May 25, 2014

Modern Quilting Snippets: Valerie's Quilt

This is the first in a series of posts, just thoughts and images I want to share on modern quilting.

I saw this quilt in Houston at the International Festival of Quilts last fall. I was taken with it. Google assures me that it's won a bunch of awards, so I know I'm not the only one.

The quilt was made by Valerie Mullally. The photo is hers and used with her permission.


Its name is the best part: "Dear Jane, Welcome to the 21st Century".

So clever. Did that make you smile a little? It did for me. I think that's because Valerie is telling us something, quilter to quilter.

I think she's telling us, the world around us is changing and so quilting is changing too.

Maybe this quilt is even challenging us a bit. How do you feel about how the world is changing? How do you feel about how quilting is changing? And especially, what kind of quilts are you going to leave behind you to tell your story?

Thank you for creating this lovely quilt Valerie, it is spot on in both concept and skill. I feel changed a bit by seeing it.

I'd love to hear your comments on what Valerie's quilt evokes for you.

May 17, 2014

Portland for the win!

In some sort of cosmic Portland karma vortex, the winner of my giveaway (of Portlander Violet Craft's fabric) is Elsa. This is awesome because Elsa lives here in Portland too and is a fellow PMQG member. She made this beautiful and summery 241 tote and did an Instagram giveaway that I won. Now a few weeks later I get to give her supplies for a new bag! Isn't that cool?


Portland has been really gorgeous lately. A lot more appointment cancelations in our clinic as people stay out and enjoy the weather. The rain returns tomorrow, which happens to be when I give my once-in-a-great-while FMQ class at Modern Domestic. So if you're in the area and are ready to do indoor activities again you should come join me.


Thanks to everyone who said congratulations and nice things about the bag and the book. My email got really confusing with those hundreds of comments so there was no responding, but I read them and appreciated you saying so. See you soon!

May 12, 2014

Giveaway Day: I'm in Quilts and More!

Hey everyone! Happy Giveaway Day!

Months ago I submitted a quilted tote bag to Quilts and More and they accepted it! It's in the issue that's out now, the Summer 2014.


I made the bag with Waterfront Park by Violet Craft and Cotton Couture solids in Clementine. My giveaway is a copy of the magazine and the fabric needed to make my bag. I've even got the right amount of strap for you here. All you need is batting and thread! And the willingness to try free-motion quilting. And I know a really good free-motion quilting book if you need one (wink).

The giveaway is open to everyone all over the world. It will close on April 16 apparently it's May, so how about May 16th? To enter please just let me know your favorite color right now. I'm in a colorful mood today.  The giveaway is closed and the winner is #125 Elsa! Thank you all for sharing your color love and congratulations and the nice thoughts about my book too. 

May 04, 2014

Log Cabin Quilting and Creativebug Giveaway

Do you know about Creativebug? I spend very little time online these days and so I only heard of it last week when my friend Susan Beal told me her new 4 week class, Log Cabin Quilting, will start this week at Creativebug. She sent me pictures for her new class, it looks so sweet and very Susan. If you're wanting some log cabins in your life you should check this out! (Susan is clearly meant to teach this class because she wrote Modern Log Cabin Quilting).


I got to try out the website and I'm thrilled. The thing I love about it is that it is subscription based. You pay by the month and watch as many classes as you want in that month. I noticed Natalie Chanin, Brandon Mably, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner, Kathy Doughty, so many classes that caught my eye! I think this subscription idea is a great model and really budget friendly. The clincher for me is that they have a phone app. I tried it out and it's pretty good. 

I'm happy to report that I get to give away a 3 month subscription to Creativebug just in time for one lucky duck to enjoy Susan's class that starts May 6th. So this is a flash giveaway. Leave a comment below telling me the last person you hugged. I know I'm such a pollyanna about my giveaways but I really do like hearing about the good things going on in this world. I'll pick a winner on May 6!

The winner is chosen! #3, Betsy, congratulations Betsy!