Happy 4th of July everyone! There’s a sale going on in the shop. Use the discount code SUMMER during check-out. All orders will ship July 10. See you around the corner.

I created Joy Ride for the Quilting Arts “Postcards from “ Challenge. I recently received my submission back from the magazine. What a delight to open the package. We all enjoyed looking at the images and reminiscing about the road trip. I can’t believe it’s been a year since we took that trip, last July 4th!

The project didn’t get a feature in the magazine but I’m so glad I participated (first time I’ve done one of these). It’s definitely about the process rather than the result for me. I think I work best if given a theme and a deadline! The result is something so special to me and I wouldn’t have created it without the structure of the challenge.

The guidelines specified binding the postcards together. I plan to take these back apart and display them all at the same time.

I experimented with lots of different techniques. I scanned and printed the national park maps onto silk organza. There’s a small piece of map on each postcard. In the case of Mount Rushmore I printed the carvings onto cotton and worked them in.

My favorite part are those pennies we paid 25 cents to flatten in the machines at the different parks. LOVED those things as a kid.

I uploaded the inspiration photos I could locate. Here’s a link to one and two WIP posts from last year.

Wishing you lots of fun on your own holiday Joy Rides. Happy 4th!

A Virtual Quilting Bee block for Anina of Twiddletails. This was a fun block to create. Very flirty and romantic. I don’t use those types of fabrics in my quilts very often but I sure do love them. I’m enjoying this project because it’s stretching me to think outside what I normally do.

Anina sent the center floral fabric and the pink polka dots. She requested that we use the floral as the center fabric framed by the pink polka dots. From there it was our interpretation of a log cabin block. You can see completed blocks at the Virtual Quilting Bee Flickr group.

I composed a post every day this week. Unfortunately not a single one made it from brain to keyboard. Overcommitment on my part fueled the fire. I ALWAYS imagine I can accomplish a task more quickly than is in fact humanly possible. And goodness, for creative endeavors there’s always that last minute design crisis. I’ve convinced myself I learned a lesson this go around

OK, the shop. Look what arrived this week. Gosh they’re beautiful. The color name is Roseberry, a wonderfully accurate description. The Denyse Schmidt County Fair fabrics are home decor weight cotton canvas, 55″/56″ wide. The canvas is extremely unique. Very silky to the touch with a tight weave but still characteristically canvas with a nice heft. I took the photo the way I did to show the lovely drape.

Erin McMorris’s Park Slope showed up for the party too. I like my deep saturated pinks and this collection delivers. The palette of pink, tangerine, tomato red, cerise, plum, chocolate brown and muted yellows is a fabulous scale. Small enough to work for quilts and small projects like zippered pouches but large enough to work on an apron or bag lining. A fine modern garden indeed.

Anna Maria Horner’s Sketchbook Ivory is back in stock (I personally can not get enough of those beautiful birds!). Available as yardage and in Stack Packs.

And a sale! Robyn Pandolph Flirt is 10% off.

Have a fabulous weekend, see you on Monday, I promise!

Wow! I’m impressed. Truly, truly, truly impressed. I’m overwhelmed and extremely grateful with the response to the naming contest. You guys are unbelievably clever. I have a few more honorable mentions for great ideas I plan to use in other ways so stay tuned.

It’s been a crazy week with the school year FINALLY ending on Tuesday and a sweet young lady turning 10 and hosting her first sleepover birthday party. I was sewing the final strap on an oil cloth beach bag when I spotted the first mini-van pulling into our driveway. I didn’t even get pictures!

And the winner is… Sugar Cubes. Amy from Butter + Sugar left the following comment:

“My first thought was “Pink 28,” but that’s been taken…so I was imagining one of these luscious squares (with all of its possibilities) facing me on my cutting board, and came up with “Sweet Square,” “Sugar Square,” “Happy Square,” and of course “Fun Square.”

As soon as she said Sugar Square I immediately thought of Sugar Cube so I’m giving the win to her. Thank you for the imagery Amy, absolutely fabulous.

The random number generator selected comment #164, Tracey from Paper Dolls for Boys. Tracey will get a Stack Pack of Sugar Cubes just for playing. She suggested Chalk Stack which I really liked too.

The first shipment of Alexander Henry Fabrics arrived this week. The designs are fabulous. A stylized Southwestern take on the bandana. Wow. In Pink no less. The red is called ‘Old Red’, love that. I want to make a western shirt with pearl snaps and go to the Buckaroo Ball. I also received some classic prints including Pears and Apples, Diamond Eye and Hot Pink Mini Calaveras.

Thank you again for playing along. I had fun. Have a fabulously creative summer weekend!

Tanaya and me at Esther’s Fabrics. I’m the one with a tight grip on the bolt of Timtex Tanaya so generously offered to bring me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I currently have subscriptions to 4 magazines: Food & Wine, Threads, Quilting Arts, and American Patchwork & Quilting.

Threads - A long time standard in the clothes sewing world. It’s definitely not a quilting magazine. I mention it because it includes many accessory type projects like the tote bag in the most recent issue. The content of the magazine has experienced many directions in the last few years as it attempted to pull in new readers and satisfy the old dogs. I’m very much enjoying the balance they seemed to have achieved. Each issue contains several good basic technique articles as well as a project or two. The writers include some of the top professionals in the sewing world. I always enjoy seeing my favorites and learning about new ones.

Quilting Arts - Anyone that reads this magazine on a regular basis has a story about how they felt the first time they discovered it. It always contains the ‘aha, I knew there was a different way to quilt, thank goodness I found this magazine, my quilting life is forever changed.’ I’m especially enjoying the technique articles in recent issues. Finishing techniques for bindings, working with the latest fiber art materials and following art quilt designers as they talk about their development process are just a few of the topics I have found extremely helpful and enlightening.

American Patchwork & Quilting - Published monthly by Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection. Filled with original designs by top quilt designers and excellent, easy-to-follow instructions. The magazine has expanded their website to include video demonstrations of common quilting techniques. They do a very good job of featuring both traditional and modern style quilts. I especially like that for each pattern included in an issue they do another version of the pattern with different fabrics. A great way to visualize how your choice of fabrics might work with the pattern.

There are many other special edition publications put out by Better Homes and Gardens. I wonder sometimes if American Patchwork & Quilting gets lost in the shuffle to someone new looking over the newstand offerings. I’ve bought a few special publications over the years and I always feel a bit disappointed with the content, I’m very glad I discovered this particular magazine.

And, of course, add your favorites in the comments!

***

Thank you for all the book recommendations on Learning to Quilt - Part I. I have to highlight Kristin’s comment about traditional quilting books:

“I taught myself with Fons and Porter’s “Quilter’s Complete Guide.” It goes from simple to more complex as well and has small, doable projects for each technique. I know the aesthetic now is for the Denyse Schmidt style and Amy Butler-type fabrics, but one shouldn’t discount the country looks in some of the classic books because the underlying techniques are the basis of everything. I also use Diane Gaudinski’s book for machine quilting — and even though I put less than half the amount of thread on a quilt than she does, her tips and techniques are tried and true.”

I couldn’t agree more. There is a wealth of information in the traditional books, don’t pass them by because you think they’re ‘not your style’.

** Thank you for playing along, checkout the winning entry. **

Mail Sack using Anna Maria Horner’s Drawing Room, home decor weight cotton sateen.

If you’ve cruised over to the shop you’ve most likely taken a peek at the Stack Packs, coordinating fabrics sold in fat quarter and one yard sets. The one yard sets give you a discount of 5% off the regular yardage price.

A new idea popped in my head regarding Stack Packs and these gorgeous home decor weight cottons. A fat quarter of 55/56″ fabric measures 18″ x 28″. Why not cut them as “fat 3/8 yard” so the piece measures 28″ x 28″? Enough fabric to create a simple 26″ pillow and contain a complete printing of the 24″ repeat.

This is where you come in. I need a name. Fat 3/8 Yard doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like saying Fat Quarter. Play along by leaving a comment with what you would call this. Think outside the box. Be clever. Be funny. Be brilliant! The winning idea gets their choice of a Joel Dewberry Fat 3/8 Yard Stack Pack or you can wait and choose the upcoming Denyse Schmidt line of home decor weight cottons (gosh they’re beautiful, yummy colors). I’ll draw a second winner from everyone who participates.

(Anna Maria’s birds flew out of here rather quickly. I’m trying to get some more. There is a small amount remaining in the stack packs.)

The contest is open for a full week. I’ll announce the winners next Friday, June 20. Happy Wordsmithing!

I received this e-mail from April this morning:

“I have been an avid reader of your blog for the past few months and I just love your gorgeous creations. I have recently become interested in making a few quilts for myself. I grew up with several great-grandmothers who were hand quilters but they passed away before I was old enough to learn anything from them.

I was wondering what book(s) and tools you might reccommend for a beginner? I have a relatively inexpensive Brother sewing machine but that’s pretty much it. So much of the information online is overwhelming and I was hoping you could give me a few good ideas of what books would help me.”

I could have written that myself five years ago. I’ve been sewing my whole life but learning to quilt sat on my to do list for years. I tend to buy books and teach myself things. There were just so many quilting books. Where to begin?

I bought Glorious Patchwork by Kaffe Fassett sometime in 2000, my first ‘quilt’ book. I was drawn to the beautiful patterns and unbelievable combination of colors. This is not a book to teach yourself how to quilt. It did fuel my desire all the same.

Fast forward to 2005. Move to new island. Fall in love with local fabric shop. Take beginning quilting class. I was very lucky. Margret Darrah was my first teacher. I’ve shown some of Margret’s work on my blog before. Guess which quilt she taught for the class? Leafy Rosy Quilt from Glorious Patchwork. The only quilt book I owned. Sometimes the Universe has to hit me over the head with directions.

The class taught me the basics of a 1/4″ seam, how to use a rotary cutter and how to read quilt instructions. I HIGHLY recommend taking a beginning class. It’s a sure-fire quick start, mine was only 4 sessions long which was just right for my attention span.

After the class I was filled with ideas and started off on my own self-taught journey. I checked a TON of books out from the library. I ended up buying these three for my own reference:

The Art of Classic Quiltmaking by Harriet Hargrave + Sharyn Craig. I recommend this book as the absolute BEST teach yourself to quilt book ever written. No kidding. If I had to own one book on a deserted island it would be this one (hee, hee). There are several reasons why I like this book:

1. The sequence of topics is covered in the order you should learn them for quilting. No guessing about where to begin.

2. One thing I found very confusing when learning to quilt was where everything fit. Strip Piecing, Applique, Curved Piecing, Triangles, etc. This book turned on the lights. Each technique is covered in order from easiest to most difficult. This cleared up they mystery of why one quilt pattern was considered ‘more difficult’ than another.

3. For each technique, Harriet and Sharyn demonstrate 4 or 5 ways to do it and discuss in detail the pros and cons of each. They do a very good job of pointing out what they like about various approaches, this allowed me to try different ways and determine which would be ‘my way’.

4. There are a lot of fabulous, simple, classic quilt patterns presented to support the discussion of each technique.

5. The instructions are extremely detailed and clear with excellent supporting illustrations.

The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide - From A to Z Hundreds of Tips and Techniques for Successful Quiltmaking by Rodale and editor Ellen Pahl. This is a very comprehensive reference style book. I like it because it includes tips from well-known and accomplished quilters. More conversational in tone with a bit of flare, not rigid or boring.

All About Quilting from A to Z from Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, Quiltmaker Magazine, and C&T Publishing. Another reference style book with a traditional bent. LOTS of tips.

When researching a technique I pull all three books out and read what each one has to say on the subject.

Looking through my bookshelf I noted 4 other authors who have inspired me and taught me invaluable techniques:

The Quilted Garden by Jane Sassaman. I love this book because it comes straight out of Jane’s heart. She is an incredibly talented artist and does a very good job of sharing her quilting journey and describing the techniques she uses in an understandable way. This was my first ‘art quilt’ book and I still go back to it for inspiration.

Denyse Schmidt Quilts by Denyse Schmidt. The simplicity of taking classic quilt patterns and adding a modern twist is brilliant and inspiring. I’ve made many successful projects from this book and love every one of them.

Pieced Vegetables, Piecing Workshop, and Fabric Journey all by Ruth McDowell are amazing works. I like to piece and Ruth is the Queen of piecing art quilts. I’ve learned many valuable techniques on how to piece intricate and non-traditional shapes. While I’ve never made anything nearly as complex as Ruth’s work I have applied my learning to a whole host of projects using her freezer paper template approach.

Glorious Patchwork and Passionate Patchwork are my two favorite Kaffe Fassett books although I own 3 or 4 others. These books have inspired me to be bold when mixing color and pattern. I also feel they’ve broadened my thinking about fabric use with traditional blocks.

This post is already too long! I just changed the title to Part I. I’ll just keep going until I run out of advice. Please comment with your favorite quilting books!

I’ve been in denial since Linda at CraftApple first broke the news to me. Out of production. Kaput. Timtex is no more. I’m hoarding the last of my supply, deciding which project is Timtex worthy. I feel like Elaine with her sponges. Timtex was the perfect product in my eyes. I’m still holding out a bit of hope that someone will take over production. Linda did an excellent write up of the other players in the extra firm stabilizer market.

I’ve started my own testing to see which products work best for the Note Taker pattern. This was test #1: Freudenberg B0509.

This is an interesting product. Extremely stiff but thin. It worked fine in the small Note Taker providing adequate sturdiness to the folio. It doesn’t have the loft of Timtex so that slightly squishy feel is missing. I don’t think using more layers of it would provide any benefit. In fact, given how dense the surface is I would anticipate difficulties sewing through more than one layer. The product creased similar to how a thin cardboard might crease. Once it’s there it’s there. It doesn’t have a self-healing property. I give it a high rating for stiffness and an average rating as a substitute for Timtex.

While I’m updating my pattern instructions to remove references to Timtex (lesson learned there!) I also took the opportunity to make the dimensions of the Notelet slightly larger. A big THANK YOU to Nicolette for helping me nail down real-world dimensions on the A5 pads and incorporating a roomier fit into the design (I’ll make those available on my website once they’re final).

I experimented with using a vintage bakelite button stacked with a Czech glass button for the closure. A little tough to sew on but so worth it. Raspberry Plume on the exterior, Pink Happy Dots, Linen Honeycomb, and Flirt Tangerine Roses on the insides.

The Ginseng Collection, Joel Dewberry’s newest line of home dec cotton sateen. The burnt orange is absolutely mouth watering.

Shop Talk Friday. My attempt at balancing my blog between me creating and sharing and me trying to sell fabric on the internet. I love my blog just the way it is. Please don’t worry, I have absolutely no plans to make it one big advertisement to sell stuff. I also don’t want to create a separate blog for the shop. I thought about it … for like two seconds. I’m manic enough without two blogs to maintain. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.

Every Friday I’ll feature something new from Pink by Post. It’s very fun to take pictures of fabric separate from the square box that shows up in e-commerce land. The shop newsletter goes out about once a week so definitely sign up if you want the full on new products for the week thing in your inbox.

A HUGE thank you for making the shop launch so incredibly wonderful. Fun to see familiar names come across the orders. And those comments, gosh you gals are nice. Like really nice. Like the nicest people in the world nice. I’m extremely thankful and humbled. I sure love sewing and I’m glad you like it so much too.

Have a fabulous weekend!