Flash Sale: Triple-Play Scrap Quilting e-Book

Martingale is offering the digital version of my book for only $6 now through noon PST on Monday.

Jump over to the Martingale blog to learn all about it.

Whether you have pre-cuts for a coordinated scrappy quilt, fabrics in a particular style or color scheme for a planned scrappy quilt, or just a bunch of scraps for a make-do scrappy quilt, there are patterns that will work for you. Here are just three of the quilt variations you'll find in the book:

 Enjoy!

Spotted on a Martingale Video

A week or so ago I watched a great video on the Martingale website about how to attach a temporary hanging sleeve to a quilt. It was presented by marketing coordinator, Mary Burns.

Here's the video:

Imagine my surprise when I spotted this at the end of the video:

Yep, that's the coordinated version of my Days of '47 quilt on the wall behind Mary.

So my quilt got its 15 minutes of  fame.

Have a scrappy day!

Cherish is the Word

American Patchwork and Quilting recently sponsored a Pinterest contest featuring their 20 favorite pillowcase patterns from the One Million Pillowcase Challenge. This pillowcase with a train appliqué received the most pins — and was the winner of the contest. Here’s a link to the pattern if you want to make your own version.

As one of the sponsors of the one million pillowcase challenge, Handi Quilter (where I work) was challenged to make our own version of the winning pillowcase. My main contribution was the polka dot fabric and cutting the appliqué pieces with the Accuquilt Go! fabric cutter.

Here's the Handi Quilter version of the pillowcase (which we quilted, of course).

That got me thinking about the quilt I made using that polka dot fabric. It's called Cherish is the Word and, like the other quilts in my book, there are three variations for the quilt. The polka dot version is the simplest of the three to make. I appliquéd each quadrant of the block onto a background square and then stitched them together like a four-patch.

The next version of Cherish had a couple changes. Besides the scalloped border, the appliqué piece in each quadrant of the block is appliquéd to a half-square triangle (giving the background of the block a little more interest). (I think this is my favorite variation of this quilt.)

But this quilt design started with the most complex version (which was much more involved). Hence the simpler versions above. This one used Amy Butler fabrics and has a more blended look -- which was my intent, but the extra detail kind of got lost because of the blended fabric choices.

 

Here's a close-up of one of the blocks (out of EQ7). As you can see below, there are small arc pieces on the two outside edges of the hourglass blocks.

I will probably make this version of the quilt again some day, but will use fabrics that better show off the details of the design. After all, if I'm going to go to all of that extra work, it better show up! Actually, looking at the block scaled larger like the quilt photos, it would be an interesting "big block" quilt featurong some large-print fabric. What d'ya think?

Have a great day -- and don't worry, be scrappy.

Quilts to honor Pioneer Day

A couple weeks ago on July 24 the state of Utah celebrated Pioneer Day in commemoration of the day  in 1847 when Brigham Young and his pioneer company first came into the Salt Lake valley. 

The "Days of '47" are celebrated with a big parade in SLC and smaller parades all over the state, as well as fireworks, and performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. 

It is also a state holiday, although unless you work for the state of Utah or the LDS Church, chances are good that it isn't a holiday for you.

Since my birthday happens to fall on Pioneer Day and one of my great-great grandfathers (and wife and family) entered the SLC valley as pioneers only two months after Brigham Young, I've always been enamored by Pioneer Day.  So when I discovered there was a Salt Lake City quilt block, I knew I had to make a quilt (or two or three) using that block to honor Pioneer Day. Here are the three Days of '47 quilts, which are in Triple-Play Scrap Quilting.

The first version I made used Cosmo Cricket fabric called Circa 1934. I chose a dark background for the blocks to show off the unique piecing, as well as complement the graphic nature of the prints. By using the same black cornerstone with cream sashing strips, a secondary shoo-fly design was created where the blocks come together. The pieced border also uses a triangular element from the block which helps to unite the quilt. This coordinated version of the quilt finishes 61.5 x 61.5 inches.

The planned color scheme version of Days of '47 features red, aqua, pink and white fabrics which have been so popular during the past few years. It is the same block, but I added a striped fabric frame with red corner squares around each block and then added aqua sashing. This created a nine-patch where the blocks come together. The finished quilt is 68.5 x 83.75 inches -- so it's perfect for a twin bed.

The make-do scrappy version of Days of '47 was fun to make totally from scraps. I even made use of leftover backing from different quilts for the borders. I love the geometric fabrics for the inner borders -- black and cream stripe and a red and cream check. This quilt measures 63.5 x 63.5 inches.

This is the perfect block to feature a large print in the center square -- or perhaps a fun novelty print for a child's quilt. It lends itself to being very scrappy, or just a little bit scrappy. Either way, I really like the Salt Lake City block.

Have a great day -- and don't worry, be scrappy.

 

Variations on a Theme: Bricks and Cobblestones

I've always been amazed at how fabric choices and the use of value can totally change the look of a quilt.

For example, consider these three variations of one of the quilts in my book, Triple-Play Scrap Quilting.

When I first designed and made the quilt, my intent was to create something very simple that could be the first quilt someone makes. Plus I wanted to make it from precuts -- 10-inch layer cake squares, 5-inch charm squares, and a little yardage. The result was this quilt that is totally based on squares and rectangles. The blocks finish 7-1/2 inches in this version.

It is scrappy because every block is different and it uses all 40 fabrics in the fabric line, But it is still coordinated and easy for a beginner to make fabric decisions. They just need to pair two 10-inch squares (plus use some of the light fabric that is also the inner border). Ta-da! That's how "hard" it is to pick the fabrics.

I next made the same quilt from scraps -- yes, no fat quarters were harmed to make this version. The blocks in this version finish 10 inches.

Since each block uses six different fabrics (plus the black and cream four-patch center), it has a completely different look. It's just as easy to sew up, but there are a few more fabric choices. It is scrappy, however, which means the fabric choices aren't going to be complicated. Just a good mix of lights, mediums, and darks. 

Most people can look at these first two quilts and it isn't hard to see that they are the same design. 

But most are surprised that this version of the quilt using batiks is also the same block pattern. The blocks are also 10 inches, but because the quilt has more blocks it is significantly larger.

This one took some planning because what appears to be the block isn't really the block. While each block only has two batik fabrics plus the cream, there are four blocks with the matching fabrics that come together to form the large batik squares. To keep everything organized I couldn't easily chain piece the blocks and had to do each block in sequence and lay it out on my design floor (no room for a design wall). But I love the result. 

If you haven't seen my book, I hope you'll look at it at Martingale's website. Or better yet, encourage your local quilt shop to order a few copies. There are some great resources available for quilt shops -- including some lesson plans (that include the first quilt above) and two traveling trunk shows they can request.

Have a great day -- and don't worry, be scrappy!

Off to Quilt Market, but first...

,,, a quick blog post.

It was so much fun last week when this box was waiting for me when I got home from work.

And this is what was inside.

My book has been previewed on Amazon for a couple months, but now it is officially available.

But  imagine my surprise to see that two "used" copies are available for $140 each.

Do people really fall for this?

 

Triple-Play Scrap Quilting: Officially Available!

My book, Triple-Play Scrap Quilting, is now officially available. Yippee!

So, with the book launch underway, there will be lots of fun activities over the next few weeks, not the least of which is doing a schoolhouse session and a couple book signings at the Spring quilt market in Portland later this week.

I recently had the honor of being the the guest blogger over at Stitch This!, the Martingale / That Patchwork Place blog. I have a little more background to the book here since I can be more verbose on my own blog than I can on Martingale's.

After I left my full-time, high-tech marketing job, I knew that I didn't want to go back to work immediately and that I had earned some well-deserved time in my sewing/quilting studio to work on my quilt to-do list. After making several quilt tops that had been designed by others, I thought to myself -- why not make quilts that I design myself rather than make quilts designed by others? That was June 2011.

I had been collecting yellow, black and white fabrics (which are NOT my typical style, by the way) and sat down with Electric Quilt to design something original for those fabrics. The result is the quilt that is on the cover of the book (which I think is very appropriate!)

It was so much fun making that quilt that I wanted to make it again. I had a jelly roll and some yardage from a Minick and Simpson fabric line and realized I could make the same quilt using those fabrics, but scaled bigger because the strips were wider than the original version of the quilt (which used 2" strips). This was the result. Fewer, but bigger blocks. And a much bigger quilt: 84" X 108".

Then I decided I wanted to use up some scraps and made it a third time but with smaller 1-1/2" strips. This one ended up 54" square.

And VOILA! The concept for my book. Three strategies for making scrappy quilts (1) from fabrics in a limited color scheme, (2) fabrics from the same fabric line, or (3) from scraps.

I ended up making 30 quilts for the book -- 3 each of 10 designs. One set of three didn't make it into the book because of space considerations.Yes, that's 30 quilts in one year. I sent off the quilts to Martingale, along with the draft manuscript, in June 2012. And now, it's almost a year later and the book is a reality! I think that there is a tremendous variety of quilts in the book and that they will (hopefully) appeal to a wide range of quilters.

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Guest on American Patchwork & Quilting Radio

Two exciting announcements.  

First, on Monday, May 13th, I'll be a guest on American Patchwork & Quilting Radio, hosted by Pat Sloan. Such an honor!

And second, today I'm the guest blogger on the Martingale / That Patchwork Place blog Stitch This! Be sure to jump over to Stitch This! to learn more about my book.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know Pat because of my employment with Handi Quilter -- an honor that I most likely wouldn't have had otherwise. I'm looking forward to sharing the story and concept of my book, Triple-Play Scrap Quilting.

Here's all the information you need to know to learn more about the American Patchwork & Radio show:

The show broadcasts live at 4 pm Eastern, 3 pm Central, 2 pm Mountain, and 1 pm Pacific times.

Tune in to listen live via AllPeopleQuilt.com. The interview will be available on demand and via iTunes after the broadcast.

 

The Countdown Begins

Three months from today my book with Martingale / That Patchwork Place will be available.

And today was the next milestone in the journey.

You can now find out more about the book and see nine of the quilts. Just go to the Martingale website by clicking the book cover image. (Or click here.)

Martingale describes my book this way:

Discover clever, beginner-friendly strategies for showcasing the abundance of fabrics available today--as well as the fabrics in your stash.

• Choose from nine quilt patterns that are each shown in three different colorways: "coordinated scrappy," "planned scrappy," and "make-do scrappy"
• Learn tips, tricks, and techniques including paper piecing, appliqué, alternatives for making half-square triangles, strip piecing, chain piecing, and more
• Create patchwork quilts that use fat eighths, fat quarters, and yardage, as well as precut strips and squares

It has been a fabulous journey thus far.  I'll be going to spring quilt market in Portland with Handi Quilter and will be helping to launch my book with Martingale. Lots to do before then -- but relishing every moment.

Have a great day.

Can’t Show You the Fronts Yet…

But I can show you the backs of these quilts.
I got back the first four quilts from one of the four quilters I’m working with. (More coming next week – yippee!) My mom did the hand-sewing part of the binding. (Thanks Mom!)
So I thought I’d show you the quilting from the backs of three of the four quilts. On one of them, the quilting blended in so much with the backing fabric that it didn’t photograph well enough to show. (But in person and from the front it’s fabulous!)
This first quilt uses Minick & Simpson’s Banner Rose fabrics. Because of the Americana style, it is quilted with a subtle Americana design:

My quilter liked this design so much that she wants to teach it as a mystery quilt at her guild. The design lends itself to a mystery because it comprises lots of basic block components that are then put together into blocks and interesting borders.
This quilt uses Fig Tree fabrics from a couple of different collections. The back is from Fig Tree’s Strawberry Fields. Can you see the rose – floral quilt design? It is perfect for this quilt design – with my original blocks set with chain blocks:

The  last quilt back I’m showing off today is a totally scrappy design – using only scraps and stash fabrics. Even the star-fabric backing was already in my stash. I decided to echo the star design from the backing as the quilting. Love it!

That’s all I can show you, but I am slowly closing in on finishing all of my quilts for the book.
Bye for now.

My Exciting News!

I've been waiting to do this post for more than three months -- but now I can let you all know that I heard from Martingale Company / That Patchwork Place last week.

They ARE going to publish my book of quilt designs! 

We are still in the early stages so I don't know yet what the schedule will be for release. I do know that there will be 30 quilts in the book -- which means I need to design (and make) 3 more for the book.

So far I've completed 18 of the tops -- which means I've got 12 to go. I just snapped a photo of most of the tops that are done. Martingale has 3 of them, plus I was too lazy to go down stairs to get the other couple.

They all still need to be quilted and bound. Not to mention writing the instructions. So I've got a lot to do over the next few months.

Needless to say, I'm excited -- and I'll post updates as I am able.

This past weekend I went to the Heritage Quilters Winterfest quilting retreat at a great lodge up in the mountains. (Yes, it snowed and got VERRRRY cold while we were there. But my room had a gas fireplace that I used every evening to cozy things up.) Joanna Figueroa from Fig Tree Designs was the featured teacher, and I took two classes from her. She was delightful -- and did a fabulous trunk show of about 30 or so of her quilts.

I also had to post this photo of some visitors I had in my backyard a few weeks ago. It's not unusual to see a deer or two now and then. But to have 6 at one time was quite the sight!

Bye for now.