Charm is the ability to make someone else think that both of you are pretty wonderful. Kathleen Winsor
When I was a kid my sent one of my sisters and me to charm school. I don’t know if she thought we were uncouth or if she was just trying to turn us into ladies. It was held at Adler’s, a nice girls’ and women’s clothing store at Antioch mall and we learned social etiquette, manners, wardrobe tips and posture. At the end of the class we had a fashion show and tea. It’s been years since I’ve heard of charm schools so I just did a quick google search and there are still some around if you need some lessons in social graces. I’m pretty sure my daughter would have just laughed at me if I’d suggested something like that to her.
What conjured up that old memory was that I spent a good part of the week working with charm squares—packs and packs of charm squares. There were several of them in the box of stuff I’m trying to use up and I finally figured out quilts I could make from each of them.
On Thursday’s post I showed the blocks made from Christmas charms made from a Nancy Halvorson line of fabric called Tidings. I found a great border fabric, finished the top, layered it up and it’s now on the frame being quilted. I’m using a pantograph on it so it’s a little slow going.
The second charm quilt is made from Marmalade fabric by Bonnie and Camille. I used a pattern from the book Quilts from Sweet Jane. I quilted this with vertical lines. It’s the first time I’ve done that and I’m not sure I’ll do it again very soon. It was hard to keep the lines straight and the fabric wanted to shift. I stitched them random widths apart so it wouldn’t look funny if the lines weren’t the same width apart.
Next I pieced a top from a pack of charms called Baby Geniuses Grow Up. This is a pattern from Villa Rosa called La France. I like this pattern because you can make a baby quilt with just one charm pack and 1-1/2 yards of fabric for borders and binding. And you can piece the top in under two hours!
Now I’m working on another quilt made from the pattern in the Sweet Jane book. I don’t usually make the same quilt twice in one week but this is another one using Benartex charms. Unlike Moda charm packs, which always have 42 charms, the number in these varies. As it turned out, I had just enough squares to make this quilt. Hopefully I can get them finished this week, then move on to something else—like jelly rolls! Just kidding—I need to work on UFO’s.
Since this is charm week and I have an abundance of them, I’m giving away two Moda Marmalade charm packs to one lucky reader. If you’d like to win these just leave a comment in the remarks. I’ll use a random generator to pick a name on Friday and email the winner to get an address so I can send them on their way!
If you need a little inspiration this week, be sure to check out the other Design Wall Monday links at Patchwork Times.
Aren’t charm quilts the best?!! Yours are awesome!
Rhonda, your charm quilts look great!
Love the quilts — Want to let you know after all this time, I will miss your store. It was the best!
I have not used charm packs but I can see where they would make really nice baby/child quilts, especially comfort quilts. I would love to win your charm packs.
I remember charm school! That really sparks some funny memories. Like walking with a book on your head. Love your quilts. The colors are really pretty.
Well you charm you have! And tons of it! Charm quilts are so lovely and easy and everyone seems to adore them.
Wow, your “charm” quilts are wonderful. I loved reading your memories of charm school.
I love charms. I have a few packs I think I will use for a twister quilt. I have become addicted to them. I like the pattern you used too. May have to try that one soon 🙂
Those quilts are darling!
What a great bunch of inspiration for using up charm packs. Or inspiration to cut your own charms. Thanks.
You have a good thing going with the charm packs! I like all three.
Seems blogspot marks me as ‘no reply’, so since I plan to win here is info
clairealex [at] gmail [dot] com
Love the second quilt. Very happy fabrics!
Love the charm quilts. Marmalade is one of my favorite lines ever (I am a little partial to orange). Thanks for the offering and the mini quilt show. I ordered the Sweet Jane quilt book. I think it has some nice patterns in it.
Love your charm quilts.
Lea, you are the winner of the charm squares. Please email me at patchworksampler.gmail.com with your address so I can send you the charms.
Love your charm quilts. Now I want to add charm quilts to my list.
Have you seen the Missouri Quilt Co video on making a Falling Charms quilt? Here’s a link: http://youtu.be/4KkpbFKBaKA
I want to make one or two or three…
I love the Marmalade quilt. Great fabric line.
Love your quilts. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love your charm quilts, especially the made from Marmalade. It is a favorite line of mine.
I love working with charm squares. Really like your quilts.
Beautiful quilts. The one made from the Marmalade line is my favorite. I really like the line quilting that you used.
Love that Marmalade line! I love the quilts you made with the pattern from the Sweet Jane book. I’ve not tried quilting with straight lines yet but had planned on doing that in the near future. I’ll remember about keeping the distance between the lines at random intervals to minimize “errors.” I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep them straight!
I just love charm packs. I have several that I need to use and you have inspired me to jump in. Thanks, Angela
tx(dot)angela(dot)Gibson@gmail(dot)com
What a fun variety of quilts you’ve made from charm squares! Great idea to use uneven intervals for your straight-line quilting.
Amazing what neat quilts you can make using charm squares.
I love using charms to make up quick quilts for last minute gifts ! They come together easily and no one is the wiser that I totally forgot a birthday !
I love charm squares, there’re so many design possibilities with them. Thanks for the chance to win.