February of this year was cold and snowy in the midwest. My husband and I took a week long getaway to Arizona to visit family and escape just a bit of winter. Other than a layover in an airport I had never seen any of Arizona before this year. I was immediately captivated by the unusual (to me) vegetation and topography found in the Phoenix area. I wasn't in Ohio anymore! What a site and comfort for winter weary bodies to run around in short sleeves and 70-80 degree weather in February! 

The Fountain Hills area we visited have a particular type of cactus called a Saguaro. They are everywhere there and are very old. They don't get their first side arm until age 70-100 years! We did some hiking on the trails near where my father-in-law lives. That's where I snapped these photos.

Note to hikers in the desert: Stay on the path. Here I stepped off the path to get a better shot and this would be where I got a cactus needle stuck in my shoe and poked into my foot.

Needle removed and back on the straight and narrow for me! I just love all the various greens and earthy colors of the desert. Quite refreshing for body and sole. 

Just last month, Artisan fabrics by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics hit the stores. When I saw this collection I knew just what I wanted to make! The denim blues and teal greens reminded me of the vegetation I saw in Arizona and the earthy browns and rusty copper colors reminded me of the rocks and soil. You know me, I love quilts so this had to be a quilt that reminded me of my trip.

I designed the Saguaro quilt in honor of the stately cacti found in the area and in honor of the cactus needle that went through my shoe. The teal and gold tips on the block design represent the needles and the beautiful prints and colors of the Artisan collection captures the look and feel Arizona left on my mind. 

This 84-1/2" square quilt pattern fits a full/queen size bed and is easy to make with half-square triangle units. Designed to use many different prints. If you're looking for an excuse to use up your stash, this quilt would be the one to choose. 

This week I rolled out the Saguaro quilt pattern, the Whirligig quilt pattern, and a revised edition of my Peppermint Twist quilt and table runner pattern. Find all of these patterns on my Pattern Store page on Craftsy.