2022 has been a good year. Still a little rough around the edges, but so are we all. LOL!

I didn’t release my goal number of patterns, but what I lacked in quantity I believe I made up for in quality. Maybe the purchase of the new Long Arm will speed the finishing of quilts for pattern cover photos.

I am truly proud of what I have released. When I decided to sell my quilt designs I had no idea how hard it was to write a pattern. Everything I do makes sense in my own head, but now I have to try to explain what is going on in my head so everyone can understand it. It can be quite daunting. My patterns are available on Etsy and Quilt Pattern Mart.

I am already working on my first release for 2023. It is a quilt I had written a pattern for a few years back but never released. I didn’t have the confidence. I’m sprucing it all up and will hire a tech editor to go over a few things I am still a little unsure on how to communicate. The pattern used to be called Temperance, but I don’t think it suits anymore, so I will be spending the rest of the year thinking of a new name.

I actually have a bit of a backlog on designed quilts that I haven’t created patterns for that I want to get out into the world in 2023. One of them is in my UFO pile! I had bought all the fabric and was prepped and ready to go!

Quilt Concert 2022 was a wonderful time again. I love meeting everyone on our Friday Night Zoom parties. There will be a Quilt Concert 2023, I can promise you that!

I am ending 2022 as a Swap Fairy for the MQG mini swap. I am looking forward to meeting all my swappers at Quiltcon! I don’t have any quilts hanging this year, but I am part of two group quilts that were accepted! Quilt Pattern Mart will have a booth there this year, so expect to see me skulking about there quite a bit!

A new pin cushion swap is on the horizon for 2023! I’ve been putting the finishing touches on a new pin cushion pattern. I haven’t decided if it will be released for sale or as a special class pattern.

Which brings me to classes and lectures! I’ve been spending the past few weeks putting together a few classes and a trunk show. I also have some lectures percolating. All this to say that I will be available to teach and lecture at your guild! I’ll have all that info on my website soon, so stay tuned.

I’m also toying with the idea of creating some Quilt Art miniatures to sell. Postcard size quilts. What do you think?

Phew! That is a lot. I need to remind myself that I have 12 months to get things done and it’s not all due January 1st!!!

Honestly, I am excited to see what the New Year will bring to me and to you!

Lovingly, Lissa

What’s the best smell that makes your stomach growl?

For me, it’s when I sauté garlic in butter. Add in some onion and peppers and I am a drooling fool!!!

This month’s Color Challenge is based on that wonderful spice, Garlic. The color is Cream.

I only used one cut of fabric to create this block. It is Ombre Confetti Sand by Vanessa Christenson for Moda Fabrics.

 I’ve been playing with ombre fabric a bit recently. I’m loving the versatility of one fabric being able to provide so much color and depth to a quilt.

You can cut various sections of the fabric to get various distinct values. I plan on using this in my new Diamondsionality pattern. Two different ombre colors and a contrasting color to define them.

Check out the mock up I did in Illustrator. It would be a cute crib quilt.

I used Fairy Dust Mint and Fairy Dust Coral and Moda Bella Solid Royal in this digital mock up and created a 5 x 5 grid for a 45″ x 45″ version of Diamondsionality.

But most recently you may have seen my use of ombre fabrics in my Big Apple Pattern. There are even cutting instructions on how to achieve the depth of the apple included.

When choosing an ombre fabric, check to see if it changes from selvedge to halfway and then back again like the Vanessa Chrstenson ombres, or does it continue all the way through like Jennifer Sampou’s Sky Line. I used those for a wonderful still life affect on this quilt based on the Big Apple pattern. Each apple is cut from one ombre fabric. You can almost pluck them right off the quilt to eat them!

Want to make your own Diamondsionality or Big Apple quilt? These patterns and more can be found at Quilt Pattern Mart.

Now go check out these other great makers participating this month!

Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen

Lissa La Greca of Lovingly, Lissa <—— You Are Here!

Kathy Nester of Penny for My Thoughts

Raylee Bielenberg of Sunflower Stitcheries

Andi Stanfield of True Blue Quilts

Happy Sewing!

Lovingly, Lissa