Free Log Cabin E-book Gift!

I have the perfect Merry Christmas gift for yourself ~ a Free e-book from Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting called Build Your Best Log Cabin!

I love Log Cabin quilts, and this is a 24 page e-book that you can download that includes instructions to make three different types of Log Cabin blocks including Traditional, Chevron, and Courthouse Steps.  It includes a little background history on the Log Cabin quilt, full color pictures and complete instructions to make four specific Log Cabin Quilt projects.  Plus, it includes setting option diagrams for multiple ways to lay out traditional Log Cabin blocks for completely different looks.

There are even tips along the way, ideas for quilting the projects, and binding instructions!  I particularly like that they include block charts with cutting sizes for making different size blocks :) 

It's a very versatile little booklet, and a great bargain at the price of...Free!

To get your Free Log Cabin e-book from the generous folks at Fons & Porters, just click Here and sign up with your email address to receive their e-newsletter. 

Merry Christmas, and Enjoy the Day!
~ Dawn

A Batiky Zig Zag Publication

Things have been hopping here with regular work stuff, plus all the Christmas shopping and  preparations going on...Happily, I'm about finished with holiday prep, and plan to just enjoy the days until Christmas now ~ How about you?

...And because I'm confident that the world is not ending tomorrow morning, I wanted to pop on to say Happy Winter Solstice and share my Batik Zig Zag quilt that is my latest magazine publication :)

It's in the current issue of Quilt-It Today (January/February 2013)!  You can go Here and see a list of the projects in this issue.

It's made up of super easy to piece blocks using some fun batik fabrics that have lot's of texture (the raspberry colored fabric was also featured on my Batik Infinity Scarf that appeared in the premier issue of Sew-it Today still available on the news stands.

My good friend Mary Nielsen did the beautiful machine quilting on this one for me :)  I think it's going to be our new picnic quilt.  I can't wait to use it...we just have to get through Winter first!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Some Quick Ornaments for our Furry Friends

I took some time this year to make up some cute Christmas Ornaments for our Furry Family Members.  These are for our dog Butters, and cat Maddie. 

I used these Go! Cutter Dies (#55064 Gingham Dog & #55065 Calico Cat)  to cut out the shapes for our pets. 

I started with two scraps of fabric (one for the front and one for the back), one 6" square piece of Timtex stiff interfacing, and two pieces of fusible web approx. 6" square (I used Heat n Bond Lite).

In preparation, I machine embroidered our pet's name to the center of the piece of fabric that will be the front.  
 

Using the Go! Die, cut the pet shape from a piece of cardstock...

I then used the cardstock shape cutout as a "window" to audition different fonts/sizes for the embroidery.  (This one is for my Mom's Cat, Spazz.)

After deciding on an appropriate size and embroidering the name on the front fabric, iron a piece of Heat n Bond to the back side, and add the other piece of fusible web to the reverse side of the fabric piece for the back of the ornament.  Then sandwich the piece of Timtex interfacing in between the two fabrics and fuse all together.  

Then, using the cardstock cutout to help in positioning the shape over the Go! Die blades, run the fused sandwich through the cutter to cut out the animal shape. 

Then to finish I satin stitched around the outside edges with the same thread that I embroidered the name with.  I like to satin stitch completely around the ornament twice to give the edge a smoother look.

To finish them off I used a thin gold cord that I ran through with an embroidery needle, and now they're ornaments :)  These are for my Mom for her pets Spazz & Barkley (Remember Barkley from This Post)

And these two are for Heather & Luke's dogs Max & River.  I had so much fun making these up, now I'm thinking of making up more :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

A New Friend in my Quilt Cave

It occurred to me that I haven't blogged about my new friend!  I mentioned her on my Facebook Page, but I never posted about her here on my blog.  This is my new HQ Avante.

I haven't named her yet, but I've been spending lots of time with her lately, and we're becoming good friends ~ she's helping me immensely :)

I've quilt three quilts on her so far.  One I can't show you yet, I'm boxing that one up and shipping it off for photography for a magazine publication, but these two are for me.

This one is my High Cotton that I made with swapped blocks with Starlyn and Mary.  It's going to be my new throw quilt on my comfy chair ~ I love making quilts just for me.

...And this is my Jelly Roll Race quilt finished except for the binding.  This one's going to be a Christmas gift, but I'm not telling who the recipient is just yet ;)

It's so nice to be able to bring these quilts to a finish so easily, thanks to my new friend!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

New Quilt Cave Coming Together

Well, we recently did some re-evaluation of my sewing spaces, mainly because of the machinery that I've been adding lately ~ and we came to the conclusion that instead of using several small rooms upstairs, It'd be better to move all of my sewing apparatus to one space in the basement.

That led to displacing my son who had his "Man Cave" in the basement, but he's happy to take over my "North Wing" upstairs....Although my son had no idea how much stuff I had stashed away in those walk-in closets until after he agreed to help me move ~ Ha!  My son-in-law, who came by for a bit to help with the move thinks I have a "problem"  ;)

So this is my new "Quilt Cave" ~ I gave up some nice views out the windows upstairs, but I'm loving my new space down here.  Some of the furniture like the roll top desk on the right, and the big wooden file cabinet in the previous picture, were already down here, so instead of finding them a new home somewhere else, I just incorporated them in...after all, they're heavy and we were getting tired!

I only have the one closet down here which goes under the stairs (upper left side of this photo), so there's a lot of big not so attractive stuff like bags of batting, stuffing, extra totes, and bins of misc. stuff in there. 

 ...But I do have a TV which I did not have in my small room upstairs!  (And a powder room right around the corner).   And plenty of space for friends, or daughters (and eventually granddaughters), to come and sew with me :)

Some of the things on the walls are hung in odd places because there was already a nail there from my son's stuff, I'll probably tweek some of that later and patch some holes.  There were a couple of easy chairs down here already, so I kept this one here for reading/knitting. 

Backing up to the other side of the room, behind the desk, I was even able to bring down my yarn and knitting stuff ~ previously this was in baskets and containers dotted all over the house (In fact I keep finding more).  This divider creates a nice little nook for my HQ Sweet 16 to sit between the yarn bookcase, and the black wardrobe in the next picture. 

Fabric stash fills this end wall, and that black wardrobe that was already here in the basement ~ to move the wardrobe upstairs we would have had to take it apart because it was built down here, and my son decided he had closets upstairs so it wasn't worth moving ~ and good thing because it turns out I really needed it down here!  (Even I didn't know how much fabric I had until it was all pulled out in my living room.)

Those white plastic drawers were put there to mark the place waiting for my new HQ Avante that was on order ~ I'm hoping they'll fit right underneath it... 

...Because it came in yesterday!  (And I really don't have any other place to put the plastic drawer units.)
It may be a few days before I have finished pictures with the Avante in place because life is getting in my way ~ I have to work today, and I have a Baltimore Applique Society Board & General Meeting tonight...but on the bright side, my patience is getting a good testing! 

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Winners!

Congratulations to the two winners of my 100 Blocks Blog Hop Day last week!

Maureen will win a Free copy of 100 Blocks magazine from Quiltmaker.  Her comment said... I love your block! And congratulations on being chosen for this edition! Thanks for a chance at the give-away!

And...

Quilter In Paradise will win a pattern pack of Spring Water Designs patterns from me :)  Her comment said...
great block! you could use all kinds of fabrics with this one.

And...

I met another winner this weekend too...

Jay McCarroll came and spoke to our Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild on Sunday.  He was the Season One winner of Project Runway, and a very creative designer.  A group of us from the guild had run into him (literally) at the Lancaster quilt show back in March, and spoke to him about coming to visit us in Baltimore ~ This Blog Post at the Baltimore Modern Blog tells about our adventure that day. 

So my daughter, Heather and I attended on Sunday and listened to his very interesting talk about his journey into the design business, his work after Project Runway, and how he became a fabric designer for Free Spirit Fabrics.  I found him to be a very entertaining speaker ~ authentic and down to earth.  Then I got to speak to him a bit after, and Heather snapped a picture of him signing my little quilt that I made using his Habitat fabric line ...Win :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Say Thank You to a Vet

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IVThe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VIIn all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment XThe powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendment 11-27

Say thank you to a Veteran or someone currently serving, and enjoy your freedoms today!

If you're interested in making a Quilts of Valor donation quilt to comfort a wounded war fighter, visit the Spring Water Designs Free Pattern page to download the free pattern for the Stars & Bars quilt. 

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Sunrise Block in Other Colors

So as promised, here's my Sunrise Block from Yesterday's Post in another color grouping :)

The complete directions for making the block are in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 6, but here are a few pictures to give an idea of how I put this block together...

Done :)

Don't forget to go back and comment on Yesterday's Post to be entered in the Give Away!  And check out the 100 Blocks Blog Tour going on through tomorrow at The Quiltmaker Blog Quilty Pleasures for more inspiration and prizes :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

I'm so excited to share that I have a block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 6!  I've never been in this publication, so I was so flattered to be invited to submit a block, and to have it accepted!  This is  the latest issue in the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks series and should be hitting news stands on November 14th. (You can pre-order copies Here). 
  

This is my little block ~ It's called Sunrise (It's block #598).  This version is made with the Kate's Garden fabric line designed by Kate Knight for Quilting Treasures fabric company.

Here is an easy design layout idea using nine blocks, and setting them together in three rows of three.  I like the "motion" that setting these blocks together creates.  You get a kind of pinwheel secondary block by setting them together.

...And here is the same setting just with adding sashings between the blocks ~ bright and fun :)  Come back tomorrow, and I'll show you the same block in another colorway!  

Until then, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win your own copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 6!  I'll be picking two winners on Sunday, November 11th ~ one winner will receive an issue of the magazine from Quiltmaker, and one winner will receive a Spring Water Designs pattern pack from me :)  Visit our Spring Water Designs Website to see our current line of patterns. 

Become a follower here on the blog, and join in on the fun on our Facebook Page to keep up with all the upcoming news, announcements...and the occasional Free Pattern :)

And be sure to follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily November 5 - 9th at The Quiltmaker Blog Quilty Pleasures for some wonderful inspiration from designers and lots of giveaways!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

A Day of Smiles :)

I'm smiling while chain piecing today on my new acquisition...

This little lady joined my growing sewing machine family a couple weeks ago.  (My house is actually starting to look like an old sewing machine rescue center).

I bought her from a friend ~ it was her mother's machine.  I got it mainly for the really nice wooden cabinet that it's sitting in, but found that once I cleaned and oiled up the machine, she really sews very nicely :)

So today her and I stitched up my row for this month's Row Robin for the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild.

...And I'm smiling as I'm ironing on this new ironing station that my hubby made from an old bookcase that I had in the basement to go in my new sewing space down there. 

...And while sewing I'm drinking my tea from this little mug that came in the mail yesterday ~ that's making me smile too :)

Don't forget to check out the Quiltmaker's Blog for Day 2 of the 100 Blocks Blog Hop, and come back here tomorrow for my day on the Hop and my Give Aways :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn