My 3-ring circus

My quilt’s on the cover!!

Fellow Quilters,

Happy August!  This summer seems to be flying by.  Between visiting with friends, squeezing in some outdoor activities like golfing, and designing new patterns, I have spent almost no time in my sewing room.  That’s going to change very soon, as I work on 2 projects for upcoming issues of Quick & Easy Quilts and Quiltmaker magazines.

Speaking of magazine quilts, I was over-the-moon thrilled to have my Candy Corn Slice table runner featured on the cover of the current (September/October) issue of McCall’s Quilting.  I used Patrick Lose’s Midnight Magic collection for Banyan Batiks for this seasonal splash of color that was inspired by a picture of “corn-on-the-cob” sections made with candy corn and marshmallows – how fun!  This issue is on newsstands until early September while available or you can purchase the digital edition here.

Sail with me next February aboard the Eurodam

What else have I been designing, you ask?!?  Well, how about projects and lesson plans for upcoming cruises!

I am delighted to be cruising once again with Deb Roberts of World of Quilts Travel.  From February 14-24, 2024 Deb is hosting a Quilt Bee at Sea aboard the elegant Eurodam.  Ports of call on this fabulous itinerary include Grand Caymen, Belize, Cozumel, Jamaica, Bahamas and Key West as we sail through the southern Caribbean for 10 glorious days.  Think of this as a Valentines gift to yourself (a little self-love 😊).

Make Lucy Goosy, a flying geese sampler, with 10 methods of making geese

I’ll be teaching 3 project-based classes that incorporate my many tips and tricks I’ve gleaned over the years.  In my Lucy Goosy class, we’ll try 10 different methods of making flying geese with perfect points.

Learn to master curves ahead with Fanfare

If curves are your nemesis, join my Fanfare class as we make pretty fan blocks for a wall quilt.  And banish your fear of mitered borders in my Borders and Bindings class.

Borders and Binding is one of my favorite classes, with pain-free mitered borders

You’ll leave the cruise with some new friendships, wonderful memories and a technique toolbox chock-a-block full of new techniques.  Find out more information here for this terrific opportunity to see these unique ports on one cruise.

In addition, I’ve also been designing this month’s block for the Quilt Block Mania blog tour.  It seems rather apropos that the theme this month is “circus” since my life feels like a 3-ring circus.  I joined 12 other designers in creating something “circus-y”.  What to do?  I started with the idea of 3 rings and then thought that circuses have lots of balloons.

My Balloons block for the August edition of Quilt Block Mania

I contemplated piecing this block but then decided to applique the circles in place instead.  By doing that, I could tuck the ends of the “string” under the edge of each balloon.  I could also overlap some of the balloons, making the image more realistic.  It reminds me of my overlapping “3-ring-circus” life – haha.  You can download this easy Balloons block pattern here.  I included a couple of tips for making those balloon circles oh-so-smooth and round.

You can find the other 12 participating bloggers’ blocks and patterns at these links:

Flaming Hoop Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Elephant by Inquiring Quilter
Circus Popcorn by Inflorescence
Wagon Wheel
Big Top Banners by Sugar Sand Quilt Company
Peekaboo Clown by QuiltFabrication
Balloons by Patti’s Patchwork
Big Top by Penny Spool Quilts
Top Hat by Crafty Staci
Day at the Circus at The Quilted Diary
Big Top at Patchwork Breeze
Giggles the Clown by Appliques Quilts and More
Clowning Around by Epida Studio
Merry-Go-Twirl
Dresden Three Rings

One of the items that missed being included in my 3-ring-circus life was my Christmas in July sale at Patti’s Patchwork.  No worries – it’s still coming 🙂  The link for the Christmas in July-ish sale will go out to Patti’s Patchwork newsletter subscribers this week, now that most quilt shops have received all their Christmas fabrics.  Before we know it, the cool Fall weather will be here, coaxing us back to our quilting space.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and do what you love,

Patti

PS.  I had the pleasure of being interviewed by fellow cruise passenger Steve Dutton, a.k.a. Sailor Steve, this past Spring while cruising around the Mediterranean/Europe.  Watch the video here.