August 7, 2011

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

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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.   

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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. 

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

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

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And an entire section on how to create faces!

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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

42 comments:

  1. This is so something I want to try. I would make a framed quilt for on my mantle of a loon family. I had been thinking about trying to make them look real, but whimsical would be so much better! What a great book.

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  2. I have a quilt on my to-do list that could really benefit from this book - a holiday quilt with trees and snowmen and other winter scenes, would love the help to get it out of my head and onto fabric!

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  3. definitely a shoe quilt! hoochy mama!

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  4. nancy gilliamAugust 07, 2011

    A purple cow, no question about it.

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  5. Love the shoe quilt and the owls. Imsuch a by the book quilter, this book would be a good stretch for me. Pick me please.

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  6. I would love to try the shoe quilt! So fab and so glam! Hope to win!!

    tanmw(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. This is completely out of the box for me but I would like to try it....chickens and cats would be my first choices but I love the shoes for one to emulate!

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  8. I love the shoe quilt. I have a sister who collects shoes. But, for me I saw on another blog that there is coffee or tea pot and cup block and I would like to make one like some cups I have that I love.

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  9. I've had a "brights" quilt in progress for a couple of years a la Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston and just make blocks as I see ones I want to try....it's been sitting for several months now waiting for more inspiration.....this has to be it! LOVE those shoes, the baby chick and those owls are just wonderful. Want to include some of those for sure.

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  10. Love the purple cow! I think I need to make that one...

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  11. I'll be making quilts for my twin nieces' confirmations during the next half year and could do with some fun and funky new blocks. Besides that - I do love Mary Lou's books!

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  12. Our granddaughter is becoming a very artistic little lady. I've been thinking about creating a quilt just for her with all the girlie things that little girls enjoy, in a non traditional way.
    This book would be a great way to create blocks that are whimsical and girlie and creative, all at the same time. Thanks for the giveaway, Kim.

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  13. The shoe quilt caught my instantly and made me think of my future DIL who loves shoes. But then...I scrolled down a bit more and saw those funky fun cats and it turned into an all about ME want the book. I'm still chuckling at the whimsy of them. Oh do include me in the draw will ya?
    What are you working on? Haven't heard from you in DAYS (scratch that) WEEKS!!!!

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  14. I love the cat quilt!...I would like to try it!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  15. I love the idea of figuring out how to do a face. I have shied away from doing one because I was afraid they would look scarey!

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  16. What a fun book! I think I'd make the cats~ they are so expressive! Thanks for the fun!

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  17. I really want to make the kitty quilt. It's just marvelous.

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  18. this looks like a technique for an endless array of inspiration! I'm not into shoes...except may shoes on quilts :-) those are too cute. The cats and the owls and the purple cow are next. Thanks for the chance to win a book full of so much fun!

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  19. I'd like to give a bite to the birdie quilt in the cover or either the shoes quilt, but all the quilts inside look awesome!!!, thank you for the chance :)

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  20. Free form piecing is my next big jump! I already have Tonya and Gwen in the bookcase but this might just get me going! I think it would have to be cats - but my cats with maybe a sneaky mouse hiding here and there....Eek! Thanks!

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  21. I love the purple cow...what a fun book, thanks for the introduction to it and also the chance to win one.

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  22. hmmm... I think I'd make a horse quilt along the lines of the Purple Cow. It might have words, too, like "Happy Trails". What a fun book!

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  23. Hi Kim! Nice to "see" you! I was thinking you might be bured in the Farmer's Wife quilt (wink)! Mary Lou has such fun ideas! I would love to use her technique to make a quilt that is a replica of our Squash House!
    Cheers!

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  24. Wow. I just love this book. I'd make the purple cow.

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  25. I love the flower pot quilt and would have to make it for my DD. Thanks for the chance!

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  26. I would definitely make a cow quilt of some kind, not necessarily a purple one. My husband raises cattle, and our little neighbor girl calls him Cow Man.

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  27. A giraffe. I've always loved them and envision a tall skinny wall hanging. These quilts are so much fun and I love when quilters share new ways to do things--even if I may still need some hand holding!

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  28. I love those, especially the flowerpots and the purple cow! If I could make my own, it would be a hot air balloon! That would be so cool! Thanks for the chance to win the book! :0)

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  29. Kim, you are so kind to write such nice things about my new book with Mel. I know someone who wins this will have alot of fun. We are making a series of cow quilts from the pattern in rhw book-Cowafornia, Cowabunga, Boosie Cow, Mooshoogaipan, Moochacho's, Marilyn Moonrow, Mad cow, Plaid Cow etc. Hope to get these done by Market and to have a show of them next year at some shows...so easy and so fun.
    Just like you and your delightful blog. Thank you again

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  30. I love the psychedelic cow, and the owls. This looks like a fun book

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  31. This book is so cute!! I'd love to try the Fairy for Cameron. I think she would love it.

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  32. The kitty quilt, for sure, maybe even two of them. The curved parts of the show heels is also intriguing. Thanks for the chance.

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  33. Hey there you are! Thanks for sharing the book! I think the flower pot quilt is adorable... since I am not much of a gardener, fabric gardens work best for me!

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  34. The home front has been pretty stressful lately and I haven't made time for exercising, so I'd like to make a whimisical quilt of myself and things I like to do. Just to lighten things up a bit and have a few laughs.

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  35. My hubby is a vet so my daughter would love a quilt of 'purple cows'!!

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  36. That purple cow is calling out to wear some of those really cute high heels! I would combine the two.

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  37. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of Mary Lou's new book. I would love to incorporate some of her different techniques and create a who's who in the family quilt.

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  38. OoHHHH!! Owls and Penguins come to mind at first, would be great to make into a quilt.

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  39. Mary Lou came to our local guild and taught a workshop. She was delightful! If I'm not lucky enough to win the book, I'll have to put it on my wish list.

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  40. I would love to make the Purple Cow and and the Fairy for my 7 year old granddaughter!
    Donna

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  41. I would love to try to create faces! Thanks so much!

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  42. oh how I would love to win this book, my DD who will be getting her own apt next year will need to find one with 2 closets in a bedroom one just for her shoes!
    I would love to make this shoe quilt just for her! she would LOVE IT!
    thanks for the opportunity to win it
    I need a little fun /play time I would love to make this princess with the wand quilt for my sewing room wall and call her the clean up fairy :) think she will help me????
    Kathie

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