Hi Everyone! The past couple of weeks have been really hectic but full of quilty goodness. The most exciting news is that I received printed copies of my newest pattern, Painted Stars, from the printer. Yay! Copies are available in our local quilt shop, Bolts & Quarters. They will also be available on this website as soon as I get a few details taken care of. As always, PDF copies are available for download now in the Pattern Shop!
UPDATE: This morning there was a hiccup with ordering/downloading the pattern. If paying by credit card, checkout was requesting name and shipping address (not necessary for a digital file). We have fixed the problem. So now the only info you will need to enter is your name and email address. Shipping address fields are still showing, but you DO NOT need to enter your personal information. Thanks to Julia for bringing this to my attention!

This quilt/pattern has taken me a year to finish. An entire year! I remember making the star blocks last March when I visited my sister in Pennsylvania. We were suppose to go to the AQS Lancaster show, but got 13″ of snow so we had an unplanned quilt retreat at her house instead. Even though I hated missing the show, we had so much fun. We rarely get more than a few inches of snow where I live, so it was really enjoyable for me to play in so much of the white fluffy stuff! (Click here to go to the post I wrote last year – if you scroll to the bottom you’ll see some outtake pics that are quite funny.)
Since this quilt was my own, I decided to just go for it with the quilting. I don’t get an opportunity to do crazy quilting very often, so this one was a real treat. I used rulers — my favorite type of quilting — and also included some free motion work. I loved quilting in ‘ghost’ stars and am so pumped with the way it looks.

There are two layers of batting in the quilt – Hobbs Polydown on the bottom and Quilters Dream 80/20 on top. I had originally planned to use wool but I didn’t have any when I was ready to start the quilting. Even so, I love the way the two battings make the quilting pop.
Making the quilt is fast and easy. All you need is 14 (or more for more color variation) fat quarters and some background yardage. This pattern is perfect for playing with different color combinations in the stars. You can get your PDF copy now for only $8 and it will be on sale through next Sunday, so scoop it up. If you want a printed booklet let me know and I’ll get one to you.
The other exciting project that has taken a lot of my time is the moving of our local quilt shop. The shop has moved from a 2500 square foot space to one that is about five times as large. Employees and customers are so excited for the owner and his partner and the space is soooo beautiful!

The retail space has tripled, and the classroom is huge at 1400 square feet. I can’t wait to fill it with a new group of beginner quilters! In addition to the classroom, there is a Sewcial Room for sewing and hanging out with friends. Here’s a close up picture of the color wall – look at all that lickable fabric! 🙂

The shop opened in their new space on Saturday and the place was swarming with people most of the day. My Painted Stars quilt was hanging outside the classroom door and we sold almost every copy of the pattern we had there, as well as most of the fabrics Warren ordered to have available for it. Oh, the fabric I used was the Brushline line from Andover. It looks like someone took a paintbrush to the fabric, therefore the name. The fabric inspired the name of the pattern as well. I love the richness of the colors. You might want to get your hands on some of this – it is a great blender to have in your stash!

In addition to all that craziness, Freddie Fusion decided to be fussy and take a few days off. Geesh! He had a gear go nutty and HandiQuilter had to send a replacement. (Which they promptly did – their customer service is great!) I got the part Friday evening, Tim put it back in on Saturday evening and I was ready to get back to quilting yesterday. But we had a wind storm and lost power for most of the day so I had an unexpected day off. Hopefully today the weather will cooperate and I can get the quilt I’m currently working on finished and back to its owner. Fingers crossed today is uneventful and productive!
So that’s my time – I’ve got to stop talking cause this post is getting really long! I don’t know if there will be a link-up for MCM this week. The service I use has changed and I spent most of Sunday trying to create a new account. If I get it figured out I’ll come back and edit this post so you can link. If not, we will have to wait until next week. Please know I’m working on it!
OMG your quilt is spectacular and the store looks fun! Super happy for you that the pattern is doing so well:)
A busy, busy week. Love the new pattern and the quilting is gorgeous on your version. I’m jealous, looks like you have a wonderful quilt shop close to you.
the pattern is just stunning!! How exciting to have all of that space in the quilt shop. It looks like such a nice place to be – so inspiring!!
Your quilt is so happy and the quilting is absolutely breath taking. I will have to put this shop on my visit list if I every make it to your part of the world.
where is this quilt shop – it looks lovely – I will add it to my list to see when we travel if I’m in the area – we had a wind storm too and my internet was down two days
Wonderful quilt and yay you for nearly selling out of your pattern! It’s a beauty, Beth! So is the new shop, wow; I love the colour-coordinated stars atop the shelves. I hope you get a linky going; seems every time I have a crush there is no party lol!
Totally gorgeous quilt Beth! I love those ghost stars and all that ruler work. It is a showstopper!
Amazing quilting. Amazing space at the new shop.
No power is such a bummer. Winds are whipping around here so I hope I keep power. Love the new digs for the quilt shop. The owner really has a good eye for decorating rather than just showing the quilts. And, the new quilt pattern is wonderful.
Wow, Beth, I love your quilt with all the quilty goodness! I bet the pattern and fabric flew off the shelves with that kind of inspiration. I’m glad all your work was so well received. The quilt shop looks amazing–I can’t even imagine a place so large to shop and create.
Love your new pattern, Beth! It’s so bright and cheery – and I love stars!! Congrats! And what an awesome quilt shop! I think I could live there! LOL
Good Morning Beth! WOWEE – your new pattern release is so darn exciting. And those fabrics really do look like they’ve been brushed painted. I love the ghost star that you quilted in and the closeup shot of the beautiful quiltiness is fab. It’s a great week already! ~smile~ Roseanne
Wowza! What a busy week! So many good things, though, other than Freddie being fussy. Love that pattern!