Random Stuff and Random Number Winner

I haven't accomplished a lot lately, unless you consider buying fabric an accomplishment.  I do.  I get a little overwhelmed with all the choices, styles, and colors.  I love that we have so many options, but fabric shopping without a plan is dangerous.    

Over the weekend, I worked on this quilt for a co-worker who's having a baby really soon.  Actually, his wife will be having the baby.  I'll share better pictures after it's quilted.  I still need to trim the blocks and sew them together.  It's made entirely from scraps, and it's the easiest quilt ever.  Seriously.

Since I'm not always able to share what I'm working on, and struggle to think of anything interesting to blab about, I got a giggle from this post by Dawn at Linen Closet Quilts.  Too funny!

So it's time to announce the winner of Sue Abrey's new book, Pick Four.  Congratulations to Happy Cottage Quilter!  If you'll send me your mailing address, your book will be on its way soon. 

If you haven't visited all the stops on the Pick Four Blog Hop, there's still time. Here are the remaining stops: 

• Sunday, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb (giveaway open until 9/3)
• Monday, August 29 - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal (giveaway open until 9/4)
• Tuesday, August 30 - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks (giveaway open until 9/3)
• TODAY, August 31 - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thursday, September 1 - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Friday, September 2 - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

See you at Paulette's!

Kim

It's Official

Brown is no longer my favorite color.

Summer House.  By Lily Ashbury. 

I neglected to mention in my last post that the give-away for this book will close on

Tuesday, around 5:00-ish, Central Time.  I'll announce the winner on Wednesday.

Barb is hosting the blog hop today, so go by and visit her for another chance to win a copy.

The "tour guide" and author of Pick Four shared some information about Barb

that you'll be shocked to know.

And here are the rest of the stops on the Pick Four Blog Hop:

• TODAY, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
• Mon 29 Aug - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal
• Tues 30 Aug - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• Wed 31 Aug - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thurs 1 Sep - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Fri 2 Sep - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

See you at Barb's!

Kim

Pick Four Blog Hop - Day 4

It's finally my turn to share with you Sue Abrey's new book, Pick Four. 

 

Sue has provided very detailed instructions, beautifully illustrated, for making 12 gorgeous quilts in this book.  The patterns are suitable for beginning quilters as well as more experienced quilters.

 When I'm looking for a new quilting book, I usually flip through it to see if I like the projects.  I definitely love all the projects in this book, but the first thing that really impressed me was that Sue has included close-up photos of the quilting on each of the projects, along with a section explaining the process for choosing the quilting design for each one.  This is in addition to a separate chapter on quilting options!  How many times have you finished piecing a quilt top and wondered, "How will I quilt it?" Reading Sue's comments about the quilting will certainly give you ideas. 

The book also includes a section on choosing fabrics for your quilt.  If you lack confidence in choosing fabrics, just use Sue's helpful hints to find "clues" in the fabric, and you'll soon be selecting fabrics effortlessly for a stunning quilt. 

Sue and I have frequently discussed the differences in our quilting styles.  Sue, along with many others, prefers quilts with limited fabrics. The book is written with these quilters in mind.  Also, beginning quilters may not have a huge stash of fabrics to choose from.  But what if you do like scrap quilts?  Don't worry, I've already checked -- my opinion is that each of these designs would make a wonderful scrap quilt.

Sue will  be giving away an autographed copy of Pick Four to one lucky person who comments on this post.  If you'd like to be that lucky person, leave a comment here and answer this question:

When you "Pick Four," what color will be in at least one of your fabrics?  

There are still lots of stops left on the tour.  If you haven't visited Hazel, Mary, and Pat, go now!

• Wednesday, August 24 -  Hazel at Hazel's Quilts
• Thursday, August 25 - Mary at Quilt Hollow
• Friday, August 26 - Pat at Silver Thimble

  The rest of the stops:

• TODAY, August 27 - You're here! (Magnolia Bay Quilts)
• Sunday, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
• Mon 29 Aug - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal
• Tues 30 Aug - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• Wed 31 Aug - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thurs 1 Sep - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Fri 2 Sep - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

See you at Barb's tomorrow!

Kim

p.s. - To those you who may be in the path of Irene, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Be safe!

Entries are now closed.  I'll announce the winner on 8/31.

Pick Four Blog Hop - Day 3

Today's host of the Pick Four blog hop is Pat at Silver Thimble Talk.  Pat also has a new book coming really soon!  Not only is she giving away a copy of Sue's amazing book, but she has an extra surprise for you as well.  For interesting facts about where Pat lives, stop by and visit our "tour guide."

 

If you haven't visited Hazel and Mary, go now!

• Wednesday, August 24 -  Hazel at Hazel's Quilts
• Thursday, August 25 - Mary at Quilt Hollow

And here are the rest of the stops on the tour:

• TODAY, August 26 - Pat at Silver Thimble
• Saturday, August 27 - Come back here! (Magnolia Bay Quilts)
• Sunday, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
• Mon 29 Aug - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal
• Tues 30 Aug - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• Wed 31 Aug - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thurs 1 Sep - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Fri 2 Sep - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

See you back here tomorrow for my day on the blog hop!

Kim

Pick Four Blog Hop - Day 2

Mary at Quilt Hollow is hosting today's stop on the blog hop.  If you'd like to win a copy of this fabulous book, go by and visit with her.  And stop by Sue's blog to read some interesting facts about where Mary lives.

 If you missed Hazel's post yesterday, it's not too late!

• Wednesday, August 24 -  Hazel at Hazel's Quilts

The rest of the stops:

• TODAY - August 25 - Mary at Quilt Hollow
• Friday, August 26 - Pat at Silver Thimble
• Saturday, August 27 - Come back here! (Magnolia Bay Quilts)
• Sunday, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
• Mon 29 Aug - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal
• Tues 30 Aug - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• Wed 31 Aug - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thurs 1 Sep - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Fri 2 Sep - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

Hope I see you at Pat's tomorrow!

Kim

Pick Four Blog Hop

Please join us for the Pick Four Blog Hop.  Sue Abrey, the charming and talented author of this book, will be your "tour guide."  Each day, Sue will share interesting facts about the area where each blog hop participant lives.  And each day, a different blogger will be giving away a signed copy of Sue's book!  I'm very late for Day 1, but please stop by and visit Hazel to see what she has to say about the book. 

So that you don't miss any of the stops, here's the schedule:

• Today, August 24 -  Hazel at Hazel's Quilts
• Thursday, August 25 - Mary at Quilt Hollow
• Friday, August 26 - Pat at Silver Thimble
• Saturday, August 27 - Come back here! (Magnolia Bay Quilts)
• Sunday, August 28 - Barb at Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
• Mon 29 Aug - Darlene at Insights from SewCalGal
• Tues 30 Aug - Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
• Wed 31 Aug - Paulette at Sweet P Quilting
• Thurs 1 Sep - Trudi at Quilting Prolifically
• Fri 2 Sep - Hazel at Cotton Cocktails

See you at Mary's tomorrow!

Kim

Oops!

I ran out of time yesterday, and didn’t get around to posting the winner of Out of the Box with Easy Blocks.  I chose the winner from the random number generator, but was too  busy lazy to take a screen shot to post here.  The winning number is 23.  If I’ve counted correctly, the winner is Candace.   If you’ll send me an e-mail with your mailing address, the book will be on its way.

I have a couple of projects in the works so I haven’t made much progress on my Farmer’s Wife blocks.  These are the first three.  And maybe the only three for a little while. 

I’ll catch up one of these days, but for now I’m scrambling to find spare minutes here and there. 

Hope you have a peaceful weekend!

Kim

Out of the Box with Easy Blocks

Mary Lou Weidman and Melanie Bautista McFarland have combined their amazing talents and have just released the most wonderful book, Out of the Box with Easy Blocks. 

You can’t help but smile when you see all the whimsical projects throughout this book.  If you think you could never in a million years make an original and clever quilt like one of these, then you should definitely check out this book.   

Using the “Hoochy Mama” technique for piecing blocks allows you to create a quilt that’s completely your own.  You’ll find ideas for tons of blocks – people, animals, food, the alphabet – if you can think of it, you can sew it!  And if you can’t think of it, by the time you finish reading this book, you will!  I have so many ideas floating around in my head and can’t wait to put them all together with fabric. 

The Gallery is full of projects that will make the creative part of your brain jump into overdrive.

There are also very helpful discussions about color and how to choose fabrics for your projects. 

And an entire section on how to create faces!

If you’d like to get out of your box, just leave a comment here and tell me about a quilt you would like to make using Mary Lou’s and Melanie’s techniques, and you could win your very own autographed copy of Out of the Box with Easy Blocks!   I’ll announce the winner on Friday. 

Have a terrific week!

Kim