~ 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.

~ Excited. Grateful. ~

This magazine arrived in my mailbox yesterday.  I have loved this magazine for years.
But I have a particular fondness for this particular issue.

You see ... if you turn to page 81, you'll find me there.
This was in response to a reader's challenge to make a 10" x 10" quilt that represented the theme:
"Passages"

Let me just say that working on such a small piece is quite fabulous. It definitely makes the quilting process easier. Oh who am I kidding ... the entire thing was a joy from start to finish!

Thank you, Quilting Arts Magazine!!

~ Winners AND Discounts ~

I was touched and even overwhelmed at the large and happy response to my sailboat block and quilt in Volume 7 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

As promised, I have two (count 'em 2!) winners to announce ...
drum roll please



The winner of a copy of the magazine is ...

QuilterLaura
Congratulations Laura! 

The winner of the pattern from my Sea Quilts Etsy Shop is

Sandra
Congratulations Sandi T!!
who picked my Anchored in Happy pillow slipcover pattern.

I will be sending those out as soon as I receive your mailing information.

However, because everyone was SO nice, I am offering ... for the following 2 weeks only ... a special discount code on my patterns in my Etsy shop to enable you to buy them at
20% off.

(The discount is only for the patterns.  The Mermaids, Seahorse, Octopus and Sea Turtle are on sale as quilts ... there are no patterns for those.)

Just type in 
Deepbluesea
to receive the discount.

It will expire on May 22nd.

Thank you again for your enthusiastic support.  I apolologize if that Jaws theme is still stuck in your head.

dum dum dum dum

~ Ships Ahoy: Welcome to my Blog Tour! ~

I am absolutely giddy over the fact that my block has been included in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 7!
This new issue will hit the newsstands this week and although the Blog Tour is coming to a close, please look back at The Quiltmaker Blog, Quilty Pleasures for inspiration, fun and those ever popular GiveAways!

  Since all of the quilts I make are coastal related ... so is my block. You'll find it on page 43.

After I placed my ship on the water, I decided to add the fish.  Once I had done that, I immediately knew that I had a story and that my story had a theme song ... specifically ... the theme from Jaws.

dum dum dum dum

 

So, I set about making a quilt with my block.  The story starts in the bottom right hand corner and moves through the day and into the evening. (Or... it starts in the top right ... however you want to see it/place it.)

As the sky changes, the fish gets closer ... and bigger.
(Or smaller and deeper.)

I'm thrilled to have my quilt also featured in the Designer's Gallery.

Now, I would really love to hear your story.

Be sure to leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two great prizes.  First visit my Etsy Shop and pick out your favorite pattern and let me know which one that is, in your comment.
You will than be entered to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 7 or your favorite Sea Quilts pattern. I will post both of the winners next Friday!

Thank you Quiltmakers!
And ... quilt makers.