Click on the title of each section to see my entire post.

1.   2017 New Quilt Blogger Introduction
I simply had to include this post because participation in this group made such a difference in the way that I blog. Our leaders were Yvonne at Quilting Jet Girl
Leanne at She Can Quilt, and Beth at Cooking Up Quilts. I really cannot thank them enough for their help and guidance. I learned a lot from them, but I also learned a lot from my fellow Newbie Bloggers. Each participant wrote an introductory post. You can see my post by clicking on the title of this section. Here are a few photos from the post:

2. I Wish You a Merry QAL!
Some of the bloggers that I met in the 2017 New Quilt Blogger Group joined together to form the I Wish You a Merry QAL! quilt along group. This was such a great experience, and I learned so much from these fellow bloggers. The title of this section links you to my first published quilt block: Christmas Tree Farm. My inspiration was our own Christmas tree farm, JANDA Bend Christmas Trees. The pattern is a free download until January 16, 2018. Here is a photo of my completed quilt top which includes all of the 12 designed blocks.

3. Geese in Flower Pots
I have included this post because it is a landmark for JANDA Bend Quilts. This post announces the opening of the JANDA Bend Quilts' online store and the completion of my first quilt design offered for sale. Here is a photo of Geese in Flower Pots. You can read more about it by clicking on the title of this section.

​4.   Jolly Bar Jazz Quilt Along
I participated in two quilt alongs with the Fat Quarter Shop (affiliate link) This post presents my Jolly Bar Jazz quilt. Being a part of quilt alongs with the Fat Quarter shop was exciting! I hope to join more in 2018 as time permits. Below is a photo of my competed quilt. You can read more about my experience by clicking on the title of this section.

​5.  New Linky Party: Pieceful Sunday
This year I started my own weekly Linky Party called Pieceful Sunday. Every Sunday, I encourage those who are interested in piecing to link up their in-progress or completed piecing projects. Link ups are now available until the following Saturday. This is the initial post announcing the party. You can read it by clicking on the title for this section. I hope that you will join us! Below is a photo from that initial post. It is the mug rug that I made for the 2017 Teal Mini-Swap. This annual swap raises funds for ovarian cancer research. 

​Now it is your turn! You can link up your in-progress or completed piecing projects using the blue button with the frog below. Please note that the thumbnail photos and links will not show up on this page. You will need to click the blue frog button below to see the photos and links. This may be a little different from what you are used to.  The link-up will be available until Saturday, January 6, 2018 at midnight. If you prefer, you can also link up on Instagram using #PiecefulSundayatJANDABendQuilts. ​ ​

Thanks for stopping by. If you have questions or comments, please go to comments or contact me by email. 
​
Happy New Year and Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published by JANDA Bend Quilts.

I have been working on my Workshop for Beginning Quilters which will be held at the Tahlequah Amory Municipal Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I have already had several people who visited the JANDA Bend Christmas Trees Farm this year indicate that they were interested. The workshop will be open to 24 participants and will include a free pattern to the first 20 people who register. We will be making a version of the pattern Dessert Time from Quilt in a Day. The completed quilt will be approximately 48" x 58". This is a fun, easy pattern that incorporates large half-square triangles and a strip-pieced border. There will be a kit available for sale, or you can purchase your own 10" squares and 2 1/2" strips or make your them  from your scraps.

There will be a total of six, three-hour workshops on six Saturday mornings (February 10, 17, and 24 and March 10, 17. and 24, 2018). In the first three weeks, you will piece and assemble the quilt top. Then in the last three weeks, you will baste, quilt, and bind your quilt. So if you want to learn how to quilt in 2018 and you live in Northeastern Oklahoma, or Northwestern Arkansas, this is your chance!

I have planned additional, more advanced workshops later this year as well. However, I decided to start with the beginner class. 

Registration Information will be available soon on this web site. So stay tuned! Or better yet, sign-up for the Newsletter so that you do not miss sign-ups!

​Now it is your turn! You can link up your in-progress or completed piecing projects using the blue button with the frog below. Please note that the thumbnail photos and links will not show up on this page. You will need to click the blue frog button below to see the photos and links. This may be a little different from what you are used to.  Remember that the link-up will be available until Saturday, December 30, 2017 at midnight. If you prefer, you can also link up on Instagram using #PiecefulSundayatJANDABendQuilts. ​ ​

Thanks for stopping by. If you have questions or comments, please go to comments or contact me by email. 
​
Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published by JANDA Bend Quilts.

   2017: What a Difference a Year Makes!
I actually started JANDA Bend Quilts in July, 2016. However, even though I had a web site and a plan, I had not gotten very far by January, 2017. Let's face it. I was a newbie. I needed some guidance. 

Then I discovered the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers group. I am not sure that I can tell you all that I learned, but can share some categories:

• Technology skills
• Communication skills
• Blogger ethics and professional standards
• Group leader and follower skills
• Confidence!

I also met some wonderful experienced bloggers and some wonderful newbies like me. Some of my new blogger friends participated with me in the I Wish You a Merry QAL! quilt along. Through this experience, I honed my skills in

• Social media communication
• Pattern designing
• Group decision making
• Setting up Linky Parties
• Understanding the online quilting community

Here are my fellow bloggers in the QAL:
Abbie at Sparkle On (Host)
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (Host + Block 2 Designer) That's me!
Becca at Pretty Piney (Host)
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting (Host + Block 9 Designer)
Diane at Cwilt Fabrics & Haberdashery (Host + Block 10 Designer)
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter (Host + Block 4 Designer)
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats (Host)
Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing (Block 11 Designer)
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts (Host + Blocks 3 & 12 Designer)
Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs (Block 6 Designer)
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs (Host + Block 7 Designer)
Sherry at Powered by Quilting  (Host + Block 5 Designer)
Sola at Alice Samuel's Quilt Co. (Block 8 Designer)
Vanda at Quilt in Piece (Host + Block 1 Designer)

In addition, I designed my first pattern for sale (Geese in Flower Pots), opened my online store, started an online Newsletter, joined Bloglovin, was a guest host for Thanks Goodness It's Finished Friday, started my own Linky Party (Pieceful Sunday), attended Spring Quilt Market, participated in blogger quilt alongs with the Fat Quarter Shop (affiliate link), offered several quilts for sale in the JANDA Bend Christmas Trees Shop, and rented a space to teach a six-week workshop for beginning quilters that starts February 10, 2018.

Of course, some of my 2017 plans were not completed, but that is what 2018 is for!

Plans for 2018: What comes next?
My plans for 2018 fall into several categories.

Workshops: I want to conduct workshops throughout the year. I am a Quilt in a Day Certified Teacher. I plan on starting with Quilt in a Day patterns and then teach workshops centered on  my own pattern designs. This year I am going to try renting my own space at the Tahlequah Armory in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The workshop will run for six Saturday mornings in February and March. I am also going to continue to reach out to quilt guilds and quilt shops.

Pattern Designs: I want to concentrate on designing patterns this year. I am working on several ideas now. Initially, the patterns will be sold as pdf downloads.

Online Stores: I opened my own online store in 2017. However, I would also like to open an online store on Etsy and Craftsy. Both stores would make my products more visible. In addition, I think that the Etsy Store will facilitate International downloads of my patterns.

Web site: A web site is always something in progress. This year, I want to reorganize the site so that it is more user friendly.

Social Media: Last year, I began to use Instagram, Twitter, and group Facebook pages. I still have a lot to learn. This year, I want to start a JANDA Bend Quilts Facebook page.

Quilt Alongs: My I Wish You a Merry Quilt A-Long! group is planning a fall-themed quilt along this year. I plan on participating. In addition, I want to participate in the Fat Quarter Shop's quilt alongs as time permits.

Fall Quilt Market and Quilt Festival in Houston: I plan on attending Fall Quilt Market this year and applying to demonstrate my patterns in a class at Fall Quilt Festival.

FInally, it is important to me to maintain life balance. My quilty world is important to me, but so are my family, friends, and community.

It looks like I have a challenging year ahead, but I love challenges. What about your year? If you want to link up to Yvonne's 2018 Planning Party, click on the link.

If you want to link up to Pieceful Sunday, you can link up your in-progress or completed piecing projects using the blue button with the frog below. Please note that the thumbnail photos and links will not show up on this page. You will need to click the blue frog button below to see the photos and links. This may be a little different from what you are used to.  The link up will be available until Monday, December 18, 2017 at midnight. If you prefer, you can also link up on Instagram using #PiecefulSundayatJANDABendQuilts. ​ 

Thanks for stopping by. If you have questions or comments, please go to comments or contact me by email. 
​
Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published by JANDA Bend Quilts.

What a journey this has been. I learned so much from my fellow designers, hosts and those of you who joined us on the way. Here is a list of designers and hosts:

Abbie at Sparkle On (Host)
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (Host + Block 2 Designer) That's me!
Becca at Pretty Piney (Host)
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting (Host + Block 9 Designer)
Diane at Cwilt Fabrics & Haberdashery (Host + Block 10 Designer)
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter (Host + Block 4 Designer)
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats (Host)
Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing (Block 11 Designer)
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts (Host + Blocks 3 & 12 Designer)
Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs (Block 6 Designer)
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs (Host + Block 7 Designer)
Sherry at Powered by Quilting  (Host + Block 5 Designer)
Sola at Alice Samuel's Quilt Co. (Block 8 Designer)
Vanda at Quilt in Piece (Host + Block 1 Designer)

I cannot thank the group enough for their time, generosity, and commitment to our group! We all had a slightly different take on designing and making each block, That added to the fun! It was fun to see the participants' versions of the designs as well. What a creative group!

All 12 of the blocks in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long are available for free on the designer's  web site until January 15, 2018 at midnight. I am  offering links to the released block patterns on my Quilt Alongs page until then.

We're excited to announce that we will be doing a Fall themed quilt along in 2018! We're still ironing out the details, but we'll let you know more as soon as we do. Announcements about the next quilt along will be made right here on the blog, as well as in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook group.

Now it is your turn! You can link up your in-progress or completed piecing projects using the blue button with the frog below. Please note that the thumbnail photos and links will not show up on this page. You will need to click the blue frog button below to see the photos and links. This may be a little different from what you are used to.  The link up will be available until Monday, December 11, 2017 at midnight. If you prefer, you can also link up on Instagram using #PiecefulSundayatJANDABendQuilts. ​ 

Please include a link to this page in the blog post that you are linking up. If you wish, you can include the Pieceful Sunday button as well. After linking up, I hope that you will stop by the posts of others to see their work. Encouraging comments are welcome. Quilters tend to be nurturing and supportive.  I am hoping that this Linky Party will help us establish an encouraging quilting group. 

​Thanks for stopping by. If you have questions or comments, please go to comments or contact me by email. 
​
Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published by JANDA Bend Quilts.

Here is how I chose to set the blocks. I wanted to keep the setting simple because the blocks were pretty complex.  I arranged the blocks in what I think is a pleasing pattern. They are not in chronological order.

Before starting the lattice, I squared all the blocks to 12 1/2" using the Quilt in a Day 12" square-up ruler. I usually make background squares for applique an inch or so larger than the finished size so that I can trim them with the applique centered later.  A couple of the pieced blocks were a little shy of 12 1/2", but if blocks are within a 1/4" of 12 1/2", it is not to hard to adjust the seams to make them fit together. See photo below.

For the lattice, I used about a yard of fabric cut into (11) 2 1/2" x width of fabric strips. From 3 of these strips, I cut (8) 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips for the vertical inner lattice (Photo 1). From an additional 3 width of fabric strips, I pieced the horizontal inner lattice (Photo 2). I pieced the remaining 5 width of fabric strips together to make the inner border (Photo 3).

For the outer border, I used about 3/4 yds of fabric. I cut (6) 4 1/2" width of fabric strips. I pieced them together to make the outer border.  See the photo of the completed quilt top.
​

Be sure to stop by the other hosts' sites to see their versions as well!

Abbie at Sparkle On
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (That's Me!)
Becca at Pretty Piney
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
Diane at Cwilt Fabrics & Haberdashery
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts 
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs
Sherry at Powered by Quilting
Vanda at Quilt in Piece

What Are the Grand Prizes?

How Can I Enter to Win the Grand Prize?

Complete a quilt top using all twelve blocks by January 16th and enter to win the grand prize! Be sure to share a picture of your "I Wish You a Merry QAL" Christmas quilt top before 11:59 pm on January 15th to be entered to win the grand prize! You can post a picture in the Facebook group, on Instagram using #iwishyouamerryqal, or link up to the linky party. Just click the Blue Frog below to add your link or to see the links of others!  Remember, all prizes for the QAL are open to participants worldwide!
​

​Will There Be Another Quilt Along?

We're excited to announce that we will be doing a Fall themed quilt along in 2018! We're still ironing out the details, but we'll let you know more as soon as we do. Announcements about the next quilt along will be made right here on the blog, as well as in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook group.

Thanks for joining me and Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published at JANDA Bend Quilts.
​

Here is my version of Block 12: Christmas Lights.

This block uses bias tape to make the wire for the lights and fusible appliques to make the lights and light bases.  The first step was to pin the bias tape. Then I chose to sew down the folded edge of the bias tape before fusing the lights. It was fairly easy to form the curve in the bias tape with a hot iron and sew down one edge. See photos below.

Then I arranged the light bases and lights and fused them in place with a hot iron using Heat N' Bond. Then I sewed the other edge of the bias tape. Please see photo below.

Finally, I sewed around the edges of the the lights and bases with matching thread and a straight stitch. My completed block is shown below.

Here are my 12 completed blocks. To read my blog for each one. go to the Quilt Alongs page and click on the JANDA Bend version links..

To see how I put them together in my quilt top go to this post.

​Thanks for a fun block, Laura!
​
Where Can I Find the Pattern and the Designer's Tutorial?

Go to Slice of Pi Quilts for the pattern and designer tutorial.

What Are the Prizes for Block 12?

A big thank you to Make Modern magazine and Sandy Maxfield at Sandy Star Designs!

How Do I Enter to WIn the Giveaways for Block 12?

There are three ways to enter. Do one of the following by December 18, 2017 at 11:55 pm  EST:

1. Upload a photo of your finished block to the Linky Party at Slice of Pi Quilts .
2. Upload a photo of your finished block to the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook Group.
3. Upload a photo of your finished block to Instagram using #iwishyouamerryqal.

I Want to See More Versions of the Block. Who are the other hosts?

Abbie at Sparkle On
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (That's Me!)
Becca at Pretty Piney
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
Diane at Cwilt Fabrics & Haberdashery
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter
Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts 
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs
Sherry at Powered by Quilting
Vanda at Quilt in Piece

I Have Questions. Who Can I Ask?

You can ask me in a comment to this post or in an email, or you can ask the designer Slice of Pi Quilts .

When Will the Next Block and Setting Examples Be Released?

This is the last block in the Quilt Along!

Where Will I Be Able to Find Setting Examples for the 12 Blocks?

You can find the setting examples at JANDA Bend Quilts, on I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook Group, or on any other host's blog.

Will There Be Another Quilt Along?

We're excited to announce that we will be doing a Fall themed quilt along in 2018! We're still ironing out the details, but we'll let you know more as soon as we do. Announcements about the next quilt along will be made right here on the blog, as well as in the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook group.

Thanks for joining me and Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published at JANDA Bend Quilts.

Now it is your turn! You can link up your in-progress or completed piecing projects using the blue button with the frog below. Please note that the thumbnail photos and links will not show up on this page. You will need to click the blue frog button below to see the photos and links. This may be a little different from what you are used to.  The link up will be available until Monday, December 4, 2017 at midnight. If you prefer, you can also link up on Instagram using #PiecefulSundayatJANDABendQuilts. ​ 

​Please include a link to this page in the blog post that you are linking up. If you wish, you can include the Pieceful Sunday button as well. After linking up, I hope that you will stop by the posts of others to see their work. Encouraging comments are welcome. Quilters tend to be nurturing and supportive.  I am hoping that this Linky Party will help us establish an encouraging quilting group. 

​Thanks for stopping by. If you have questions or comments, please go to comments or contact me by email. 

Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published by JANDA Bend Quilts.