Heartland Horoscope Pillow

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Heartland fabric blog tour organized by Amy on behalf of designer Pat Bravo and Art Gallery fabrics.  My post marks the end of the tour, but if you're just finding out about it for the first time here, then check out the other beautiful projects made with Heartland at these great blogs:

November 7 Debbie

November 8 Jess and Charise

November 9 Jade

November 10 Amanda

November 11 Kari

November 14 Stephanie

November 15 Christopher

November 16 Kerry

November 17 Nichole

November 18 Krista (you are here ; ))

HOROSCOPE PILLOW 24" x 24"

I decided to re-make my 24" Horoscope pillow pattern in a two-colour version using the Sapphire Sparkle Metallic for background and Honeycomb for the star points. I loved fussy cutting Trekant Rows for the binding (I think this is a fantastic print for binding and you effectively get three different colour options in one print: yellow, pink and dusky blue/grey) and the pillow is backed in Hus Hoot Gul in canvas.

  
  

You can fussy cut 2 1/4" binding strips from the Trekant print! I chose to use the coordinating yellow prismatic row on my pillow (below).

The prisms of Saphire Sparkle Metallic are printed with metallic silver ink that I had no trouble ironing from the right side. So good! I love the hand of Art Gallery fabrics - it's true that they really don't feel like other quilting cottons. The hand is more like a voile and it is gorgeous. I prefer to piece this fabric with a microtex needle as it is very finely woven.

I stuffed my pillow case with a squooshy down-filled pillow form and gifted it to a special friend celebrating a milestone birthday recently.

My pattern includes instructions on how to conceal your zip with an integrated flap. I much prefer this to an envelope closure that gapes open. The canvas owl print is excellent. The substrate is heavy and seems very durable compared to other fabrics called "canvas" from quilting fabric producers.  The canvas would be perfect for designer pillows, duffels, totes, zip pouches, box pouches, back packs...etc.  

Here's some great news! I have enough of the Hus Hoot Gul canvas leftover for someone to make their very own project, or back their own Horoscope Pillow! I'd love to share this with one of you (open internationally), along with a paper copy of my pattern. Just leave a comment below to be entered and I'll choose a random winner on the evening of Sunday, November 20. 

GIVEAWAY NOTE: I must be able to contact you. More and more comments are left on the blog by folks who do not have their email linked to their blogger ID (and I cannot respond to wordpress users at all). If I can't contact you with one click, I'll pick a new winner. Please check that you are not a "no-reply blogger" and remedy that, or leave your email addy in the comment written out like this: poppyprintcreates(at)gmail(dot)com.  Google "no-reply blogger" for info on how to check and steps you can take to change that status so that you can receive emails replies from blogs you comment on.


ETA: the giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Sue, comment #11! I've emailed you.

Three More Exciting Stops!

Thanks for everyone following along the Make It, Take It blog tour this week. There have already been a few lucky winners and there are still a few chances for more free copies of the book.

I had the good fortune of an invitation to speak to the Whistler Quilt Guild last Tuesday night. I shared a presentation on Modern Quilting, showed several of my quilts as examples and then shared all of the projects from the book. I had a lovely evening with the friendly women of the guild and was thrilled that they gave me a bonus free lift ticket for the next day!  It was my first day on the slopes in two seasons and it felt great to feel the quads burn again.  Thank you to my friend (and retreat regular) Ellen and her boys for a lovely day and delicious lunch.

With all those mountain views on my mind and fresh air in my lungs, I forgot to post about the tour stops that day!! Tuesday featured projects from two of the loveliest friends I have through quilting, Leanne and Felicity. All of us have had the pleasure of hanging out together in Vancouver last time Leanne came to town on business. In fact, Leanne's trip happily coincided with both of my guild meetings that week so she came along twice!  Leanne was also witness to my first real-life encounter with Liberty of London fabrics IN LONDON (luckily she didn't have to catch me while I *almost* fainted). Read all about Leanne's unique project in the book, Half Moon Needlecase, here. It combines two of her favourite things: improv and matchstick quilting. While I was in Whistler, Ellen was excited to show me a 1/4 page ad in the latest Fons & Porter magazine featuring this project!!

Felicity is a super fun local quilting pal and the co-president of the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild. She's an excellent public speaker and very entertaining meeting host!  A couple of years ago, while sitting with Felicity at our  meeting, I noticed she was busy tacking down a binding on some interesting placemats. I offered to help out and while I was sewing a lightbulb went off. These would be a wonderful retreat project for my book! Her woven strip technique is so great; you could adapt this process to make a quilted base for so many things, like a table runner, tote bag or low-volume background for an applique quilt.  It's hard to find a great placemat pattern for a round table, so I'm stoked there is one in Make It, Take It!! I was loving the styling of this picture at the photoshoot (Yes, I devoured those raspberries and, uhm, I may have brought that candy with me for the long drive home from Seattle).

Photo: Brent Kane, Martingale Inc, all rights reserved.

Felicity also spent a fun afternoon at my dining table testing the Rainbow 'Round the Cabin group-quilting activity in the book.

Also joining in today is the sweet Ayumi of Pink Penguin.  I can't remember our initial online meeting but I know it was early on in my blog-following life. I was lucky to discover Ayumi's blog and all of her incredible free tutorials, many of which I've made over the years. She's an extremely generous designer who's aesthetic I admire greatly (check out HER amazing book) .  I have hopeful plans to visit her in Japan one day so that she can be my personal guide at the Tokyo Festival of Quilts. It was no surprise that her projects made the cover of the book (and the cover of Martingale's trade magazine released last November) as they were an instant hit with the staff at Martingale. I think the Big and Little Totes will be made and enjoyed by everyone who has the book. I used Ayumi's very own recently-released Lighthearted fabric (for Kokka) to make my version of the Little Tote.  Check out Ayumi's post and enter to win a digital copy of the book here.

Almost there, folks. The tour wraps up tomorrow with Christina and Kristie. Soon it will be your turn to show us all the great projects you've made from the book!

Laughing their way 'Round the Rainbow

Don't these quilters look like they have had the BEST afternoon retreat EVER making Rainbow 'Round the Cabin quilt tops? See the other half of the retreat gang with their low volume versions on the Martingale stop of the Make It, Take It blog tour. Leave a comment with a memorable retreat story of your own (on their blogpost, not here) and win a copy of my book!  

A Stylish New Bath Mat!

Welcome to my stop on the Paper Pieced Home blog tour! I can't wait to show you the project I made. Penny's excellent book is full of fabulous foundation patterns but the clawfoot bathtub is one of my favourites. It didn't take me long to claim the bath mat as my project for the tour.  We had a lovely old cast iron clawfoot tub in our first home. A bath in that thing got cold in about 5 minutes, but it was very romantic with it's vintage fixtures set on a hardwood floor in a tiny bathroom.  I am pretty sure the bathroom was built around the tub because I cannot see how it could have been moved through the door!

One of the best technical things about Penny's book is that all of the foundation patterns are included on a CD so all you have to do is pop it into your computer, click on one button to open the book, then click on the project you want from the table of contents.   As long as your printing options are set to "print actual size" and NOT "shrink to fit" you're in business. A handy square printed on the first page of each pattern lets you measure and confirm you are printing at the proper scale.

If you are going to create this bath mat, just be sure to click on the Clawfoot Bath Mat project on page 84, not the Clawfoot Tub block on page 75 (which is a slightly smaller tub complete with shower head and embroidered water detail) when you are ready to print your pattern pieces.

I made this entire project on retreat a couple of weeks ago and it went together beautifully! I taped all of my pattern pieces together, then cut them apart on the blue lines just as Penny instructs in the excellent "Basic Steps" section starting on page 11.  I am an experienced foundation paper-piecer, so I had no trouble making this block (and I must say, some of the giant pieces of tub and wallpaper background help to make you feel like a rockstar when your block sections are complete with only one or two seams!).  On the flipside, even the tiny pinky nail-sized pieces around the clawfoot were easy to piece.  Unfortunately I don't have any process photos as our retreat was over a very dark and rainy weekend.

Choosing fabric for this project was really fun. I wanted to try and stick to Penny's cute sample in the book, so I pulled my only diagonal plaids (I have two) from my stash and set to work finding just the right coordinating "wallpaper" fabric. I really wanted to use the aqua floral from Farmdale as it looked amazing with the pink/grey plaid but alas, I didn't have nearly enough fabric [Foundation piecing always uses more fabric than you imagine when just looking at the pattern pieces. You have to account for the long pointy angles and include your 1/4" seam allowance outside the actual pattern piece.]  I think this old Amy Butler floral does the job, though.  Majority opinion on retreat voted for the black piping insert before the border to delineate the wallpaper from the plaid.  I adore the Mirror Ball Dots tub (although I'm a little worried about the mirror balls picking up dirt - I fully plan to put this mat to use in my daughter's bathroom).

As per Penny's instructions, the bath mat is quilted with a piece of white flannel inside with white terry cloth backing.  I know it will be washed repeatedly and I didn't like the idea of trying to hand-stitch through terry cloth, so I attached the binding by machine.

How'd you like to receive an digital copy of Penny's book? There are such fun patterns that would make amazing house warming, wedding, baby or anniversary gifts, or blocks that could be combined into a special mid-century modern, gardening or baby quilt.  What has caught your eye?  Leave one comment below to enter and I'll draw a winner with the random number generator on Easter Sunday. COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED, thank you.

The Paper-Pieced Home: Quilting a Household One Block at a Time

By Penny Layman

Interweave/F+W; $26.99 US

You can check out the rest of the tour and enter to win on the fun blogs listed below. Then on Monday, tune in to Pat Sloan Radio to hear Penny talk about her book!

The Paper-Pieced Home

Blog Tour Schedule

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block

3/17       Love of Quilting / Review

3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block

3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review

3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block

3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block

3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block

3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block

3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block

3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block

3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block

3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block

3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block

3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block

3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block

3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block

3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block

3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block YOU ARE HERE!

3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block

3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

Paper Piece Your Home!

Just popping in to let you know that my friend Penny (who, after "knowing" her for over 5 years, I was finally able to meet in person at QuiltCon. Yay!) is celebrating the release of her gorgeous new book with a blog hop.  There are a whole whack of us bloggers all set up to make each of the incredible paper-pieced blocks from her book The Paper-Pieced Home. Something I already love about the book is that all of the foundation patterns come on an included DVD, so there's no destroying your book while you try to smush it flat on a photocopier/scanner!

I told Penny I don't foundation paper piece anything for just anyone! I'm going to try my had at the hilarious, yet sophisticated clawfoot tub, reminiscent of the one in the first house B and bought together.  Hilarious, because it is just about the last thing on earth I thought I'd ever paper-piece! It just goes to show you that a determined designer can make a pattern for anything (a frying egg in a cast iron pan! a sleeveless dress! a rotary phone!). You'll see just how talented Penny is if you follow along on this tour. Also, there are lots of books to be won so be sure to check out all the stops listed below.

Here's the schedule: 

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block

3/17       Love of Quilting / Review

3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block

3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review

3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block

3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block

3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block

3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block

3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block

3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block

3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block

3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block

3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block

3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block

3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block

3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block

3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block

3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block

3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block

3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

Stuff You Need to Know!

This is one of those public service announcement blog posts, just so that I know, that you know, what's going on this week on the internets!

First up, voting is almost over (ending tomorrow) in the annual Fall Blogger's Quilt Festival. You still have time to check out the stunning collection of quilts nominated for the Viewer's Choice Award as well as all of the other festival categories.  My Selvage Colourblock quilt was nominated for Viewer's Choice, which I must say was a huge thrill for me in itself. I don't want to get too sappy, but you can't deny the Sally Field reaction when you learn that your peers appreciate something you designed and made yourself.  I'm very thankful!

Coming soon is a fun event for Canadian Bloggers sponsored by the lovely ladies at Sew Sisters. This event is an opportunity for us to share our stories and introduce themselves to a wider audience. If you want to know who is making what in Canada, then check out the Blogathon!

Starting November 17 right here on the west coast, provincial hosts will introduce themselves and provide a list of links to other bloggers in their province. British Columbia's hosts are both incredibly talented members of the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild: Stacey is a designing genius with original ideas and energy to spare.  e Jessica is exploring the beautiful Japanese art of Indigo and Shibori dying and regularly shares her knowledge with fellow guild members.  There are prizes! Every day the hosting sites have sponsored gifts to giveaway to visitors, so be sure to stop in.

All Canadian bloggers are invited to submit their blog addresses to Sew Sisters for inclusion on the provincial lists. Share your address and invite the world to visit YOU! Email the shop at connect@sew-sisters.com

Here are all of the provincial hosts for you:

Monday, November 17	BC	Stacey	Stacey in Stitches
Monday, November 17	BC	Jessica	Momiji Studio
Tuesday, November 18	Maritimes	Linda	Scrapmaster
Tuesday, November 18	Maritimes	Linda	Stitch Lines
Wednesday, November 19	AB	Kelsey	Everyday Fray
Wednesday, November 19	AB	Leanne	She Can Quilt
Thursday, November 20	SK	Heather	Peace.Love.Quilt
Thursday, November 20	MB	Lori	Night Owl Quilting
Friday, November 21	QC	Josée	The Charming Needle
Friday, November 21	Territories	Janet	Caribou Crossing Chronicles
Saturday, November 22	ON	Lorna	Sew Fresh Quilts
Saturday, November 22	ON	Sandy	Upstairs Hobby Room

Little Quilts Cocktail Shakers and a giveaway

Hello there, fans of Amy, Sarah, sweet little quilts, cocktails, and Liberty!  Welcome to my stop on the Little Quilts blog tour, where I will happily gush on and on about how much I am enjoying this addition to my quilting library.

I met Amy during my first foray into swapping back in the Flickr Doll Quilt Swap. I was then introduced to Sarah and her beautiful work shortly after when these two talented ladies teamed up for their Dollies on Line pattern company.  Amy's Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts was one of the first blogs I followed years ago and she thrilled me one day with a sweet unexpected gift prompted by a mini quilt I'd made. I knew right then, that she was my kind of people.  Something tells me that I will get to meet both of these amazing quilters next year in person.....

So, if you've been following along this blog tour you already know that the tour is a swap!  Each of us has a secret partner for which we are making a quilt from Little Quilts. Prior to receiving my copy, I had already decided (based on the Amazon "take a look inside" photos) which pattern I'd use. Then my book arrived: cue indecision.  I wanted to make ALL THE QUILTS! Really! That rarely happens with me and books. Every pattern appeals to me. I know this will be my go-to guide whenever a swap comes around because there is definitely something for everyone and plenty of room for customization with fabric choices, fussy cutting and expanding to larger-sized quilts.

planning, planning, planning

Having recently acquired a bumper crop of Liberty tana lawn F8's, I was anxious to use some of them in this special quilt. I paired them with that other British fabric I love, Oakshott Colourshotts. After marking several pages in the book, eventually I returned to my original idea because my little brain just loved the idea of an all-British cocktail shaker quilt: A James-Bond-ish Shaken, Not Stirred table runner.

I think these two kinds of fabric really enjoy each other's company. The foundation piecing for the cocktail shaker shapes is very straightforward and not at all fiddly as far as paper piecing goes. It's actually a great project for a first go at this technique.  Can you spot the teeny Hello Kitties in the border print?

"Shaken, Not Stirred"

The runner finished up at 16" x 31".  Hopefully my partner has a suitably sized coffee table or side board, or even a bar!  Of course, there is always the awkward skinny wall option for hanging a table runner. 

I quilted the runner with a gorgeous blue Aurifil 28 wt thread in a straight line diagonal grid pattern that parallels the piecing. And I used this perfectly-suited Laurie Wisbrun print from my stash on the back!

To see what everyone else is making for their secret partners in our blog tour swap, have a look at the other stops listed below!  If you don't have it already, ask your local quilt shop to stock this wonderful book for you...then organize a swap with your guild or quilting friends!

If you'd like to win a copy of Little Quilts courtesy of Sara and Amy's publisher, leave a comment and let us know if you've ever made a doll or mini quilt before!  I'll close the giveaway October 4th and chose a random winner.  To win, you MUST leave your email address in your comment if it is not linked. If I can't contact you with one click, I'm afraid I have to chose another winner.  Good luck!

September 1: Amy and Sarah

http://mrsschmenkmanquilts.wordpress.com

http://thelastpiece.typepad.com

September 8: Pam Vieira-McGinnis

http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

September 15: Nedra Sorenson

http://cactus-needle.blogspot.com/

September 22: Lynne Goldsworthy and Krista Hennebury

http://lilysquilts.blogspot.com

http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/

September 29: John Adams

http://quiltdad.com

October 6: Katy Jones

http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com

EDITED TO ADD: comments are now closed, and congratulations to commenter #63, Kathy, who has won herself a copy of Little Quilts!