Fellow Quilters,

14 batches of Xmas baking

It’s December 23rd, and for those of us celebrating Christmas, we are heading down the home stretch.  If you have finished all of your shopping, baking and wrapping, you are likely sitting back with your feet up, eggnog in hand.  If you are like me, you have a list that seems to be getting longer instead of shorter, just like the line-ups in the stores.  In fact, you probably have 2 lists – the things that you still need to do, and the things that you still need to buy.  The to-do list might even include last-minute sewing!!  Well, take comfort knowing that I’m sitting in my little corner of the world doing the same thing.  It wouldn’t be Christmas if my sister didn’t get a “potential” gift – a partly-knit sweater or partly-sewn jacket.  Some of the past gifts were not even partly done – a pile of fabric and a pattern.  Where are Cinderella’s mice when I really need them?

All of the baking is done, thanks to my 2 sons who helped me make 14 batches of cookies, squares, tarts etc. a couple of weekends ago. Many of them have been sent off as gifts, but we still have tins chock full, waiting to be consumed. Thanks to Barb for sharing her recipe for Apricot Horns.  I will give them a try, when I remember to add cream cheese to my shopping list.

I managed to get a lovely set of Christmas placemats and table runner made for my family’s new-to-us ski cabin.  I still have 2 tablecloths to make.  I am asking Santa for snow, because it’s looking like a green Christmas right now, and a green week after Christmas.  My family is planning on spending the week skiing, but I may end up sewing and quilting instead if there is no snow.  That’s not all bad either.

featured in Fabric Trends Spring 2012

Fellow Quilters,
It seems like only a month ago that I wrote my last post, but I see that it was way back in September!  Where does the time go?!?  And now Christmas is just around the corner!!!  The panic is starting to set in…
     In my last post, I asked you to add a comment on your favourite quilting holiday, real or imaginary, for the chance to win a pack of Girlfriends at Sea fabrics.  Northcott receptionist Jessica randomly selected Glenda from the list of commentors.  Now, I personally know Glenda, and the last thing she needs is fabric.  She owns Stone Cottage Crafts quilt shop for heaven’s sake!  So, Fellow Quilters, let’s challenge Glenda to make something and send in the picture.  Not only is Glenda a shopowner, she is also a pattern designer, and has a couple of patterns in the Northcott line-up.  Her Pinwheel Magic pattern uses the Stone Chips (5″ squares of Stonehenge).  The way that she makes the pinwheels is brilliant!  You can see the Pinwheel Magic pattern on Northcott’s website, or ask for it in your favourite (or Glenda’s) quilt shop.
    September was a very busy month for me.  I visited 4 guilds with my trunk show of Interesting Quilts from Unusual Fabrics. 

Poppy Love queen-size quilt in Fall 2011 Fabric Trends

One of my new interesting quilts is currently featured in Fabric Trends – I use Northcott’s Poppy Love collection including the panel in a unique way.  It made for a super-quick queen-size quilt. After local visits to the Oxford Quilt Guild in Ingersoll, the Pieceful Nights guild in Toronto and the Kempenfelt Quilt Guild in Barrie, I flew to Spokane to talk to the Washington State Quilters Guild.  While in Spokane,

Patti sewing on Becky's hand-crank 1915 Singer

I stopped at 2 local shops: The Quilting Bee (absolutely irresistible) and Cozy Quilt (fresh & bright). I taught 2 full-day workshops at the guild, and demo’d my  Simplified Double Wedding Ring on student Becky’s 1915 hand-crank Singer machine nicknamed Tiffany. What a hoot!  Becky took a photo of me sewing with trepidation.  The ladies were all great, and I had a wonderful time sharing my passion for quilting.

I have several photos that I want to share with you. 

Back cover of Linda Causee's book "100 Any-Size Applique Blocks"

Fellow quilting “bud” Linda Causee has a new book called “100 Any Size Applique Blocks” published by Leisure Arts. It contains a CD so that you can make any of the blocks whatever size your heart desires!  I was really impressed with the back cover – as all 4 quilts shown are made with Northcott fabrics.

A while back I mentioned

Beth Ferrier's My Happy Place quilt in Best Fat Quarter Quilts

that my Hawaiian Punch quilt was featured in Quilter’s Newsletter’s Best Fat Quarter Quilts, on newsstands now. Well, when I read my issue, I saw that fellow quilting “bud” Beth Ferrier of Applewood Farm does as well.  Isn’t it delightful?  Beth is the goddess of easy applique, and has several books to teach you how to be one too (visit www.applewood farmquilts.com).  Even better, her quilt is made with Northcott’s Freckles textures. 

As if that weren’t enough, I see that Beth also has a fabulous holiday table runner project in the

Beth's Deck the Holly runner in Dec/Jan Quilter's Newsletter

December/ January issue of Quilter’s Newsletter AND it is made with Stonehenge Celestial/ Celebration.  I think I shall put this on my to-do list for next year, using the new Stonehenge White Christmas.  Divine!!

Speaking of Christmas, my piecer Susanne

Frosted Stars featured on the cover of Dec/Jan The Quilter

and I were elated to see our Frosted Stars quilt featured on the cover, no less, of the January issue of The Quilter magazine. I just loved this deep violet colourway of Snow Queen right from the get-go.  Snow Queen is more winter than Christmas, so you can enjoy a quilt made with it long after New Years.

We also have a quilt featured in the Winter 2011 issue of Fons & Porter’s Easy Quilts.

Ice Castles (Wonders of Winter) featured in Easy Quilts

 I really like this one – the Wonders of Winter fabric collection includes a lengthwise border stripe, and I used it in the Card Trick blocks.  I will definitely include this one in my future trunk shows.  Kits are available for a limited time from www.shopfons andporter.com.

In my last post, I mentioned that Northcott was doing a Block-of-the-Month program featuring Stonehenge fabrics. 

Stonehenge Meets Jamestown Block-of-the-Month - neutral and bright

I contacted Susan Meyer of Susie Q Quilting in Eureka, MO, who used a tried-and-tested pattern by Marti Michell for the stunning Stonehenge Meets Jamestown sampler quilt.  It is available in 2 gorgeous colour combinations: Colorado neutral, and Jeweltone bright. My personal favourite is the bright one.  Our shops have been asking us for a Stonehenge BOM program for quite some time, and we were so pleased that Marti Michell agreed to partner with us.  Her BOM programs are so well-designed and well-written, they are virtually fool-proof.  Northcott is suggesting a start date of April 2012 for this program, and shops will have samples and sign-up lists up shortly.  We are sew excited about this! 

At lunch today, I helped fellow staffer Lisa make her very first batch of tart pastry for butter tarts that she is making for her boyfriend’s birthday.  She is taking the pastry-filled muffin tins home to bake the tarts tonight, and says that she will bring in the leftovers for us.  Ha!  I have never seen butter tart leftovers!  Here is my mom’s recipe for Butter Tarts.

Butter Tarts

Fellow Quilters,
   I have been meaning to write this post for weeks!  Where has the time gone?!?  Summer is officially over – Kid #1 is starting a new program at university, and Kid #2 is now in his last year at high school.  Last weekend, we brough in the raft at the family cottage, signalling an end to swimming for the year.  The mornings are getting cooler, which is great for my morning power walk.  They’re also getting darker, as the days get shorter.  Well, hopefully Mother Nature will grace us with lots of sunny weather so that we can enjoy her glorious display of gold, red and yellow as the leaves turn.

Jody Houghton and Patti in Glacier Bay

   In my last post, I shared some photos of the 2 quilt projects that I was going to be teaching on the Alaskan Quilt Camp at Sea cruise.  Now I can share some photos from the cruise.  I took 5 pictures – yes, only 5. 

I seemed to forget my camera every time we went ashore.  I think I was caught up in the

Jody in front of Margerie Glacier

excitement of visiting the quilt shops at each stop.  No matter – fellow Quilt Camper Kate, apparently a photographer extraordinaire, has shared her wonderful photos.
     We had amazing weather – only the 3rd week of good weather this cruising season according to the cruiseship staff.  When we pulled into Glacier Bay, it was foggy and overcast, but the skies soon cleared and we were blessed with sunshine while viewing the glaciers.  I was so glad, because the scenery is spectacular, and I wanted our first-time Quilt

My Girlfriends At Sea vest

Campers to experience the incredible beauty of the glaceirs.  In my first photo, cabin-mate (and Northcott designer) Jody Houghton is sporting a jacket made with her Girlfriends at Sea collection.  I am wearing a vest made from her original Girlfriends fabric. I also made a vest with the Girlfriends at Sea fabrics – isn’t it fun?  Girlfriends at Sea is shipping to stores this month, so in celebration, I am giving away a packet of Girlfriends at Sea fabrics.  For your chance to win, simply post a comment on my blog about a trip that you and a quilting buddy went on, or would like to go on.  Please post by midnight Thursday September 15.
     Our first stop was in Juneau, home

Whale tails in Juneau

of Jan Nardone’s Changing Tides quilt shop.  Jan brought Alaskan artist Barbara Lavalle in for us – Barbara is a blast!  In Jan’s shop I purchased some children’s books illustrated by Barbara, and Barbara autographed them – one-of-a-kind!  I also added to my collection of fish and Alaskan-batik fabrics.
     Then we stopped in Sitka, home of Abby’s Reflections quilt shop.  You guessed it – more additions to my stash.

Three sibling coastal brown cubs in Sitka

  We also visited the studio of fellow teacher Lisa Moore and stopped at Fortress of the Bears, an “early retirement home” for nuisance bears, along the route.  Kate took some amazing pictures – here’s one of them showing 3 sibling Coastal Brown Bear cubs.  I have acquired a taste for Native art, and Lisa Moore has many terrific quilt patterns featuring the art of Aboriginals.  I picked up Lisa’s totem wall-hanging pattern to make for my new ski chalet.
     Next stop was Ketchikan, where Betty and the staff at Silver Thimble were most helpful in assisting me with my search for appropriate Alaskan batiks for the totem quilt, along with fish fabric.  Jody and I also took in the famous lumberjack show.  Even though I was on the American side of the audience, I still cheered for the Canadian team.
     Our final stop was beautiful Victoria, where Brenda Stengal put on quite a spread for us, including demostrations by local pattern designer Ursula Reigel of Designs to Share With You (Ursula is one of my favourite designers), serenades by Cathy Miller a.k.a The Singing Quilter, and trays of Nanaimo bars.  Nanaimo bars are like brownies, only better.  We burned all of the calories consumed by walking back to the ship after our visit.  As promised to my fellow Quilt Campers, here is my mom’s recipe for Nanaimo Bars (we call them Butter Dominos):

Mix 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 egg, 2 cups Graham cracker crumbs, 1 cup shredded coconut and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.  Press into a 9″ square cake pan.
Mix 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 tbsp. vanilla instant pudding mix or Burd’s Custard, 3 tbsp. milk and 2 cups icing sugar.  Spread over crumb mixture and chill.
Melt 3 oz. (3 squares) semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tbsp. butter.  Spread on chilled mixture.  Chill and cut into bars.

   My lone star group, consisting of Peggy, Kathy, Vicki, Gloria and Judy, made great strides with their projects, and Kathy pretty much finished hers – way to go Kathy!!
     Kathy and Yavonne in my Double Wedding Ring groupExceeded my

Fiestive Wedding

expectations, and did an amazing job with their projects.  Hats off to them!  I am teaching the Double Wedding Ring on the Mexican Riviera cruise next March 10-17th – here is a picture of my class sample.   I understand that there are a few spaces still available, so if you are interested in joining the 2012 Quilt Camp at Sea group next March, visit www.quiltcampatsea.com and talk to Pat or Kathy.  I am also teaching a Mystery quilt class, but I can’t show you the project, of course (it’s a mystery!)  It has something to do with Beach Babes, another of Jody Houghton’s fun collections, and perfect for the Mexican cruise.
    

Laurel Burch Xmas fabric with Stonehenge metallics - yum!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Needle and I’s on-board quilt shop run by Georgia and Debbie.  A bundle of Laurel Burch Christmas fabric, among other things, jumped off the shop table and into my hands.  Ohmygosh!  It was sooo delicious!  I discovered, much to my delight when I got home, that it co-ordinates extremely well with Northcott’s Stonehenge Celebration and Celestial fabrics (doesn’t everything co-ordinate with Stonehenge?)
     Speaking of Stonehenge Celebration,  Denise Green of Pinwheels and Posies in Dickenson, TX  sent me this photo of a quilt she made in Judy Niemeyer’s teaching workshop.  Isn’t it fabulous?  Kits are available from the shop, and their website is www.pinwheelsandposies.com .
     And also speaking of Stonehenge, I am working to put the finishing touches on a Stonehenge Block-of-the-Month program to be available in shops next Spring.  Hopefully I will have final images for my next blog post.
    So, send me a comment for your chance to win, make a batch of Nanaimo bars, and we’ll see you next time!
Cheers,
Patti

Fellow Quilters,
  Tomorrow I head to Alaska!  It is hard to believe that it was two years ago that Pat Tobin of Quilt Camp at Sea invited me to teach on the 2011 Alaskan Quilt Camp at Sea cruise.  Of course I accepted – this is my 4th cruise with the Quilt Campa at Sea group, and my 3rd one to Alaska with them, and I am just as excited about this trip as the previous two.  The Quilt Camp at Sea staff are wonderful, and run a first-class quilting cruise aboard Holland America ships – every little detail is taken care of, and there are lots of extra events organized.  The cameraderie is so terrific that many of the cruisers in our groups have been on multiple cruises with Quilt Camp at Sea.  I am looking forward to seeing previous cruisers, and also making some new friendships.  My room-mate is none other than Northcott designer Jody Houghton – how exciting is that!?!  Jody has designed several collections for Northcott, all around the theme of her Sisterhood of Quilters characters.  Today I whipped up a couple of vests to wear on the cruise: one using Jody’s Girlfriends collection in pinks and blacks, and the other in Jody’s brand-new Girlfriends as Sea, designed specially for this cruise.  I am also using the Girlfriends at Sea for one of my 2 classes that I am teaching on the cruise.  Here is a photo of my Stars at Sea quilt.
   The other project that I am teaching is my Simplified Double Wedding Ring.  I really like this one, because it is easier than most quilters think.  The fabric collection that we are using is Northcott’s Woodland Warmth flannel – yes, flannel for a double wedding ring.  You would be amazed how easy this quilt is when using flannel.  This one is called Alaskan Circles – doesn’t it look great?  The fabrics in this quilt remind me of the raw beauty and majesty in Alaska.  The scenery is truly spectacular, and I don’t know if I will ever tire of it.  We spend the first 3 days sailing up to Glacier Bay, and it is these days that most of the quilting classes take place.  Our first stop is Juneau, where our group will pay a visit to Changing Tides quilt shop.  Lat time I was there, Alaskan artist Barbara Lavalle was there autographing our tote bags with her signature caricatures.  She was great fun!  Then we are on to Sitka, and Abby’s Reflections quilt shop.  What I love about these shops is the amazing selection of Alaskan-themed batiks, fishing fabrics and Russian-motif fabrics, especially in Sitka, with its Russian roots.  Then we stop in Ketchikan and Betty’s quilt shop in the main waterfront building.  Betty’s shop is HUGE!  It is really 2 shops.  In the winter, one of the shops is the classroom, but in the summer it is filled with Northern wildlife fabrics, and fabrics that have typically Alaskan-theme motifs.  I spent WAY too much money at Betty’s shop last year.  Our final stop is a quick one in Victoria, BC and a quick taxi ride will get us to Satin Moon Quilt Shop.  Brenda will put on a spread, likely with Nanaimo bars.  I drool over her selection of Oriental fabrics, and picked up some sashiko supplies there last year.
   My next cruise with Pat and Quilt Camp at Sea is next March to the Mexican Riviera – that should be awesome!  I will be using Jody’s Beach Babes collection for one of my classes on that cruise.  Pat tells me that there is still some space available, so if you think you might want to join us for some sun, fun and quilting, visit www.quiltcampatsea.com for details.
   Well, I had better get packing…
Cheers,
Patti

Fellow Quilters,
   I have had several of you email recently asking if the shipment of donated quilts that Northcott sent to Japan had arrived, and the answer is YES!  Naomi, my contact in Japan, tells me that she has received over 4000 quilts for the earthquake/tsunami victims, including the 1,603 that were collected from fellow Canadians.  Most of these have already found their way into the grateful hands of those who need them.  The photos below are taken in the temporary relief centers.  I think the smile on the face of the woman in this photo says it all.  A HUGE thank you from Naomi and all of the recipients.
   I missed thanking a couple of groups that were involved in the effort to send the quilts to Japan:  Thanks to Fran Smith and her group from Port Alberni, BC for sending boxes of quilts.  Also thanks to Advance Shipping for providing Northcott with clear plastic bags for all of the quilts.

  My oh-so-talented piecer Susanne and I have been busy as bees, whipping up 3 quilts for upcoming issues of Love of Quilting and Easy Quilts.  I wanted to share them with you – they will be in late Fall/Winter issues, and kits are available from shopfonsandporter.com once the issues are shipped.

Woodland Stars (flannel)

Do Snow Geese Wear Mittens using Snow Days

I especially like the Ice Castles one – it uses the lengthwise border stripe in those large triangles.  I used Superior Threads’ Metallic silver to quilt this one, and it ran like a charm on my machine.  When I was at Quilt Market, I picked up a bobbin tension measurer from Superior, and it has made my life so much easier.

 

Northcott is coming out with some new treats for quiltaholics everywhere – Stone Chips!  These are 5″ squares of our favorite combinations of Stonehenge fabrics.  Below is an upcoming pattern using one of the combinations from my bud Kate Mitchell.

Scrap Basket Trellis by Kate Mitchell

 Isn’t it pretty?  Both the Chips and Kate’s pattern will be available in a couple of weeks.  There will also be several other Chips patterns for our sewing and quilting pleasure, and images will be up on Northcott’s website in a couple of weeks.

That’s it for now.  I’m off to finish binding a quilt for my next post.  Stay tuned!  And Happy Quilting!

Patti 

 

Fellow Quilters,
     As I write this post, I am sitting on the deck at the family cottage, enjoying the last few hours of a spectacular Canada Day.  To my fellow Canucks I say “Happy Canada Day!”  I am wearing the pre-requisite Canada t-shirt of course.  This year, Canada Day falls on a Friday, so we get a long weekend, and our American cousins will also get a long holiday weekend as they celebrate Independence Day on Monday July 4. 

Maui Stone Roll

 Enjoy!  And thank a soldier.  We very often take for granted the rights and freedom that have been won on our behalf by the brave men and women in our Armed Forces.
     I am “sew” excited (I couldn’t resist)!  Quilter’s Newsletter magazine put out a call for quilt designs for a special Best Fat Quarter Quilts issue

on newsstands this Fall.  I have never designed a quilt with fat quarters, but since Northcott has fat quarter rolls of our Stonehenge groupings, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to play with the Stone Rolls.  I chose the Maui group of 12 fat quarters. 

I was allowed to use one other fabric, so I chose a white tone-on-tone from Northcott’s elements by my bud Mark Lipinski.

Hawaiian Punch quilt

  I downloaded the fabrics into my EQ7 program and began playing.  Once I had finalized my design, I emailed it to the folks at Quilter’s Newsletter.  Much to my surprise, they accepted it, and sent me details of the deadline for the finished quilt.  I quickly wrote the instructions so that my oh-so-talented piecer Susanne could whip it up.  Then I quilted it, Susanne bound it, and we sent it off to the magazine.  We called it Hawaiian Punch.  I think it is such a cheerful quilt, with its bright colors contrasting against the white background.  Quilters Newsletter will be having a blog tour early October to launch the issue, and I hope to participate.  There will be prizes, so check back around then to participate.  The last time I participated in a blog tour was for the launch of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks issue – I showed my block in different Northcott collections.  Both I and the visitors to my blog were amazed at how different the block and resulting quilts looked depending on the fabrics used.  I’m not sure if Hawaiian Punch would look good in any other fabrics – we shall see!
     I’m off to the kitchen now to make some butter tarts, a quintessential Canadian treat – similar to pecan tarts, but with raisins instead.  Or shall I make Nanaimo bars, or maybe both…mmmm.

Cheers,
Patti

What do Armani, Christian Dior, Steve Smith (‘Red’ from the Red Green Show) and a Scotsman have in common? Yes, it is that quintessential pattern that can look equally at home on a runway in Paris or a cabin in the woods; plaid.

fashion or anti-fashion, plaid is 'in'.

Perhaps most famously fashionable in Scottish kilts (depending on your idea of fashion), plaid or ‘tartan’ can be found in any variety of colors throughout the world. Even with plaid designs running strong in 2011, the pattern itself has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The design transcends ancient cultures from Asia, European royalty, Scottish clans, and even political and social movements within the 20th Century. Truly, plaid is a design that is worth recognizing.

Our friends over at Quiltmaker magazine are doing just that, a “Salute to Plaid”. Follow the link and visit Quiltmaker’s contest page to answer a few questions for a chance to win fantastic prizes including Northcott fabric.

All this talk about plaid made me think of an ad we just composed for one of our newest collections called Majestic Mallards, a flannel print that has some great plaid designs. Have a look on our site to view more, I’ve also included a couple of snapshots to get those creative minds working!

When Northcott began accepting donations and offered to transport your quilt donations to Japan, we had no idea how heart-warmingly generous you would be. I mean, we knew we would have dozens, even hundreds of quilts…but here we are at over 1,500 quilts made by YOU! Wow, it is truly breathtaking to stand back and look at 1,500 quilts all stacked in one place. The countless hours invested in each one, the devotion and care that went into each stitch and seam, the careful placement of colour and design. It was hard not to get choked up just assembling the (many) stacks for our photo shoot! There are so many beautiful quilts. Cathy Miller says it best:

“May this quilt keep you safe from harm
May it be your good luck charm
I do not know your name or the mountains you face
What you hold in your arms is a quilter’s embrace”

While the photos don’t do it justice, it is at least something we can share back with all those who donated a quilt. In some cases many quilts. If you have ever felt like contributing just one thing doesn’t make a difference, have a look at what happens when 1,500 of you said I CAN make a difference. Each quilt received will be a blanket of love that someone will cherish for years to come. When tragedy strikes, it is sometimes the simple kindness of others that can be the hope that’s enough to make it through.

Today our staff has packed up the last of the remaining quilts. We will be shipping out the many boxes in short order. In addition to those already  mentioned in earlier posts, we would like to recognize the following contributors of quilts or supplies that will be packed and sent to Japan. If your name has been left off of this list, we sincerely apologize. Your quilt was not missed in the final packing.

• Castilleja Cotton, Calgary, AB

• Keepsake Quilters Guild, Sicamous, BC

• Brampton Quilt Guild

• Hilltop Quilters Guild, Hamilton, ON

• Marion MacGowan

• Cookstown (Country Cove), Kingston, ON

• Ionne McCauley, BC

• Candy Mullins, Mississauga Quilters Guild

• Jeff of Evelyn’s Sewing Centre

• Bev Smith, Warm ‘n’ Cozy

• Mayflower Quilter’s Guild

• Jannette Binder, Strathroy

• G. Bleakney, QC

• Louise Nykifourk

• Susan Cameron, Rouge Valley, QC

• So Creative, Strathroy, ON

• Cini of Cindy Bee’s, Espanola – Sudbury – Manitoulin

• The Piecemaker’s Bee of Halifax, NS

• Creemore House of Stitches

• Etobicoke Quilters Guild

• Judy Messenger

• Genie Green of Parksville, BC

• Markham Town Quilters Guild

• Quilters Cupboard, Uxbridge

• Sew Have Fun

• Quilting Gnome in Jacksons Point, ON

• Stone Cottage Crafts in Midhurst, ON

• Quilter’s Dream of Burlington, ON

• Threads that Bind, Maxwell, ON

• Creative Sewing, Kitchener, ON

• Oakville Quilters Guild

• Ye Old Fabric Shoppe, Stratford, ON

• Green Wood Quiltery, Guelph, ON

• Sara Nedd, Qualicum Beach, BC

Fellow Quilters,
  Today is my day to post a blog on the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 3 Blog Tour, so if you are new to my blog – WELCOME!  I hope you come back to visit often, or even subscribe.  Being invited to join “100 Blocks” is such an honor – I’m tickled pink to be included.  The blog tour is actually what got me into the blogosphere.  To see all of the other participants, visit  
quiltmaker.com/100blocks

   My High Tea block is on page 57.  It uses Northcott’s High tea 10th Anniversary collection.  I combined this block with a simple Snowball block to create this pretty twin/double quilt.
I also played with 3 other new Northcott collections to show you how the block may look in completely different fabrics.
  Midnight Madness keeps the black background, and here is a lap version of the quilt.

Snow Queen has a dark ground, but I used a light fabric in the alternate snowball blocks.
I also chose the lovely Leading Ladies Encore collection to show you how this block looks with a light background.  I like them all!  What about you?  Leave a comment by midnight tonight and let me know your favorite, and your name will be entered for a chance to win a copy of “100 Blocks Volume 3”.  I may throw in some fabrics from your favorite too!