Check this out! I picked up a hexagon frame at Dollar Tree, thinking maybe I could use it for a tray or something. I was imagining using a panel, a quilt block or an embroidered saying under the glass. And then it hit me! The frames are 9 inches and would be perfect for our Quilters Trek blocks! Our pattern, like all Quilters Trek 2021 designs is comprised of four 9-inch blocks. The Calico Gals version, All Across This Land, was designed by Debra Gabel to represent scenes across America. It was fun to create our sample in appliqué, (Debra and I worked on it together in her studio), but why not use the pattern for embroidery? I decided to use the built-in embroidery software in my Babylock Solaris. I sent the designs from an app on my phone to create the blocks that were stitched on the machine. Yes! You...

We have a finisher! Congratulation to Janet Snyder, from Schoharie, NY! Janet brought her completed 2021 Pop of Color Quilters Trek quilt into Calico Gals last week. I was so excited to be in the store at that time, so I could meet Janet and talk about her quilt. Wow! What a beautiful quilt!  Janet enjoyed the 2021 theme of Pop of Color, purchasing many kits from around the country and using a variety of ten patterns in her dynamic quilt design. Janet created a dramatic layout on a black background, making each design “pop” off the quilt. She also included the Fabric Token from each store’s kit within it’s block or row. Beautifully quilted and bound, the quilt included a label listing all of the stores where she shopped, the stores’ locations and names of the Quilters Trek design from each. Janet was excited to receive a beautiful collection...

It might seem difficult to think about Fall - especially when we are still deep in winter and looking forward to spring (and dare we think summer...), but for those who love working with wool, fall projects are loved year round. I have lost track of how many years I have worked with my good friend Debbie Welch on a variety of projects. Debbie and her husband live in New Jersey, are retired from owning their own quilt shop (Quilting Possibilities) and now focus on an amazing wool business. Debbie hand dyes the MOST luscious colors of wool! Anyway... Debbie created the project called "It Takes a Village" now in its 2nd year. It's like a virtual shop hop for wool lovers! Each shop chooses a part of an imaginary village to represent in their block. Last year, we chose the church where Melonie grew up. The block was so...