Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Magazine Winners!


The winners of the newest Quiltmakers 100 Quilt blocks magazines are:


Linda - aka ms. stitcher


Melanie D.

Debbie  of  Woolen Sails Blog

I will be sending emails for your shipping address today. 
Thank you for reading my blog :)

Thursday, November 03, 2016

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine Giveaway!

UPDATE: WINNERS CHOSEN!!!


Excited to share that I have a block in the latest Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Magazine!

Yes I have been slowly sneaking in some quilt block and pattern designs lately :)


My block is a Mod Postage Stamp. 
I am really inspired by blocks where I can use up scraps.
In this block I chose to use some of my happy prints mostly 1930's reproductions
 and Japanese Yuwa fabrics.
It was hard to let this one go. 
I definitely need to make more of these. 
So in the spirit of the excitement,
 I have 3 copies of the magazine to give away!

If you are interested in having your own copy....
please leave a comment below. 

You MUST have an email connected to your comment 
or blogger account 
or I will not be able to contact you when you win!
IF you leave an email in the comments please do so in the manner -
abc at gmail dot com
thank you and good luck! 
I will choose 3 winners on 11/7/16.

Tuesday, November 01, 2016

The Lori Holt Retreat - recap



About 6 months ago, a friend, Ernie, was wondering 
if I would be attending the Lori Holt retreat in Utah 
this year at Thimble and Threads. 
Last October I had traveled alone to attend the retreat.
 I made great friends while I was there, Betsy, Ernie and Nattalie.
Betsy and Ernie were brewing plans for this years' retreat and I was happy they included me.
Around that exact same time, Stefanie from Little Lady Patchwork and I had been talking about traveling to Quilt Con in 2017 or Sisters Outdoor Quilt show. We weren't sure what we'd do but we wanted to do something quilting. 


It dawned on me that a Lori Holt retreat would be a perfect way to combine quilting, travel and a friend meet up.
 So we did it. We signed up!
Here we are with Lori at the end of the retreat.


On the first day that we arrived, Stefanie and I went on a short quilt shop hop.
We stopped at Pine Needles in Gardner Village, Quilts Etc., Heartfelt Hobby and Craft in Sandy.


We had the token Cafe Rio for lunch and I found out later that it was also for dinner! 
I really didn't mind. 
I'm kind of addicted to Cafe Rio salad dressing.


While we were shopping, 
I found my book Large - Block Quilts at Quilts Etc.!
If you are looking for a copy - they are in Utah :0


We had a blast and the retreat hadn't started yet!
Se my ruler pal from the Fat Quarter Shop Sew Sampler? 
I have used it at 2 retreats now. 
I love it for being in a small space because my rulers can go vertical!


Wednesday night Lori introduced all of her quilts from the Scrappy Planner.


Pictures do not do these quilts justice. Pictures rarely do any quilt justice.
I was in awe at how pretty they really are.


I loved listening to the stories that Lori told about the quilts and her life, not to mention her tips on organizing and USING your fabric.
I am pretty sure there are a lot of quilters that are afraid to cut their fabric. 
I know I am one of them for all sorts of wacky reasons. 
A couple of days before the retreat, 
I made a decision and took stack after stack of fabric I was a bit afraid to cut and I cut it up like to book suggests. 
It was liberating plus I used all those pretty prints.


This particular quilt dropped me to my knees (figuratively) during the trunk show.
 I know it's not applique, gold or fancy in any way.


It was made with low volume or what Lori calls Busy Backgrounds.
I have a ton of these prints in my stash that just never seem to 'fit' as a background.
The light bulb has gone off. I am making one of these quilts - KING size.
I NEED this for my bed. 
I just do.
Now don't get all excited now, I haven't even started it yet but it's in the queue.


Oh but wait there was more.
More? how on earth.
We were all BLOWN out of the water with not one 
BUT four new blocks that Lori had drawn up.
I wasn't expecting it at all.
Again I was stunned. I think I spent half the retreat stunned.


I made the Zinnia block first. Good Lord that pink and Lori has other plans for that one.
But doesn't she have a plan for everything? lol :)


Then I moved on the Scrappy Apple. 
I knew she would focus on her new book the Scrappy Organizer 
as they told us that about 2 weeks before. 
I pre cut what I could for that quilt so that I could have some blocks to sew right away.


Then I started to see what everyone else was making and moved on the acorn block.
So sweet.
 I know the Fat Quarter Shop will have these blocks eventually but I think the employee that makes the downloadable patterns may be on maternity leave. 
But they will be coming I've been told.


So as the weekend went, 
I sewed more scrappy apples.
 I just loved seeing all the blocks that the other gals were making. So much inspiration.


My beehive block and all three of the new ones together. 
I didn't get my crow done as I spent too much time on the scrappy apple blocks. 
It's on my do list though.


Here I am with my friends Ernie and Betsy. I miss these girls already so much that we are going to plan another retreat of some sort for 2017.


An finally a group picture. 
A few are missing as some unfortunate events caused a few to leave early but most of us are there.
I missed mentioning so many good stories, highlights and pictures but this post is already LONG.
Follow me on Instagram and you will see a whole lot more pictures and what fun was had.


One last thing I'd like to say 
If you ever get a chance to attend a Lori Holt event or retreat... do not hesitate. 
You won't regret it.  And you never know, I might meet you there!

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Holiday Wishes Sew Along


 Welcome to my blog! 
I am happy to participate in the Holiday Wishes sew along hosted by The Fat Quarter Shop
and Sherri Falls of This and That.

Sherri has been a quilt pattern designer and author for a number of years. 
Every year her ideas get better and better!
I was asked to choose a pattern from the book and put my 'mark' on it.
I wanted to make 9 blocks and turn them into a pillow.



I chose the pattern Deck the Halls Mini for a pillow and started out strong.


All the squares and components cut using Lori Holt's Cozy Christmas blues and turquoise for 4.5" square blocks.


A lovely stack.

As I mentioned, I started out strong. 
I assembled the center 9-patch style blocks.
I had plenty of time to finish my project. 
Then we traveled to London and my in laws were here, 
and a week later to Toronto for a family wedding. 


It's been a whirlwind. 
Kids on summer vacation and so forth. 
I finally settled down to finish my project last Thursday.



I sewed a bit then my machine went haywire.
I'm not kidding.
I re-threaded my machine over 20 times, changed the needles, changed the bobbin, cleaned out the bobbin case area and so on.
Finally I was able to get it sewing again.
I still don't think it's working 100% correctly. 

Anyhow, I pieced and pieced, sashings sewn and then I saw it.
I had actually turned all the flying geese components the wrong direction 
and I didn't even see it until the top was complete. 


I looked at me quilt top and then the picture and the book and I was in utter disbelief.
Yes, there were some tears shed. 
I won't lie. 
It really upset me.  
I was just beat. 
I had fought with the machine for nearly 2 hours to get it sewing and then sewed it all wrong!!
I just couldn't un-sew them.


So I decided to start over again the next day. 
Just making one mini block correctly was HUGE for me.


The book is very well written. 
My second star went together perfectly because I wasn't interrupted.
My star block looks great. 
I've even made progress quilting it for a pouch. 


It's not christmasy but shows how versatile the project and block can be.

More information about the book in video form below. 




If you'd like to see a few other projects that bloggers are sewing along, you can find them here:

Nicole of Modern Handcraft
Amanda of Jedi Craft Girl

Until next time....
Vickie
                                              

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Tutorial English Paper Piecing Apple Core Part 3 finishing - long overdue

I began this tutorial for English Paper Piecing Apple cores in 2011. 
I had no idea it's been 5 years.
I abandoned many many projects to write my book Large - Block Quilts
 and now it's time to get back to them and finish some.


Finishing an English Paper Pieced applecore is a bit more challenging with the curves. 
Although I can't show these steps as I must have forgotten to take pictures please prepare as follows:

1. remove the English paper pieces from the fabric as you complete stitching around each apple core.

2. Once all cores are stitched, remove and baste the outside edge of the apple core with a large basting/running stitch. This will keep the 1/4" seam allowance turned and neat while you quilt your project.

3. Layer with batting and backing.

4. Hand or machine quilt your project.
I chose to hand quilt my cores with a size #12 pearl cotton and a 'big' stitch.


Once quilting is complete, it's time to finish the edge of the cores.
I opted to use a 'knife-edge' finish.


Trim your batting to 1/8" less than the finished edge of the apple core.
You shouldn't be able to see your batting. 

This is important because you will be folding the backing in
 and sandwiching it between the batting and the apple core 'top'.
Next, trim the backing to 1/4" as shown.


As I said before, I then fold the backing into the center of the batting and quilt top.
Notice my basting stitches? that can be removed once the edges are completely sewn closed.


This shows how I carefully match the back to the front.


Place a pin.
Continue folding and pinning for about the length of 2 apple cores.


As I stitch the edge closed using a whip stitch, I move the pins and fold.




Continue to whip stitch the edge of the entire quilt.
Here is a collage of the steps.





And voila` project is done.


I love my 1930's reproduction apple core table topper. 
I mean I'm smitten enough to consider stitching a King size version for my bed.
I might be crazy......

Friday, June 17, 2016

Farm Girl Vintage Anniversary Quilt Along and Block


Happy Anniversary!


 It's a Farm Girl Quilt Along celebration with a special anniversary block
 from Lori Holt and the Fat Quarter Shop.

You can find the pattern HERE

I chose some "delicious" fabrics for my cake.


The 12" block went together simply - just like all of Lori's blocks.


I am smitten with my cake block and now I want to try it in the 6" size!

Here's a Christmas version with Lori's fabric Cozy Christmas.


If you are new to Lori's Farm Girl Vintage - 

You're in luck: the book is 10% off! at the Fat Quarter Shop. 
The sale runs from Friday, June 17th at 8 a.m. CST - Friday, June 24th at 8 a.m. CST.



There are several bloggers sewing along today
 and you can view their version of the anniversary blocks here:

Kerry from Very Kerry Berry
Vickie from Spun Sugar Quilts - that's me!
Katie from ChooChoo Skadoo
Sedef from Down Grapevine Lane
Erin from Why Not Sew?
Kelly from Kelly B Sews
Debbie from Happy Little Cottage
Renee from Sewn with Grade
Sinta from Pink Pin Cushion
Lisa from In the Boondocks
Dana from Old Red Barn Co.
Melissa from Happy Quilting
Kim from Persimmon Dreams
Marni from Haberdashery Fun
Jacque from Lily Pad Quilting

Lori has also released a new little quilt
using some of her farm girl vintage blocks with a twist
- a 'farmgirl' and lettering.


 It's super sweet. For sale at the Fat Quarter Shop Here.

Happy Sewing ;)
p.s. I'm hosting 40 % off all regular prices in my etsy shop- no coupon needed.