Maranta leuconeura is probably the most reverent plant on earth. Every night at bedtime, its leaves fold up like praying hands. Combine that pious personality with crazy good looks, and you’ve got a plant worth quilting! This week Rob is working on a Prayer Plant quilt using layers of batik applique and Quick Bias Tape by Clover. Click HERE to learn how to make your own tropical masterpiece!
Ordinary is fine. Plain vanilla ice cream. Chips without salsa. (An arm with no tattoos.) They’re all just fine… So when you pick up a new composition notebook, you can totally leave the cover alone. It’s fine. It’s “good enough.” It does the job. But…it’s also pretty darn “blah.” Spice up that plain ole notebook with a custom fabric book cover made out of 10 inch squares of precut fabric (aka layer cakes). It’s a quick and easy sewing project with tons of personality. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
You might cry over spilt milk, but spilt paint? Never! Even accidental plops of rainbow-hued pigment can turn out awesome – especially on quilts! Inspired by his own painting projects, Rob started this quilt with a patchwork of newsprint fabric to create the illusion of a newspaper “drop cloth.” Then he layered on big ‘ole drips of applique “paint” in nice, bold colors. Click HERE to watch the vid!
A good magician can saw a woman in half, make a rabbit disappear, and pull an entire bouquet of flowers out of thin air. It seems impossible, but we know the truth: It’s all an illusion. With a few tricks up the sleeve, anyone can perform “magic” – no supernatural power required! Rob’s new Optical Illusion Checkerboard Quilt may look like a maze of intricate piecework, but we assure you – this pattern couldn’t be easier! Click HERE to learn the secret to this illusion!
Have you been following along with Rob’s free motion quilting tutorials? If so, we hope you have a huge stack of stitch-covered practice pieces. But…what do you do with all those scraps? Don’t even think about throwing them away! Instead, transform them into a quick and easy tote bag that is super useful and totally unique. Click HERE to watch the tutorial.
Spider webs are pretty incredible. They catch prey, provide shelter, and act as protective egg sacs. Some spiders even use a silken thread as a safety line while navigating tricky obstacles. Coolest of all? Webs can be used for flying! Certain types of spiders create web balloons that send ‘em sailing across air currents like gnarly little eight-legged surfers. This week Rob is using a web motif to finish off my spooky Science Jars quilt. (Bonus: the thread glows in the dark!) Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
When was the very first quilt made? We don’t know for sure, but evidence suggests quilt-making actually predates the invention of the wheel! In 1903, archaeologists in Egypt discovered a 5,500-year-old statue of a pharaoh wearing a quilted cloak. It’s a cool, geometric pattern and it even has a scalloped border. We’d love to travel back in time and check out the fabric choices! This week Rob is working on an easy pyramid quilt. It’s made with strip sets of brilliant color, and it comes together like a snap. Click HERE to watch the tutorial.
Are you a superfan? The spectators at one 19th century cricket match sure were. On February 8, 1879, one bad call triggered an all-out brawl. Two thousand disgruntled fans stormed the field with hot tempers and swinging fists. TWO THOUSAND fans! There were probably broken noses and bruised knuckles everywhere! That’s some pretty crazy team loyalty! This week I’ve got a project fit for the fiercest sports fan. I’ve used Florida Gators prints – just because I dig the fabric – but this quilt will look totally awesome in your team colors as well. Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
Men’s formal wear can be a bit of a snooze-fest, but it hasn’t always been that way. During the 1700s, fashion-forward dudes wore vivid colors, lots of embroidery, elaborate hair pieces, and even high heels. That’s a far cry from the basic black of the modern tailored suit. Now, I’m not lining up for lacy cuffs or powdered wigs any time soon, but I do like to add a little personality to my outfit with a custom bow tie. Click HERE to learn how it’ done!
The monstera deliciosa is known by dozens of different names: Swiss cheese plant, fruit salad tree, Mexican breadfruit, Penglai banana. But no matter which name you use, this vine is totally massive! It can grow to be almost 70 feet tall. (That’s like Jack & the Beanstalk status, folks.) An average monstera leaf measures 30 inches by 36 inches, which is a fantastic size for a wall hanging. Click HERE to learn how to applique an awesome botanical quilt of epic proportions!
