When It Rains, It Pours

Hi Everyone,

It has been pretty rich with fun quilting programs around here.  First was Lynne Hagmeier and then this past Thursday, Marie Bostwick stopped by my local quilt shop, A Quilt of Many Colors, to do a reading and book signing.

Are you familiar with her?  She is a quilter, but foremost an author.  She has penned the Cobble Court Quilts books and is back with a cast of new characters in the setting of Door County, Wisconsin.  Yes, there is quilting in the story.  The book is called, "The Second Sister" and is about a woman who is a political operative on the national level (she works for a Governor who is running for President).  It is the morning of Election Day when she gets a call that there was an accident back in her hometown and she needs to get there.  Dealing with family issues and the Past, as well as a bit of mystery, makes up the story and all the characters are wonderfully crafted.  Just so you know, I already read the book so I could give you all an honest review.  I highly recommend it!  Marie's books are beautifully written and have no objectional language, violence, or other bad behavior.  

The even was fun!  Unfortunately, she wasn't feeling so great so she remained seated but was very charming and interesting.  As people arrived, we all were chatting and her stories of travel, home life, etc. were great.  She's such a good story teller even when she isn't working, ha ha.  

She told us that when she has a new book released, she goes on tour for several months.  A while back, she got sick of hotels, so she bought a small RV.  She named it Glinda the Glamper and she travels around with her.

After most people arrived, the formal portion began.  She introduced herself and did a reading from the book.  She talked a bit about her writing process, and then took questions.  Next there was a pile of quilts next to her to be shown.  I didn't get many photos as I helped hold them up.  

This one is her "Broken Hearts" from the Cobbled Court Quilts books.  She tries to make a pattern for each book and Deb Tucker, her good friend, helps.  She had one Hunter Star quilt made with Deb's ruler--Rapid Fire Hunter's Star.  Lately, I'm seeing that quilt pattern everywhere!

After the quilts were shown, the formal portion was over and we could get our books signed.  All of her books that I own are on my Kindle, but it wasn't a problem to get her new one.  

It was a fun event!  She will be in Paducah this week, so if you go, you may want to stop by and meet her--she is really a charming, fun personality.  If, like me, you are not going, she has a fun facebook page and also a great website.  The website has free quilt patterns and recipes if you sign up.  She assured us that she does not share any personal information with anyone, including her publisher.

Have a great day,

JoAnne

Sweet Husbands and Austin Bluebird

Hi Everyone,

So back one day in early February, I was at one of my bees.  One of the ladies told me I had missed seeing "the Triplets" the previous week.  I asked about such an intriguing statement and got the story.  I knew one of the ladies, Alana, had gotten a new Janome sewing machine.  One of the other ladies, Lee, liked it and asked a third, Evelyn,  to find out the price at our local dealer since she was going there.  I forgot the model right now, or I would tell you,  Anyway, so off Evelyn went and found out that our shop had a used one that was in great shape.  She put it on hold and told Lee about the price for the used and the new.  The new was a bit more expensive, of course, but had a warrenty.  I think Lee was going to get the used one, but then her husband thought that she should have the warrenty and offered to pay the difference so she could get the new one.  Evelyn was talking about how great the machine was and so her husband told her to get one for herself.  My memory fails me and so I don't remember if she got the new or the used.  Anyway, all three of the machines were at the bee on a Friday--a day I don't go.  I thought the husbands were being so sweet, so I told my husband about it. He assumed, incorrectly I might add, that I was angling for a machine, too.  I told him that I'm set for machines right now.  After thinking about things for a few minutes, though, I added, "well, there is this quilt kit I've been wanting..."  Since Valentine's Day was approaching, and he isn't the best shopper for presents--he jumped at the chance and so I got this for Valentine's Day!

It's the Austin Bluebird sampler kit.  Minick and Simpson, flags, bluebirds, cherries, some applique but also lots of piecing, RWB, a completely awesome box, what is not to love?!!!  I had been drooling over this for months!  I swear, I have the best husband ever.

Anyway, I promptly felt overwhelmed with other stuff and so I put it on the shelf.  However, Laurie is posting a helpful blog post about the different months, and when I read about month 2, it really got me excited about working on the project.  Not because of anything specific, just seeing it.   National Quilting Day was right about then, and to celebrate, I decided to break open the quilt and check out the contents.

The first thing I decided to do was get a binder and page protectors and put the pattern in it.

This had been a huge help!  All the pages stay secure and in order and if I need to pull out a page to trace patterns, it is easy to do.  The pattern is fabulous!  There are color charts labeling the different fabrics and cutting diagrams for each fabric.  Its great.  I began to cut and stack each month's pieces up--eventually stowing each month in a ziplock baggie.  But then I started sewing, too.  I prepped applique blocks as well.  Before I knew it:

I had Month 1 complete.  I guess I forgot to crop out my slippers...

Month two only had a bit of applique (the stars) so it didn't take long.

Month three was just piecing, so it went quick.  And in case you are wondering, part of the leaf block is seperate for now.  This sampler quilt goes together a bit like a puzzle.  I'm excited for the challenge!

Month 4 had another big applique block, but they are so much fun!  I love the birds and cherries.

Month 5 is back to all piecing again, and I havn't done it yet, but I am currently appliqueing the large block for month 6.  These blocks so far have finished at 18 inches.  There are some even larger applique blocks coming up.

This is my month 6 block as it looks right now, crumpled up, and half sewn.  I use the back-basting needle-turn method.  Once this is completed and I piece for month 5 and 6, then half the quilt will be done!  I'm not sure if it is because this applique is so much easier than my Sarah's Revival blocks or if it is because I have Spring Fever, but this quilt is really fun to make for me right now.

Although I bought the kit and it contains enough fabric, I can't help myself and I've been sprinkling in pieces from my Minick and Simpson collection.  It's so much fun to choose.

Have a great day!
JoAnne

Troubles

Hi Everyone,

I know that it has been a while since I posted and if you think the title of this post is an explanation--rest assured, it isn't.  The only "Troubles" I've seen lately are Kansas Troubles brought to us by Lynne Hagmeier.  She was just here in Fort Wayne at our Appleseed Quilters Guild.  I'm always thrilled to be able to learn from a national instructor, but to also have one of Moda's long-time fabric designers is a thrill.

She taught classes on Monday night and Tuesday morning and then presented her trunk show at the guild meeting on Tuesday night.  I took the Monday class and saw the trunk show.  Let me tell you, if you ever get a chance to see her, jump at it!  She is charming, witty, and fun.  Not only that, but she is a freaking genious with pre-cuts!  I'm always fascinated to hear from successful quilt businesspeople--how did they get started?  What is their approach?  And so forth.

During her trunk show, she shares her story and it's really interesting to learn about how she began selling quilts, then patterns, and then getting to design fabric.  She shared about how several years ago she was doing a quilt cruise.  About a month before leaving, the organizer contacted her and said that there was limited space for 75 people so could she precut everyone's project that she was teaching!  In trying to make this task easy, she began utilitizing the precuts in a "layered" technique--where say a charm square is centered on top of a layer cake square and then stitched an 1/8th inch all around the edges.  It leave a raw edge, but after washing, as long as the edge was pinked (or is cut on the bias) it leaves a pleasing primitive edge.

If you want to see for yourself, Lynne filmed a few tutorials over at Missouri Star Quilt Company with Jenny.  Here is one.  (If for some reason the link doesn't work for you, just go to Youtube and search for Missiouri Star Lynne Hagmeier.

Anyway, how about some photos?

 This was from my class.  Lynne spent the first several minutes talking about her technique and how we should proceed and then we all got to work.  She circled the room answering any questions and otherwise chatting with everyone.  It was one of the funnest classes I've taken because the project was pretty easy and instead of stressing or stuggling or fussing, we could just chat.  I also got to know the lady sitting across from me, another Lynne.  I still don't know many members of the guild so it is great to meet more.

I took the Seedlings class.

No, it isn't curved piecing!  It is using Lynne's layered method.  I'm not finished with mine yet, but I did get pretty far in the class.

In case Lynne's palatte isn't colors you like, you can easily use her techniques with any other Moda precuts.  She had a modern example, but I didn't get a picture of it, but it was awesome, too.

These are photos from the trunk show.

I hope you have a great day!
JoAnne