Free Quilt Pattern - "Ebony and Ivory"

I just came across this gorgeous free quilt pattern. It is called "Ebony and Ivory" and it is by Project House 360. Click on the photo to download the instructions from RJR Fabrics.

I think the fabric and color selections really make this quilt! This is an advanced quilt with many techniques, so why not put yourself to the challenge in 2013?

My prayer is that you and your loved ones have a blessed 2013!

2013 Quilt Block of the Month "I Love Sewing"

The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show is over and a good time was had by all. Thank you everyone who participated and final big THANK YOU to all of our sponsors. As the year comes to a close, the Quilt BOM are ramping up. As I did last year, I will share with you the ones I think are particularly interesting. I will also post a reminder monthly, for you to go and download your blocks.

This first one is from Sulky International and it is called "I Love Sewing" and is design by Christa Rolf. How cute is this!




Just click on the picture above to get the materials list for this 2013 Quilt Block of the Month.

2012 Christmas Quilt Show

The winners have been picked. Below is a list of winners. If you name is listed, please e-mail me with you name, mailing address AND your 1st three preferences on the prize selections. I cannot guarantee you will get something from your wish list, but I will do my best for everyone.

• Barbara - CatPatches
• BillieBee
• Bonnie at Southern Style
• Chez
• CJ Tinkle
• Dana Gaffney
• Deb@asimplelifequilts
• Debbie - Vrooman's Quilts
• Eunice
• Gene Black
• Jamie Lee
• Judy Chain
• Karen - Quilts, Etc.
• Leslie McNeil
• Linda (MsStitcher1948)
• Mary - Quiltin' Grandmas
• Quilting Hottie
• Sew.Darn.Quilt
• SewCalGal
• Shannon @ I'm Working on aProject
• SheriA
• Snoodles - Linda
• Sylvia of Bunchberry Studio
• The Cuddle Quilter
• The Missing Piece
• Vivian at Quilts and a Mug

Here is a list of the prizes to choose from (some of them have more than one available):

• Beam and Read Light from ASF Lightware Solutions
• Sparkle Thread Collection from Aurifil
• Pattern of choice (excluding BOM) from BlackEyed Susan Designs
• Beautiful Botanical Umbrella from C&T Publishing
• $25 gift certificate from Fabric.com
• Joy (Moda) Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop
• One Unit Mystery Book from JayBee Designs
• "Light Frost" pattern from PurrfectSpots.com
• "Beauty Among Thorns" pattern from PurrfectSpots.com
• Handmade wooden box from Quiltboxes.com
• Pattern of Choice from SewForeverQuilting
• Silk Dupioni Fat Quarters and "how to work with Silk" from Sewing with Silk
• Best Loved Holiday Dishes from Taste of Home Magazine
• Best Loved Cookies and Candies from Taste of Home Magazine
• Assortment of cream/lotion from Udderly Smooth
• Annie's Scrapbag - a book from Wagon West Designs
• $25 gift certificate from Connecting Threads

 Thank you all for participating. This has truly been fun for me, and I hope that you too enjoyed the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show. I pray that you and your families have a blessed Christmas this year.

2012 Christmas Quilt Show - It's time to vote for your favorite!

If you haven't already seen all of the beautiful entries, now is the time to visit the entries in the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show. You are eligible for door prizes, just by visiting and commenting on all of the entries. Please leave a comment on this page, voting for your favorite entry!

Please visit the following page to see the entries and all of the door prizes available:



The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show

It's here!!! The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show is open.....

The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show is here.....Oh my goodness, I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I cannot wait to see all of your wonderful Christmas (or winter-themed) quilt projects and to visit your blog posts about them. So that it is easily found, I am including the entry/link tool here, but please read the entire post, before you add your link. I would hate for you to miss out on opportunities to win  door prizes.

First, I want to recognize and thank all the Santas and Elves that have helped with this show, by sharing links and information before the show started.

Next, our sponsors for this event have been very generous.  Thank you to all the sponsors!  This show is certainly more fun for those that enter projects in this show, as well as those that come to view this show, by having these wonderful sponsors:

·         ASF Lightware Solutions

·         Aurifil

·         BlackEyed Susan Designs

·         C&T Publishing

·         Fabric.com

·         Fat Quarter Shop

·         Jay Bee Designs

·         PurrfectSpots.com

·         Quiltboxes.com

·         SewforeverQuilting

·         Sewing with Silk

·         Taste of Home Magazine

·         Udderly Smooth

·         Wagons West Designs

Next, I want to thank everyone that takes the time to enter this show.  This show wouldn't happen without you.  But I do ask that before you add a link, please be sure to first read the rules on the entry page.


Thank you to those that take time to view all the entries and leave words of encouragement with the quilters that entered.  After all, one of the best parts of entering a quilt in a show is hearing positive feedback.

If you have any questions, please email me and I'll do my best to respond.  Due to the anticipated number of comments, my apologies if I am unable to get to you quickly.

Lastly, remember this is all about having fun, enjoying the holidays and sharing our love of quilting with others.  And, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and winter holiday season!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO QUILT SUBMISSION PAGE

It's snowing sponsors!!!!

Look at all of these LOVELY new sponsors:

From Wagons West Designs:

Use your favorite scraps to make seven nineteenth century inspired projects from Annie's Scrapbag! Soft cover, 36 pages.

Fabric.com is donating four $25 gift certificates.

C&T Publishing Beautiful Botanical Umbrella (I WANT THIS ONE!!)

Sing in the rain or stay out of the sun with this fashionable umbrella, featuring a detail from the Indian Garden quilt shown in Deborah Kemball's book, Beautiful Botanicals.



A pattern from http://www.sewforever.com/.

A pattern from http://www.blackeyedsusandesigns.com/

Jay Bee Designs is donating a book:
One Unit Mystery
Whether you are new-to-quilting or a pro, this book is for you. The quilt block used is not your typical traditional block. This new, simple and quick, magical unit is very different and creates eleven, all pieced, mysterious patterns. The book includes instructions on how to make table runners, wall quilts, plus options for more. BONUS! How to use leftovers from the cuttings to make a border. Published by QuiltWoman.com. 

A trio of Silk Dupioni Fat Quarters and tips on working with them from  Sewing with Silk.










 
 

Two more sponsors for the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show

The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show is quickly coming......but it won't be a success without you! FIRST are you getting your quilty Christmas/Winter themed items ready? Have you already started crossing your fingers for a prize or two from our sponsors that you would like to win? You have two opportunities for entries right now:

1. Post the blog badge on your main blog page.
2. Post an entry to your blog, with the blog button in the post.

Udderly Smooth is donating three of their products.

And quiltboxes.com is donating one of their beautiful handmade boxes. Actual photo of prize will follow soon, because it is still being made - however, here is an example of Dave's work:

Our newest sponsor for the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show

The list of sponsors/prizes for the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show continues to grow!Thank you ASF Lightware Solutions for donating this fantastic tool for quilers:

Beam N Read LED 6
Deluxe Hands Free Light
(500x500, 68K)

GORGEOUS Fat Quarter Bundle Prize added to the Christmas Quilt Show 2012

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop for generously donating this beautiful fat quarter bundle, which will be one of many prizes in the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show!

Joy Fat Quarter Bundle
Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics Joy Fat Quarter Bundle includes 20 fat quarters and two 36" panels

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Finishing

I am writing this post in November of 2011 and am not sure if there will be a month beyond Block 12 for finishing instructions. Just in case, I am scheduling this reminder post. Don't yell at me if I forget to check it and correct something. You may however, let me know if I am posting something in error, so that I can let everyone else know.

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get finishing instructions:

Additional Sponsor for 2012 Christmas Quilt Show - Aurifil

Thank you AURIfil for generously donating this beautiful thread collection which will be one of many prizes in the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show!

SARAH VEDELER - SPARKLE THREAD COLLECTION 50 wt

The Sparkle Collection is used for all embroidery, piecing and quilting on the Sparkle quilts, using designs from Sparkle by Sarah Vedeler Designs. Sarah Vedeler, quilt artist and teacher, combines her love of quilting and embroidery to create stunning embroidered applique' quilts featuring her own intricate digitized designs. Sarah loves to combine silk fabric and AURIfil 's Cotton Mako thread in colors guaranteed to make your heart sing! As a new artist on the scene, Sarah brings a refreshing perspective to quilting with her unique style. Her beautiful designs reflect her stated purpose in life of creating beauty, inspiration and infinite creative joy!
12 SPOOLS COTTON THREAD 50WT
colors :
2600 - Dove
2535 - Magenta
1100 - Red Plum
5009 - Medium Orange
2870 - Green
5018 - Grass Green
1147 - Lt. Leaf Green
2135 - Yellow
1200 - Blue Violet
4093 - Jade
1148 - Lt Jade
5005 - Medium Turquoise

Ultimate Halloween - Taste of Home giveaway

Being a Taste of Home Field Editor has been one of the most fun things I have gotten to do over the last several years aside from quilting of course! On occasion they will send me little gifts to share with you and now is one such time. They sent me a brand new copy of "ULTIMATE HALLOWEEN" to share with one of my friends.

Halloween is a supernaturally special time of year here at Taste of Home. We're thrilled to be back with an all-new collection of 175 spirited tricks & treats! We've collected the best ideas and recipes from real people, so you and your friends and family can come together to eat, drink and be scary. Inside you will find class treats, family desserts, cozy drinks, party and costume ideas and so much more! Soft cover, 144 pages

If you would be interested in receiving this, please leave a comment below, or send me an e-mail. I will draw a winner next Wednesday (10/24/12.) Share about this giveaway with your friends on your blog, twitter or Facebook and I will give you an extra chance for each person who says they found me because of you! (NOTE: You do not have to be a follower to win, but if you want to find out about goodies in the future - being a follower is the easiest way!)

2012 Christmas Quilt Show - a sneak peak

The 2012 Christmas Quilt Show is coming! This quilt show, formerly hosted by SewCalGal was one of the first things I participated in as a blogger, so I am doubly excited about getting to host it this year. The quilt eye candy is my favorite part, but we will have a lot of truly AMAZING PRIZES that you will not want to miss out on. I hope that you are as excited about this as I am. Please visit the Christmas Quilt Show page to get the scoop on this year's show and to get your very own blog button. As always, PR Angels will get brownie points and extra entries for prizes.

If you aren't already a follower, you will want to make sure you follow either by Google Friend Connect, RSS or e-mail, just so you don't miss out on any part of the show. You won't be required to be a follower to enter, but it will help keep you up to date.

So I haven't been around much this summer - because my "day job" has picked up and I have been really busy with that.....HOWEVER, being really busy on my day job has allowed me to spend some money on this:

 

This isn't my actual machine - because my quilt studio is a little upside down at the moment. I had to rearrange for her and her 14 foot table....I will be spending the next several weeks getting to know her!

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 12

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block twelve:

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 11

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block eleven:

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 10

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block ten:

Jalapeno Peach Glazed Pork Chops

I shared this on my other blog, but it was so good, I wanted to make sure you guys saw it too......

 

Jalapeno Peach Glazed Pork Chops

My mouth is watering and I want to go back out to the grill and create these moist sweet/spicy pork chops all over again right now! This really easy recipe will be loved by even the pickiest of eaters in your family. Serve with a salad, grilled corn and grilled squash.

Ingredients:
4-6 Pork Chops
Bill's Amazing Dry Rub (#464)
Peach Jalapeno Jam (#340)
Small can diced peaches (drain and reserve juice)
Fresh Cilantro 2T chopped
Red Onion 1/4c chopped
Canola oil 1T




Instructions:

1. Generously sprinkle pork chops with Bill's Amazing Dry Rub (#464) and massage it on all sides of the pork chop. Let them rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. (Grilling cold meat reduces flavor and color of the finished product.)
2. Preheat the grill.
3. Grill chops until cooked to desired temperature. (This will vary depending on size of your chops.)

WHILE YOU ARE COOKING YOUR PORK CHOPS:

1. Using the side burner on your grill, in medium saucepan, saute onions in oil until soft.
2. Add Peach Jalapeno Jam (#340) and drained peaches to the onions. Stir over low heat until it begins to bubble. Optional: add some of the reserved peach juice, to loosen it up and take down the spice heat to your taste. 
3. Add chopped cilantro.
4. If you want, you can brush some of the glaze onto your pork chops in the last minute of cooking on each side. Be careful that they are not on direct heat or the sugar in the glaze will easily burn.
5. Serve grilled pork chops topped with Peach Jalapeno glaze. 

Modern Quilt Rack - Free Plans - No hearts included

Can someone please tell my why so many quilt racks have hearts on them? It's not that I have anything against hearts, it's just that I can't figure out why that seems to be the dominant design element on many quilt racks. It adds a "country" feel, but not the right country feel in my opinion.

I was delighted to find this "modern" quilt rack, with a free pattern for hubby to build me one!

It is tagged as "modern" but I think it could fit many decors. It easily doubles as a sofa table too! What do you think? Would you like the plans? Having trouble motivating hubby to do something like this for you? I have found the secret - I simply pick up one of his power tools and ask where the plug in is...............gets him every time! ;-) Once you get him motivated (I suppose one might pull herself away from one's sewing machine...........) click here for the plans to make your very own.

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 9

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block nine:

Going Away - for a little R&R

Coming soon, I will be hosting a giveaway and a tutorial that will be featured on Madame Samm's wonderful piece of real estate on the web. But, for the next 10 days or so, I will be here:

and here

and here

and here

gettting some MUCH needed rest and relaxation. I will return with a new zeal and gumption - or maybe I will miss the boat and get stranded - hmmmm not sure what the better choice might be.... ;-)

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 8

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block eight:

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 7

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block seven:

A new Florabunda applique block

I have just finished fusing Erin Russek's Florabunda block number five..........I should say it is number 5 in the order that I am completing them.






















I was a little concerned that my colors weren't as bright as the first four I completed, but once I got them side-by-side, I am okay with it.....

 What do you think? You can see my other Florabunda blocks here.

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 6

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block six:

Quilted Bag Feet

A dear friend of mine, who is quite creative, recently came to quilt guild with a purse she made. I saw the bottom of it and HAD to take a photo to share with you! Anytime I make a fabric bag, one of my concerns is the protection of the bottom. Store made bags often have feet on them - and I am sure that you can purchase them, just like you can other purse hardware. BUT look at this clever idea my friend had:

It was a very cute bag, and I apologize for not getting more pictures, but I was so darned excited about the buttons, I spent too much talking about them and got distracted from getting the pictures. You can sew the buttons on by machine, if you do it before you construct the bag, but the cool thing is, you can add them at any time after creating the bag.....like now!!! - do you have a defenseless quilted bag walking around without any feet?

Free Motion Quilting - feathers

Sometimes free motion quilting can be so frustrating! The problem is, I am a perfectionist. I also am one of THOSE that thinks if you don't quilt your own quilt, you can't lay claim to making the quilt. WHO AM I TO ARGUE with Eleanor Burns - who "quilts with her credit card!" Problem is, my credit cards are all gone, and we live on cash only.....when I think about shelling out cash to someone else to quilt, well............I would rather buy fabric!

Well, I have quickly gotten to the point of having several quilt tops sitting in my studio, un-quilted. I am DETERMINED to learn to quilt them myself. The perfectionist in me though, won't let me start them! This too goes against the teaching of most free motion quilting teachers....their advice is always practice, practice, practice. and even practice on real quilt tops (GASP!!!) What if I mess it up? Well, if they site there an never get quilted, what good are they anyway?!? (<---those are exclamations of ambivalence.)

This month's free motion quilting challenge with SewCalGal was feathers....who doesn't love them? I know I love them. I tried drawing them, and when you look at them at a distance, some of them weren't too bad, but again, the perfectionist in me reared its ugly head. I had to use a template. Besides, Diane said we could! Okay, so she was encouraging and teach complete free motion, but she did mention templates at one point, so I took that as complete permission.









This template is from one of my absolute most favoritist free quilting template locations.....forestquilting.com - if you haven't been there, be sure to go and collect all of their beautiful free quilting motifs. I used the one called "Feathered Heart Motif"

The pdf says it is for a 12" square, so I needed to reduce it for my 8 1/2" practice piece. To figure out how much to reduce it, I divided my square size, to get the percentage of the original size I needed to print. (The original pattern size 12 divided by 8.5 equals .67 or 67%) On my print settings, I set it to print 67% of original size.

Next, I took my quilt square, and marked the center lines, by folding and marking. I used a light box to align the center lines on my square, with the center mark on the pattern. I then traced once side of my heart. Then I flipped the pattern over, and traced the other side. Note, the disappearing ink pen disappeared too quickly, so I had to revert to the water soluble. The other neat thing about this project is learning to use all those nifty tools I have sunk a lot of money into!

I set my machine up for free motion quilting. This time I spray basted my practice sandwich, as this is a pretty complex motif and I would have a heck of a time working around pens.


I tested my machine out on scrap piece and everything worked fine.....I went to my real piece and YIKES I started having skipped stitches. Since I cleaned my machine, before I started, I knew that wasn't the issue. So, I changed needles - stitching once again worked fine on my scrap piece. Went to my real piece again - and skipped stitches!!! WTH!!!! Yes, I am using expletives, because I HATE reverse sewing.


 
So, to the internet I go.....since I had a new needle, my machine was clean, my tension was fine on my scrap piece, I couldn't figure out what was happening, then it dawned on my, I had a thicker batting on my scrap piece!! I found Diane's advice about skipped stitches in free motion quilting here - and made a new "scrap piece" using the same skinny batting, and voila - problem of skipped stitches solved.

Sorry for the novel here, but I had to get all that out!

Free Block of the Month from Lecien - Block 5

Time to download the next block of this beautiful applique quilt! Click on the photo below, to get block five.

To make you smile......

Because the kitchen remodel, I haven't gotten a lot of quilting done lately, so I wanted to share a couple of photos I took in the last month or so....I think they will make you smile.


I took this photo in the lobby of a hotel we recently checked into....what's wrong with this picture?

The funny thing about this one, is the story that goes with it.....my mother (age 65) and I were riding along and she excitedly read this sign to me - "Over 60? Singles Vacation Ahead!" - you tell me, was this wishful thinking or a case of bad eye sight? Incidentally, she is still married to my father.

Free Motion Quilting - Heart Shaped Leaves

 

Month one of my practice for the January Free Motion Quilitng Project Challenge is completed (which is more than I can say for my kitchen renovation - but I am not bitter!)

The design for this month was heart-shaped leaves. The hard part about this particular design is turning the leaves in different directions. Being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted to evenly distribute the direction of the leaves.









I practiced drawing the heart shaped leaves first.












 

I then drew something of a  compass on my paper, to practice drawing the leaves at multiple angles, without moving the paper. After looking at the picture I just took of this drawing I see another problem....can you see it?  ALL of my practice drawing leaves faced inward to the center of the compass.


I think the fact that there is a point on the end of the leaf, makes it more difficult for me. I seemed to be obsessed with he direction of the point. Had it been a curved leaf on the bottom, the directional thing would have been easier....does that make any sense at all to you?








I then moved to my practice quilt sandwich. I used an old practice quilt, so that is why you see the gold stipple quilting in addition to the leaves.

Notice the burr in the thread....a speeding problem. I have to make myself slow down in this process.

.

This is how the tension looked on the back to start with.....notice the thread "burr"

I think I finally got a decent tension, after some adjustments.....my bobbin thread is the non-gold stitching you see here.

Are you participating the Free Motion Quilting Challenge? You can join us at any point, and it is a great opportunity to challenge yourself with a new skill.