Summerlove Fabric Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

It is time again for another giveaway!  I know you all like fabric and how can you resist Summerlove?

This giveaway consists of 7 fat quarters from Art Gallery's Summerlove Collection, available in my shop by clicking here.  Oh, yeah one is from the Oval Elements collection.

Not only can you enter the giveaway, but I am also offering 15% off all Art Gallery Fabric in the shop. Just use the code  15art  during checkout to receive your discount.  Click here to get started.

But if you want to win these lovely little fat quarters you just need to visit my friend Amy Ellis at Amy's Creative Side!

She has been a blogging friend for a long time and if you have never visited her blog you need to now.

So...

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Until Next Time...

Summerlove Fabric Giveaway!

A Difficult Decision

Hello Everyone,

For some time now I have been contemplating a change in my business.  The time has now come.  For 12 years I have been quilting customer quilts on my long arm, it is now time for me to retire this part of my business.  Let me say that I have enjoyed everyone of my customers throughout the years and have met soooo many good friends and have learned a lot from each and every one.  

This has been a difficult decision for me to make and I thank all of you for entrusting me with your beautiful creations.  

Let me assure you though, NOTHING ELSE in my business will change.  I will elaborate...

As many of you know, about 3 years ago, I began my online fabric shop and it has grown and I am loving every minute.  This is definitely a different facet of my business and I intend on devoting more time here to bring you the best fabrics, notions, patterns, and kits at the best prices online.

As you may or may not know, I have also become a Nationally Certified Judy Niemeyer Teacher.  This is part of my business that I want to grow!  I have always loved teaching and have already been hitting the road at guilds and quilt shops.  

I would love to come to yours, if you will have me.  Just send me an e-mail.  In the meantime, you can find my schedule here and my current list of workshops here.

In my plans, you will also find me doing lots more designing.  As you know I have been designing for Quilt Magazine and have also begun for others.  This is another part of my business that I would like to grow.  Oh, and I will continue to podcast, do free tutorials, and just plain blog about my quilty happenings.

So rest assured Canton Village Quilt Works is still alive and kicking, it is just growing in a different direction.

In short, 

1.  I will finish quilting all the quilts I currently have in my possession.

2.  As of today, I will no longer accept quilts to be quilted.

3.  My online shop will continue to grow and provide you with top quality fabrics.  If you haven't yet shopped in my shop, give it a look by clicking here, you won't be disappointed!

4.  I will be teaching, lecturing, and doing trunk shows on a regular basis.  If you would like to have me come to your shop or guild, send me an e-mail.

5.  Designing quilts will be on the upswing!

That is it in a nutshell.  I am glad that you will all be with me on this journey, you will have first row seats right here on my blog.

Thank you all!!

Until Next Time...

A Difficult Decision

Gotta Love Partying Chickens??

Hello Everyone,

Since I returned home from my daughter's Student Orientation for college, I have mainly been quilting customer quilts and filling orders from the shop, very little time for personal sewing. Also, lots of college shopping... Whew... who knew about everything needed for college these days? 

When I went to college some #$ years ago, I think I just brought clothes with me.  Regardless it is nice spending time with my daughter before she is off in August.

Because I don't have anything personal to show you yet, I thought I would show you something that is in my studio and makes me smile everyday!!

Partying chickens!!  My dear friend, Karen, made this rug.  It is hooked, she is an expert rug hooker and quilter.  Karen has been a confidante of mine over the past few years.  We talk via phone and e-mail, and really, really need to see one another SOON!!  I miss you!!

Anyway, she is soooo talented!

Here is the entire rug.  She knows I love bright and bold, it makes me happy and my heart sings.

How can you not look at these funky chickens and not smile?  She instructed me on how to hang it on the wall.  No, no, no, this was not going on the floor... it is a piece of art in my eyes, not to be trodden on with shoes, feet, and cat paws.

It hangs right above a sign another friend gave to me.  Hmmm... maybe I don't have enough time for the fabric, because I am too busy admiring the partying chickens?

Thank you, Karen for the perpetual smile on my face and for being such a wonderful friend!!

Now I leave you with a final photo...

Pavi just had to jump into one of the crates that we purchased for my daughter's dorm room.  He was the official quality control department!  Great crates for $3 at Target!  I know they will come in handy.

If you didn't get your Blogger's BOM Month 11, click here.

Until Next Time...

Gotta Love Partying Chickens??

Blogger's BOM... Month 11

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe it...  it is month 11 already!!  We have had some fantastic blocks by some fantastic designers, haven't we??

Here is what we have seen so far...

If you are just joining in, you can go over to my left side bar and you will find all the links for each month's tutorials.  They will remain their permanently so that you can refer back to them at any time.

Don't forget to check out the Flickr group too.  Tons of great variations on the designs.  Just click here.

But let me introduce the designer for this month's block...

My good friend Victoria Findlay Wolfe.  She has cooked up a great block for you to make this month and I am sure you will enjoy! 

Just click here to see her tutorial.

Also, you should know she has her own book coming out in November!!  It is going to be a great book, I know, I have seen many of the quilts going into this masterpiece.

You can pre-order her book on Amazon, I also know that Victoria will have them available as will I, in limited quantities.  So, be sure to get yours.  

But in the meantime, enjoy her rendition of this month's Blogger's BOM.

Until Next Time...

Blogger's BOM... Month 11

The Amazing Expanding and Shrinking Quilt

Hello Everyone,

My daughter's college quilt is growing, but yet shrinking at the same time!  I have added more black and white squares so that the R and the P are not framed well.  This is the expanding part.

I then joined the ones on the far left that are separated from the body of the quilt.  This is where the shrinking comes in... both my hubs and daughter stated that the quilt would be quite large.  But I kept reassuring them it would shrink when I began sewing the seams together. 

The blocks that I began to sew together were even with the row just below where the P ends.

This photo show better just how much the seams "shrunk" the quilt.  This actually is a good thing because I still have to add an I to the quilt and it will still be pretty large even after it has "shrunk" completely.

I must say that I do like how it is turning out and I have received my daughter's stamp of approval too!  That makes me most happy!!

Until Next Time...

The Amazing Expanding and Shrinking Quilt

It Is Growing...

Hello Everyone,

Now that I am back from the Certified Instructor retreat in Montana, I need to work on my daughter's college quilt.  Several reasons for this, first and foremost she needs it before she goes to college and second, I need the design wall to finish my Mariner's Compass from the retreat.

You can see I have added lots more black and white fabrics.  I have tons so that is not a problem, if I run out of black and white fabrics, I will just shop for them in my shop... LOL!

It is looking good though, but a lot more squares to add and I still need to make the "I" yet.  

I think I will be making the "I" in a whole separate panel.  This quilt may end up being bigger than expected, but we'll see.  At least she will be warm, right?  And there will only be one just like it,  that is my favorite part.

PS... don't forget to enter my giveaway going on here.

Until Next Time...

It Is Growing...

Fabulous Fabric Giveaway!

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever seen these beautiful fabrics?  If not, you need to and you can find them in my shop!  There aren't that many shops you can find them in... what makes them so special? 

They are African fabrics, yes African!  Not what you expected, huh?

They are from Coral Tree and are called Shweshwe.  They also come in navy blues and whites as well as black and whites!  They are all 100% cotton too... great for quilting.

Now I have peaked your interest.

You can win this lovely little bundle to give them a try.  

All you need to to is to visit my friends Heather and Megan over at Quilt Story to enter!

While you are there say hello for me.

If you just can't wait to give these a try, click here to shop and see the other colors!  But for now...

Click here to enter the giveaway!

Best of luck!

Until Next Time...

Fabulous Fabric Giveaway!

Generation Q Magazine Winner

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway, but we know there could only be one winner....

and that was Ellee who said:

Looks like it's going to be a good magazine -- looking forward to checking it out.

I sent you an e-mail for your snail mail address, just let me know and we'll get the magazine out to you!

Until Next Time...

Generation Q Magazine Winner

On Air With Pat Sloan

Hello Everyone,

Today is the day!  I will chatting it up with my friend Pat Sloan!! I am so excited to be talking with her today.

We will be chatting about a ton of things including a few things that are very near and dear to my heart!

I will be in good company today too! She will also be speaking with Marilu Henner and my friend Monica Solorio-Snow A.K.A The Happy Zombie.

So come and listen in at 4:00 PM EDT.  

To listen in just click here.  

Until Next Time...

On Air With Pat Sloan

Day 7... What Happened?

 Hello Everyone,

Yesterday was our last day at the Certified Instructor Judy Niemeyer Instructor Retreat!  I am NOW officially certified to teach her techniques and patterns nationally!!  WooHoo!!

Anyway, this post has less pictures... sorry.  We all began piecing our units together and subsequently had to take them off the wall to do that...  so here are some photos that I know you will appreciate.

Jodie's quilt was the one that was mostly whole on the wall.  Isn't it fantastic?  I just love the orange and red.  I can't wait to see this completed.

Sue was able to get a TON done and was just about ready to take this down when I snagged her for a photo.  She was leaving very early in the morning to head back to Alaska!

My table mate Cathy really channeled her inspiration... peacock feathers.  Her quilt is much more gorgeous in person!  

Lisa, also a table mate, really worked hard today to add her sails and they are gorgeous.  Love that she matches her quilt, just like the other ladies.

Cat was busy making all her units and finally got to piecing them together.  Here are a few of them.  Love the hot pink!!

I managed to get one of the wedges completely sewn together, only 7 more to go!  This was largely due to the fact that...

Judy did a technique demo using my units.  Thank you, Judy!!  I really needed that!

All in all it has been a week that I will remember.  I met lots of extremely talented, witty, creative, lovely new friends.  I feel I am amongst some wonderful people.  I couldn't ask for more.

You must stay tuned to see how my quilt ends up... I think you will be surprised!

Oh and one more thing...

That's right I will be chatting with my friend, Pat Sloan, on her radio show tomorrow!! You can listen in at 4:00 EDT.

I will be in good company too!  She will also be chatting with Marilu Henner and my friend Monica Solario-Snow, The Happy Zombie.  So come and listen in by clicking here on Monday, July 16 at 4:00 PM EDT!

Until Next Time...

Day 7... What Happened?

Day 6... Almost There

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday was the 6th day of our Teacher Certification Retreat with Judy Niemeyer.  I would like to clarify a few questions.

1.  A commenter had asked if Judy's quilts can only be made with batiks. The answer is no.  In fact, I have made several in regular cotton fabrics.  You can see mine under my workshop page by clicking here.  Judy's quilts look fabulous in any fabric, but batiks are fun to work with for sure.

2.  Someone asked when the pattern will be available for purchase.  It will not be available to the public until January, 2013 and will only be able to be purchased from a Certified Instructor (Me) or a Certified Shop.   In the meantime, you can purchase Judy's patterns in my shop, by clicking here.  

Now onto the changes in the quilts from yesterday's post...

Mine is nearing the time to start piecing the units together.  I will begin this process tomorrow and can't wait!!

Cathie really made TONS of progress.  Her color way was all based on peacock's feathers.  See them pinned into the middle?

Ginny is working on a special technique, that Judy demonstrated, for the ropes.  It is time consuming, but the result is stunning. 

Andrea's 50 Shades is really coming together so beautifully!  

Tammy is still beaming over changing out her reject units!  This is coming along sooo nicely!

Sue actually finished a lot more, but the units are stacked on the table as she will be moving to a different design wall because of space, but you can definitely see a difference.

Don't you just LOVE Jodie's version.  The compass points really POP!  Look even the ironing board cover matches.

Cat also changed out some pieces and had to rework some of the units.  This will be a stunner!

Linda is testing the colors on the compass points and has been sewing away.  I think that tomorrow you will see a drastic change!

Lisa was busy today and got her sails complete.  She is just in the middle of trimming them down and then will put them up on the wall.  She did get preoccupied with a little shopping today... ;)

Some of the girls decided to take their reject pieces and create a new quilt.  The actually don't look too bad together!

Carrie is one of Judy's employees and does so much for her and for us.  Today after a hard day's work, she came downstairs for some sew time!  She is delightful and we are so glad she could join the crew!!

We also had a trunk show from Judy today and I will be posting those photos on Flickr.  I will let you know when they are up.

Tomorrow should be a good day!  Lots of piecing the units together!  

Until Next Time...

Day 6... Almost There