It’s been a while but I just released a new quilt pattern that is perfect for spring. . . or for those of us who are longing for spring! This pattern is perfect for a confident beginner and it goes together quickly since you only have to piece 10 blocks. The pattern includes templates for the tricky piece of the pattern and has lots of photos and illustrations for those of you who are visual learners.
I have the quilt hanging in my front hallway where I can see it from my sewing machine and it is making me very happy. I can look at it instead of the snow!
The pattern is available on my website or from my Etsy shop for just $10.00- which is a bargain in the pattern world these days.
I used a beautiful tulip design made by Barbie Mills for the quilting and I am really pleased with how it came out. (I resized the pattern to almost double the original size to get the look I wanted.) Check out Barbie’s designs at
Welcome back to Quilt Block Mania for March! I love flowers of all sorts, sizes and colors, so this month is fun for me. I wanted to create a BIG flower that would make a quilt with a lot of impact. . . in a hurry. I hope you will like this one as much as I do!
This block was designed to be traditionally pieced but then I decided to make some FPP templates, too. . . so they are ALL included in the pattern and you can use what you want.
This block is no longer available on its own but you CAN buy the “Spring Always Comes” Quilt Pattern which is really lovely.
DIane has been zooming across the country for several years teaching for Handi Quilter. I think this quilt is stunning. . . now I want to go to the opera!
Artist’s Statement
“A Night at the Opera” was inspired by the crystal chandelier in the Opera House at The Kennedy Center. My husband and I have been attending the operas there and appreciating the chandelier for over 30 years! I’ve been wanting to use that inspiration for a quilt for years! This quilt is part of the Handi Quilter National Educator’s 2023 Black & White Challenge.
Zoom in to see the quilting. Designed with Pro-Stitcher Designer. Quilted with Pro-Stitcher Premium on my Handi Quilter Infinity.
Learn More About Diane
Diane Henry has been working with fabric since her grandmother taught her how to hand piece her first nine-patch block at age four. A blue ribbon winning hand quilter, she discovered machine quilting in the late 1990’s and has never looked back.
Diane loves sharing her passion for machine quilting with others around the world. She works with quilting groups and shops leading classes for beginners and advanced quilters and organizing workshops; conducts lectures, classes and demonstrations at quilt shows; and serves as the owner/moderator of the HQ Pro-Stitchers IO group, supporting Pro-Stitcher owners and Pro-Stitcher Designer users.
A professional machine quilter since 2007, Diane purchased her first longarm, a HQ Sixteen® with Pro-Stitcher® in 2008. She now uses a HQ Infinity® with Pro-Stitcher, a HQ Forte® and a HQ Sweet Sixteen® to further expand her creative options.
Diane lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Terry and dachshund, JJ.
Note: Diane has added a BRAND NEW PUPPY to the family named Hazel.
I met Allison at a training in 2021 and she and I were partners for a day so I got to know her pretty well. She is a fun lady and a fine quilter and teacher. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. . . I had to introduce her and I had to practice saying where she lives WAY too many times.
Artist’s Statement
I Saw Stars!
I approach each new project with a “what else can I do” attitude. I learn the rules and once I know what the rules are, I can then do my best to bend, stretch or break the rulers in a creative way. I try to take this into my quilting projects and teaching opportunities. Every project I work on or teach is a learning opportunity for me and for my students. I like to give my students a strong foundation so that they too, can stretch, bend and break the rules and create on their own with confidence.
This started as a painful challenge as I broke my arm this summer dyeing the green fabric. I tripped, hit my shoulder against the side of my house and saw stars!!!! Getting my arm working for the piecing and then the quilting with my Handi Quilter Amara and a selection of the Ring rulers was an extra challenge.
I found the Smooth Jazz pattern from Studio 180 Design and decided to use this new to me block for the stars. The blocks needed extra fabric to put them on point. I loved quilting these small mandalas and trying a wide variety of ways to show off the quilting with the contrast thread.
The top was quilted with Superior Fantastico #5054 and Superior Bottom Line #649 & #624 with Wonderfil DecoBob #122 in the bobbin. Hobbs Poly/Cotton and Polyester battings were used.
Allison Spence has a long association with crafting in the form of knitting, sewing and quilting. Her introduction to quilting was a tied quilt given to her newborn daughter by her sister-in-law over 30 years ago. Allison enjoys all areas of quilting but prefers simple piecing designs, so she can get to the quilting part!
After quilting many large quilts on a domestic sewing machine, Allison purchased a HQ Sweet Sixteen® stationary machine which was well used for many years. She now owns an HQ Avanté® and loves the freedom of quilting both smaller and larger projects with ease.
Allison has an education degree from the University of Manitoba and many years experience teaching aquatics. She began teaching sewing and quilting while working at a sewing machine dealer in Calgary, Alberta. She owned her own fabric store and sewing school. She now has a studio and classroom in her home and does customer quilts as well as longarm machine rentals and offers a variety of sewing and quilting classes.
Taking great pleasure in teaching the basic and intermediate skills in all areas of quilting, Allison encourages students to go further and see what they can do on their own. She especially loves to quilt and teach feathers!
Allison currently lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and has a very supportive husband. Her daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and grandson live near by.
