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It’s the year of the TIGER.

Asian-themed pantos make beautiful quilts.

TIGER STORY:  embroidered on a quilt from the Hill Tribes of Thailand.

For a long time Lawloua walked to the forest.  Lawloua shot a gibbon in the tree.  The tiger bit Lawloua. The tiger put on his clothes and carried a Gibbon with a gun, came home. Lawloua’s wife and young sister waited it. The tiger cut the gibbon into 4 pieces and counted and said: share our one bite. After finished the Gibbon, the Tiger enter to bedroom and bit Lawloua’s wife. At night the Tiger asked and said: where you sleep tonight young sister Jor.  For a minute she took a skirt cover the pan and the pan cover her in. ? maybe she was hiding. At morning the sun was shining. The Tiger saw sister Jor sleep on the roof.  Suddenly the Tiger jumped on to the roof to bite her but she threw chilly (chili) to its eyes. The tiger no has wisdom. It ran to wash eyes at the pail of water. One day the crow flew to the roof. She gave it any kind (? what) for tell her parent.  The crow went and tolt (told) Jor’s father and put down a kind for him. They conversed for about they how to help their daughter. They dug a big hole wait for it and they would kill it. They prepared some munitions. They arrived Lawloua’s house. They asked their people.  Jor called the Tiger come home.  They tolt a lie and said to it sing song.  They took the Tiger to dip up water.  The tiger went to fell in the hole and then they killed it that time.   They took Jor go back home.

How about some Tiger cookies?

Happy Chinese New Year!

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What is the color of Thanksgiving? If Orange is for Halloween and Red is for Christmas is Thanksgiving BROWN?

It is not the cold spooky orange and black of Halloween. No, It’s a warmer combination of gold and orange and brown; touched with the reds of Christmas which are soon to come. It is the color of fall leaves, first on the trees, then blanketing the ground below.

It’s a beautiful combination of them all, isn’t it?

Can you EAT those colors? YES! See below for FREE PUMPKIN-MANIA Recipe booklet!

Thanksgiving Story : When my kids were small I discovered this cute story and made a big Turkey puppet and big puppet children. They came with us each year to school and kids were chosen out of the classroom to re-enact the story multiple times. Here, my daughter copied it for her kids.

“Patience and Daniel were little English children in the settlement at Plymouth.  One day their Father brought them a young turkey to raise and play with.  They were so happy to have their nice pet. What’s his name they asked.  But he didn’t have a name.  You choose a name Daniel said to his little sister patience.  She named him (let the kids choose.)____.When  their Indian friend, Takset, came to play he was so surprised.  All three children spent many happy hours that summer playing with their pet _____.

When they walked to the stream to get water for their mother, _____ Turkey followed them. When they shouted and ran noisily about the turkey was frightened and flew into the branches of the tree to hide.When the children ate their snacks,  ____ turkey pecked at their feet hopoing to have a snack too..When autumn came Father said, “___ turkey is the biggest turkey in the settlement and we’ll cook him for our big Thanksgiving feast.”

The children were shocked.  That night Patience and Daniel cried themselves to sleep.But in the night Takset crept into the village.  He carried ___ turkey away in a big sack.The next morning the turkey was no where to be found so Father and mother baked a different turkey for the feast.When all of their Indian friends came, they were surprised to see Takset with ______ turkey.  They were so happy! The children played all day and that night three happy children fell into their beds, dreaming of playing together the next day.

Yikes, I can’t believe it’s so late! Where has this month gone?? I just realized I’d better get this post out before it’s too late.

I have some Quilt mockups, but now it’s too late to start for Thanksgiving. Oh well, here they are anyway. The first is for my newest pattern: “HUNTING.” Fall is Hunting Season!

Another is a mock-up of my Thai Temple Tiles in Autumn Colors with our “Autumn Wind” pattern overlay.

This year I just can’t seem to get enough of my yummy brown Pumpkin Filling. I’ve already used it several old ways and invented some new treats. In fact, I love all things Pumpkin! I thought I’d share them with you.

OKAY, You get the idea. Be sure to download a FREE PDF Booklet with these recipes and MORE of my Favorite Holiday Foods in Thanksgiving COLORS! 38 recipes in all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Ohoooo! Creeeepy Halloweeeeen Re-visited!

“BATS” Yesterday I added a new FREE pdf ! You’ll love the way it looks on your Halloween Quilt!

Look what My grandson served us when we visited last Halloween! Do you have a favorite Feet-Loaf recipe? Use onion slices for toenails! See recipe below.

The air is getting a little cooler, thank goodness!  I just hope it doesn’t get so cold the kids all have to cover up their costumes with coats.  AND! Heaven forbid, snow like we had one year. It’s late & We’ve got to get those Halloween patterns off the shelves before they’re mummified!

Halloween Kaleidoscope Quilt. Can you see how I tried out my Halloween pantographs on it?

I love my Halloween Kaleidoscope Quilt. I love making Kaleidoscopes and arranging them in new ways. Click HERE for the tutorial. They make a perfect quilt for so many of these Halloween fabrics!

Plus, I’m always thinking about all the yummy treats for Halloween. I hope you like my – Floating on Air -“GHOSTIES” – to go along with my “Ghostly Feathers” pattern. Learn how to make them below.

Every October when our kids were small I would decorate the front door with spider webs made of black or white yarn and hang big plastic spiders on them.  Then, there was the year James made Jack Pumpkinhead and he has been our door greeter ever since. See him in last years Halloween post. AND get the recipe for our yummy “pumpkin-filled” Pumpkin Face Cookies. here

Don’t get creeped-out by my “Spider Webs” Pantograph. Ohhh, they’re so realistic and soooo Creeeepy! It reminds me of the spiders the boys made in Cub Scouts. See below.

Here’s a mock-up idea for a fun “Spider Webs” Quilt!

Okay – I’m not really crazy about spiders. I step on them purposely, but I had 5 boys and, well, boys like stuff like that! Here’s a paper bowl spider I taught the boys to make in scouts. Kids love creeping it along! It has been loads of fun over the years. 25 years to be exact! (It’s a little weather-beaten!)

Enjoy his creepy crawly movements!

Here are some other fun Halloween patterns and recipes/ideas to go with them!

“GHOSTIES”

My mom used to add chocolate chips to her meringues. She called them Surprises! I didn’t do it on these “Ghosties” but you might want to try it. The chips don’t show on the outside!

Isn’t this a fun Ghost pie my friend Virginia made?

Do you have a ghost cookie cutter? Let me dig through my baking drawer and see if I have one.

It’s windy today and I’m afraid the leaves will turn and blow off the trees before I can get my Thanksgiving candles made. Go here for the Ice Candle tutorial. Make them NOW while there are still leaves to gather and put them in your freezer!

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Be Patriotic for America

See a special FREE Patriotic pattern offer below.

Last weekend for Memorial Day we camped on the Oregon Beach. It was wonderful. The weather was ideal and the countryside and beach beautiful. There is so much of America that I love.

The kids were playing with others in the campground and on the beach. ONE OF THE FATHER’S CAME OVER AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF. Our kids had been playing together all day. Later that night we took some left-over Ribs to their family and they shared thin peanut butter cups – perfect for S’mores.

That was the epitome of a good neighbor- a GOOD AMERICAN NEIGHBOR! There is something about being in a camp. You are all on equal footing. Every person gets a “hello” and cheerily gives one in return. This is the way it should be in all our neighborhoods – in every country. God has made us all and that’s good to remember!

Spin out of control with this great “Red, White & Blue” quilt.

Download it free with Purchase of a Patriotic Panto through June. (see below or search theme “4th of July” for more options)

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Quilt For The Man in Your Life

We all want to make those special quilts for the men we know – but there’s always the dilemma of how to quilt them. Worry no more!  Here’s a big selection of man-friendly patterns.  Stock up while they’re on sale THIS MONTH!  Hooray!

CHOOSE FROM:

Golf Course 11: Pictogram

Modern Skylines 11″ Interlocking  My Dad took took us on a Kiwanis Convention to New York City.

Backwoods 11″ Pictogram  One son loves hiking up into the Backwoods.

Campout 11″ Pictogram  My Dad always took us Camping every summer! My son-in-law takes the family camping in their “pop-up.” Another takes his family camping at the lake.

Fish Tales 3.5″ w Fish Bait   Dad was from Minnesota and loved sitting in a boat all day fishing.

Ponderosa Pine Spray 9″ E2E

Clear Stream 11″ Innovative Interlocking  Hubby took us camping in the Ozarks where they had a Clear Stream like this.

Sandy Shore 10″ E2E  What about the sons who take their kids to the beaches?  Our family lived on the beach in Hawaii, courtesy of Uncle Sam.

Modern Southwest 11″ E2E    My Dad had a Desert vacation cabin. I remember being on the roof watching Mom and Dad pound in nails!

Ski Slopes 11″ Pictogram  My son-in-law has been teaching his kids to ski this winter.

Snakeskin 10″ E2E  We had a graveyard for the snakes and pack rats at our Desert house.

Bug Bites PDF

Who is a Father in your life? Is it your own distinguished Father? He might enjoy a lap-quilt for his recliner.

Is it your husband – the strongman who lifts things for you. He’s the one who reaches the high shelves and the one who checks the oil in your car. He might like a new quilt for the yacht or your family vacation cabin.

Or is it your collegiate son or the fun-loving guy who has made your daughter the luckiest girl in the world. They’d like rugged quilts for backpacking or camping with the kids!

Mustang Stampede Interlocking 2 rows of 8″

Ropin’ Horseshoes 4″ w Knotty Pine 6″

Orchestra 11″ vertical pantograph Joe was in “Jazz Band” and Grandkids excel in the strings section!

Workbench 10″ E2E One of our sons remodeled his own house – kitchen drawers and all! My son-in-law built this climbing wall for his kids.

Sports Nut 10″ Interlocking Soccer was the game our sons loved.

Dawgs 11″ Pictogram My son’s 8 kids love their dogs!

Dragons Galore 11″ Pictogram They are all computer geeks! Does this count?

G I  Firepower 10″ E2E My husband was an Army officer.

G I Patrol 11″ Pictogram Ditto!

Maori Moko Interlocking 15″  He took us to Hawaii and Asia.

Maori Moko Blocks 9″

Sports Car Classics 6″ E2E I have a son who LOVES car specs.

Truckin’ Along 10″ E2E He even drove a truck for a moving company.

Car Classics 8″ E2E My Dad loved tinkering with cars – that’s him leaning over the motor!

Car Classic Blocks 8″

The “Guy” patterns are on sale, but I’ve also highlight some modern designs that might appeal to your man!

I hope you’ve got one of these great men in your life! Be sure to thank them while you can!

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It’s fun to be Irish!!

A few years ago we did some DNA testing.  I was from all over the globe!  But the biggest surprise was a high percentage of Irish ancestry!  So I’m wearin’ more “green” these days!

Enjoy a FREE tutorial for my “Irish Blessing” Quilt.   Just some honest Irish instructions. NO BLARNEY!

If you make it please share a Pic.    It’s stitched with “Celtic Chain” which has 2 different borders.  I’ve shown both so you can get the idea.

Our guild had a challenge to do a 2 color quilt, or at least a block.  I thought about my favorite color – RED.  Then I determined to use blue and include all my hand-dyed indigo pieces.  But when I looked through my stash for a solid piece, I didn’t have exactly the right color blue!  Well, of course, it had to match my hand dyes and that may be a problem.  As I was fooling around with swatches I hit upon the idea of using green for St. Patrick’s Day. It could be scrappy and “use up” some of my many odds and ends.  I must admit, however, I bought a few more for the mix! The ones I already chose out of my stash are on the left.  The new ones are on the right.  For this sample I couldn’t make it scrappy like I want for the whole quilt – remember, it was a 2 color challenge.  Now I even have a 2 color quilt board on Pinterest!

The first thing I did to start was make a bunch of half-square triangles.  (Whoever thought of that name?)  I tried making 2 from a small square to confirm my calculations were correct.  Then I made the rest with my “8 in one blow” method.  Either way I made them a little larger than I needed so I could trim them to size.  

Next I started cutting the various other pieces.  I sewed the long strips together and combined them into the little checker boards and striped squares.  When they were pressed I laid a few of each on the ironing board for you to see.  Next came the actual sewing into strips according to the schema plan I made up for the PDF.

Now I have one block finished to show you!!! I love the way it turned out, don’t you?  Of course, I plan to “quilt” it with my Celtic Chain pattern with 2 borders and 4 different blocks.  Maybe I’ll go scrappy with the designs too, and mix them all in.

Before I forget, I’ve got a St. Patrick’s Day recipe for you.  It’s my very favorite Rosemary Cheddar Soda bread.   Wait ’til you taste it – fabulous!!!     

This was fantastic. I made it exactly (I almost never do) except for baking it on a Pizza Stone.

Rosemary Cheddar Irish Soda Bread

A tasty Irish Soda Bread with sharp cheddar and fresh rosemary. This is aperfect as a side to your corned beef dinner.

Prep Time 10 minutes     Cook Time 25 minutes     Author foodnessgracious

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar
  • 1 cups buttermilk
  • 1 whole large egg

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly flour a non stick baking tray or spray with a non stick spray.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, pepper, rosemary and cheese.
  3. Add the egg to the buttermilk and beat until mixed.
  4. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour and lightly mix through until it becomes sticky and a ball forms.
  5. Dump the dough out onto a flour dusted work surface and roughly knead the dough into an ball shape. It may be on the wet side so have some extra flour on hand for dusting.
  6. Place the dough onto your prepared baking tray. Take a sharp serrated knife and cut an X on top of the soda bread.
  7. Season the top with some more salt and pepper and bake in the oven for 25 minutes and the top is golden brown.
  8. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and serving with butter. If you can resist!!!
Happy Quilting!!  Judy
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HOORAY! WE HAD SNOW! Let’s SNOW DYE!

HOORAY! WE HAD SNOW! – YOU KNOW, THAT WHITE STUFF?

I WISH WE HAD IT MORE OFTEN. WELL SOMETIMES. I DIDN’T ENJOY IT WHEN I HAD TO CARRY LITTLE KIDS OUT TO THE CAR,

BUT I do now that I can sew and look out the window!

TO CELEBRATE

OUR “WHITE” THEMED PATTERNS ARE ON SALE IN JANUARY!

Make a fun Silly Snowmen Quilt or wall hanging. Get the FREE tutorial including the snowflake block pattern here.

Don’t you love those cute, funny snowmen roasting marshmallows and singing carols? For stitching your “Snowmen are so Silly” quilt just lift them out of the “Silly Snowmen” pictogram. https://www.meadowlyon.com/shop/silly-snowmen/

To make a “WINTRY” Table Topper or Wall Hanging use the FREE Snowflake Block/Quilt pattern that comes with theSnowmen are so Silly!tutorial above.

For a simpler approach, these four images are now available in stencil form through our distributor Full-line Stencils. Use them in lots of ways!
https://fulllinestencil.com/50041-singing-carols.html

I’m always dreaming of food! So Scroll down for something Yummy!!

Snow Dyeing? YES! This seemed like a good time to pull out those wire baskets I insist on saving and open up my bottles of dye. Do you want to try? Follow along.

My method:

Snow dyeing with Procion dyes:  First, after washing the white fabric, I soaked it in ½ c. washing soda and 1 gallon hot water for 1 or more hours.  Then I scrunched up the cloth (twisting tightly gives a nice effect too), placed it on a grate over a disposable pan and piled about 5 inches of snow on top.  After that I poured the pre-mixed dye over the snow.  I did different analogous colors in spots.  One set of pieces had turquoise, green and yellow and another with fuchsia, tangerine, and yellow.  Then, I also did purple and turquoise, and used up the rest of the mixed red and green dyes.  I scraped every last bit of snow together for them because in our area it doesn’t last long.   They all turned out great.  It’s been really fun.  (I couldn’t stand to waste any dye, so I also stuffed fabric under the grate to catch the drippings.)

I left them in the cold for a couple of days because I didn’t have time to wash and rinse. Don’t worry it’s not a problem. The longer they remain in the dye, the brighter the colors. However, some melting must occur to liquify the dye. Cold temps make it take longer.  (The liquid dye is the key. Once it is dry that is the end of the dyeing.) They actually only need about 24 hours if the snow has melted. (Sometimes I’ve shaded them or brought them into the shed to finish.)

For ice dyeing : Prepare t-shirts or fabric by soaking in washing soda and water.

Leaving the fabric wet, I wrung it out then wadded it lightly and placed it in a disposable pan.  If you have a grate you can lift it out of the puddle. I piled ice cubes or crushed ice on top about a hands width high.  Then I sprinkled “Tie-Dye” powder in spots over the ice.  Don’t sprinkle everything in the same place or you’ll get “mud.”  It’s always a good idea to wear masks when working with dye powder!  Plus, wear rubber gloves. (You can get Tie-Dye powder at Walmart – don’t use Rit Dye because the colors will not be strong enough.)

In both cases, Wring out the extra dye out-of-doors and then rinse the fabrics well in the washing machine.  I added Synthrapol to the wash to carry away any loose dye.  You can also add dye absorbing dryer sheets to monitor whether any loose dye remains.  Usually 3 times through the cycle gets out all the loose dye.  Don’t stop at one and think you’ll be okay.

When you’re finished you’ll have beautiful hand dyed fabrics to use for your next quilt.

Have fun.

Here’s another way to use the Silly Snowmen Pictogram. Find it in the Star Quilt Fantasy PDF.

Yep, I do like sweets! Here’s a “Snowy” recipe.

HOORAY FOR SNOW!

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WHAT MAKES THIS QUILT UNIQUE?

Okay, but What is a Pictogram?

The great MeadowLyon Adventure began when we returned from living in Malaysia where Monkeys would sit on our shoulders at the park or steal our lunches. My son would lie on the floor pouring over animal books.  So I decided to make him a Rainforest Quilt to help him remember that wonderful adventure. I pieced it with tropical fabric and as I got deeper under the canopy used darker fabrics with bigger animals.  Finally I turned the trees upside down and pieced the lower ones with fish fabric.  Then I asked my friend Angela to quilt it for me – and put in birds and animals.  She said she’d be glad to quilt it, but I’d have to draw the pattern.  So I did.  I didn’t know it could repeat so I made it all different.  It became the basis for our first 4 “Pictograms.”  “Rainforest,” “Jungle,” Safari,” and “Fishy Business.” They were highly pictorial – almost a “Whole Cloth” pattern yet on an easy to use 12 ft. roll. Read more about Pictograms here.

Take a LOOK! How many animals, plants or landmarks can you spot in this quilt. See the full list on the Southwest Vistas page.

       “When I was a child, our family built a desert cabin in the high desert of California just outside Joshua Tree National Park. The boulders of Rattlesnake Hill behind the house were my playground.  Later as a college student I went with friends to explore rock formations of several western states.   I was at home on the desert rocks.  Recently when someone suggested I do a Southwest pattern I leaped right in.  It was fun remembering climbing on boulders, feeling the wind and chasing the jackrabbits.  Of course, there were plenty of giant Joshua trees and snakes, too. The adventure turned my thoughts to the fun times of my childhood. I drew all those memories into my “Southwest Vistas” pattern.  “Campout” and “Backwoods” are two other patterns that take me back to those happy-go-lucky days.  Didn’t you ever go camping as a child? Did your Dad make you sit in the boat for hours to catch fish?  With book in hand, it seemed like forever. That was tedious, but it’s fun to remember now. Re-discover such memories when you stitch pictorial Pictograms on your quilt!”

Here’s a complete list of all our Pictograms. Search by name HERE.

When you go to each post you’ll see closeups and the special BORDERS planned to compliment them.

Often as I sat drawing patterns I would imagine the quilt I would make on which to stitch them. Although this is not my main focus, I’ve published a few that you might use. Some are FREE, some are full sized and some are normal patterns.

If you know me, you won’t be surprised that I also came up with recipes for some of them. Guess which Pictogram they match!

Have fun planning your next Pictogram quilt!

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Monkey-ing Around

I don’t know about your kids, but mine did a lot of Monkey-ing around! In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to call them little monkeys! (Plus, I told them many times NOT to jump on the beds.) So let’s make some cute quilts for Children’s Day coming up on June 14th.

Let’s have fun with kids – many have been with their kids 24-7 for the first time these past weeks.  I hope it’s been a fun, if revealing, experience.  For many it’s been a great opportunity to increase the familial bonds and have fun together. If you haven’t had the privilege of being with your kids, you might consider gifting a kid’s quilt to provide a fun distraction for weary parents or for refugees. (Even a whole cloth with a fun panto is easily done but very enjoyable.)

When I lived in Korea I discovered Kids Day was May 5th.  I had never heard of a kids day and was pleasantly surprised.  In the US it is June 14th (or the second Sunday in June.)  So you’ll have time to get a quilt or two made for your favorite kids.

I’ve started making a list of some fun and easy ideas for kids quilts. First is my Monkey Fun/Socky Monkey pattern. This is the link to the PDF version. I’ve made several from this pattern with slight variations and fabrics. Here’s a little gallery of them all. AND a tutorial. (The PDF pattern was FREE for the Virtual Quilt Show and I’ve extended the price for May.)

FREE download a Paper Pieced Sailboat!

Download the FREE pattern and tutorial for this Paper Pieced Sailboat HERE.

When I was growing up we didn’t have a sailboat but we did have an “outboard” for water skiing. Good memories! My brother asked the “shop” teacher in high school if he could build a boat. “If your Dad takes the night class and works on it with you.” And so they did. Can you imagine the rest of the guys in class making lamps while my brother worked on his boat??!!

Novelty Pantographs paired with novelty fabric=cute little quilts!

Do you remember Peaky and Spike?

“Peaky and Spike” was a design element popularized by Doreen Speckmann. I asked my local quilt guild to make me these easy blocks of “fish.” I ended up with enough for 3 twin sized quilts! When my grandsons received them they spread them out on the floor and squealed with delight as they found all the fish that were quilted into them.

Since we’re making quilts with fish – Isn’t this a fun idea for your kids! Check out the directions. It’s from Beth at https://thefirstyearblog.com/under-the-sea-graham-crackers/ Don’t worry I have her permission. ENJOY!

Turn any Blocks or even Pantos into a Coloring Party! Kids love coloring. Stitch out a few Fishy Business Blocks for them to color using dye coloring sticks or even crayons. Eleanor Sassnet did this on her beautiful prize winning quilt.

Turn any Blocks or even Pantos into a Coloring Party!

There are lots more kid friendly patterns. I’ll put some on “sale” on the home page.

I almost forgot I was going to give you a Dinosaur Puppet pattern. I made it for the kids in Thailand – the home of Siamosaurus!

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A Bright Spring

Spring is different than anyone expected this year.  I was thinking of Bunny Rabbits and Chicks and Easter Baskets. (*See those below!) But, in  the grocery store, before the world changed, I bought a beautiful, potted Blue Hydrangea.  Suddenly I loved the spring flowers.  Having it on my kitchen table has brought me so much happiness, I wanted to share it with others. 

“Hydrangea” 10-inch Interlocking Pantograph

If you haven’t seen my homepage take a look. It’s all part of the theme!

I couldn’t resist sharing my original Blueberry (Hydrangea) Breakfast Cake recipe. I’m such a foody!

My mind raced to devise a quilt design on which to display a Hydrangea Pantograph.  It’s been fun and I found that the emergence of the pretty spring flowers here in Kansas has lifted my spirits.

Hydrangea Quilt Design

It’s really a simple design. Here’s how you do it.

This could be adapted for pansies or any number of flowers in our gardens by changing the colors on this very simple pattern.

There are spring flowers everywhere I look. They bring the promise of re-birth and new days of peace and plenty. The world will become right again. Have faith!

Where do you hide the eggs for your Easter Basket?

Cookies too? We do!

*HAPPY EASTER! – FAITH in GOD! – BLESSED SPRING!*

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Crazy for Southwest

Do the Shelves in stores feel like a Desert? – Desert Fabrics, that is. So many things are changing this month Has your world been turned upside down like mine has?

What happened to all our Quilt shows? No Seriously…

We’re spending much needed time at home with our families and trying to get things done we’ve intended to do for years. (Is that too hopeful sounding? It’s hard to change everything and we need enjoyment to get us past the worry. So I’m still working on quilts and the garage is still not sorted, and I hardly feel guilty at all!)

But in our family we have managed to put some of our time to good use. Since we’re at home, on Sundays we have our own little church meeting. I play the piano and we sing, have a Sunday School lesson and scripture readings. It is a good time to think about the past and the goals we’ve made (not only the UFOs). A couple of days ago our next door neighbor texted me to ask if I needed anything at the store, since she was going. 2 weeks ago we wouldn’t have thought about doing that. My husband just cam home from working at the church storehouse – a food pantry and stopped at the store to pick up a couple of items. He said the shelves are increasingly bare of all foodstuffs. So we might ask, have we helped our neighbors, or called Aunt Ruth? While we’re social distancing, we’re also praying for the health and safety of our families and loved ones.

But let me get back to the subject of the blog I decided upon before all “this” started. The big Fabric companies were announcing new specialty fabrics emblazoned with cactus and succulents. So I had determined to design a few more “Desert” patterns to add to my already bulging stock. And I hurried out to buy a few yards of the fun fabrics.

The Results

My favorite new pattern is “High Desert.” It’s the one filled with my memories. I love to see designs like this stitched out over quilts. It induces the viewer to “zoom in” and have a closer look. It’s so interesting.

Oh yeah! Cactus!  My mom was a crafty sort and she just had to have some of that decorative Cholla Cactus wood.  I can remember her with a handkerchief tied around her face like a mask and wielding a big butcher knife held by big heavy gloves – scraped the “stickers” off the cactus!!  Those stickers are terrors!! They are the enemy! I know that from experience. But, Cactus Flowers were another thing!  They were friendly and had beautiful, brightly colored flowers.

More new Desert patterns:

Desert Rose Quilt Construction: I had noticed that the succulents often had a tinge of fushia or purple along the outer edge of the petals. I wanted to achieve this look and so inserted thin strips randomly through the blocks.

Mock Desert Rose quilt design. It’s so easy!! I just pulled these fabrics out of my stash and randomly sewed them in place! For this “mock” quilt I made only 2 blocks and tinted them differently so I could show you a “whole” quilt. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? You’ll definitely want to try this!

Hey, all this talk about “Desert” is making me hungry for “Dessert!” What do we eat in the Desert? Prickly Pears? Aloe Vera Juice? Jack Rabbit Stew? Get some ideas at the end.

Cactus Flower – this is the quilt I started as an example. All those Y-seams were soooo time consuming. Then the pattern I used for the flowers was faulty and I had to rip a lot out. I’ll give you the new measurements, but won’t guarantee anything.

Try a taste of Desert food! Rattlesnake Hot Dogs, Joshua Tree Date Shakes and Date Crumble.

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Grandma’s Quilts

This is the quilt that was on my bed. It probably played a large part in my interest of quilting. It was my REAL LIFE!

by Estella Naomi Parkins Snyder

When I was a teen Grandma Snyder’s Flower Garden graced my bed.  I had a double bed frame painted white, with turned spindles on the posts – giving it that comfortably antique look which perfectly complemented the flower garden  quilt.  I can picture it now in my bright room.

Sorting through my Mama’s old quilt blocks brings a lot of memories and many questions that will remain unanswered now.  I wish I could ask more.  I wish I could remember all the stories she told me.  Do you have quilts from your family heritage?  I hope so.  As quilters you are undoubtedly the ones who will prize them the most.  Lately, when distant family members and cousins come by and stop to spend the night I unpack those precious quilts.  If they are sturdy enough I spread them on the cousins’ beds hoping to evoke visual memories that they may treasure, or at least remember after leaving my home.

The Redd Quilt

I call this the Redd Quilt! This is one I place on the beds of family visitors to help them remember the names!

When Mom  came to live with me in her final years we worked on this Double Wedding Ring quilt together.  We had the idea of embroidering the names of her family and their spouses in the centers.  She came from a family of 14 children so there were a lot of names!  Even so we stopped with not enough.  We have 10 more centers unfilled for the direct line.  So I’m trying to decide what other names to use.  Maybe Mom’s 10+ aunts and uncles.

Here are the family quilts, the women, and their stories that have inspired me in my quilting journey. 

Green Double Wedding Ring

Mama eloped.   She was going on a road trip with her sisters and then up to her hometown in Canada to visit family.  Sterling was afraid she would forget him or change her mind, so he persuaded her to get married on July 4th 1931, before her trip.  While traveling she wrote a couple of letters – one to her “darling husband” and one to her mother in Canada.  But somehow they got mixed up.  When the letters arrived the secret was out.  By the time she reached Raymond her family and friends had organized a surprise bridal shower for her and as they chatted they all worked on this special Double Wedding Ring quilt!

Blue and White Stars

 When my mother Mary was first married she sewed for a dress factory owned by Del Grant in Los Angeles.  She sometimes brought home scraps.  Among them were these blue polka dot pieces. (Navy with white dots was sooo popular back then. I remember my Grandma Snyder wearing dresses from similar fabrics into the 80’s.) Her husband’s mother (Estella Naomi Snyder) and grandmother (Emma Jane Parkins) pieced this lovely star quilt from those scraps.  Mom and I backed it sometime between 1970 and 1980 and hand quilted it (mostly Mom).  I used it on my bed until it started showing signs of wear in 1988 when I was bedridden for several months.  It will always be one of my favorites, yet I dare not wear it out even more.  I’m sure you understand that feeling.

HORRORS! Your family quilts are not labeled?? Take care of that today! Download our little pack of 30’s Label patterns, trace them or print them!

More family quilts and their makers.

Do you have some blocks or “Tops” from your mother or grandmother? Quilt them up with these nostalgic Pantos. They’re on sale for you now!

Of course, all of these antique quilts were quilted by hand. That’s how I learned! But that’s not the modern way. In fact the stability of machine quilting can help strengthen a quilt if the fabric is not too fragile. ( read about it on the “Clothesline” page.) Perhaps it’s better than leaving them in a box for another generation. So give pantos a try! Or if you are making a quilt from reproduction fabrics. These might be perfect as well as many other MeadowLyon patterns.

Redd Wagons West

I designed this one about 8 years ago for a family reunion. I made up a small section to show at the reunion – it’s still not finished because I didn’t have enough of the “snow-dyed” fabric I used for it.  But there’s another family reunion this year so I feel motivated.  I’ve snow dyed more fabric that, miraculously, matched.  You can read all about the stitched medallions in the download for Redd Wagons West if you’re interested.  But what I really hope is you’ll feel inspired to make a memory quilt about your own family history. I wonder where your family lived? What they did?

Yoyo Quilt

The Yoyo quilt is definitely 30’s fabrics – the real thing. The squares were assembled but not put together into a quilt.  I started making the “sashing” Yoyos from flowered fabric and then realized it was not vintage looking so I switched to green.  I “gathered UP’ the circles from vintage fabric as I sat waiting in the car to pick up the neighborhood kids from school. I sure wish I could have found more of that pretty blue, but green it is. I’m ashamed for not getting this together yet!

Mom left several other block sets that I have not finished for her. Some that I can’t even find. 🙁 SO SAD! Maybe you are having some of the same feelings. Most of the time I feel overly busy. I mean, how can I possible do any more??? But last week on my trip for Christmas I realized I could have been sewing these Yoyos together in the car! Do your MOM a favor and finish her quilt!

LET ME KNOW ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS AND I’LL BE SO PROUD OF YOU! Love, Your friend Judy

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Sweet Pine Christmas

Sweet Pine Quilt – A Mock-torial!

I think I’ve always loved pinecones.  In California we would drive up into the San Gabriel Mountains and breathe in the sweet smell of pine and the pinecones they sported.  Even here in Kansas there were pine trees in the park across from our historic 3-story house on Ft Leavenworth where we gathered pinecones for decorating. Isn’t it fun to see their different shapes and sizes. I haven’t had much time this fall for finishing quilts, but I’m loaded with ideas.  One is this great little Sweet Pine Quilt. 

It measures 74 x 78 using 2” squares (2 1/2 cut).  This is the measure by which I’ll give all my directions.   But you could resize it in any way you wanted from 37 x 39 with 1” sq. and 55.5 x 58.5 with 1 1/2” squares.

I first sketched out this quilt when I was drawing the Ponderosa Pine Spray and Pinecone patterns—yes that was long ago!  But now I have “Rustic Santas” just itchin’ to ride around my “Sweet Pine’s” borders.  For this quilt I’m showing the “Rustic Yosemite Santa” (9” wide) with his sleigh pulled by California Grizzlies.

“Yosemite Santa” this is the Santa I grew up with in California! The 9″ size fit better on my quilt.
“Northwoods Santa” is part of the same Rustic Santas pattern. 2 for 1 – great, huh? This one would need a wider border for its 11″ width. But everyone is enamored with big, hunkin’ Moose, right?

Chuckle!  I’ve been including recipes, but just can’t think of a pinecone one.  I found some on Pinterest and will include the links here. Gingersnap Pinecone cookies and Chai Spiced Pinecones.

Is Wild Moose good to EAT? I don’t know about that, but my Wild Moose Antler Dip is something you’ll want to try. Be sure to serve it with pretzel twists so they’ll look like antlers! I just can’t stay away from this. I keep sneaking into the kitchen to get another nibble!

BACK TO THE QUILT! Are you curious about the circle inset?  I really imagined an Ombré fabric with a bright area in the middle fading to dark as it progressed outward.  The circle was how I “suggested” it, but in the end I liked the circle.  I’d also like to try it with a plaid border.  In fact, I bought a lot of plaids this year for a new “Rustic” quilt and also 2 new plaid shirts!

Northwoods Santa sporting his plaids. You know, of course, it’s best etiquette to wear a plaid flannel shirt out in the woods.

The Inner border could be pieced with different browns in a special design if you’re into beauty and have plenty of time.  An easier option is actually a Seminole Patchwork braid in 2 colors or in 1 color. OR even easier, it could be a solid border stitched with my “Toga Trim” or “Greek Braid” designs that come with the “Mosaic” Panto #2493. So you’ve got some wiggle-room depending on your time and expertise. I’m include the “Greek Braid” in the PDF so you’ll have it. (As I was developing the design I lost the “mock-up” so was unable to make changes on the corners of the brown border. )

As I plotted out the design I added lines to show the piecing.  Each small square is 2” so you can figure out the sizes of all the sections.  For example, the finished strips in the pinecones are all 2” wide (remember cut 2 1/2”).  Therefore the small pinecones finish at 8” square.   If you actually cut the center into a circle you don’t need to “piece” the large brown square at all.  Just inset the circle, or applique it into the square.  (Even though the circle is quite big you can still use the insetting method described in the T-shirt quilt tutorial.)

But what about the Mock-torial! And what is that anyway?

Since I didn’t actually make the quilt it is just a “Mock-up.” So I’m calling it a “Mock-torial.” Download it here: Sweet Pine Quilt.

MERRY CHRISTMAS – FELIZ NAVIDAD

But more is going on at my house. Here are some pictures of what I’ve been working on.  This Pictogram pattern is called “Las Posadas.”  The name refers to a Nativity play, of sorts, that is acted out in the towns of Mexico and Guatemala. 

Light the World is our church’s theme for this Christmas Season. As part of the “kick off” we had a huge Nativity Festival. A Mexican Nativity Set seems appropriate for Las Posadas. Are you celebrating? Send me some pictures!

Don’t forget the new Christmas patterns! On SALE this month!

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Fall is Maple Syrup Time

The beautiful colors of Maple and Oak are all around us.


The leaves have all fallen from our beautiful Maple tree, so we’ll have a Maple sale!  Sure maple!  Oh, yes, we have an Oak Tree too and it still has a lot of it’s brick red leaves.

 

25% OFF Maple Breezes 11″ & 15″, Maple Squirrels/Maple Leaf Borders, Autumn WindOak Whisper 11″ & 15″, and Oak Border w/ Acorns are all on sale- NOW! Click to see all sale items!
Remember they’re all available digitally, too.

Christmas is coming the Goose is getting fat!  But, don’t worry we’ll eat him for Thanksgiving!!  Sadly, I’ll probably get fat(ter) too! There are just so many great recipes.  Check below for a new “Maple-Bacon Toffee” recipe I just invented today! Okay, I know this is supposed to be about quilting!  But I have other interests too. Food is a BIG one!

Here’s a fun Holiday quilt. I love the big stitch.

ALSO on SALE Thanksgiving Table Topper Pictogram pattern.

I do want to encourage you to make the Thanksgiving Table Topper.  It’s so beautiful on the table.  When I went to Oklahoma last week I noticed my daughter-in-law had it hanging in the entry to her house.  It was a great way to use it before the holiday.

This reversible Table Topper is so beautiful on the table. Your guests on every side will have a different view of the Thanksgiving story; The Ship greeted by Native Americans, The feast table, Indians bringing food to the feast, and a Pilgrim family bringing their contributions to the feast. It’s so much fun they might just want to play musical chairs!
Get the FREE Tutorial and pattern!

I was talking with some of my adult kids last night and they were laughing about the White Pilgrim Collars I made them wear for Thanksgiving Dinner.  We also had/have Thanksgiving puppets.  So fun!! 

Do you have any traditions for Thanksgiving? Submit them in “comments.”

NOW for the MAPLE Recipes! Click the expand button to view each entire, delicious recipe! Also: From last year’s blog, see my original Pumpkin Biscotti recipe here. Believe me, it’s far better than others I’ve tried!!

Don’t forget to make your Ice Candles while there are still leaves available!

Do you remember this pattern? It was so easy. I can’t remember where it was published.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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SNOWBIRDS QUILT & RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT ANTIQUE SEWING MACHINES

IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS YET – IS IT??!! Don’t miss the SALE!

I haven’t had time to start any new Christmas projects but I did manage to get one beautiful UFO done last month.  I started it too long ago to make a “tutorial” but I can give you the count and directions.  (see below) I absolutely love the “Snowbirds” Pantograph and “Snowbird Borders” designs!  Don’t you?

Before I forget, here’s a special announcement. ALL our Christmas themed pantos are on sale for the coming 2 weeks. See them all on the HOME PAGE!

Including the NEW MISTLETOE PANTO. There’s a FREE Poinsettia quilt pdf too! Tout Suite! So don’t miss them!

Don’t miss this sale.! You’ll find all your favorite Christmas designs, including our new “Mistletoe” pantograph. Everything is pictured on the “Home Page.”

Every year I’m too busy to start Christmas projects ahead of time. And every year I’m scrambling to get presents ready for my family and friends. I have a LOOOng list of projects to work on. Just take a look at my UFOs. I know a lot of you plan well ahead, like even making Christmas Projects in the summer. But are there any of you who are either too busy or procrastinate like me?

You know these UFOs are old because Pizza Hut doesn’t even use that kind of box any more!! I used to go down to the corner and buy them for 25 cents each! On this subject I thought I’d check my UFO list: I have 1 Tif (top finished) , 8 SNWTY (Snooty-SQUARES NOT SEWN TOGETHER YET) , 19 WIPs (work in progress), 1 WOMBAT (waste of money, batting+ time), 5 HSYs (haven’t started yet), & 15 Brazen HSYs (bought the fabric). Honestly all the fabric I buy “IS” intended for a particular quilt. I’ve just forgotten which.

So you see why I’m so happy to finally have the Snowbirds quilt done!

Now back to the Snowbirds quilt. I like to give you tutorials, but I started this too long ago to have pictures. I do have a few left over pieces so you can see what I’ll be talking about.

Here are the requirements if you want to make one like it. Be sure to get the Snowbirds pantograph on the Christmas Sale!

Do you collect Antique Sewing Machines? Do you have a back-up sewing machine? What if your tension spring breaks? or you lose your bobbin case? Or there’s no ELECTRICITY!

Someone was asking whether I had a “back up” sewing machine. Very definitely! My first machine was a Kenmore that I received for a High School Graduation present! It was one of the best I’ve ever had!  I’ve had a couple more over the years and don’t even remember their names.  Of course, when I went to Thailand on a mission I couldn’t live without a machine so I bought one from a friend.  It was a Juki converted from treadle with a little electric motor. See it in the far left corner.

I’ve always thought it would be a good idea to have a treadle machine—just in case the electricity goes out!  So I currently have 2!  My brother has my Grandmother’s old one (boohoo)  but when we were first married I bought a REALLY old one from a little friend in Lawton OK.  It’s not much to look at, but it has the long “spindle” type bobbins!  It’s that old!

Next, my friend in Kansas gave me her mother’s machine.  It’s much more beautiful.  I use it as a base for my “holiday Tree” in the family room.

I do have my mother’s machine—a Wilcox and Gibbs factory power machine. (When she had little kids at home the factory she had sewn for in LA sent the machine home with her!)  That’s the machine I learned to sew on!  FAST & POWERFUL!!! That “attachment” on the left is a Tucking Arm.

Another friend gave me an old power (?) Machine (sitting on a shelf in my storage room.)  It’s really beautiful, isn’t it?

And, Oh yes—there’s the “once top of the line” Elna that I bought at the thrift shop for $7.00. (Did you notice that gray case at the bottom of the shelf in the last picture?)

Now I have my Pfaff that I use almost exclusively.  I think that makes 6 sewing machines that I still own!? Isn’t collecting fun!

Do you have a “back-up” machine? I’d love to hear about it!

If you haven’t already – Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter! HERE

By for now! Hurry and get busy on your Christmas projects. Next time -some quick Halloween ideas.

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WOOF! WOOF! It’s National Dog Day!

Quilted by Angela Meadows Pieced/painted by Judy Lyon

Woof, Woof! It’s National Dog Day!
This week, until August 31st, get FREE Doggies PDF Block pattern sets with any purchase ( see below) https://www.meadowlyon.com
Also on sale, Dawgs, In the Doghouse, Dog Patch Quilt, Backwoods Moose Quilt and Backwoods Pine Quilt patterns with their necessary pantos, Backwoods, Campout, Fish Tales. You might also want to consider Halloween and Autumn patterns.

Several years ago I wanted to draw some dog patterns so I sent out a request for dog pictures. Wow! I got some of the cutest pictures. Of course everyone loves their dogs and I could see why. You can spot “Lady” in my Dogpatch Quilt.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA


Anyway, I drew up separate blocks of the dogs and then the “Dawgs” Pictogram (A non-repeating pantograph 12′ long)

and finally “In The Doghouse,” a 6″ wide border/edge to edge

.
Eventually I pieced the Dogpatch quilt using both patterns with their fun dog-bones sashing. Angela Meadows (my business partner and founder of MeadowLyon) quilted it and I painted in the dog faces everywhere they went over a white triangle.

https://www.meadowlyon.com/shop/dog-patch/


I remember I had it spread out on our pool table in the basement with plastic trash bags draped over it to protect the rest of the quilt. (I was terribly afraid of ruining it!) My high school son came down, stood still a minute, and said, “Mom! You can paint!” 
Yep! But I hadn’t had time for that pleasure with 8 kids.

https://www.meadowlyon.com/shop/dog-patch/


The first show I took it to was MQX in New Hampshire. As I was setting up, the photographer, Jeffrey Lomika, came rushing over. “I was photographing the quilts in the exhibit and looking through the lens, all of a sudden I saw Norman!!” 
Yes, his dog was in that quilt – the cutest little wire haired terrier ever. Look closely, maybe you can spot him. He was so cute, I used his face two or three times!

Do you remember I promised you a tutorial on inserting round patches into T-shirt Quilts. It’s Here: Making circular insets in T-shirt Quilts. You might also want to re-visit the Blog about T-shirt Quilts.

https://www.meadowlyon.com/shop/making-circular-insets-for-t-shirt-quilts/

FINALLY, Don’t miss the SANTA BLOWOUT SALE NEXT MONTH

Sign Up For our NEWSLETTER FOR INFO ON SALES AND NEW PRODUCTS. https://us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7674e9305fc062ebacb56fba8&id=31f316c6c6

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Cool off FREE! We’re Having a Heat Wave!!

We’re having a heatwave!    “95°”   That’s a respectable heat wave.  So let’s price all the desert-y hot patterns in the 95s.   

$10.00 $8.95, $14.00 $11.95, $16.00 $13.95, $20.00 $17.95 

I grew up in southern California.  I thought I knew what it meant to be hot!!  But I remember the first time I really got a handle on the thing – heat that is.  Our family was on vacation and staying in a little motel at Lake Mead.  When we walked out of the door it felt like stepping into an oven.  After we got out onto the lake where my dad was fishing. I jumped in the water to cool off.  It was like a bathtub!!

Years later, my son living in nearby Las Vegas actually cooked an egg on the sidewalk.  Yes, he did!  It can really happen.

But a heat wave seems never-ending.  The long-hot summer!  Maybe you can picture it – maybe you’re living in it.    I’ve collected up all my MeadowLyon Pantographs and Pictograms that made me think about hot weather – like “Modern Southwest” pictured over a free-style, mock quilt.

My Dad and brothers built a desert cabin just outside the town of Joshua Tree, near 29 Palms, CA.  It was rugged with only one room, but it did have two sets of French doors across the back and a gasoline powered generator mounted on an old lawn mower chassis that Dad could fire up when we wanted electricity at night.  Before that we used a lantern. 

I loved hiking up Rattlesnake Hill right behind our house.  After I got to the top I could see out over the valley and into the National Monument Park where they used to “shoot” westerns.  I used to dress up in my little cowgirl outfit and run around trying to “rope” our Cocker Spaniel Rusty.

Ropin’ Horseshoes Rodeo Kids  Mustang Stampede.  Snakeskin

Oh, Yes!  Did you notice that straight rope twist and corner on the Rodeo Kids layout?  It’s FREE right now. So put “Rope Twist” in your cart.   
While you’re at it, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for our NEWSLETTER so you’ll know when we have special offers, new patterns and sales!

When my friend Helen in Las Vegas asked me to draw a pattern with southwest images for her I remembered so many things I had seen and loved in my childhood.  I drew them into “Southwest Vistas.”   

Oh yes! Cactus!  My mom was a crafty sort and she just had to have some of that decorative Cholla Cactus wood.  I can remember her with a handerkerchief tied around her face like a mask and wielding a big butcher knife held by big heavy gloves – scraping the “stickers” off the cactus!!  Those stickers are terrors!! They are the enemy!

I know that from experience.  But, Cactus Flower that was another thing!  They were friendly and had the brightest colors!! 

 I’ve rounded up all the “hot weather patterns and put them on sale for you – just for memory’s sake. Titles like: Southwest Vistas, Spiral Suns (an all time favorite!), Spinning Kokopeli, Modern Southwest, Mosaic, Laguna de Cancun, Great Plains on the Move, Mustangs, Rodeo Kids, Ropin’ Horseshoes w Knotty Pine, Snakeskin, Cactus FlowerEl DoradoPueblo Pottery (see a special tutorial below!) , Barnyard Dreams,  Sunflowers, Giant Sunflowers, Chicken Feathers,  MooCow,  Illusion, Tornado, Mayan Glyphs, Portico Blooms, & Bengali Mosaic.  Whew!  is it hot in all those places???

 

  But don’t worry –  YOU’LL NEED TO COOL OFF with FREE SODA FOUNTAIN BLOCKS SET.      The first 20 orders will get a PDF set emailed to them FREE within 24 hours!  Just wrap your lips around them straws!  On the Soda Fountain page you’ll see ideas for using them!

 

Now back to the longest of the hot days.  They make me think of eating MEXICAN! I’ve attached a couple of favorite recipes for you down below.  That reminds me – Do you know about EPAZOTE?  It is the quintessential Mexican herb.  Add it to your favorite chili recipe and you will be transported south of the border!  Yep, but it’s hard to find out here in Kansas. I finally asked the guy at Acapulco and he gave me some sprigs.  “Where did you buy this?” I asked.  “I grow it myself!”  

But now a little more quilt talk.  I’ve got a new pattern to celebrate the heat – “Pueblo Pottery.” It’s a fun interlocking panto with all the flavor of the southwest.

 I have an idea for you to use it on a quilt  Remember the “Southwest Vistas” Pictogram (that’s a non-repeating panto) up above?  I made a Southwest Pueblo quilt to showcase it. I used some simple improv piecing in desert colors to suggest the plateaus and native pueblo style houses.  The round oven, the round beams, the ladders and drying racks all added a bit of interest, color and nostalgia.  All this supported the amazing stitching of the “Pictogram” or vice-versa, the pictogram accented the strong southwest feel of the quilt.

I added more color to surround the main body of the quilt and have loved the

 

 

border ever since. So I’ve combined the blocks from that border into a quilt layout.

Here’s how you can put it together. And how it will look in a different colorway with the Pueblo Pottery design quilted over it.

So crank up that Air Cond and have fun sipping your sodas and putting together this fun desert quilt!  Oh and don’t forget the recipes below.

      

 

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Celebrate our Founding Fathers at Home and in History with Love, Honor and a FREE patriotic pattern set!

Celebrate our Founding Fathers at Home and in History with Love, Honor and a FREE Patriotic pattern!

At this time of year we remember our “Founding Fathers,” both family and nation.  Some founding fathers of our family are John Lyon, William A. Redd, Hans Ulrich Bryner, Lucius Franklin Snyder.  Bryner, seated with a beard, was an immigrant to the US from Switzerland. In large measure he was the founder of the Bryner clan in America.  Before coming he was blinded in an accident, but didn’t let that stop him. Traveling by ship and then covered wagon across the US he held onto the back of the wagon, giving up his seat inside for an elderly woman who needed a place.  I designed a quilting Pictogram, Westward Ho, around his story and pictured him holding the wagon.

  Just as you honor your fathers, we honor ours by telling them we love them, by giving them gifts, and by cooking their favorite treats. Our Dad loves tunnel of fudge cake – the old recipe with pudding. Yumm…. The kids all love making him treats each year!  It’s no wonder in Sunday School we sing, “I’m So Glad when Daddy comes Home.” Now he’s a grand father and sooo good at reading stories.  I get jealous – they want him!  See his picture?  Grandpas make us smile, don’t they?  (I had fun overlaying the pix with an image from our America’s Pride Blocks- FREE PDF June 2019 only.)

This time of year, climaxing with the 4th of July, is full of Patriotism. Because we live near an Army Post the boy scouts place flags on all the graves in the cemetery for Memorial day.  That is the beginning.  Memorial Day, D-day, Father’s Day and July 4th make a grand month of remembrance.

Patriotic service and red, white and blue décor and stories of valor are part of the fabric of our lives. In such ways we honor the Founding Fathers of our country.  We obey the laws, we vote, we celebrate the birth of our nation. We enjoy the land through vacations and song – “Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies…”   I even decorate a 4th of July tree!  (I’m also reminded of a Canadian hymn, “In days of yore from Britain’s shore, Wolfe, the dauntless hero came…”  My mother grew up in Canada and I learned this song as a child right along with The Star Spangled Banner.)

Every year on the 4th of July, we watch the movie “1776.   Our kids have the dialogue memorized. We love lines such as “He plays the violin…” and “Pins!” – “Saltpeter!”  What, you don’t know those lines?  Pull out that old movie this year and find them.  You’ll have to sing the words with Ben Franklin! I can see and hear it in my mind’s eye.

Another tradition has been to have a BBQ and Swim party in the back yard.  Ribs and sweet potato salad are always on the menu.  I’ll include my favorite ribs recipe for your 4th of July feast this year.  It’s actually an oven recipe but we put it on the grill for that special smokiness I love.  Homemade ice cream was also a favorite, Root Beer flavor as well as chocolate. Strawberry pretzel dessert was embellished with blueberries.  We’d have a yard full of friends, family  and neighbors and sit around until dusk while the kids played in the pool. Later we often drove onto the military post for a fireworks display.   I miss those days now that the kids are grown.   WHY DO WE DO ALL THIS? To honor the birth of our nation and the founding fathers who built us this heritage.  To honor the birth of our families and our own beloved Founding Fathers.

What are your favorite Father’s Day or 4th of Judy (oops July!) traditions?  Happy Father’s 4th of July!

This year I’ve had fun planning out some Patriotic quilt designs. “Patriotic Snail’s Trails and More!  They’re not full-fledged patterns, just my plans – but enjoy!

 

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T-Shirt Quilts: Pantos That Work Great! + Best Quilting tips for T-Shirt Success.

Upstairs in my walk-in attic I have a box of T-shirts meant for a quilt or two.  I thought how fun it would be to have a t-shirt quilt for the grandkids to use when they visit.  They’d be sleeping under all the memories of their Mom or Dad.  In particular I have a number of Hawaiian T-shirts and Hawaiian shirts and/or muumuus that he children wore when we lived in Hawaii.   Here’s my plan for those great memory pieces. I’m showing it “virtually” stitched with my “Hawaiian Hibiscus” pantograph.  (I’m including the titles of the Pantographs on the pictures simply for reference.)

Not sure about piecing circles?  I’ve posted a tutorial for adding them.  Don’t worry, it’s not hard!  Making Circular Insets for T-shirt Quilts.     

Another box is filled with old cub scouts t-shirts.  They’d be great and I plan to include some of the neckerchiefs and patches in the piecing (see my mock-up example).  I’m showing how I would stitch it with my 8-inch double “Jitterbug 15 interlocking “ panto.  (You could also use the -one row at a time- “Jitterbug 11 interlocking” panto.)  Doesn’t it look great!  It reminds me of boys at that age, JITTERY!

  

There are many  standard blocks which sport a square in the middle, so get out your pile of magazines and find a block, or do like I did and open up Quilt-Pro and find a block you like that’s not too time consuming.  Here’s a simple star stitched with one of my favorties, “Maori Moko”.  It’s a 15″ pattern so if you want a smaller one that’s similar choose the 9-inch “Maori Moko Border” and use it as an E2E.  Knit is stretchy anyway, so there’s no problem placing some of the pieces on the diagonal.  Another option would be to include the star points only on the outer corners and fill the center with rows of T-shirts.  However, I like the tilted squares because it adds so much interest!

.   Here’s another idea for a little girls t-shirt quilt.  One is straight placement with colorful sashing on which I over-layed our “Oh so popular”  Flowerburst pattern.  It comes in 2 sizes. “Flowerburst 15” and “Flowerburst 10”  Another is a version of a star block using Drunkard’s Path inserts to give a flower effect. You can actually place your t-shirts in some or all of the squares available.  I over-layed that one with “Dolly’s Tea Party.”

 “Zebra Stripes”   seems perfect stitched over this flaming black quilt.

Just in case you’re making a T-shirt quilt for a guy who’s into cars, like Joe.   FREE -I’m giving you my new “Tire Treads” borders PDF for a limited time.  I didn’t quite finish the “Hub Caps” block but hope to get it done this week.  Oh, gosh! That attic is so full!  “Car Classics”  and Tire Treads are both on this image.  See Sportscars at the end of the blog.

 This is a “Real” quilt.  Finally!  Connie Zwego quilted it in red with the “Snakeskin” Panto.

 Here’s a great T-shirt quilt with Car Classics stitched on it, by Deb Rolek.  I saw her a few weeks ago at the Quilters Musical.

  Or simplify with straight sashing, but make it lively!  “Sports Nut” looks great over all these team shirts!

Okay now, I’ve shown a variety of examples to get you going.  But I do have some real meat to this Blog.  Here are some super “Tips” I’ve gleaned and used over the years to help you along your way.  

Copy and print this section for your files.           Also, see below a list of patterns well suited to T-shirt quilts.   25 are on SALE THIS MONTH. Continue reading T-Shirt Quilts: Pantos That Work Great! + Best Quilting tips for T-Shirt Success.

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My love Affair With Batiks


My Love Affair with Batiks  By Judy Lyon

A Budding Romance

I first became aware of Batiks in the early 60’s.  Yikes, I’m revealing my age!  I loved to shop at import stores.  The interesting items from all around the world intrigued me.  Their fabric offerings were in the form of stamped batik designs and were used for skirts, tablecloths, and bedspreads.  They were great with the Ravi Shankar music and the incense sticks of the 60’s.  Later, in one of my college art classes the teacher taught actual batik-ing.  For me, it was love at first sight!  My equipment was a tjanting tool (The modern spelling is “canting,” pronounced “chaunting.”), a wooden frame, and a small kettle.  Tjanting tools typically have a wooden handle with a long metal tip composed of a chamber for holding warm wax and a spout extending from the lower end or point.  I used a combination of beeswax and paraffin in the jaunting tool to draw out my designs, mainly paisleys on scarves, etc.  I still have the tiny kettle I used for melting wax.  In fact there’s still a layer of wax in the bottom.  Anyone who really knows me understands.  I don’t throw anything away! “I might need it again,” and I usually do!   Not having an internet was crippling!  The color sequence …….. SEE MORE AS pdfMy Love Affair With Batiks – On Track Magazine spring 2008

So “How do you successfully quilt on Batiks?”

1. Check your fabric to see how tightly or loosely woven it is.  Many made for Quilting” batiks are loose enough to withstand the heavy stitching given to quilts.  But some are not. Although I don’t advocate discarding the tighter fabrics, you’ll need to take extra care.

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2. Use a finer needle to prevent puncturing the threads in a lightly woven fabric. (See the lower side of the purple picture  – you can easily spot holes left in the batik where stitches were removed.)  A ball-point might be helpful- but not too large.  If you encounter “Frogging” the fuzz around stitches indicating broken threads you might be able to make them less visible by using a damp cloth, dotted with silicone and rubbing lightly.  This can be a tricky decision if you have multiple layers of fused appliqué through which to stitch.

3. A silicone lubricant is useful.  Spray on brands are available but difficult to find.  You can apply a few drops of silicone (ie. Sewer’s Aid) to a damp cloth and rub over the quilt surface or apply a few drops to the spool.

4. Loosen the quilt sandwich on your machine slightly.

5.  Batiks are a dream for machine appliqué because as a tightly woven fabric they do not fray easily.  For hand-appliqué they may require a little more effort pushing the needle through the tightly woven folded edge.  Use a finer needle and try some silicone.

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“QUILTERS” – The Musical!

 

“Quilters”  Wow!  It was a great performance. Knowing that I was a quilter,  my friend Nancy M. told me about the show just last week.  So, we decided to go.  My husband made reservations and on Friday – Opening night (avoiding the snow forecast for Saturday).   Umm-they had catered snacks for the occasion.

If you’re in the Kansas City area, and like quilting or like frontier history you should see it.  It runs through March 10th, so hurry.

We had never been to the Theatre Lawrence before. I thought the staging was super.  Checking it out, I had seen some clips on You-tube of other “Quilters” productions and I liked the staging of this much better than those I had viewed. Plus, the musical ensemble was delightful. Instruments and unique effects added to the character of the presentation. It was nice that you could see the instrumentalists in the dark depths of the open stage.

But, now to the show – Wonderful!  (Of course, I couldn’t take pics inside.) The voices were strong and beautiful and the acting great, too.  Costuming too, was era perfect.  I was particularly impressed by Susie LeGault.  Could she have been my age (or was it just make-up?) and her voice still strong and vibrant?  Well, let’s face it- I enjoyed the evening immensely.

There were heart-breaking moments which could be expected from life on the plains  which bonded the women of the family together and to their community: The Ladies of the Lutheran Church, or the Ladies of the Methodist…or the Ladies of the Baptist… All the quilts they made over the years which had been collected and offered to bless the lives of those facing tragedy and loss.

In the theater lobby were hung several quilts by members of the local quilt guild (s?) I even found an old quilting friend there who had stitched one of them.  She promised to send me the pattern.  I’ll use it for my hand dyed indigo pieces.  (You’ll recognize it in the pics because it’s blue and white!  Thank you Deb Rowden.)

In the upstairs lobby were 2 antique quilts; a butterfly and a simple red and white.

All in all it was well worth the drive to Lawrence.

 

Several years ago, I took part in a play about quilters, too.  It was written by Julie Stapley and was so fun to perform for our church ladies.  (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

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Happy Chinese New Year – Gong Hey Fat Choi

I love Chinese New year time.  I remember visiting Lila Lawrence with my mother when I was a child.  She had Oriental furniture inlaid with mother of pearl and wore chopsticks in her hair. When we went to China Town in Los Angeles I would get those little prize balls that would unwind spilling little rings, and other treasures.

A few years ago when the catastrophic earthquake hit China I decided to draw a Pantograph with Pandas – “Panda-Bamboo” was what I called it. when I made the quilt I “Top-liqued” pandas right into the stitching line.

Living in the orient we enjoyed the fireworks and celebrations.

 

I decorate my little brown “year-round” tree with Chinese things and serve Oriental food.      Try this easy recipe. 

“ISAN PORK” FROM SISTER AWE

2 lbs. thinly slice pork, cut bite sized ( OR saute ground pork)

Simmer the pork in lightly salted water until tender.  Drain and place in bowl.  Sprinkle with juice of 1 – 1 ½ fresh limes. (I used 1 ½ good sized ripe limes) 

Stir in 3 Tb. Fish sauce. Add 1 tsp Rot Dii (This is a Thai seasoning containing MSG.  I used ½ tsp. MSG with about 1/8 teaspoon white pepper and 1 tsp garlic juice.) Stir well.  Taste the liquid to see if you like the blend.

Add ¼ c. chopped cilantro, 3 Tb. Green onions, ½ c. thinly sliced red shallots, Crushed red pepper to taste – I used about ½ tsp. and it wasn’t hot at all.

To serve, sprinkle with cilantro and “Rice Dust,” – browned glutinous rice, crushed****(  Place 2 Tb. Uncooked glutinous rice in dry frying pan.  Brown the rice, stirring constantly.  Allow to cool and crush well, or put it in a blender like I did.  I should not become like flour – just like rough corn meal so it remains a little crunchy.  This adds an important flavor.)Serve with sticky rice, chopped cucumber, diced, garlic and green mango slices. Wrap them up in green leaf lettuce and dash with Thai Sweet Chili sauce.       

  Happy Chinese New Year!

 

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Color Your Quilt

Having Fun with Pantographs:   Color Book Quilts

In the past few years I’ve seen more and more paint and ink being used on quilts.  I’ve noticed it mostly on quilts custom stitched from the front of the machine.  But, I’m a pantograph lady, I love the ease of knowing where I’m going and what I’ll find at the end of the row.  Several years ago as Angela stitched our “Dawgs” pictogram (non-repeating pantograph) over the expanse of a Big Block quilt I thought how fun it would be to color it like a coloring book—I must admit childhood memories play it big in my mind!  I seem to watch them play out, just like a television show. I remember one Spring I was very sick and had to wear dark glasses for a month to protect my eyes.  Because I couldn’t go out, Mom let me slide the glasses up and take a peek at the Easter dress hanging on the bedroom sconce.  For entertainment she bought me lots of new coloring books and crayons.  One afternoon on the bed I sneaked a look and saw, to my chagrin; I had colored the pig orange!  Those pesky glasses!

You probably have memories of coloring too.  Was your technique to apply a firm line around each color area and then lightly “shade in” the entire space?  Or were you like me and made each color a solid, full strength statement?  Later I learned about shading and could deftly change hues or tints in the pictures I decorated.  I confess I always maintained the bold look.  Don’t get me wrong—I admire pastel tints but even my figure (sob!) is bold.  When we tried out crayons on small fabric samples in our local quilt guild meeting and then ironed them for permanence, mine was definitely the most intense.

Well, back to the subject.  I decided to color the Dog-Patch Quilt to make it more interesting.  Remember it was already quilted with a pictogram that offered a collage of doggie faces replete with flopping tongues, sniffing noses, and shaggy ears.  I limited the coloring to certain areas.  That meant sometimes a dog’s face would be only partially painted and the rest only outlined with stitching.  I admit it was scary.  I feared I might ruin an otherwise great quilt.  At that time our pool table was still in the basement and hadn’t been banished to the garage to make way for my longarm machine.  So I spread a tarp and plastic drop cloth over it and laid out the quilt.  Nervously, I positioned flat, black trash bags over the areas I wanted to protect.  Shiva Paintstiks were the medium I chose because, as usual, I wanted strong color.  I rubbed the Paintstik onto the page of a disposable palette and then brushed it onto the fabric with a flat, short bristled, oil paint brush.  My 19-year-old son came down to watch TV and stood stunned.  “Mom, you can paint!”, he exclaimed.  I laughed and said, “Well yes, I was an art major.  You’ve just never seen me paint before.”  (Isn’t it great when you get a little praise—especially from your kids!  That can be a rarity until they’re old enough to appreciate you!)

Face by face, the dog’s expressions began to emerge and take life.  By the end of the experiment I was thrilled.  This had made my otherwise “lovely” quilt truly standout as being unique.  I’m so glad I took the first step – or brushstroke!

Quilted by Angela Meadows Pieced/painted by Judy Lyon

I was hooked and eager to paint on another quilt.  I pulled out my Westward Ho Quilt that had already been quilted and painted the “campfire” and “spokes” of the wagon wheel giving it a stronger focal point.  I was reliving the coloring book experience of my childhood all over again – each time with successful results!

 

 

Soon after, I found myself rushing around, trying to get my Dino-Spinners Quilt with the “Dinosauria” pattern ready to send 
off to a show.  I suddenly realized the quilt had no label.  So I turned it over and picked out a stitched dinosaur on the back, painted it with the Paintstiks, and “presto” I had a super looking, automatic label!

My friend Patti Buhler (Quiltedartsstudio.com) promotes and sells Tsukineko Inks so I decided to try those as my next medium of choice.  I pieced together a simple quilt of penguin fabric, and white-on-white with plenty of open spaces.  Over the quilt top I stitched the “Penguins on Parade” pictogram.  Then going back into the central white area, I picked out key penguin figures and painted them black with the amazingly easy, Inkstick Marker that comes with each bottle of Tsukineko Ink.  Serendipity! – As I inked in the black penguins, I found, as I had secretly hoped, the stamped on design in the white on white fabric resisted the ink, leaving a white design within the blackened area!  (Viewers always get up close and exclaim, “Did you appliqué this one?”  It looks like a different fabric.)  Finally, I used a little orange, red, and yellow to define the fluff on the penguin feathers and again, instant success!  And I mean instant!  I didn’t have to wait 4-5 days for the paint to dry.  Ink dries in minutes.  (Well, I didn’t actually wait that long on the Dog-Patch Quilt anyway, because of my impatient nature.)  A few years later I went back and decided to apply white glitter over my Penguin Snowstorm Quilt.  I did this as an “added layer of interest” as I always say to viewers.

The next time I tried the inks was on the backside of a Nativity quilt stitched with the “Joyful Birth” Pictogram..  I had stitched and appliquéd over the front and then, realizing the back was quilted with a pale batik, decided to color in some of the “Pictures” on the back.  I generally don’t color in the entire quilt.  I just pick motifs I want to emphasize.  (Maybe you’ll want to color more.)  The results were amazing!  Just like the white-on-white, there was enough of the residual wax left in the batik so that those designs resisted the inks too.  Now this quilt is “reversible”and some of us like the back best! 

When you stitch with pantographs and pictograms there is an automatic coloring book effect created.  Pictures are already stitched into the fabric of your quilt by the quitting machine.  Adding colors to the designs you’ve stitched is easy.  And they do add extra spark and appeal to the quilt.  I’ll be using these techniques on more quilts.  I hope you will too!

Shiva Paintstiks have a wax base and aren’t as oily as oil pastels or actual oil paints.  Don’t try the latter or the oil will seep into the surrounding fabric leaving an unsightly ring around the painted area.  The Paintstiks keep for years if you wrap them in plastic or place then in a tight can to prevent drying out.  Paintstiks come individually or in sets.

Tsukineko Inks come in little one ounce bottles in a whole rainbow of colors, solid, sheer, pearlescent, and metallic.  Just choose your color and dip the tip of the reloadable “inkstick” into the bottle.  Use it like a magic marker.  Don’t get right up to the stitching line, the ink will move toward it and happily, in almost all cases, will not pass the stitched line.  Caution: do not thin the paints with water or they will “bleed” more easily into unwanted areas.  If you want a pastel or transparent color mix a few drops of the ink with clear Aloe Vera Gel and brush it on.  Or if you’re trying for a watercolor wash effect, paint some gel onto the quilt first and then apply the ink.

Of course one must always heat set the painted surfaces whether you are using Paintstiks or Inks to render them permanent and washable.  To heat set my quilts, I place brown wrapping paper under the quilt on an ironing surface and place additional paper on top.  Then I iron from the top.  The heat, applied from the top, draws any loose oil towards the heat source and into the top paper.

Remember the serendipity effect: white-on-white printing will repel the ink.  This is also true of some “authentic” batiks which often have residual wax still left in the fabric.  Have fun with your next “grown-up” coloring book!   Judy

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It’s Not Too Late to think about Thanksgiving!

It’s not too early to start thinking about Thanksgiving. I saw Turkeys on sale in our local market yesterday.

A few years ago, I made a couple of fun Thanksgiving Table Toppers.  The first was a grand experiment.  I tore off the colored silk leaves from an artificial autumn bouquet, arranged them on the fabric I had chosen for the top (and lightly glued them) and placed a shimmery piece of sheer chiffon over them.  Of course, I quilted the glittery square with my Thanksgiving Table Topper Pictogram.  I was excited by the result.  I was so easy yet so special.

The next year I wanted to try something new.  I decided to make it reversible.  After all with the renewed popularity of “modern” style, I might want a lime green topper instead of a brown one.  Who knows? I’ll have to admit it was quite ambitious but turned out super! 

I chose a Dk. Brown Batik for one side and a good strong Chartreuse for the other. (Oops, threads not buried!) The Autumn leaves around the edge could be the same colors for both.

 

 

It turned out so great I wanted to share it.  So, I took photos of the “step-by-step” and converted them into a FREE PDF tutorial for all of you.

To see and download the complete tutorial go here: Reversible Thanksgiving Table Topper Instructions

Golly, I need to make one for myself.  One of these decorates my Daughter-in-law’s table and the other my Daughter’s.  I’ll have to go there for Thanksgiving!

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Trick or Treat! This 20% OFF anything sale is such a great opportunity. I want to share even more ideas with you if you’re willing. 

This 20% OFF anything sale is such a great opportunity.
I want to share even more ideas with you if you’re willing.
I’m always trying to push the limits.  I guess that’s the way it is with creative minds, right?  I know you have one because you’re a quilter!

Here’s a fun way to use this cute Halloween pattern on a block exchange.This is Helen Baczynski’s Pumpkin patch quilt. And this is Funny Bones by Diana Reinhardt Annis.  Someone sent a picture of a quilt with Ghostly Feathers and I can’t it anywhere.  Wish I had it to show you.

I love decorating for Halloween and Fall.  There are cute ideas I’ve collected over the years.  AND great recipes.  Yes, Secretly I’m a wanna-be Chef!

When he was young my son helped me make a Halloween, Jack Pumpkin-head, giant marionette. He was dressed in some old coveralls of my kids’ and old Camouflage boots. We hung him up every year by our various front doors.

Halloween tree

Another tradition at our house is the “Brown Tree.”  
The kids retrieved it from the trash one year after Christmas and begged to keep it to play with in the backyard.  I finally said,”Okay, but after 3-4 days you must throw it away!”  Well, when the needles fell it was such a cute twisted shape that I’ve kept it now for almost 30 years.  It even moved with us to Hawaii and back!  I decorate it for every changing season.  Here is the Halloween version.

Our very most favorite Halloween Cookies are – Pumpkin Face Cookies adapted from an old BH&G.  (Not a great picture, but it is a great recipe!)

Nestled in front of it one year was a mug of my Pumpkin Biscotti.  It’s a recipe I give out with my “Yummy, Yummy Pumpkin Kaleidoscope w/Toplique  Workshop.

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Interested in a Meadowlyon Trunk Show?

I’m sorry that I will be unable to visit for the next 18 months. I will be serving a “Mission” for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It’s an exciting time for me!

I hope I’ll be able to share my beautiful quilts with you when I return in the fall of 2023.

Judy Lyon now offers “5” Programs!

I’d love to visit your guild.  I’m adding NEW QUILTS all the time!

All our MeadowLyon Quilts and their stories can be enjoyed “Virtually“ through our narrated slide shows.  Don’t worry I’ll show some super close-ups!  Our shows are fast paced, so don’t blink or you’ll miss something great! 

You’ll be able to show them with a projector or with a laptop! Zoom is all the rage!  Virtual trunk shows and programs are economical – $200.  I hope we can start meeting together again soon, in which case there will be a mileage charge.

A “Door Prize?”  I’ll send along a Free PDF pantograph to share with your guild.

  1. “Adding the Secret Ingredient” – a MeadowLyon Adventure

In this 1-hr. program, we’ll tell how our business blossomed from a single quilt to a repertoire of the most unique patterns in the machine quilting world. Spiced with fun stories of inspiration, midnight rush-jobs, and “how-tos” these quilts will come to life.  We’ll pass around lots of samples for a “good look.” This “Overflowing Trunk” show will introduce you to our expanding line of designs stitched on specialty quilts that you’ll find nowhere else!

With an understanding of how unique stitching and thread choice support special quilts we can explore the Secret Ingredients: Adventure filled with the excitement of life, Fantasy or Fascination for the heart, Culture for a worldwide dimension and Discovery with Embellishments that add artistic interest. It’s an Inspiring Show for traditional and machine quilters alike!

  1. “MeadowLyon’s Magical Theme Quilts”

MeadowLyon Patterns make quilts fun and, oh, so interesting to explore!  See how we do it in this 1-hr. mini-version of our MQS Show “how-to” program.

In this glorified and instructional Trunk Show you’ll see our newest and best quilts all designed in the Theme quilt way.  On our giant flannel board, we’ll explore how to use our distinctive patterns by pulling our compatible patterns together to create a finished masterpiece.   Best of all, you’ll see how to incorporate complementary blocks, borders and pantos into your own quilts. We’ll spend some time talking about what type of quilts work well with the various types of patterns.   Important considerations for sizing will be discussed.  Some of our patterns will also be opened up to view and our big charts will be on display.

  1. “Back to Nature”

Let’s narrow it down to everything from Nature.  And MeadowLyon has plenty of it!  Animals and natural venues galore will inspire you to create your next quilt depicting the wonders of the amazing world around us.  You’ll enjoy a good look at African Safari, Dawgs, Fishy Business, SnowBirds, Flowers, Backwoods, and more. Plus, we’ll talk about what choices we make to enhance the flora and fauna that we love.

  1. “Asian Inspiration”-Thailand Adventure and Design. The fun adventures of a Quilter’s Missionary Life in Thailand: Quilts, Designs, Hand Weaving and Bags. 

Recently my husband and I spent 2 years on an LDS Church Mission to Thailand.  We were lucky to visit a few other Asian countries, too!  In fact in the Army that’s been our focus for many years.  I’ve got lots of inspiration for new designs and projects and bought lots of fabric. I couldn’t resist purchasing lots of Thai quilts and quilted bags!  We’ll find quilt pattern ideas in the mosaics of the Grand Palace, and enjoying Chinese New Year. And in slides we’ll visit some markets and weavers. I always have to talk fast so as not to leave anything out. Don’t miss a minute!                       

  1. Heritage Quilts: Let me Outta that Trunk!

Can you tell your history through quilts?  Maybe your mothers or grandmothers or even Great Grandmothers were quilters. This program lets all my treasures out of the “Trunk.”  They’re so happy to breathe some fresh air.  In a trip down memory lane, I’ll talk about sharing your life and history through the quilts you have and make. Bring your antique quilts to show too! I’ll bring along our patterns and sample quilts.  

Click below for a PDF brochure about Meadowlyon Trunkshow Programs and Workshops for you to download or print and share with your guild.

MeadowLyon trunkshow programs

 MeadowLyon workshops

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Everything I need to know, I learned from a MeadowLyon Quilt!

Love to learn? So do I.

I almost get jealous of the children who to head back to school each fall.

 One reason why I love MeadowLyon Patterns is that they are also educational!   Every petal, every species, every historical scene is drawn accurately, with meticulous attention to detail and after much research.  It just tickles the nerd bone in me! These are smart patterns for quilters of above average intelligence…and the rest of us too!


So how about we head off to school this year, just for fun, and see how much we can learn with our MeadowLyon designs!   Don’t worry about textbooks, at MeadowLyon.com you’ll find brilliant patterns to enlighten any subject.


Swallow those first day jitters and say goodbye to teddy, we are off to school!

Here’s Our Class Schedule:

HISTORY

US Civil War? Ancient Egypt?  American Westward Expansion?  Don’t forget to study! If you don’t learn your history the first time, you are doomed to repeat it!

gettysburg-stackedEgyptian-TutankhamenWestward Ho - Closeup Children Dancing

BIOLOGY

Hey! Where are you all hopping to? We were going to do dissections today!

Frog Pond cropped

MUSIC

Our teacher is getting out her earmuffs and Advil- that means it is time for music class!

orchestra

CHEMISTRY

Also known as the class where we can have explosions!  Heart be still!  Who is that dreamy boy who just walked into class?  I think I’ve just found my flame nouveau!

Flame Nouveau pasteupfirecracker pasteup snippet

PE

 You can run, but coach says you can’t hide.  Love it, or hate it, there is no escape.

sports nut close up

LUNCH

Finally! I’m so hungry I could eat an elephant . . . wait, maybe that’s what this gray stuff actually is?

Interlocking ElephantsElephants Border

GEOMETRY

Putting math right after lunch? Who thought that one up?  Today we will be calculating areas of squares, perimeters, volume and  z   z   z  z . . .

Modern Squares snippet small

HEALTH

Eat more vegetables!  Drink your milk!

Vegetable SoupMoo Cow - Border

WOOD SHOP

To get an A all we need to do is make a wooden napkin holder and keep all 10 fingers.  What’s so hard about  . . . ouch!

workbench pr4eview snippet

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Any of you study Mayan in school?  Could you please help me with this translation?

Mayan Glyphs - Closeup

FINAL BELL– Hooray!

Join the stampede out the door- it’s time to head home!

Your homework assignment: QUILT!

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Our Year In Review, On Sale For You!

I always enjoy reading the top 10 lists that start appearing at this time of year.  My family and I also always write a few of our own, remembering  the best and worst experiences of the past year.

 In that spirit of year-end reflection, I thought I should list MeadowLyon’s top 10 best and worst selling patterns of 2015.  

best worst

Our best selling patterns are also 10% off this January.  If you don’t have these yet, you will surely use them, so why not get them now?

1-star banner cropped edited snippetStar Banner    It is not hard to see why this one is so popular!  All those waving stars and stripes- I love it!

2-Psychedelic pasteup snippet Psychedelic     This pattern is so popular it is hard to keep it in stock.   Go ahead and order it if you like it, I’ll be getting more soon.  

3- Backwoods - CloseupBackwoods    A cozy backwoods quilt, a country cabin, and a roaring fire- I guess I am not the only one who thinks that is the perfect combination.

4-Funny-bones snippetFunny Bones  Yes, quilters do have a sense of humor!

5- ponderosa pine spray 9 SNIPPETPonderosa Pine Spray  One of my favorites too!  It looks great with everything!

6-spinning kokopeli Spinning Kokopelli  This one is so much fun, it’s no wonder so many people love it.

7-cloudy skies preview Cloudy Skies  This pattern is so easy and all-purpose!

8- Modern Squares 1 snippedModern Squares    I love seeing the modern masterpieces quilters create with this pattern.

9- FlowerBurstFlowerburst  This one is featured as the background of our website design.  It is also available as a 15″ pattern and a PDF.

10-maori moko bk 9 Maori Moko  Maori Moko is such a lovely pattern, it is no wonder that it is always a favorite.  It is available in multiple versions to fit any quilt design.

best worst

Of course even our “worst” patterns are still pretty amazing, they just may not appeal to as broad a range of quilters.  Maybe our 30% off sale for these patterns will help them find just the right home and get them off this list for 2016!

1- Indonesian Puppets - CloseupIndonesian Puppets If you love Indonesian Puppets, you will love this pattern.  Maybe more people should love Indonesian Puppets.

2- Didgeridoo-croppedDidgeridoo  If the Didgeridoo was just included in more orchestral scores or used in just a few rock bands I am sure this pattern would be much more popular.

3- Mayan Glyphs - WholeMayan Glyphs  Any of you have any Mayan friends? I bet they would love this pattern!

4-fleur de lis interlok Fleur-de-Lis  Spread the word, the fleur-de-lis is not just for Boy Scouts!  (What, you mean I was the only one that did not know that?)

5- Bengali Mosaic Panel 1Bengali Mosaic  I am sure there is someone out there looking for just this pattern.  If you meet them, please let them know it is here and on sale this month!

6- ski slopes snippetSki Slopes  Maybe not many quilters like to ski?

7- Egyptian PapyrusEgyptian Papyrus  These pretty, modern, and stylistic flowers would work for so many designs, not just in an Egyptian themed quilt.

8- Geisha Garden snippetGeisha Gardens  Doesn’t everybody need at least one Geisha quilt?

9- o canada snippetO Canada  It’s pretty chilly up there in Canada and I bet they need a lot of quilts.   This should be a perfect combination.

10- AnastasiaInterlocking Anastasia  This one is so lovely, I think it just must be overlooked.  You won’t pass it over, will you?

 

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Quilting- A Gift and A Blessing

When my family was together recently we made a game of counting and writing down our blessings onto small cards. Then we went back around and each had to pick a blessing to give up, until we had just a handful of the most precious things left. It was a fun exercise and a challenge too!  Would we give up air conditioning before or after our cell phones?  Do we let go of fresh vegetables or soft beds first? What we all agreed on was that we have many things to be grateful for.

One thing I am thankful for is people who have the skills, talents and desire to make beautiful things for others. That includes all of you who put your energy into crafting wonderful quilts. Our lives are filled with so many things, and in the end a quilt is just another material thing.  But the mind that envisions it, the hands that make it, and the heart that sees the need it will fill for another person are precious gifts. And what would life be like without the creative rush and satisfaction that comes from taking simple materials and making them into something beautiful?  A quilt represents so many blessings that I am grateful for!

Thank you for your interest in and enthusiasm for the creative spirit that runs through the patterns at MeadowLyon designs.  I hope this rapidly coming busy holiday season can also be full of moments of gratitude and joy for you and your loved ones.

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MeadowLyon.com has a new look!

Notice anything different around here?

It has been long in coming, but we have finally released our redesign of the MeadowLyon site.  We really like it and hope that you do too.  Of course, as with many projects, the more we look at it, the more we find to change!  Here are some features we added that we hope will make the site easier to navigate:

  • Browse by Theme- Are you making a baby quilt? Looking for a border for a Christmas quilt?  Have a t-shirt quilt planned for a sports lover? You can now browse all the patterns we offer by theme. Judy Lyon has been known as “the Queen of the Theme” and you will be sure to find something here that you can get nowhere else!
  • PDF’s- If you are looking for a quilt pattern that you need today, you can go straight to our PDF’s section.
  • See what’s on sale today simply by scrolling down to the bottom of the home page.

We hope to continue to add new features and make more tweaks as we have time.  One feature we have planned is to add a gallery page which will showcase the beautiful quilts that you have made using MeadowLyon patterns. I can’t wait!  We also would love if you would add more reviews to our products.  We love reading them!

Big thanks to my wonderful husband Dave who has stayed up all night getting this done.  Being married to the tech guy has it’s benefits.  What would I do without him?

What do you think of the new site?  Are there any suggestions you have for us of things you would like for us to add (or remove)? Is there something completely broken that has slipped by us? Let us know!

 

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Fall Is Coming = You Need More Quilts!

 

MC saleAs Autumn approaches, bears start putting on an extra layer of fat, beavers insulate their dens with mud and foxes grow thick, warm fur.

  I already have an adequate layer of fat, my walls have plenty of dirt on them, and I’d rather wrap up in a new Fall quilt! 

We’ve got our Fall sale up early so all you busy beavers, cuddly bears & foxy ladies have plenty of time to get your amazing Fall quilts done and still enjoy your last days of summer!

free nuts


As always, our Thanksgiving Table Topper Quilt is also available as a free PDF download!


Maple Squirrels Border 5”  (also available as a PDF)

Maple Squirrels

Maple Breezes 11″ & 15″Maple Breezes

 Interlocking Autumn Wind 10″  (Also available as a PDF)

autumn wind pasteup

Interlocking Oak Whispers 11″  & 15″

oak layout

Oak Border 4 1/2″ and 2″ Acorns Border

OAK-border-center-view

Pumpkin Patch 8″ (Includes Mouse & Pumpkins Sashing) & 11″

Pumpkin Patch 11

Pumpkin Kaleidoscope Quilt

Pumpkin_Kaleidoscope_Quilt_Fullview

Thanksgiving Table Topper

thanksgiving panel 4 pilgrims snippet

Jack O’Lanterns with Cat’s eyes  (Also available as a PDF)

JACK O LANTERNS piece

Interlocking Tree Bones 11″ & 15″Tree-Bones-1-repeat-of-scan

 Ghostly Feathers

ghostly feathers snippet

Funny-Bones  (also available as a PDF)

Funny-bones

Halloween Night  (also available as a PDF)

Halloween-Night-witch

 


All theme sets are 20% off the price of the single patterns, but take an additional 20% off during our sale & that’s almost half off the original price!  Wow!


Halloween Set #52

 Halloween Night 10″,  Jack O’Lanterns 8″,  Funny-Bones 10″, Ghostly Feathers 11″

Autumn Set #3

 Maple Breezes 11″, 5″ Maple Squirrels,  11″ Interlocking Oak Whisper and Oak borders with Acorn Sashing.

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Western Roundup

Yee-haw! All our Western themed patterns are marked down for the month of August. Hope you find something you love!


 Mustang Stampede

A stampede of stallions galloping across your quilt- perfect for any horse lover.

Great Plains - MustangsRodeo Kids Pictogram

These kids are having so much fun, how do I join their party?
litle cowpunchers composite for web

 Moo Cow with Rail Fence Border

You’ll be loving this one till the cows come home!
Moo Cow - Border

Cowboy Chaps

If you live in Oklahoma, this is a specialty pattern just for you.  However, any fan of a school with a cowboy mascot should take a look at this one.Okay Fans-5-pistols

Ropin’ Horseshoes Border with Knotty Pine

These two borders will complete the look of your next rootin’ tootin’ project.

Ropin' Horseshoes

Knotty Pine

 

Rolling Wheat

Don’t know if this rolling wheat smells sweet, but it sure does look beautiful!  
Rolling Wheat pastup snippet

 

Sunflowers 10″ & 14″

This pattern comes in two sizes, ready to quickly fill your quilt with happy blooms.

sunflowers-preview

Giant Sunflower Border

Add some sunshine to your design. This one can be used as a border, E2E or even blocks.giant sunflower 1 repeat

Westward Ho Pictogram

This pattern is an adventure in itself- take a close look!  Did you notice how wagon wheel spokes are woven through the whole design?  Maybe you even found your own ancestors in the picture- if so, this one is definitely made for you!

(Pictured with Great Plains on the Move Borders)Westward ho layout

Great Plains on the Move (4 borders: Pronghorns, Bison, Mustangs & Covered Wagons)

It takes a lot of steps to get across the plains, these borders want to keep walking around and around and around your quilt.
Great Plains - Covered Wagons

Great Plains - Bison

Modern Southwest

Modern quilters seem to be enthralled with texture, so for this innovative pattern we’ve added a lot of it.  Scattered into the stripes and waves are familiar Southwest icons. modern southwest previewSNIPPET

 Southwest Vistas Pictogram

Happy Trails!  Stitch in the unique beauty of the painted desert with this detailed pictogram.
Southwest Vistas - Whole

 Spiral Suns

Home, home on the Range! Keep those cloudy skies away and let the sun always shine with this texture filled pattern.
Spiral Suns short cropped for web

 Snakeskin

Do you prefer your snakeskin on the back of a rattler, on the back of your boots, or the back of your quilt?snakeskin revised for web

 Spinning Kokopelli

Don’t miss this fun version of a Southwest icon!spinning kokopeli

 Redd Wagons West Quilt Pattern Set

Redd Wagons West tells the amazing story of my Pioneer heritage.  Proceeds from the sale of this pattern go to the Redd Family Organization research fund.redd composite for website

 

Lewis & Clark Adventure Book

Stitch the story of the ultimate Western explorers in this set which includes 12 full size medallions and quilt instructions.Lewis & Clark Book


 

FREEBIE- Covered Wagon Quilt Label

What better way to brand a quilt as your own then with this label!  We’re giving it away for free!covered wagon label


Have you signed up to receive our monthly newsletter yet? If not, you are missing out on some coupons and free stuff!

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Summer Reading and Quilting List- All featured patterns 10% off

Once upon a quilt . . . 

It’s hard not to read a story in MeadowLyon stitching.  I love to read and many of the great MeadowLyon patterns remind me of my favorite books.  The designs are so descriptive and detailed that it is as if they are fabric illustrations of well loved stories.

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Have you been craving a lazy summer day spent with a good book- preferably on the beach. . . but you don’t want to give up any time you could be quilting?  Sad you can’t quilt and read at the same time? Solution: audiobooks!  You can get swept away by a story and get your quilting on! (without the sand and sunburn!)

Barnyard Dreams 11″ & Illusion 10″

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Pianoforte 11″summer reading & quilting list

Cactus Flower 2 rows of 6.5″

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Fiddle Ferns 11″, Fiddle Ferns 14″ & Dawgs 11″ Pictogram

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Whale of a Tail 5 1/2″ Border

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Fleur-de-Lis Border and Corner  &   Interlocking Fleur-de-Lis 11″

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O Canada- Flying Free 11″

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Scottish Paisley 10″

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Nor’ Easter 11″ Pictogram

summer reading & quilting list

Egyptian Mystique Borders, Egyptian Papyrus 10″

Pharaoh’s Collar 11″

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Chintz 10″ , Chintz & India Borders and corners

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Cherry Blossoms 10″

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Salty Seas 8″ BorderSlide11Car Classics PictogramSlide2

Poppy Stripe 10″, Tornado 10″, High Heels 11″

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This one is up to you.  What classic book do these three patterns remind you of?


Do you have a favorite MeadowLyon pattern and book combination?  Let me know in a reply and I might add it to our Summer Reading and Quilting List and it will be 10% off this month.


Slide17

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FREE SHIPPING with Patriotic Pattern and $40 minimum purchase


June- patriotic1
June- patriotic
Every quilter needs some of these patterns to make The Great American Quilt. 

Jump on this offer before the parade passes by!


*We also love our international friends!  They can receive a similar discount of $6 off their $40 minimum purchase (which includes a patriotic pattern) by using the coupon code: USA2


Participating Patterns include:


Americana Birds 6″ Border/E2E with sashings and corners
americana birds  snippet

Liberty Birds  8″ Border/E2E with sashings and cornersliberty birds 1 repeat w corner & sash snippet erased lines

American Stripe 5″ BorderAmerican Stripe 5 inch snippet

Americana Flying AngelAmericana Flying Angel(1) snippet

Eagle Americana  10″ or PDFeagle-americana-one-repeat-reduced

Star Banner 10″ or PDFstar banner cropped edited snippet

Americana Flourish 10″ E2E or PDFamericana flourish cropped snipped

America’s Pride 11″
americas pride panel 2 cropped snippet washington
America’s Pride 8″ Blocks  or PDFAmerica's Pride Block - APB - Collection of 12

Star Struck 5.5″ Border
Starstruck

Star Struck 11″ E2Estarstruck 11 snippet

G I Firepower 10″ E2EGI Firepower G I Patrol 11″ PictogramGI patrol

Gettysburg 11″ Pictogram

Firecrackerfirecracker pasteup snippet

 Starry Night 8″ or 4.5″ or PDFStarry Night - Border

 Also includes:

American Set

GI Firepower Set

American Stoneware Set

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Enjoy an outdoor adventure- from the comfort of your own sewing room!

outdoors8

Relive your favorite memories of the great outdoors as you stitch up your next quilt using one of MeadowLyon’s woodland designs!


10% OFF WOODSY DESIGNS IN MAY


           NEW! 

Lewis & Clark Book

Lewis & Clark Adventure Book

Now in an easy to use 12″x 12″ book format, featuring 12 full size stitching medallions and Lewis and Clark Trails Quilt instructions.

Special introductory price of $19 (regular price $22) This May marks the 211th  anniversary of the “Corps of Discovery” Expedition. Celebrate by following along the Lewis and Clark Trail with these patterns!

  Click here to get a free PDF copy of Sacagawea.


MeadowLyon Pictograms pack tons of story into your stitching! Get used to hearing “I didn’t even notice that before!” and seeing their smiles every time they find something new in your quilt.

Campout 11″ Pictogram

I love this pattern!  Doesn’t it spark memories of our favorite camping disasters?  Sister is moments away from getting sprayed by a skunk, bears have helped themselves to the food (hung from the tree to keep them safe of course), Mom is going to get quite a surprise as she rows right up to a swimming moose, Dad is inches away from a bee sting, snakes slither and poison ivy abounds! Does this sound like any of your camping trips?

Campout - Pattern

My family just took an overnight camping trip to Roman Nose State Park in Oklahoma.  We are definitely not experts!  (Confession: we always watch a movie on a tablet in our tent at night.)  This time, our near disaster was having a cooler full of food, four hungry kids and then realizing at dinner time that the firewood we brought had the words “not for cooking” on the bag!  Luckily, Dad, our hero, saved the day by hunting down some wood from a farm nearby (what happened to the days when the woods were actually filled with wood you could use?)  We were happily chomping on s’mores by dusk.  What kind of camping disasters have you had? I would love to read about them! Tell your story in the comments section below!

Backwoods 11″ Pictogram

Each animal and plant in this pictogram has been realistically and accurately depicted in this beautiful nature scene.  It is such a lovely work of art that it is shocking to remember it is all made from one continuous line!  This popular pattern is a favorite among outdoorsmen (and women).

backwoods stacked scanned

 

Pacific Northwest 11″ Pictogram

I love the fern rich undergrowth of the Northern Pacific Forests.  Maybe I expect a leprechaun or two.  What I know I will find is pine scented scenery filled with salmon, bears, eagles, elk, wolves, foxes and even owls.  What’s that?  Do I hear a woodpecker knocking at that tree?  There are even some Totem poles nestled in the forests.

If you love the Northwest, you’ll love this pattern.

pacific northwest stacked w title

 

Birchbark 10″

Birchbark looks amazing quilted out and it hardly matters if you make a mistake, because it’s all wriggly anyway. It can be used as a Border or a vertical  E2E.   It comes with a 3” border of Canoes – birchbark of course.

Birchbark snippet reduced

 

Totem 6″

This is a perfect companion to the Pacific Northwest Pictogram.  The right borders and sashings really customize the look of your quilt.  This set includes totem borders, totem sashings, Haida canoes, and an orca border.

totem grouping for basket

 

Riverflow 10″

Riverflow is a really easy pantograph for the quilts that need to be finished up in a hurry.  Of course, it needs to be interesting to pass my test.  I think this one does and I know it will become one of your “go to” patterns for a variety of projects!

riverflow pasteup

 

Fish Tales with Fish Bait Sashing 3 1/2″ Border Pattern

Did your Dad take the family on fishing trips when you were a kid?  Being from Minnesota, my Dad was a big fan of boating and fishing.  Truthfully, there’s no better way to eat fresh fish than cooked over a campfire!

Fish Tales Border

Clear Stream

I remember one spring our family went to the Ozarks.  We camped alongside a beautiful stream that was as clear as glass.  It was a delight to walk out over the smooth stones and look straight down to the bottom.  I hope you’ve had an experience like that too.  If you haven’t, try an Ozark vacation!

Clear-Stream-cropped-reduced

 

Ponderosa Pine Spray  9″ Edge to Edge Pantograph

Ponderosa Pine Spray 9″ is one of our most popular patterns.  Whether you’re  the out-doorsy type or filled with holiday thoughts, or recalling great family vacations,  Pine boughs just about have to be part of the picture.  You’ll find lots of uses for this pattern.

ponderosa pine spray 9 SNIPPET

 

Ponderosa Pine Spray 15″

Here is a fast and quick covering version of our most popular pattern.

ponderosa pine spray snippet 15

 

Ponderosa Pine Cone Border 4.5″

I may have used this little pattern more than any other.  A sprinkling of pine goes so well with so many other patterns!

ponderosa pinecone 4.5  cropped

 

Owlets 10″ Edge to Edge Pantograph

Owls are so popular right now.  The little ones are cute bits of fluff.  Our baby grandson’s carseat is newly covered with the cute little birds and so are fabrics and decorator items galore.  Everyone just has to have owls!

Owlets snippet

 

Rustic Santas: Northwoods & Yosemite

You’ll have lots of fun with these 2 great images of Santa! This unique dual pattern gives you lots of variety and fun.  Let them spin around the border of a special, woodsy Christmas quilt.  I love the rustic backwoods look for the holidays.

Don’t you wish you could stay in the woods for Christmas?  Sheltered in a cozy cabin with a roaring fire, while being “snowed in” high in the Sierras or the Alleghenys, has always been a romantic dream of mine.

Rustic Santas - Yosemite santa

Rustic-Santas-northwoods-sleigh

 

BLOCK PATTERNS

We have a limited supply of these printed block pattern sets left.  However, after they are gone you will still be able to purchase these patterns as PDF’s.

Antlers and Horns 8″ Blocks

Antlers and Horns Block - ACAHB - Collection of 12

Campout 8″ Blocks

Campout Block - COB - Collection of 12

Backwoods 8″ Blocks

Backwoods Block - BWB - Collection of 12

QUILT PATTERNS

Backwoods Pine Quilt Pattern PDF

Backwoods Moose Quilt Pattern

backwoods Moose quilt

 

Finally, no campout would be complete without bug bites and swamp critters!  Pick up as many as you want for free!

No itching, guaranteed!

 

 

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Giveaway Contest Winner

Congratulations to Suzanne Neumann for her winning caption submission!

winner

Thanks for all your responses.  It was really hard to pick a winner- so many of them rang true!  It seems like many of you are very familiar with the feeling in the picture!  Suzanne will be getting a free pattern of her choice.   While I’m at it, I will also be sending everyone who entered the contest a special coupon as a consolation prize and thanks for sending in your ideas!

 

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April Sale and Giveaway Contest – 20% Off All Modern Designs

What would your Grandmother say if she could see you now, quilting modern pantographs on your long arm machine?

Presentation1

 

 Everywhere you look these days you see fabulous modern quilts-  quilts your Grandmother would never have dreamed of!  It’s all fun and bright, textural and geometric. . . and hard to resist!  You’ve got to have our trendy pantos to stitch up all those wonderful modern quilts!  So go ahead and put a modern spin on your creativity.

  Let’s amaze Grandma and make her proud!

 

20% off all “MODERNS” in APRIL.

 

Now is the best time ever to stock up on these versatile designs!

 


Take an additional 20% these already discounted sets:

(you’ll save over $15!)

NEW MODERN SET #56Includes Jitterbug 11″, Modern Squares, Illusions

Jitterbug 11Modern Squares snippet smallIllusion 1 square

MODERN TEXTURES SET #57:   Includes Snakeskin, Tornado, Coils                                             snakeskin revised snippettornado snippetcoils pasteup

MAORI MOKO SET #42:   Includes Maori Moko, Maori Moko Borders, Maori Moko Blocks    maori-moko-interlocking-snippetmaori moko border 4 webmaori border cornermaori moko bk 9


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 Snakeskin   10 inch

Here’s a panto uniquely designed for modern quilts.  Undoubtedly, if you are quilting for customers you are receiving “Modern” quilts.  Most pictures show them custom quilted, but time and expense don’t always allow for that.  I’m excited about my “SNAKESKIN.”  It provides that texture geometric quilts want and can be used for other quilts too.  Don’t be put off by the name, it’s not creepy at all!

snakeskin revised snippet

Zig Zag  11 inch

Chevrons are popping up everywhere these days!  This is definitely a hot design right now, it adds a trendy, youthful vibe to a modern design quilt.  Teens will love it!  You will love how quickly this easy pattern will finish your project!

zig zag pasteup resized

Coils  11 inch

Wow!  Coils, curls and stripes for a modern look. This is a perfect panto for those special fractal quilts.  They’ll brighten and compliment the wide open negative spaces and accent positive designs, too.

coils pasteup

Modern Squares  11 inch

 Modern Squares is the perfect choice for quilting on those strong geometric shapes that many modern quilts have.   Don’t worry, it’s easy to stitch out and looks like custom work.  Remember, machines love going straight!

Flame Nouveau  11″

This panto is hot! It makes the most wonderful texture and it’s versatile enough for traditional pieced quilts and interesting for those with open areas too.

Flame Nouveau pasteup

Flowerburst  10 inch  & Flowerburst 15 inch

A cross between fireworks and flowers, this panto will add a punch to your quilt.   This is a must for quick quilting that offers great texture.

Flowerburst

High Heels  11 inch

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes! Trendy fashionistas can’t get enough of them!  Let these heels walk all over your quilt for a ton of modern, whimsical fun!

high-heels-snippet

Clear Stream  11″

Here’s another innovative pattern with modern textural appeal. Try it. You’ll like it!   The pattern, as it drifts across the quilted surface, will give a dark and light effect.  Feel free to leave out the fish, and you have a very abstract modern design that will add organic movement and complement any theme.

Clear Stream cropped reduced snippet

Jitterbug 15 inch

Wow-  Spinning and swinging with the vibes. This will look great dancing across your modern quilt!

Jitterbug  11″  

Jitterbug 11

Modern Skylines   11 inch

Do you have a quilt with a cosmopolitan edge?  You’ll need this panto for a great metro look on your Ultra Current Quilt.

modern skylines 1 section snippet

Maori Moko 15  inch

Maori Moko may be a traditional New Zealand design, but it has a very edgy feel.  You’ll see it adding style everywhere in street art, tattoos, and fashion.  The swirls have classic beauty, but will still add a contemporary look to your quilt- the best of both worlds!

maori-moko-interlocking-snippet

Maori Moko borders   8″

maori moko border 4 web

Maori Moko Blocks 10″

maori cover fixed

Kimono Stripe  11 inch  

Just the right mix of contemporary and classic here, for those of us who love both (and find it hard to choose!)

Kimono Stripe snippet

Modern Southwest   11 inch

Modern quilters seem to be enthralled with texture, so for this innovative pattern I’ve added a lot of it.  Scattered into the stripes and waves are familiar Southwest icons.

modern southwest previewSNIPPET

Wallaby Weave  11″

No worries about keeping your lines straight here!  Wobbles are encouraged! They give a natural, organic feel to this pattern that is so uniquely non-traditional!

Billabong Weave scan cropped reduced

Billabong Creek 11″

Billabong Creek scan cropped reduced

   BUG BITES – FREE

Bugs in your bed- not good.  Bugs on your quilt- love it!   Have you snapped this one up yet?  You’ll never know when you want to add that unexpected little bug in your stitching!

BUG CUSTOM PIX

Mosaic   8 inch

Do you see a stained glass window?  Inlaid tile floor? I also see wheels, cogs and gears.  Whatever it is, the geometric elements in this pattern “works” for modern quilts!

mosaic pasteup snippet

Nature’s Rhythms  2.5 inch

Here’s a secret to great design: When planning the layout for stitching patterns and borders these geometric patterns help define space between the more organic designs.   Be sure to include them in your quilts!

nature's rhythms

Zebra Stripes 10″ inch

There’s nothing quite so iconic when it comes to animal skin as Zebra.  As it plays across your quilt it will add a wonderful texture and just the right hint of tribal rhythm.

Pharaoh’s Collar 11 inch

Gotta love these geometric patterns!  This pattern is reminiscent of a traditional fan frill, but updated.  It will look great on your modern creation!

pharoah's collar snippet

Bengali Mosaic  14 inch

From far away you just see loads of modern texture, but look more closely and you’ll discover the exotic vibe.  This one is definitely not conventional!

Bengali Mosaic Panel 1

Illusion 11 inch

This pattern catches your eye and doesn’t let it go!  It will add the same mesmerizing visual and textural interest to your quilt!

Spiral Suns   11 inch

These spinning spirals remind me of a HOT Day!  Although I planned this to compliment both traditionally pieced and modern quilts, it would also look great with a Southwest theme.  I hope you’ll agree it’s a fun pattern.

SPIRAL SUNS PASTEUP snippet

Tornado 11 inch

This pattern adds loads of twisting texture to your modern or traditional quilts.  Try it with a minkie backing for fun visual candy and irresistible hand-rubbing!  It’s almost, dare I say, voluptuous.

tornado snippet

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 April Giveaway Contest
WIN A FREE PATTERN!


I had so many laughs imagining what our Grandmas would say that I wanted to share the fun with you.  Write a caption the following photo and post your idea in the comments section at the very bottom of this page. The winner (chosen by number of giggles produced, or by random if I can’t decide) will receive a free pattern of their choice!
The contest ends on April 30, 2015.  Good Luck!

Sewing-Woman-002

Image from old-picture.com

Previous images from Library of Congress Public Domain Images

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Love is in the Air- 10% off selected patterns

wedding bells

Spring is such a beautiful time of year.  The sky is blue and sunny.  Flowers are blooming everywhere (even in our lawns).  God is spreading a beautifully colored quilt over the whole earth.  Why wouldn’t our hearts thrill with the excitement of love and happiness?  It’s in the air!

10% OFF – Enjoy some of our favorite floral pantos as well as a NEW enlarged version of an old favorite.

Fiddle Ferns – now in a 14″ size.Fiddle Ferns

Floral Wedding Setrose whole cloth layout ideas

Sets are normally 20% the off price of individual patterns, but ADD ANOTHER 10% OFF!

(This set includes 3 patterns.  Specify which 3 you want: Wedding Bell Swag 15” border, “Floral Medallion” whole cloth centerpiece, Rosebud Striped Border 6” w/ Little Red Rose 4”, Red, Red Rose 8” border, Floribunda Bouquet 11” or 15”, Wedding Day 11” pictogram, Little Ferns 4” border, Fiddle Ferns 11” panto.)  

Floribunda Bouquet 11″15″Floribunda Bouquet Rosy Feathers 11″ + 15″Rosy Feathers best snippet

Calla Lily 8″ + 11″Calla Lily BorderFiddle Ferns 11″+ 14″Fiddle Ferns

Wedding Doves 11″Wedding Doves snippetRosebud Striped Border 6″Rosebud Striped - Border

Wedding Day 11″PictogramWedding Day - Closeup Red, Red Rose 8″Red Rose Corner - Border

Wedding Bell Swag 15″Wedding Bell Swag - Border

Floral Medallion 14″floral-medallion-stacked Pysanki Flower 11″Pysanki flower for web

Chintz 10″chintz pasteup resized  Chintz Borderchintz + india borders SNIPPET

Daffodilly 9″ + 14″  daffodilly preview jpg snippet Little Ferns 4″Little Ferns - Border

Tulip Tango 2 rows 8.5″tulip tango for webTulip Border/E2E 6.5″Tulip Border -birdseye view

Cherry Blossoms 10cherry blossomsPoppy Stripe 10″poppy stripe

 

Wait!

Not in a romantic mood?

For those of us still waiting for that perfect catch, it’s always good to remember there are other fish in the sea!

Let’s put a smile on your sad face with 10% off Fishy Business Pictogram 15″ or 11″.

fishy business 15 inch stacked

 

Sale prices good March 1-31 

 

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Nothing Says Love Like A Quilt!

Hello everyone! My name is Melissa Lyon and I am Judy Lyon’s Daughter-in-law.  I will be taking care of MeadowLyon Designs for the next two years while Judy is serving as a missionary in Thailand.

I have been blessed to have two marvelous quilters in my life, my mother, Christina Fife, and my mother-in-law, Judy Lyon.

Nativity Quilt No Border

I can truly say my family is rich with quilts! I treasure the handmade quilts that my family has received.  This past Christmas, Judy made our family an heirloom Christmas Quilt using her Joyful Birth Pictogram.  (She also made one for each of her other 8 children- she was busy this year!)  It is a wonderful expression of her love and her faith.

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My mother also has given me quilts at important times in my life.  She made a beautiful quilt for me when I first left home, one when I was married, and a quilt at the arrival of each grandchild.

I know it can take hundreds of hours to make a quilt.  I also know that both Judy and my mother are busy working women, with limited time, many responsibilities, and also arthritic hands and aching feet.  I watched my mother one day as she was painfully hand stitching on a large quilt she was making for my brother and felt a twinge of guilt at her sacrifice.

So asked her why she did it.   Why would she spend such time and effort to make a quilt when it would definitely be easier, faster and cheaper to buy a lovely comforter at the store?  Then she explained, as she works on each quilt, she thinks of the person she is making it for.  She puts all her love, worries, hopes and prayers for that person into the hours she spends with the fabric.   Especially when the recipient is no longer close by, time working on their quilt can feel like time spent with them.   A quilt is more than a lovely blanket, but a gift of love.

Now when I snuggle into a quilt that was made by someone I love, my mind also turns to the hands and heart that made it.  I am happy to be a part of MeadowLyon Designs, a place where love can be translated into fabric and used to warm hearts!

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Judy Lyon & Melissa Lyon

January 2015

hearts image credit: love love by tomatokisses