Thursday, March 31, 2016

March Madness - Mad for Solids Bracket


It's March Madness time, quilting style :)  

Mad for Solids sponsored by @paintbrushstudio starts today.  16 bloggers (including myself) selected a palette from Inspired by Fabric's Painter's Palette Solids. All of the bundles will be shown on Instagram today and the voting will on Inspired by Fabric's blog.  Please hop over to their post to see all of the solid palettes and vote for your favorites (there is also a chance for you to win some fabric too!).  Each day, voting will be on two palette match-ups, my bundle is up for voting on Monday, April 4th.  

I had such fun going through all of their solids and playing with different combinations.  I started to chose my palette by selecting some fabrics in a range of from light to dark in my favorite color, blue. To add a little interest I added in some of greens and really liked how they popped against the blues.  The palette is is very calming and reminds me of the gentle tide of the ocean, hence the name Ocean Waves.

Here is my color palette, called Ocean Waves


121-049 Cadet
121-076 Apple Green
121-020 Sky
121-001 Midnight
121-000 White
121-031 Turquoise
121-072 Honeydew
121-034 Hunter

Here are some more pics of the bundle, I still have not figured out what I am going to make from them, but I am itching to start cutting them up :)






Don't forget to go over Inspired by Fabric's blog to vote and for a chance to win some fabric!  (...and remember my bundle is up for voting on Monday :)




Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop (Day 3)

Today is the third and final day of the Paintbursh Studio sponsored New Block Blog Hop!  I hope that you have enjoyed the hop so far.  



Today, Stephanie from Late Night Quilter is hosting, so head over to her blog for the list of bloggers who are hopping today.  They are showing some great new blocks made from the Paintbrush Studio's new Painter’s Palette and for a chance to win some fabric :)

(If you are looking for the giveaway for the fabric bundle on my blog, you can find it here.)


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop & Giveaway! (Day 2)

Welcome to the second day of the 2016 Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop!  

Paintbrush Studio generously sponsored this New Block Blog Hop featuring their new line of solids, Painter’s Palette.  This three day long hop features over 35 new 12" x 12" (finished) blocks by some wonderfully creative quilting bloggers. 

Paintbrush Studio is also generously sponsoring a half yard giveaway of the fabric bundle put together for the blog hop, so don’t miss out on two different ways to enter to win (details at the bottom of the post).


My 12" x 12" (finished) block, called the Chronograph Block, is a combination of a checker board and hourglass units:

FABRICS NEEDED

Dark Blue:
(1) 5 ½” square
(4) 4 ½” squares

Light Blue:
(1) 5 ½” square
(4) 4 ½” squares

White:
(3) 1 ½” x WOFQ (width of fat quarter)

Peach:
(4) 1 ½” x WOFQ

HOURGLASS UNITS

Use 1 dark blue square (5 ½” x 5 ½”) and 1 light blue square (5 ½” x 5 ½”) to make 2 Hourglass Units (4 ½” x 4 ½”) and use 4 dark blue square (4 ½” x 4 ½”) and 4 light blue square (4 ½” x 4 ½”) to make 8 Hourglass Units (3 ½” x 3 ½”) using the method below. You will only use 7 of the 3 ½” x 3½” Hourglass Units.

1. Place a dark blue square and a matching sized light blue square together. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the light blue square (shown as the solid line).  Sew ¼” on both sides of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seam open or towards the darker fabric. Do not trim the half square triangles (HSTs).


2. Arrange two matching sized HSTs such that the seams on the HSTs line up and the light blue and dark blue fabrics are on top of one another. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the one of the HSTs (shown as the solid line) perpendicular to the seam of that HST. Sew 1/4” on both sides of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the solid line and press seam open. Trim full hourglass blocks to 4 ½” x 4½” and 3 ½” x 3 ½”.


CHECKER BOARD SECTIONS


1.  Create a strip set by sewing together 2 strips of white (1 ½” x WOFQ) alternating with 2 strips of peach (1 ½” x WOFQ) as shown below.  Slice the strip set into 8 quad sections (1 ½” x 4 ½”).

2.  Unsew 1 peach fabric square off of 1 quad section to form a W/P/W tri section (white/peach/white).

3.  Create a strip set by sewing together 1 strip of white (1 ½” x WOFQ) and 2 strips of peach (1 ½” x WOFQ) as shown below.  Slice the strip set into 6 P/W/P tri sections (1 ½” x 4 ½”) (peach/white/peach).


ASSEMBLE THE BLOCK

1.  Row 1: Arrange and sew together the following pieces as listed and shown, pressing seams open.   Row 1 should measure 4 ½ x 12 ½”.



2. Row 2: Arrange and sew together the following pieces as listed and shown, pressing seams open.   Row 1 should measure 4 ½ x 12 ½”.


3.  Row 3: Arrange and sew together the following pieces as listed and shown, pressing seams open.   Row 1 should measure 4 ½ x 12 ½”.


4.  Sew 3 rows together to form the Chronograph Block 12 ½” x 12 ½” (12” x 12” finished).




and here is the finished block...




I hope you enjoyed the Chronograph Block! 



 All of the quilt blocks featured this week are going to be assembled into quilts and donated to charity. I hope you check out all the creative new block tutorials that are going to be shared this week!

Monday, March 28th
Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Tuesday, March 29th (TODAY!)
Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Andrea @The Sewing Fools
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Tish @Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
Abby @Hashtag Quilt
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Carrie @The Zen Quilter
Wanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler

Wednesday, March 30th
Host – Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Giveaway!!
Ocean Sunrise Palette
You can have two entries on this blog to win a half yard bundle of the Ocean Sunrise palette:
1.  Follow the Inspired by Fabric blog (either by email or blog reader) and leave a comment below with how you follow.  
2.  Follow Paintbrush Studio on Instagram (@pbstudiofabrics) and leave a second comment saying you follow on IG. 
The giveaway is open to everyone (international entries welcome), and the giveaway will be open through Friday, April 2nd at 8:00 pm EDT.   (If you are a no-reply blogger please include your e-mail address, if I can't reach you, you can't win.)
Inspired by Fabric is also hosting a *separate* giveaway today, so don’t forget to visit and enter to win there as well!

**Giveaway now closed, thanks for entering! **



Monday, March 28, 2016

Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop (Day 1)

Today is the first day of the Paintbrush Studio sponsored New Block Blog Hop!  The starts today and continues for three days.  There will be over 35 new 12" x 12" (finished) block designs by some wonderfully creative quilting bloggers using Paintbrush Studio's new Painter’s Palette solids.  There will be plenty of chances to win some free fabric too!



Today, Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl is hosting so head over to her blog for the list of bloggers who are hopping today :)

I'll be hosting the hop tomorrow, so come back to see more new quilt block designs and enter a great giveaway!




Wednesday, March 23, 2016

PWS - Extra Post - Tech Editors





Today we have a extra bonus post for the Pattern Workshop Blog Series!  I was introduced to Linda Griepentrog, who is a tech editor, writer and designer, by Christa Watson.  Linda was generous to offer to teach us a little about tech editors today.



Unsung Heroes of Sorts

As a pattern designer, do you ever breathe deeply with trepidation that everything is perfect with the instructions before you press that "upload" button to launch your new design or send it off to the printer? And, then comes the first e-mail with a question about the number of pieces cut or where a particular fabric goes in the design. Oops….missed that.

Behind the scenes working in home offices around the country are those who can help avert pattern crises—they're called tech editors. When you're just starting out in the pattern biz you're trying to keep expenses to a minimum, but this is one resource person you shouldn't do without. Your reputation as a designer and pattern writer is on the line. As you well know, if there's an issue with your pattern, frustrated consumers tend to let all their quilting friends know about it.

So what does a tech editor do? They're the minions who double check yardage requirements, the number of pieces cut vs. what the instructions call for. They also check that your design comes out to the size it says it is and that the pieces all fit together to make the blocks work. If grammar and spelling aren't your thing, there's a double check for that as well. And do the illustrations show what is detailed in the instructions and the finished quilt? Perhaps you accidentally show that blue piece on the left of the block, but the instructions say to put it on the right.

Most tech editors also check for style. Did you say "With right sides together, place piece A and piece B together" in one paragraph and then in the next one say, "Place piece C and D right sides together." In a perfect world, both instructions should be formatted the same.

Tech editors often suggest a different order for assembling something, or a different method for doing something based on their years of quilting/sewing experience. Not, that you have to make the change, but it might be worth thinking about.

Most people don't love math, but tech editors do. And they're also those crazy personalities that love the "find six differences from picture A to picture B" puzzles. They have a mind for detail and are sticklers for consistency.

You can have a friend read over your pattern as a double check, but it's better to have a professional—someone who isn't emotionally attached to you or the project—do this work. Yes, you do have to pay tech editors. Most charge by the hour and rates vary, so perhaps contact several to see who you feel comfortable working with. Network with other pattern designers for recommendations.
Investing in your pattern product will bring long-term rewards.


Linda Griepentrog is a tech editor, writer and designer who lives in Bend, Oregon. She works with independent pattern designers, fabric companies and book publishers counting triangles and squares with calculator in hand. You can contact her at gwizdesigns@aol.com.



Tuesday, March 22, 2016

PWS - Winners!


Many thanks to all those that left comments on the Topic 10 - Wrap Up post for the Pattern Writing Blog Series!  Without further ado, here are the winners:

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs - any one digital quilt pattern: Rappy

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts a digital copy of the Fox & Friends pattern: Margaret D.

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl any one digital quilt pattern: French 75

Amy @ 13 Spools - any one digital quilt pattern: Sarah Z

Soma @ Whims and Fancies - any one digital pattern: LethargicLass

Anne @ Springleaf Studios - any one digital pattern: Paige A.

Christa @ Christa Quilts - any one digital pattern: Sandra W.

Thanks again for following along!!  All of the posts are linked up in the Pattern Writing Series tab above to easily be able to reference any of the topics covered.  I hope that pin or otherwise save this series for future reference and to share with others if you found the content useful and informative.




Monday, March 21, 2016

Beacon Pattern Launch from Quilting Jetgirl

I recently had the opportunity and pleasure of reviewing Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl's new pattern Beacon.  Yvonne is fellow engineer / quilter who designs bold and striking geometric quilt designs.


The Beacon quilt pattern is is an intermediate level quilt pattern which is wonderfully written with tons of illustrations and photographs to guild you set by step in creating the quilt.  I really appreciated the section on picking colors for the quilt, the color pages, and all of the tips Yvonne adds throughout the pattern to make sure that all of your points line up.  


Beacon contains instructions for 3 sizes: baby, lap, and queen.

You can find the pattern in Yvonne's shop.  Thank you Yvonne for allowing me to review your pattern!


Friday, March 11, 2016

PWS- How to Write a Quilt Pattern - Wrap Up (Topic 10)

Topic X - Pattern Writing Blog Series Wrap Up


We made it!  This is the 25th and final post in the Pattern Writing Blog Series!  We have covered topics all the way from an design idea to a published quilt pattern and everything in between.

When I first had the idea to post about quilt pattern writing back 6 months ago, I started with the idea of a single post.  I quickly realized that to really cover the topic on any more than just a superficial level would take a lot of posts, time, and effort.  Thank you so much for going through the series with me!  I hope that you have found interesting as well as helpful.

Through the series, I have illustrated the process through the development of the Ninja Bears quilt pattern.  This pattern is now available as a free digital quilt pattern from my Craftsy shop.

All of the posts are linked up in the Pattern Writing Series tab above to easily be able to reference any of the topics covered.  I hope that pin or otherwise save this series for future reference and to share with others if you found the content useful and informative.

I want to leave you invigorated to try your hand at writing that quilt pattern you have had in your head for the last few years or the quilt pattern that all of your friends have been asking for since you first showed them the finished quilt.  Writing your first quilt pattern is daunting, time-consuming, and at times very frustrating, but you will have this series to refer to and a whole Facebook Group (which is already up to almost 150 members!) to ask questions of, find testers, and commiserate with.  You can do it!

If you have any questions now (or in the future), you can leave them in a comment below or on a particular post and I will answer them.


I asked the guest designers to give some last tips and words of encouragement about pattern writing.

 

Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts -
If you are passionate about designing quilts and offering patterns for those designs, don't be intimidated by the process of pattern writing. It does take a lot of work, but the whole thing can be broken down into steps. It is a rewarding experience to sell a pattern that others can enjoy. So don't give up.

Amy of 13 Spools - I found the book Publish Your Patterns! How to Write, Print, and Market Your Designs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0971450137?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage) very helpful.

Soma of Whims and Fancies - The most important thing is to have fun with the pattern that you are writing. As with everything else, practice makes pattern writing easier.

Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl - I strongly believe that everyone is creative, and you are doing your best work right now. Trying something new is a leap into the unknown, but remember that you can reach out to your quilting community (whether they be in person or online) for help when you need it.

Anne of Springleaf Studios - If you love designing AND have an interest in explaining how to do it to others then go for it. You just need to understand that you not only need a strong design, but also a clear ability to explain and illustrate how to do it. We’ve gotten used to seeing tutorials on blogs with lots of photo step outs included. A written pattern most likely won’t have all those photos or it would be a book. You need to be able to condense and illustrate while still conveying the same information.

I started by reading the book Amy mentions and found it very helpful with a lot of basic information. Also don't be afraid to ask questions.   I totally relate to Yvonne's comment about being wordy. Editing is the hardest part for me too.

Amy of 13 Spools - I’m absolutely positive all of this will seem extremely overwhelming. Honestly, it did to me too, and now I feel like I’ve got this - only a few years after writing my first pattern. And let me tell you - that first pattern was horrible. It was horribly written. No one needed a pattern to make that quilt. The photographs were less than amazing. The layout was lacking. The graphic design was crap. No one bought it. (Probably a good thing.)

That’s ok. That’s what your first project is for. The Sistine Chapel wasn’t Michelangelo's first project, and your first project won’t be amazing. Make it free, share it with others, whatever - or get help! Hire a designer, get a mentor, buy a ton of patterns to scour, take some design classes on CreativeLive or DesignShare. Fail. Get back up again. Fail again. Dust it off. Keep going. There’s no secrets here but hard work, good preparation, and learning from your mistakes.

Anne of Springleaf Studios - If you do decide to write patterns, look at the bigger picture. Will you want to offer printed patterns in the future? It’s easy to have digital pattern that is several pages long. Not so easy to turn that same thing into a printed pattern without major editing.

Christa of Christa Quilts - When choosing to offer print patterns, do your homework and get several different quotes. I found the best prices on printing at gotprint.com online, but you have to buy them in volume.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to gain traction. Most shops and distributors don’t respond well to cold calls, i.e. hitting them up at their shops or at quilt market without an appointment. Find out who the buyers are, develop a relationship with them, and conduct yourself professionally at all times. It can take several tries before they are willing to see what you have to offer, but don’t give up. Also, develop a pattern line of about 5-6 patterns before you approach a shop or distributor to carry your line.

Like anything in business, take yourself seriously and don’t give up when the going gets tough. If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen!

Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl - We all have things to learn. I struggle with being wordy and wanting to visually represent everything in my patterns. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but if I ever do move toward printing my patterns or having them sold wholesale, I will definitely need to continue to learn the art of editing and culling where appropriate.



And now to celebrate!  The guest designers and myself have each donated one (1) digital quilt pattern as a prize so there will be seven (7) winners in all!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.  You can ask a question, add some of your own insight, thank the guest designers, or anything else.  One comment per person please.

This giveaway starts today (Friday March 11th) and will run until Wednesday March Dec 16th at 8 p.m. EST.  The giveaway is open to everyone around the world.  If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your e-mail address because if I can't contact you, you can't win.

** Giveaway now closed, comments are still open so if you have a pattern writing related question you can still leave it here. **

Thank you again for joining in with me on this series!!



Midnight Mystery Quilt - Winners!

Did you see the 111 quilts and quilt tops in the Midnight Mystery Parade yesterday?  If not, please go check them out right here, they are awesome!



I have been blown away by the response to this mystery quilt and want to thank every one of the quilters for using their time and fabric to quilt along with me over these last 9 months.

Due to the number of quilters who turned in entries, in addition to the 9 prizes that had been announced, there have been 7 more prizes added!

I have added an additional 5 prizes from my own Etsy shop and Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl (who is an amazing longarm quilter, pattern designer, and participant of the Midnight Mystery Quilt) has graciously offered 2 prizes of 2 patterns each for a total of 16 prizes to win!  Quilting Jetgirl is also the first official sponsor for the next mystery quilt, the Meadow Mystery Quilt which starts this July.  Thanks Yvonne!

Without further ado, here are our 16 winners, randomly selected using random.org:

1.   $20 gift certificate from Bear Creek Quilting Company 
Carla K. from Colorado


2.   $40 gift certificate from Pile O'Fabric
Judy V. from Roscommon, Michigan

3.  1 combined cathedral window pincushion / thread catcher from Meadow Mist Designs 
Sally B. from Moody, Alabama

4.  $100 gift certificate from The Fat Quarter Shop

Brenda C. from Lacombe Alberta Canada


5.  1 digital quilt pattern from Busy Hands Quilts
Adele D.


6.  1 digital quilt pattern from Busy Hands Quilts 
Michelle P. from Scotland


7.  10-piece fat quarter bundle of Peppered Cottons from Studio e
Marjie R. from Ashland, MA

8.  20-piece fat quarter bundle called Fusion Illusion from Blank Quilt Corp.
Kris J of Sew Sunshine

9.  Quilting of your mystery quilt (or other lap quilt) of a semi-dense all-over quilting pattern design by Jan from Quilting Among the Groves. 

Mel B.


10. 2 digital quilt patterns from Meadow Mist Designs
Jean M. from New Zealand


11. 2 digital quilt patterns from Meadow Mist Designs
Deb C. from Tasmania, Australia


12. pincushion from Meadow Mist Designs 
Lara of Buzz in Bumble


13.  pincushion from Meadow Mist Designs
Tish S. of Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

14. pincushion from Meadow Mist Designs 
Karin P.


15. 2 digital quilt patterns from Quilting Jetgirl
Carolyn C. of Gorram Quilts from Seattle WA

16.  2 digital quilt patterns from Quilting Jetgirl
Nancy (the Nancy with the email address starting with brian...)

Thanks again to everyone who participated and our winners, I will be e-mailing the winners tonight with more details of your wins.



Thursday, March 10, 2016

Midnight Mystery Quilt Reveal Parade!


Welcome to the Midnight Mystery Quilt Parade!  Grab some coffee or tea and some cake and take some time to look through over 100 wonderful version of the Midnight Mystery Quilt people have made.  

We have 111 versions of the quilt pattern on parade today!!!!  Thank you so much to everyone who has been taking part or following along in the Midnight Mystery Quilt! 

Due to the shear length of this post, I will be posting the winners of the random drawings tomorrow.

Just as a reminder, the mystery quilt instructions can be found in the tab above and they will never be taken down so you can start at any time.  (I also now have the entire set of instructions for sale as an easy downloadable pdf).)

Without further ado...here are some of the wonderful Midnight Mystery Quilt finishes! (I double checked all of the entries, but as there were so many if I misspelled your name wrong, left out a blog link, left off your quilt you e-mailed to me, or did anything else wrong, please let me know and I will fix it right away).




Shannon F. of The Fleming's Nine from Oklahoma - Blogged




Carolyn C. of Gorram Quilts from Seattle WA - Blogged




Carla K. from Colorado




Hannah G. from Brownsburg, Indiana






Judy V. from Roscommon, Michigan






Janeen K. from Indiana






Denise M. from Folsom, CA





Marjie R. from Ashland, MA






Beryl R.





Jennifer W.





Liz M. from New Jersey



Stephanie O. from Pontotoc, MS





Sue B.





Esther G. from Pinedale, Wyoming





Irene G. from North Carolina





Julie W. from California






Myra of Busy Hands Quilts from Washington State - blogged





Pia Marie P. of Colorado





Joan A.





Pam K.





Debbie R. from Texas




and another from Debbie R. from Texas





Yvonne F. of Quilting Jetgirl from California - blogged




Sue H. from Ohio





Emily O. from Fort Collins, CO @rebelquilting






Michelle P. from Scotland




Imelda O.



JoAnna R.




Bev H. from Idaho




Deb P. from South Carolina




Donna K.




Mittie S. from Melber, Kentucky




Diana M. of Red Delicious Life from Florida - blogged




Sherry S. of Blessings From Our Nest from Washington State - blogged




Mel B.




Lisa B. of Beutelchens Hande from Germany - blogged








 Susan from California - @susansquiltstudio




Allison from Auburn, Alabama




Cheryl B. of Meadow Mist Designs from Greenville, SC - blogged



Nancy





Hayley P. of MooBird Stitches




Daniela K. from Cameron, Missouri





Lynda H. 





another quilt by Lynda H.





Emma R. of My Handmade Home from England




Liz K. in Calgary, AB





Cindy B. from Colorado




Teresa




Deb C. from Tasmania, Australia





Adele D.





Camille M. from Salt Lake City, Utah @Camillesquilting





Nancy C. from Virginia




Jessica W. 





Liz D. from London, Ontario, Canada. 





Amy L.




Audrey D.






Carol P. from Utah




Brenda C. from Lacombe Alberta Canada




Kerry S. from South Carolina




Liz S.




Nancy




Karin P.




Jackie I.




Emilee T. from Georgia




Katri M. from Finland





Emily L. of The Darling Dogwood from Charlotte, NC 





Anja C.




Debbie J. of Greenville, SC




Jean P.




Julia




Lorna J.




Vasudha G.




Cristen B.




Darleen S. from South Carolina




Rachel of Pigs In Pajamas from California - blogged




Lynn M. from New Zealand




Alison of Little Bunny Quilts - blogged




Monique B. from New Hampshire








Sally B. from Moody, Alabama




Sarah of 123 Quilt from North Carolina - blogged




Sara from North Italy




Sarah G. of Sarah Goer Quilts





Libby D.




Char T. from Colorado




Chelsea M.




Jean M. from new Zealand




Mary from Ohio




Liz H.




Silvia S. - Illinois




Brenda H. from Canada




Jenny D of Sew Crafty Jenn




Karen B




another version by Karen B (one really huge midnight mystery block!)




Kris J of Sew Sunshine - blogged








Johellen G. of South Carolina




Sherry B. from Sacramento




Veronica N.




Sylvia from Germany




Joanna Y. from South Carolina




Elinor G. from South Carolina




Joyce A. from South Carolina




Dagmar T. from South Carolina



Wendy O. from Guelph Ontario Canada




Kelli G.




Cathy S. from France








Tana M.


Weren't all of the quilts amazing? I love seeing how a quilt pattern can change so much by using different fabrics and colors.  Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Midnight Mystery Quilt.



If you liked what you saw above you can always make your own version of the Midnight Mystery quilt (blog instructions in this tab and pdf available for purchase here) or join in on the next mystery quilt!!!!




Meadow Mystery Quilt-a-Long Starting in July!

I had such fun with this mystery quilt that I will be hosting another mystery quilt starting this summer!  The Meadow Mystery quilt-a-long will start in July 2016 and finish in early spring 2017.  Please join me in making next year's mystery quilt even bigger and better!




I am linking up to Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh QuiltsNeedle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation, Whoop Whoop Friday @ Confessions of a Fabric AddictThank Goodness Its Finished FridayFinish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom QuiltsFabric Frenzy Friday @ Fort Worth Fabrics Studio.