12 Lessons I've Learned + Summer Sewing Inspiration

Hello friends far and wide! I hope this week's newsletter finds you well.

I mentioned in my newsletter last week that I returned from the H+H Americas Spring Show - one of the biggest trade shows in the quilting and sewing industry, where fabric companies, designers, publishers, and creative businesses gather to debut new products and trends.

I came away inspired by everything that's new and coming, including renewed interest in traditional hobbies like needlework. (I may have been obsessively watching needlepoint content that the Instagram algorithm now knows I'm interested in...)

While I was there, I was realizing I've been working in the quilting industry for 20 years. 😧 Twenty years in any industry teaches you a lot! Some lessons were fun and exciting, some were tedious hard-won, and one of them I learned - the one that changed everything - happened when I overheard a conversation 20 years ago in my local quilt shop.

I just published a new post sharing 12 of the biggest takeaways that I've learned. And honestly they aren't necessarily just about quilting. Whether you're brand new to this world or you've been at it for years, I think you'll find something on this list that hits close to home. And I love to hear if any of them resonate for you.

Design Wall Tips and Tricks

One of the more frequent things I'm asked about is the Design Wall in my sewing room next to my sewing machine.

I use my design wall as a handy tool for organizing current projects. I love being able to 'lay out' quilt pieces and quilt blocks and step back and see the big picture before I start sewing them together.

Plus I've always got a changing art installation of whatever project I'm working on. :)

Click below for more details of where I got my Design Wall, plus lots of ideas to make or find your own.
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If you're following along with the Riley Blake Quilt Block Challenge, the released Block 15 last week. You can see the blocks I'm working on in the photo above. The last block will be released next week! (I'm a *little* behind so this is a gentle reminder to myself as well. 😅)

Quilted Strawberry Coasters

This one is always a crowd favorite. Guest contributor Nadra from Ellis & Higgs created this clever tutorial for these darling Quilted Strawberry Coasters. 🍓 They are a fun little project to help you get ready for summer entertaining and make something super cute while you're at it.

In addition to their useful function, they're a great project for using up some of your favorite reds, pinks, and green fabrics from your stash!

And check out this scrappy quilt-as-you-go version that Amber of @OneShabbyChickHawaii made. Another super fun, scrappy-friendly variation.

Click button for full, free tutorial.

Fun Finds on the Web - More Sewing For Summer Ideas:

Lillyella has the prettiest foundation paper piecing butterfly patterns. You can get the free Butterfly PDF pattern here. If you like English Paper Piecing, you should also check out her incredible EPP Butterfly Effect Quilt Pattern.

Kristina from Center Street Quilts cute Alpen Belt Bag pattern is still on my "to-make" list. It looks like the perfect summer accessory.

Jamie at Sew Brainy Designs has a series of tutorials for fresh Modern patchwork pillows.

In today's super exciting news: I finally tackled planting my garden today. I'm finally accepting the fact that summer is coming, ready or not, and if I didn't get to my local nursery quick the place would be cleaned out.

And I was right! Selection was getting sparse, but I was able to get most of what I needed.

Fortunately for me, my garden-guardian-angels were looking out for me because I got the last pink zinnias that were left. Even the gal working at the register was shocked that there were any left. (I've become a big zinnia fan over the past few years. They're something that do well in my yard that aren't high maintenance.)

(And yes, I realize if I started plants from seeds I'd have much more control over what is available, but that would require a much higher level of organization than I've got going right now. lol)

Last fall we hired someone to take out a big chunk of grass in our back yard and put in some garden boxes. I'm SO excited about this project - in theory. 😅 The reality: they messed up the original irrigation plan and we need to start from scratch there to put the drip lines for the boxes, and the gravel that went it is way too light - it just looks dirty. So once the irrigation gets sorted out and finished we'll update the gravel. Maybe or maybe we'll do that next year. I'm running out of steam...

I'm still a couple of weeks out on when we'll get the irrigation system in and the sprinklers updated (turns out May is a really tricky time of year to get sprinkler guys to your house, it's like they have a seasonal business or something... 🙃😆). So in the mean time, I'm only planting things where they can get hit my by current sprinkler system. That way they'll stay alive and I'll transplant later when we're up and running. I'm in "Make It Do" mode at the moment.

This all feels like so much stress and work right now (kudos to all of you legit gardeners out there) but I know that I will be so glad later this summer and definitely come harvest time in the fall.

I think there's a metaphor in there somewhere, but I'm too tired to articulate it. 🫠

Also, our oldest daughter is home for a week (yay!) and I need a shower and a quick nap before we go get tacos. (More yay!)

Happy May, friends.

xo,

Amy

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