Feb. Blog Hop with Island Batik

Starting Feb 15 I'll be participating in a blog hop with Island Batik Fabrics and the Island Batik Ambassadors.  I hope you can  view each day to see the new creations and the beautiful new Island Batik fabrics.  Join us for 15 days of quilting fun!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone!

I'm excited about this new year and all the things I want to do and accomplish.  I've started the year by finishing a project (a kids quilt) for an upcoming Blop Hop with Island Batik that will be starting in Feb.  That's coming soon so keep watching for more information.  I'm also finishing two projects for Spring Quilt Market using new and beautiful Island Batik fabrics.  Isn't that a great way to start the year!

I wanted to start the year with a fabric giveaway to viewers.  Starting a new year with fabric is wonderful isn't it!  After looking over my Island Batik fabrics I decided to giveaway some Winter Wonderland fabric because it just looks like winter!  Because I already made a project with this fabric (Quilter's Newsletter online free pattern Dec/Jan 2015) I didn't have a lot of fabric left.  I am giving away 2 ten inch squares of six Winter Wonderland fabrics (two squares of each)

This contest is open to US residents only.  To enter, leave a comment about how you might use these fabrics, or any "winter" project you are working on.  Contest ends Jan 29.

Wedding Blessings

This past year has been full of wonderful events, but the biggest blessing was the wedding of our daughter this past November.  This isn't a quilting post, but I thought it would be good to mention what has taken up much of my time this past year, and some of the wonderful experiences I've had.

I was so blessed to be able to share with my daughter in the wedding planning.  From her dress to arranging flowers, to decorating the reception hall...What fun we had planning, shopping and working together.

She was able to find a wonderful buy on a plain satin gown and I was able to add a lace overlay top with beading around the neckline. We added buttons from my wedding dress to the back of her dress for a touch of "something old".  We took embroidery from another dress and added it to hers for a touch of elegance.  The end result was lovely and it was one of a kind, suited just for her.

So many memories and I treasured each moment we had together getting everything ready.

The wedding day went off without a hitch- except for the 7" of snow that came to add a little more drama to the day!

Here's a photo of the happy couple

I hope your year was also full of many wonderful memories.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas

You Can Quilt Blog Hop

Welcome to day 6 of the You Can Quilt! Blog Hop.  Today I'm introducing you to the Chapter on Improvisation.  This was a fun chapter and I think you'd enjoy making these three  blocks - I did!

To start with, I picked 6 lovely new fall fabrics from Island Batik.  The top three are from the line Sea Salt Sandy.   The bottom three are from the line Lavish.   I thought these bright cheerful fabrics went well with the fun improvisational blocks I was going to make.  I also used a white Island Batik fabric called Baker's Dozen - Flour for the background in two blocks.

The first block I made was a string block.  this is a good block for a beginner, or anyone wanting to make some fast blocks.  It's a great block to use up scraps of strips you might have laying around.

 After you make one block, you make three more and sew them all together into one big block- quick and easy!

The strips can be different widths in each block.  I made each color strip the same size.

The blocks in the book are made to be a 12" x 12" finished block.  This makes a large block and is very easy to make.

Since I only made three of the blocks from the book- not the whole quilt, I have to admit that I took some liberties of the size of the blocks I made.  To you - the viewer-  my blocks may look 12 1/2" x 12 1/2", but I actually made the blocks all 6 1/2" x 6 1/2".  Over the years I've make a lot of sample blocks and I don't like to have them just laying around. I finally wised up and decided any sample blocks I make, I will make into hot pads!  That way they get used and don't lay around forever in a box.

Here is the string block made into a handy hot pad.  I used Insul-Bright Batting from The Warm Company and one layer of cotton batting for the inside of the hot pad.

 The second block  in the chapter is called the Asterisk Block.  This block was really fun to make.  The instructions are very good, and it's very easy- just make sure you line up the rows before sewing.
 Here is a photo of the second strip sewn on, with a cut thru the block.  The book has very good step by step visuals.  Then I sewed on the red strip, and then the yellow strip.

I made this into a hot pad also.  Photos of the front and back.

 The third block I made was the House and Tree Block.  This is a cute block, and you can have fun picking out different fabrics for the house and tree and grass.  This would be cute on a kids quilt.

Here is a photo of the finished block.  This block is actually on the back of the String Pieced block, so the hot pad has the String Pieced block on one side and the House and Tree block on the other side.

As mentioned earlier, the instructions for these blocks are very clear.  There are good visual step by step photos and lots of tips.

Thanks to Island Batiks for the fun fabrics to use in this blog hop.  Check their website to see all the great new fabrics coming out this fall.

AQS  is excited to present their ultimate beginning quilting handbook- You Can Quilt!  You can purchase it here:

Be sure to follow all the other posts for the You Can Quilt Blog Hop

Bloggers are by Date, Chapter, Name, Blog

Oct. 9 – Ch. 1. Basics - Leila Gardunia  http://sewnbyleila.blogspot.com

Oct. 12 – Ch. 2. HST - Tammy Silvers  http://www.tamarinis.typepad.com/

Oct 14 – Ch 3. QST - Connie Kresin Campbell http://www.conniekresin.com

Oct. 16 – Ch 4. Flying Geese - Maryellen McAuliffe http:// teachpany.blogspot.com

Oct 19 -- Ch. 5. Wonky - Christine McCrann Martinez http:// madeinscraps.blogspot.com

Oct. 21 – Ch. 6. Improvisation - Connie Kauffman http:// kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com

Oct. 23 -- Ch. 7. Foundation Paper Piecing - Joan Kawano http:// moosestashquilting.blogspot.com

Oct. 26 – Ch. 8. Curves - Marlene Oddie  http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

Oct. 28 -  Ch 9. One-Patch Blocks - Bea Lee http://www.beaquilter.com

Oct. 30 – Ch. 10. Applique - Barbara Gaddy http:// bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com

Nov. 2 – Ch. 11. Inset Seams - Pamela Boatright  http://pamelaquilts.blogspot.com/

Nov. 4 – Ch. 12. Challenge Blocks - Linda Stewart Pearl http:// www.onequiltingcircle.com

Nov. 6 – Ch. 13. finishing – Marlene   http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

For the contest with this blog, Island Batik is offering a fabric bundle and AQS is offering a physical copy of the book to 4 lucky winners.  To enter, be sure to post a comment to my blog and enter the rafflecopter below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

You Can Quilt! Blog Hop

The You Can Quilt Blog Hop starts today!  This is a great hop- especially for those of you who are beginning quilters.  Check out the bloggers each day and be sure to enter the drawing for a free You Can Quilt! book and bundle of some of the new Fall Island Batik fabric!

 Bloggers are by Date, Chapter, Name, Blog

Oct. 9 – Ch. 1. Basics - Leila Gardunia - co-author -  http://sewnbyleila.blogspot.com

Oct. 12 – Ch. 2. HST - Tammy Silvers  http://www.tamarinis.typepad.com/

Oct 14 – Ch 3. QST - Connie Kresin Campbell http://www.conniekresin.com

Oct. 16 – Ch 4. Flying Geese - Maryellen McAuliffe http://teachpany.blogspot.com

Oct 19 -- Ch. 5. Wonky - Christine McCrann Martinez http://madeinscraps.blogspot.com

Oct. 21 – Ch. 6. Improvisation - Connie Kauffman http://kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com

Oct. 23 -- Ch. 7. Foundation Paper Piecing - Joan Kawano http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com

Oct. 26 – Ch. 8. Curves - me! - Marlene Oddie  http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

Oct. 28 -  Ch 9. One-Patch Blocks - Bea Lee http://www.beaquilter.com

Oct. 30 – Ch. 10. Applique - Barbara Gaddy http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com 

Nov. 2 – Ch. 11. Inset Seams - Pamela Boatright  http://pamelaquilts.blogspot.com/

Nov. 4 – Ch. 12. Challenge Blocks - Linda Stewart Pearl http:// www.onequiltingcircle.com

Nov. 6 – Ch. 13. finishing – I'll share a variety of ways to finish off your blocks that aren't covered in the book.   http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com

More Little Gems

My friend Mary Ebert made this cute quilt from my book Little Gems.  This pattern was called Playing with Plaids.  She made it with pastel gingham plaids and white fabrics.  So sweet!

Thanks for sharing the photo Mary!