HI Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving,  Today is the day I make a turkey (we were at a friends home yesterday) so I will be dining again. Well, I will try to be more reasonable in my eating today! Probably taking the dog for a walk later to burn off a few calories...

Thanks for your kinds word on my block from the 100 Blocks magazine. I am thankful for my quilting friends, even if I haven't met you face to face!

Karrie S. is the winner for the copy of the magazine, I'm not sure how soon it gets mailed but I'm sure we'll see wonderful projects from her once it's in her hands. heheh, no pressure!

May all of your points be pointy!
Sandi

Hello Quilters!

Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your support!

Well, I'm up to two blogs this year, not quite a record, but an improvement.

I had planned on this block going into the next issue of  the 100 Blocks magazine. At the Spring Quilt Market, which was here in Minneapolis, one of the editors asked if I had put in a block in this issue. I had told her that I thought the deadline had passed but she said that if I got one in the following week it might make the cut. Well, I grabbed a FQ bundle from Studio E fabrics on my way home that evening and made my block and returned it the next morning.
I would venture to guess, this has been their quickest turn around on getting a magazine project finished. OK, so it's a small project.....

A thought came to me after I'd dropped off the block. I think those corner triangles could be a bit bigger. If you add the background rectangle to the paper pieced square first you could add any size  square to the corner using the sew and flip method. I think I may make a quilt using the same bright colors, a black background and assorted black and white prints for the center and corners of each block.

I think this would make a fabulous block for a Christmas quilt in reds and greens. Just three blocks would make a nice table runner. Red, white, blue and a bit of yellow/gold? I'd love to see samples of YOUR ideas! You can email me at irishchain@comcast.net (I don't trust my web email address, it's gotten weird). If I can share them on FB, please let me know. My FB page is The Irish Chain.

I'm still working on building a new web site. I'm waiting on a new web site company that is working through a new way to build web sites. It eventually will give me better ability to change what is there on my own. Since I last blogged, several new patterns have been put up on my current web site, check them out at www.irishchain.com 

For the time being, new patterns and magazine articles will be introduced on my FB page.

May you points ALWAYS be pointy!
Sandi
P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!

 Hello Blog Tour Attendees!

First, I'd like to say thank you. I know that all of us designers are so grateful for your support.

As you can see, I haven't written a blog in a couple of years. I guess life gets in the way and priorities change. Want to see pictures of my adorable grand children?
I tend toward instant gratification, like the FB page, you can look for The Irish Chain there.

Later this summer, I'll be rebuilding my web site, finally! I have several new patterns designs to add and there will be a contest or two. And, just maybe, I'll start blogging on a regular basis.

Right now, I am getting ready for Quilt Market, as are many of the other designers. One of the fun things that Quiltmaker does is that they give us a LARGE button just like the picture above to wear at market. It's fun to meet the other designers while walking the floor of the convention center. For those not familiar with what the Quilt Market is, it is a buyer's convention for the industry. Quilt shop owners go to see new fabrics, notions,machines and all of those wonderful things that we quilter need (or not!) and want.  I usually post a few pictures from market on my FB page.
Getting ready for market is usually a very busy time for me. I am blessed to be able to work for a couple of fabric companies, Blank Quilting Fabrics and Timeless Treasures among them. It is crunch time with several projects to complete in a very short time. If quilting burned more calories, I'd be a size 2!

Enjoy the tour and have a blessed day!
Sandi

Short Market report

Hello everyone.  I hope you all get a chance to relax a bit this long weekend, and get in a bit of quilting!

I'm posting a few pictures of quilts from quilt market which was in Kansas City, MO this time. These are quilts I did for Timeless Treasures. First is the Paris quilt. I will be writing a pattern for this next week and as far as I know the fabric will be available soon, too. It's probably not in stores quite yet.

This quilt is from a book and I apologize for not having the name handy. I didn't design it or even pick the colors. I am pleased with how it turned out and the quilting shows up well. The star sections are paper pieced and if you are interested in the book, please comment below and I'll get you the name. I'll post it next week, I want to give the author proper credit. It's a neat book

Quilting close up.

This fabric group is called Ruby. The pattern is written and at the Timeless office for corrections. It will be on their website soon and would also be available, most likely with kits, from quilt shops that bought this particular line of fabric.

Quilt market is a busy, fun and tiring experience. Lots of work before hand making quilts (I did 18 all told), hectic 1-1/2 days of set up and 3 days of selling, shopping and just over dosing on beautiful quilts. I went a little crazy buying thread but I use it all! I stopped at 5 shops on the way to Kansas City and back and I supported the economy a bit in each....


I have several more pictures but I'll save them for future posts. Gives me something to say!

Have a safe, relaxing and delightful Memorial weekend. Remember those who served.
Sandi

Thanks!

Thank you everyone for taking time to check out my blog. I truly appreciate all of your kind comments! Along with my block, I do have a small quilt shown in the magazine that uses 4 'Luck of the Irish' blocks. Quilt Maker chose the block name. Works for me!

As you can see, I'm not a big blogger but I'm trying to be better about posting regularly. I post infrequent enough that they changed the posting format between my posts, ugh. I'm sure you have all experienced the why-can't-they-leave-well-enough-alone? type of thing with on-line sites. The most popular social media site comes to mind......Anyway, I hope I've figured this out. Yesterday I could not, for the life of me, get a handle on putting spaces between what should have been paragraphs, I think I've got it now.

The Little Pine Pin quilt shown is a new pattern coming out soon. If you've checked out my web site, you may have seen the Quilted Jewels Series of patterns, this will be part of the series but it has it's own template, the 1/4 Carat. The template will come with this pattern and more patterns, sold separately, will follow as I get them done. I'm planning 2 more for June release; a table runner and a baby doll quilt. I think a little tote bag/purse pattern (in dupioni silk!) would be fun as well. I'm open to ideas!



Happy Quilting!
Sandi

100 Blocks!

HI Everyone! Sorry, I'm a little late this morning for the blog tour. I've been sewing like crazy getting ready for quilt market!

When I did my block I sent 2 in, the one you see in the magazine and the one here. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture!). Both turned out nice but I think the cream background one that they chose was a bit better. It was fun designing a small quilt to go with the block as well. I've always wanted to do a shamrock block and with a last name like mine, well, this was a great time to do it! I'm going to make a bed size quilt when time allows! I've enjoyed seeing all the blocks since the first magazine came out and what an honor to be in it again! Good luck to all that enter!

http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/

McCall's Quick quilts

HI everyone!

A couple of markets ago, I was in the McCall's quilting magazines booth and one of the ladies there said to another, " oh, you need to meet Sandi, she's one of our designers." I felt like I had 'arrived'. One of THEIR designers, it was cool.

Well, I do have a quilt coming out in the next issue of McCall's Quick Quilts which ships out on the 17th of this month. This is special because it uses my line of fabric. They have named the quilt 'Split Decision', it's a perfect fit. I'll have kits for it my web site if you are interested. It's black and white with touches of green.

After that, I will have a block in the 100 Blocks by 100 Designers magazine which is put out by Quiltmaker magazine, this is also part of the McCall's group. They will be doing a blog tour of all the designers (that wish to) and the designers will be selecting reader that will get a free magazine. The only hitch is that you have to comment on the post. Easy enough.

Also, McCall's asked me to post the following note and link about a contest that looks exciting! Time is short but you never know, some of you may work better under pressure! I can't enter, bummer.

The McCall's Quilt Design Star™ 2012 contest has officially launched and is currently in the qualifying round phase, which continues through April 29, 2012. This year for the first time, the contest has 2 separate tracks for Amateur and Professional Quilt Designers. Don’t let the term Professional scare you…for the purposes of this contest, a pro is anyone who has ever received monetary compensation for an original quilt design. For example, if you’ve made money by self-publishing a pattern, making a quilt for a fabric company, or teaching a class based on your quilt design at a local shop, you’re a pro! Grand prizes this year include a sewing machine (a Pfaff quilt expression™ 4.0 with toolbox in the professional group and a Viking Sapphire™ 875 Quilt in the amateur group) and $500 cash to the winner of each group. Winning quilts will also be featured in McCall’s Quilting magazine.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/contests/Quilt_Design_Star_2012.html

Happy Quilting,
Sandi

HI everyone! Happy Spring! We've been enjoying spring-like weather here in MN for a couple of weeks now. Way above average temps., many temperature records have been broken. It's been lovely!

The spring issues of many magazines are out now or soon will be. Simple quilts is one of them and I have a bed runner pattern in this issue (page 16). I hope to post a picture of the bed runner later, but for now, this is the cover shot so you can look for it in your local quilt shop or where ever you might pick up magazines. I got a copy in Wal-mart yesterday.

The bed runner uses a 2-1/2" pre-cut strip pack from Blank quilting featuring their Inspiration fabrics. These fabrics are teal and white, very light and airy. Also, when fabric is purchased from Blank quilting by the quilt shop, Blank donates to Ovarian cancer research, a win-win for everyone. Kits are available from Millie P's quilt shop (link to the right). I'll post a picture later, my scan was less than wonderful.

Other things that I have up-coming in magazine are: a block in the 100 Blocks spring issue (watch for this and a chance to win the magazine, go to quiltmaker.com and sign up), Belle Fleur (shown below in a previous post) will be in the June issue of Quilt Magazine and kits will be available from Quilt Cove (Link to the right), and lastly, my line of fabric will be in a quilt featured in McCall's Quick Quilts, the June issue I think. I will have kits for the black and white fabrics on my website.

My newest line of fabric is available on my website now. Hit the purchase fabric tab and scroll down to Thngamajigs to see it.

Happy Quilting,
Sandi

Thingamajigs

I haven't totally abandoned my blog, although one might think that..

I have my new line of fabric up on my web site- www.irishchain.com If you'd like to see it click on the purchase fabric tab and scroll down to Thingamajigs...

The quilt posted in the last post will be in the June July issue of 'Quilt' magazine and I also have a block coming out in the Spring issue of 100 blocks by 100 designers. It's a shamrock block. I also submitted a small quilt using the block. I'm not sure if it's going in the mag, but I hope so!
Happy Quilting!

I've been neglecting my blog. It's quilt market time and I've been sewing nonstop.

The quilt pictured is one I've done for Blank Quilting Fabrics. Funny thing is that another designer did a quilt that is the same style; applique medallion center, set on point, border and pieced border. Great minds think alike! Anyway, I'm working on another one in the same fabrics plus a lot(!) more. It's a more contemporary style and uses the Quilted Jewel templates and most likely will become a pattern. I hope to have the top done by Monday so I can get to the quilting. I'll post a picture of that one soon. The quilt done by the other quilter was a different fabric grouping. Hopefully I can get a picture of it at market.

Other market projects include quilts and new table skirts for Timeless Treasures, a 7 foot Tall Pine for Hoffman fabrics and other small projects for TT and Blank.
Pictures to come!
Happy Quilting!

Below is a link to The Quilter Magazine. I have a quilt featured in the Oct./Nov. issue. It's called Madison Garden Squared. The fabric is from Blank Quilting.

http://thequiltermag.com/

I'm adding a new template to the Quilted Jewels series. This will be a diamond shape for cutting a small diamond the same size as piece A. I'll post a picture soon, my first shipment is on it's way.

If you happen to be in Madison, WI next week, check out the Quilt Expo at the Alliant Energy Center- http://wiquiltexpo.com/
I'll be in a booth with my template manufacturer-Sew Craft. Be sure to stop by!

Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

It's finally done! The Tall Pines pattern is ready for sale, at long last. This tree pattern uses the Quilted Jewels Template set.

So far, I've just been using batiks for the trees but I have some fabulous Cherry Wood hand dyed fabrics for a couple more. I enjoy working with the batiks and hand dyeds since I don't need to worry about the right or wrong side as much. I have a tree with a night sky planned and that one will include some crystal for stars.

The really long tree is quilt is 7-1/2 feet tall and the shorter version is 4 feet. I have a place to hang the tall one, if I can just get the hubby to get the ladder out......OK, I need to quilt it first but then he'll be getting out the ladder and hanging it in our split entryway. I guess I should check the wall and make sure it will fit.

The small Christmas tree quilt has those little plastic lights sewn onto it and in the right lighting, they almost look lit. I know there are some out there that are battery powered, I'm going to look for them and when I find a source, I'll post it.

I also did a quilt that was 3 pines in a row with sashing and a border, which would make a great over the sofa quilt. It didn't make the cut for the front cover of the pattern. The four quilts shown are on the pattern cover and hopefully will give enough inspiration to anyone making the pattern.

Happy Quilting!

Below is a link to a fun blog posting that shows how a sewing machine works. Just the thread part but it's worth taking a look at. Copy and paste it to your browser.

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/09/how-a-sewing-machine-works.html

Happy Quilting!

Quilt Market

I'm re-posting a picture. For some odd reason the picture of the quilt for Blank in my last post has disappeared. So here it is again.....let's see what happens this time!

I was going to add another picture from quilt market but Google isn't allowing that at the moment. Go figure!

I was a quilt retreat this weekend and came home early to attend the wedding vow renewal ceremony celebrating the 25th wedding anniversary of some of our dear friends. I did, however, get most of my Tall tree quilts done. Just need to add the corner triangles (this means math!) add borders, quilt and bind. I'll post those pictures when they are completed.
Maybe even later this week!
Happy quilting!

Quilt Mrket

Time to post a couple of pictures from quilt market. The 2 on the top are my quilts in my batting companies booth. Well, not really mine but they supply my batting and use my quilts whenever they do a market. Works great for both of us. The company is Air-Lite manufacturing and they are working on a website. If you'd like info on their products, please email me and I can get you contact info. The main batting I use is 85% cotton/15% poly. Works great, not too thick and has a nice hand.

The third picture is a quilt I did for Blank Quilting fabrics and it will be in the fall issue of Fabric Trends. When I get it back I'll be selling it. A security guard at the convention center liked it so well, he wants to buy it! Can't be that. Heaven knows I have enough quilts in my home already!

It was a great market. I met lots of people and had a couple of nice dinners with groups of people that I didn't really know and I made some good contacts. I also spent way too much $$$ but then, I always do that. I picked up FQ bundles, some Bali Pops from Hoffman and some notions to resell when I go to speak to guilds. So none of it was for me, really!

In the top right picture you can see some pine tree quilts. This will be my new pattern, simply called Tall Trees. It will be out in a couple of weeks, I'm working on an additional quilt this weekend-a 8 foot long version of the tree. I'm hoping to keep it under 24" wide. It will be perfect for the long wall in a split level entry into a home (my hubby is not going to like climbing up there to hang it, hehehe) or any long and narrow space. There will be a table runner, A Christmas tree and the really tall trees in this pattern and this pattern will use the Quilted Jewels Templates.

I better get at it!
Happy Quilting!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! Even if you're not a mom, you probably nurture someone in some way so that counts in my book.

Baby Evelyn was helping me quilt one day a couple of weeks ago. At 14 weeks her little arms aren't quite coordinated enough to grab things and they're too short to touch what shouldn't be touched. However, we won't be quilting together much like this, I loose a bit of coordination holding her and the quilt.

Quilt market is this week. So after church this morning and a stop at the local fabric store for a couple of supplies I'll be back at the machine. I'm almost ready for market. Just one big quilt to quilt (minimal quilting on this one) finish a table skirt and a pair of baby overalls. I'm hoping to do one more quilt for my newest pattern but we'll see how that goes. There is still patterns to print and stuff and quilts to pack and all the little things to do before a trip out of town, like a pedicure which is needed after this long winter

Have a blessed Sunday and happy quilting!

New Quilts

Hello from the sweatshop. OK, It's not that bad but... Have you ever heard that song, "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"? I'm kind of feeling that way right now. The Int'l Quilt Market is just a week and a half away.

So, I thought I'd take a break and show you a few pictures of quilts that I've done for market. These three were done for Timeless Treasures Fabrics (TT) and will be displayed in their booth.

The Floral quilt is a line of fabric called 'Blossom'. This quilt pattern is my design and will be a free download on the Timeless website. It will fit a twin bed.

The Hunter's Star (pink/green batiks) is done from the 10" squares and 2-1/2" strips. Timeless has wonderful batiks, or Tongas, as they call them. This design came from a book and I'm sorry I can't remember the name at the moment but I'll post it later. I sent the book back to TT when I finished the quilt.

The Twister quilt is in flannel (green and beige) and it is done with templates, It's fairly easy. The templates are just called Twister and Lil' Twister from Country Schoolhouse I'm sure you can get them at your local quilt shop. There is also a book (a pattern comes with the templates).

I still have 2 quilts to make, one for TT and one for Blank Quilting. Na d a few garments and I need to finish up a couple of my quilts! I'm working on a pine tree pattern using my Quilted Jewels template set. I'll be posing pictures soon and the pattern will be available by the end of May (hopefully!).

Quilt Market is a trade show for shop owners to see new products, fabrics and gadgets. It's a little slice of heaven for quilters. After market I'll post pictures so that you can see what the Quilt Market is like if you're not familiar with it.

Happy Quilting!

The studio

You know those lovely books with the fabulous pictures of sewing studios of the stars? Yeah, me, too. I thought I'd post some reality for how the rest of us live!

The first two pictures are the area where I do my sewing and goofing off, er, writing on the computer (click on them to enlarge). It's pretty tidy by my normal standards. In the first picture you can see my cutting table. It's usually piled much higher with whatever and a space is cleared when I need to cut. I'm sure none of you ever do this! The bench is an old tool makers bench my husband bought from where he works before we got married. I sanded and painted it black. It's oak and weighs a ton, if we ever move I don't know what will happen to it as we had to take out both patio doors to get it into the room. You can also see a buffet that my hubby refinished, it has my quilting books and some fabric in it. He also refinished the drawer units from old treadle sewing machines that are sitting on top of the buffet at each end. On the wall, by the patio door, is an old medicine cabinet that holds thread.

The other room is where I quilt. We recently put in 'new' carpet which came from my sisters bedroom in her home when they re carpeted. This is also a 'shop' room that has a door into the garage. We didn't want to spend lots of money on carpet since there is lots of heavy traffic, i.e. dirty shoes, dog, etc., coming into this area. New shelving, bins, baskets and a valance on the window made the room look much more homey than it did before. I quilt on big George (an APQS George machine) in the back and do my bindings on little George (Brother PQ1500) in the front. Oh, I name may sewing machines, by the way.

The shelving unit was about $40 (Lowe's) and the bins were $4 to $8 (Walmart) each so it was pretty reasonable to put together. My hubby bought it as a Christmas gift. It was more for him since he really doesn't like the clutter of my sewing stuff but I'm way ok with that.

The black and gold tool box on the right side of the table is from Plano and my kids bought it for me at a local big box hardware store. It's perfect for taking my Featherweight to a class. the Machine fits in the bottom, sewing supplies in the top and it was only $35, or so.
My hubby also has a tool bench in this room.

One thing I'd like to add is more lighting to my rooms. I have some day-light type bulbs but let's face it, they aren't very bright. I'm going to add a couple more lamps.

OK, you might be wondering about my fabric stash. Well, you'll notice the crock in picture 2, there is fabric in it. We have several of those that contain fabric, I have a linen closet full and three other big plastic totes (a couple are in the garage) and several small ones with various collections. Maybe when my son moves out I'll be able to take over his room and have it all in one place!

Lastly, I have one of those flannel design walls that are collapsible and fit into a tote bag. I really don't use it much but when I need it, it's pretty handy.

I hope that my sewing studio pictures have given you some ideas for your own space. If you have any great ideas for storage, please share them!
Happy Quilting!

New pattern

Just a note to let you all know the Quilted Jewel tote bag pattern is now up on the web site. Click on patterns at the top of the page. The Quilted Jewel patterns are on the right side, just scroll down.

I'm headed off to a quilt retreat on Sunday and it goes to Wednesday. This is at the Lake Wappogasset Bible camp in Amery, WI. Camp Wapo is a Lutheran Bible camp set between 2 lakes, just wonderful! Great views and a huge sewing area (or scrap booking, or....). They have, of course, many Bible camps but they also rent out the facilities to other groups. My local guild has had 8 retreats there over the years and I'm going to one put on by the camp itself. Nice group of ladies and all so welcoming! I didn't know any of them before I went last spring. They must have liked me, asked me to come back for the fall retreat. Quilters are the best.

I'm hoping to accomplish a lot while there, mainly the piecing and design of the new pine tree quilt using the template set. I always have lots of packing before a retreat. Don't we always need to take at least 1/2 the sewing room? Oh, and way more projects than we can possibly get done. Since it's during the workweek, I need to take the lap top (thank goodness for wifi) and cell phone. On the up-side, no cooking or laundry!

So, tell me, when you go on a quilt retreat what are your 'must haves'? I take my chair and a lamp (maybe 2 this time). I go overboard on taking thread. I just have to have the right color! I also have it to share for others that aren't threadaholics like me.
Happy quilting!