This month’s gem is inspired by a stunning amethyst, diamond, ruby and gold ring created by the house of Verdura. Verdura was the favored jeweler of high society, including Babe Paley, who was nicknamed “The Queen of New York.”

Colorway Document

I’ve provided several different colorways for this month’s gem pattern. I’m introducing a collection of purplish-pinks and periwinkle fabrics for this month’s new color: amethyst.

In addition, I’ve provided all 5 of the previous colorways, too: Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond & Citrine.

All the colorways are offered with a white and black background. Depending on the color you choose, some of the backgrounds work better than others. But, as always, this is all about personal preference. Select the background that makes your heart happy.

Mid-Month Meet-Up
(AM Edition)

Hi there! Here is a recording of our Mid-Month Meet-Up Zoom time together last Wednesday morning (Feb 23, 2022). It was great to catch up with all of you who could make the meetings! In this recording, there’s some fun catch-up chat at first. Then at about the 6:30-minute mark, we start sharing our Taylor Emeralds and other projects.

Then I thought you might be interested in knowing why and how I add gallery facings to my quilts rather than traditional bindings. That short presentation starts at about the 49-minute mark.

If you’d like to review the PDF document of the presentation, you can click the button below to download the document. I just ask that, as always, you use this for personal use. Thank you!

Be well and shine on!

This was just one of many emeralds owned by Liz. Richard Burton gave her many of them, purchased from world-renowned jeweler Bulgari. As Burton put it, “I introduced her to beer. She introduced me to Bulgari.”

This month’s design is very straightforward – all straight lines and simplified piecing. The hardest part of this month’s block will be deciding which colorway to use.

Enjoy!

Colorway Document

I’ve provided several different colorways for this month’s gem pattern. The gorgeous emerald ring that inspired the design flashes several shades of a mysterious bluish-green. I tried to replicate that in my fabric recommendations.

However, I also thought it would be fun to turn it into a canary diamond, a sapphire, a ruby, and a white diamond, as well. And of course, YOU can create this gem in any colorway you wish. Remember: gems come in an infinite number of colors. There is no WRONG answer when it comes to colored gemstones!

I’ve also offered the design with a white and black background. Depending on the color you choose, some of the backgrounds work better than others. But, as always, this is all about personal preference. Select the background that makes your heart happy.

Pattern Release Video

Hi, everyone! Here’s the edited version of our Wednesday morning pattern release Zoom meeting (January 12th). I had such a great time meeting all of you that day. For those who couldn’t join us, I hope you enjoy the presentation. Be well and shine on!

It passed through the hands of multiple owners until landing with Pierre Cartier, the head of the New York house of Cartier. Pierre, being a much better marketer than salesman, he concocted a story of a “curse” in an attempt to attract attention to a stone that no one seemed interested in. His favorite customer (and one of my favorite Drama Queens of all time), Evelyn Walsh McLean, bought it and decided it would bring her good fortune.

I’ll admit that this month’s pattern may be challenging. There are a good number of pieces and curves to manage. If you are new to this style of piecing, don’t worry! I’ll walk you through it, but I’d encourage all our new members to consider making one of the larger sized blocks.  Enjoy!

I tried very hard to keep the pattern as true to the shape and spirit of the Hope Diamond as possible.

This is a great example of how asymmetrical gems can be, especially ancient gems. And that’s what I love about the most interesting gems. They invite your eye to travel around and through their color and light.

This pattern is also an example of using highly saturated colors surrounded by grayish colors to create glow. The Hope has a lovely bright blue twinkle to it and I tried to capture that in the colorway. I also used that same idea in the other 3 colorways as well.

This month’s pattern has nearly 100 pieces in it. While I did create a 6″ pattern for those of you who like to try the itty-bitty pretties, I strongly suggest that those of you who are new to this process work with the 18″ pattern.

Colorway Document

While I’ve provided a colorway for the beautiful blue color of the actual Hope Diamond, I thought it would be fun to turn it into a canary diamond, an emerald and a ruby, as well. However, YOU can create this gem in any colorway you wish. Remember: gems come in an infinite number of colors. There is no WRONG answer when it comes to colored gemstones!

Demo Video: Cutting Curves with the “Rock & Roll” Method

Here’s a quick video I created during another class showing how I like to cut curves. Check it out!