Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A Quilt Album Review & A Give Away!

How many quilts have you made in your years of quilting?  Any idea?  What year did you make that favorite cuddle quilt?  What kind of batting did you use in that baby quilt you gave as a gift to your niece three years ago?  These are all typical of questions that I've asked myself in the past.  Of course I've had good intentions to keep track of these things, but...well actually I've been so busy making quilts that I haven't much concerned myself with documenting them.  And even though I know the importance of quilt labels, I have to admit I don't always get one made for every quilt.

Well now along comes Quilt Album!  I was introduced to Quilt Album software by Pat Sloan a few weeks ago.  She asked me to try it, and give my opinions, and I have to say so far I'm loving it!  Quilt Album is a very user friendly computer program that allows you to fill in all the pertinent information onto a page for each quilt that you make.  It keeps an electronic record of all of your quilts, and you can print out album pages to keep a scrapbook style notebook to flip through (something I've been intending to do ~ and well you know about good intentions....). 

This is a computer screen shot of one of my quilt pages (you can click on the pictures to enlarge them and see them better).  I like how they have included a place to tell the story of each quilt, and I can assign categories for my quilts.  So I've set up separate categories for quilts I've made as gifts, quilts I've made for publication, Quilts I've made/repaired for customers, Antique quilts that I've collected, and quilts that I've made just for me to keep.  You can personalize the categories to meet your own needs very easily :)

This is the screen shot of my Dad's quilt that I blogged about the other day in This Post.  One of the things I like the most about this program is how easy it has been to download and use.  They have kept it simple enough that it's been very easy to just jump in and get started even for a non-IT person like me :)  Sometimes I find computer stuff so complicated that I don't have the time or the energy needed to learn it ~ I'm happy to say that's not so with Quilt Album!

This is a scan (so it's a little faded) of the printed Album page for my Dad's quilt.  I'm sliding them into page protectors and starting a notebook of my quilts.  This page is full size, but you can also print out half size pages for smaller notebooks for easier carrying along like to guild meetings and such. 

You can personalize your cover page.  I'm going to look for another color notebook to slide my cover page into, but right now I have a blue one ~ it's ok, but doesn't speak to me :)

The Quilt Album people have also thought of a summery page that you can print for your notebook that can serve like a table of contents.  The summaries can be set up any way you like ie: alphabetically, by date, or category...  Notice that I still have to go back and fill in some of my quilt sizes (I was adding some of them by memory, but can go back and follow up on the facts that I didn't know off the top of my head at any time, and just reprint the summary page).

And remember those quilt labels that I'm so bad about!  This is a sample of a quilt label that I printed out right from the quilt record in the software.  In the print screen I can choose what information from the record I want to include or leave off of the label, and if I want a picture or not on the label.  Then I can just print the label right onto printable fabric ~ This is going to make it so easy to go back and label some of my past quilts!

And just for fun, you can easily print out other goodies like these note cards (in several sizes and formats) that are personalized on the back with your quilt's information.  I love this added bonus...probably a little more than I should :)

In a matter of minutes I had note cards, business cards, and return address labels :)  So cool!

I've decided to work with Quilt Album as one of their Ambassadors, and of the most important things I like about this program is that it's also very affordable!  You can download a copy from Quilt Album for $29.95, (or purchase a disc for $39.95) and my readers can receive a $5.00 discount on your purchase if you enter the discount code of BCC-BG at the check out!

And Exciting News:  The nice people at Quilt Album are offering a Give Away of a Free Quilt Album Software Program for one lucky reader of my blog this week!  Just leave a comment on this post and let me know how you'd use Quilt Album.  Become a follower of my blog (or let me know that you already are if you are) for an extra entry.  I'll draw one name randomly on Thursday,  August 4th at 6:00 am EST.  Good Luck!

You've worked so hard to touch others through your quilts, you owe it to yourself to document them.  Quilt Album makes that very doable :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

77 comments:

Nancy said...

Oh My Gosh!! I really need this...and would love to have all my quilts documented...Thanks for a chance to get organized...

Monica said...

I love the idea of using the software for making postcards, etc.

Monica said...

I am a follower. Thank you for the extra chance to win.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I would use the software to document my quilt journey, print notecards, start making labels for my quilts, address labels. I think that's it for starters.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

You know I'm a follower Dawn!! This is a great product.

Andee said...

I would use it for all of the above. Great product! Gonna follow you!

Sarah Preston said...

I would use it to document my finishes and to help me with labels which I am not very good about doing. I love organizing my things digitally as I live in a tiny apartment and don't have a lot of space to keep binders and the like. I am a follower of your blog!

luv2quilt2 said...

I love it! It's just what I need. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a cool giveaway!! I'm a follower of your blog.

Diane said...

This sounds great! I am really bad about labels and those matching note cards??? Too cute! Thanks for the giveaway!
Dianemrose@comcast.net

FabricFascination said...

I am a follower Dawn. What a great program. Too bad I didn't have it years ago, but it is never to late to start to document.

Love the printable cards and labels function too.

QuilterMary said...

I'm a follower!

QuilterMary said...

I really need this. You did a great review. All that info in one place AND user friendly ... let me say it again - I really need this!

Kathy MacKie said...

I am a follower, thanks for the giveaway.

Kathy MacKie said...

Documentation of my quilts and the label idea really interest me. Great giveaway.

Nancy said...

Oh, my goodness! I love the idea of notecards and address labels made from your own quilts. I do have an album where I put pictures of all my quilts made which is especially good since I have given all of them away. This would be such a quick way to save them and make the extra goodies that go with it. Fingers are crossed!

Nancy said...

I am already a follower of your blog and so glad I do!

AnitaS said...

I became a follower of your blog and I love to win the album. I am not so organized and I lost track of categorize my quilts.

Carol said...

Dawn that is absolutely phenomenal...I'm so bad about labels...that would save me! What a great idea. Going to have to download it...LOVE it!

quiltingfrenzy said...

What a terrific program! This would be a great way to keep track of all the custom quilts and gift quilts I have made and I no longer have around to touch. It would be a great way to share my work with potential quilt customers.

tfinnell said...

Absolutely love this software! Have owned it since the beginning. Staff is always quick to answer any questions. They also return phone calls!!!!Nothing but praise for Quilt Album. Thanks for introducing it to fellow quilters, and NO, I don't work for them.

Mary said...

I desperately need this tool. I am so bad about keeping track of my quilts and this would really help me a lot. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Mry

Rhonda said...

I'd love to use this software to keep my projects organized. I am a follower as well. Love your blog.

Rhonda said...

Thank you for the extra opportunity to enter - yes I am a follower. Great prize and it sure would be fun and handy to have. Thanks again. : )

Carol Johnston said...

What a great software product! My DH set up an Excel program for me a long time ago, but it has fallen out of use. I have most of my quilts documented, but this would be a great tool to help. Also love the note card and label options.

SueB said...

This looks like something that I really need. I make QOV's and I would us it to document each and every one of them. I dont know how many I have made so far. Then the fact that you can make notecards and labels. Thanks for the chance to win. I am a reader of your blog for awhile so I became a follower today.

Christie said...

Oooooh!!! I love this! I want to win this really really bad!!!! I would of course make labels for my quilts, and would print out a record of each quilt to put in an album. Return address labels are a must!!! And, I am a "Postcrosser" (send postcards around the world) and I could make my own postcards to send so I could share my work! Thanks so much for the chance to win this new wonderful tool!!!! (I am a follower)! HUGS... and stitches

Estie said...

I could really use that quilt album program to organize my quilt projects. Looks like fun to use too. I 'll be following your blog!

Lee said...

I would love this to keep a record of my quilts and for quilt labels! how cool! thanks!

Lee said...

I am a follower too! thanks again

Vicki B said...

Very exciting give away! You will be a great ambassador from what I see so far - your excitement is contagious. Thanks for participating in the give-away.

Vicki B said...

I am now a follower and will link you to my blog.

Linda V said...

This looks like GREAT software! I would use it it to make notecards as well as keep track of my quilts and other sewn gifts. Thanks for the giveaway~
Linda
homesweetquiltinghome.blogspot.com

Linda V said...

I am a new follower. Thanks again for the giveaway~
Linda

Pat said...

Oh, my gosh....I was an avid scrapbooker (before I discovered quilting) and this would combine my love of that with my love of quilting!!! I have photographed ALL my quilt projects (with the intention of journaling about them). Maybe this program would give me the kick in the pants I need to get moving on this project (especially if it's as easy to use as you say). Please throw my "hat" in the ring for this, okay? Thanks!!!

JackieO said...

This looks like a great product!! I love all the 'extras'! I'm sure I'll be like you and have cards and labels printed out first! Your blog was passed on by SueB and I'm glad she did.

JackieO said...

Just became a follower!

Frog Quilter said...

I want a chance to win. Then if I don't win I would want to buy it.

How easy is it to transfer to another computer for when you get a new computer??? Thanks.

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway! This is just the thing to get me going and have a way of sharing my quilt creations! thanks for the chance for the giveaway.

Vera said...

I would love to document my quilts-I seem to forget a lot things. Love the giveaway

Mcm said...

So many possibilities with quilt album, in addition to the documentation I like the idea of address labels, etc.

Lisa in Alberta said...

I'm fairly new to quilting but have great enthusiasm for tons of projects and probably 8 WIPs! perfect timing to start using this software!

Aunt 'Reen said...

This software sounds fascinating to me!
Thank you for all the information and also your giveaway opportunity.

Ann Symes said...

What great idea! I'd use this to keep track of all the quilts I have given away or sold.

Unknown said...

I give so many quilts away as presents I would love to have this to keep a record of all of them!!

Unknown said...

I'm a new follower as well - it was great to meet you at the BMQG meeting today! :)

Maria said...

This sounds like something that I could actually do! Sign me up. Good to see you at the modern quilt guild today Dawn!

Dawn said...

Wow ~ Thanks for all of the comments, Good luck to all! To answer a previous question:

@Frog Quilter: You automatically get two activations with the license key that you receive upon purchase of QuiltAlbum. If you have a crash/new computer install over and above that, and need a third activation, you can contact the QuiltAlbum people for them to reset your permissions. You can read this at their website at the bottom of the page at this link:

http://www.quiltalbum.com/downloads.htm

sew_inspired said...

This looks like a great program! I am a fairly new to quilting and I was looking for a way to keep of record of the quilts I make. This is perfect! Thanks for sharing it with the guild today.
-Daniela

sew_inspired said...

I would definitely be interested in using this program and I look forward to following your blog.

debk said...

Thank you for talking about this program at the BMQG yesterday. Sounds like terrific software that I can really use.

Patricia Kelly said...

So nice meeting you on Saturday & thank you for the information about the Quilt Album software. I will patiently wait until Thursday but if I'm not a winner, this will definitely be on my birthday wishlist.

Rebecca said...

I just found this posting, somehow I missed it from the other day. I am a follower of your blog. I would love to win a copy of this software. I had no idea that it existed until now. Where have I been!
Please enter me in your drawing. If I won, I would first use it to document a quilt that I just made with my mother to enter into a contesst,then make quilt labels and document one of my mothers award winning quilts. Thanks so much.
Rebecca...the stitched sampler @ blogspot

Barbara Jean said...

This software looks great and could get me started on being organized instead of having just a box of pictures of projects I've done.

Kathryn said...

There are so many great features of this software that you highlighted. I'm definitely going to buy it if I'm not a winner. Thanks. Kathie L in Allentown

Mary said...

I became a follower and Love that PAT shares these new gadgets and helps us to WIN them. You even show another use for it, Thanks!

Cat said...

Oh I definitely want this software. The features are exactly what I have been looking for to keep track. Pat does her magic again.

Patty said...

This software will come in handy cataloging my quilts, but I really interested in printing out note cards from my work!

Kathy said...

This is such a cool idea. Exactly what I need to help track my quilts!

Sandi said...

Wowzer, we can have our own scrapbook trunk show. Every quilt has a story, the perfect way to document and share.

Marilyn said...

This is wonderful. All the bells & whistles! I think I would really use this.

earth visitor said...

wow - now if it was all voice activated so I could sew and get organized at the same time : )

kfr14819 said...

Sounds great - it would help be become more organized and complete more projects.

mcpeakj said...

Oh I would love to FINALLY get all my quilts in order and together in one place so they could easily be found

Lori said...

I would love to get organized!
Thanks for the chance to win!!!

Anonymous said...

this sounds great I might be able to find every thing together right now it takes most of my time just to find everything before I start would love to win

bookworm said...

This sounds awesome! I'm trying to get more organized and document my quilts. Hope I win!!

Sarah Vanderburgh said...

Great review! Love that you showed us pages with your info on them. I am a little over eager to get the little notecards printed with my quilts on them too:) Thanks for the chance!

AmyBee said...

I keep WANTING to get organized, but photos are not in the same place as notes as ideas as projects started and so on. Your review tells me all I need to know. thank you!

Unknown said...

I cannot tell you how much I could use this software. Your description of it would help me tremendously. Oh I cannot tell you how much I would love to have this. Currently I have all my projects that I am working on and there are 43 in a cedar chest. and then in a box in my closet. The ones I have completed I have taken pictures of and put the pics in a shoebox. The projects that are done and ready for christmas presents are stored on a shelf so I can try to keep account of who I have already made for. But after reading about this software omg it would be such a blessing for me. Then maybe Aunt Deb wouldn't get 2 quilts made for her and none for cousin Janet. That was a mishap I had last year. Thanks for having the give-a-way and please consider me in it...

Unknown said...

Oh I am a follower

Dora said...

I take a picture. That is if I'm lucky enough to remember before I give the quilt away. Sometimes I write the name of the recipient down on a piece of paper. But you can probably guess what happens to the paper. Yep, gets lost, thrown away, in no way stays with the picture. This would help me immensely if I were to win a copy.

Debbie said...

This is a very good review, Dawn! You're really good at making me wanna have it, LOL. I take photos of everything I do and have them organized well on my computer, but that's about it. I really could use this program to save all the other information, too. Thanks for counting me in.

Debbie said...

I have become a follower of your blog.

Julie Naatz said...

I love to be organized and this is a tool that would help so much with my recordkeeping of quilts. Great idea.

sew_inspired said...

Thanks again for introducing us to this product. I was sad that I did not win but I went ahead and ordered it this afternoon. Thanks again!

Peggy said...

My whole quilting world needs major organization after 18 years as a quilter. This sounds like a big help and I love the print options as well.

Peggy said...

I have just become a follower of your blog.
Thanks for the give-away.