Fellow Quilters,

The past 2 months have been a whirlwind of activity for me.  September started with 2 back-to-back Alaskan cruises with the Watergirl Quilt Co team (sew much fun!),

The Watergirl crew and I with Jan of Changing Tides in Juneau AK

followed immediately with a stint in the Northcott booth at the Missouri Star Birthday Bash – always a good time!

Showing our Sock Hop spirit at Missouri Star Birthday Bash

Then I was called into service to help make some quilts for Northcott’s booth at Quilt Market, the Fall trade show in Houston TX (including this FIFA2026 one)

One of my FIFA 2026 quilts

, all while designing 5 new patterns, writing instructions for several others (my favorite is

PC312Cat-tails, followed closely by PC314 Shades of Autumn) and doing 5 workshops/lectures for local guilds.

In the midst of all that, my son asked me to make a quilt for his upcoming wedding – 4 weeks before the wedding!!!  Need I mention that he’s been engaged for 2 years?!?

What with all the wedding plans these past few weeks, when the call for the November Quilt Block Mania came out, I was in full wedding mode.  The theme this month is Market/shopping, so my block depicts – you guessed it – a bridal shop.  It’s mostly pieced, with a bit of fusible applique for the bride and the wedding bells.  In fact, Wedding Bells is the name of my block.  You can download the pattern here.

Fourteen other designers also rose to the challenge and designed blocks for this theme – you can find the links to their blocks below:

Money Themed Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Pet Shop by Patchwork Breeze
Quilt Shop by Crafty Staci
Santa’s Toy Shop by Inquiring Quilter
Market Bag by Scrapdash
Concession Stand by QuiltFabrication
Wedding Bells by Patti’s Patchwork
Lucky Clover Quilt Block by Brown Bird Designs
GIft Card by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts
Flower Shop by Cristy Fincher
Pinching Pennies by Elizabeth DeCroos
Gift Bag by Oh Kaye Quilting
Ice Cream Cart by Appliques Quilts and More
Market Stall selling Gifts by Victoria Peat
Bag Lady Market Bag by Around the Bobbin

So what quilt did my son and his darling sweetheart choose?  My PC145 Salt & Pepper fat-quarter pattern in the lap-size (thank goodness!), to be used as a guest book at their wedding. 

Salt & Pepper quilt for the newlyweds

The guests were asked to sign the back of the quilt, so a light-colored backing was required. 

Guests signed the back of the quilt

While their choice of quilt was likely unintentional, it was so appropriate – the block in this quilt has 2 opposites that come together, like 2 people in a marriage.  The wedding was just a few days ago, so I’m still coming down from the buzz.

My son and his beautiful bride

I have an extra copy of PC145 Salt & Pepper to give away.  This fat ¼ friendly pattern includes 4 sizes from runner to queen-size.  For a chance to win a copy, please leave a comment below offering up your best advice for my newlyweds.  What’s the best advice you’ve received?  Or what advice do you wish you’d received? All comments entered by November 12 will go into the draw.  Good luck!

Cheers,

Patti