Book Giveaway - Week 3

We're now into Week 3 of the Chatterbox Quilts book giveaway. Congratulations again to Irene who won "Fast, Flirty, and Fun" by Sarah M. Bisel last Saturday. 

Apparently I'm not the only quilter who also dabbles in other crafty areas; from the comments I received, it appears that many people are also doing cross stitch, knitting and other crafts. It seems that once you've got a craft habit, it just continues to grow!

This week I am delighted to be offering another book from Martingale & Company. Thanks again to Martingale & Company for providing me with this book to offer in a draw to my readers.

If you didn't participate in the previous week's draw, here are the details:

One book will be given away each week for the next five weeks; entries will begin on Monday each week. Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. each Friday. I will be drawing a winner for one book each week on Saturday, starting on November 20, 2010. You will need to enter each week to be eligible for that week's book draw. The entry conditions will vary each week, so be sure to read the details carefully before entering.

You will receive one entry for this week's draw for each of the following that you do:

1.  Sign up for my Quilt Chatter newsletter (not this blog) by clicking on the top right-hand side of this blog and advise me by commenting on this post. (If you are already a subscriber, just advise me of this).

2.  Visit my Etsy store and let me know which is your favourite pattern or appliqué template by commenting on this post.
3.  Let me know if you prefer to purchase paper or PDF patterns and why, and advise me by commenting on this post.

You'll receive one entry for every one of the above things that you do - so that's a possible three entries.

You will need to do each of these separately - do not include all your information in one comment or that will only count as one entry. Be sure to comment on this post only so that you will be eligible for the draw.

This contest is open to residents of Canada and the continental United States only; sorry no international entries. 

This week I am offering "Pinwheel Party - 12 Fun and Unique Quilts" by Ellen Pahl. I reviewed this book in a previous blog post and loved Ellen's fresh take on the classic pinwheel block. With an eye to making small presents for Christmas, I think that Xs and Os, Pinwheel Pirouette or even Whirlwind would all make perfect holiday gifts.

Please feel free to tell your friends about this opportunity so they'll have a chance to win a book as well. Don't forget to check back on December 4 to see if you've won this wonderful book. 

Sale, sale, sale!

Good Monday morning to everyone! I should say Happy Cyber Monday. Yes, this is the day when you can take whatever money you have left over from Black Friday and spend it on-line! 


While you're shopping, be sure to check out the sale at my Etsy shop. There's still plenty of time to make gifts for family and friends for the holidays. Perhaps a tablerunner for grandma or a sweet stuffie for the child in your life - or for your inner child!  

The sale will run for 24 hours only, so be sure you don't miss out. (Sale ends on November 30 at 6:00 a.m. MST).


Happy cyber shopping!

Book Winner - Week 2!

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of "Fast, Flirty, and Fun" by Sarah M. Bisel, generously donated by Martingale & Company, is Hilachas. Congratulations! I'm sure you'll enjoy this book and I'll be sending it out to you as soon as I receive your mailing address information.

Don't forget to check out my blog post on Monday to see what book I'll be offering as a giveaway this upcoming week.


Also, as a bonus this week, I'll be having a sale on my Etsy shop, so be sure to check your email to see what will be on sale on Cyber Monday.

Stay warm out there!

Book Giveaway - Week 2

We're now into Week 2 of the Chatterbox Quilts book giveaway. Congratulations again to Shannon who won "A Critter Christmas" by Brandywine Design this past Saturday.

This week I am delighted to be offering a book that has been donated by Martingale & Company. I am very appreciative of their generosity in providing me with this book to give away. 

If you didn't participate in the previous week's draw, here are the details:


One book will be given away each week for the next five weeks; entries will begin on each Monday. Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. each Friday. I will be drawing a winner for one book each week on Saturday, starting on November 20, 2010. You will need to enter each week to be eligible for that week's book draw. The entry conditions will vary each week, so be sure to read the details carefully before entering.

You will receive one entry for this week's draw for each of the following that you do:

1.  Become a follower on my Chatterbox Quilts Chitchat blog - and advise me by leaving a comment on this post. Please sign up for posts by email on the right-hand side of the blog, not Google reader, to be eligible. (If you are already a subscriber, just advise me of this.)

2.  Become my friend on Facebook - and advise me by leaving a comment on this post. (If you are already a friend, just advise me of this).

3.  Blog about this week's giveaway on your blog - and advise me by leaving a comment on this post.

4.  Let me know what other types of crafts you do and advise me by commenting on this post.

You'll receive one entry for every one of the above things that you do - so that's a possible four entries.

You will need to do each of these separately - do not include all your information in one comment or that will only count as one entry. Be sure to comment on this post only so that you will be eligible for the draw.

This contest is open to residents of Canada and the continental United States only; sorry no international entries. 

This week I am offering "Fast, Flirty, and Fun" by Sarah M. Bisel. I reviewed this book in a previous blog post and was delighted at all the cute little projects it included. Several of these projects would easily lend themselves to Christmas gifts if you substituted holiday fabrics in the pattern. I think that Circle of Friends or Sweet Silhouette would be especially appropriate.

Please feel free to tell your friends about this opportunity so they'll have a chance to win a book as well. Don't forget to check back next Saturday to see if you've won this wonderful book. 

Book giveaways

Hi everyone:


Well, week 1 of the Chatterbox Quilts book giveaway has passed and we will soon be opening up the contest for week 2. I just wanted to remind you that you need to enter each week to be eligible for a prize.


The contest opens on Monday each week and closes on that week's Friday night at 11:59 a.m. I will be announcing the winner each Saturday. In order to be eligible to win that week's book, you must enter between Monday, after the book giveaway blogpost is published, and Friday; please don't enter on the week-end or you won't be entered in the draw - and that would make me and you sad!


Watch for the blogpost tomorrow to see what I'll be giving away this week.


Good luck!

Book winner - Week 1!

The winner this week's book giveaway,"A Critter Christmas" by Brandywine Design, is Shannon. Congratulations to Shannon; I'm sure you'll enjoy this book and I'll be sending it out to you as soon as I have your address information.

Don't forget to check out my blog post on Monday to see what book I'll be offering as a giveaway next week.


Enjoy a quilty week-end!

Book Giveaway - Week 1

I've been going through some of the things in my quilt studio and I ran across a mysterious bag. What was in the bag? Well, some books that I had put away to be used in a giveaway, that's what! I had completely forgotten about them - things tend to disappear in my studio only to resurface a few weeks later.


So, this means that I have a book or two to give away. Well, actually, I have 5 books to give away. Yup, 5 different books for you to win. With the exception of the first book that I will be giving away, these books have been kindly donated by Martingale & Company. I love their books and am very appreciative of their generosity in providing these books for me to give away. 


One book will be given away each week for the next five weeks; entries will open on Monday each week. Entries will close at 11:59 p.m. each Friday. I will be drawing a winner for one book each week on Saturday, starting on November 20, 2010. 


You will need to enter each week to be eligible for that week's book draw. The entry conditions will vary each week, so be sure to read the details carefully before entering.


You will receive one entry for this week's draw for each of the following that you do:

1.  Become a follower on my Chatterbox Quilts Chitchat blog - and advise me by leaving a comment on this post. Please sign up for posts by email on the right-hand side of the blog, not Google reader, to be eligible. (If you are already a subscriber, just advise me of this.)

2.  Become a fan of Chatterbox Quilts on Facebook - and advise me by leaving a comment on this post. (If you are already a fan, just advise me of this).

3.  Sign up for my Quilt Chatter newsletter by clicking on the top right-hand side of this blog and advise me by commenting on this post. (If you are already a subscriber, just advise me of this).

4.  Let me know what types of quilt patterns that you like to buy - technique and size (ie. pieced quilt or appliqué wall hanging) and advise me by commenting on this post.

You'll receive one entry for every one of the above things that you do - so that's a possible four entries.

You will need to do each of these separately - do not include all your information in one comment or that will only count as one entry. Be sure to comment on this post only so that you will be eligible for the draw.

This contest is open to residents of Canada and the continental United States only; sorry no international entries. 


Now that all of the details are out of the way, let me tell you about this week's book that you'll have a chance to win!

"A Critter Christmas" by Brandywine Design includes several wall hangings, mini quilts, stockings and other projects - 11 in all. I have a copy of this book for myself and think it is so adorable. As the title implies, the projects are full of cute little animals, including mice, bears, and squirrels with a winter/holiday theme. There are several small projects in this book which would be perfect as gifts for special friends.


Please feel free to tell your friends about this opportunity so they'll have a chance to win a book as well. Don't forget to check back next Saturday to see if you've won this wonderful book. 

Lest we forget

No quilting news today - just a time to remember, reflect and be thankful.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

My daughter, Sarah, brought the following video to my attention last year on Remembrance Day. The story of how the song came to be written is as follows:

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven oclock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terrys anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.

Thank You to the Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden Branch #10 and Woodbine Height Branch #2 for their participation in the Video. 

Way to GO!

I've been reviewing the comments that I received from the Fall into Fall Quilter Bloggers Giveaway and while there have been lots of ideas for future blog posts, I received many comments asking questions about the Accuquilt GO!. I recently acquired one of these little wonders, before the introduction of the GO! Baby, and have been using it for various projects. While I'm no expert, here's some information about my experience with the GO!

First of all, there is lots and lots of information and patterns, many of them free, available to use with this little baby. If you aren't already familiar with the GO! and its little sister, the GO! Baby, you really should check out Accuquilt's website. They offer advice, videos, free patterns and have just recently started The Daily Deal where they have daily specials on various products. I am amazed at the amount of information and free stuff (don't we all like free stuff!) that they have on their site - very customer friendly. Of course, Accuquilt is also on Facebook, so be sure to become a fan to receive information from them in this format.


I've also found lots of instructional videos on youtube by several quilters. Just put in "accuquilt" in the Search area and you'll see what I mean. Many quilter bloggers have videos and information on their blogs as well and again, just use your search engine to look for "accuquilt" or "accquilt GO!"

Now, as for my experience with the GO! cutter, I have found it to be very quick and easy to use. I have primarily used it to cut appliqué shapes using fabric to which I have ironed fusible web. I have adhered the fusible web to fat quarters, cut out the desired appliqués and then put the excess fabric in a box for the next time that I may want to cut shapes from this fabric. You can arrange small scrap pieces of fabric on the desired appliqué shape on the die and just cut out one or two appliqués. It's not necessary to use a large piece of fabric. 

I have also used the GO! to cut out some half-square triangles for a project and was amazed at how quickly I could cut a large number of these. The tips of the triangles are already cut off for you, again saving you time after you have sewn them together as you don't have to clip off the dog ears.

While the GO! is fun to use, I'm also impressed by how safe it is. My daughter is very reluctant to use a rotary cutter, but I can't keep her from using the GO! No exposed blades to worry about or lining up a ruler to cut along - just place the fabric and fabric mat on the die, turn the handle and you're done. I think that this would be a fantastic tool to use in quilting classes for children due to the safety and ease of use.

One of my favourite things about the GO! is its small size and portability. When I'm done using it, I just put it on the floor under my quilting frame and it's out of the way and waiting for when I next want to use it. It's also easy to carry so I can take it anywhere in the house - or outside - to use it. Just because it folds up and is portable does not mean that it is flimsy. It weighs more than my Bernina and sits solidly on my cutting table when I'm cutting with it. 


I already have several projects where I used the GO! cutter and have many more in mind. Don't forget that you can take pieced patterns that you already have and cut the fabrics using the GO! Accuquilt has provided a very handy table to show you which dies you would use for various shapes in a variety of sizes. 


If you haven't had the opportunity to use a GO!, I hope you get to try one at a local retailer or show. I'm sure you'll be impressed.


GOt to get GOing!

Book Review - Country Threads goes to Charm School

Well, I did promise you another review of a "country" book and today I'm looking at Country Threads goes to Charm School: 19 Little Quilts from 5" Squares by Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene. It's a long title and includes a long list of little projects - 19 in total. 


If you find yourself addicted to these little projects after completing all the ones in the book, you can sign up for the Charm School club at Country Threads and receive a different charm pack and pattern each month.


I think the first thing I liked about this book was how the projects were named. "Don't Interrupt!", "No White Shoes After Labor Day" and "Wipe Your Feet" are just a few examples of the projects you'll find in this book. These ladies definitely share my sense of humour! 


Most of the quilts are wall hanging or table topper size, making for quick and easy projects. These are great little quilts to whip up for gifts and for learning a new technique, such as machine appliqué. They do use charm packs, and while I usually shy away from these projects since I never seem to have enough charm packs to complete a pattern, this is not the case with this book. These projects use a charm pack - not 2 or 3, but 1. You will need extra coordinating fabric for borders and backing, but only 1 charm pack. I like that! Also, should you not have a charm pack, each pattern gives alternate fabric requirements in a "Still Charming" sidebar. I really like that! 


I had a hard time deciding on favourites in this book: I liked Wipe Your Feet, with its little trees and also Don't Break Bread into Your Soup, using half-square triangles to form a pattern. But then there was also Walk - Don't Run, with its lattice look and Say "Please" with its appliquéd circles in 2 sizes...


The best part about these small projects - I could have two of these completed in the time it would take to usually make one bigger project so I don't have to choose just one of them!


This book would appeal to the quilter who likes to make up small projects which are simple, yet effective.

Book Review - Country Comforts

I've been stockpiling books lately and definitely need to tell you about some of them. I have two "country" books that I've recently received, both quite different from the other. Today I'll be looking at one of these, 

Country Comforts: Quilts for Casual Living by Cheryl Wall. This book will appeal to those quilters who favour a primitive, country look. Cheryl uses traditional blocks, such as Log Cabin and Churn Dash, but gives them a new twist. 


The projects in the book remind me of curling up in front of a warm fire on a cold winter evening - cozy, comfortable and homey. Most of the quilts are large wall hanging or throw size and what makes her projects so appealing is the extra touches that she brings to them by adding appliqué to the traditional blocks. Cheryl writes in the introduction that she is "drawn to the primitive style of quilting and crafting because of the freedom it allows me to make projects that are less than perfect but still beautiful." It's so refreshing to hear this philosophy of quilting when so many of us are striving to make the "perfect" quilt. We sometimes lose sight that quilting should be a relaxing, enjoyable hobby. 


In the quilting instructions, Cheryl provides information about working with wool appliqué and embroidery stitches. I'm just venturing into wool appliqué and enjoy adding embroidery to my projects, so I was pleased to see this information. I also liked the idea of using your extra blocks and fabric to make the quilt backings, rather than buying fabric specifically for this purpose.


I think my favourite project in the book is Mountains and Meadows with its appliquéd stars, hearts and flowers, although I also liked Autumn Equinox with its octagon blocks and appliquéd flowers. Both quite different from each other, but equally appealing, as are all the quilts in the book.


If you like relaxed, casual quilts with a country flavour, this book will appeal to you.


Next time I'll look at another "country" book.

New Patterns

Mini quilt using "Becca" appliqué template

I'm thrilled to announce a new series of appliqué templates. 


Yes, I said templates, not patterns. I've designed several appliqué templates that can be used in a variety of ways. These will look great on quilts and wall hangings and are adaptable to use for other projects, such as clothing and purses. I can envision these designs on pillows and tea towels - perfect for gift giving. You can use these templates in any project that you can imagine - no limitations.


Although I do like to create larger projects, sometimes I only have time for a smaller one and this is how I envision that these templates will be used. Need a quick gift for a friend? Choose one of the appliqué templates and create a mini-quilt. Want to make a placemat set for a house warming? Piece together a simple background and take it up a notch by adding an appliqué. You'll find lots of uses for these designs.

Frog appliqué design

The best part of all is that these templates are available for purchase through my Etsy store as PDF downloads. Just choose the appliqué that you like and it'll be sent to you by email. Quick and easy! You can order anytime - day or night! You'll receive an appliqué placement guide with each design and full-size individual appliqué templates already reversed for fusible web appliqué. 


If you're one of my Quilt Chatter newsletter subscribers, you'll receive a one of my appliqué designs FREE in the November 2010 issue. If you're not a subscriber, be sure to sign up for Quilt Chatter by clicking on the top right side of my blog and completing the required information so that you'll receive the free pattern too.


I'm already making projects with these and hope that you'll send me photos of your own creations. 


If you have any ideas for appliqué designs that you'd like to see, please leave me a comment with your suggestions.


Back to the drawing board!