Simply Spring Cover

I'm trying to get better at pattern covers and just finished this one for my latest pattern "Simply Spring".

It took a while because I discovered some new tools in Photoshop Elements (PE6) that I didn't know existed. Duh!

You know how when kids get a new game and they start playing it without even looking at the directions, that's what I did when I got PE6, I just dived in. So why didn't someone tell me I could play like this????

Head over to my website if you want to purchase this or any other patterns or just email me and I will send it right out to you.


See ya next time"In the Hayloft",

Funky Cool Spring!

I've mostly been working on the computer trying to get pattern directions finished but had to get my hand into some art.

I was asked to do a demonstration at the Charlotte Quilt Show that was held two weeks ago to showcase the way I use fusible web in my applique. Using this method I don't have to remember to reverse my pattern image which is a BIG BIG help for me. This quiltlet is such a cute little thing that I decided to finish it with one of my favorite methods of binding...fusible of course!

10 1/2" x 14"

After finishing the machine quilting and binding I thought it would make a great seasonal pattern so look for the "Summer" quiltlet to appear next month. If you are interested in getting this pattern (or others) from me, just drop me an email and I'll put you on the list.

See ya next time"In the Hayloft",

Vote for your favorite!

Some of you know I entered a quilt designers contest and was maniacally rushing to get it finished before the submission deadline.

FatQuarterShop's blog, the Jolly Jabber, held a contest where designers had to use only the fabrics from Moda's "Simplicity" line of fabric to make any sewn item. My entry was a table topper I designed for my breakfast nook table. The pattern is called "Simply Spring" and will be available for purchase on my website (RedBarn-Studios) next week.

The table topper is 's 51 1/2" square and I made it so the triangles gracefully hang off the sides of the table. The photo below shows the quilt in a different colourway.

Now go.....go vote for your favorite design here. Polls close Tuesday (4/22/08) which just happens to be my daughter's 16th birthday. Yippee!

See you next time "In the Hayloft",

A Free Pattern for Valentine's

I've never been one to celebrate Valentine's Day in any big way because I feel love tokens, notes, etc. needs to be given all year long. This year though I decided that we should all be able to declare our love for that special someone in our lives and I thought a scroll, like those used for town proclamations, was in order.




You can make this "Love Scroll" for your significant other or, if you have a twinkle in your eye for someone new, you can use this scroll to give them a little hint about your feelings.







The finished size of the "Love Scroll" is 9"x 22". Just think, a bundle of love in a little fat eighth! I've even added some ties on the back so it can be rolled up just like a scroll. The heartfelt bee is all dressed in pink for Valentine's instead of his usual worker bee yellow. With the ease of fusible this little declaration of yours will be done in no time!





For the next few days I will be offering this as a free pattern. Email me (click contact me at sidebar) and I'll get your free pattern right out to you. Have fun with it and have a little love on me :-)


See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

The Piece That Wasn't Supposed to Be

I design patterns. I like designing patterns. A friend suggested, however, that I design a quilt pattern around a particular fabric line, get some attention coming my way. So off to the quilt shop I went.

I chose 9 different fabrics from the April Cornell line "A Little Romance" by Moda Fabrics . Had the quilt in mind that I was going to do and skipped all the way home (taking literary liberties here...me skip?)

The small quilt I had in mind only needed 1/8th yard of 8 of the fabrics but I got a full 1/3 yard (big spender I am huh?) of the beautiful mint green solid you see below.

I washed and ironed the fabs and got ready to create. I cut a background from the solid green and laid it on my worktable. Somehow, 4 hours later I came up with "Windy Day". Not one blessed piece of the April Cornell fabric made it into the quilt, not that I didn't like the fabs mind you.

Moral of the story, sometimes you gotta go where the muse takes you (yeh, she found her way back to me eventually).

See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

A New Pattern

I finally finished my latest pattern called "Bloom Where You Are Planted". Yeh me! It is a small fused wallhanging measuring 24"x 31" (see some detail shots below). Even the black and white border is fused down.

The story behind this quilt started with my 15 yr old daughter who, at the time, was struggling with her identity among her more slighted "advanced" friends and trying to find some much needed self-confidence . Her solution was to move to a diffferent school. Ix nay on that! Things were not insurmountable so I sat her down to talk and basically told her to stand her ground, don't change who she is at the core (which is a very sweet and caring person) and to "bloom where she was planted". No matter the difficulty BLOOM! I think this is a great quilt for a girl's bedroom to remind them that their beauty will shine no matter what.

If you would like to purchase this or any of my patterns please email me at
crzyqults@hotmail.com.


I am planning on launching my website,
RedBarn-studios.com, in January for all the world to see. On my website I will be offering my patterns and original artwork for sale plus a list of workshops I will be doing at shops and nearby venues. Check back soon for notice of my website launch. I can't wait!


See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

A Gift for a Friend

Last week I went to a baby shower for a good friend who also happens to be my neighbor. She got all the regular things - car seats, stroller, bottle and breast feeding paraphernalia and all manner of clothing.

Being a different sort of folk I decided to get her the Boon Frog Pod , a cool looking green froggy thing that scoops, drains and stores all those bath toys. Don't know bout you but I always found the job of gathering the toys after bathing the kids a tedious job, especially the ones you had to stretch for at the back of the tub - arrgrh! (we always enjoyed the splashing much better anyway).

As I looked at all the things she received that day I also got to thinking that I wanted to do something different for her. This small quiltlet is the result. I collect all sort of sayings and this one sort of presented itself to me as I went thru my collection.

I had originally intended to put a a sleeve on the back but decided to do something different. I'm going to cut a 3/8" dowel to size, paint it, stitch it to the back of the quilt then tie a colourful chiffon ribbon at the ends for hanging.

She's decided not to find out the sex of the baby so this had to be in neutral colours. It's only about 12" square and came together quite quickly, even for me. I'll see her later in the week and surprise her with it.

Back to writing pattern directions for me. I should have this new pattern (my latest) up on the blog in a few days. Also will have an update on the next few classes I'll be teaching in the new year.


See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

A New Pattern

My time has not been my own of late and I have not had a chance to create anything new but finally, a new piece "Bloom Where You Are Planted". It's only a small wallhanging that I still have yet to write the pattern directions for but at least the top is done. I originally wanted to make it for my daughter to let her know that her beauty will shine no matter where she is in life.

The ragged boot I absolutely love how it turned out. The only thing is I'm always stymied trying to come up with quilting designs to enhance my quilt tops so I've been auditioning designs on my makeshift design board. It's just a piece of plexiglass that I place over an unquilted piece and draw on with a dry erase pen. It's much easier that way because I get to erase the design without having to unpick any threads.

We all have so many ideas for quilts in our heads and think we'll never get all of them out in a sketchbook, far less in fabric? Well...I'm here to tell you...you probably won't get to them all (hee hee) but every one that's plucked out is another one you can feel good about. And then another 2 are ready to take its place. I'm glad this one is finally out and almost finished. Hurray!

See ya next time "In the Hayloft",

My First Ribbon!

Look, look, I won a ribbon!

One of the guilds I belong to is the Lake Norman Quilter's and we had our first show last Saturday. We are a group of about 44 members and we worked our butts off to put on the best show we could muster. We had very good feedback from attendees who loved the variety of quilts (about 224 at last count) we had on display.

And lo and behold. I won a first place ribbon for one of my quilts "ColourBlocks" (which is also a pattern). Yippee!!!!!!! This is only the second show I have ever entered and I am tickled pink to get my first ribbon! I also won a 3rd place ribbon for my quilt "Bluberries and Mint Parfait".

Not bad for a newbie huh?

See ya next time "In the Hayloft",