Layer Cake Block Three with Sarah Vanderburgh

I think this post might be late.  I am having too much fun looking at our flickr pool. 

-- tearing myself away --

Block number three is brought to us today by Sarah Vanderburgh, or Sarah Vee, as she goes by on her blog http://sewjoy.blogspot.com/  Sarah is from Canada.  I have enjoyed meeting Sarah, and I'm sure you will too.  Here's Sarah --

I’m really excited to be participating as a designer in the Layer Cake Quilt Along! I’ll tell you a bit about me first, then more about my block.

Quilting has brought me joy for 14 years. I started as a newlywed, anxiously dealing with fertility issues. I discovered quilting through my husband’s granny’s old quilt magazines. I never looked back! Self-taught, I started by designing wedding wallhangings and baby quilts for family. I am fascinated by the names of quilt blocks and enjoy reading about the history of women’s lives sewn into quilts.

After purchasing a book by Barbara Brandeburg in 2008, I discovered the online world of quilt blogs. I started my own quilting blog, on my birthday, in 2009. In 2010, I released my first pattern for sale, “Eat with Joy! Placemats”.

I enjoy working with traditional blocks and bright, contemporary fabrics. I began as a patchworker, but have slowly come to love appliqué and, more recently, free form and liberated piecing.

My 9 year old daughter has just begun her quilting journey and my 3 year old son likes to pick out fabrics. My husband is patiently waiting for 2 queen size quilts to be finished for our bedroom - the first one started almost 10 years ago! I am fortunate my family shares my joy of quilting with me, and to live in Northern Ontario, Canada, where I am constantly inspired by the blue sky, green trees, and friendly quilters.

To get ready for writing this blog post about myself, I asked my blog readers what kind of questions they would ask a designer. One question that came up was – what comes first? The fabric or the pattern? For me, it can be either one! I really love the layer cake I picked to use for the quilt along – it’s Prayer Flag by April Cornell. I wanted to save it to make a special pattern for it – something that would feature all of the prints. When Konda put out the call for designers for the Layer Cake Quilt Along, I knew I had found my design! Sampler quilts are a great way to feature many different prints from the same line of fabric. I am really happy that I chose to use my fabrics to make these blocks – and really happy to have the chance to design a block for it!

For the Layer Cake Quilt Along I made a basket block. Basket blocks are pretty traditional and usually include some appliqué – not this one! The challenge here was to cut the pieces from 10 inch squares. I’ve included some pretty detailed cutting photos to help you make sure you get all of your pieces from your chosen fabrics. I hope my fabric tips help you in creating your own sampler baskets – it’s a great block to feature one of the large prints from your line.

I’ve challenged myself to make 2 quilts for the Layer Cake Quilt Along! Other quilters have too – you can read about them in one of the discussion threads at the quilt along Flickr group. For my second quilt, I’m using fat quarters and I’ve included separate cutting instructions for using fat quarters. You also have the opportunity to use only 2 fabrics with the fat quarter option.

I’m looking forward to seeing your blocks!
With Joy,
Sarah Vee

Thanks Sarah!

CLICK HERE for the instructions to Block Three.

Sarah made two versions of the block.  One for layer cakes:
 

And one for fat quarters:  (If you are using fat quarters, you can make either version.  If you are using layer cakes, you can make the fat quarter version only if you use more than two fabrics.)

And here's my block:  (Maybe I should have warned my designers that sometimes I don't follow directions very well -- on purpose -- even when the directions are my own.  I know lots of you have personalized these blocks as well.  It's all good!)

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) I will post my Block TWO. 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?

Sarah has graciously donated a Pat Sloan book called Fast-Forward Quilts.  The quilts in the book are made using precuts!  Perfect for our quilt along!

I also have a couple charm packs that need to find a new home.  So get your blocks posted, and I will see you tomorrow!

Block Three Winners!

Winners, winners, who are the winners?!?

The first winner who gets a book from Kathy Skomp of Lavendar Lime -- yebbyanny

And the second winner who gets a jelly roll from me -- aquiltlady

Congratulations!

These are the Flickr usernames.  I have emailed both winners via Flickr mail.  I have also posted their blocks to help identify the winners.  Email me to claim your prize.

Remember, if you didn't get your block done, no worries.  There will be another drawing in two weeks.  Any blocks posted between now and then will be entered into the next drawing.  We've had quite a few start just this past week and are caught up already. 

Thanks for playing everyone!  Keep on quilting!

Block Two Winners

Time for more winners -- yeah!  This time there were three prizes, so we have three winners!

The three winners for Block Two are: 

for a jelly roll from the Fat Quarter Shop -- northernstitcher

for a $10 gift certificate from Debbie Maddy -- hummingbird treasures

and for a second $10 gift certificate from Debbie Maddy -- betsyws

Congratulations!

These are the Flickr usernames. I have emailed both winners via Flickr mail which should come to you whatever email you signed up with. I posted the blocks to help identify the winners. Contact me to get your prize.

Remember, if you didn't get your block done, no worries, there is still time. There will be another drawing in two weeks. Any blocks posted between now and then will be entered in the next drawing.



Thanks for playing everyone! Keep on quilting!

Block Three with Debbie Maddy

I am so pleased to introduce you to Debbie Maddy!  Debbie is someone who I didn't know I knew.  Since she said she would be one of designers, I have seen her everywhere.  Now that you have met Debbie, maybe you will too.  Thanks Debbie!

My name is Debbie Maddy and I live in a small town in north Texas with my husband of 40 years. We have two grown sons. Probably like many of you, I learned to sew as a young girl. I did all kinds of needlework and was a garment sewer until I learned to quilt. My first quilt was a king size sampler cut with paper templates and hand stitched. When I discovered the rotary cutter I felt like I had been riding a horse and had bought a new car. I soon learned how much I enjoyed sharing my knowledge. I now travel to lecture and teach for guilds and shops around the country. I have tried to put a lot of energy into teaching new quilters and designing quilts using what I call my No Diamonds / No “Y” Seams technique. The quilts are based on old designs that used diamonds, but are made with half square triangles.


My pattern company is called Calico Carriage Quilt Designs®.


My first pattern was called Carpenter’s Star and is great for beginning and experienced quilters. I now have 34 patterns and 6 books.


I was invited to tape a segment of Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson and that was a wonderful adventure!

I started my blog (http://www.calicocarriage.com/blog/ ) because I really enjoy sharing my travels and experiences with others. I like to share the pictures of classes to inspire others to start something new and to share the fun of taking a class. I share the places I travel to because I enjoy reading about where other people have been.


I share recipes and restaurant information because food is a very important part of our lives.


My youngest son and his wife are both professional chefs.

As you can see my life is never boring.


I hope to meet many of you on my blog or in my travels.


Please check out my itinerary to see if I will be in your area.


Happy Quilting!


Debbie Maddy

And now here's block three!  CLICK HERE for the instructions to Debbie's block she named In & Out Block! 

This picture is the block Debbie made.  I will get mine up here today.  I got in late last night after an impromptu trip out of town all week so I didn't get my block made.  As you some of you can tell, this block will practically sew itself!  Can't wait to see what it looks like in all it variations.

Reminder on the drawings --

Late tonight I will post my pictures on Flickr.  Whoever has their blocks posted before mine will be entered in the drawing tomorrow.  There will actually be three prizes tomorrow, three chances to win.  Yeah!!!!

Let the sewing begin!