Charming Gardens.....

Saturday morning I spent the day with some of my favorite ladies.   We spent the day learning, sewing, pressing, and laughing.  I can't tell you how much I love to teach people how to quilt.  I love it.  I love seeing someone go from scared of quilting to empowered.  It's one of the best feelings ever, to share something I love with someone else.

So, here is the first quilt top finished.  I got the picture on Saturday night...

go Katie, you worked hard, and you did it!

  

I love how this pattern works so well with any charm pack.  It looks yummy, no matter what!  I also love that I have planted a love of "good" fabric in my friends hearts.  It's always nice to be addicted to the same things.

Go quilt today!

Schnibbles Times Two Book Review

Schnibbles Times Two

What a fun book.  Do you love layer cakes and charm packs?  Do you wish you knew what to do with layer cakes and charm packs?  I know we all love these little bundles of love.  We adore the variety of fabric we get with each bundle.  Ahhh the joy.

Here's the perfect book for those of us who love the variety of these fabric packs.  There are twelve patterns, each given with two varieties.  One pattern for a 10" layer cake, and one pattern for the 5" charm packs.  

Each pattern is adorable.  Seriously adorable!  I know there are some books that have beautiful patterns...and then some patterns we know we will never make.  Not in this book.  Each pattern draws you in, and makes you think of how you could make it, and who it would be perfect for.  I can't wait to get started on some myself. 

Go check it out on Amazon....I know you will love it!

Fat Quarter Shop has Great Customer Service...

I recently made a big purchase of fabric for kits for my classes at Red Dirt Retreats.  It was such a fun thing to buy fabric for lots of quilts.  I love fabric shopping.  The Fat Quarter Shop was a very pleasant online marketplace.  I made my order, used a fabulous coupon, got free shipping, and was very pleased with myself.


The order came.  I went through it all with excitement.   Uh oh.  I noticed I got 1 yard of the fabric above, instead of 2.  Oops.  I called to sort it out.  I have to say, these guys have learned that a problem is really an opportunity, and they have made a permanent customer out of me.   Not only did they correct my order, they went the extra mile by sending me a little extra, and they didn't charge me for the 1 yard piece they originally sent.  Every interaction I have had with them has been great, they even gave me 20% off my order....even though I didn't give them the code until 6 hours after I placed the order.


It's always nice to find a place to buy fabric you can trust.  I trust The Fat Quarter Shop.  Go check them out!!!!!

Getting Ready

Red Dirt Retreats is coming up fast.  I have quite a bit of things to do before I am ready to go.  I  am so excited to share my love of quilting with others.  

One of the classes I am teaching is Birthday Bash.  This time, I am still doing it out of blue/green/yellow....but FUNKY.  I am excited to see how it turns out.  

I love this quilt.  I love that I have a "you are special-birthday" quilt.  I love that my kids get excited to pull it out and hang it up during their birthday month. 

 I love decorations I can make, put my signature on, and can enjoy for years to come.

The fun thing about these patterns, is they work for traditional styles as well as the super fun funkylicious styles some of us love.

What is your style?  How would you make Birthday Bash your own?  Bright pinks?  Bold colors?  Black and White?  Orange and Blue?  Red and Gray?

First of many?

The other day, I got this picture in an email from a dear friend.

She put this baby together in one day, I am so proud of her.

I love seeing quilts people are putting together.  I love it even more when I feel like I have helped someone create something they love.  

Thus, the book.  

I hope with the release of my new book, lots of new quilters are born.  I hope veteran quilters are inspired, and energized.

So, what have you created recently?  Has anyone else there in blogland made a quilt from my patterns?  I would love to see it!!!  

Want to make me swoon?  email me.

August 28th-It's a Date

It looks like the 28th will work best for everyone.  I'm excited, are you?

So, let's get to it.  We'll meet at 9 a.m., at my house.....(want to know where that is?  email me, and I'll give you the address).


Please Bring:
Sewing Machine
 (if you want to just sit and watch, you are welcome to not bring the sewing machine)


Charm Pack (50 squares, you might need 2 charm packs)
3 Yards of coordinating Ric Rac
Basic Sewing kit (ie, pencil, scissors, pins, etc)


Iron
 (I have 1 I can share, if you don't like waiting, bring your own)

There has been some concern about fabric.  I'll make this easy on you.  Just buy 2 moda charm packs.  They come in a variety of colors/designs.  You are welcome to mix and match, when you do that, make sure they are in the same "family"...brights, muted, funky, etc.  Also bring 3 yards of large ric rac (you can find it prepackaged....or by the yard at Hancock's...or Joann's).  I have plenty of scraps for your applique, so don't worry about that!

***You are welcome to cut 50, 5" squares, if you choose.....the charm packs are just much easier, and you get a lot of different fabrics - for good variation.

Online places to buy fabric: overrainbow.com, fabric.com, thefatquartershop.com, or simply do a google search.

My favorite Moda Designers?

3 Sisters (classic styles-sophisticated)

April Cornell (classic)

Bonnie and Camille  (slightly more funky)

Fig Tree Quilts (soft muted colors, classic)

French General  (beautiful reds and greys)

Lila Tueller (more funky)

Momo (funky)

Sanae (funky)

Sweetwater (modern)

Tula Pink (Funky)

Of course, these are my favorites.  I may have left some out, so feel free to explore.  Also, visit your local quilt shops.  I know the quilt shops on the East side are a little more well stocked.  You may want to call first...but I know Bella Quiltworks and The Quilters Market have some fun fabric.

Have I totally confused you?  If so, make a comment, and I'll clear it up.

PLEASE, if you plan on coming, let me know.  Everyone is welcome, and I will be best prepared when I know the correct numbers!

Have a creative day!

Arizona people...this is for you!

Live in Arizona?  

Want to have some quilting fun?

This is for you.  Come to my house, in Tucson, and learn how to make a quilt.

What do you have to do?

Let me know you want to come, and what Saturday in August works for you.  I will try to accommodate to get it to work for the most people.  The workshop will last about 3 hours.

What? 

We will be learning how to make Charming Garden.

Bring?

Sewing Machine and basic sewing kit

55 charm squares (5" precut squares) in light/medium/dark colors

3 yards large Ric Rac

Charming Garden is great for beginners.  Nothing intimidating here!  We will enjoy being together, laughing, learning, and getting something done.    I'd love to have all my friends, old, new, and yet discovered come and spend the day with me.

Are you in?

Red Dirt Retreats

Have you ever thought to yourself,

"I would love to have a quilting get away, where I can learn, grow, relax, sew, get stuff finished, and eat yummy food." ?

Well, look no further. Come with me to Red Dirt Retreats.  Where????  

In the foothills of the La Sal mountains near Moab, UT.

See the accommodations here.

I will be teaching a number of my quilt patterns from my book, Fast, Flirty, and Fun.  You'll get to relax and learn all at the same time.  Plus, the food, the fabulous food!  Yum.  

Plus, the joy of being in the mountains.  What could beat it?  Nothing.

When? 

September 9-September 12th of this year.

Cost

 $235

Being with ME...

Priceless. (ha ha ha)

Seriously, Come, it will be so fun.  

Do you live far away?  Me to, so I am flying in.  How great is that, you can fly to Moab....who knew?    Nothing can stop us now!

Free Burp Cloth Pattern

I have been waiting to share this for too long.  This pattern for super cute and fun burp cloths was originally included in the book, but the book ran long (all those basic instructions take room ya know).  

So here is something FAST and easy, and perfect for someone you love.  How to get it?  Go to martingale's website and download.