A Layer Cake and some Selvages

I was inspired by this blog:
http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/

and all that she and others were making with selvages. (I have always spelled it selvedge, and I have since learned that both spellings are correct.)


I ordered her book on Amazon,

but couldn't wait for the book to get here. (Oh--I have since received the book, and I do like it. Lots of good pictures.)

First I tried making a half log cabin with the square in one corner instead of the center. I had a bright center and was putting selvages on two sides of the square. Two blocks later, and I wasn't loving it. It was going too slow. Often when I experiment with something I want quick-ish results.

Many of you know me and my love of precuts. Well I grabbed a layer cake. (This one happens to be 9 by Sanae.) and started sewing. Two blocks later, and I was loving it this time. It was fun. Something that made it more fun was responses I got from other quilters. I had a few blocks done and showed them around and my friends started giving me their selvages. So now not only is the quilt a selvage quilt, but it also like a signature quilt -- my friend's "signatures" are there in their selvages. TOO FUN!

Here's the picture:

Not the best picture. It is smaller than it looks because it is on a toddler bed. It is a good throw size.

One of these days I think I will have to make a selvage bag, but that project is definitely for another day.

Winner!

It was so much fun to see which patterns all of you liked!

The winner of the book is Indywriter!

Congratulations!

Email me (kluckau@moosequilts.com) your address, and I will get that right out to you.

Thanks for playing everyone.

New Book has Arrived! and the Promised Freebie!

I love my printer! He always delivers my books on time or in this case, a day early!


Simply Charming FUN has arrived!

Here are the rest of the projects in the book~

Here is Charming Stars and a Bonus Star Throw:




Charming Lattice:

Charming Stripes:

and Five and Dime:

Now for the Freebie!

1) Leave a comment and let me know which project is your favorite (at least your favorite right now -- my favorite always changes.) to enter the drawing for a free book.

2) Put a link to this post on your website and let me know for a second chance at the book.

You have until next Friday, Sept 25 to let me know! Good luck!

Simply Charming FUN Preview #3

Here's one of the pages from the centerfold:


The star quilt, Autumn Nights is made from the Moda fabric line Essence by Sandy Gervais. I love the way these two blocks complement each other. This fabric made the perfect autumn quilt.

The lower quilt, Charming Rick Rack, is made from another Moda fabric line Mill House Inn by Fig Tree Quilts. It is surprising how easy this quilt goes together. The renewed interest in rick rack inspired this book. Rick rack is so fun and interesting. It has a playful nature that makes me smile.

Simply Charming FUN Preview #2

Here is the quilt on the back cover of the book. Love hearts? Take two charm squares and some background fabric and voila! This is a sweet quilt. Charm squares make it scrappy, fast, and fun!

This quilt was made by a friend of mine, Karlene Riggs, with the Moda fabric line "Candy Kisses" by Sandy Gervais. Sandy Gervais has a new line of fabric due in stores in December called "L'amour" that would also be great for this quilt.

Of course, if you have reds and pink fabrics in your stash, then by all means, use those! And who says hearts have to be red? This would be fun in other colors too; just make the nine patch lighter than the hearts so your hearts pop.

Simply Charming FUN Preview #1

In honor of the release of Simply Charming FUN, I have decided to show some of the projects from the book as a preview. This is the rest of the quilt from the cover. It is called Charming Little Fish. My friend, Michelle Hansen sewed this quilt. She was the first person I thought of to make this because I know she loves batiks. Batiks are perfect for this quilt. It makes it look like an ocean in the tropics.

This would also be a great scrap quilt. I wonder what it would look like in some of the oceanic prints like Odyssea or Neptune. What about brighter ocean prints like Snorkel by Cosmo Cricket for Andover Fabrics? Or what about a realistic ocean print? Lots of fun ideas.

Michelle had several requests for this quilt as she was making it. The little fish just fly (or swim) together.

Book at the Printers

Simply Charming FUN is now at the printers! I just signed the proofs today. That means the book is on its way to press. Yeah! The book should be done and at my house Sept 18th or 21st if the schedule holds.

Signing the proof is the scariest part of the process for me. That means I get to spend lots of money, and if there is a mistake it is all my fault. EEK! By this point I have had the patterns tested and had checked and rechecked a gazillion times. Mostly I pray that if there is a mistake, it isn't a big one. It's like going on a trip, I know I am going to forget something, I just hope it isn't something important.

Remember --

Just for fun I will give one of my books away when I get them.

Stay tuned towards the end of September -- should be around the 21st -- for the freebie!

IBOL Update

I have to report that I did get two boxes sent out Saturday! Today was the last day to get them in the mail. I just looked on the website and saw that there had been 500 boxes received. Can't wait to see what the number is in 10 days when all the last minute folks like me have their boxes arrive.

Iraqi Bundles of Love

I first heard about this project at Sew, Mama, Sew! a week or two ago. There is an army major stationed in Iraq, Major Art LaFlamme, whose wife is a quilter. He has asked any quilter who wants to help, to send him quilt supplies (or knitting supplies) that he will take to Iraqi ladies. Wanted to help then, but didn't.

I got an email about it today from Karey Bresenhad, the director of the International Quilt Festival in Houston, forwarded through my local quilt guild. They have formed The Festival Brigade to help with this service opportunity. They say the deadline to mail the packages is Sept 7, but that's Labor Day, so I guess the deadline is THIS SATURDAY!

There are instructions on how to package these boxes and suggestions on what to put in them at the official website. Here is the link to the main page. The address is not on the website as the deadline is soon and Major LaFlamme doesn't want packages delivered when he isn't there to see that they get to their destination. You can email me (kluckau@moosequilts.com), and I will email you the address, or you can leave a comment on the official website and Major LaFlamme will send you the address.

Here is a quote about the distribution from Major LaFlamme:
"Some would be delivered by US forces, to local individuals and to local groups and small businesses who have had micro grants or loans from either the US or the Iraqi government. I see this as reinforcing good with more good. Some would also go out with US forces, to places like rural villages, camps for displaced persons, orphanages (which often means single moms who are without tribal men to provide for them), and the like. And some would go to our partners in the Iraqi security forces or police.

They would work with their subordinate units and local tribal leaders to then get the stuff out to those who can use it. This is important, as it does things that range from letting them engage the locals in ways other than questioning or arrests, to showing the locals that the Iraqi government, by proxy, understands and is working to meet their needs. It's not the same as electricity 24 hours a day, but it shows that the government understands and is trying."


I am setting a goal to walk downstairs and bundle up some fabric that I haven't used for years and don't plan on using anymore and send it on. I can send at least one box. Can you?