Friday, May 31, 2013

Help Me Find the "Perfect" Pattern

Of course, we all know that the "perfect" pattern doesn't exist, and what may be perfect for one person won't be perfect for another. But I would like your help.
Here's a few goods from quilt market.
A beautiful Moda bundle called Crossroads by Jan Patek.
 This is one of my favorite quilts that I use on the couch. I'd love to make another sampler with various motifs in easy to applique big pieces! (a bit of piecing is great to!) I've seen a few newer prim patterns and as far as I'm concerned there is too much background space (meant to sell more fabric I think)
If you come across something I may like please let me know. The Porch quilt would be perfect, but I don't plan on making that one again!!

Thank you for reading my blog and all your wonderful comments, support and encouragement. Monday I'll have a giveaway ready!!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Christmas Blocks- Caught Up!

This is one of my two monthly projects. I fell behind and didn't get any of these made in April, but I am done....for a few days! This is not an easy block to make, but I'm hoping I'll think it was worth it when it's done.
No, they are not all the same...... It just happens....
Like the Sally Post blocks I like to try and get the rows together while I'm making it so it isn't as much work at the end.

I've noticed I was at 999 followers (not including bloglovin'). I'm purging my sewing room and have a few quilt market giveaways, which are super random objects. So, be looking for a giveaway next week!!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Medalion Sewalong- Row 3

 You'll need to head over to Randy's blog for the instructions on how to make this block. I wasn't sure I was going to love it, but after getting the whole thing together I'm glad she chose this one.

Warning: When you make this section all of the darks should be on the same side! I had a wee bit of unsewing to do to fix mine!

Make sure to add your quilt center, or center and row 1, to yesterday's linky post.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Medallion Linky Party

Tomorrow Randy will post the instructions for the next pieced border of our medallion sewalong. Before that row gets added you will need to add a 1 1/2" unfinished border around round 2. Sometimes this is called a coping strip and it is added to bring the border to the correct size for the next round. Ours just looked better with a border..

If you have the center done but not the pieced border and didn't get a chance to show it on the first go round, I'd love to have you add the link!! Really, please do!

Thank you to all the Veteran's past, present and future who have made this such a great country to live in! I appreciate your sacrifice!!


Saturday, May 25, 2013

AAQI Finale

Many of you know that AAQI will be dissolved at the end of the year. Ami has done an amazing job and I do not doubt for one second she will reach the goal of one million dollars! Here is my final AAQI quilt that will put me over the $1000 pledge I made. 
It is called Hair Duty.  Bill Volckening suggested the title after I mentioned every Friday I bring my mom to her hair appointment. When I'm not in town my brother has "Hair Duty". When I leave work and tell my hubby, I'm on hair duty, he knows exactly what I am talking about. The strings remind me of her wisps of hair.
I wanted to have a creative backing. My mom now talks about her early farm days so I thought this was fitting.

Drum roll..........

Another research award has been granted! Click on the title to read more.

AAQI Awards $60,000 to Mount Sinai School of Medicine 

PS: Tuesday Randy will post the third border of the medallion quilt and I'll post a linky on Tuesday or Wednesday so we can see round one and two. Thank you for those who are sewing along with us!!

PSS: I've got a Quilt Market giveaway next week too!! Watch for details.




Thursday, May 23, 2013

Favorite Booths at Quilt Market

 Look here! Mary Koval's antique quilts. Always inspired by them!
 Stitcheries are going strong, on their own and in quilts. Loved the western theme to this booth.
 One trend I seem to see repeated was smaller blocks and a wide variety of scraps. Look at the basket quilt and the tiny little shoofly block quilt next to it. Moving left was wool applique. I see no slowing down on that trend either.
 Red and white is always eye catching. This is ThimbleCreek Quilts booth.
 Colorful scrappy star sampler. What a great setting!
 Marcus Bros using a quilt to sell fabric. Wonderful marketing huh? I love the way the triple inner border incorporates the outer star points. The pattern is from Red Crinoline Quilts and is called Sara Emma. ... Beautiful!!
Look at the black bordered quilt. The setting is very pretty but again, the blocks are small.
 
 I think this is one of my favorites. Lots of pieces, little blocks, lots of fabric scraps!!
 These are familiar quilts. Stunning and over-the-top.
  
Of course, I love big pieces in applique. The applique fabric and  background really brought this quilt to life. This quilt is by Blackbird Designs and is called Tending the Garden.
 I'm not sure which manufacturer this was from, but the scrappy basket quilt caught eye. I love the way the baskets change directions. The sashing fabric on the other quilt is lovely too!

I've got one more post of fun booths, then I'll show you some goods from sample spree.

As if quilt market wasn't enough I ran a half marathon on Sunday! I'd love for you to check it out on my other blog.



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sample Spree

I had no idea really what to expect from sample spree. When we left the convention center about 4:45 we did see people lining up already. The doors didn't open until 8PM! We enjoyed a bit of fortification in the way of cheese, crackers and wine at the hotel. Once we were refreshed we got back in line. 
I threw in another bottle of wine to help pass the time while waiting.  We also got a chance to stitch as well.
left to right: Randy, Barristers Block- Moi,- Carrie, Cricketwood Prims.
The mayhem called sample spree!

Claire and I at the Max station with our "goods"!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Quilt Market Schoolhouse

Good Monday to you all!! Here's my Spring Market recap. My disclaimer: Quilt market is for quilt pattern/fabric etc retailers. I am not a retailer so this is an ordinary quilters recap. A quilt shop owner was sweet enough to let me register with her. (Thanks Pat!)

We arrived early Thursday to choose our Schoolhouse workshops.  These went from 10:20- 6:00 and varied in length from 15-30 minutes. My blog today: Photo heavy; words light
This quilt was pretty appealing although I did NOT take the workshop...
New info concerning this quilt. It is made my Joyce Lawrence Cambron. Isn't is fascinating?! Her schoolhouse was titled 
"Rethinking Curved Piecing" and if you click on that title you'll be brought to a you tube video with the same title! (see you don't even have to be at Quilt Market to take a class from her)
If you like what you see Joyce can also be found on Facebook. Thank you Joyce for letting me know.
Australian Helen Stubbings from Hugs N Kisses. She was super charming and touts the use of 50% soluble paper that can be washed and left in applique or hexagons. A wonderful product, imho!! Go to her website if you want more information.
Helen Stubbings

Next up was Jo Morton and Andover fabrics.

The guys holding the quilts didn't do a great job so I had to snap fast!

Love the striped sashing and the basket setting.

I had no idea Jo was doing batiks!

Look for this BOM with fabrics by Jo only available with this BOM.


I was a mile away from Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts,  but I liked her so much. She is  not only a wonderful designer and talented quilter but quite a business woman! I talked to her later at her booth and she knew all about Sven the Gnome! I guess you never know who might be reading your blog! lol
Betsy Chuchian, Betsy's Best was promoting her latest book, Lizzie's Legacy. Out of all the schoolhouse quilts, I loved hers the best.





Back in Andover again with Renee Nanneman of Need'l Love.


Next up, Joanna with Fig Tree & Co. She says she isn't a public speaker but I thought she was pretty funny.....talented too!
How did I end up in Tula Pink's schoolhouse? I'd heard the name and the description said tell a story with a 100 block sampler quilt.  If you've read my blog for any length of time you know I'm a sucker for sampler quilts. This isn't what I expected, but I was pleasantly entertained by Tula! It was standing room only and it's obvious she's got a following.


After this full day we still had sample spree that night, which I had only heard about! I'm so glad we had a bottle of wine while waiting in line......lol

Friday, May 17, 2013

Quilt Market

Having fun at quilt market!




               Isn't this booth adorable?


Carolyn Forster was promoting her newest book! What a joy to meet her. I reviewed her book, Utility Quilting, some time ago. It was a terrific book.

Talk to you all soon!