May is Slip Slidin' Away. . . .

I missed the whole month of May!  And it is one of my most favorite months of the year.  I recall glimpses of things here and there, but for the most part it is gone, fogged by a groggy brain, turtle-like reflexes, and lots and lots of sharp pain emanating from the new titanium joint in my knee.  Yup I have been totally out of it.  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the pain medication that made it all possible, but I had not expected how much it would knock me out.  Can you spell dysfunctional?

After losing May I am more determined than ever that I am not going to lose June!  I am up and walking without assistance now -- both cane and walker have been shelved along with the commode, depends, and pillow-lined hall way.  I still have another knee to go so I am not getting rid of the sick room gear just yet.

Buster and Buffy have been my constant companions through the dark times.  They take turns sitting on my lap, drinking out of my water glass, and meowing at me if I attempt to sleep.  They have both learned to dodge the cane when it comes toward them.  They are more nimble than I am at this point so they have to get out of the way or get mowed over.  Max is very protective of me and is my constant shadow, tucking himself under my recliner whenever I sit there making it impossible to put the feet down without smashing the dog in the chair.

And Bruce has been my driver, nurse, cook, laundry dude, and all around go and fetch it for me guy.  He has been great through all of this craziness.  I am especially impressed by his cooking!  He is a fast food kind of guy, but he has been fixing me nice meals with veggies, homemade meat balls, and salads.  Not fancy, but tasty and filling.  If it can be made from hamburger, he can make it.  He has graduated to frozen chicken breasts, and is attempting the occasional soup.  What a guy.

Now 6 weeks post op I am finally coming out of the fog, working on patterns and quilts, preparing teaching notes for classes at the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival June 14-17 in Overland Park, KS.  The following week I go to Reno, NV to teach 6 classes at the Sew and Quilt Expo.  I am putting together kits, class supplies and ordering replacements for everything I sold out of earlier this year.

It feels good to be working again, although at a much slower pace, after a month of indolence, incomprehension, and incontinence.

So  with all that as an introduction, check out this month's free block of the month on my 2017 BOM tab on my blog.  Yup, its free, and is available as a digital download only.  It is called Swirling Star and I just love the little applique swirls in the corners.

And this month's bonus block, free to my newsletter subscribers, is called Swish N Swirl. I think it is a beauty, and in a way sort of tells the story of me and the month of May.

Thanks for hanging out with me in June.  I missed you.



PS.  The knee surgery went well, it is healing fine, and I am back on my feet.  Thanks for all the good thoughts, wishes and prayers.  It really helped.  HUGS

Block 5 Snowy Window Fair Isle Winter BOM

The free pattern for Block 5 is now available.

Click on the 2017 BOM Tab at the top to download the free pattern.

Comfortably Numb

Yes, I had to explain to my son that there was a time in my life when I listened to Pink Floyd. And this explanation was required because he asked me how I was feeling after my knee replacement surgery.  My response, "Comfortably numb" a multilayered response to both the pain meds I am taking and the complete loss of time I am experiencing as I recover at home.

Yea, he didn't get it either.

So is it any wonder the May Fair Isle BOM is late this  month?  Nope, didn't think so.

But as I scrape through the fog I discovered the May BOM could not remain concealed for long.  It is now available on the 2017 BOM Page.

Knee Update:  quit reading now if these sort of things makes you want to hurl.   My knee is healing nicely.  Staples are out, I am now permitted to shower for real, and I am doing physical therapy, as required by my Physical Therapist, Debbie the Good.  Entering week 3 post op and still lots of pain, but I am now doing stairs, and using a cane instead of a walker most of the time.  I now have an official ADA toilet in my bathroom, and can get in and out of bed unaided.  Now when I can get the bolts out of my neck and retire the Frankenstein shirt I will feel a lot better.  :-)

April BOM block will be here soon.

I have had a blast traveling and teaching for the month of March.

First, the April BOM block will be posted on the 1st of April, no fooling!  It is called Sparkling Stars and, like the other Fair Isle Winter blocks, is paper pieced.

The new Bonus Block is coming also, and I have to tell you, it is one of my personal favorites.  It's like your kids: you try not to have a favorite, but secretly, you do!  hahahaha

I just got back from the Lake Area Guild Network at the Lake of the Ozarks in MO.  What incredible and talented quilters!  I got  to see some of their wonderful quilts and taught my Seminole Sampler Workshop to two different groups on two days.  Whew!  They did great work, and here are a few of their "in progress" Seminole Bands.

The week before I was in Omaha, NE with the Cottonwood Quilters Guild.  What a terrific group of ladies.  I taught a Deco Garden machine applique class and we made Iris Blocks.

The week before that I was in Bartlesville, OK and did a lecture on the One Patch Renaissance and taught the Seminole Sampler Workshop and 4 Hour Bag workshop.  My thanks to the great ladies who hosted my visit, wined and dined me, and had fun learning a new technique in my workshops.

I posted 2 new Deco Garden Blocks -  Shamrock (50), and Begonia (51).

Now I am taking a week off just for me and going to a quilt retreat!

March BOM blocks and New Deco Garden Blocks

This was a busy week!

First, my week began with my cat running off when a neighbor's dog attacked my dog Max -- IN MY YARD!  I know, some nerve, eh?  Max recovered with a few bites to his neck which healed quickly.

 But Buster, my long-haired Siamese got freaked and ran off.  He came home 2 days later, like nothing ever happened.  I was so worried, thinking that dog would have turned Buster into a light snack.

So now Buster is grounded for a month and not allowed outside.  He is none too pleased with this turn of events.  He is a pretty independent cat, and I worry that dog could be back!

Along with all the critter drama, I have been shipping patterns and writing more patterns, working on my 2017 BOM and trying to overcome 2 weeks with bronchitis!  I am drained!

But here is the good news.  Two new deco blocks are available.  #48 is Rosey Posey and #49 is Cyclamen.  I am so close to having 50 of these done, which was my initial goal.  Now I am not sure if I should keep going or just say enough!

They are available for sale on my website: morningglorydesigns.com

This week I also released another free block:  The crossing block for the Fair Isles BOM.  You can pick up this block for free on the 2017 BOM Tab on my Blog.  You can also still get the February block for free for a few more days.

The Crossing Block is used between each of the monthly blocks.  There are 13 of these in the setting I am showing on my BOM page.

This block will be available for free for a few months so everyone who wants to do this setting will have access to this block.  Remember, these blocks are all paper pieced this year.

I am almost ready to post the March Fair Isles blocks also.  If you are a subscriber you will get links to both of these blocks in my newsletter that comes out March 1.

Here is Block 3: Breath of Spring

And here is the Bonus Block for March (available only to subscribers)

Bonus Block 3

I couldn't decide which way I liked it better.  I drew it with the white background and the dark blue corner leaves.  But the reverse is kinda growing on me.  Which way do you like best?

New February BOM Blocks

The block for February has been posted and is ready for you to download for free for 30 days.  You can still get block 1 for free for a few more days, if you didn't get it yet.

This block is called Bridget's Wedding and is named after my niece who just got married.

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you want this month's free bonus block.

Which one do you like better?  White on blue background, or blue on white background?

I also have the February Flower of the Month table runner on half price for all of February at Morning Glory Designs.com.

Look What Came in the Mail!!

I opened my issue of American Patchwork & Quilting that came in the mail today and guess what I found?  It is the April 2017 issue, and on page 73 was a copy of my quilt pattern in the Northcott ad!

This is really an amazing picture for a number of reasons.  Of course I am thrilled that they chose my design to feature for their new A Stitch In Time fabric collection (which is fabulous, I might add). But the pattern includes two sizes -- a throw and a table topper -- in the pattern.

But there are also two more patterns using this line in addition to this Studio Throw pattern.  You can get them here on my Website.

I also designed a Studio Wall Quilt

and a Studio Organizer using this fabric collection.

This last design is super easy!  The squares with the saying on them are pockets, sewn onto the background fabric, for storing tools and notions in your sewing room.  The fabrics are all pre-print stripes, panels, and prints, so there is very little piecing in this project.

Check out the Northcott website for this fabric line.  There are several great tote bag patterns (by other designers) that are very cool and would go well with these patterns.These vintage block and sewing machine prints go with a group of Stonehenge fabrics in a collection called Oxidized Copper.  What is not to love about these?

I love designing patterns for Northcott because they keep giving me wonderful fabric collections to work with.  You should be able to find this line at your local quilt shop.  I know several shop owners have called me to order patterns for kits, so check your local shops and pick up some of this yummy yardage.

Kits Available for the New 2017 BOM Fair Isles Winter

Fabric Kits for Fair Isles Winter are now available from ConnectTheBlocks.com.  

You will love these first quality batiks and white-on-white prints!  Each kit includes the fabric for one featured block and one sashing block!  The $29 per month fee includes postage and the finishing kit for all the borders. The kits will be offered one per month for 14 months starting in February 2017. Peggy put together one great value for this 88" x 88" queen-size quilt.

Click HERE to order your first kit for Block 1.

And while you are shopping at ConnectTheBlocks.com check out her other amazing fabrics and kits, and her 40" yard cuts!  Her fabric is wonderful, her packaging is so cute, and her customer service is amazing!


It is not too late to sign up for the Morning Glory Designs monthly newsletter and get the additional free Bonus Block in your email.

The mailing includes links to the new block each month and another link to the free bonus block, available for free only to newsletter subscribers. Plus you get a link to my monthly half price quilt pattern and the new Deco Gardens blocks still being added each month.  I try to add some additional eye candy by posting anything new or in the works.  Sign up here.*

*Your name and email are secure and will not be shared with anyone!  It is used solely for the purpose of sending my monthly newsletter.

Here is Bonus Block 1.  

I know, it looks really scary, but you can leave out the scary parts, if you prefer, and then you have a very non-scary sweet block.

Block 2 will be posted this weekend so don't miss your chance to get the first block and first bonus block for free!

Two New Deco Garden Blocks

Are you still collecting those fun Deco Garden blocks?  Here are two new ones to tempt you.  Both are available HERE.

The first one is called Red Rose MGD410-44

Look how fun cool this block looks when four blocks are put together to make a cushion cover or a table runner.

 It even has a certain appeal when placed on a white background.

Here is the second new block.  It is called Peach Blossom.  MGD410-45

I made another version of this block as a wreath, just for fun.  I get a little crazy using EQ7 sometimes.  I like the way the stems make a secondary design.

I would probably make this as a 16" block rather than a 12" block, just so there would be plenty of room for all those crazy stems.  If you want a pattern drawn up for this one let me know in the comments and leave a name so I can contact you.

Here is a four block version of the pattern.  What do you think?  Kinda cool in a weird way.  And the version with the white background is also fun.  Can you tell I get a kick out of doing these blocks? 

😊😊

OK hope you enjoyed that.  Of course I have 2 more in the works for next month.  

Want 20% off?  Use Coupon Code MGD20% when you check out! Yup, really is just that simple.

Click here:  Morning Glory Designs