Quilter's Connection Excitement and a Giveaway

Hi everyone:


Yesterday I told you that I had some exciting news coming up and I've been bursting at the seams to tell you. Now, I finally can! I'm in the Summer issue of Quilter's Connection Magazine, or rather, my quilt, Blossoming is. And, even better, I'm right on the front page. Actually, Blossoming is the front page! 

I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to have one of my patterns featured in this great Canadian magazine and absolutely thrilled to see my little wall hanging on the front cover. Wow! Talk about make my day! 


If you're a subscriber, you should be receiving your issue soon, barring a strike by Canada Post, of course. You can also pick this up in Chapters and other major booksellers in Canada in early June. If you haven't seen this publication yet, you can find out all about it here.


So...to celebrate my first pattern in a magazine, I'm holding a giveaway. I'm offering 3 of my Chatterbox Quilts patterns to one of my readers (Canadian and U.S. addresses only, please) and you get to pick the patterns that you like the most. This giveaway is open until May Tuesday, May 31, 2011 (my mother's birthday) at 6:00 p.m MST. You'll have four opportunities to enter this giveaway; five opportunities if you are a blogger, as below:

1. Visit my Etsy store (see tab at top of blog page) and let me know which 3 patterns you'd choose if you won and leave a comment below.

2. Become a follower of my blog by entering your email address on the top right side of my blog page and leave a separate comment below indicating this. If you're already a follower, please leave me a separate comment below indicating this.

3. Become a follower of Chatterbox Quilts on Facebook (see blog page sidebar) and leave me a separate comment below indicating this. If you're already a Facebook fan, please leave me a separate comment below indicating this.

4. Become a follower of CB Quilts on Twitter (see blog page sidebar) and leave me a separate comment below indicating this. If you already follow me on Twitter, please leave me a separate comment below indicating this.


5. If you are a blogger and blog about this giveaway, leave me a separate comment below with the link to the blog post to be entered for an additional chance. 

You have five opportunities to win, so be sure that you leave a separate comment for each entry so they will all be eligible.


Good luck to everyone and hope you're enjoying a blooming week!

WIWOW May 25, 2011

Hi everyone:


Not as much quilting this week. 4 day week-end with some shopping and lots of gardening. Weeding, planting, pruning, thank goodness the weather cooperated on Saturday so we were able to get it all done. I did manage to finish quilting Chock a Block, although it took me a little longer than I would've hoped.

Chock a Block by Chatterbox Quilts

I'm still practising pantographs and, due to some issues with my laser set-up (I won't even go into the details here), my quilting became off track and I ended up stitching over part of the previous row. Not good! Of course this meant that I had some un-stitching to do, which takes much longer on a frame than you'd think to accomplish. I ended up having to adjust my quilting several times along the last row and finally finished up at about 11:30 on Saturday evening. Not my idea of an ideal evening!
   

Chock a Block quilted detail

Chock a Block overview

I think I'm going to stop quilting on the frame this week (really, nothing to do with the frustrating Saturday evening I had) and get back to some sewing. I have a few projects in the works that I haven't been able to work on lately. I still have to do another prototype of my Hootie owl, so hopefully I'll get back to that too.


Of course I have to review my stash and books to see what I should be looking for this upcoming week-end at the Festival of Quilts at Heritage Park in Calgary. Over 500 quilts will be covering the park this week-end and, for the first time, there will be quilts available for sale. I'm quite interested to see how many of these there will be and how they will be priced. If you're there and see me, make sure you say hi. I'll also be at the dinner on Saturday evening to hear Diane McGregor of Castilleja Cotton speak. 

Twirling Whirlies at the 2010 Festival of Quilts
Notice the winter jacket - it was cold!

I also have some exciting information that I'll let you know about in my next blog post. I've been holding this under my hat for several months now and can finally let you in on the big news.


I hope you've enjoying warm weather and have some quilt shows upcoming in your area.

WIWOW May 18, 2011

Hi everyone:


Another week has come and gone and I've actually finished some more things. Remember that quilt that I has just started quilting last week?  Well, it's done! Yes, and it even turned out quite well. 

Finished 5 and Dime quilt with soft flannel backing

It was my first pantograph quilt and I'm pleased with the results. My husband wondered who this quilt was for. I told him it was for me to cuddle up with while watching tv. He was concerned that the cats would also enjoy it and that this lovely quilt would become too "furry". I don't think the idea of washing it when needed occurred to him since I usually make wall hangings that don't get washed. Not to worry as it's a lap quilt and that's exactly how it's going to be used. Snuggled into, cuddled up with and used. I know I'm really going to enjoy it since it has a soft flannel backing.

Back detail

Now I have another quilt loaded on the frame and started  - one of my own designs, Chock a Block. I'm using another pantograph on it called Cherry Blossoms and I think it suits the oriental fabrics in the quilt. It seems to be going well so far and I hope to have it finished by next week.  

Chock a Block loaded and partially quilted

I know I said that I was trying to finish up existing projects and I really am, but... sometimes a girl just has to try something new! I have been working on some owl stuffies lately, trying to simplify my Hootie pattern. I finally figured out how to make 3-D wings and now am playing around with different eye types. I've almost finished one prototype and am now working on a few others. Maybe these little guys will find their way into my Etsy shop... just saying!

Prototype #1

In between last week and today, we celebrated my son, Jamie's 12th birthday with a shopping spree for him, as well as dinner out and a cake, of course. How long does it take a 12-year old boy to spend all his birthday money? About an hour, leaving him several hours afterwards to play his new wii games. 

Jamie with one of his new video games

Tonight I'm off to our quilt guild wind-up party. Lots of food and chatting; it's sure to be a fun evening.

Peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips and
a hint of cinnamon for the guild dessert table

Hope you're enjoying a productive, quilty week!