It's hard to believe it's almost time for the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. It starts the first week of July. I always try to do something special to honor the festival and Traverse City as the cherry capital of the world. This year I'm doing something I've never done before! I'm having a summer quilt along!

We'll be making the Simple Summer Sampler quilt which was inspired by an antique quilt. The colors I'm using for my quilt represent the TC area during the summer. The beautiful red and green of the cherries....

and the shimmering white of their blossoms on the trees.

These are some of my fabrics. I've chosen lots of different red print and a creamy white background for my blocks.

You don't have to use these colors to join in on the fun.  Your blocks might be blue and white to represent TC's winter wonderland.

Or you might make scrappy fabric blocks to represent the wonderful blend of people who visit northern Michigan each year.  Make the quilt your own!

The Simple Summer Sampler quilt has 50 pieced blocks, almost all rotary cut and machine pieced, set on point in a 79" x 84" quilt. I may add another border to mine to make it a queen size quilt to use on my bed during the holidays.

Many of you, me included, are still working on the applique for your 1857 Album Quilt. After so many months of applique I felt I needed a break with something pieced but because it's summer here and I'm busy outside enjoying the warm weather, I wanted something simple to work on. The blocks in this quilt are perfect!

• There is a one time sign up fee of $15
• Patterns will be posted in the files section of the Simple Summer Sampler Facebook Group. No printed paper patterns will be mailed. If you're absolutely, positively, not a Facebook person, please let me know when you place your order to sign up and I'll see what I can do to accommodate you.

• The quilt has 50 pieced blocks with a finished size  of 79" x 94"
• Begins on Thursday July 6, 2017  for 18 weeks. We'll be done before the holidays!
• We'll make 2 blocks per week during July and August. 4 blocks per week for September and October.
• This is a mystery project - see rules below ***.
• You'll receive an invitation to join the Facebook Group within a 2 days after paying the sign up fee. 
• Fabric requirements and quilt layout will be available in group files for planning purposes. 

*** Because this is a mystery project; by signing up you promise not to share patterns or post pictures of your blocks on any social media (Facebook, Pinterest, Instragram, etc. ) platform, including your blog until after November 1st.  The patterns will be available to download until Dec. 31st.

I do hope you'll share your blocks as you get them completed in the Simple Summer Sampler Facebook group. It's always inspiring to see everyone's interpretation of a design and encourage each other as we work on the blocks.

This is the first time I've done a quilt along like this and hope you'll join me. I think you'll be really pleased with this quilt. I'm in love with it and I wish I had the time to make it in all of the fabric options I've mentioned. I know I'm sticking with the red and white for my blocks but using the green for the sashing is up for discussion. I may use my background fabric as the sashing for a sparkling two color quilt. You'll have to join in to see what I decide. There will be pictures of the quilt layout in the files section of the Facebook group so you can play around with different ideas.

Sign up ends - July 1st!

Come on.............let's have some simple summer sampler quilt fun!