Joy of Sets

I couldn't miss going to the San Diego Quilt Show (SDQS) and not see Sharyn Craig and Daniela Stout.  Sharyn Craig was the Guest Artist at the recent SDQS and Daniela Stout was at the show, in the Cozy Quilt Designs booth. 

Sharyn Craig had a wonderful exhibit of her quilts and was there to share insights on her quilting experiences which included years of teaching, and her on-going activities writing quilting books.  To my delight, Sharyn shared insights about a new ruler she has designed that will be bundled with patterns that will help you set blocks (specific block designs are not included as this focus is on settings).  

This new bundle  "Joy of Sets", by Sharyn Craig, published by Cozy Quilt Designs, will be released at Quilt Market. It will include a booklet that contains an instructional guide for using the ruler, including the setting triangles like the quilt shown in this post.  To clarify these are not plain triangles but setting triangles comprised of different strips and triangles.  The booklet will take the math of of the settings process allowing quilters to enjoy the process of setting blocks in beautiful quilts. 

Sharyn's new ruler will help set blocks in 6", 9" or 12" sizes (other sizes can frequently benefit, if you use coping strips).  I was delighted to see the prototype for this ruler and very impressed on its' capabilities.  I'm definitely eager for this upcoming bundle to be released.  My quilt blocks are dancing in excitement as the want "Joy of Sets" in their life!

It was inspirational to see how easy and fast  Sharyn's new ruler could help to set blocks to create spectacular quilts.  Look at the detail in this setting, including the border setting.  Beautiful.

I also enjoyed seeing Daniela Stout, owner of Cozy Quilt Quilt Shop and owner of Cozy Quilt Designs.  She was giving a great demo on the Clearly Perfect Angles tool, which convinced me that I must get one of these tools!

I'm now eagerly waiting for announcements from Sharyn Craig and Daniela Stout about the release of their new "Joy of Sets" bundle.  When I get a copy, I'll certainly share my insights.  But I'll give you the heads up....your going to want your own copy too!  After all, don't we all want "Joy of Sets"?

http://www.sharyncraig.com/

http://www.cozyquilt.com/

For those going to Quilt Market, look for "Joy of Sets" in the Cozy Quilt Designs booth.  And, if you are not at Quilt Market, you'll later be able to find these online at Cozy Quilts.  You can also contact your favorite quilt store to have them offer "Joy of Sets" too!

Michaelanne Gephart at the San Dieqo Quilt Show

It was just about a year ago that I met and interviewed Michaelanne Gephart, owner of Flossie's Quilting. I was excited to see some of her work at the recent San Diego Quilt show and wanted to share some of them with you. She is a very talented quilter and longarmer.

Sorbet by Michaelanne Gephart

Blueberry Fields by Mary Ann Folsom, machine quilted by Michaelanne Gephart

Blue Moon by Marlene Keith machine quilted by Michaelanne Gephart.

“A Tad Plaid”  by Michaelanne Gephart

It was fun to see this quilts in the show and I certainly admired Michaelanne's longarm quilting skills, as well as her own quilts.  Just wish my photos could capture the true beauty.

Flossie's Quilting
Michaelanne Gephart
San Diego, CA
619-276-1658 
email:MGeph78025@aol.com

AccuQuilt Theme Blog Hop - Tips, Tutorials, Videos and Giveaway(s)

I'm participating in a Blog Hop this week where ten Bloggers with AccuQuilt products will share their insights and inspiration on AccuQuilt products.  Each participant has been asked to share insights, on their designated day.  You'll find some may share beautiful quilts that they've made with their AccuQuilt products, whereas some may share tips, tutorials, videos or even host a giveaway....but all the bloggers will have a common theme in that this Blog Hop is about AccuQuilt!    This event is something we all wanted to do, and is not a sponsored Blog Hop by AccuQuilt.

I wanted to share insights on the Tumbler Die, a tip for fussy cutting with an AccuQuilt, and a giveaway I hope you will want to enter to win!

The Tumbler die (#55020) for the AccuQuilt GO  cuts a 6 1/2"x 6 1/2" tumbler that finishes to a 6" tumbler block.  There are a variety of designs you can create with this die, from using the Tumblers in a row quilt, in borders, etc ..  I wanted to make a scrappy Halloween theme charity quilt, for a little kid. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   




I like to mark my dies using a silver Sharpie permanent marker as it helps me identify placement of fabric on the die, to minimize waste.  I also like the "silver" Sharpie better than any other color, as it shows up better in pictures.  I've also started drawing lines 1/4" from the blades, to help with fabric placement.  These lines are used when I cut strips of fabric, or fan fold my fabric on top of the die.  As this die creates a 6 1/2"x 6 1/2" cut I'm willing to have scrap that is no more than 1/4" inch on each side, but I typically end up with ~1/8" inch scrap.  My trick is I precut strips the WOF at a 6 3/4" or, if I'm lazy or really don't care, I'll cut a 7" strip which leaves a 1/4" on each side of the blades of this die.
 
I layered six different scrap fabrics and cut my 7" strips and laid this stack on top of the die, with one end of the strip laying off one side.  You simply place the mat on top and roll the die thru the GO!  As you can see I end up with minimal scrap waste.

 
 














I also flipped my strip of fabric with each cut, where RSOF was up or down, depending on the angle of the cut vs the die, to minimize scrap.

It is difficult to see where your fabric will be cut, when you place your fabric on top of the die.  But here is a way to fussy cut with an AccuQuilt. First, I get a sheet of freezer paper that will completely cover the die.  I trace the outside of my die and cut a piece that perfect covers my die.  I then add that freezer paper to the top of my die, cover it with a mat, and use my GO! to cut the paper.   I can then place that freezer paper over the fabric that I want to fussy cut.  You may even want to iron it down, but I'm comfortable just holding it to where I want it and treat it like a viewing window. 

I lay my fabric on top of the die, place the cut freezer paper on top and line up the corners of the freezer paper with the corners of the die, being sure the cut freezer paper design is in the same layout as the die blades (e..g wide part of the tumbler die needs to be on the same side as the wide part of the paper).

If the freezer paper viewing window doesn't show the fabric I want to fussy cut, I wiggle the fabric underneath till I get the fabric to line up the way I want.  Once I have the fabric positioned correctly I remove the freezer paper and set it aside.  Then I place the mat on top of the fabric and slide everything thru my GO!

And I end up with an easy way to fussy cut fabric with an AccuQuilt.  I can also do this cutting multiple layers, each fussy cut, but I'll save those tips for another day, as this is a long post today {sorry}.


GIVEAWAY:
I wanted to add a giveaway to this Blog Hop to make it more fun.  I do hope you like this prize, and that it will also give some lucky winner a way to play with accurately cut fabrics cut with the GO!

The prize is 150 AccuQuilt cut tumbler blocks, using scrappy Halloween fabrics.  This is more than needed to make a 48"x78" quilt top  using this free pattern from AccuQuilt.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 


 
To enter to win, simply leave a comment.  And be sure I can contact you if you win. No reply bloggers will not be eligible to win, unless you have your email in your comment.  Not sure if your settings are correct - click on my giveaway page and you'll find tips about the middle of the page. 
 
While it only takes one comment to win, but if you want more chances, here are some opportunities:

1) Blog about the AccuQuilt Theme Blog hop and leave a comment.  If you already did, just let me know.  PR for this Blog Hop is appreciated.  Thank you!

2) If you are on the Team of Bloggers with AccuQuilt products (your site should be listed on the right hand column of my blog), you can leave a comment showing you are part of this team, for an extra entry.  Not part of this team, but want to join ?  Check out the page on this blog with the tab "Bloggers with AccuQuilt Products".  You can sign up, but you won't be eligible for the extra point in this giveaway {sorry, they'll be other times}.

3) Visit all of the Bloggers participating in this AccuQuilt Theme Blog Hop, to see what they share on their respective day in this hop.  On the lst, after you've visited all the blogs, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did so, for an extra entry.

4) Be a follower of SewCalGal and leave a comment, for an extra entry.

5) Be a follower of all the blogs participanting in this Blog Hop, and leave a comment, for an extra entry.
 
That gives you five ways to get an entry.  You can win with just one entry, but six definitely gives you better odds.  Good luck!
 
I'll randomly select a winner on October 3rd.
 
Now, I hope you'll GO! have fun visiting all the blogs that are participating in this Blog Hop.  Stay tuned, as on the last day of this Blog Hop., Friday, October lst, AccuQuilt will be sharing insights on their new Bundle of Joy and many of the Bloggers will AccuQuilt products will also be helping to spread the good news too.
 

Monday, September 27th

SewCalGal   {who you are visiting today}
Spring Water Designs

Tuesday, September 28th
Marjorie's Quilting Bee
Cotton Cocktails

Wed., September 29th

Love Bug Studios
Spun Sugar Quilts

Thur., September 30th

Quilted Inspirations
Fabrics N Quilts

Friday., October lst

Beautiful Seams
Sew Fun Quilts

A Ribbon Runs Thru It

At the recent San Diego Quilt Show (SDQS), I saw many beautiful quilts that delighted my eye and inspired me to create and try new forms of quilting.  One of these spectacular quilts was "A Ribbon Runs Thru It", by Christie McGuire.  As the card on the quilt shared, for show viewers, Christie made this beautiful quilts as a block of the month challenge in 2009, sponsored by Sew Hut.

As you are aware, challenges are meant to get you working outside of your normal comfort zone to be able to learn an expand your skills.  Christie's beautiful quilt certainly inspire me  to sign up for as many future challenges as I can.  I think her quilt is amazing.  And, of course, the ribbon stitching that runs thru this quilt is spectacular.

Great job Christie.  This is a beautiful quilt.

For those that live in So. Cal. you may be aware of Sew Hut.  This store is a Bernina Dealer and they will be celebrating 28 years in business September 28 - October 2nd.   During their Anniversary week they have a great collection of free classes and a lot of fun, including many prizes and 28 Grand Prizes!  I hope if you live in the area you'll pop by Sew Hut to help celebrate their Anniversary.    I'm certainly looking forward to it!  They have many fun free classes, and may help many quilters learn new techniques, as well as learn new tips!

Sew Hut

4226 Balboa Avenue,

San Diego, CA 92117

858-273-1377

AccuQuilt GO! Chisel Die

I've been having fun cutting up scraps with the AccuQuilt GO! Chisel die.    I have fallen in love with the design options, ease of use, accuracy, and speed that I've found with the AccuQuilt GO! and with this die.  Love it! 

Depending on how you place your fabric on this particular die you get a different result in how the points of this die will appear on your block.  To clarify, if you manually cut a chisel design you get different results if your fabric print is facing up or facing down when you cut it. The same goes when you cut fabric on the GO! for this die.  I decided, in advance, that I wanted to cut all my fabric with the print facing up, to ensure the points are in the same direction (for me I wanted points of the chisel desig to be on the left side of the cut fabric).

This die cuts a chisel design that measures 3 1/2"W x 6 1/2"H (9 cm x 16 cm).  When finished, the sewn size of this chisel is  3"W x 6"H (7.6 cm x 15.2 cm). 

I decided to create a block using the chisel die, with fabric cut in a dark & light combination, combined with GO! Half Square 3" finished triangle.

I created a variety of scrappy blocks.

And very quickly these scrappy  eye spy type of  blogs created a quilt top, full of puppy dog, cats, fish and various pet theme fabrics.  I just need to add some borders and I can sandwich this top to quilt this for some little kid (e.g. Linus quilt).

I have many ideas for ideas on making quilts with the chisel die.  But, I must admit this simple quilt was so easy and fast to put together I'm truly amazed. 

While I'm sharing insights about AccuQuilt, I want to two more fun insights:

The week of August 27th - October lst there is going to be a fun Blog Hop that you won't want to miss.  Several bloggers that love AccuQuilt are participating and we'll be sharing tips, tutorials, videos, and giveaways all associated with AccuQuilt products.  You can always get current info on what this group is up to by clicking on the page (at the top of my blog) labeled "Bloggers with AccuQuilt Products".  For this blog hop, our line up of blogs we hope you will visit are:

Monday, September 27th

SewCalGal

Spring Water Designs

Tuesday, September 28th

Marjorie's Quilting Bee

Cotton Cocktails

Wed., September 29th

Love Bug Studios

Spun Sugar Quilts

Thur., September 30th

Quilted Inspirations
Fabrics N Quilts

Friday., October lst

Beautiful Seams

Sew Fun Quilts

And, there will be some special announcements shared on October lst.  For now, all I know is that  AccuQuilt is expecting:

And here is  a super cute video that I think will bring a chuckle:

 

Yeap, October lst is GOing to be an exciting day.  And, I hope you'll have fun blog hopping right up to this special day.  

Oh My!  This is just a few days away.  I better get GOing making more baby quilts!

Want to win an an AccuQuilt GO!?  Check out my page (see the top of this blog for the tab labeled "giveaways & contests" as i try to share insights on giveaways & contests, especially those dealing with an AccuQuilt GO!  This page gets updated several times each week, so do check back.  Also, become a fan of AccuQuilt on facebook as they tend to have a giveaway for a GO! every Friday.

Another Season of Beautiful Blooms

"Another Season of Beautiful Blooms", by Susan Taylor Propst, is a book for all seasons!  Susan is a talented designer, teacher, and author who has consolidated her insights on applique' in this book, published by  Martingale & Company, home of That Patchwork Place.

The photography and artwork in this book are excellent. I must confess it was the photographs that initially drew me to this book, and where I found inspiration.  To clarify, there are many photographs of nature and Susan does an excellent job showing how she gathers her inspiration from nature to make beauiful applique.  Her insights include fabric selection, the applique process, general instructions, plus 9 applique patterns that make beautiful wallhangins or cushions (or you could use these applique designs in a variety of other projects.   More advanced quilters can easily turn these designs and/or techniques into larger projects.

Designs include Petunias, poinsettias, black-eyed susan, cherry blossom, lily, tulip, bougainvillea, clematis, and rhodendrons.

Susan shares insights on color, contrast, values, and the effect of lighting in a way that is easy to understand and apply to your projects..

The Applique' process covers design placement,  preparing applique, and insights to help stitching points and curves.

General instructions are provided to add borders, midtered corners, preparing the quilting sandwich, attaching labels and more.

Projects range in a variety of sizes: 16"x16" to 19 1/2" for cushions and  16 1/2" to 24 1/2" for wallhanging projects.  All great sizes for learning new techniques, yet projects that are spectacular quilted items. 

This is a great book for any Applique quilter, or quilter that is interested in learning Applique'.  Susan has done one of the best jobs I've ever seen sharing insights on creating beautiful blooms in Applique'.

While you should be able to find a copy of this book in your local quilt store, you can also purchase it from the Martingale & Company's online store.

Eleanor Burns at the San Diego Quilt Show

I always enjoy seeing Eleanor Burns, as she is just a warm hearted woman that when I leave I always feel happy. As such, it was delightful to chat with her at the recent San Diego Quilt Show (SDQS).  And I so loved shopping in her booth too!  It is easy to see why she unanomously won the Golden Quilter's Award in 2010, for "Lifetime Achievement".

I was also excited to see a Day and Night quilt in this show.  This beautiful quilt was made by Jeanne Rumsey. 

I also learned of a great opportunity in 2011 that you may want to participate in:

Eleanor Burns and Quilt in a Day holds several quilt retreats, throughout the day.  In the Spring 2011 they will have a fun retreat at a new location that is a great place for quilting retreats.  May 23-26, 2011 the Spring Retreat  with Eleanor will be held at Vina de Lestonnac Retreat Center in Temecula.  The sewing room is large and bright with lots of room to quilt, cut, sew and design.  The sleeping rooms are in a separate building a few steps away from the sewing room.  The dining room is a nice walk of about a half block, just enough to get the blood flowing from having been sitting and sewing for several hours.  As you walk back from your meals you can take in the sights of surrounding vineyards.  There are two options for this fun retreat:  1) You can work on any Quilt in a Day pattern, or 2) you can take a structured class with Eleanor.  The project Eleanor is teaching is the Radiant Star quilt from her new, improved book (available Jan-Feb, 2011).  For more info contact Quilt in a Day.

Quilt in a Day
1955 Diamond Street
San Marcos, CA  92078
800-777-4852

SewCalGal highly recommends signing up for Quilt in a Day's newsletter.   This is a great way to hear about new products, fantastic sales, and many other items.

Quilt in a Day:  http://www.eleanorburns.com/
Eleanor's blog Strip Quilter:  http://www.stripquilter.com/

Are you Ready for Fall?

I hope you enjoy this last weekend of summer.  Once again, summer flew by and Fall is now on our doorsteps.

While I'm already working on some fall projects, I wanted to remind everyone this is also a great time to work on your Christmas projects.  I also hope enter a  Christmas Theme quilt (includes thin quilts) in this upcoming Christmas Quilt Show. 














Given the recent poll, it looks like this show will be held starting the first week of November. 

While I hate to put up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving, I'm scheduling this year's Christmas Quilt Show based on feedback from a recent poll.  And, it was clear that the preference is early November.  It will be a fun show, with simple rules, and one that will be open for bloggers and non-bloggers.  

I also want to recognize the following sponsors that have already come forward to sponsor this event:

• Mrs. Moens Patterns, who was also a sponsor of this show last year,
•  QuiltBoxes.com,
• Creations....Quilts, Art, Whatever by Nina-Marie Sayre, 
• Two Wacky Women, and
• Angie Padilla (Angie's Bits 'n Pieces)

I have also been chatting with several other potential sponsors, and hope to be able to make official announcements soon.  You can always get the most current info on this show, by clicking the tab for "Christmas Quilt Show" at the top of this page.

In the meantime, I thought you might get a kick out of this cute Animal Christmas Song video.  There is a good chance that you have seen this video before, as it is been around in email and on many blogs, over the past few years.  I just felt it fit, especially given I'm still working on closing the loop on ensuring winners received their prizes from the recent Pets on Quilts Show. {If you haven't yet received your prize, please email me ASAP}.

Stitching Friendships

I've always been amazed how you can meet a quilter, in just about any part of the world, and typically feel a special friendship form instantly. 

This past week I met a woman, who was buying items at JoAnns to help decorate her son's apartment.  She was from the East Coast and didn't have any coupons.  I gave her mine and she gave me a fantastic hug in exchange.  My gift of coupons was a simple gesture.  Her gift of a heartfelt hug reminded me how friendships can be quickly formed through our love of stitching, but it isn't the actual stitching that forms the friendships....it is the words of support, kindness, and encouragement that build those friendships.

Sadly, words can also hurt.  People say things, maybe without thinking, or without intending to be harmful, but there are words that can be painful. Words have the power to stop creativity from growing.  Words can teardown friendships, or stop friendships from building.  Too many times I've seen talented people shutdown after such words have been said to them, or indirectly spoken about them or their work!    And, when this happens others are harmed too! 

I have enough of a challenge of not sticking my foot in my mouth, or saying something unintentionally that hurts someone.  Yet, while I know I'm not perfect (at anything I do), I also struggle when I get into situations where a group, or a friend,  that I care about, becomes caught up in a situation where such negative words do harm.

So, today my dear friends, I simply want to inspire everyone to take time and share kind words with others.  You have the power to encourage others to create and find joy!  You have the power to inspire others with your words of support and positive feedback.    

To all of you that continually send positive words and encouragement my way, Thank you with all my heart.  I try hard to pay this forward each day!  I do believe we can all use more positive words in our lives, and can benefit by do this to build friendships and groups that help to inspire creativity and fun!

Just as with every stitch, every word can make a difference.

Hugs, many hugs,

SewCalGal

Mock Cathedral Window Machine Embroidery Design, by KittyKitty Designs

KittyKitty Designs has a new video for their delightful Mock Cathedral Window Machine Embroidery design.  I do so love this design.  It stitches out beautifully.  And this new video is great. 



KittyKitty Designs is owned by the very talented Teriann Shum.  She is a Graphics Arts Designer and an Embroidery Digitizer.  She has created many wonderful designs, and has many with a whimsical flair known as Pixies.     For her "Quiltingles" she has the Mock Cathedral Window design, and a newer Mock Card Trick that I'm looking forward to creating items with. 

If you like to do machine embroidery, I do hope you'll pop over to check out KittyKitty Designs. 

Visit Kitty Kitty Designs Network

This is a fun place for those that love Machine Embroidery.  I also won a cool sewing machine lite from a recent giveaway at KittyKitty Designs.  Thank you Teriann!  But, even if I didn't win this great giveaway, I have so much fun in this forum and learn so many tips, plus I am inspired by all Teriann creates! 

http://www.kittykittydesigns.com/
http://www.pixiesrule.org/Mock_Cathedral.htm

Teriann Shum  is also on Twitter (http://twitter.com/PixiesDoRule) and on Facebook

Project Linus

While many are aware about Project Linus, I frequently meet quilters that are not aware of this program.  Thus, I feel it is important to take time to increase awareness of Project Linus.  And, I hope you'll help increase awareness of this wonderful charity program and how quilters can help!

The Mission of Project Linus reads:

"Project Linus is comprised of hundreds of local chapters and thousands of volunteers across the United States. Each volunteer and local chapter all work together to help us achieve our mission which is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

Since Project Linus began in 1995, volunteers have helped to distribute ~3.5M blankets to children.  And there are ~400 Project Linus chapters across the United States.  While there is a chapter in many areas, if you do not find a chapter in your area and want to start one, Project Linus has information on how you can start a chapter.

In Southern California we have several chapters.  And I was recently able to meet with Ursula, who is the lead for the San Diego Chapter.  Ursula has many "Blanketeers" (aka volunteers) to help, but could always use more.  Three Quilt Guilds and many individuals volunteer to make quilts that are given to Ursula, where they are labeled and packaged for distribution.   Local Altrusa volunteers help in many ways,from writing thank you notes to coordinating with local organizations and agencys where quilts are delivered to children to ensure these sites have an appropriate inventory of blankets :

• Rady's Children's Hospital
• Rady Children's Convalescent Hospital
• Balboa Naval hospital
• Scripps Mercy Hospital
• Scripps Mercy Clinic
• Kaiser Zion Hospital
• San Ysidro Health Clinic
• San Diego Hospice
• St. Vincent De Paul's Village Health Care
• Ronald McDonald House
• Fisher House - N.M.C.
• Becky's House Y.W.C.A.
• Logan Heights Family Center
• Rachel's Women's Center
• Rancho Jireh
• Casa De Amparo
• Camp Laurel
• Camp Good Grief
• San Diego Adoption Center
• Nile Sisters
• T.A.P.S. (Children of fallen soldiers)
• Project 150
• Little Sisters; Big Sister League of San Diego
• San Diego Family Justice Center
• San Diego Police Dept Child Abuse Unit
• San Diego County Sheriff's Office Youth and Family Services
• California Highway Patrol
• The D.A.'s Victim/Witness Protection Prgram
• Child Help

The above organizations or agencies give these blankets to children that they care for, to provide comfort. Anyone can make a quilt.  Frequently they are made by Quilt Guild members, Scouts, churches, and more.  Project Linus accepts quilts in a variety of blanket sizes with desired measurements:

• Neo-Natal 24"x26"
• Baby 36"x38"
• Child 38" x 48"
• Teen 40"x60"

Quilts can be in a variety of prints and colors, but size should be appropriate for the respective age group.  For example, using Teen style prints on a Teen size quilt, and Baby style prints on a Baby size quilt is desired.  Cottons, Flannels, Fleece, and Minke are all acceptable fabrics for these quilts. 

When I asked Ursula to share insights on where she saw the biggest needs, this is what I learned:

• More Teen Size quilts are needed!
• Seasonal theme quilts are needed.  E.G. Valentine's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas.  Themed quilts need to be received by Ursula a minimum of 2-3 weeks in Advance of the holiday.   
• Balboa Hospital has also identified the need for a unique size 18"x18" quilts for babies, ideally in flannel.
• Yarn is also appreciated.  Ursula has several senior citizen volunteers who knit or crochet beautifully, but lack the budget to buy yarn.
• Volunteers are also needed to assist Ursula with applying a Project Linus tag to donated quilts, before they can be distributed for giving to a child.   

 

If you are already helping THANK YOU!  And, if Project Linus is a program that you'd like to help with please contact your local Project Linus Coordinator.  For those in San Diego, you can contact:

Ursula Sorensen, Coordinator

Project Linus, San Diego Chapter

2515 Aster Street

San Diego, CA  92109

(858) 274-2652

OmaUlla@san.rr.com 

http://www.projectlinus.org/ 

Free Project Linus Quilt Patterns

The Rose of Sharon Block Book

Sharon Pederson has released another amazing book!  The Rose of Sharon Block Book: Winning Designs from the EQ6 Challenge, is a spectacular book that is a must have for any quilter interested in applique, and a great book for those interested in learning applique.  It is also an inspirational book for any quilter, especially for those interested in expanding their design ideas while learning EQ6/EQ7, as well as those in that growing community of AccuQuilt owners that are looking for ideas on using the AccuQuilt Rose of Sharon dies.

This book was the brainchild of Elizabeth Phillips, a business partner and friend of Sharon Pederson.  They decided to work with different companies to create:

•  Electric Quilt  provided the Rose of Sharon design shapes on their site,
•  AccuQuilt  create dies for the Rose of Sharon designs,
•  Nine Patch Media Store also created a Rose of Sharon quilting DVD,
• OESD created a Rose of Sharon machine embroidery CD,
• Island Batik to provide beautiful fabric to make the blocks, and
• Martingale & Company published this amazing book!

And, many of these partners are helping the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and raise funds for Alzheimer's research, including Martingale & Company.

The EQ6 challenge was launched and there were 850+ blocks submitted.  Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson were the judges that worked to identify 12 winning blocks. 

Sharon used the 12 winning designs and she designed a 13th block to make the beautiful quilt that is on the cover of this amazing book.  She also worked to ensure the insights of this challenge were shared, by way of this book.

As noted above, The Rose of Sharon Quilt Book was published by Martingale & Company, home of That Patchwork Place. It contains insights about the Quilt Challenge and partners that have supporting products.  It also contains easy to follow instructions, with pictures,  to make The Rose of Sharon Block Challenge Quilt.

Photos are included of the original 12 winning blocks, with insights on the designer, cutting instructions and stitching order.    In addition, Sharon included insights on an additional 70 blocks that she selected as her favorites.  There is also instructions on how to create a lovely machine-embroidered wall hanging, a machine-embroidered pillow and many tips for applique.

In conclusion, this is an excellent book that  will provide you a source of inspiration and reference, for many years to come.  I hope you can see that this book is packed full of inspiration and insights, also creating an exceptional value for any quilt book. 

Also, a beautiful set of Rose of Sharon note cards will be released in October.  The set will contain 12 blank cards, one for each of the 12 winning designs.  These blank cards, measuring 5"x5" are beautiful and will certainly make for sending thoughtful notes.  The set will also make for great Christmas gifts, especially given the whole set is only $11.99 from the Martingale & Company online store.