Giveaway

You know I often wonder how many of you check out my blog. Are there many different people or a select group who come often. So, I am going to do a small giveaway to see how many of you there really are. I am giving away a signed copy of my new book. To be in the giveaway just leave a comment. If you post about this on your blog, let me know and you will get 2 more chances. Standard stuff. You have from today until noon central time Mon. May 4.

The Cross Stitcher

Today has been rainy and dreary the whole day. A perfect day to stay in and sew.

I have been cross stitching since I was a freshman in high school. (We won't go into how many years that has been. )I was a big fan of Paula Vaughn and all her patterns featuring quilts. I also loved the Better Homes and Gardens Cross Stitch and Country Crafts. Between my mom's collection and Ebay, I think I have them all. I made both of my boys heirloom Christmas stockings from those. (It makes me faintly ill to see those being quickly made now by you girls with your Vikings.) Then came Weeks Hand Dyed floss and I fell in love all over. I just adore the beautiful colors and the variation. I have made many patterns with the Weeks from primitive to reproduction over the past several years.

I haven't done alot of cross stitch lately as I have been so busy with my quilt design. That is when it hit me. "I should design a cross stitch sampler to match each of the applique quilt designs I am working on."

Well, the lovely folks at Weeks were more than happy to accomodate and I have begun working on the designs to match the quilts. Here is a little peak. I can't tell you how fun this is. I will post more pictures with sneak peaks as I progress.

Forgot the Camera AGAIN

Today was my book signing at Appletree Quilting Center. I dropped off my quilts yesterday and left them for the ladies of AQC to hang. When I arrived today I was stunned at what a gorgeous display they had. I couldn't believe it was my stuff. They really made me look good and OF COURSE I forgot my camera! Luckily my friend Lori was smart enough to bring hers and she will give me photos to show you guys later. She also brought me these fantastic roses. The picture doesn't do them justice, they are a peachy, orange.

I also wanted to show the quilting on the weekend quilt I posted about. Christy Gray is my quilter and she is a dream. She does beautiful work, is fast, up to the challenge of my last minute deadlines and the sweetest girl around. I took 2 pictures hoping you could see what she did. I am not a really good photographer. Maybe if I could remember my camera more often I could get some practice.

And to all the wonderful people who showed up today, thanks so much. It's you quilters that let me live my dream. It is amazing all the friends I have met through quilting.

Random Ramblings

If a picture is worth a thousand words this one should tell you what my week has been like.

I went all winter with no one in the house being sick, and then here I am with an upper respiratory virus just 4 weeks after a cold. Needless to say, I got very little done this week. My Dear Jane group met on Sun. and I opted for a nap instead. I really didn't have time to be sick, so I will being going hyper speed this week to catch back up.

Idid get a nice pick me up yesterday afternoon. Back in Feb. the girls at Lizzie B Cre8ive had a contest where you had to name the song/artist to the sappy love song lyric. Well I am a sucker for song lyric games. Don't know why but Eric and I do that kind of thing alot. So, I entered the contest and got almost all of the 60 song lyrics matched with their title and artist. Yesterday the prize came, a fat quarter bundle and bag pattern. I was thrilled. I am a bag/tote junkie. Thanks Lizzie B!

Unexpected Surprise

Today was the date for my book to ship to stores. In honor of this momentous occasion, my friend Tammy surprised me at work with this.

It is a miniature rose with two little geese figures, Geese in the Rose Garden. Not only is Tammy extremely thoughtful but she is quite clever too.

A New Week

I hope everyone had a nice Easter. We had a very nice quiet day. Often I have to cook and clean for company, but this year it was just us and for our dinner we barbecued. Sounds odd, I am sure but it was very nice and relaxing. I did make the required deviled eggs.

This week has been fairly productive. I remade the sample that had been ruined with the dye. I used fabric I had on my shelf and I think it turned out nice. This is a very fast quilt to make. It is made from Block 4 in my book. The block is very simple, but when you alternate the placement you get stars as a secondary pattern. This is definitely a "done in a weekend" quilt with a little more complex appearance. It goes to the quilter tomorrow. I also made this table runner, it is made from Block 10. This is super fast. The cutting directions for the geese units allow more head room so you can quickly piece lots of geese without fear of cutting off their heads. This was cut, pieced, basted and the big stitch quilting half finished in an afternoon. It measures 19x 49.

Thursday, my quilt history group met and we have decided to do a Civil War Diary block exchange. Each of us chooses 6 blocks from the Civil War Diary quilt book to make. Then every other month you make 8 of your first block, meet and exchange blocks. You go home with 8 different blocks. The next time you make 8 of your second block choice, meet and exchange. So when you finish you have 48 blocks (not counting your own). I think it will be alot of fun.

And on Friday....I got my package from Mary at Quilt Hollow! I was very excited to open it. I am hoping to finish up with everything I HAVE to do this week so I can get started on the wool tote. Let me tell you this was a very nice wool bundle and pattern. She is very generous, many thanks to Mary.

Saturday, I taught pt.1 of a beginner applique class. It was alot of fun and I think the ladies came away with some confidence. We finish the class this Saturday. So, that pretty well covers my week, now to see what this week will hold.

Pink

This post is about pink. That's right pink. First I am tickled pink to find I won the wool giveaway from Mary at Quilt Hollow. Can you believe it?? I never win anything.

The second thing pink is this Huge Pink House quilt.This is a Blackbird Design pattern. I started it ages ago. I found it yesterday in the bottom of a

basket. I had finished every block except the vase on the left and the missing bird block on the left. In only a few hours the blocks will finished and ready to put together.Why would I put a project away with so little left to do???? The photos aren't the best as the blocks are on the design wall but you get the jist of it and you can see how small that missing block is. Anyway, I will finish it in the next couple of days and have another top finished.

The third thing pink is... I love pink fabric, florals, checks, paisleys you name it. But, I almost always, always dye over them with tan.(except pink house quilt, it needed to be a little bright.) I like my pinks to look a little aged and subdued. The marvels at Moda do a nice job with subdued pinks but I still overdye them. I have been doing this forever. The pink fabrics in my book are overdyed. As a matter of fact, there is a little section in the book on this. This being said you would think dying fabric would be a no-brainer. Or would you? I made this sample to show what you can make with one of the pieced blocks from the main quilt in my book. Well, when I went to dye the top, I had a Great Dane lying under my feet and a man over my shoulder asking what was wrong with the water in the washer. (Duh, it's dye.) As you can see I got a little heavy handed. You really can't see the patterns anymore. In person the fabric really does look nice, very vintage but you just lose the pattern. So this top will be for me at home and I have already cut out another version. I will post a photo of the new one so you can see what it should actually look like.

If only someone would make a line of tans and tanned pinks I would be in heaven.

Calling All Wool Lovers

Okay check this out. Quilt Hollow is doing a giveaway. No your eyes don't deceive you, she is giving away a Wool Bundle with a tote pattern. Go to quilthollow.blogspot.com and leave a comment for a chance to win. If you are the lucky winner it gets event better. Make the tote and send a picture and you get another prize. Pretty good deal.