Visit Mama Spark on Moda Bake Shop

Mama Spark who posted our first Mini Quilt Tuesday:

http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2012/09/day-one-of-simply-mini-blog-tour.html

 

is on the Moda Bake Shop today!

 http://www.modabakeshop.com/2012/09/charmalade-quilt.html#more

 

 

I have been thinking about spring with the Springtime in the Rockies blog tour. Mama Spark's pattern is a great spring quilt! Check it out!

Springtime in the Rockies Blog Tour

Thanks for visiting all of us on the Springtime in the Rockies! Most of the blogs are still open for comments. Check them out right away for a chance to win:

 

Here's the list: http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2012/09/springtime-in-rockies-blog-tour.html

 

 

This book has been a long time in the making. I love how Kansas City Star put it together. Just opening it feels like a breath of spring! The pages are full of pictures of the rocky mountains that are gorgeous! Take a quilt vacation in it's pages!

 

 

This is a picture I took that I was hoping would be in the book, but I didn't even submit it when I saw the pictures they already had. This is up the road from my house where I go walking and running. I love the juxtaposition of the blossoms and the snow!

 

 

What I love most about this book is the variety of fun spring projects! Each of the designers uses different techniques reflecting their different personalities. There's something for every type of quilter!

 

Here are my projects:

 

My first project is called True North. It is made with charm packs - my first true love! However, it's applique - yes, the A-word! I love how it turned out, but it was very difficult for me.

 

My second quilt is a queen size quilt made with fat quarters. This one looks tricky, but it was easier than the smaller applique quilt!

 

For my third project, I tried a new technique. I designed the quilt pattern a long time ago, and it didn't work out for what I had intended. It was perfect for this book! I tried a new technique. First, I made thewall hanging and quilted the flowers and the basket. (The quilt design is in the book.) Then, colored it with watercolor pencils. I was surprised how easy it was! You could color it with fabric markers or crayons or paint. I loved the watercolor pencils! I even washed it, and the colors were still vibrant.

 

We are giving away 17 copies of this beautiful book. One copy on each blog.

 

To win a copy of the book here, leave a comment and tell me if you have been to the rocky mountains. I will randomly pick a winner on Friday.

The First Quilt Along Winners!

The first winners for the It's a Mini Quilt Along have been chosen (by random.org)!

 

These FIVE winners will each receive a Snow Day Batik charm pack!

 

 

The winners are:

 

Sherry

 

Grendelskin

 

Anne's House

 

Linda

 

Cathy

 

Congratulations! I have emailed each of you!

 

There are some fun quilts already on the Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/groups/2124940@N22/. The next prize drawing will be from the Flickr group.

 

Happy Quilting!

Day One of the Simply Mini Quilt Along

Hi, I'm Pam Lincoln and you can find me over at Mama Spark's World. I have been quilting for about 7 years now and am as addicted now as I was when I made my first quilt!  I am a scientist by day and quilt every spare minute I can. I have been married for 29 years to my husband, Chris.  We have three wonderful children, 2 daughters and a son.  We have one dog and are owned by 5 cats. Life is full and busy at our house but there is always time for quilting!  I have a great project coming out on Friday so be sure to stop over and check out my blog then!

 I have made so many friends in blogland and Konda was one of them. I actually got to meet her 2 years ago at spring market.  It was an amazing trip and I made a lot of new friends, including Konda.

 I am so thrilled that Konda asked me to be a part of the Simply Mini Quilt Along.  When she asked us to choose a quilt I knew exactly which one I wanted to try first so that's the one I chose.  They are all fabulous but this one just called my name.

That's the one. Mosaic.  Isn't it adorable??  I love all that negative space too.  So much space to practice your quilting!  I couldn't decide which fabrics to use.  Should I do a light background or dark.  Decisions, decisions.  I was working on another project and had some of that charm pack left over, calling my name so that's what I went with.

It always seems to go so much quicker once you choose your fabrics doesn't it?  Konda's directions to make this little gem were so easy.  I actually cut everything and laid the whole thing out on my cutting board (of course I forgot to take a picture of that!)  No large design wall necessary, this is the beauty of making a mini.  The entire layout fits on your cutting mat!  Perfect!!

I wanted to practice my straight line quilting and using striped fabric just seemed to lend itself to that.
I made lots of lines, unevenly spaced and in different directions.  I hope you like mine and I can't wait to see your versions of this little beauty too!

I  Just LOVE how this turned out!!  Here is a quick pic of the back where you can see the quilting even better!  Notice that little yellow PoP on the border?  Love it!

What fabrics will you choose for your Mosaic?  Are you playing along?  You can get the details and sign up over here.  There are going to be prizes for participating too!!  Don't forget that if you are playing along you need to post photos of your quilt in the Flickr group.  You can post 2 photos that will be eligible for prizes.  One of your quilt top and one of your finished top.

I hope you enjoyed my version of Mosaic and that you have fun participating in our Simply Mini QAL!  Keep watching Konda's blog for the next mini quilt in the QAL!!

If you get a minute, stop over and visit me at my blog, Mama Spark's World

~XOP~

. 

Blog Tour and Quilt Along

Ahh! Too much fun!

 

Have you been blog hopping along?

http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2012/09/springtime-in-rockies-blog-tour.html

 

 

There's three more days and lots of chances to win Springtime in the Rockies!

Stop by each blog and leave a comment!

 

And tomorrow is the first real day of our It's a Mini Quilt Along! Are you ready?!?

 

If you don't have a book, you can get it here: http://www.moosequilts.com/shop/minis.html

 

OR it's still on sale this week 20% off at the Fat Quarter Shop:

http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/2012/09/book-of-month-simply-charming-minis.html

 

Just to recap what's going to happen --

1) Be sure to sign up here:

http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-mini-blog-tour-schedule-and-sign-up.html

to enter the first prize drawing. I will announce these winners on Wednesday, September 26th.

 

2) Tomorrow Pam Lincoln also known as Mama Spark will introduce our first mini quilt.

 

3) Make the same mini quilt in the fabrics of your choice and post the picture(s) on Flickr. If you need help with this, I have two tutorials - Flickr 101 and Flickr 102 that may help.

You can post 2 pictures - one of the quilt top and one of the quilt top after it is quilted and bound. Both of these will be entered in the biweekly drawings. Then just the quilted tops will be eligible for additional prizes! This is the perfect time to practice quilting your own tops!

4) The first drawing for the quilt tops will be October 9th - announced October 10th. You have until then to finish the top that will be announced tomorrow.

My goal is to flood the earth with charm packs - okay, not quite, but I will be giving away around 50 charm packs over the course of the quilt along! Quilt along and win!

Springtime in the Rockies Blog Tour

My new book, Springtime in the Rockies, came out this summer. It is finally time to formally introduce it with a blog tour! The fun starts tomorrow! Books will be given out all along the way. Join the fun!

 

 

Sept 19 - Kansas City Star http://www.pickledish.com/

Sept 20 - Amy Smart http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/

                        Sherri McConnell http://www.aquiltinglife.com/

Sept 21 -  April Mazzoleni http://aprilmaedesigns.com/

                        Maggie Barber http://shortcookie.blogspot.com

Sept 22 - Becky Morganson http://stitchesandsewforth.blogspot.com/

                        Marion McClellan http://myquiltdiet.blogspot.com/

Sept 23 - Emily Herrick http://crazyoldladiesquilts.blogspot.com/

                        Kathy Miller  http://makingitfun.blogspot.com/

Sept 24 - Karlene Riggs http://karleneskreation.blogspot.com/

                        JoyLyn Rigby http://broadbentquiltshop.blogspot.com/

Sept 25 - Margie Ullery http://www.ribboncandyquilts.blogspot.com/

                        Shannon White http://itssewshannon.blogspot.com/

Sept 26 - Machelle Preston http://cherrytreecottagequilts.blogspot.com/

                        Kim Walus http://bittybitsandpieces.blogspot.com/

Sept 27 - Konda Luckau http://moosequilts.blogspot.com

                        Jenifer Dick http://www.42quilts.com/

It's a Mini Blog Tour Schedule and Sign Up

It's a bit late, but today is the day!

 

 

If you plan to participate, in the It's a Mini Quilt Along, comment below. In two weeks will be the first prize drawing from those who comment on this post. Let me know what charm pack you have been itching to use - or what colors if you are using scraps! 

 

Most of the quilts take one charm pack or one charm pack and one fat quarter for background fabric. My goal for this quilt along is to flood the earth with charm packs - or at least the homes of many quilters! Then there will be extra prizes for the quilts that get quilted. This is a perfect time to try your hand at quilting on your sewing machine!

 

Here's the schedule:

Sept 11 - Sign Up

Sept 25 - Mosaic

Oct 9 - Fire and Rain

Oct 23 - Flying Around in Circles

Nov 6 - Quilt Your Top

Nov 20 - Mini Flower Garden

Dec 4 - Criss Cross Applesauce

Dec 18 - Quilt 6

   There's three weeks here for the holidays.

Jan 8 - Quilt 7

Jan 22 - Quilt Your Top

Feb 5 - Quilt 8

Feb 19 - Quilt 9

Mar 5 - Quilt 10

Mar 19 - Quilt 11

Apr 2 - Quilt Your Top

Apr 16 - Final Drawing for Finished Quilts

 

As in other quilt alongs, you will get to meet guest quilters each time. And to enter the drawings, post your pictures on the flickr group:

 

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2124940@N22/

 

Feel free to post pictures of fabric you are going to be using, but they won't be entered in the drawings. Two pictures of each quilt will be entered in the drawings: 1) Quilt Top and 2) Quilted Mini Quilt.

 

I'm sure I've forgotten something. Please ask me on here on on flickr and we'll get it straightened out!

Simply Charming Minis Featured and on Sale!

The Jolly Jabber has featured Simply Charming Minis as their Book of the Month for September!

 

 

I am thrilled, of course, but it gets even better! That means that for the entire month of September the book is 20% off at the Fat Quarter Shop!

 

If you haven't gotten your book yet for the It's a Mini Quilt Along - that starts tomorrow - eek! - this is the perfect chance to pick one up!

 

And about that Quilt Along - -

 

Tomorrow I will post the sign up/schedule/initial blog post. We will start sewing in two weeks. Stay tuned for tomorrow!