WOW My Quilt is the Quilter's World Web Bonus this Month!!

Today the digital edition of the Jan/Feb Quilter's World Magazine was released.  My Frosty Carnations pattern is the featured Web Bonus.  Here is the link:  http://www.quiltersworld.com/webbonuses.php
I encourage you to check it out and download the free pattern.

I know it looks difficult, but the diamond piecing is easy with the instructions provided and the applique is done with fusible web and machine blanket stitch.  Gotta love that.

Also, check out the last page of this issue of Quilter's World with the "Coming Attractions" page for the next issue.  You will see my quilt featured!!!  WOW  This is totally exciting.

Here is a picture of the Frosty Carnations quilt

Here is a quick little tutorial on how to sew those diamonds together for the background.

Cut all the pieces using the template pattern.  I used the Marti Michell acrylic template H52.  Works great because you cut off the ends of the diamonds which makes it way way way easier to piece those set-in seams.  Note that there are holes in the template at the points of the seam lines.  Mark those with a pencil so you will know where to start and stop sewing.  I know, its a pain to have to mark everything but I promise you won't regret it.  Just do it.  And make sure you mark on the wrong side of the fabric with a pencil or fabric marker.

The blocks are assembled in groups of three.  Top, left and right.  Stack them up and have them in the order you will use them.  It makes it easier to keep the fabrics and colors straight.

Sew the top piece to the left piece, stopping 1/4" from both ends.  Back stitch 2 stitches at each end to secure the thread and use a very tight small stitch.  On my bernina I set the stitch length at 2.0.

To add the right piece to the top piece, put the right patch under the top patch.  Put your needel in just where you stopped stitching the previous seam.

Stitch this seam and stop 1/4" from the end.  Back stitch 2 stitches.  Don't forget to do that.  See those notches on my presser foot in front of the needle?  Those are 1/4" from the needle and are a great guide to help you to know where to stop stitching.

Ok, now a word about pressing the seam allowances.  You want to press them in a circle.  That means the if I will always press in the same direction.  Note in the picture above the seam at the top lays to the right, the seam at the bottom of the picture lays to the left and the  pinned seam will be press toward the viewer after it is sewn.  This will create and open "swirl" at the center of the block and will help your blocks lay perfectly flat.

Ok, back to sewing.  Pin the two remaining sides together as shown. in the picture above.  You can clearly see how I stopped stitching 1/4" away from the end of the previous seam.

Now you can sew that third seam connecting the last two diamonds.  Again, remember to start and stop 1/4" from the end (you can see my dots).

Here is what the back side looks like when you press the last seam "in a circle."  See that little swirl in the middle?

Here is a close up so you can see how nice and flat that lays.  Also note how small my stitches are and how nice the block lays when you cut off those points first.  How I love those Marti Michell templates!!  (Thank Barb for the lessons!!!)

Here is how it looks from the front.  See how nice the points meet?  It really is easy to do.  You just keep adding pieced one at a time down the row. 

I do not make separate rows.  It is easier to just keep adding more pieces to the original row, one at a time.  Notice that when you are sewing the outer edges, you can stitch all the way to the end of the patch.  those are the only places that you don't stop 1/4" from the end.

I know you won't believe me but I pieced this whole background in one afternoon!  It is only a wall hanging so don't go balistic on me.  LOL

This really was a fun top to make and much easier to piece than I expected. 

OK, tomorrow I am going to show  you how to edge stitch the applique, so tune in again. Whoo hooo I feel like Alex Anderson!  hahahah

Christmas Sale on EQ Products

If you wanted to get EQ7 or EQ7 upgrade (from EQ6) now is the time to order your copy just in time for Christmas!!

 
Or give you Significant Other this link and let him/her get it for you! 

http://www.morningglorydesigns.net/catalog.php

I am offering a 20% savings on selected EQ products.  Here is a list of what I have on hand and can ship immediately.  If you want other EQ products not listed here let me know and I can order them for you and hopefully get them to you in time for Christmas.

EQ7 Full Version Retail $189.95

EQ7 Upgrade Retail $89.95

Dear Jane CD - Retail $49.95
 and Dear Jane Book - Retail $29.95

Block Base - Retail $69.95
(note. . . The gossip is that Block Base may be discontinued soon!  If you have wanted it, now is the time to get it.  It probably won't be availabe next year)

Karen Stone CD - Retail $21.95

Kaleidoscope Collection CD  Sold

 EQ Printables Ink Jet Fabric (6) Sheets 8.5x11 -  Reatil $17.95
Large size (6) sheets 11"x17"  -  Retail $32.95

EQ Printables Newsprint (100) Sheets  -  Retail $7.95 (these are fabulous for paper piecing)

Quilting Designs CDs -  Retail $24.96
I have Vol. 2, 3, 4, & 5

EQ Simplified - Retail $10.95 Still good with EQ7
This is now out of print and no longer available but I have three copies at $8.50!!

EQ6 Drawing Book (Retail $10.95) These are still good for EQ7

EQ6 Applique Book (Retail $10.95) These are still good for EQ7

EQ6 Block Book (Retail $9.97) These are still good for EQ7

AND the NEWEST STASH – Fall 2010 just came out this week. Retail $24.95
 I also have several copies of STASH from previous years for $7.50. 
Spring 2009 - 20th edition
Spring 2008
Fall 2008

I put in an order for 3 copies this week so the first three people who order get it.  I don’t carry a big inventory of EQ products on hand but if I don't have I can order it and get it to you in 1-2 weeks.  I only offer this 20% off sale on EQ products in December so let me know if you are interested. 

Thanks!!  If you would rather order by phone or email, click HERE for contact information.

And the Winner is. . .um Winners are:

Using my new random generator widget I selected two winners for the pattern and magazine give-awy

Ann in AL  is the first winner!  Congratulations --- whooo hoooo!

And the second winner is:

Greetingarts (Michelle!!!) --- Yippeeeee!!!!!  Congratulations

by the way Michelle, I love the leggo turkey on your blog.  LOL

Congrats to both of our winners.  Please send me your snail mail addresses and I will get your magazine and pattern out to you right away.

And a huge thank you to all of you great readers who left a comment about the new BOM.  You made some great suggestions and I plan to use some of them.  I will offer alternatives for some of the setting triangles and border colors when we get to that part of the BOM.

YOU ROCK!!!!

Time for A Give-Away!

While the blog tour was going on 2 weeks ago I was distracted and never got to celebrate the fact that my blog reached 100,000 hits!!  Now it is over 104,000 hits so I am way over due.  To thank all of you who faithfully read and enjoy my blog. . . . I am thinking you enjoy it or you wouldn't read it. . . or maybe you just look at the pictures. . . .ok, I digress. . . .ANYWAY, I am giving away 2 free issues of Quiltmaker's Magazine 100 Blocks:

AND a copy of my December Pointsettia and Holly Table Runner Pattern to both winners.

To enter the drawing for a free magazine AND a free pattern leave a comment on this post telling me what you think of next year's free Block of the month.  Here is a picture of it, and you can read more about it on my Free BOM Page.  Click on the tab at the top of the blog to go to the Free BOM Page.  I am anxious to hear if you think it is too busy, if I should simplify the border or setting triangles, or change the color scheme.  Let me know your ideas and suggestions so I can make adjustments to the design if necessary.



Jewels in the Crown Free Block of the Month for 2011



You are all the best.  Thanks for every one of those 104,000 + hits!

Hugs!  Reeze

More Pictures of the Roses Around Bed Runner

I took some pictures of my progress with quilting the Roses Around bed runner I am working on.  Here is what the completed top looks like.

This thing is huge.  It is only 28" wide but my 6' tall husband was holding it up for me and his arms were over his head!  Yikes.  But that means it will fit nicely on the bed.

Here is a closeup of the edge-stitching I am doing on all the flowers and leaves. 

They are all machine appliqued.  Today I realized that I needed to do the quiltling in the center of the blocks before finishing the blanket stitching.  The quilt was taking some abuse while I was flopping it around on my machine and I thought I needed to get it more stable before finishing.  So of course I took it to my friend and machine quilting diva, Brenda Weien, who will work her feather magic on it for me.  Then I will finish the flowers and binding and send it off.

I also found a picture of another design I did featuring this motif.  I may do this one some time, perhaps as a stand alone pattern.  What do you think?  Too much applique?

I know you are asking yourself why a life long Tom Boy is designing such girly girl quilts.  Well, you may not know that I was a tom boy as a kid, so you are probably not asking yourself that question, so never mind.  But I sure wonder what misfired in my brain at some point in my life.  I guess since I could never wear those size 8 cute girly clothes I design girly looking quilts!  Hmmm, I don't think I was ever a size 8.  And that is another thing I like about quilts.  One size really does fit all!!!  LOL

Reeze

What I am working on. . .

I am working on a quilt which will be featured in Quilter's World next year.  I have a November 30 deadline to get it done and I am making good progress.  All I have left is the quilting.  here is what one block looks like.

This quilt was inspired by a vintage embroidery design I found in an old book. It depcted an antique bridesw bowl with roses spilling out of it.  I redrew one of the roses and several of the leaves and played around with the parts until I got a composition I liked.  Then I used it to create a bed runner design for a Victorian decor.

I found an article talking about how to make a bed runner here:  How to Make a Bed Runner

According to this article, "It is the modern equivalent of the heavily quilted Bedspreads of the highly indulgent times!"  I found examples that are made of silk or tapestry, highly ornate with embroidery and embellishments.

This bed runner is much simpler and uses piping between the blocks to make a striking statement.  The fused and machine appliqued rose motifs in shades of pinks and greens really gives it a Victorian feel.  I'll post pictures of the quilting when I get it done.

Watch for the pattern coming in Quilter's World magazine next summer.

Patchwork Posse Round Robin

This week look for a border I designed for the Patchwork Posse Round Robin.  I designed a Seminole pieced border for the third border in this totally fun and totally FREE round robin.

This was a fun project to do.  I haven't done a round robin in a long time and this one was very cute.  I dug out my EQ7 to do the heavy lifting and came up with a fun design that is very easy to piece. 

Here is my border:

And here is what the border looks like added to the quilt so far.
Click Here to download this border pattern only. 
See below to get all the patterns for the Round Robin.

Of course I had to add my own fabrics to the design and splash it up with some bright colors in my favorite palate. If you want to play along click HERE to go to the Patchwork Posse.  Each month a new designer adds a border, alternating between tops and bottoms one month and sides the next month.  I am the side #3 designer!  LOL