Year at a glance !

Amanda Herring is a Utah-based quilter and designer whose business - "The Quilted Fish" - refers to her last name. Her "Year at a Glance" quilt impressed us as a wonderful way to start out 2011, because it showcases all twelve months of the year through twelve blocks that display the growth cycle of a tree.

Year-at-a-glance, 74 x 74, by Amanda Herring, at The Quilted Fish

Starting in the upper left of the three rows, we see the tree in winter, devoid of greenery; then the tree begins to form new growth in the fourth block, which represents the month of April. One of the cutest aspects of this quilt are the accessories that are appliqued near or on the tree to depict holidays or notable events of each month. If you look closely you will see the tiny hearts on the February tree, the little barbecue at the base of the July tree, the beach ball underneath the August tree, and the decorative star on the December tree.

At an early age, Amanda became fascinated with all aspects of sewing and crafting.  She pursued these interests throughout college, by studying art, art history, fashion design, and interior design. In addition to her many patterns, Amanda has designed for Moda Bakeshop pre-cut fabrics, where she has written easy-to-understand directions for piecing together Honeybuns, Layer Cakes, and Charm Packs into a simple and sophisticated quilt. In this new year, check out The Quilted Fish for more fun and creative projects and designs. Also look for Amanda's newest line of fabrics, which will be out in September 2011!

Image credits and links: The image is shown with the generous permission of Amanda Herring. Amanda sells her "Year At A Glance" pattern at The Quilted Fish pattern page, and you can find updates for the pattern at her Quilted Fish blog.