I am teaching the Framed Diamonds / Dancing African Ladies quilt in Grand Junction, Colorado, Oct. 15, 2011. The location is Quilters’ Corner in Grand Junction. Due to my travel schedule, I am unable to loan out the original Dancing African Ladies quilt. Therefore, I selected two related fabrics from my stash (these are older fabrics, no longer available):

(Cutting directions available in the Quick Diamond Quilts book).  I cut the tropical floral print at a 22.5-degree angle (to control the grainline) and sub-cut into 45-degree angles. The grain runs through the center of the diamonds, and the quilt will be stable once it is pieced.  I also cut the striped fabric on an angle, and sub-cut into quarter diamonds. These are the ruler sets I used, in addition to the long 6″ x 24″ ruler.

click the image above to order the Fussy Cutter diamond rulers, or the Quarter and Half ruler set

I sewed combinations of framed diamonds, and arranged them on my design wall. I alternated a pieced diamond with a floral diamond, all arranged in rows. The edges looked a little too “blendy” between the striped diamonds and the print, so I added a narrow dark brownish batik fabric trim at the edges of the striped diamonds.

I pieced the rows of diamonds diagonally, creating larger sections, and finally assembled the entire top. I sewed 3 fabrics together, creating borders. The borders were added, and the corners mitered finish the design.

Christine Porter hosted a workshop from my new book, Quick Diamond Quilts. I flew from California to London, rode in a bus from London to Bristol. Following a few brief hours of sleep, we gathered with terrific quilters who sewed Stone Mosaic quilts.

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ARTIST APPEARANCE and AUTOGRAPH PARTY! Date:    Sunday, March 28, 2010  Where:  Quilter’s Paradise, 1451 Montiel Road, Suite 140, Escondido, CA 92026  Time:    1-4 pm  Click for directions  Come visit with quilt designers whose work is featured in my new book Quick Diamond Quilts & Beyond!Â

Quilt artists featured:

• Betty Alofs 
• Anna Mae Bach 
• Kathy Butler 
• BJ Coopes 
• Frances Cunningham 
• Jan Darnell  
• Carol Gilbert  
• Jacqueline Lacey
• Lee Olson
• Nancy Rowland 
• Jane Sassaman 
• Cindy Stearns 
• Suzanne Taylor 
• Patricia Votruba
• Amy Wazny
• Pat Wolfe
• Julia Zgliniec 

Machine Quilters:

• Faye Collingsworth
• Sue Mezera 
• Jill Miller  
• D’Andrea Mitchell 
• Carolyn Reynolds
• Lois Russell 
• Janet Sturdevant Stuart
• Marita Wallace 

I look forward to seeing  you on Sunday for our Autograph Party!

Watch for my newest book on newsstands this month! A few years ago I began brainstorming with quilting friends on all the quilts we could make with the Fast2Cut 45-degree diamond rulers. We had so much creative energy and inspiration to share!

Once the flurry fabric scraps settled, 32 new patterns were created – far too many for one book. Thankfully the publisher agreed with me – the designs could be sorted into two styles. Last year, my 4th title,  Quick Star Quilts was released, featuring 20 great patterns with diamonds pieced in star or kaleidoscope style patterns.

    

This month my newest book, Quick Diamond Quilts is released – inside you’ll find 12 fresh new designs to get your creative juices flowing!