Open Gate Blog

It's hard to believe we are on block #5 already!  This is designed by Susan Ache called Point Taken.  I decided to go with a dark background to make the star pop.  I think it worked!  If you want to join our Quilt Along, there's plenty of time to catch up!  You can get all the blocks up to this point on https://www.thesplendidsampler.com/ Join our Facebook group: The Splendid Sampler and make sure you follow me on OpenGateQuilts Facebook page and @OpenGateQuilts on Instagram. Thanks for stopping by and see you next week! Monique

Hi all! I've been stitching away getting ready for this week's block 4 for Splendid Sampler 2.  It is SO cute and again I got to use my embroidery and applique skills.  Here is Balance by Wenche Wolff Hatling.  You can download the first four patterns on www.thesplendidsampler.com Coastal Chic Batiks is now being shipped to stores!  Make sure that you check with your local quilt store to see if they are carrying it.  This past weekend, my friend Katie, shot a Facebook Live video of me showing you how to put the block together on the free pattern that comes with Coastal Chic Batiks.  You can see the video on my Facebook page: OpenGateQuilts.  Don't forget to follow me on Instagram where I give you updates and pictures of what I've been up to!  @opengatequilts Thanks for stopping by and see you next week! Monique

I've been working on Block #3 by Helen Stubbings.  Part of the fun is picking out the fabric.  This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm starting a project.  Imaging what it will look like and playing with the different combinations.  My husband teases me about petting my fabric...you get it right?!   His favorite quote of mine is:  "I just want to stay at home and play with my fabrics!"  What more could you want?!   Meanwhile, here is Block #3.  This one had both applique and embroidery.  I will admit that I am a bit rusty on my embroidery but I pulled out my case full of thread and stitched away.  I googled how to do both the backstitch and the running stitch and that was super helpful.  It's like riding a bike, once you get going, it all comes back to you.  I'm sure there will be more embroidery so I will get to "ride my bike" again.   If you want to sew along with us, click o...

Hi All! Last year at Quilt Market in St. Louis, I stopped to chat with Pat Sloan.  She is super nice and a go- getter!  She mentioned that she was doing another Splendid Sampler.  I asked if I could join and I am honored to be included! Here is the cover for Splendid Sampler 2 : I am also participating in the Sew-Along and our first block was last week.  I decided to do the Sew-Along in Coastal Chic Batiks and here is my version of first block by Alex Veronelli called Quilt Market.  I used my Fit to be Quarter 6.5 ruler to square my block up.  It worked great!  I also used spray starch before I squared it so the bias edges wouldn't fray and distort. The second block is called Milk and Cookies and is by Rebecca Bryan.  It was so much fun to reacquaint myself with applique!  I decided to do needle-turn and used the Olfa Circle Cutter to get wonderful circles out of freezer paper. Join me each week to see the bloc...

Hi all! It has been busy!  Not only did we attend Quilt Market, I debuted a new fabric line and several new quilts. Here's the recap: Quilt Market was awesome!  We had a chance to conduct a Schoolhouse to show how to use pre-cuts and my new fabric line, Coastal Chic Batiks.  They were lined up outside the door to come in!  Crazy!! Our booth was by Maywood's so we could show our fabric and new quilts.  Here are pictures of our booth. Mark showing off his Coastal Chic Batik tie I made for him Corner View of Booth Juicy Cactus The most exciting thing about Market was the debut of Coastal Chic Batiks .  I know...that doesn't look like me!  But, Maywood is wonderful and let me try something new and different.  I've been wanting to design batiks for a while and finally with the inspiration of our wedding in San Diego, I was able to!  Love them!  They are a rich combination of purples, blues, teals, sands and creams...so...

2018 Quilt Market  Here We Come!!! Well I took a week off to re-coop and spend some time with my family up in Montana! Let me say something about Montana, if you haven't visited I would highly recommend going to see it. Mark & I put on our snowshoes and and hiked around Big Mountain (Whitefish, MT). We also went and visited some Quilt Shops in Montana and they are all super excited about the new line of fabric that is coming for the Spring Quilt Market in Portland. The booth is rented and ideas are flowing now if I could just find a way to create time to do everything that I have to do that would be great ;)  So I have a question for all of you... What would you like to see this year at Quilt Market from Open Gate Quilts? Books, New Patterns, Rulers, Giveaways???  

Hi Everyone! I am so honored and thrilled to take over American Patchwork and Quilting's Instagram account this weekend!  Stop by @allpeoplequilt to see what's new, what I've been working on, old favorites and learn a little more about me.  Here is my mini quilt in the February, 2018 American Patchwork and Quilting issue, called Tiny Treasures.  I love how they take such wonderful photos of the quilts!  Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2018 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2018 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.  I also have a tablerunner in Quilts and More, called Country Table.  Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2018 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. sed with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2018 Meredith Corporation. All rights rese...