Every year the rainy season in Bali makes me appreciate batik fabrics even more. Did you know they dye and dry these fabrics on the grass. Just as I become truly desperate the sun comes out - literally and figuratively! Twenty-two bolts - not that many, but a good start! - of glorious batik and sun printed fabric arrived in the shop on Friday. They were greeted just as enthusiastically as the first robin! The rich colors will make a wonderful addition to your fabric garden!

     Last summer we began a quilting journey by way of the International Mystery series. We've visited ten countries "in fabric" by creating quilts inspired by each. We are about to embark on the second series and would love to have you as a travel companion! Pack your bags (your machine and rotary cutting supplies) and set sail with us for Belgium on Saturday, May 19th from 1:00-4:00. Your $29.75 fare covers tour guide (mystery pattern and instruction) as well as accommodations (class and fabrics for the quilt!). While the quilt design remains a mystery until class - you do get to select your kit - let us know by May 5th if you would like us to cut you Belgian Chocolates or Spring Splendor.

     Northcott Fabrics has designed an entire year of floral prints to share with you. Each month during 2007 they will send three different prints depicting that month's special flower. The daises shown in this sample are from the April collection (ask for a copy of this pattern with your daisy fabric purchase). These fabrics would be perfect for a memory quilt - maybe include the flowers for the birthdays of each of your family members? Ask for a sneak peak at May's Lily of the Valley prints - they're wonderful!

     We've created some quick home accent pieces with the new fabrics in the April Cornell Sunshine line from Moda. Kits for our super easy (honest it takes only a few minutes and makes a great house warming gift) flange pillow are still only $9.95 (they include fabric and pillow pattern). The blue and yellow runner is the Four Corners design from the new book Mostly Table Runners Three. Jane, Linda and Kathi of Calico Printworks have outdone themselves with this book. Clear instructions and great photos of sixteen new table toppers make this last of their series invaluable!

     I loved seeing several of your quilts created with the Fantasy Flower appliqué patterns entered in the Three Rivers Quilt Show (and with ribbons too - congratulations!). You guys are so much faster than I am!!! I was just finishing up my quilts setting that weekend! The block kits and setting directions are now available - each kit contains the block pattern and fabrics for the appliqué (fabrics are not identical to those used in the original quilt but are similar in color and style). You add background, stem and setting fabrics. Kits in the series of twelve are $10.95 plus shipping each.

     Passports for the 2007 Western P.A. Shop Hop are now available from the participating shops. If the new booklet style passport for this years' Hop (scheduled June 20th ~ 23rd) is any indication, this promises to be a fabulous event. Great prizes, great fun, great quilts - how can you go wrong?!!! Here is just a peak at the corner of our Summer Sizzle Sampler (the progressive Hop quilt) - we're working on the appliqué blocks in our design - we should be finished pretty soon...

     Luscious Little Block- Pattern #18 is now available! We will be happy to send you piecing fabrics for the block as shown (you provide your own block backgrounds). Please send $2.00 and a SASE to the shop and we will get them in the mail so you can begin stitching.

     Each online pattern is available as an Adobe PDF. We also have archived all of the prior releases on Luscious Little Block Page so you will not miss a pattern! Once the file is open in a browser window you can print or save a copy to your hard drive. (Make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat for best results.)