Arbee Designs' official blog - all blog posts are written by Ruth Blanchet and often include guest quilters, teacher's quotes, tips and tricks, free patterns and more! We have more tip, tricks and free patterns on our lesson pages too.

applique and patchwork quilt block designed by Ruth Blanchet with free instructions at Arbee Designs

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Blog

Poppies - a new design

Poppies - a new design

I wanted to show you some work-in-progress photos as well as share some tips I think you'll find useful when constructing this quilt or any other applique quilt for that...

Poppies - a new design

I wanted to show you some work-in-progress photos as well as share some tips I think you'll find useful when constructing this quilt or any other applique quilt for that...

what's happening in Fall weather

Ambitions Often Outweigh Time and Energy

As you will discover, my ambition outweighed my time and energy so all my plans did not come to light but this update let's you know what been happening and about to...

1 comment

Ambitions Often Outweigh Time and Energy

As you will discover, my ambition outweighed my time and energy so all my plans did not come to light but this update let's you know what been happening and about to...

1 comment
using different techniques to create butterflies

Butterflies - appliqued verses embroidered

I've been playing around with applique and embroidery butterflies. Of course, applique is my go to, but many quilters are afraid to do it - but really there is nothing to...

Butterflies - appliqued verses embroidered

I've been playing around with applique and embroidery butterflies. Of course, applique is my go to, but many quilters are afraid to do it - but really there is nothing to...

dahlia flowers and dahlia applique block

New Flower Block Possibilities

Chaperoned around a friend's garden gave me a great chance to snap shot some interesting flower possibilities for new applique blocks. 

New Flower Block Possibilities

Chaperoned around a friend's garden gave me a great chance to snap shot some interesting flower possibilities for new applique blocks. 

Designing a Flower Quilt

Designing a Flower Quilt

After collecting a lot of photos, I use GIMP (open source software) to cut bits of photos and arrange them in a pleasing arrangement. I've created a short video showing....

Designing a Flower Quilt

After collecting a lot of photos, I use GIMP (open source software) to cut bits of photos and arrange them in a pleasing arrangement. I've created a short video showing....

embroideries by Marilyn Lee

Marilyn's Free Embroidery Files

Have you ever seen any of Marilyn Lee's embroideries? She does both free hand embroidery on her tread machine and creates designs for embroidery machines as well. They are all...

Marilyn's Free Embroidery Files

Have you ever seen any of Marilyn Lee's embroideries? She does both free hand embroidery on her tread machine and creates designs for embroidery machines as well. They are all...

primula flower block

Designing a Flower Block

One of my favorite quilting adventures is to create flowers in applique so over the next few weeks I'm going to be doing a series of applique flowers that I've created...

Designing a Flower Block

One of my favorite quilting adventures is to create flowers in applique so over the next few weeks I'm going to be doing a series of applique flowers that I've created...

bargello in summer - a featured quilt in the beginners bargello course

A Student's Beautiful Bargello

As I sit here in the midst of a cyclone currently causing havoc, I thought instead of sewing today when at any moment we could lose power (currently working on...

A Student's Beautiful Bargello

As I sit here in the midst of a cyclone currently causing havoc, I thought instead of sewing today when at any moment we could lose power (currently working on...

creating colorways in ninepatch playground

One Pattern, Multiple Themes

Over the past couple of week's I've been adding some of Pat Daniel's patterns to my website and I was so inspired by the designs that I started playing with...

One Pattern, Multiple Themes

Over the past couple of week's I've been adding some of Pat Daniel's patterns to my website and I was so inspired by the designs that I started playing with...

electric quilt workshop upgrade with Shirley Goodwin

Best Features in Electric Quilt

EQ8 has a greatly enhanced user interface, meaning it’s much more user friendly than earlier versions. Every aspect of the program has been overhauled to make it easier to use.

Best Features in Electric Quilt

EQ8 has a greatly enhanced user interface, meaning it’s much more user friendly than earlier versions. Every aspect of the program has been overhauled to make it easier to use.

learn how to add beads by machine

How to Add Beads by Machine

My quilt pattern "A Second View" includes instructions for adding beads by machine so today I thought I'd demonstrate how it was done after a quilter (recent customer of said pattern)...

How to Add Beads by Machine

My quilt pattern "A Second View" includes instructions for adding beads by machine so today I thought I'd demonstrate how it was done after a quilter (recent customer of said pattern)...

Overcome Your Thread Problem

Overcome Your Thread Problem

Award-winning quilter Linda explains how to use fine and twisty metallics, rayons, blending filaments, yarns, fine braids, invisible threads and others in your sewing machine as you create a beautiful sampler quilt...

Overcome Your Thread Problem

Award-winning quilter Linda explains how to use fine and twisty metallics, rayons, blending filaments, yarns, fine braids, invisible threads and others in your sewing machine as you create a beautiful sampler quilt...

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