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!