Just around the Corner Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to my stop in the blog hop to celebrate the release of "Just Around the Corner", by Kari M. Carr.  If you came to my blog first, I hope you'll take time to visit the other blogs that are participating in this fun hop.  {Details are listed towards the bottom of this post.}

In keeping with the theme of "Just Around the Corner", I want to share insights on something around the corner from where I live.  My local library is practically around the corner.  It is a short walk from my home and I love walk in my "hood" and visit this library.  As a community library, there is always someone there that I know, plus they have a great selection of books.  And, I love books of all kinds.  I probably visit this library, at least once, if not twice a week. 

Just around the Corner: Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders, by Kari M. Carr, published by Martingale & Company, home of That Patch Work Place, is an excellent quilt book that features innovative methods for mitering corners that make spectacular borders that can make any quilt amazing.

Mitering is a quilting technique that many quilters are afraid to try.  Kari shares her approach in each to follow steps, with great visuals, that a quilter of any level should be able to follow and quickly master.  Simply take your border strips and any 90 degree ruler, a fabric marking pen and a sewing machine for the basic mitering technique.  Or, you can apply variations of this technique that Kari shares, including her beautiful scallop border technique. 

There are nine spectacular projects in this book ranging in size from a18" x 18" to 45 1/2" x 67 1/2" projects that create beautiful quilts, wallhangings, table toppers, a pillow, and there is even a project for a cute purse.

All of the patterns are well written, with easy to follow instructions and great photos. The majority of the patterns are traditionally pieced, with a few having light applique'. 

A section is included in the book to help share insights for using Kari's Clearly Perfect Angle (CPA) tool, which she designed and sells thru her business New Leaf Stitches.  This CPA tool really makes sewing mitred pieces easy and accurate and when you are sewing point to point, such as speed techniques for making Flying Geese blocks, Snowball blocks, or any situation where you need to sew point to point vs 1/4" seams. 

An excellent section is including on "Quiltmaking Fundamentals", with insights on how to sew accurate seams, pinning, pressing, Applique'ing, and Adding Butted-Corner Borders (non-mitred borders), along with finishing (backing, batting, binding).

It is truly hard to say what my favorite pattern is in this book, but if I had to just pick one, it would be the Sidewalk Cafe', which is on the cover.  At 45 1/2" x 45 1/2" it is a perfect table topper size, as well as a wallhanging.  It is a fun design that also has beautiful mitred corners with lovely scalloped borders.  It just want to pull up a chair, enjoy a latte' and watch life stroll by.  Wouldn't it be fun to visit a cafe' that every table has a beautiful quilted table topper, as well as quilts on the walls?  I'd definitely want to visit such a cafe' frequently!

I'm also planning on making some cute Cozy Cottage Pillows for Christmas gifts.  With
Kari's book and her Clearly Perfect Angle tool, I'm sure they'll be easy to make and everyone that receives one will love it.

I hope you'll soon have an opportunity to check out "Just around the Corner" as I think you'll agree with me this is a "must have" book for quilters of all levels and style preferences.  It is a versatile book with very cute projects, but the techniques shared will help you learn how to make spectacular borders for other quilts too!  Plus, you can do it in a way you really don't have to care about math!

Did I mention a blog hop?  Kari and Martingale & Company are sponsoring this blog hop where you can learn more about this book, have fun visiting other blogs, as well as have a chance to win a copy of "Just around the Corner" and a copy of her very cool "Clearly Perfect Angle" tool from a giveaway at each of these blogs.

Here is the line up for this fun blog hop:

• Sun., Sept 4th - Kari (New Leaf Stitches)
• Mon., Sept 5th - SewCalGal 
• Tues., Sept 6th - Pat Sloan
• Wed., Sept 7 - Heidi (Hens and Chicks Studio)
• Thurs., Sept 8 - Sherri (A Quilting Life)
• Fri., Sept 9th - Roseanne (Rosebud's Cottage)

Did I mention giveaway with SewCalGal ?  You can win a copy of "Just around the Corner" and a copy of Kari's  very cool Clearly Perfect Angle tool, simply by leaving a comment on this post, letting me know what you think about this new quilt book and the Clearly Perfect Angle tool.  Be sure that I have a way to contact you, should your name be drawn as a winner.     I will randomly select a winner and announce on my blog on Monday, September 12th.

http://www.newleafstitches.com/
http://www.martingale-pub.com/store/