The other day, I was browsing around the Moda Bake Shop and came across this bright and cheerful Coupon Clutch Tutorial.

I had the pleasure to meet Julie from jaybird quilts a couple of months back in Lancaster. Her tutorials are always fantastic.

While I don’t really collect coupons, I love the size and shape of this little clutch. It’ll be perfect for storing needles, thread and scissors for applique-to-go projects.

Kristin from The Crafty Quilter’s Closet has put together a great tutorial to make these nesting fabric baskets. Aren’t they just ADORABLE!!

Download the tutorial! Scroll to the bottom of the page, it’s a PDF file that you can save to your computer or print out to take to your sewing room.

I want a set for my sewing studio, and I think both Lucy and Alice, my nieces, will need sets too for Christmas. They’d make a great gift for your quilting friends as well. Perfect for storing fabric scraps.

Ryan Walsh of I’m Just A Guy Who Quilts, put together a fabulous tutorial for this mini quilt.

It’s called Bundles of Joy Quilt and finishes at 24″ x 28″. You’ll need one charm pack and one yard of coordinating fabric. Lots of step-by-step pictures to walk you through how to put this mini quilt together.

I’m thinking to make a larger version for myself to have in my living room. I have a Butterfly Garden layer cake just calling out to me to be used.

Bradie from A Quilty Kind of Girl will be hosting a Summer Star Sampler Quilt Along, starting July 6th (hey that’s my birthday!).

Tutorials will be available every Tuesday on Bradie’s site with instructions for two blocks per week, followed by the center medallion, then borders. Check the blog post to download the fabric requirements.

I’m in love with this pattern! I hope I can keep up with the instructions this summer and have a fabulous quilt done at the end. I haven’t decided what fabrics I want to use. I might go brights and use my hand-dyed fabrics I made last week. Or perhaps something warm and calming with browns, beiges, blues, burgandy and green. I’ll pull some fabrics this weekend.

The centre medallion is gorgeous, but for me I find it SCARY!! I know Bradie writes amazing tutorials, so I’m not too worried about tackling it when the time comes.

Join the fun!! Are you going to Quilt Along with Bradie (and me)?

It’s that time … time for a new swap. This one incorporates an embroidered stitchery, piecing of the borders and some quilting. A perfect combination.

Lenna, our expert columnist for the past few months, created this gorgeous pattern specifically for this swap. I hope you love it as much as I do. Of course, if you would prefer not to do it in redwork (like the sample), go ahead and use whatever colours suit your fancy. I’ll be doing mine in various colours.

Confession time! I have not done any embroidery before, but with Lenna’s fabulous videos, I’m super excited to give it a try. I have my hoop, my embroidery floss, a crewel needle and I’m ready to transfer my pattern. I hope you’ll join me in the swap and try a new technique. Who knows, maybe you’ll just fall in love with embroidery!

Swap links:

• swap guidelines
• participants
• registration
• Flickr group
• stitchery tutorial | download stitchery pattern
• Lenna’s how to embroider tutorials

Registration closes April 21st. Partner information will be sent by April 24th. The deadline to mail your mini quilt is May 24th for overseas shipments and June 1st for domestic shipments (and Canada/USA).

National Quilting Day is this Saturday. Every year, the National Quilting Association puts out a free pattern to celebrate this day. This year’s pattern is Tie One On for the Troops.

I plan to do some quilting this Saturday, along with laundry and packing for Lancaster next week. Here’s a sneak peak at my current project. It’s a gift for a friend, so I can’t show the full picture yet.

What about you? What are your plans to celebrate National Quilting Day? Blog your plans then join us at the Quilter’s Daily Blog Along and share.