Quilting

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Giveaway: Where Women Create Quilters

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Where-Women-Create-bookAs promised in my review of Where Women Create Quilters, I’m giving away a copy of this wonderful book to a Craft Gossip reader. Published and compiled by Jo Packham, this book is not only inspirational, but comes with a link to 80 quilt patterns.

To be in the draw, leave a comment in today’s post telling me your best ever story of procrastination on a creative project. Contest ends Tuesday August 12th , 2014. Open to U.S. residents only.

Editor’s note 8/7/2014: I am enjoying your comments, keep them coming as I read each and every one. It’s a balm to my soul that I am not the only one with a stack of UFOs. Yet, I have to agree with several of you who have expressed the idea that procrastination is part of the creative process. Amen!

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Comments

  1. I have some things I procrastinated on for so long, that I don’t remember ever starting them or working on them. In other words, I don’t remember working on them at all, but I would know my stitching from the back from anyone else’s in counted cross stitch. I have no idea of starting them or working on them, but when I moved I found a few stitcheries that I don’t remember buying or working on at all. Think of all the things I’ve given away that I don’t remember!

  2. l decided a month before My son’s birthday to have a DIY party…He ultimately ended up with one small”family” get together and another party a month late for his friends. It turned out to be the time of his life And Everyone loved all of My DIY that they asked me to help them with their Kids party…I have yet to mention that I was a month behind schedule.

  3. My darling mom is retiring in less than a year and this would be a gift for her as she contemplates FINALLY having time to quilt and sew.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  4. Oh, I don’t have to look too far back for my last procrastination…Just last week in fact. We went to an out-of-state wedding and I finished their wedding quilt at 11:05pm the night before we left…whew!

  5. What don’t I procrastinate on?? Whenever I get an order for a bracelet, for some reason, I don’t start on it until the day before I promise to have it done! Grumble.

Have you read?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

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.