BOM Blocks 12 and 13 Posted

The final blocks in the Jewels in the Crown Block of the Month are ready! Wander on over to the Free BOM tab at the top of the page and pick up your free blocks. Remember, they are only available for 2 months and then they go on sale on my website.

Block 13 Topaz & Lapis
Color way 1

Block 13 Colorway 2

Block 12 Rose Quartz

If you sign up for my newsletter (see the left side of the blog near the top for the simple sign up form) you will receive 2 different ways to finish this BOM!!  Only one will be posted on my blog.  Only subscribers received the second (and more elaborate) colorway.

Work is progressing on the 2012 BOM!!  I am flying along in the design process and collecting fabrics to start working on blocks.  I am still looking for  pattern testers, so let me know if you are interested and I will send you the details.

Hope you are enjoying the cooler Fall temperatures like we are in Kansas!

Sneak Preview

I am so excited.  I am always excited when I am working on a new design.  Yup this is the design for my Free 2012 BOM!  Wow, I can't resist sharing a few hints with you.

• I love vintage quilts
• I love floral quilts
• I love sampler quilts
• I love those wonderful 30's solid colors (you know, like Kona cottons and Moda Bella Solids)

So of course the new BOM will be the re-creation of a vintage floral sampler, circa 1920-30, in wonderful pastel (and a few bright) solids.

But wait. . . there will be at least three versions of each block!!  There will be a beginner, intermediate, and an advanced version of each block -- you can choose!   Blog readers will receive the beginner block for free for a month! If you are subscriber to my newsletter you will get all three for free for a month.  How is that for an incentive??  :-)  Big cheesy grin!

The new BOM will start in January so now is a great time to start taking advantage of sales on those Kona Cottons and Bella Solids.  Or you might want to use 30's prints!!  They would be adorable in this quilt.  Or be wild and use batiks!!

Of course the patterns will all be written for fusible machine applique.  But you can adapt the pattern to your favorite method.

OK, have I got you excited yet???  Whooo hooo.  I have about a dozen of the the blocks done already and am working on settings.  Oh, did I mention there will be 42 blocks???  Oops, another slip there.  hehehe -- and since there will be at least 3 versions of each block that means there will be roughly 126 blocks to choose from for your sampler quilt.  Whew, I must be nuts.

This is a project I have wanted to do for a long time, and now I can't wait to get going on it.  I have my fabrics all picked out.  (Remember the applecores?)

I've added a few more greens and blues to this pile since I took the picture.

Hope you will join me in January for the FREE 2012 Vintage Floral Sampler BOM!

BOM Blocks 10 and 11 Posted!

Block 11 Tiger Eye

Two more Block of the Month Blocks were posted for September!  Yup, they are free for 2 months.  Click on the links on the BLOCK OF THE MONTH page and download your free pattern.  If you missed any of the blocks so far you can get them on my Website for $3.00 each.  Or if you can't wait, you can purchase the whole pattern set.

Block 10 Shimmering Hourglass

I am working on my FREE BOM for 2012 and I gotta say it is really going to be fun.  I am going back to doing applique for this one.  But fear not, all the instructions will be for easy fusible machine applique.  I have been researching old floral applique samplers and I found a wonderful old turn of the century sampler that I will be recreating with modern fabrics and techniques.  The original quilt has 42 blocks!!! 

 Here is a sample of one of the blocks that will appear in the new BOM.  This quilt will be made with Bella Solids by Moda.

To make this project extra special, I will be offering 12 blocks on my blog for free, and the remaining blocks will be available for free only to my Newsletter Subscribers.  It is free to subscribe to my newsletter, and those who do, will received an additional free block with each issue!  I can't wait to share this wonderful new BOM with you.  Sign up for my newsletter HERE.

Thinking About Christmas in August

I recently had the privilege to design some sample quilts using a new line of fabric coming out from Fabri-Quilt this fall.  What fun!  Their new Marblehead line by Ro Gregg is worth waiting for.  And is right up my alley!!  Similar to Northcott’s Stonehenge line, this has wonderful colors and textures.   I could play with this line for months and never run our of ideas!  LOL. 

Oh Wait. . . .let me start by saying my new pattern, Bath of Apolausis is coming out this month in the October issue of Quilter’s World.

This next picture is from the magazine.  I downloaded it from their digital issue which just came out on their website.  I had to laugh when I saw this page.  Not only is there a whole picture of the Bath quilt but the other two pictures in the ad are both my quilts!  LOL The cover quilt on their April issue is my Romantic Posies Table Mat and the pattern illustration below is my Roses Around Bed Runner Pattern!  WOW

OK, now to move on to the new stuff.  Not sure where these will end up.  Likely I will publish some of these.  Fabri-Quilt used several as promotional models for their fabric line.  Here are a few of the ones I designed.  For some reason that sort of have an “eastern” and “southwestern” feel to them.   I was exploring the possibilities of using just two blocks and creating lots of different looks based on rotating and color blocks.  Tell me what you think?

Marblehead in This Direction VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Then I did another series of quilts using the Marblehead Christmas fabrics that I based on a quilt I designed for my friend Kathi some years ago for a BOB (bag o’ blocks) that I put together for here.  Here are a few of those.

Christmas in August VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Then I worked on some more fun and whimsical patterns using Ro Gregg’s new Calypso line.  That was a bit more challenge but still fun.  They selected one of them for Fall Market, so I will keep that one a secret.  Here are a few of the designs they didn’t select.  I sort of like these better!  LOL

Calypso by Ro Gregg VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Ok, I am looking at these saying to myself.  So. . . what is my style?  Oh wow, what a great give-away question.  Leave a comment and describe “my style.”  I need to be able to put it on my website and can’t really decide IF I have a style. . .LOL

A free Morning Glory Designs Pattern of your choice goes to the best description of “my style.”  Contest ends Sept 3, in one week.

Correction BOM 8

There is a small correction in the BOM Block 8 instructions.  I have fixed the error and uploaded a corrected version of the instrucions.  Please go to the BOM page and download the instructions again if you already got them so you have the correction.  [Step 6 should say red "rectangle" instead of red triangle.]

Thanks to Barbara Kious who spotted that mistake!!

Winners in New Website Signup Contest

I just love announcing winners and my random number generator pulled three numbers from among the 50!!! quilters who signed up for my newsletter on my NEW and IMPROVED website!  Whoo Hoo

So here they are:

1. Winner of a pattern of her choice:  Jeanette Hansen

2. Winner of a complete BOM of her choice: Debbie Harmon

3. Winner of the 2 charm packs is: Ingrid Mulder

Congratulations to our three lucky winners!!!  And thanks to all of you who entered.  You are all winners because everyone who signed up for my newsletter in August will receive a 20% off saving coupon on any of my patterns, and a 10% off savings coupon for any EQ products!! 

Please contact me to arrange for the shipment or download of your patterns and prizes!!

I so appreciate all of you who checked out my new website, provided me with encouraging comments, and even a few people who helped me correct a couple typos and broken links.  I so appreciate all those sharp eyes checking for errors.  It really helps to know that I have so many proof readers!  LOL

And in September, I will be doing another give away as I bring several new patterns onboard on my website.

My New Website is LIVE!!!

It is finally ready.  My long awaited NEW and IMPROVED website is up!  I am so thrilled with all the new things it will do.  Mostly, it displays my patterns and programs in a much more accessible format.  Please go take a look.

WWW.MORNINGGLORYDESIGNS.NET

Why, you ask??  Well, not only am I really proud of my new site, but if you go there and join my mailing list you will be hooked up for a great give away!!  3 winners will be selected from among those who sign up for my Newsletter/Mailing List.  What am I giving away?

• winner #1 will get their choice of any pattern on my site FREE
• winner # 2 will get a complete Block of the Month set of patterns FREE
• winner #3 will get 2 -- count em -- two Moda Charm Packs: "Hemming House" and "Roman Holiday"

This is a fun way to see my new site, hear about all my upcoming events and patterns, and quite possibly nab some great free goodies!  Give away will close on August 15 so now is a GREAT time to wander over, look around, sign up for my newsletter (of course I never share your info with anyone!).  Since each month's newsletter will have a special coupon in it, it might be worth getting!  Whoo Hooo.

New BOM blocks posted

BIG NEWS this month!!!

First, Jewels in the Crown BOM is doubling up!  This month I am posting 2 blocks!  I know, its like an end of summer bonus!!!  But I want to get all the borders for this quilt in before the end of the year so I needed to double up on a few blocks.

GO TO THE BOM PAGE TO DOWNLOAD BLOCKS!

Block 8 is Glowing Sceptor and Block 9 is Carnelian and Ruby.  Instructions and optional foundation patterns are available FREE for 2 months (August 1 to October 1).

Block 8: Glowing Sceptor

Block 9: Carnelian & Ruby

Next, post a picture of your completed blocks 8 and 9 on the JEWELSBOM Flickr site and be entered to win a free patterns and Fat Quarter Pack.  I got a little behind on this during the spring, but all the prize packs have now been sent out and I am ready to start up again.

So here are the winners for May, June and July:

May: Swalla2011 is the Winner!!!!!

Send me your snail mail address so I can send you your free pattern and Fat Quarter Pack!!

 June: Sassymisspeanut is the Winner!!!!

Send me your snail mail address so I can send you your free pattern and Fat Quarter Pack!!

July:   Quiltyjen is the Winner!!!!

Send me your snail mail address so I can send you your free pattern and Fat Quarter Pack!!

Congratulations to the summer winners!!  I am just thrilled by the colors you use and the gorgeous blocks you create.  Please be sure to post pictures of completed blocks for the 2 August blocks as there will be a DOUBLE PRIZE PACK for the August Winner!

BIG NEWS!!

I am having my website rebuilt and it is going to be spectacular!! Want a sneak peek??

It will be going live the beginning of next week and I am so excited about it.  It will have SOOOO much more functionality, much easier shopping cart, a wholesale site for shops, and a much nicer look.  I am learning to use Word Press and working with my web developer to make everything work.  Once the final testing is done on it we will go live.

To celebrate my new site I am having a BIG contest!  Watch for details.  There will be some great prizes and entering is easy.  Stay tuned for more on this big event.

Finally I gotta brag on my web development TEAM!  Anne Ashley, the graphic designer is just the best and so great to work with!  Thanks to my friend Connie in MA for putting me on to her.  She is a treasure!  And her buddy Jo Ericson, the web developer, is so talented and amazing.  If you are looking to update or develop a new web presence I strongly recommend these two incredible women.

anne@pixelmapcreations.com

jo@yourpagetoday.com

Phew!  Now back to my apple core quilt!  Oh, and did I mention, I got the borders on last night so the top is finished????  I can't believe I actually got something done JUST FOR ME!!!!  LOL

  Till later. . . .

The Apple Core Quilt

This little quilt patch is called an "apple core."  It is a traditional "charm quilt" shape.  A charm quilt was a quilt made from patches that were all the same shape (square, diamond, hexagon, trianglel, kite etc.) with lots of different fabrics.  It was the quintisentiall scrap quilt.  I have always wanted to make one.

I bought an Accu Quilt GO Cutter a year ago and bought the apple core "die" to go with it.  At a retreat a few months ago I brought it along and everyone brough 30's fabrics.  We all cut up TONS of fat quarters and swapped them around.  I had a HUGE pile of them and have wanted a chance to put them together.

The gentle curves are easy to piece and the "built in" notches from the die make lining up the curves simple.  I put them together without pinning as I think it is easier to align the two edges when you aren't wrestling with pins. 

The only challenge is to be able to work with both hands doing different tasks.  For me, my right hand controls the bottom piece and my left hand controls the top piece.  The raw edges don't line up until just before they get to the presser foot.  This works great and I find the ends work out very close to each other.  I keep a small pair of pointy tip scissors close by to clip curves as I go if one pieces needs a bit of stretching.

At another retreat Iattended this past week I finally got the top together!

There are 288 apple cores in this quilt top.  I am going to add another 72 apple cores of solids in 30's colors as a single row around all four sides as a border.  Then I plan to bind it with bias around all the curves!  The final tally will be 360 apple cores!  A happy co-incidence that a quilt with curves should have the same number of degrees as a circle.  Whoo Hooo. 

I'll post more pics once I get the border applecores cut and assembled. I am thinking about writing this up as a pattern.  Any interest in that?

This has been a totally fun project!

Irish Chain top done

Done is good.   I completed the Irish Chain runner last night and off it went to the quilt today.  I was going to quilt it myself but chickened out at the last minute!

 I really like how the borders came out.  And in this picture you can't see the very cool piping.  Can't wait to see what the quilt does with this. . . .

Now onto another project. . . hmmmm, after I finish writing the instructions for this baby.