~ And the winners are ... everyone! ~

I have a heart full of thanks for all of your kind words about my block in Volume 8 of
Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Let's face it ... you are all ... stars!



I am proud to announce that the winner of a Sea Quilts pattern is ...

Dawn Frisch.
She picked "Speaking with the Stars" (as seen above).

The winner of a free copy of the oh-so-delicious Volume 8 is ...

Sherry Von Femetti

Congratulations to you both!!
But read on, because there is NO need to feel crabby ...



Because everyone was ever-so-nice, I would like to offer you the chance to purchase that pattern that was your favorite (+ any other patterns)  at a whopping

30% off!

Just go to My Shop, pick patterns with abandon and then type in
Volume8
to receive the discount.

But keep on reading because ...

The first two pattern orders will receive a free copy of  Volume 8 when I mail their patterns!! 

I told you that you wouldn't feel crabby!

   

~ Anchors Aweigh: Welcome to my Blog Tour! ~

I am tickled ... and honored ... to once again be a part of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.
Volume 8 to be exact.

Page 49 ... block #752 ... to be even more exact.
It's probably no surprise that my subject matter is, well, sea worthy.

So here is an overview of my process.  I give you some good, a LOT of fun ... and a little bit of ugly.

I had decided that I would choose a motif and place four of them on my block, radiating out from the center. I chose anchors as my motif, due to their particularly "pointy" quality. I then proceeded to design an anchor that was particulary "pointy".

Next stop: fabric selection.  Always one of my MOST favorite parts of the process. I found that I had some fun fabrics that already had an anchor motif on them ... but I kept looking.

I spent a small amount of time considering these very patriotic star fabrics ... but I still kept looking.

Aha! Pay dirt. Once I came across the red/turquoise dot for the background ... I knew I had my color scheme.  It was just a matter of picking the more solid-reading fabrics to go with it, so the anchors (and the sashing strip) would stand out.

I sewed each of the 4 blocks and proceeded to trim them to size as is my routine with any machine applique project.  Unfortuneately, due to a momentary lack of focus, I trimmed one of the squares twice on the same side.  I had the choice to start completely over (because I didn't have enough of the fun Moda rick-racky fabric) or to make up for my mistake by adjusting the seam allowance as seen below.

Plan B it was! (Now where else are you going to see an admission such as this?!)

Now be sure and leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two (count 'em 2!) great prizes.  First, visit my Etsy Shop and pick out your favorite pattern and let me know which one that is, in your comment here.

You will be entered to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 8 or your favorite Sea Quilts pattern.  I will post both of the winners next Wednesday, November 20th.

Thank you Quiltmaker's

And ... quilt makers.

~ The Holidays are HERE, people! ~

The countdown has begun, no matter how high the temperatures are here in Southern California.

I have a brand new pattern on my Etsy Shop and you are going to want to get started.

I have spent the past month sewing these coastal ornaments ... with abandon.

They were not time consuming ... au contraire ... they were just addicting!

So now I am passing on that addiction to you.

It's only fair.

And in keeping with the holiday crafty spirit, I am putting the above (landlubbing) pattern back on my shop, here.  This has been a favorite of many a quilter since I created it in 2008. If you can't complete it this year (which you could, it's only 36" square) you could have a head start for next year.

And speaking of head starts ... get going over to the Blog Tour this week at Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!

Make sure to stop by here on Wednesday.  We are all making it worth your while.

So ... go out and finally put away those pesky Halloween decorations and start in on the fun.

Bing said it best: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

(and Bing is always right.)

~ Sneak Peak X Two ~

So this is what I have been working on furiously that has consumed my fall and somewhat obliterated it.

Coastal Tree Ornaments.

Pattern to follow.

And THIS is what has just plain made me giddy while I worked.

My block was selected to be in Volume 8 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Please stop by all next week to participate in the blog tour.  Prizes are indeed involved.

My day will be next Wednesday, November 13th.

Prizes will include the chance to win the ...

Coastal Tree Ornaments Pattern.
yay