Blog tour: Quilts Made Modern

I’m excited to be part of the blog tour for Quilts Made Modern: 10 Projects, Keys for Success with Color and Design by C&T Publishing. This is the latest book by authors Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of FunQuilts design studio. Here’s their description of the book,

160 pages of quilting A to Z. There are 10 never-before-seen patterns using a wide variety of techniques. In addition to pieced quilts, we show you how to tackle hand applique as well as machine applique. There are designs for solids as well as those for large-scale prints. We still design with some tone-on-tones in mind as we did in Modern Quilt Workshop but there are also hand dyes and wovens in the book. Weeks spent eight months hand-quilting one of the quilts because we wanted to show you a modern twist on quilting by hand. There’s even a modern take on reproduction feedsack prints.
We felt that it was important for the images to create an ambiance for the collection of quilts so we hired a commercial photographer to do styled shots of each of the quilts. To show the reader the crossover appeal to these designs, we shot the quilts in three different homes: a1914 bungalow, a modern loft and a 1920s apartment. You’ll see the timelessness of these designs and be able to imagine how great they’d look in your home, whatever the era.

Quilts Made Modern belongs in my sewing room right beside The Modern Quilt Workshop.

Get a chance to win a copy of Quilts Made Modern. Go to Giveaway.

Here’s the blog tour schedule:

Next Quilting Pattern:

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.

Next Quilting Pattern:

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