Thursday, December 15, 2011

Hartfield Block 6



Here we are on month 6 already!! I don't know where the time goes but it sure keeps going. This month we are piecing and since December is so busy for everyone, we'll keep it simple. We are making 9- patch blocks. You are going to make 4 blocks and join them to
form a row.
Also, here is a photo of how you will join three of the previous months.


The photo is not great because my quilt is further along and I don't want you to see too far in advance. It would ruin the mystery. Block 1 is on the left and joined to the pieced units from month 4. The applique on the right is month 3. Just a little heads up- the 9patch row will be positioned below these blocks. The 9 patch row is longer than these blocks because there will be more blocks added to row. Here is your link.

I was going to post a photo of my Christmas tree but.......
We decided to do a green tree this year instead of the retro aluminum. It is prelit with white lights and I used red, navy and pearl white ornaments. It looked so good until-
Remember her. Well our tree is now decorated with prelit white lights and ONE red ornament. Not kidding. She climbed the tree while we were gone and pulled off EVERY single ornament except one red one at the top. I am leaving it like that until everyone comes over for Christmas, then I will redo it.
Happy Quilting, Dawn

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

An Ending and a New Beginning


This is the second year that I have taught a 10 month BOM. The group was broken into 2 groups who met once a month. Everyone started with little or no applique skills. As each month went along, their skills and confidence grew. This is such a fun class to do. You really get to know everyone and become friends. It is also fun to make a quilt together. I wanted to show how different everyone's blocks were so I have some photos here. These are a few of the students. All heads have been cut off to protect their identities. LOL The coloways go from bold primary colors to Civil War....
They are all beautiful!


I am really going to miss them all! So that is my ending. What is my new beginning? Well.... I have been working behind the scenes to design a fabric line with the lovely folks at Henry Glass Fabrics! The line has a vintage feel of course. It is being released in January. I can't show you what it looks like just yet and I don't have a ship date. I will be back with more details but let me tell you that I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I knew right from the beginning that fabric design was something I wanted to do and now here I am. I have been very blessed and super lucky I think. I am so thankful to all the quilters who have bought patterns/books, come to classes, listen to me speak or tuned in to the blog. Without you guys I wouldn't have made it this far. I owe everything to you guys! That is one of the reasons that I love doing the free BOMs. It is my little thank-you to each of you.
Happy Quilting, Dawn

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hartfield Block 5

Hello to everyone. I have been absent for too long. I have had some technical problems along with some other things and have been away too long. I will be back soon with more! Today however we are onto Block 5 of Hartfield. We will be appliqueing stars. These stars are thin, whimsical and slightly romantic stars.
The blocks finish at 6" each. You will need to make 9 and then join them to make one block that will measure 18" finished.
These work up pretty quickly and I found them to be fun to stitch. Here is your link.


As for the software giveaway, the winner was Judi and she was notified and sent her code. I just couldn't get in blogger to do a post! If anyone is interested in the software, the coupon code for $10.00 off is still good. Thanks to everyone for playing along.

More to come soon!
Happy Quilting,
Dawn

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Big Sale

Market Sale!
I stayed home and skipped Fall Market this time. It is killing me a little but I have a ton of things in the works. Since I am home and I have a lot of new stuff coming I thought I would have a sale to move out some inventory. All patterns are now 35% off until next Saturday. Just type in the word "MARKET" to receive the discount. That gives you 7 days to get the discount. Keep watching for new stuff from me soon.

Happy Quilting, Dawn

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Software Giveaway



I am really behind in posting this. Several weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely folks at My Memories. They make some of the funnest digital scrapbooking software. They gave me a free software to try out and one to give away to you all. I have been super busy and have had little time to enjoy this but I can already tell you that it is super easy to use and there are endless things you can create in addition to scrapbook pages. They have tons of templates that you can just click and add your photos. Then you can further personalize with text and embellishments. I think this will be great for journaling your quilts as well as making quilt labels too.
I made a cool page of quilts but blogger is not being friendly and letting me upload it. Go over to the My Memories site and take a look for yourself.
Leave a comment here and I will draw a name on Halloween at 6pm for a lucky person to receive a free software package.

As an added bonus, you can go to the My Memories site and order the software for $10.00 off. Just enter this code STMMMS79966 and you will get the $10 off bonus.
This is a really great deal and the things you can make are limitless.
That's all for now.
Happy Quilting (and scrapbooking),
Dawn

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Hartfield Block 4

Morning to all. I have to be brief. I am on my way out the door to vend at a quilt show. This month we are piecing again. We will be making 12 flying geese units . These units dimensions are a little different, allowing extra room to keep you from cutting off the points. This makes the units much faster and less stressful. They will sewn to frame Block 3. The particulars are on the pattern page. Here is the Link.
ATTENTION!!!!!
There has been a huge error. This is what happens when I don't have an editor. Block 3 should measure 10" x 18" finished. I posted that it was 10x15. If you have not yet made Block 3 use the dimensions of 10" x 18". If you already made your block then this is what you will need to do- Make 2 extra geese and you will add them and the extra one to the bottom of the block. So you will have the applique block with a row of geese above, a row down the left side and two rows on the bottom. This will make your block the right size and you will be on track. What happened is I was working with two different options and when I posted apparently I combined the two. This will still be just fine. Sorry for the confusion. Good thing you guys pay attention!!
Happy Quilting, Dawn

Block 2 and 3 are now available in the online store if you missed them.

Monday, October 10, 2011

The Winter Issue

If you are a subscriber, the winter issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine will soon be on it's way to your mail box. If you are not a subscriber, there has never been a better time to become one. If you subscribe for one year and tell them I sent you, you will receive a free pattern with your subscription. If you subscribe for two years and tell them I sent you, you will receive two free patterns with your subscription. How's that for a deal?


Here is a sneak peak at my quilt in the winter issue.



I love this quilt! It is called Winter Pond. It is a combination of piecing and applique and is a great throw size. Be sure to check it out when your magazine arrives. And if you haven't subscribed, buzz on over to Primitive Quilts and Projects and tell them I sent you!


Happy Quilting, Dawn


p.s. 5 days til the next block of Hartfield

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hartfield Block 3

Hello All!
I am super busy getting the last minute details finished for my next book. We do the photo shoot on Monday. Also, I head out the door in 15 minutes to go teach a class in the next town over. So... I will make this short and sweet.
Here we are on Block 3, seems like we just started. This month is applique again. The blooms are simple wonky shapes that I think are fun. Next month we will piece and I will give you a glimpse of how things are going to fit together. Until then, here is your Link.
Happy Quilting, Dawn

P.S. To all who commented on the last post- I really appreciate all your comments and read them all. Right now I am just pressed for time and haven't had time to respond. Next week things should slow down. Many thanks!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Saltwater Taffy




I started cross stitching when I was a Freshman in High School. I was hooked immediately. I had done all types of needlework but this was a true love for me. At that time most stitching was done on Aida with DMC and some were even still using J.P. Coats. I stitched pretty much all the time, kinda like I do with quilting. I was as addicted to collecting all the floss colors as I am to collecting fabric. It got where I knew exactly what a color looked like just by the number. I had all the colors and knew them by heart.

Then things started changing. More and more evenweave and linens were showing up. I loved these, they stitched up so nicely. You didn't see the little "holes" like you did on the aida. Also, something else to hoard! I pretty much use 28ct linen now for everything. Sometimes 32, but I prefer 28. Are you wondering what the point of this post is? Well, here it is. The other thing that changed in the cross stitch industry back then was I stumbled on this new floss. Weeks Dye Works - hand dyed floss. Oh, my, goodness. It was hand dyed.Gorgeous colors that variegated giving an aged look to my pieces. A whole new world opened up. Best of all, this floss had fantastic names for the colors. Who could resist a skein called "Scuppermong" or "Kudzu"?



Now this name thing might not mean as much to you as it did to me. You see one of my favorite things to do in Freshman Biology was to make little color charts. I would mix colors and blend them to create new shades. Then I would invent creative little names for the new colors. Ha! Now you see why I was so excited about this new floss. I thought "Oh fantastic, these Weeks folks are just like me!"

So anyway, in July, I got an email from the folks at Weeks Dye Works. They had a new color of floss that they were launching. They showed a picture of the floss. There was a contest with a prize for the person who came up with the winning name for the new color. I was in Heaven. Here is my chance to name a color for real! I looked at the floss and immediately thought Saltwater Taffy. It reminded me of the pink candy wrapped in the wax paper. Never one to doubt myself. (lol) I sent my email right off to the kind folks at Weeks and told them the name I chose and why. Guess what- I won. They chose to name their new color Saltwater Taffy. I won the first 5 skeins produced and $150.00 worth of floss.
So when you see the new floss remember to think of me and all that practice I got in Freshman Bio.
Happy Quilting, Dawn