Pick Four Winner!

We have a winner! I used random.org to pick a number and counting down the list I found the winner:

Tonya!

Congratulations Tonya! QuiltSue will be signing your book and posting it to you very soon. 

Thank you to everyone who took part in the blog hop and entered the draw. I have had great fun reading your comments over the past few days. Those of you who weren't lucky enough to win the prize please visit your local store or online retailer or go to Martingale to purchase a copy of this must have book. 

Pick Four Giveaway Update

Thank you to everyone who has entered the Pick Four Book Giveaway so far - I've been amazed at your enthusiasm and I'm sure QuiltSue has enjoyed reading your positive responses to her book.

I've been trying to send an email reply to everyone who left a comment on the Giveaway post  but I have quite a few 'No-Reply Bloggers' to whom I can't send an email. The problem is that some people have an account with blogger but it is set to 'no-reply' and they probably don't even realise! The problem could get much worse because if I draw a no-reply blogger as a winner on Monday I will have no way of contacting them to give them the good news.

Here's how to check and make sure I, and other bloggers, can contact you when you comment on a blog:

1. In blogger.com, click on Dashboard.
2. Select Edit Profile.
3. Check the box for "Show my Email Address."
4. Save changes.

If you have already commented for the Giveaway and realise you were a no-reply Blogger please email me:  click on my profile on the right of this page then click on email.

Now don't forget to visit the Pick Four Blog Hop as there is still time to win a copy of this wonderful book!

Pick Four: Final Destination!

This Giveaway is now closed

Hello! Well those of you following QuiltSue's blog hop have reached your final destination in Yorkshire, England. We're now just a few miles away from where Sue lives and around 70 miles from Trudi's home in Lincoln. It's appropriate that you've arrived from Lincoln because that's where I lived and where my daughter was born before we moved here! I'm sure Sue will be telling you a few interesting facts about this wonderful county but for now help yourself to a slice of Yorkshire curd tart and a cuppa or 'brew' and let me tell you a little more about how I know Sue.

Sue and I first met at our local quilt group 'Tuesday Quilters'. I find it hard to keep track of dates so can't tell you exactly when that was but I have found one or two photos on my computer which give some clues.

Can you spot her? Although she is trying hard to lurk in the shadows I'm pretty sure it's Sue at the back in the pink jumper. The computer has dated this 2004 when our group was showing off quilts made for Project Linus. Moving forward Sue volunteered for the committee and did a magnificent job organising our exhibition in 2005:

Even then she was designing patterns and had created a mystery quilt which lots of our members made and these were on display. How may fabrics do you think Sue used in this quilt? Here's her quilt in red, gold and cream - only three fabrics!

The mystery quilt was published in a British  quilting magazine. Only the other day someone at the group was remembering a quiz which Sue entertained us with too. She really is a multi-talented lady and very generous. She is largely responsible for getting me into blogging and buying an Accuquilt Go so she has a lot to answer for! It's always good to meet up with Sue  - she is just as funny in real life as in her blog posts.

Now onto Sue's book 'Pick Four' which shows how to make stunning quilts with a maximum of only 4 fabrics. I was so excited when my copy arrived in the post and like other bloggers on this hop flicked through to see all the projects. There are 12 lovely quilt patterns and all are beautifully photographed. 

There really is something for everyone here from complete beginners to more experienced quilters wanting a bit of a challenge. When I read the text I cold hear Sue speaking to me personally with her usual  humour shining through. The section on choosing colours is so helpful and the pattern instructions are very clear and logically set out. 

One thing I look for in a quilt pattern is illustration. Being a visual learner I think pictures really do speak a thousand words and Sue has used diagrams to show exactly how the patches and blocks go together. She also uses arrows on the diagrams to show which way to press the seams which will make a huge difference to accuracy and ease of sewing seams.

Throughout the book Sue uses up to the minute quick piecing techniques. I've seen many quilts made from the split nine patch method of making a block then cutting it into four and rearranging. Sue has done a similar thing with a churn dash block for this Rickrack quilt - I love it!

For each of the quilt projects Sue also provides alternative colourways and also gives suggestions for quilting. I truthfully can't think of anything Sue has missed out! I will definitely be recommending this book to my students.

I'm sure you would love to own a copy of 'Pick Four' and here is how you can win a copy signed by Sue herself: just leave a comment  below to go into the draw - simples!. If you are a follower of this blog or become a follower and mention this in your comment you will get a second chance. I'll draw the winner on Monday morning so you only have the weekend to join in. Remember to visit all the other blog hop venues for more chances to win. If you're unlucky this time 'Pick Four' will be available from quilt stores, online book sellers and Martingale

Good Luck everyone!

This Giveaway is now closed

Pick Four

WooHoo! Look what the postman brought me. It's QuiltSue's new book and it's fabulous! She's organising a blog hop very soon and has asked me to participate and there'll be a giveaway too. Just to whet your appetite here are just a couple of quilts from the book which all use only 4 fabrics to stunning effect:

Now which to make first - It's so difficult to choose!

Watch out for the blog hop when I'll be telling you more about the book. In the meantime hop over to Sue's blog Quilt Times and say hi.

I've been AWOL for a couple of weeks because we've had a busy time with our family. My sister-in-law came over from Syracuse NY with our two nephews to stay with use for 10 days and we also travelled down to visit my in-laws in Basingstoke. Margaret had brought me a whole package of gifts she's picked up in Jo-Ann's - they are fabulous! First, the two bag patterns above. The 'Cover-all Tote' is a very clever pattern for a bag with removable button-on covers and Jennifer's bag is very apt as my daughter's name is Jennifer!

I also received fabric for bag making:

 and some beautiful buttons:

 A copy of American Quilter magazine which I have never seen in the shops here:

 And this great book on landscape quilts:

I'd also asked Margaret to bring me a couple of rolls of freezer paper from the supermarket and she arrived with three large rolls:

This may seem strange to those of you resident in the US but we can only buy this in quilt shops and online at a much higher price. You may need to sit down for this! The cheapest I can find this sized roll in the UK is £9.50 - about $15. I understand this is about 5 times the price Margaret paid!!!

Thank you Margaret for all the gifts and for coming to visit. We had a fabulous time and we're hoping to get together again at Jennifer's wedding next year.

Exciting Times!

Look what arrived in the post this morning! I ordered postcards to advertise the classes I'm organising and I'm really pleased with them. They have a glossy finish and on the reverse are a few more details of the classes.

I'm planning to have these put on display is some local shops and libraries and give some to my friends.

I'm working on my sample quilts for the classes and the patterns and instructions for my students. There are one or two distractions to slow me down though - college work, a mini workshop for my quilt group to prepare,  visitors arriving next week and of course Wimbledon! It's a real treat for me to be able to watch all the tennis (when it's not raining in London) because in the past I was working and could only watch in the evenings. I never liked recording matches to watch later because for me it's the fact that it's live that makes it exciting. So I'm settling down in front of the TV each afternoon with my strawberries and cream - yum!

The other exciting news is that I got an email from my friend QuiltSue to ask if I'd take part in a blog hop to show off her book which will be published in July. What do you think I replied - well YES of course!! She'll be giving away copies on the blog hop so watch out for it towards the end of next month.

This I Accomplish

I'm an avid collector of quilting books and have plenty of other crafting books too so I was pleased a while ago when Kyra Hicks emailed me to ask if I'd like a copy of her book 'This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces' to review.  

The book is a fascinating story of Kyra's research into an African American quilter Harriet Powers, her quilts and how they came to be preserved for modern day quilters to study and admire.The history is documented in detail with a full bibliography and black and white photos of the quilts and works they inspired. 

Please visit Kyra's blog Black Threads   for more news and photos of quilts.

Follow this link to Amazon.com 
This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces

Click here for the book on Amazon UK

Zippy Bags

While I was sorting through my stash I came across this bag almost finished. All I had to do was sew the side seams and it was done.

I've made several of these in various sizes and shapes since I came across the instructions in 'A Passion fo Patchwork' by Lise Bergene. It's a lovely book with dozens of quick and easy projects including many small bags which are perfect for gifts.


Here are a few more I've made and use all the time:


The blue one is perfect for pencils and the little heart one holds pins, needles thread and small scissors ready for hand sewing on the go.

I use the larger flat bag to store all my small quilt rulers. I adapted Lise's pattern to make this one and it's also an ideal size to go inside a ring binder. I'll try to upload a tutorial on making this one over the weekend so come back soon!

A Present in the Post

Does everyone love getting packages in the post? There I was sitting with a cup of tea watching James Martin on Saturday Kitchen when the postman arrived with a padded envelope for me. I have to say it was something I'd ordered the other day so not a complete surprise but look what was inside the envelope:

How cool is that? It made it much more exciting to open! The website has some beautiful patterns and fabrics so I may become a regular customer.
Inside were a book I'd spotted on the Melly and Me blog and ordered from Buttonberry on Thursday with a cute quilted slipper pattern.

The slippers look perfect for me - I need something on my feet in the house but have trouble finding slippers which are not fur lined or look too frumpy. They are seem incredibly easy to make and the instructions explain how to make them in any size.

The book is absolutely gorgeous. It has 12 projects: a baby quilt, 5 toys, a stitchery picture, 2 childrens backpacks, a handbag, messenger bag and an argyle patterned quilt. It makes me I wish I had young children to sew for! I bought it with the intention of making some easy toys for a Christmas Fair stall in the Autumn so now I need to set aside some time for that.......!