Simply Charming Runner???

On Saturday I join the ranks of those who I have often called crazy.  I will be running my first half marathon.  I have been training since January.  I still don't know quite how I feel about it.  I was doing pretty good until spring break and spring market deadlines. 

The course is through some local gardens (that have a paid entrance so I have never been to them) and a golf course that is right next to the gardens.  It should be a scenic run.  Hopefully not a scenic walk.

I'm the oldest of six kids.  Now I have had six kids and since last summer have been trying to get back in shape.  My younger sister and sister in law both ran half marathons last year.  It took me longer to get ready being at least 10 years older than them. 

Well, now it's my turn.  My mother designed a t-shirt for me to wear when I ran.  Here is the design:

Fortunately, with the software she has, the design wasn't quite coming together right, so she asked me to lay it out.  I didn't print the shirt.  My mother will tell you that I have always been a little obstinate.  But I get it from her :) 

I just couldn't wear a shirt that said I was Simply Charming!  I thought I would share it here because you are the ones who will appreciate her creativity!  Turns out it is suppose to be cold Saturday so I will be wearing my jacket anyway. 

Wish me luck!  Good luck to those of you who I'm sure also have races this weekend or next.  It's that time of year!  May we all be able to walk on Sunday!

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks

Just got my copy of the new Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks! 

My block is #285.  I also made an entire quilt out of the block that is in the Designer Gallery on page 21!  Those of you who have been quilting along with me may think the block looks almost familiar. . . .

I will save that story for the blog tour though!  I get to post next Wednesday, May 4th.

It was fun to see so many blocks, but it was even more fun to recognize the name of many of the designers from our quilt alongs -- Vickie Eapen, Scott Hansen, Toby Lischko, Celine Perkins, Kari Ramsay, Sarah Vanderburgh, and Vanessa Wilson!  Hope I didn't miss anyone.  That was quite a list!

Simply Charming Modern

It official!  My new book Simply Charming Modern is officially at the printer! 

That means I should have it just in time for Market -- barely.  It was 18 quilts in it -- 8 patterns plus a bonus all in two colors -- one modern and one traditional.

The quilt on the cover is called Surround Sound.  The white and orange quilt is made using Urban Circus, and the baby size quilt is made using the last three Fig Tree fabric lines.

I will start giving a preview of the quilts in the book.

Dizzy

Amanda Herring, one of the fabric designers for Riley Blake, otherwise known as the Quilted Fish, got a hair brained idea that has left me a little dizzy.  She wanted to spotlight Utah designers at Quilt Market which is here in Utah the middle of May.  She asked all those who wanted to participate to make a doll block.  I asked her if I could piece a border instead since I don't like applique. 

There ended up being two quilts made -- that are being given away at Market -- , so two of us are doing borders.  The problem was that when I got the quilt I couldn't figure out a pieced border I liked with all the appliqued blocks.  The quilt just needed an applique border.  Ugh! 

Yesterday I got an acute case of motion sickness from blanket stitching 20 of these swirls onto the border of this quilt!  I theoretically understand the allure of applique.  I just don't enjoy it.  It really did fit the quilt, and I am pleased with the way it turned out.

The doll blocks were absolutely AMAZING!!!  Lila Tueller made a doll that looks just like her.  She's wearing a coat with fur on the cuffs and jewel looking buttons.  Cori Blunt always does the most incredible applique.  She has her block posted on her blog HERE.  With all the beads and baubles and adornment -- mini sunglasses even! -- I am so glad I am not quilting this quilt!  They have got someone who loves to do this kind of quilting.  I can't wait to see what she does!

To get the whole story you can click my new blog button on the side bar or go to:  http://alldolledupinslc.blogspot.com/

My hat is off to those of you who enjoy blanket stitching.  Next time maybe I will sub-contract out my applique work!  (Or I just won't do cute motion-sickness-causing swirls!)

Block Twelve Winners!

Alrighty!  Here are our last block winners.  BUT not our last winners.  The LAST drawing will be on

MAY 3

The May 3 drawing will be for finished tops ONLY.  You can get into the drawing twice by posting a picture of the pieced top and another if you are able to get it quilted.  Just pictures of the blocks together don't count for this drawing.  They are fun to see.  Go ahead and post them if you want, but they don't count for the drawing.

FYI -- I have THREE layer cakes waiting for this drawing.

Another FYI -- counting the three prizes that will be given away in two weeks, 40 prizes will have been given away during this quilt along!  Thanks to all the designers who helped make this possible!

Now to the prizes today --

The first winner who gets one of my patterns is:

nirak59!

The second winner who gets one of my pattern books is:

Lismar02!

The third winner who gets a layer cake is:

lab_quilt!

Congratulations!!!  Email me (kluckau@moosequilts.com) your mailing information and your flickr name, and we will get these right out to you!

Happy Quilting!

Schedule

I just noticed that the schedule was now hiding down a couple posts, so I am reposting it where it can be found easily. 

Tonight will be the LAST BLOCK drawing! 

Tues, April 19 -- Block Twelve winners drawn -- this will be the last drawing for blocks, and I have a layer cake for this drawing as well as a couple other prizes. This is the time to get caught up with your blocks!


Wed, April 20 -- Block Twelve winners posted

Tues, May 3 -- Last drawing -- this drawing will be for any quilt TOPS that are finished. They can be quilted, but they don't have to be. In fact, post one picture when you get the top done. Then if you get it quilted and bound, post another picture.

FYI -- I've been saving a few layer cakes special for this drawing.

Happy Quilting!

Layer Cake Finishing Instructions

So I know I usually post these first thing in the morning, but I have been working on these finishing instructions all day -- actually all week because I got the quilt made, quilted (not bound yet), but photographed! 

I think Gari made an appropriate comment that this Layer Cake being a little more of a challenge than the Jelly Roll Quilt Along.  I think some of this was because I didn't include any background fabric, so we used every inch of fabric in the layer cake.  This creates design issues because sometimes you have to work with what you have, and it isn't exactly what you were initially thinking.

I would love to hear your thoughts, good and bad, about the quilt along over all.  I am curious if those who used the fat quarter bundle had the same issues as those who used fat quarters.  I am looking forward to doing another quilt along and right now I am going three directions:  1) doing another jelly roll QA, 2)  doing a fat quarter QA, or 3)  do a mini block QA using scraps or maybe charms or even a layer cake.  I think a layer cake would be oodles of fabric for a smaller block.  So I would love to know what you think.

Anyway -- on to finishing this quilt!

I changed what I was doing with this quilt many times because the layer cake didn't go as far as I thought.  Here's my quilt: 

I like the way it turned out.  My blocks seemed a little wild, but I think they really came together.  (Sorry the picture has a light spot.) 

Click HERE for the finishing instructions.

You are welcome to use my finishing instructions or use the layout of your choice.  Check out the Jelly Roll Quilt Along flickr group for some pictures of alternate layouts.  I don't have directions for the creative layouts quilter's cam up with, but there's some fun ideas for you there.

Happy Quilting!

Block Eleven Winners!

You want winners!  We've got FOUR winners today!

The first winner of one of Joan's prizes is:

Wilma's Craft Corner!

Her pictures are disabled on flickr, so I can't show her block here.

The second winner of one of Joan's prizes is:

barbarakibler23!

The first winner of one of my prizes is:

you rip what you sew!

And the fourth winner, who also gets one of my prizes is:

susanriddell33!

Congratulations!!!  Email me (kluckau@moosequilts.com) your mailing information and your flickr name, and we will get these right out to you!

Happy Quilting!

Block Twelve with Joan Lucchese

Our last block!  I almost can't believe it!  Stay tuned until the end of the post, and I will let you know how the rest of this is going to play out.

Right now, let's get right to our new block.  Block twelve is brought to us by Joan Lucchese, also known as CaliQuilter.  Here's Joan:

Hi, Layer Cake Quilters!

My name is Joan Lucchese and I design quilt and embroidery patterns under the name CaliQuilter. I live with my husband and four children in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I originally learned to sew out of necessity. I was raised in a small farm town in central Nevada and if I wanted something new to wear I either had to order it out of a catalog or make it. By freshman year of high school I was making all of my own clothes. My mother taught me to sew four-patch and nine-patch squares out of my leftover scraps of fabric and my first quilt was born. Each patch represented a little bit of my history. When I was in my late 20’s and living in California, my apartment was burglarized and they took my quilt. It was the only thing they took that I really mourned. It wasn’t replaceable.

I made quilts for my children when they were little, but took a break from sewing while I worked as a court reporter, volunteered in my kids’ schools and did all the things a busy wife and mom does. My youngest is now a senior in high school and I will soon have an empty nest and am excited that I now have more time to devote to the creative side of my life.

Over the last two years I have started designing my own quilt and embroidery patterns. I also make custom ring bearer pillows out of vintage linens which I sell through local bridal shops. I have learned that it takes a staggering amount of time to turn an idea into a completed pattern! Konda has written several quilting books in that same period of time, so I am in complete awe of her abilities.

I hope you will enjoy making my block. I want to thank Konda for giving me the opportunity to participate in this quilt-along as a new designer. I hope you will visit my blog at http://www.caliquilter.blogspot.com/ and follow my creative adventures.

Joan

Click HERE for instructions to Joan's block.

Thanks Joan!

Here are two versions of Joan's block.  Note that these blocks show a cornerstone where the thin strips intersect, but the pattern pieces this area using a quicker method.

Here's my version of Joan's block.  It's a little wild.

So what happens next?

Well, any pictures posted in the flickr group by tonight will be entered into the first drawing. About 10 ish tonight (Mountain Time) or tomorrow morning, I will post my Block ELEVEN. All blocks BEFORE mine are those entered into the first drawing. It doesn't matter which block - just the one's posted before mine. If you post your block AFTER mine, then it will be entered into the next drawing. I will post the winners tomorrow.

What's up for grabs this time?

Joan has donated one of her patterns and three fat quarters that will go to TWO lucky quilters!  I will match that so we will have FOUR prizes this time!

So what happens next, after that?


Here's the schedule:
Tues, April 5th -- Block Twelve posted -- done!
Wed, April 6th -- Block Eleven winners posted
Thurs, April 7th -- Layout directions posted

Tues, April 19 -- Block Twelve winners drawn -- this will be the last drawing for blocks, and I have a layer cake for this drawing as well as a couple other prizes.  This is the time to get caught up with your blocks!
Wed, April 20 -- Block Twelve winners posted

Tues, May 3 -- Last drawing -- this drawing will be for any quilt TOPS that are finished.  They can be quilted, but they don't have to be.  In fact, post one picture when you get the top done.  Then if you get it quilted and bound, post another picture.  
FYI -- I've been saving a few layer cakes special for this drawing. 

I'm sure I have forgotten something, so let me know.

Happy Quilting!