15 Minutes of Play in the Studio for TWO Days

Hello Everyone,

The past few days have been a whirlwind!  My friend Victoria Findlay Wolfe came to my studio and taught 2 classes and also did a lecture and trunk show.  It was fabulous and everyone was thrilled.  But I can't tell you how thrilled I was that I was able to have some time visiting with her.  It was great to catch up.

I wanted to share a few glimpses of what happened in the studio….

Victoria before class on Friday showing her Star Splitter quilt (cover quilt on her book).

Sally's Hexies.

Justine's Whirlygig.

Caroline's Star.

Michele's Flower.

Friday's happy group!

Lecture and trunk show goers!

One of Victoria's first quilts.

Her award winning Double Edged Love.

Doing a demo.

Using the mirror to see what it will look like.

The happy Saturday group.

To see ALL 156 photos… Click here…. I am exhausted!!

Until Next Time….

15 Minutes of Play in the Studio for TWO Days

15 Minutes Play Blog Tour and Giveaway

Hello Everyone,

Yay!! Today is my day to review my dear friend Victoria's new book!!  First I must say that I truly LOVE this book and for many reasons...  Just look at this cover... this just sucks you in...

But having known Victoria and her style and her drive to create, this book not only inspires others, but will having you sifting through your scraps immediately.  

I was honored to have quilted many of the quilts in this book too!  So I was able to see them up close and personal.

Here we are at Quilt Market for the launch of her book... Yahoo!  She is personally autographing my copy.  I have read it and love it! 

I especially love the beginning where she speaks of her grandmother.  There is always someone in our lives that touches us in a special way and this is a great story of Victoria and her grandmother.

The book showcases quilts from Victoria and her "made fabric".  It is a great improvisational way to make a quilt and use up your scraps.  The best part are the results that it yields.

You will find many quilts that incorporate traditional designs with made fabric.  This quilt is a stunning example, don't you think?

Two of my favorite colors to work with are pink and green.  A couple of years ago, Victoria had a mini retreat in her loft.  We all brought along scrap fabric and put them in a HUGE pile.  Throughout the 3 days we all picked through and made many different projects.

Here is mine...

The focal point is Mary.  This is a piece of fabric that Victoria had made on Spoonflower and had given to each of us to use.  I decided to make a mini quilt with it as the focal point using mostly pinks and greens.

Then I proceeded to create "made fabric" and border Mary with this fabric.

Wonky piano keys surround Mary.  This process is fun and really has fantastic results. 

I encourage you all to give it a try. Break out the scraps... just dump them on the floor like a pile of fall leaves and JUMP right in!!!

 This book will give you the chance to spread your wings and fly with your scraps!  If you would like to purchase a copy you can get one in my shop here, all the proceeds will go to Victoria's charity City Harvest.

But you can enter to win a copy of 15 Minutes of Play by leaving a comment on this post and tell me what color you use most in your quilting projects. 

 All U.S. entries are eligible for a hard copy of the book and International entries will be eligible for an electronic copy.  

The giveaway will remain open through December 11, 2012.

Don't forget to go to all the other blogs on the tour to enter as well.

 Nov 26: Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Nov 27: Bonnie Hunter

Nov 28: Alissa

Nov 29: Pat Sloan

Nov 30: Fat Quarter Shop

Dec 1st: Karen Griska

Dec 2nd: Angela Walters

Dec 3rd: Generation Q

Dec 4th: Tonya Ricucci

Dec 5th: Michele Foster

 Dec 6th: Scott Hansen

Dec 7th: Amy Ellis

Dec 8th: Rachael daisy

Dec 9th: Jackie Kunkel

Dec. 10th: C & T Publishing

Good luck!!

Until Next Time...

15 Minutes Play Blog Tour and Giveaway

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

Do You Know My Friend Victoria?

Hello Everyone,

Well I am getting back into the groove, I think, from being on the retreat.  I worked a full day yesterday and then went to an Honors celebration last night for my daughter.  Did I mention, she is graduating this year?  Woohoo!!  Over the past few weeks it has been a whirlwind, she has has received 2 scholarships in addition to the one she received from the college she will be attending... very proud Mama here!

Now onto my friend, Victoria...

  I would like to share with you two fabulous accomplishments that a dear friend of mine has made!

First up her newest quilt design, Picadilly Circus can be found in the newest issue of Quilt Magazine!  Bright and cheerful for the summer, or for a lovely baby quilt.  Victoria also did all the glorious feather quilting too!

You can find her quilt in the newest issue of Quilt Magazine August/September 2012.  You can find your copy in my shop by clicking here.

But Victoria has some fantastic news, she has also written a book!!  I have known about this for a while, as I quilted many of the quilts that you will find in this book.  Take a look at the cover...

Gorgeous isn't it?  It is available for pre-order on Amazon too!  You can find out more about her book by clicking here and you can pre-order the book from Amazon by clicking here.

So please jump on over to Victoria's blog and give her a BIG congratulations!! She has worked hard and long and I have watched it all!!

Congratulations, my friend!! Smiling from ear to ear!!

Until Next Time...

Do You Know My Friend Victoria?

What Did I Do Over 3 Days?

Hello Everyone,

On Friday, I took the train into NYC to see my friend Victoria of Bumble Beans and spent the weekend.  You probably know that if you read my post on Sunday.  But as soon as I got there I asked Victoria if I could make one of her Triangles Galore blocks to add to her growing collection.

We had fun picking the fabrics for the block and this is what I created!  

Here it is playing nicely with the other blocks that she made.  Victoria has a tutorial for this block if you would like to give it a try.  While there we also worked together to turn it into a Paper Pieced block.  She now has a PDF available for a free download if you would like to Paper Piece this block.

Just click here for the tutorial and the download.

Also, while there I made my Cherrywood challenge block for the NYC Metro Mod guild meeting.  I chose this palette and am happy with how it played with the other blocks that were made!  Looks a bit like and Easter egg.

Thanks, Victoria for a great weekend!

But before I left, I made this block for our Two's Company Bee.   

This block is for Mary and it was so much fun to make!  I really love to paper piece... but I think many of you know that already!  Mary it is on it's way to you!

Also, I have another GIVEAWAY going on,  yes that is right!  If you would like to enter this fat quarter giveaway, just click here for the details.

And remember ALL week long the Batiks in my shop are marked down to $8.25 per yard!  Just click here to check them out!

Until Next Time...

What Did I Do Over 3 Days?

Do You Know This Quilter?

Hello Everyone,

You may have seen this beautiful quilt...

it was improvisational and beautiful!

The Kitchen Sink Quilt. But did you know that my good friend Victoria Findlay Wolfe made those and plenty more. She is quite the talented lady. So I thought it was high time that I formally introduced you to her.

Here she is, no this isn't a mug shot, she was interviewed for Quilter's SOS last weekend at the Quilter's Take Manhattan Event. The interview will be cataloged in the Library of Congress. Plus the fact that she takes no prisoners... with her free style form of quilting, amazing projects come out of her studio!

Just thought I would throw this photo in of the two of us. But I really want you all to get to know her better, so last Sunday we sat down together and I interviewed her for my podcast!!

Yes, now you too can listen to both of us discussing tons of quilty things. How she began quilting, what inspires her, and what makes her tick!

To listen to this riveting interview you can either download it for free from iTunes by searching Jackie's Quilting Chronicles or you can click here and listen to it directly from your computer, also for free!

Enjoy our little chat! And if you wouldn't mind also going over to say hello to Victoria and tell her I sent you, I know that would make her day!! Just click here to be whisked away!

Until Next Time...

Do You Know This Quilter?

More Fun In Manhattan, Part 2

Hello Everyone,

As promised, there was a second event day of the Alliance for American Quilts. I wanted to bring a few more photos depicting some of the wonderful happening that day.

Marianne Fons was one of the keynote speakers and she gave an incredible lecture. It was a pleasure meeting her especially since I have been watching her show since I started quilting some 18 years ago.

Her daughter, Mary, was also one of the speakers and presented quite a comedic lecture. For those of you who would like to get to know her more, she has an internet show called Quilty.

Then many of the gals from the Alliance were able to model some very beautiful creations of Jay McCarroll's. Don't they all look gorgeous?

Mark Lipinski interviewed Jay for his Quilter's SOS and his touchstone piece was modeled by Luke Haynes another Alliance Board Member.

There were also all kinds of goodies that were being bid on in the silent auction. This little box of buttons, beads, and embellishments was one that I got to go home with, very excited!!

Then it was off to The City Quilter for cocktails and more fun. These little quilts were made by Alliance board members and were also being bid on in a silent auction. The one in the upper right corner is Victoria's. Very cute!! I really love this one!

Here you can see Victoria with the piece that she won. Luke's self portrait. Doe you see the resemblance?

Here is the piece that I won from the beautiful France Holliday Alford. I just love it all embellished and totally my color scheme. Hmmm... wait my dress matches! Thanks Frances!

I couldn't leave you without a picture of me and my friend, Marie Bostwick. We just had waaaaayyyy too much fun! Love ya, Marie!

Oh, doesn't she look great in chiffon?

Of course, I couldn't leave you without this photo. For all you Dear Jane lovers, this was hanging in The City Quilter's gallery. Just love the brights!

It was a fun filled two days, but wait I stayed through until Sunday! Come back tomorrow to see what I did!

Until Next Time...

More Fun In Manhattan, Part 2