Block Twelve Winners -- and a note about the last drawings

Wow!  The last block is officially finished!  Love seeing all the finished quilts coming in -- especially all the different settings!  So fun! 

We have four winners today.  The first three will get one of my patterns.  I guess they will be a surprise since I need to get on the ball and get them on my website so they can be purchased!  The fourth one will get the jelly roll. 

The winner of the first pattern is:

mountain1girl!

The winner of the second pattern is:

sjokoquilt!

The winner of the third pattern is:

faith_hope_love_grace!

and the winner of the jelly roll is:

a Quilt Lady!

I will be contacting the winners via Flickr Mail.  Please send me your mailing address either via Flickr Mail or to my email address kluckau@moosequilts.com so I can mail you your prizes! 

and one order of business:

NOTE:
I have noticed some of you wondering about quilting your quilt.  I quilted my swanky quilt with an overall floral design.  It turned out nice.  As a machine quilter I have lots of ideas of how to quilt these quilts.  It isn't very fun to read out them though, and it largely depends on the fabrics used.  SO --

if you happen to get your quilt quilted in the next two weeks, please post a picture of your quilt that shows the quilting to the Flickr group to give everyone some ideas.  That also gives you another chance to win.  There is another jelly roll up for grabs in our last drawing! 

AND don't forget to add your name in the comments of this post: http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2010/08/another-drawing-for-jelly-roll.html.  That drawing will be in two weeks also. 

Thanks!!!

Block Twelve with Scott Hansen

Block Twelve! WOW! All of a sudden that happened quickly. We've got a great last block for you. It was designed by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios.

Scott and I "met" in a way that only quilters could meet.  One of my quilting friends did a doll quilt swap and Scott was her swap partner.  So I looked online to see who Blue Nickel Studios was.  I know some of you know Scott, but for those of you who don't think you know Scott, you may know Scott through his quilts.  Hop over to his blog and see if you recognize his work.

Now from Scott:

Hi everyone, I'm Scott Hansen and the person behind the Blue Nickel Studios name....which you may or may not have heard of ....but as time goes on I hope you will hear more and more of the Blue Nickel. I have been quilting since 1993 pretty regularly, although my very first quilt was back in 1976 or so when I was really into Americana, and wanted a "crazy" quilt. My mom knew very little about quilting, and that first quilt that she helped me with was tied...and weighs a ton! I am not sure what we used for batting, but it is nothing like what we have these days. In the mid-80's I picked up counted cross-stitch to keep my hands busy (I always need something to do) and then in the early 90's, I discovered I could accomplish bigger, more useful, and faster items with quilting. That and we had babies popping up all around us in our social circles (including 3 of our own)

I have always been creatively minded, but somewhere along the way, a lot of that got somewhat pushed back. Being a man, creativity is not so much applauded as is productivity, and I could not get the two to co-exist for many decades. Now I am working on remedying that. Back in 1995 or so, I was seriously thinking about leaving my life in retail for a different life in quilt-shop retail but never had the upfront $$ to get started, and didn't want to borrow money. Somewhere along the way, I decided that I would almost rather design than run a shop, but that may come along eventually.

Through a long slow chain of Divine events, I am now at the point where I have been professionally designing quilts for the fabric companies of Free Spirit, Michael Miller, and Robert Kaufman so far and I have an upcoming Moda Bake Shop project as well. On the websites of those first three companies, you can find the free downloadable patterns that I have done for them (there is also a link on my blog to make them easier to find). I have been published now in more magazines than I can remember....but if I was to take the time, I could still probably count them on my fingers...(I think). I have four more coming out this fall and winter with 4 different magazines. I am also working on self-publishing patterns that will start off in PDF form selling online only, and as time goes on, getting them actually printed on paper and in shops all over the world. The block that I have designed for this Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along is going to be one of my first patterns with three different layouts in three separate color schemes. You can follow my blog http://www.bluenickelstudios.com/ for news on when and where those will be available.

Besides magazines, I am also one of 30 men featured in Joe Cunningham's upcoming book Men and the Art of Quiltmaking, and I am thrilled that Joe included me in that book, as there are a lot of "bigger" names in the book as well, but there still aren't that many of us guys in the world of quilting (although I KNOW there are more than 30!!) I try to keep my blog fairly fresh with entries every so often, sometimes 2-3 times a week, sometimes I miss a few weeks, if things get really crazy around here with home projects, teenager stuff, or quilting deadlines. I still have that DayJob in retail that won't pay me if I don't show up either! :) You can always sign up for email prompts that tell you when I post if you want on the right sidebar of my blog.


I was very happy to be invited by Konda to join in with the fun on this quilt-a-long, and hope to see you stop by my blog at http://www.bluenickelstudios.com/. If you stop by before the 5th of August be sure to join in the naming contest for the Blue Nickel Prop Girls here on this link http://bluenickelstudios.com/?p=2191 Fat Quarters and a Layer Cake bundle are being offered as prizes. Also check out post #240 which as I write this isn't done yet, but it will have a prize that goes with Konda's quilt along as well. You know, I could just go on and on, but as it is an early Sunday morning, and it is the end of a week of wonderful vacation, I am just going to say thanks to Konda for the wonderful opportunity to meet you all, and please do stop by the Blue Nickel Studios site as often as you like, I love the company.

And now for our LAST BLOCK!  Here are Scott's pictures:  (He must be an over-achiever because he made three different blocks!)

Click HERE for instructions to Scott's block. 

Thanks Scott!

And since we love seeing how different each block can look, here are my blocks!  First with Attitude Girls,

and then with Swanky.  In each case I used the background fabric as the -- well where the plain white is in Attitude Girls.

Drawing tomorrow morning for Block Eleven!  We have two prizes again -- one from Scott and one from me!  Yipee!  (Tomorrow I will tell you what I have planned for the rest of the schedule.)

Update:  Yes, sorry, forgot to mention. . . . the alternate color schemes were causing problems with the pdf so Scott took them out of the pdf.  The pictures that were there are those you see above.  Thanks!

Block Nine Winners!

Winners, winners, we have some winners! 

Oh, but first, super quick, I've gotten some questions regarding putting the quilt together.  I will be providing those instructions after the last block.  I haven't decided on the timing yet.  I had been planning to give it to you the usual two weeks after the last block.  Lately I have been thinking about giving it to you sooner.  Maybe I will give it to you after the winners for the last block is announced.  I think that is what I will do.  Any objection?

Okay, so now the winners. . . .

First, the winner of Kari Ramsay's 12 Days of Christmas jelly roll is:

iambuzzysma!

And the winner of the jelly roll from me is:

laurajo06!

And now for the fine print:

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 (kluckau@moosequilts.com) 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.

Thanks for playing everyone! Keep on quilting!

Prize Drawing Postponed 24 Hours

Hope you don't mind.  With all the confusion there was today, I thought it would be nice to delay the drawing until tomorrow night.  There are two jelly rolls on the line.  I hope the information I just posted will help with the confusion and all of you who wanted to get your block done for this drawing will be able to. 

I will be randomly picking one of the fabulous blocks on the flickr site tomorrow (Tuesday) night instead of right now. 

Thanks for playing!

Block Ten Tips

My apologies.  Kari asked me to look over her instructions before I posted them.  I said I would, but I don't know what happened to last week.  I didn't look over her instructions.  My bad.  The fabric requirements, the cutting instructions, and the diagrams are all correct.  If you just followed the pictures, your block would turn out fine (that only helps if you have quilted enough to be able to follow the pictures).  There were a couple things that needed clarification.  So let's get it figured out together! 

1)  Fabric A and D are the same so there really is only 3 jelly roll strips used plus the background. 

2)  The block instructions show the corner squares one way and her block shows them the other.  Which way should you do them?  Which ever way you want!  I got my blocks made today.  I did one each way in case that helped you make up your mind. 

3)  Just make the corner blocks like it says and rotate the blocks.  Your seams will be going a different direction than the diagram.  That doesn't matter.  Take a look at my blocks.  The seams rotate. 

4)  This is actually the one that makes the biggest difference.  In Step 2, you need to make 2 pieces that look EXACTLY like the diagram.  These 2 pieces should be the same fabric.  Using the other fabric, sew the squares on with the seam going in the opposite direction.  That is how to make it look like figure 3 when the two different fabrics are sewn together. 

5)  This goes along with the previous one.  In steps 4 and 5, once again 2 pieces need to be sewn exactly as shown in step 4 and 2 need to be sewn on in the opposite direction.  Here's the part you need to know -- if fabric B was sewn exactly like Figure 2, then it needs to be fabric C that is sewn exactly like Figure 4.  The long piece and the short piece need to be sewn in the opposite direction.  I hope that makes sense.

Now that we have that figured out, here are my blocks.  First, Swanky.

Second, Attitude Girls.

Always fun to see how different they look!  If you have any other questions, just ask.  Also, occasionally I hear that when the file is downloaded, it says it is corrupted.  I have no clue why this happens.  It works for hundreds of people and one person gets a corrupted file.  Frustrating!  If that happens to you, just email me at kluckau@moosequilts.com.  I can do two things.  First, I will email you the file directly.  Sometimes that works.  If not, I will resave the pdf as a picture file and you will be able to get the pattern that way. 

Happy quilting!

Block Eight Winners -- and being grateful!

More awesome blocks and more great winners!  I am so glad that so many of us have been able to make time to quilt.  As I snuck down into my sewing room, I was grateful to "have" to make these blocks.  For 20 minutes or so I felt at peace.  I wasn't worried about the laundry or the dishes or kids' quarrels.  I took that time for everything is was worth.  I was sewing as fast as I could because I knew that the busy-ness of the day would soon catch me.  I just sewed and as I sewed, I relaxed.  When I was done, I put my blocks away, took a deep breath, and re-entered my crazy life -- grateful for a few minutes with my sewing machine. 

I hope these blocks have given you some time to breathe in your life too. 

Without further ado (Is that how you spell that?), here are the winners!!!

The winner of the Cutting Corners Template Set from Toby Lishko 

(Toby put a demonstration of it up on her blog for us) --

is kvparham!

And the winner of the jelly roll from me is:

harrispen!

And now for the fine print:
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 (kluckau@moosequilts.com) 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.

Thanks for playing everyone! Keep on quilting!

Block Nine with Toby Lischko -- and the dog ate my homework!

I must say I was pretty excited when Toby said she would design a block for us.  She is one of those designers whose name you may or may not know, but you have seen her work.  In fact, right after she agreed to join us, I was admiring a quilt in a magazine and I saw this picture:

That's Toby!  If you like quilt magazines even half as much as I do (I have to subscribe to all of them -- well, not quite all -- otherwise I pay full price for them at the store), then you have seen Toby's work.  She has quilts published in quilt magazines on a regular basis. 

Toby has also donated a set of her Cutting Corners Templates for the drawing tonight!  Yeah!!! 

The templates are an option for stitch and flip corners where you normally draw a diagonal stitching line on the back of a square.  Using the templates, you don't have to draw that stitching line.  Where we only have four lines to draw, that isn't too bad.  BUT, I know I sure get tired of drawing those stitching lines when I have hundreds of little squares to draw them on, so I would love to take a closer look at the templates.

Here's Toby!

Hello to all you strippers! I’m so glad that Konda asked me to join this fun group. Let me tell you a little about myself and I will try not to be too wordy (I have a tendency to go on and on when I talk about quilting!) I currently live in Robertsville, Missouri (just west of St. Louis) with my husband of 36 years, 5 cats and 2 dogs. I have two children and 3 grandchildren.

I come from a background of sewers; my mother was a home economics teacher and seamstress and her father was a tailor, so I guess I could say sewing is in my genes! Needless to say, I have been crafting ever since I could read instructions. I taught myself knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross-stitch, crewel, English smocking, tatting, macramé, candle-wicking, and sewed my own and my children’s clothes for years. (I don’t think I left anything out.)

I took my first quilting class from Jackie Robinson, who owned the local quilt shop in St. Louis before she became famous, in 1985 with my mom and was hooked (sorry to say my mom wasn’t). I made a few quilts for the house in the next 10 years while raising my kids and working full time as a Special Education teacher. In 1995 I started working and teaching in a new quilt shop and things seemed to blossom from there. My first quilts were published in Miniature Quilt Magazine in 1997 and I won my first prize with the Hoffman Challenge in 1998. I was now officially a “professional quilter”! Every time a new book would come into the shop that intrigued me, I had to learn a new technique. I began to expand my skills and started entering more contests and publishing more quilts.

I started my company Gateway Quilts & Stuff, www.gatewayquiltsnstuff.com along with 2 of my closest friends in 1998 and am currently the sole proprietor of the company. I publish my own patterns, design my own templates, and wrote a book through Kansas City Star Quilts in 2009 called St. Louis Stars.

I began working with P&B Textiles as a quilt designer in 2001 and each year I would try to pick up a new fabric company. I currently design for Hoffman, Timeless Treasures, Clothworks, RJR, and Benartex, and at one time worked with Marcus Brothers and Windham Fabrics. My designs can be found in most of the major quilt magazines and as free web patterns on the fabric company’s websites.

I consider myself a traditional quilter, who likes creating quilts that look difficult but aren’t. I currently designed a new template set called “Cutting Corners” because I got tired of drawing lines on the backs of squares to make Snowball blocks, Flying Geese, etc. and knew that there had to be a better way. It is a multi-purpose tool that can be used to make: a Square-in-a-Square, Flying Geese, Snowball blocks, Bowtie Blocks, diagonal seams and half-square triangles. I used it for making my block, but you can draw the line if you want. I also have a blog http://gatewayquiltsnstuff.blogspot.com/, which I have to admit I do not write in it as much as I would like, but it is a learning blog that I put a lot of my quilting tips on.

One last note: I am available for lectures and workshops and have a new quilt retreat in Beaufort, Missouri, nestled in the woods for small groups of 4-6 quilters. Information regarding both are on my website http://www.gatewayquiltsnstuff.com/. I can be reached at tlischko@yahoo.com.

Have fun making the block. I can’t wait to see what everyone’s quilt looks like!

Click HERE for instructions to Toby's block.

Thanks Toby!

Okay, so you want to see Toby's block?  Me too!  So I really did make Toby's block.  I even took pictures.  Problem is. . . .  Well. . . .  It's like this. . . .  The dog ate my homework! 
 
What!  You've heard that one before.  You're right, I don't even have a dog.  I lost the cord to my camera.  I probably put it in a safe place so it wouldn't get lost.  I haven't looked too hard for it because I just noticed that I couldn't find it this morning.  I didn't want everyone to be waiting on this block because I couldn't find my cord. 
 
Fortunately, my noggin was working enough to capture this picture off Toby's instructions:
 

My blocks turned out really fun too.  I know yours will too.  I also know that there will be some great pictures of this block very shortly on flickr.  So if you want to see real life pictures of this block, head on over to our flickr site in a few minutes. 

REMINDER:  You have two weeks to make these blocks.  There will be a drawing late tonight for BLOCK EIGHT.  Of course, any block that is posted before mine on flickr gets entered in the drawing.  If you are behind, now is a great time to catch up!  With these blocks, it's just as easy to make two as it is to make one! 

Happy Quilting!

Block Six Winners!

So I just realized I have messed up. Last time I announced the block six winners. That was technically the block five winners. This is the block six winners. Sorry. I messed up the one before that also. Not that is matters too awfully much. We still have winners either way.

So winners, winners, whose got some winners?  We have FIVE winners today!  Yeah!!!

First off, we have FOUR lucky winners who each get to pick a pattern from the Posse Boss' Etsy Shop!  They are:

Craftee CC!

Stitching Sunshine!

Bea-a-triz!

and Susan's Stitches!

and the last winner is lehsmik who wins the jelly roll from me!

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 (kluckau@moosequilts.com) 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 Seven with the Posse Boss

Today we get to meet the Posse Boss, sometimes known as Becky Jorgenson. 

Becky is also from Utah, but I have never met her in person.  I don't know how we haven't met.  It is one of those odd things.  The circles of our lives overlap in so many ways.  We've had to have been at the same quilting events, but oh well.  One day I shall meet the Posse Boss in person!  But let me have her introduce herself.  Becky is a hoot:

So—-here I am, and here is my page about me. I don't really like tooting my own horn, but when it comes down to sewing you can't shut me up!

I am –the posse boss, really though my first name is Becky

I am homeschooling mother of 4. We keep busy during the day, but after everything is done…it's me time! I hide in my sewing area- just off of the play room. I am married to a wonderful 'honey' who is a contractor {builds homes} and also designs them. He luckily notices when his wife needs some sewing time and let me get away with a bunch of stuff! I am lucky like that.

I love to sew anything that i can get my hands on. I am not restrictive when it comes to projects. Hand embroider, Machine quilting, or X-stitch. I do it all. Bags, hotpads, aprons, quilts, samplers, dolls, toys…whatever else that comes to mind.

I started sewing when I was 8 and made my first mini sampler–I still have it to prove it!!- then things settled for awhile {i was too busy growing up} and when i had my first baby, I of course needed to make her a quilt. The quilting obsession started and it hasn't stopped! At one time I stitched for Shephard's Bush in Utah and now own my own online sewing business– Patchwork Posse.

I have been blogging and selling my goods on Etsy for a few years now, and I have gone beyond ready made items….I have patterns! I love making new patterns and the design process. I have a sketch book that gets filled with more ideas than time in the day to complete.

Currently I am expanding my tutorials to Round Robins and Focus Fridays. They have been so much fun!

Here is my little didi on Patchwork Posse— it is an online sewing group. We meet once a month online in a network that is full of patterns, a forum, live chat, show & tell photos and whatever else everyone shares! There is a group of top-notch designers that are sharing a pattern with only the group—before it is available to the public— Register here to join us.

See what I mean!  Check out her blog (after you get this pattern).  There is a picture of her driving in a truck with her chicken (It was a month or so back).  Oh my! 

Click HERE for instructions to Becky's block.

Thanks Becky!

Once again.  I don't have my block made.  This time it was because I made myself finish my other projects first before I was allowed to make this block.  I did get the last blocks done, but haven't taken my pictures yet.  I will be making my block 7 with you today.  It's on my list! 

But you need to see how fun this block is -- so here's Becky's block!

AND Becky has generously donated FOUR patterns from her etsy shop.  Take a look at some of her offerings:

I love the little hedgehog!  So thanks to Becky and adding a jelly roll from me, that makes FIVE winners tomorrow!  Ready, . . . . Set,  . . . . GO SEW! 

Oh yes, and the reminder:

REMINDER: You have two weeks to make these blocks. There will be a drawing tomorrow for BLOCK SIX. Of course, any block that is posted before mine (I will post mine late tonight) on flickr gets entered in the drawing.  So if you are behind, NOW is a great time to catch up!  With these blocks, it's just as easy to make two as it is to make one!

Happy Quilting!  See you soon!

Block Six Winners!

I was up until 2:30 this morning and forgot to pick us some winners.  Good thing we are all having a good time, and I know you will forgive me for posting them now.  I'm only a few hours late. 

Thank you for asking -- the project that kept me up so late is almost done (the new book that I am taking to the printer today!).  Just a couple little things left that I will finish as soon as we post these winners --

janamcb wins the charm pack from Nanette!

and ozarkwell wins a jelly roll from me!

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 Six with Freda's Hive

Nanette lives close enough to me that our paths have crossed a time or two at local quilt shows.  Who's Nanette?  Nanette Merrill is the lady behind the blog Freda's Hive.  Check out her blog.  It's a lot of fun.  While half the time I think of her as Freda, her name is Nanette.  Anyway, Nanette is one of those fun ladies who is fun to be around.  She is always cheerful and positive.  She was someone who quickly came to mind as I was thinking about doing this Jelly Roll Sampler.  One thing I really like about Nanette is that her style is so different from mine.  The fabric she's drawn to is as bright and happy as she is. 

Here's from Nanette:

Hi. This is Nanette from Freda’s Hive. Lots of people call me Freda and I’m always okay with that but Freda is my mother’s name. Mostly I don’t correct anyone because coming from a family of 5 girls and having 7 daughters (and 1 son) I have been called everything from my sister’s, aunt’s and my mother’s name to all my daughter’s names.

Freda, my mom, made everything from our swimming suits to jeans and wedding dresses when I was growing up. She taught me how to sew and taught me just about everything else I know so I thought it was fitting that our blog be named in honor of her. The hive part is because of our big family and the fact that our home is always a buzz of activity. In a hive each bee has to work to contribute and I’ve always tried to teach my family that life is work and work is good. I have sewn since I was a girl and quilted for more than 12 years. I love designing patterns and creating quilts and projects. Creating is essential to my happiness. I hope you enjoy making my block. Thanks Konda for inviting me to participate. This Jelly Roll-A-Long has been really fun. In fact, this is the quilt we will be making at the Breton Girls Family Retreat in September when I get together with my sisters, nieces and my daughters to make a quilt. It is a great project for anyone and everyone.

Click HERE for instructions to Nanette's block.

Thanks Nanette!!!

Here's where I am suppose to say, "Here are my blocks."  BUT I can't.  Here are Nanette's blocks though!

Is that fussy cutting in the center?  Yes!  Isn't it great!?!  She has included that in the instructions.  I have been itching to make this block since Nanette sent me the pattern.  So what happened to my blocks?  Well, it's called Quilt Market.  I have been frantically trying to get my book to the printer.  (It didn't help to take a week and a half off to go to Paducah, but that's okay!)  I have an appointment to take it to him tomorrow. 

I told myself I couldn't make my blocks until the book is done.  I have been trying to convince myself that's it's alright -- "These blocks are so fast!"  "I bet you could just whip it up and your book wouldn't even notice the different." and "Come on, you HAVE to get your blocks done, you just HAVE TO!"  Well, once Nanette sent me two pictures of her blocks, I decided to post those for you.  I will get mine done soon because all of these blocks are fast.  I haven't enjoyed listening to myself this week. 

Anyway -- look what Nanette has for you!  She has put together a charm pack of 20 -- 6 inch squares.  So one lucky winner can have some of Nanette's fun, happy fabric for herself (or his-self)! 

Thanks Nanette!

REMINDER: You have two weeks to make these blocks. There will be a drawing tomorrow for block four. Of course, any block that is posted before mine (or Nanette's) on flickr gets entered in the drawing. I have another jelly roll up for grabs and Emily has graciously donated one of her patterns. YEAH!


Happy Quilting!

Block Five Winners!

Here I am in Council Bluffs, Iowa on my way home from Paducah, Kentucky marvelling at the amazing country I have been driving through.  I brought things to do while in the car, but I just can't get enough of staring out the window.

This country is gorgeous!  I love it!  Thanks to all of you bloggers who came and said hello to me!  Quilters are a great group of people.  The quilt show was great.  I do have some pictures to post, but I left my camera cord home -- dumb move I know -- so I can't get them on the computer until I get home.

But now my husband says it is time to go to bed.  (I better get off the computer so he can go to bed as he does all of the driving.)

But, real fast, here are the winners --

jenjohnson wins something fun from Emily Herrick

and Denise in PA wins a jelly roll from me.

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 Five with Emily Herrick

Emily and I met when a baby quilt she had made won the viewer's choice award at our local Peteetneet Quilt Show.   She ended up part of our quilt show committee and now we both write quilt patterns.  Emily's company is called Crazy Old Ladies.  Emily is the type of person who you like the minute you meet her.  She is very friendly and a lot of fun.  She has a great eye for quilts, and I'm so glad she said she would design a block for you. 

Now from Emily:

-Hey all, it's me here! That's right, the one and only Crazy Old Lady! Ok, so I've been catching a lot of flack for not being old but funny how no one ever mentions the 'Crazy' part. OH well. Some of you may know me by my street name- Emily Herrick. I have been quilting for almost a decade. About 2 years ago I started to go 'crazy' when I decided to start designing and selling my quilt patterns. It has been a BLAST! The best part is that I can quilt [almost] whenever I want and tell my husband "I'm working" and he's okay with it (most of the time.) Naturally I am attracted to all things fabric and quilting so when Konda asked me to be a part of her Jelly-Roll-Quilt-Along I was so excited. I hope ya'll don't mind that I wanted to share the block I designed that was featured in Quiltmaker magazine several months ago. I LOVE this block because it's different. I thought it would add nice interest to your quilts. But what I really love about this block is a whole quilt done out of it! For those of you up for that challenge you can get a good idea of what it will look like here: http://crazyoldladiesquilts.blogspot.com/2009/11/100.html

I've had such a fun time checking out all the blocks as you quilt along and I can't wait to see what you do with mine!

Happy Quilting!

Click HERE for instructions to Emily's block.

Thanks Emily!!!

Here are my blocks:  First with Attitude Girls

Second, with Swanky

My favorite thing about this block is seeing Emily's whole quilt that she made using this pattern.  (See link above.)  I love how it's almost an optical illusion -- which chain are you seeing? 

REMINDER:  You have two weeks to make these blocks.  There will be a drawing tomorrow for block four.  Of course, any block that is posted before mine on flickr gets entered in the drawing.  I have another jelly roll up for grabs and Emily has graciously donated one of her patterns.  YEAH!

Note:  Please forgive me if the timing of the drawing is a little off.  I will be on the road Monday night.  I am hoping we will find a good internet connection on the road and that you don't notice a difference, but sorry in advance if it doesn't quite work out that way. 

Thanks!

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 Four with Kathy Skomp

I met Kathy Skomp and her husband about a year and a half ago in Houston at Quilt Market.  Our booths were across the aisle diagonal from each other.  Being from Tennessee, they were very friendly, and I couldn't help but like them.  Kathy and her husband the owners of Lavender Lime Quilt Shop.

Kathy also writes quilt pattern books.  I think this book "Sassy and Sophisticated" was the new book when we met. 

With our booths so close together, by the time market was over I could give their pitch just as well as I could give my pitch, and sometimes I did on accident.  I think I will forever remember that Kathy's quilts sell fabric, and they are easy to kit. 

Our lives came together again when I saw that Kathy was designing patterns for Northcott just like I was, and we both have the same number of books published.  BUT before I tell you everything, here's what Kathy has to tell you:

Hey Ya'll from Chattanooga, Tennessee

I started sewing at a very young age as I grew up in my grandmother's and mother's upholstery and drapery shop. I was picking up scraps off the the workroom floor and making purses which I sold in elementary school. Even some of the teachers bought my purses. I decided I did not want to make a living sewing, (don't ever say never) so I graduated college and spent the next 15 years as a math/technology teacher. I sewed as a hobby, making items for my home and sometimes sewing my own clothes. I took my first quilting class about 10 years ago. The first time I worked with Batik fabric, I was hooked.

My husband and I opened Lavender Lime Quilting in Chattanooga in the summer of 2005. In 2009, we were named by Better Homes and Gardens as a "Top Ten Shop" and were featured in their 2009 Fall Edition of Quilt Sampler Magazine.

I began designing patterns in 2007. We have 6 books published under "Designs by Lavender Lime" and #7 is almost ready. You can see all the books and many quilts made from the books on our web site at http://www.lavenderlimeinspires.com/. The books are sold nationwide and are carried by many quilt shops. The designs are easy and quick but make beautiful quilts. I also design patterns for Northcott Fabrics. You can check out their website and see my designs: http://www.northcott.com/.

My blog is http://lavenderlimeinspires.blogspot.com/ where I try to post things going on at the shop. We would love to have you as a follower. My favorite things about this business are the creative freedom that quilting allows and the wonderful people that I come in contact with. What a blessing to spend time creating!

~Kathy

Thanks Kathy!

Kathy has designed block 4.  She calls it "Stepping Down."

Click HERE for instructions to Kathy's block.

Here are my blocks:  First, with Attitude Girls

Second, with Swanky.  For this one I just used two jelly roll strips that I alternated and used my background fabric as the small squares.

REMINDER:  You have two weeks to make these blocks.  There will be a drawing tomorrow for block three.  Of course, any block that is posted before mine on flickr gets entered in the drawing.  I have a jelly roll up for grabs and Kathy has graciously donated one of her quilt books.  YEAH!

Note:  Something is being wacky this morning with my pdf files.  I hope the file works for you.  I am going to post this and then try to trouble shoot.  I will be working at the computer this morning so hopefully we can get the kinks ironed out.   

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!