Ann is retiring
With some great help from friends and my husband I was able to finish a stained glass window for my son’s church in Missouri.
Due to the long term...
2024 - Sending warm thoughts on this cold January
My friend Grace shows her finished Class project with No Sewing Until You Quilt It.
Sending warm wishes to all, Ann
Season's Greetings 2023
Seasons Greetings from my dogs Sandy and Chief, with fond memories of buiding this quilt with Rachel Smith
and my NO Sewing Until You Quilt It...
Easter basket
May the Easter bunny bring you a basket full of colorful fabric!
Or that you get to play with your stash as I have been doing on this rainy day...
Happy Spring
I am celebrating Spring with the green and yellows in this community quilt that I started on St. patricks’s Day.
My 1st yellow tulips have suddenly...
my Valentine
Meet my Valentine loves;
Bert, a Kansas City Chiefs fan with Chief our new golden doodle puppy.
Our 8 year old Sandy who you have seen glimpses...
Happy 2023
For my 1st project this year I will sew together these blocks that built on a french Fuse foundation, with No Sewing Until You Quilt It.
Have a...
Vote in the Mid terms
Your vote is important!
Vote for the America that you want to live in.
Love your neighbor or at least respect your neighbor.
9/10/20...
Asheville Quilt Show
Asheville Quilt Show - WNC Ag center Davis Event Center
September 30- Oct 2 765 Boylston Hwy - Fletcher, NC
9-5 Fri & Sat...
Celebrate the 4th with Peace in mind for all people
A visit to Mt. Vernon inspired this quilt in 2009.
"Peace with all the world is my sincere wish."
GW 1776
Summer project
This photo of a Tulip Poplar blossom is inspiration for a summer project.
Sadly, we had to cut the tree down.
The blossoms are beautiful...
Easter gift to church
This quilt “Lord save me” was inspired by a Tiffany stained glass window in Willard Chapel in Auburn, NY.
It was made in 2 sections. The bottom...
Spring progress on new project
It is a lovely rainy day and my flowering trees are starting to Pop!
I enjoy working on my quilt projects on such a day.
This is a larger version...
Spring is in the air
Spring is in the air. My daffodils are starting to come up.
My energy is ramping up as well.
I started a new project - it is good to have something...
Happy New Year
Back to my large project in the New Year.
Baby - It is cold outside! All I have to do is look out my window at the Rhododendron eaves curled up...
Ann's 2021 Fall project with Rachel's help
Rachel helped me with my current project last week. It was great to spend time with her again.
...
Wall Hanging for above a bed - from a Stained glass transom
08/18/2021 Designing a Quilt from Stained Glass -
This wall quilt was designed from a stained glass window
that I saw while watching a Hallmark...
July progress report
Here it is almost the end of July ,2021.
I am sure glad that I did not throw away all the masks that I made- looks like we will be wearing them...
Finally progress on new project
Welcome to warmer weather and mask free days.
Here it is June 1st and I am finally caught up and have made some progress on my new project.
Hopefully,...
Finishing old projects first
Here it is the beggining of March and have not gotten started on this years project. I am wanting to finish up other projects:
...
2021 Show and Tell video
My first video of 2021- Show and Tell from stained glass to quilting.
https://youtu.be/7GO7rnX78GI
"You must offer the flowers...
Sending you thoughts of Rainbows for better days ahead134
Blocks made with strips of warm and cool colors then sewn into half square triangles make a rainbow of fun.
I took a break from my" NO sewing Until...
VOTE
Celebrating 100 years of a woman’s right to vote
https://youtu.be/6bjdW_sduVw
New Blog Post 132 Covid updates - stay well
Rachel and I stopped working together in early March because of Covid issues.
I sure do miss her and her technical assistance!
My daughter...
Bird of Paradise
It has been a while since we’ve posted anything here. Bird of Paradise was a project started in October. For your holiday viewing you can catch up with...
Wall Quilt Inspired by Architecture
Watch Ann’s YouTube video channel for her latest videos on constructing a More Modern Quilt.
Ideas for a More Modern Quilt https://youtu.be/waCwrWcm3uw
Building Applique Flowers with No Sewing
We are building the dogwood flowers in Springtime in the Mountains. Watch our latest videos to see!
First Project of 2019
First Project of 2019 is to finish Springtime in the Mountains. The two long sides are completed and now we are working on the center panel. Watch our...
Springtime in the Mountains
New Video redesigning Happy in the Mountains into a springtime theme
Happy in the Mountains revisited
Rachel and I will be posting new videos soon called "Springtime in the Mountains”. I just finished adding dogwood flowers over the berries of "Happy...
Asheville Quilt Show
Two quilts that I entered in the Asheville Quilt show.
Come visit the show at the WNC Ag Center - across from the Asheville airport, Friday Sept...
Patience required!
It takes patience to apply copper foil to the edges of all these little pieces of glass. This is a techniqueTiffany developed in the late 1800‘s for...
String quilt
After a big project I like to clean up the studio - I could; not stuff any more fabric in my storage areas (I am sure it multiplies in there)! So, I...
Stained Glass to quilt project
Here is my latest video - giving some stained glass tips.
Will this be a future quilt project? I have to finish this and a large landscape quilt...
The Rhododendrons are blooming
The big showy blossoms of Rhododendrons were an inspiration for me to make the quilted wall hanging on the left. This is a 30 inch version of the quilt...
Symposium class with Lea McComas
Rachel & I took photo shop and Thread painting classes with Lea McComas. Here we are with some of her amazing work. Her book is “Thread Painted Portraits”....
Thread Painting Lettering on quilts
Here is a video link on Thread Paining letters on Judith’s quilt. I should have stitched the background diagonal lines before doing the lettering. Now,...
Twin size instead of Queen size
I decided enough already to Valentine Surprise blocks.
12 blocks will make a cheerful twin size quilt for a granddaughter. She has my heart on a...
My new stand for quilting
Machine quilting is easier when the weight of the quilt is supported. For years I have used multiple tables around my sewing machine, but I was still...
March winds are roaring in!
After rain, beautiful sunshine but high winds. A neighbors tree blew over; luckily no one was hurt and other neighbors helped to clear the mess.
Bird of Paradise in Stained Glass
I have added to my list of projects for 2018- going back to my stained glass background. Once upon a time I had an old Bird of Paradise Wilton Rug. I...
Another snow day
I hung these quilts in my entry way for the New Year. The top quilt “Let Peace be our Guide” is one of the projects in my “No Sewing Until You Quilt...
Valentine Surprise and my Featherweight
Happy Valentines Day. Order $25 or more on my website (before the end of February) and get this FREE full size pattern “Valentine Surprise” pattern....
Ground Hog Day
Wether the ground hog sees his shadow or not - I am finding signs of Spring in my yard. The daffodils are up about 6 inches! And I saw some robins!...
Happy New Year
Oh Baby, It is cold outside!
I have been easing into the New Year; my favorite Christmas gift from my husband is books - several used historical...
December project
We have had a few snow days and it is lovely to stay home and work on a new quilt project. My Christmas shopping is almost done & wrapped, thank goodness....
Happy in the Mountains #17
Tips for attaching the long side units of “Happy in the Mountains.” This is the last video specific to this project.
Watch all the videos for construction...
Quick Holiday project
Make a quick Holiday Quilt Top Blanket.
Flip and Sew Strips to a fleece blanket.
Happy Holidays!
Joining the Units of Happy in the Mountains
My quilt is finished and given as a gift, but we are still uploading videos of the construction. Here is Happy in the Mountains part # 16 to show joining...
Guest Artist shows how to make feathers
My guest artist Hazel Schall shows us how to make feathers in our You Tube video: “Happy in the Mountains” # 15.
https://youtu.be/kRnl-JTD2xE
Mission accomplished
HAPPY IN THE MOUNTAINS
On display at the Asheville, NC fall quilt show.
This was our main project for 2017 - that and having 2 knee replacements!...
Drop off Day for Quilts
I finished “ Happy in the Mountains” for our Asheville Quilt show. Power was off at our house for 36 hours during bad weather. What a wonderful invention...
Stitching and quilting units
Here it is Labor Day and I am working - a labor of love.
The Asheville Quilt Show is September 29, - October 1st, so my deadline for finishing this...
Corner of “Happy in the Mountains”
Watch us build this corner section of our quilt “ Happy in the Mountains” without any sewing in it, yet. . It is now on You tube Step # 12.1
...
Long sides of “Happy in the Mountains”
Rachel and I finished building and making the quilt sandwiches for the long sides of our quilt “Happy in the Mountains”.
We have been having some...
Prepare for building quilt side panels
Step #11 for Happy in the Mountains is pre work for building the side panels of our quilt. Watch Rachel demonstrate. In other videos we demonstrated...
Back to work after vacation
I enjoyed a family vacation at Lake Barkley Sate Park in Kentucky. Now Rachel and I are back to work on “Happy in the Mountains”. We are now rotary...
Quilting with Granddaughter
What fun it was to have my granddaughter work with me on a small “Voices” quilt for the Quilt Alliance fund raiser event.
We used my “NO Sewing...
Recovering from 2nd Knee Replacement
I am thankful that I am not a 4 legged animal! The first week after surgery is miserable - if you have to move. Sitting with ice on your knee - reading,...
HAPPY IN THE MOUNTAINS
Rachel and I finished building the center unit for Happy in the Mountains. You can now watch step # 8 on You Tube.
I began to work on the...
Build stems before adding leaves and Berries
“Happy in the Mountains” Step #7 is up on YouTube.
I show you cutting with My Magic Button 2.0 and how to stay organized for all the little pieces.
Washing Your Quilt
My “Scrappy Happy Wave” quilt needed to be washed after letting my dog sleep on it with me since October; as I want to take it to a show in a few weeks....
Sneak peak
“Happy in the Mountains” is being built live on You Tube.
I finished building one edge of the 42” center block, so that I can plan the colors that...
The birds are signing - It’s Spring!
It is a glorious day. Indeed the birds are singing and flowers and trees are blooming. New greens, redbuds, dogwoods,and colorful creeping ground covers....
Stained glass that inspired my quilt
This is my original stained glass panel, made over 20 years ago, that was the inspiration for this 90 “ square quilt that became the cover quilt for...
Happy in the Mountains -
Build this New “NO Sewing Until You Quilt It” quilt along with me on You tube.
Two short videos explain the steps for preparing your working drawing...
Build this quilt along with me
“Happy in the Mountains” is Ann’s latest “NO Sewing Until You Quilt It” design.
It is for an 84 inch square quilt; or just the center 42 inch square...
Learn from my mistake
What was I thinking! I made more work for myself and Rachel than was needed on this project! Cygnus was made in 3 sections. My whole philosophy is...
4 weeks after knee replacement
Physical Therapy is working it’s magic and my bones with replacement parts and soft tissue sewn back together is starting to feel stronger and coming...
2 weeks after Knee Replacement
I am 2 weeks post knee replacement surgery. There is pain - yes, and meds to help, they make you sleepy; and there is lots of time for reflection, between...
New Project for the New Year
How I love a bright snowy day for starting a New Project!
A traditional “Dunkers Path” block is my inspiration for the
center of my new quilt...
Friends came to help!
Rachel & members of my quilting bee (Bev, Dina, Hazel and Pam) came to help me back in September to help me meet a November 2 deadline for a quilt contest....
“Cygnus”
Flying geese form a constellation in the quilting universe.
Here we are flying into December. Enjoy the moments, treasure time with friends & family,...
OOPS!
After sleeping under my king size Scrappy Happy Wave
quilt and running my hand over the fabrics - I noticed that I missed sewing down some pieces!...
Retreats are great!
An early November Retreat in the woods with a lake and surrounding mountains was so wonderful. It gave me the time I needed to finish putting the purple...
Happy Halloween
These are Scary times!
Vote for the Nasty Woman, so we have a future for our families.
Asheville Quilt Show was a success.
I did not win any prizes but it is something to have your quilt completed in time and on display - that is a reward in-itself.
The show was amazing....
Entries for Quilt Show
Deadline for the Asheville Quilt Show is Monday.
The Rose window quilt called: Oh, Spirit of Hope” is ready & washed. The king size “Scrappy Happy...
Joining Units of King size quilt
The first 2 of 3 units are joined for this king size quilt.
We made a Youtube video to demonstrate how I do ti.
Check out this link: https://youtu....
Building 3rd panel of King size quilt
My deadline is fast approaching!
Sept 26th this king size quilt is to be delivered for judging. Luckily, for the Asheville show - the photos you...
Pressing on towards the Goal
Rachel and I have been hard at work; our deadline is September 28
for the Asheville Quilt Show. - Sept 30th - October 2.
This king size quilt...
Build your blocks with NO sewing and then top stitch the finished block with invisible thread.
The block on the left is a block for our retiring quilt guild president, it will be joined with other traditionally pieced blocks. In the past I have...
Washed and almost ready for quilt label.
The thing about using invisible thread is that you can’t see it! But after you wash it you can easily see where it needs to be “fixed”; as it ravels...
My Wild Dahlia
I built this 24” by 18 inch Dahlia with “No Sewing Until You Quilt It”. There are a lot of little pieces in the center. It would have been easier to...
Thread painting words of Hope
My Rose window quilt is almost completed. The binding is even on and stitched under. I wanted to fill my corners of the quilt with words of hope. I...
Claim Your INDEPENDENCE from Traditional Quilting Methods
Check out my latest youTube video.
https://youtu.be/hN4hL7dNuLk
The first 3rd of our King size quilt with No Sewing in it yet is ready...
Memorial Weekend
I wish you all a safe & Happy Memorial Day.
Thought I would update you on a couple of my projects.
9 out of 12 purple blocks are put together...
King size quilt - “Scrappy Happy Waves”
Spring 2016 - Scrappy Happy Waves
A king size bed quilt to be made in 3 long units.
It is fun to build this quilt with my...
Purple Quilt
Hail to Prince! and his music!
As it happened I had started this purple quilt several weeks ago for a friend who likes purple. I am making it...
Take turns sitting and standing.
Taking care of your eyes and body are so important.
I enjoy having 2 projects going; One to sit at my machine and a project to build a quilt where...
Happy Spring Projects
Spring flowers are blooming and finally the 2 DayLily Quilts are finished! What a good feeling to finish a project!
The Day Lily blocks were from...
Helpful tips
1. I am now using Atlas gardening gloves for quilting and stitching at the same time. Cutting the fingertips of the gloves allow me to handle the...
First twin is finished
I finished binding the first of two twin bed quilts last evening.
As I have bee working on the 2nd twin, I thought it would be interesting to do...
20 minutes at a time
I am determined to finish this 1st of 2 twin size Day Lilly quilts before the end of January. A friend sent me a lovely quote by Marie Beynon Ray:
Happy 2016
It is the beginning of the first full week in the New Year, and our first snow flurries are falling; it is a good day to quilt.
My husband helped...
A time for remembering
I had to say goodbye to Rosie, my pet, my quilting companion, and exercise conscious. She was not so interested in chasing squirrels any longer but she...
Rose Window as a quilt.
I prepared a smaller drawing of this 12 foot wide Rose Window for an approximately 60 inch quilted wall hanging. After I numbered and color coded each...
Midnight Passion Flower
Come see this quilt at the Asheville, NC Quilt Show, October 2-4, 2015, at the AG center across from the Asheville Airport. This “No Sewing Until You...
Last few pieces in 2nd half of this quilt
I just finished building the 2nd half of this quilt, with turned edges and NO sewing in it, yet.
My husband helped me to layer the quilt sandwich....
It’s Day Lily Season
I belong to a bee that meets twice a month to work on community quilts. I persuaded my friends to do a quilt with my No Sewing Until You Quilt It technique,...
Use good quality fabric for use in bed quilts
This log cabin quilt was one of my first quilts, in 1994. I tied it, as many old quilts were held together.
I called it: “A Light in the Window...
Beth S. Quilter of the week at “Wish Upon a Quilt Store”
One of my new friends shared her quilt with me:
“I used your glueing technique only to make the sailboat shapes in the quilt at the bottom. It...
Stitching and quilting at the same time
I am making this 60” square quilt in 2 units - so it will be easier to manipulated on my home 440 Bernina with a 1.6 wide zigzag stitch around all the...
It was a happy Cinco de Mayo day.
I purchased a new Prius. After driving a van around most of my adult life, I wanted a smaller car. We are keeping the van for when I need to haul all...
“Creation and Redemption” window “
It was a joy to work on these stained glass windows for the 1st United Methodist Church in Ada, Ohio. Their beautiful 117 year old church burned to the...
12 foot Rose Window installed
I drove from Asheville to Ada, Ohio January 8th in freezing weather with my van loaded with the 9 panels of this Rose window for the United Methodist...
Many Hands make Light Work
The Stained Glass Rose Window project is coming along nicely. I had good helper’s last week to putty six of the nine leaded panels. Three more to go....
leading up Stained Glass
Work on Rose Window continues;
about 5 of the 9 panels are together and soldered on both sides. To turn the panels we had to sandwich them between...
Projects to support Peace
The center Dove of a 12 foot Rose window is leaded up.
The window will be called “His Peace, Presence and Promise”. The quilt was inspired by Yoko...
Trust your crazy ideas and follow through.
Tessellating Tree Top won a 2nd prize in the AshevilleQuilt Show in the Abstract Art category. I almost gave up on this quilt. The original idea was...
12 foot diameter Rose window
With the help of some friends all the stained glass is nearly cut for a Rose window measuring 12 feet across. Last week 3 friends from Ohio came to...
Tricky binding
Even with bias binding it was a challenge to bind this irregular edge. In one direction it was easy - the opposite or inside angle was tricky. I finally...
Labors of Love
Labor Day - Today, I will spend a little time on each of my projects, My Double Happy!
I am very grateful that I have work that I enjoy and have...
Continuous Bias Binding
My “Tessellating Tree Top” quilt will have an irregular bottom edge, so it will require a bias binding. I always refer to my “Quilter’s Complete Guide”...
Presidents block
It felt good to get this small project, a 10 1/2 inch block, finished for our retiring quilt guild president. She requested the theme of “nesting” -...
My vendor booth in Paducah
This is Kimberly, one of my excellent helpers and a future daughter-in law. How lucky can I be to welcome a quilter into our family! She has done traditional...
Automatically add seam allowances!
When you roll the magic button along the edge of your freezer paper pattern - you will be atomically adding an approximate 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Getting design ready to demo in Paducah
“Midnight Passion Flower” ( I think that is what I will call it)
is the theme of a new quilt. I will build it in 2 sections; the photo above shows...
Condensed version of the tessellating leaves quilt.
Some projects just turn out better than others! I was so ready to move on from this work. By making it a smaller quilt I was able to finish it - and...
It had to go!
I replaced 2 pieces that did not “read right” as a tree truck through the tessellating maples leaves. This photo shows the French Fuse over my numbered...
Double Happy
Went to WV this past weekend to purchase 900 lbs of background glass at the Paul Wissmach factory. I will be starting the BIG working drawings for 2...
A peek into my glass studio.
Stained Glass is the other half of my Double Happy.
I have taken a break from my quilting to get my stained glass studio cleaned up and some projects...
Snowy weather makes a great quilting day.
My quilt “Are You Coming or Going” makes a colorful splash on this very white day.
Esher’s Flying Geese was inspiration for this quilt made for...
Take photos of section and trim seam
For detail work like this - take a digital photo of the section that you are working on -so you can tell where those skinny leaf veins will be placed!...
Divide and Conquer
Organization will be key for conquering this complex design.
My design is oriented in the horizontal position; approximately 100 inches wide by...
Getting Started
After getting started to build this quilt, I see changes that I will make. At first, I was going to put those skinny veins and stems of the leaves down...
I Think I Can, I Think I Can
I found a tessellating maple leaf in a MindWare book of GeoDesigns. I have requested and received permission to use the design. Then, I drew a tree structure...
Quilt Alliance fundraiser LOOK for it Next Year!
http://www.ebay.com/usr/quiltalliance click this link on the right to go directly to the auction of the week. When you are on the ebay page - be sure...
Ann’s thank you tips
Thank you to all my quilting friends.
A few tips to making “No Sewing Until You Quilt It” more fun. From an old PA Dutch cookbook I found this...
Basking in the Sun
My quilt “Carolina Lilies Go Hawaiian” is soaking up some fall sunshine in MO. Just finished sending my entry to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah...
Enchanted Evening
Enchanted Evening was displayed September 27-29 at the 2013 Asheville NC Quilt Show. Ann drew the design in January of this year. This quilt was made...
Demonstration for Asheville Quilt Show
“Carolina Lilies Go Hawaiian”
I will be demonstrating No SewingUntil You Quilt It at the Asheville, NC quilt show September 27th - 29, 2013.
Silver metallic decorative stitching
While most of the stitching on this quilt is with invisible thread. I decided that I needed some decorative stitching in this wide boarder around the...
Detail of Stitching and Quilting at the same time
Look at the sewer’s stiletto. Do you see that the point is hidden into the turned under edge. There is no sewing in that seam, yet - Remember this technique...
Border for Queen Size quilt.
I am back to working on my Enchanted Evening quilt.
I have finished stitching and quilting (all at the same time) with my free motion foot and invisible...
Janie’s Presidents block
When our Asheville, NC quilt guild president retires; we make her a quilt block. Janie’s desire was for us to make her a food block- she plans to give...
This was my booth in Paducah
Rachel Smith was my assistant at the Paducah quilt show. Her own quilt blocks are hanging at the front of our demo table. We were building 2/3rd’s of...
Paducah or Bust
It was exciting to have my quilt “Paducah or Bust” in the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, KY. I also enjoyed being a vendor at the show and to demonstrate...
Mixing Techniques
This will be my entry into the Alliance for American Quilt’s
20 year celebration. It is due May 1st.
I am using some 1920’s arcs that my...
March 19, 2013 lecture
This photo shows Ann presenting her lecture and Trunk Show at the Asheville Quilt Guild. “Expanded Simple Gifts” in background and “Paducah or Bust”...
Applique Academy Feb 11-17
I appreciate the opportunity I had as a guest artist at the
Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy to share my “No Sewing Until You Quilt It” technique....
Roses in the Moonlight
I made this stained glass panel many years ago and have missed it after it was sold. So, I am recreating it in fabric.
It will be the center medallion...
Dove of Peace
Join Ann in Williamsburg, VA Feb, 14th 2013 at
The Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy for an add-a -day class. We will be building this Peace Dove...
Building a quilt- like stained glass on top of a drawing.
Many years ago, I built this Riverboat in Stained Glass.
I decided to resurrect it in fabric with a springtime background, with the hope of entering...
Vendor at the Asheville Quilt Show
My assistant Rachel and I were demonstrating my “NO Sewing Until You Quilt It” technique at the Asheville, NC quilt show at the end of September. We...
King size - Expanded Simple Gifts
My expanded version of a 1999 Mary Sorensen’s block of the month made it to the Asheville, NC quilt show and then onto our bed!
Hallelujah! Thankfully,...
2/3 rds of King size quilt
Work is progressing on my version of a Mary Sorensen’s 1999 block of the month - expanded to a king size quilt.
One panel has most of the stitch...
“No Sewing Until You Quilt It” the book is now Available
The American Quilter’s Society has published my book.
“No Sewing Until You Quilt It”- the book by Ann R. Holmes is available at: www.American Quilter.com...
Thank You Clara Barton
My small quilt entry for the Alliance for American Quilt’s
” Home is Where the Quilt Is” contest.
My quilt title is “ Thank You Clara Barton”
Small quilt for Alliance for American Quilts
This small, 15 inch square, quilt was my entry in the 2011 contest for the www.AllianceforAmericanQuilts.org
The theme was people, passions and...