Pre-Order You Can Quilt!

After my last post, I checked Amazon and You Can Quilt! is available to pre-order!!!  

Order a signed copy in my etsy shop or non-signed on Amazon.

I will meet Amazon prices, but do need to charge shipping.  The planned release date is February 2015 and I will ship out the books as soon as I receive them.

This is getting real!

You Can Quilt!

Here it is!  You Can Quilt!  

It's planned release date is February 2015!!!

Just like the original We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler, You Can Quilt! devotes a chapter to each major piecing skill.

Chapter 1:  The Basics (cutting, 1/4" seams and straight line blocks)
Chapter 2:  Half Square Triangles
Chapter 3: Quarter Square Triangles
Chapter 4:  Flying Geese
Chapter 5:  Wonky Piecing
Chapter 6:  Improvisational Piecing
Chapter 7:  Foundation Paper Piecing
Chapter 8:  Curves
Chapter 9:  One Patch Blocks
Chapter 10:  Applique
Chapter 11:  Inset Seams
Chapter 12:  Challenge Yourself!

My picture of the Flying Geese Blocks.

Each chapter starts with a simple block, followed by an intermediate block and ends with a more advanced block.  The idea is to start with a nonthreatening block and then to progress to the point where you know you could make any quilt that used that particular skill.  The instructions for the 36 quilt blocks are detailed, clear and beginner friendly.

I think this book is the most awesome quilting book ever!  (I might be a bit biased.)  But I put off sharing the book's cover for a few weeks for two reasons.  First, it features my "ugly" quilt :).  Second, this book is a must have for all quilters, not just beginners and I wanted to see if the cover could be altered to resolve those concerns.

I know AQS wants to market to beginning quilters, but this book is also perfect for all of us that are stuck in intermediate-quilter-land.  I had been quilting for years before I tried to foundation paper piece and I would never have tried to applique if it wasn't for my husband (read that story here).  This book is all about overcoming your quilting fears, trying out new techniques and building skills so you can make the quilts of your dreams.

This book is for you!  Your friend!  Your quilt group!  Everyone!

I will be sure post more information and sneak peeks as they become available!  Have a great weekend!

It All Started A Year (Or Three) Ago...

This is me today at the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines --- by a poster featuring the edge of my* quilt!    How in the world did that happen?

*I can't take all the credit.  Wonderful friends turned pattern testers piece the blocks.  Thanks!!!  Then I made a few more blocks, set and quilted it.

It actually started a year ago.  No, it started three and a half years ago when I started the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler in May of 2011.  I wanted to stretch my quilting skills and try new things and thought that a quilt along would be a great way to learn new skills and encourage others to stretch themselves too.

Blocks from Flying Geese Month progressing from easy to challenging (L to R)

Every month the sampler would focus on a different a different quilting skill like half square triangles, flying geese, curves or applique.  And each month I would write or link to three quilt block tutorials featuring that skill.  The first week's block would be easy and straight forward, the second would be intermediate and the third block of the month would be challenging.

The Skill Builder Sampler ran for a year (you can find all of the posts here) and I learned tons both about quilting and writing.  I finally finished piecing the blocks into quilts a few months before my daughter was born (Sep. 2012) and it took another 6 months to get them quilted up.

So during the summer of 2013 with the quilts finished and the baby getting older, I found myself thinking about the sampler.  I thought the idea of having different skills with easy, medium and challenging blocks was brilliant.  Book worthy even.  I started thinking about some changes I would make (I couldn't use other people's tutorials this time!) and worked on fine tuning the quilt block choices.

The only problem was that I had 5 kids (one who didn't sleep through the night) and a full life of other responsibilities.  I would look up info on publishing companies and at writing proposals and then get overwhelmed and cry.  I knew I wouldn't be able to really do this until all of the kids were in school...four. more. loooong. years....cue more crying.

Then Marlene, who had participated in the quilt along, emailed me.  Her quilt had been accepted into the Des Moines AQS Show and had won second place!  We set up a time to meet at the show (one year ago this week!).  She was teaching a class based on the Skill Builder Sampler and we met later to discuss working together to turn the Skill Builder Sampler into a Block of the Month program that quilt shops could purchase and teach from.  Marlene had written up tutorials for the first 18 quilt blocks and suddenly it seemed like it might actually be possible to get the sampler published.

The King Sized Mock Up

However, it soon became apparent to me that I would not be happy with the Skill Builder Sampler being a Block of the Month program.  It was meant to be a book.  We wrote up the first two chapters (I think those were the hardest to write!) and sent our proposal in to AQS.  (That process will get it's own post later because I think there should be more written about the publication process.)

And on December 6th of last year I got a call saying they had accepted our proposal!!!!  And then the crazy reality of writing instructions for 36 quilt blocks and sewing king, twin, throw and baby sized quilts in just a few months set in.  It is amazing what you can do (and what you have to let slide!) when you have committed to something and have a deadline.

Fabric Pull for the Throw Sized Quilt

And that is why I didn't post very much this winter/spring/summer.  The manuscript and quilts were turned in on May 15th and I was burned out and needed a break from quilting.  (Never thought I would say that!)

A few weeks after everything was turned in, I got an email asking for permission to use the twin sized quilt in some of AQS's QuiltWeek publicity.  Yes!!!

And the rest is history...no, the rest will be written about next week.  Right now it is time to make dinner.  :)

Sometimes We Are Our Own Worst Critic

In January I pulled this stack of fabric for a quilt.  It was totally "me" in terms of scale (small) and print (tone on tone and dots) but it was more monochromatic than I usually go.  But my friend assured me that it looked good and really, how can you go wrong any fabric pull that includes Flea Market Fancy?

I sent fabric packets off to more friends to test block patterns for me.  I got their amazing blocks back, made a few more blocks and started to lay them out.  I want to make it very clear at this point that my friends' blocks were perfect and wonderful and that I would never, ever, ever have gotten this quilt made without their help and that the feelings expressed in the next paragraph are me being crazy not a critique of their blocks.   So....

I got to this point in the layout and started to freak.  Why had I chosen those colors!?!  Those blocks* stayed on the living room floor for a week (much to the dismay of my husband) and I would move a block here or there each time I would walk by.  I finally sucked it up and decided it was what it was and started sewing it together.

And it wasn't as bad as I thought.  Then I added the borders and it looked better.

Then I quilted it.  And it looked good.  (I really like that section of quilting!)  It wasn't my favorite quilt, but I knew wasn't embarrassingly ugly either.  So I turned in my quilt to AQS and went on with life.

And then I saw this.  I realize that the American Quilter's Society Quilt Week header shows just the edge of what could be any quilt but it is the quilt that I stood in the living room and cried over because it was so. embarrassingly. ugly.  AQS has no shortage of quilt edges to photograph and they. chose. mine.  To say I was excited is a huge understatement.

Then this flier for QuiltWeek came in the mail.  I think I am going to have to laminate it.  Not just because they say my quilt is beautiful ;) but because it's message is one I think we should all remember - especially when we are being hard on ourselves.

Your quilt is beautiful.

Really, it is.  

You've poured your heart and creativity into your quilt.

Now it is time to let it shine! 

I think we are our own worst critics.  And to paraphrase a Jillian Micheal's exercise video, "This isn't about being perfect.  Perfect is boring.  Perfect sucks!  This is about pushing yourself and discovering what you can do.  When you push yourself that is when change happens." 

I know I'm not going to stop being a neurotic perfectionist overnight, but I am going to try to keep things in better perspective from now on.  So, love your quilts, love yourselves, be happy with your quilting and have the best weekend ever!

* I don't know if you noticed, but some of those blocks are from the Skill Builder Sampler!  More info on that next week!

Double Star in Thirteen Color Combinations

Over two years ago I made this Double Star block as part of the Skill Builder Sampler and last week I thought that I would revisit it.

This is the block I made.  Much lighter and more open than the original.  Before I came up with this coloring I played with quite a few others.  You see, I bought myself EQ7 as an early Christmas present and had to make it earn it's keep.  ;)  (I love that program!)  After trying a few different color combos I kept coloring to see how many different color/value combinations I make. 

The first time I saw this block the quilter used this rainbow fabric placement.  I really love the look.  I might have to make another block.  :)  Here are the other designs I came up with:

  "Fire Star" blocks for my 4 year-old super hero girl.

 

I love the navy and blue color combo! 

 I grant you, there are probably easier ways of piecing some of these variations, but wow!  Pretty amazing what differences color placement and value can make.  You can find the tutorial for this block here.  

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy Sewing New Year!
Keep warm!  The high here tomorrow is going to be -8F/-22C.  I'll be staying inside (and hopefully sewing).  :)

The AQS Show

On Wednesday I went to the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines.  The highlight of the show was seeing Marlene's We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler on display.  Not only was it on display, but it won 2nd place in the bed quilt category!!!!  It know it is all her work, but I do have to admit to a feeling of pride and a quite a bit of "Hey, look!  That quilt is from my quilt along!"  :)

Here are Marlene and I in front of the quilt.  It was great to meet her and see all of the quilt details up close.  

Pick me up mom!  She later crawled up and down the aisles.

Our time together was interrupted as my darling children spilled a bunch of pretzels on the floor.  Good times.  I didn't stay at the show for long, but I did decide one thing as I looked at all of the quilts.  I want to use more color in my background fabrics.  I was really drawn to quilts with bright backgrounds.

White is my go-to safe choice and looks fresh and clean, but what about yellow?

 Or green?

 Or Red?

More yummy yellow?

Or Orange?

I think it is time to say, "I can do it!" and mix things up with new background colors.  What is your favorite background color?  What was the most crazy background color you have ever used?  I think mine is the scrappy black backgrounds in my Star Flowers quilt.  Yeah, I'm not very daring.  ;)

Skill Builder Sampler Quilt #2 - Colleen's Flower Quilt

The idea for this quilt started over two years ago.  There were a series of online conversations that made me wonder if I was doing all I could quilting wise.  There were so many things I wanted to make, but I was scared and intimidated to try them. Foundation paper piecing, applique, curves and working with templates scared me.  I figured I wasn't the only one out there with those feelings so I decided to start a quilt along where we would focus on one skill each month and make three blocks (easy, medium and challenging) with each skill.

I decided to call it the We Can Do It!  Skill Builder Sampler.  I love Rosie the Riveter and the feeling of "yeah, this is tough, but we can do it!"  And we did.  I learned that the hardest part of any block was overcoming the feelings of intimidation and being overwhelmed.  Not all of my blocks turned out perfect and I don't think I will ever like working with templates, but that is ok.  I tried it and in my book that is a success.

So for 12 months (with a two month break due to morning sickness!) we made 3 blocks a month.  You can take a look at all the great blocks and quilts the other women made in our flickr group.  I was originally going to put all 36 blocks into one queen sized quilt, but half way through I decided to make coordinating quilts for three of my girls.  Colleen loved all of the flower, rainbow and butterfly blocks so they all made it into her quilt.

This was such a learning experience!  I am entering this quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival in the Bed Quilt Category.  Head on over to nominate your favorite quilt!

Quilt Stats:

Size:  Approx. 64 x 92

Fabrics:  Kona White and mostly Holly Holderman

15 twelve inch blocks with 2 inch sashing

Custom quilted by me on a rented long arm machine

Skill Builder Sampler #1 - Baby Quilt

I am entering Kate's Skill Builder Sampler quilt in the ROYGBIV Category of the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I picked my favorite blocks out of the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler to make this baby sized quilt.  I was so proud of myself when I made the Circle of Geese Block!  I love the cheery rainbow colors.

Shouldn't every play area have a quilt on it?

Quilt Stats:

Size:  33 x 48 inches
6 twelve inch blocks with 3 inch sashing

Fabric:  Kona White and Mostly Holly Holderman

Finished Date:  February 2013

Head on over to the Blogger's Quilt Festival to see more wonderful quilts and don't forget to nominate your favorite!

This Week...

This week my Aunt Janie came to visit.  She insisted that she wanted to see my quilts, so I happily obliged.  Little did she know there would be so many.  Little did I know - and I didn't even end up showing her all of them!  I think they have been multiplying.  :)

Today I rented time on a long arm machine and quilted Julie's Skill Builder Sampler quilt.   Don't you love the colors she used?   It was fun to quilt it up for her!

Tomorrow I need to focus on the garden.  It is time to do some planting, weeding and mowing!  My reward for working hard in the garden?  A full day of sewing on Saturday with the DMS Modern Quilt Guild!!!  It doesn't get much better than that.  :)

Good News, Bad News, Best News

Good News!  Yesterday I rented time on a long arm quilting machine and worked on my Skill Builder Sampler Quilt!  I had a lot of fun trying new things in each of the blocks.  None of them are perfect, but it is a Skill Builder, right?

 There were swirls.

 Squares.  I had a lot of fun doing this one but my husband thinks it is ugly, whatever...It is awesome!

 Pebbles and flowers.

 Stars.  Not my best design choice to fill in the negative space, but live and learn.  Husband thinks they look like witches' stars...They are just regular stars!  Men...

 Big swirl.

I borrowed a stencil to do something special in the middle of the feathered star.

 I even tried my hand at feathers.  Can you see them in the white?

 But my favorite block is this one.  I loved the block to begin with and I love the flowers and leaves around the edges.  I may be bad at feathers, but I can free motion quilt me flowers like no one else!  :)

Bad News...my backing wasn't long enough!  @#$%#  It stopped about six inches before the end of the quilt!   So I am cleaning the house, posting this and basically procrastinating so I won't have to deal with adding on an extra strip of backing, basting and quilting the bottom.  Ick.  I hate messing up!  I'm trying to tell myself that it won't be so bad, just take a deep breath and do it, right?  :)

Best News.  I have the best baby in the whole world.  No, don't bother to argue, it is true.  :)  I took her to the quilt shop with me and she played happily on the floor the whole time.  Some fussing when she had a messy diaper or was hungry or ready for a nap, but she was Amazing!  I brought an exersaucer for her to play in and a backpack carrier for her to ride in, but didn't have to use them at all.  She just played on the floor with her toys - thankfully she can't crawl yet!  I figured taking care of her added an extra hour onto the quilting process, but it was well worth the extra rental time to finally have the quilt done...well, almost done...
Wish me luck!

Updated:  I did it!  And it wasn't even that bad.  ;)  Off to bind!