Today's designers are Laurie Bird, LizzieBCre8tive and Me! I am excited to have you here and have lots to tell you about. Hope you have a cup of hot cocoa!

Laurie Bird owns Rose Cottage Quilts and she does some really cute patterns. She and her sister are from my area and were in business before I was. I have made several of their patterns and love every one of the quilts.

LizzieBCre8tive is headed up by 2 ladies that are sisters-in-law. They married brothers. Beth (left) lives in the west and Liz (right) lives in the east. Somehow they work it all out. They have authored two books that I know about and have a new online venture in the works I think.

For those who don't know me, I am Barbara Jones and I design patterns for QuiltSoup which specializes in applique patterns for rookies and intermediates.



I have written a few books for Kansas City Star, published a few patterns in quilt magazines (Quilts and More, Australian Homepsun, Quiltmania and others) and designed a few fabric lines for Henry Glass & Co. The latest and greatest ones are Summertime, Doll Babies and Cherry Fizz. My husband Mark (aka Souperman) helps me with orders and Quilt Market. He is fired and rehired on a regular basis! I have one son and daughter-in-law and five grandchildren. I put the Christmas Tree up on Dec 23rd and take it down on Dec 26th!

Our family shares a meal and exchanges presents (key word) on Christmas Eve every year. It is my favorite day of the year. We find that as our kids have gotten older it is harder to get everyone together at the same time.

I also find that I am giving more gift cards and money than ever before. What I like about gift cards is that the recipient always gets what they want. What I don't like about gift cards is that they are less than personalized. I was trying to find a way to make my peace with this kind of gift giving. The gift card wallet was my solution.


There is a present (key word) on the front of the case so I thought it could be used for any occasion where gifts were called for.

If you have a child in college, it is fun to fill the wallet with gift cards to the restaurants near campus, a local mall, a local theater and some iTunes cards (of course). For my quilting buddies, I might fill the wallets with packets of our favorite pins and needles, gift cards to local tea and coffee houses, bakeries and chocolate shops...you know...the essentials. I made one from Summertime, one from Heather's Christmas line, and one from Hip Holidays.

If you are watching your nickels this year (and who isn't?), the actual gift cards could be homemade. For example I might make my husband gift cards that he would think are sexy throughout the year. Things like "You are entitled to one home cooked meal that you didn't have to make yourself" or how about "Take the week off...I will mow the lawn" or "Relax...I had the oil changed and you don't have to do it". You will probably want to ration these kind of cards carefully!

The gift wallet coordinates with our Hip Holidays quilt. There is just barely enough time left to make one. I think they still have some kits available at QuiltSoup. The pattern is a free download and you can find both of the patterns here.


We are gving away a copy of our latest book Picnic Park and a few fat quarters to get you started on the quilt. Just leave a comment.


Merry Christmas from our house to yours!