! It’s time to stop decorating and start sewing! We all know the winter months are the best for quilting, so here’s a nice little throw to consider. I based the design on the classic blue china with white bas relief by Wedgwood, using folded half-square triangles to give the suggestion of texture. They are optional, though, if you don’t care for 3D. Just twelve simple 12″ squares make a 44″x 56″ throw and you’re done, but in the pattern, I give the number of squares needed for bigger quilts as well as full instructions for half-square triangles and binding. The pattern is on sale for $3.50 until the end of January. Click here if you want to see more.


“Wedgwood Plates” cc2307 by LJ Christensen

This sample quilt is for sale for $199 if you’d like to buy it–I’ll include shipping for my followers. It’s cheaper to buy the pattern, though, and make your own!

Here it is shown in a recent art show. It’s not the right colors for my house, but I think it looks gorgeous in the art scenario! I’m doing my best to introduce quilting/fabric art to the regional art shows.

The Kelly Artists Market, December 2019

My photo on canvas on the right of the picture is for sale, too, for $99.

“‘One Is the Loneliest Number'” by LJ Christensen

Eventually, I plan to have more quilts and maybe photos for sale on my website. I just have to have build up enough I’m willing to lose. I get really attached to my designs, and I’m not going to sell them cheaply because fabric is expensive these days and even the simplest designs take a big commitment in time. But aren’t they worth it? I have some family quilts I’ll always treasure, and I love the interplay of colors, prints, textures and designs. I’m looking forward to seeing where the spirit will move me THIS week. Not that I have NO IDEA–I just have so many to choose from. Which way to turn?