'Sew in Love' Book Review and Give Away

Editorial Review: Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts is thrilled to be able to share her love of quilting with fellow quilters by introducing her latest book with It's Sew Emma. She has fashioned twelve sweetheart blocks into a breathtaking 75-1/2in x 75-1/2in block-of-the-month sampler quilt (choose from a pieced or applique version), as well as a whole candy box of tantalizing quilts to take each block further. Sew in Love will become your new obsession as Edyta encourages you to let loose, play and experiment with her Sweethearts. Every time you select a new blend of colors and prints or delve into a new technique, fall a little bit deeper in love with each stitch. Her love for quilting knows no bounds and she cannot wait to see where your affair with Sew in Love will take you.

My take on this book is that it has some awesome patterns and I love the quilt on the front. I have never been a fan of red but I do like one color quilts they just seem to show case a block. I like having options for making different quilts using the many blocks in the book. I have come to appreciate the time and effort that Edyta puts into her quilting. I love her traditional style because it gives such warmth and comfort like the quilts I remember as a child.

I am having an on going giveway till the end of the month just in time for you to have a cute gift for Valentines Day.

A mug rug for you and the pattern so you can make one for someone you care about. Just leave a comment on what style of quilt you like for a chance to win. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.

Inchworm Fabric is having a Giveaway and Red Sale

Inchworm Fabrics Mug Rug giveaway

Inchworm fabrics is giving away these cute mug rugs to the first five customers who participate in the RED SALE going on now till Valentines day. The pattern will be free with every purchase. Also, leave a comment on this post and I will give away a mug rug, pattern and fabric to make your own. And for a second chance follow me.

Aren't these the cutest mug rugs. My daughter made them and designed a pattern for them. The white pink and brown one is so contemporary looking. The other one is vintage looking. Isn't it amazing how much the look can change with the fabric used. Isn't it fun to scroll through pinterest and see all the different quilts from the same pattern. Then there is inspiration from non quilt items or inspiration for non quilt items.

 Take for instance this box that my son made me for Christmas. It is so awesome, I was speechless. It is so well made and I know it had to take him a lot of time to make it. I love that he did a traditional quilt block pattern on the top, how fun was that.

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I tease my daughters that they can't follow a pattern but usually alter it for one reason or another. I wanted to show you my take on a block of the month kit from Sew Simple by Amber Plemones called "Life is Better at the Barn".  Her pattern called for it to be long ways but I need something wider than long for a window in my sons office that looks into a co workers cubicle (it is hanging over the window in this picture) so I switched the middle up just a little. So I guess we know where they get it from. ha ha.

Christmas is so hectic with all the projects needing finishing touches but it seems so much calmer now and the weather is such that it is perfect for getting a jump on projects for next Christmas. Hope everyone has something fun that you are working on and stop by Inchworm store for red fabric which is on sale till Valentines Day.

Island Batik Getaway Blog Hop

Hello friends,
Every six months the Island Batik ambassadors are do a blog hop with our surprise fabrics and
this month is the month. It will be exciting and fun to see what every one made and to see all the different fabric lines
that Island Batik sells.

Here is the list and the days be sure to check it out. And the best news is there will be giveaways.
Happy Hopping.


Getaway Blog Hop Schedule

WEEK 1

Monday, January 7 - Crystal Ball

Maryellen McAuliffe- Mary Mack’s Blog

Sandra Walker- Musings of a Menopausal Melon

Tuesday, January 8  - Ditty

Stephanie Jacobson - Steph Jacobson Designs

Michelle Roberts - Creative Blonde

Wednesday, January 9 - Elk Lodge

Connie Campbell - Free Motion by the River

Anna Branch- Ark Angel Creations

Thursday, January 10 - Feline Fine

Bea Lee- Bea Quilter

Sharon Parcel- Yellow Cat Designs

Friday, January 11 - Flea Market

Geraldine Wilkins- Living Water Quilter

Jessica Caldwell- Desert Bloom Quilting

WEEK 2

Monday, January 14 - Fortune Teller

Sarah Goer- Sarah Goer Quilts

Sherry Shish- Powered by Quilting

Jennifer Fulton- The Inquiring Quilter

Tuesday, January 15  - Gypsy Rose

Jen Strauser - Dizzy Quilter

Janet Yamamoto- Whispers of Yore

Wednesday, January 16 - Paisley Park

Dione Gardner-Stephen- Clever Chameleon

Nancy Scott- Masterpiece Quilting

Thursday, January 17 - Soul Song

Carole Lyles Shaw- Carol Lyles Shaw

Toby Lischko - Gateway Quilts & Stuff  

Friday, January 18 - Twilight Chic

Jackie OBrien - If These Threads Could Talk

Tina Dillard- Quilting Affection

WEEK 3

Monday, January 21 - Winter Park

Jennifer Thomas- Curlicue Creations

Anita Skjellanger- Quilt In a Not Shell

Tuesday, January 22  - Bazaar

Karen Overton- The Quilt Rambler

Alison Vermilya- Little Bunny Quilts

Turid Bakken- Den syende himmel

Wednesday, January 23 - Blossom

Karen Neary - Sew Karen-ly Created

Leanne Parsons- Devoted Quilter

Thursday, January 24 - Boho

Laura Piland- Slice of Pi Quilts

Suzy Webster- Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Myra Barnes- Busy Hands Quilts

Friday, January 25 - Brookview

Vicki Schlimmer - Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

Amy Warner- Sew Incredibly Crazy

WEEK 4

Monday, January 28 - French Blue

Pamela Boatright - PamelaQuilts

Joyce Mullis- Hearts Creations

Tuesday, January 29  - Midsummer Night

Kathleen McCormick - Kathleen McMusing

Connie Kauffman- Kauffman Designs

Wednesday, January 30 - Oh Deer

Jen Shaffer- Patterns by Jen

Jeanette Jones- Inchworm Fabrics

Thursday, January 31 - Snow Berry  

Sally Mannke- Sally Manke Fiber Artist

Joan Kawano- Moosestash Quilting

Friday, February 1-  Candy Cane Lane and Icicle

Terri Vanden Bosch Icicle - Meanderings along Lizard Creek

Anne Wiens- Icicle - Sweetgrass Creative Designs

Mania Hatziioannidi Candy Cane Lane- Mania For Quilts

Barbara Gaddy - Candy Cane Lane  -Bejeweled Quilts by Barb 

 

Island Batik Whimsical and Wonky

Here is my Whimsical project, it isn't wonky because no matter how I try I can't do wonky. It just is to hard for this analytical mind to handle. I might actually explode trying. I had some strips of Winter blues that weren't enough to make more than a table runner but oh they are pretty. Island Batik fabrics are so nice to work with. I love the designs and the colors and the feel. I have had so much fun being an ambassador and love seeing all the projects the other gals come up with. Having a monthly theme is a challenge but I have learned a lot. January's blog hop will be loads of fun so be sure to stop by. So stay tuned, there is more to come. I will post a schedule so you can hop to all the ambassadors sites and see the wonderful projects and beautiful fabrics.

This had to be put on the back burner because I had Christmas presents for the grandkids. I made pillow cases for some of the distant ones but I made pocket pillows for the 13 that live close. Gave them a flashlight and a book.

I also, got a few projects that were almost done finished. I think I put binding on at least 5 quilts and pulled out some that need quilting with the intention of putting them on the frame, needless to say they are still waiting. I did have a nice productive vacation besides the trips to see the grandkids. Then after I got all that sewing done I couldn't take the mess in my sewing room, so I cleaned and rearranged so that I could move around better. I feel much better and now I am ready to tackle some bigger projects.One of which is Island Batiks January Getaway Blog Hop with my surprise fabric.

After Christmas Activities

My daughter came to visit yesterday and we spent time finishing two quilts she started for her kids for Christmas.  Then today I should have been working on some projects of my own for Island Batik challenges but I spent the day rearranging and cleaning my sewing room. I love having more space. I moved some furniture around and took some things out and I am feeling more creative already. Does any one else get side tracked cleaning when they should be sewing? Have a great day and hope you get lots done.

Cozy Cabins Log Cabin Challenge for Island Batik

This months challenge is any kind of Log Cabin. My sister Barb over at Bejeweled Quilts and I bought this awesome ruler from Sew Kind of Wonderful called quick curve ruler, and we both decided we would make the same quilt but with different fabric lines. You should hop on over and see what she has on her blog. I chose Apline Jingle from Island Batik because of course it is getting close to Christmas and I thought it would be fun to make a Christmas quilt. It has definitely been a challenge getting this quilt done not because it was hard but November has been crazy. The log cabin blocks went together fairly fast using Eleanor Burns' quick piecing method.

 
 Here's a few pictures of the process. Using strips.

 

After all the blocks are put together I had to get up the courage to cut a corner off with the curve it up ruler. Then the process of sewing a curved white piece back on to make the curved effect.

4 log cabins make the block which ended up being about 20 inches. I thought about just making table toppers out of the 20" block but decided I wanted a Christmas quilt. The quilt is 4 blocks by 5 blocks with 3 borders on it a white one, red one and a green one. The back is holly leaves from Connecting Threads quilt back collection, they were on sale, not sure if they still are or not. This is a queen size quilt.

I put it on the quilt machine and that is where it is still. The machine broke so I had to take it apart and luckily for me it was an easy fix. The timing belt came off and I was able to put it back on. But I ran out of time it is the end of the month so this is it for now.

Happy Holidays

Here is a link to the tutorial from Sew Kind of Wonderful. for their quick curve ruler.