Free Pattern Day: Halloween

Here is our first Free Pattern Day ! We have a huge stash of free patterns in our Free Quilt Inspiration Archive (like more than 50 mb altogether) and we are excited about sharing them with you. We’ll be putting a new Free Pattern Index tab at the top of this page so you can see what we’ve posted as we go along. Of course, we’ll continue to add new free patterns we've found to our sidebar. Let’s get started with more than 25 free projects for Halloween*.

Jack-o-Lanterns and Pumpkins

Row 1: "Applique Jack-o-Lantern", free pattern, by Kimara and Michelle, at Wee Folk Art; "Jack’s Lantern", by Lyn Brown at LynBrown.com. Row 2: "Jack-o-Lantern", free pattern, by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania; Halloween Wall Hanging, free pattern, by Carol R. Zentgraf at James Thompson & Co. Row 3: "Oh pumpkin, My pumpkin", free pattern, by Jennifer Morgan and Linda Ambrosini for Hoffman Fabrics – Bali Batiks, free pattern download here. Row 4: "Country Pumpkin Patch", free pattern, at The Learning Channel

Li'l Pumpkin table topper, free pattern, by Tammy German and Brenda Bailey, at Pie Plate Patterns 

Black cats, pumpkins, and the moon

Halloween Applique Scene, free pattern, by Christina Sherrod at Crafts and Fabric Links

Stairway to Cat Heaven, by Marty Mason at Marty's Fiber Musings

The free applique templates and fabric requirements for "Stairway to Cat Heaven" are available from a McCalls Quilting Archive. The complete original pattern, by Barbara Dubovsky, can be purchased from the Quilt and Sew Shop.  This quilt also appeared in the Best of Cat Quilts series at Quilt Inspiration.

Simply Spooky, free pattern, by Pearl P. Pereira for Red Rooster Quilts

Haunted Jacks, free quilt pattern for the 2011 Spellbound fabric collection for Andover Fabrics, by Renee Nanneman of Need’l Love, free pattern download available at FabShopNews

Jack Patchwork wall hanging, free pattern by Sue Thornton-Gray for Janome

Autumn Whimsy wall hanging as seen at Fabric Mom, free pattern by Debbie Mumm

Henrietta Whiskers block-of-the-month quilt project, by Anne Sutton at Bunny Hill Designs, free patterns (until November 2011)

Spiders and SpiderWebs

Itsy Bitsy Spiders, Wall Hanging Tutorial**, at AJ's Bowtique

Spooky Spun Sugar Little Quilt, Tutorial, by Vickie E., at Spun Sugar Quilts

Spiderweb Quilt, Tutorial, by Jackie Reeve at The Orange Room 

Spiders in My Attic, free pattern, at QuiltBug (a kit is also available under Quilt Bug's Quilt Kits)

Witches, bats, vampires, and the Project of Doom 

Witch and Halloween Kitty, free patterns, by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania

 
Free vampire and Harry Potter patterns by Jennifer Ofenstein at Sewhooked

Row 1: "Vampire Fangs", by Jennifer Ofenstein at Fandom In Stitches and “Bats”, from the Free Patterns Page at Sewhooked. Row 2: “Hedwig” (Week 11 block)  and “Cauldron with Felix Felicis” (Week 29 block) for the 2011 Harry Potter “Project of Doom” block-of-the-week project.

True Blood, free block patterns by Lilja Björk Sigurdórsdóttir at Lilijabs and Catherine Magraith at Fandom In Stitches

The designers of these free paper-pieced patterns are members of Fandom in Stitches, a design collective started by Jennifer Ofenstein of Sewhooked, to pay tribute to book characters like Harry Potter. Their extensive and unique designs includes many that will delight the kids in your life at Halloween.

Applique motifs and more mini quilts

Row 1:  “Say Boo” wall hanging tutorial and pattern, by AnneMarie at GenXQuilters. "Haunted House on the Hill", free pattern by Elizabeth Hill, at Purple Kitty Yarns. Row 2: “Halloween Treat” mini quilt, free pattern, by Sandra E. Andersen at A Legacy of Stitches

Spiderweb free-motion quilting, free video tutorial, by Leah Day at The Free Motion Quilting Project

*Image credits:  All images are copyrighted by their owners.  Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration.  Looking for a particular free pattern?  Email us and we'll see if it's in our archives ! **Tutorials vs. Patterns:  We've debated this topic, and decided to include some tutorials if they are patterns for making complete quilts or blocks. For example, "Itsy Bitsy Spider", Spooky Spun Sugar Quilt" and "Spiderweb Quilt" are called tutorials but they are really online patterns that include fabric requirements and step-by-step instructions, as well as in-progress photos.

Western quilts Roundup !

~ Stay tuned for the September Giveaway  ~

~ Stay tuned for Free Pattern Day (tomorrow !) ~

It's time to lasso those Western quilts, and to celebrate the cowgirl spirit. Dale Evans once said: "'Cowgirl' is an attitude really. The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear." These designers make their homes in Missouri, Oregon, Texas and Montana, and these quilts make us dream of horses, cattle, and wide open spaces.

Row 1: Prairie Moon Ranch, Cowboy Christmas Stocking,  and Cowgirl Up, by Shelly Pagliai at Prairie Moon Quilts
Row 2: Royal,  The Guardian, and Mellow Meadow, by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design
Row 3: Rodeo Gals and Working Cow Horse, and Wranglers, by June Jaeger at Log Cabin Quiltworks
Row 4: Boot Bash block-of-the-month for 2011, by Molly Fryer at Molly’s Place
Row 5: Texas Cowboy Crests Embroideries,  Bronco Embroidery, Dancing Boots Crest Embroidery, and Texas Wildflowers Embroideries,  by Susa Glenn at Susa Glenn Designs

Quilts of the Wild West Part 4

Question: What is a "Boot Bash"? Answer: A free and fabulous quilt block-of-the-month for 2011, by Molly Fryer.  Molly is a creative quilter, rancher's wife, mom, Nana, and proud Texan.  She says: “In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup.” Or how about the next best thing: a quilt with 12 different cowboy boots, one for each month? It’s not too late to start ! Molly's motto is “Remember--no bitchin, only stitchin !”

Boot Bash BOM, Blocks 3, 4 and 5, by Molly Fryer at Molly's Place

We had a hard time picking our favorite Boot Bash blocks, as we love 'em all. Just look at the adorable blanket-stitched cardinal in the March block; the barbed-wire embroidery in April; and the realistic, cracked-leather boot for May.  The button-and-ribbon detail in the May block is the perfect touch. You'll find links to all of the blocks on the sidebar at Molly's place, plus recipes, tutorials, a Tree Time BOM (think: Christmas) and so much more.  Don't miss her comprehensive, easy-to-follow feathered star tutorial. In fact, there's so much to see that Molly says: "Hey, take a load off and stay awhile". We think we will... because Molly's Place feels just like home.

~ FOR A HAPPY HEART AND A BLESSED DAY, TAKE TIME TO QUILT AND A MOMENT TO PRAY ~ "Words to Live By", as seen at Molly's Place

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Molly Fryer.

Quilts of the Wild West Part 3

Toni Whitney is a pre-eminent wildlife painter and quilt designer. Her home and studio in Northwest Montana is nestled up against miles of wilderness, where a never-ending abundance of inspiration walks by her studio. Toni's wild west designs include moose, bear, elk, buffalo, cougar, wolf, and eagle. Of horses, she says: "I am deeply inspired by the beauty of the horse, whether standing, running, grazing... Any horse lover knows that a mere glimpse into the eyes of a horse can stir the soul."

Royal, 19-1/4 x 22-1/4", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design, as seen at the Bigfork Bay Cotton Company

"Royal" is (was) Toni Whitney's own horse, whom she rescued from the meat market at three years old.This magnificent palomino appears to be leaping right out of its quilted frame ! As for all of Toni's art quilt patterns, "Royal" is designed for fusible applique. For more beautifully realistic horses, check out "Guardian", "Pride and Joy" and "Lazy-Days" at Toni Whitney Design; and 4 Ever Friends, Spring Storm, Wild Girl, and Wild Horse Canyon at Bigfork Bay Cotton Company.

Midnight Glide, 13-1/2 x 21-1/2", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design

The Great Horned Owl is an impressive bird, with a wingspan of 40-60 inches (101–153 cm). Owls have spectacular binocular vision allowing them to pinpoint prey and see in low light; they hunt at night by waiting on a high perch and swooping down on prey. The eyes of Great Horned Owls are immobile within their sockets; their neck must be able to turn a full 270 degrees in order to see in other directions! Toni Whitney's "Midnight Glide" perfectly captures the majesty of this bird in flight.

Backdoor Bear, 8" x 10", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design

This little black bear hung around the back door of Toni's studio for days, just waiting for his close up. Two small black beads in his eyes give off just the glimmer that you see when they look right at you. "Backdoor Bear" is designed to be mounted on canvas (instructions included) or to be made as a wall hanging using the background fabric with thread play as borders. Right now, Toni is off teaching "Backdoor Bear" on a quilting cruise to Alaska (wow !)

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of Toni Whitney. In addition to North American wildlife, her quilt patterns include an elephant, lion, giraffe, tiger and zebra. The quotation in the first paragraph is from an interview with Toni Whitney at whohub.

Quilts of the Wild West Part 2

"Cowgirl Up" is the female version of the old rodeo call "Cowboy Up", meaning that the rider was in the chute, seated on the bronco or bull, waiting for the gate to open to enter the arena. Over time, "Cowgirl Up" has evolved to mean that a challenge is awaiting and we are ready to tackle it. "Cowgirl Up" can mean : be your own woman, make your own path, and take responsibility for who you are and what you do. An extremely well-designed quilt,  "Cowgirl Up" sparkles with warmth and charm.

Cowgirl Up, by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

We love this quilt because of its authentic "cowboy colors" of dusty red, chambray blue and cocoa, its symmetrical, eye-pleasing patterns, and its blend of applique and patchwork. The American vintage look is perfectly enhanced by the center cowgirl image and the images inside each of the cottage star blocks. The designer, Shelly Pagliai, tells us that these vintage quilt block prints are from Olde America Antiques.  Rounding out the frontier theme of this quilt is the prairie points-style border, which ties all the elements together. If you love cowgirl projects like this one, check out the Cowgirl Club at Prairie Moon Quilts.

Cowboy Blessing pattern or kit, by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

Shelly lives with her family on the Prairie Moon Ranch, in the midwest state of Missouri.  She named her quilt business after the ranch, and her western themes are genuine reflections of her family's life and values. Available at Prairie Moon Quilts, here is the endearing Cowboy Blessing, complete with a barbed-wire inner border and horseshoes, surrounding an embroidered wish that reads : "May your belly never grumble, May your heart never ache, May your horse never stumble, May your cinch never break."  This pattern would look wonderful as the center of a table runner or table topper, a wall hanging, or a pillow.

Cowboy Christmas stocking, "Prairie Paisley", by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

What could be cuter than a fancy western dress boot used as a Christmas stocking? Shelly introduces a new cowboy Christmas stocking each year, and "Prairie Paisley" is her offering for last December 2010.  This project uses applique and some hand embroidery in festive red and and cream colors to make a very original stocking. It has a lined body, and stands about 16 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the widest point.  Here's a very unique and thoughtful holiday gift for a cowboy or cowgirl in your life.

And finally, to go along with these great projects from Prairie Moon Quilts, we have found some fun old time western music: "Roll Along, Prairie Moon". Click on the center arrow below to start the song, so that all of us can saddle up our ponies and ride off into the sunset, dreaming of another day of inspiration.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Shelly Pagliai.

Quilts of the Wild West

If the cowboy is the quintessential symbol of the Old West, then the cowgirl is the symbol of the New West.  Dale Evans once said: "'Cowgirl' is an attitude really. The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear." This week we're celebrating the cowgirl spirit, with cowgirls and horses in quilts.

Rodeo Gals, 74 x 86", by June Jaeger, at Log Cabin Quiltworks

June Jaeger has been in the quilting business for over 25 years. Her quilt designs feature cowgirls, cowboys, horses and other timeless images of the West. A long term resident of Central Oregon, June works at a veterinary hospital and lives on thirty-five acres in a log cabin at the foothills of the Ochoco Mountains (you can see a photo of her cabin at Log Cabin Quiltworks).   She also has designed over 20 patterns for the Prairie Girls Quilt Shop of Prineville, Oregon, including "Wranglers", shown below.

Wranglers, 30 x 48", by June Jaeger, as seen at Prairie Girls Quilt Shop

June was first introduced to quilting by her sister, Jean Wells. June Jaeger was the inspirational instructor for the 2011 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. She also designed "Timeless", the 2010 Sisters' raffle quilt; you can see the quilt and pattern at The Stitchin' Post.  June Jaeger's stunning "Vision of Horses", below, won Judges' Choice at the Northwest Quilting Expo.

Vision of horses, by June Jaeger

As an entrepreneur, designer, and Westerner, June Jaeger embodies the cowgirl spirit. She says: "I am 65 years old, still cutting my own firewood, and still obsessed with quilting and teaching. There are so many quilts to design and make."

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of June Jaeger.  At Log Cabin Quiltworks you can also see her Saddle Up and Horsin' Around patterns, and at Prairie Girls Quilt Shop you can see Forever Sisters, Rodeo Queen and Annie Oakley.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part 3

Here is Day 3 of the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, with an emphasis on international quilts and contemporary depictions of traditional patchwork patterns.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, 92 x 118", by Leslie Gabrielse, The Netherlands,  at Gabrielse.com

Leslie Gabrielse writes that she was inspired to make this "upbeat piece" in remembrance of the folklore festivals she observed in several villages and towns as she traveled through northern Portugal. She explains, "All the village roads were decorated with colorful arches, and I tried to capture the movement of the dancers... and the variety of the colors of their folkloric costumes."

We would call this piece more than 'upbeat'.... we would call it jaw-dropping in terms of its lifelike qualities !  Notice how the dancers almost seem to be illuminated from behind, as Leslie has very skillfully placed the lighter values of fabrics in the center of the piece to create a focal point for the viewer's eye.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, close-up

Take a look at the incredible detail of the fabric piecing in this close-up.  Beautiful hand embroidery accentuates the outlines of the dancer's costume.

Orphan Blossoms,  app. 60 x 60",  by Timna Tarr, at Q Tailored Quilts

The International Quilt Association used Timna Tarr's "Orphan Blossoms"  on the cover of the program and the tote bags for this year's Long Beach Festival, which was a great idea, because these traditional Dresden Plate blocks just about jump off of the vivid lime green, pink, and lavender background.  Timna found the antique Dresden Plate blocks on e-Bay and wanted to use them in an updated setting. She notes, "I took the Dresden Plate off its original muslin background and laid it on top of fabrics on my cutting table. When I saw how well the Plate fabrics looked on top of green hues, I knew I had to keep experimenting. Even though the Plates and center Arcs are made of old fabrics, I used new fabrics for everything else, including the one inch circles around the plates."

Orphan Blossoms by Timna Tarr, close-up

We loved the lively, swirling energy of this happy quilt, including the very cheerful "bubbles" carefully appliqued around the outside of the Dresden Plates. Timna has done a fabulous job updating one of the most popular traditional quilting patterns in the history of fabric art.

Majestic Bugs, app. 90 x 90 by Irena Bluhm, at Irena Bluhm Designs

Irena Bluhm writes, "This quilt was stitched first, then color was applied using colored pencils. Double batting was used to create the raised design effect for each colored piece of fabric."

What our camera does not show here, is the exquisite hand-embroidery stitching on each one of the stars, points, and apricot shapes. So many enthusiastic quilt fans were standing and admiring this piece, that we could not get near it for a close-up. This was one of the prettiest traditional-design quilts we saw at this show.

First Snow in Kyoto, by Christina Lauchenauer,  Switzerland, at Quilt-Art

Here's a very original and effective use of hand-sewn and hand-quilted blocks, done in elegant apricots, oranges, and cocoa tans and browns. Christina Lauchenauer says, "I tried to capture the feeling of a first cold ( autumn)  morning in Kyoto, Japan. A little snow covers the last bright leaves, and the rooftops of old houses." Christina adds that she wanted to create a beautiful hushed, muted atmosphere, evocative of the "contemplative quiet and peace of its (Kyoto's) temples."

First Snow in Kyoto, close-up

Christina explains that her inspiration to create this quilt was based on her fascination with sashiko stitching and patterns. In this close-up, you can see the variety of lovely embroidery designs she has created for each block. 

My Double Wedding Ring, by Keiko Goke, Japan,  at Quilt Wonderland

From Miyagi, Japan, Keiko Goke created this beautifully colored machine-pieced, machine-quilted, and hand top-stitched contemporary version of the beloved Amish double wedding ring pattern. Keiko worked without any templates to create sophisticated oval shapes that show off a variety of purples and lavenders against the solid gold and green backgrounds.

Autumn Splendor, by Susie L. Anderson

Susie notes that she was inspired by a Kaffe Fassett design to create this traditional baby blocks pattern in a fantastic color-saturated rainbow of monochromatic solids. We're very impressed by the quilter's fabric selection, as her careful use of light, medium, and deep values allows the viewer to clearly see each face or side of the baby block, thus enhancing the three-dimensional effect.

Birds Return, by Kayoko Oguri, Japan

Here's one of several magnificent quilts we saw with the theme of birds in flight. Kayoko Oguri says, "I like red colors. The pattern of the curves was arranged in my own way. The birds that returned to their nests in the evening sun was depicted." As you can see above, the birds seem to be flying through waves or streams of sunbeams, which were created by the use of shiny gold quilting threads applied to mirror the shape of their wings.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part 2

Here we are on Day 2 of our visit to the Long Beach International Quilt Festival. These quilts were part of an exhibit, "West Coast Wonders", celebrating the landscapes, architecture, and lifestyles of the West Coast of North America.

Rialto Trees - Daytime, app.20 x 20, by Denise Oyama Miller at DeniseOyamaMiller.com

Denise writes, "The inspiration (for this quilt) was from a visit to Rialto Beach on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The wind blows so strong that the needles and bark have been blown off the trees." One of those quilts in the minimalist style,  this work impressed us by the stark beauty of the branches and the skillful use of contrasting light and dark values. Even though the trees have been battered by the wind, they are still standing tall, straight,  and affirming their presence, which is a very endearing value.

A smaller quilt called Rialto Trees is posted at the SAQA auction page.   A companion piece, "Rialto Trees - Nighttime", was awarded first place in 2010 at the Marin Society of Artists show.

Roses - Sun and Shadow, app. 22 x36, by B. Lynn Tubbe

Lynn states, "Escape into the beauty of California's natural world. I especially enjoy other gardeners' flowers that I find difficult to grow among grazing deer. This quilt uses only fabric and thread for color definition and depth." This original design of Lynn's uses raw-edge fused applique to create a very lovely and life-like depiction of rose blossoms and their shadows against a weathered garden fence.

Wave Rider, app. 32 x 40, by Monika Scola

Monika explains that computer manipulation of the shape of a heart created this vortex ( the swirls or spiral design which leads into the center).  Can you see how she turned the heart shape on its side to resemble an ocean wave to symbolize her love of surfing? We loved the restful monochromatic aqua blue tones in this quilt, which was constructed using pieced fabric, broderie perse, fused applique, hand beading and painting, plus free-motion quilting.

Point Buchon, app. 40 x 40, by Sara Kelly, at Sara Kelly Art Quilts

Sara Kelly's description of her quilt is as lyrical as her design. She notes, "The Point Buchon (California) trail in spring is a symphony of saturated color. Golden poppies carpet the ( green) hillsides, and....spouting whales cruise the sparkling Pacific Ocean, which mirrors clear blue skies. We think that "Point Buchon" is a fabulous use of complementary light and deep values of blue and orange. Sara's impressionistic design style here plays up the fragments of sunlight as they reflect on the flowers and ocean.

Under the Ocean Beach Pier, app. 24 x 24, by Linda Laird

Linda says, "Ocean Beach pier (in San Diego, California) is a wonderful place to go tide pooling and beach combing. All sorts of natural and unnatural treasures can be found." She has created a very unique and original collage quilt of the objects she found in the water underneath the pier. Click on quilt to enlarge it, and you will see shells, a matchbook cover, part of a paintbrush......and what else can you find? It's like a quilted "I Spy" game.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part One

Let's all go to a virtual quilt show this week ! Please join us, along with thousands of other quilt enthusiasts at the Long Beach International Quilt Show, sponsored by the International Quilters Association last weekend: July 29-31 2011.  Welcome to the show.

Elf Owl, 33 x 54", by Terry Waldron, at TerryWaldron.com

Some quilt shows have only one theme, but this quilt festival is so big, that it was divided into several different themes. Today and tomorrow, we will show quilts from the juried exhibit , "West Coast Wonders", celebrating the landscapes, architecture, and lifestyles of the western part of the U.S.A.  including California*.

In "Elf Owl",  Terry Waldron has designed a tribute to one of the birds of the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles. The elf owl is the smallest of all owls, just over 5 inches long. Elf owls make their homes in the tall saguaro cacti of the desert, where they can live high off the ground, protected from predators. Terry's work is both hand and machine appliqued, then machine quilted.

Elf Owl, close-up

Isn't he adorable, peeking out of the saguaro cactus like this? Owls and birds seem to be a very popular theme in quilting this year. We saw a number of quilts featuring owls and birds, along with some very cute owl fabric at the many vendors' booths.

Roadside Poppies, by Denise Oyama Miller, app. 48 x 24",  at DeniseOyamaMiller.com

Two separate panels hung together showcase these brilliantly colored wildflowers, done with fused applique. Denise writes, "Strolling through Ashland, Oregon, I came across a display of poppies growing....along the sidewalk. The metal fence behind them was a perfect backdrop for this celebration of the incredible flora of the west coast." The fence serves to greatly enhance the three-dimensional quality of Denise's work, as it helps provide perspective to the eye and bring the poppies into the foreground.

Roadside Poppies close-up

Look at how many different batik and tonal fabrics Denise used here ! The variety of fabrics and values really brings out the subtle nuances of the light and shadows as they fall upon the petals and stems of the poppies.  (Also note:  you can click on any of these images to see the amazing detail).

Malibu Beach, 29 x 32", by Sherry Kleinman, at Sherry Kleinman Art Quilts

 

 A resident of the seaside town of Pacific Palisades, just north of Los Angeles, Sherry has created her self portrait here.  She says, " I am lucky to live near the Pacific Ocean and can indulge in my life-long love affair with the beach. I have just added sun block and an umbrella to my must-have beach attire."  If you look closely, you can see that the beach umbrella actually stands out about 8 inches off the surface of the quilt.  The shadow underneath the umbrella adds a very realistic touch to this pieced, appliqued and hand-painted work.

Santa Barbara Riviera, app. 30 x 20",  by Ranell Hansen, at Ranell Hansen.com

We love quilts featuring houses and villages, and this one is no exception.  Ranell Hansen has re-created the charm of the Spanish colonial architecture of Santa Barbara, a coastal city about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Nestled against the mountains, the white-washed buildings with their tile roofs evoke a tropical sun-splashed, Mediterranean setting. This quilt is actually much higher-contrast and less pale in person, as the flash from our camera tended to wash out the bright spots of color that Ranell added to the architectural details here.

Tsunami Rattles California, app. 36 x 24  by Ann Sanderson

Ann writes, "Japan has a special place in my heart. After the earthquake of last March, we lost contact with our Japanese friends, and our coastal California family home was threatened (by the tsunami that hit California). The design of this piece reflects the wave motion and the swirling waters of the tsunami."

We think this is a fascinating piece, with complementary muted peach and blue tones, embellished with delicate gold beads, iridescent square sequins, and stamped with splashes of shiny gold paint.

*Note:  For those who have been following our Cute Quilts for Kids series, we'll be wrapping that up next week, after our special reports on the quilt festival.