The new Show & Tell feature is pretty cool. There are four categories so far, with more coming. The most recent, added just yesterday, is a place to submit your fabric postcards. The link in the title leads to the actual submissions, but you'll find a button within each of those pages that takes you to a form you can use to submit your own. I still have to approve them, but it's an easier process than what I use for our galleries (I have been sorting through about 400 photo submissions this morning and plan to work on those over the next several days).

There are just a few postcards so far, so please consider adding yours to the batch. Lots of quilters will be working on cards during the next few weeks -- your photos can help inspire someone who's trying to jump into a new project.

More Show & Tells
First Quilts
Most Memorable Quilting Ah-Ha! Moments
Quilts Made from Swapped Blocks or Block Lotto Wins

You can make this easy pillowcase in no time at all. Its seams are all enclosed, with no ragged edges to fray out in the wash. French seams are used to contain the frays along the side and bottom of the case, and a folded-over cuff does the trick at its opening. The steps to create enclosed seams might seem confusing if you've never used either technique, but the methods truly are simple.

Make a novelty pillowcase for a child or adult, or stitch cases that coordinate with your quilts. Use the pattern to become accustomed to the basic construction method, and check back for a pillowcase with a patchwork cuff.

It's fantastic to see the results when someone takes one of my patterns and makes it her own. Like this little quilt from Beverly. The original is designed on-point, with partial Courthouse Steps blocks used as setting triangles. Beverly straight-set her quilt blocks, which completely eliminated the need for pieced triangles. Her color value placement is just right -- it makes some pitcher blocks appear to be on-point and gives visual movement to the pitchers in general, because they no longer appear to be in a straight-as-a-string line. And notice how the dark Courthouse Steps logs form Ohio-like stars across the surface of the quilt. Great job, Beverly!

This little quilt pattern has been popular. Take a look at the original pattern (and a larger photo of Beverly's version). Can you see more ways to alter the design?

_{Quilt by Beverly Long}

Christmas Orchard is made from two traditional blocks, Snowball and Practical Orchard. It's super easy to assemble -- even if you're a beginning quilter. The size works well for a child's quilt, so change the fabrics if you want to alter the theme. You might also shift some of the color values around to make different components pop out in the quilt. Like the yellow squares and/or triangles -- the quilt would look very difference with a dark fabric sewn in those positions, especially if you lighten-up the squares that are currently green.