New Winner of Freshly Pieced Give-a-way

I haven’t heard from our first random winner for the Freshly Pieced give-a-way. A week has passed since I announced it on my blog, and in the reply box of the original post.

We picked a new winner;


Lucky number 11; Heather Gunter. I sent you an e-mail. Please e-mail me at acbeier71@gmail.com with your mailing address and  the name of the pattern from Lee’s shop that you would like. If you’d prefer a digital pattern, let us know, and Lee will e-mail that to you. Enjoy!!
Happy Quilting!!


WIP Wednesdays and a Give-a-Way

Short post today. I finished the back and made the binding for my jelly roll race quilt. I will not put on the binding until it is machine quilted. Thanks to all who responded to my question. I wonder why that is the way we were taught all those years ago? 

This photo is not my favorite. When this quilt is finished, it will look a lot prettier. I did audition this when I purchased the fabric for the back, which is the dark blue batik on the right side of the photo. It is sewn together. The white batik strip going diagonally across will be the binding. And to the left which you’ve seen finished is the top – a jelly roll race pattern made with Timeless Treasure Batiks – Watermelon.



Below is the finished top.




Linking up with WIP Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced.

My last post is a wonderful interview with Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced, who hosts WIP Wednesdays.  Lee has generously offered to give-a-way a pattern of the winner’s choice. In order to win, please leave a comment in my comment box, telling us which is your favorite pattern from Lee’s shop. The winner will be announced after 5:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 18. So you have until then to enter this give-a-way. Please let me know how I can reach you if you are a no-reply responder, in case you are the winner.

Also, don’t forget to stop by and visit The New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop. You will meet some inspirational new quilters and bloggers. 


 Blog Hop Week 1 – June 15th
  Blog Hop Week 2 – June 22nd
 Blog Hop Week 3 – July 13th
 Blog Hop Week 4 – July 20th


Happy Quilting!!

An Interview Lee Heinrich – Designer, Author and Blogger of Freshly Pieced

I have always enjoyed Lee Heinrich’s blog Freshly Pieced, and participating in WIP Wednesdays. I finally had a chance to catch up with her and am really excited to share our interview with you, and a give-a-way too. 

We are celebrating my belated 2nd Blogaversary, which was on June 6th. We both tried to have this posted on June 6th. And in all fairness, we both were busy with family matters. Lee was busy with her family visiting from out of town, and her kids were finishing up with school. 


My husband and I were awaiting our third grandchild, who was 8 days late, and finally arrived on Monday, June 9th. Then we ran up to Boston for 24 hours to meet Nolan, our new grandson. I will save that story for another post, because this is post is about Lee. 


We both know how busy quilt bloggers and quilters are, and the point is that no one is immune to changes in schedules. We just do our best to handle them gracefully. 


So it is an honor for me to interview Lee. Her blog was one of the first few blogs I started to follow two years ago. I learned so much from her, and finally got to say “hello” in person at QuiltCon this past February. 

Anne : Where did you grow-up? 

Lee: Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Anne: Where did you go to school, college, post-graduate? And what is your design background?

Lee: I got my degree in journalism from Michigan State University (go Green!) I logged in a few years as a reporter/editor/publishing-jack-of- all-trades before realizing that my design-related duties were what I really enjoyed the most. So I taught myself Photoshop and Illustrator and transitioned over to the graphic design side of things, full-time. 



Anne: Tell us what you want to share about your family now, and how motherhood has affected your quilting and designs. 

Lee: I live with my husband and two daughters, who are 8 and 6. I guess I would say motherhood is the whole reason I started quilting—when I quit working to stay home with my daughter, I needed a hobby, and quilting was perfect. 

Anne: When you were growing up did you sew/quilt? Did you have any influences, such as a Grandmother, Aunt, Mother, friends, etc.? If so, how did that grow and evolve.  


Lee: I did not sew or quilt at all when I was growing up! My mom sewed things like curtains for our house, Halloween costumes, etc., but I had zero interest in it at the time. However, I did have a quilt on my bed while I was growing up that was made by my great- grandmother. I wasn’t a great sleeper when I was a kid, so I remember spending a lot of time lying in bed staring at that quilt, for lack of anything better to do while I wasn’t sleeping. LOL. I remember trying to decide what my favorite prints were in that quilt. So who knows, that may have subconsciously influenced me! 


Anne: Tell us about your design process. Do you choose to work with certain color palettes? If so, how do you decide which ones you will work with? Would you discuss your style, and some of the fabric collections which are your favorites?


Lee: People ask me this question a lot, and it’s so hard to answer! Sometimes I start with a certain color palette (usually something I found online), sometimes I start with certain fabric, and sometimes I start with a design and then plug colors/fabrics into that. I guess it depends on which of those elements is inspiring me at the moment. I love any fabric by Alison Glass, Carolyn FriedlanderViolet Craft, Cotton+Steel, and much more! 

Anne: Describe your sense of style. If it has changed or evolved over time, please expand upon that. If you can discuss and share your next projects, that would be great. 


Lee: Hmm. That’s a good question. Honestly, I think writing Vintage Quilt Revivial, 




with Faith and Katie was a big turning point for my style. I always loved taking traditional blocks and making them “modern,” but I think coming up with great designs for the book forced me to get more creative with the overall layouts of the quilts than I had been before. 

And working with Faith and Katie inspired me in a way that I couldn’t have been if I had written the book alone! The three of us are hoping to collaborate on another project in the future, although I don’t know if it will be a book or something else. 


Above, Sugar Snow, from, Vintage Quilt Revival; 22 Modern Designs from Classic Blocks

Anne: What influences you when you design and create quilts and other sewing projects? Physical, written, scenery, spiritual, elements, etc.? 


Lee: Anything and everything! I’m constantly on the lookout for any kind of geometric repeating pattern. You can find them anywhere if you look! 

Anne: What design elements are your favorites or signature elements? Are there certain; colors, shapes, prints, fabrics, or embellishments you tend to like and use most? 

Lee: Well, I’m guessing there aren’t many quilts of mine that don’t have aqua in them somewhere : ) I also loooooove a good color-gradient quilt (my Terrazzo and Sparkler patterns are two examples of that). In fact, recently I had to resist the urge to do yet another color gradient quilt. I don’t want to return to that well too many times. LOL. 


Above, Terrazzo 



Above, Wavelength 

Anne: Describe a typical day for you at your studio, if there is one. 

Lee: Like you said, there is no typical day! And with my kids starting summer vacation next week, there will definitely be no typical day for several months! Honestly, just sitting down to sew is often my biggest challenge. It seems like there are so many immediate tasks that are just the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business. Between that and all my mom duties, I have to be very protective of my sewing time. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t! 


Anne: What fabrics are your favorites to work with and why? 


Lee: I gravitate pretty strongly toward tonal prints and blenders, because I think those have the most graphic impact in a finished quilt. For me it’s all about the overall look of the completed quilt, rather than the individual fabrics! 


Anne: What artists, architects, designers, etc., (not in our industry), have influenced you? 


Lee: I can’t really point to any specific influences, but I love design in all its forms and I’m constantly looking at interior design and graphic design websites, so I’m sure what I see makes its way into my quilts in some form or another.


Above, Moroccan Lanterns 


Above, Fair Isle 


Anne: What other hobbies/guilty pleasures do you have?” 


Lee: I bought a power miter saw to work on a few small projects for my quilt market booth, and it’s gotten me very interested in woodworking! I wouldn’t call it a new hobby yet, but I’m hoping to try a few small projects soon! Guilty pleasures: Reality TV and Candy Crush. : ) 

Anne: Do you find that it is mostly the more modern/contemporary quilters and sewers purchasing your book, or participating in WIP Wednesdays, or are you crossing that divide into ‘traditional’ fabric buyers and quilters as well?  

Lee: It was definitely a goal of ours for Vintage Quilt Revival to be appealing to both modern and traditional quilters alike. We believe that both groups can learn a lot from the other! I’ve spoken at many traditional quilt guilds in my area, and I am constantly impressed at how willing most of those ladies are to consider new styles of quilting. I think most people out there just sew what they want and aren’t too concerned with labels. And that’s how it should be. 


Anne: Is there something you can share with us that you made, that you are most proud of? Please tell us about it. Do you have a photo? 


Lee: Wow, tough question to pick just one thing! I think my projects for Vintage Quilt Revival, collectively, would have to be what I’m most proud of, simply because I think that was a period of real creativity for me. 




From the top – Spin it Again Quilt, from p. 86 of Vintage Quilt Revival

Middle quilt – Diamond Tread – Click here to see this quilt on Lee’s blog. 

Bottom quilt – Make the Sugar Snow Quilt, from p.66 of Vintage Quilt Revival

Anne: What do you see for the future of Modern Quilting in fabrics, fabric and quilt designs, and “just” the quilting? Are you working on another book? Please share what you can. 

Lee: I’ve learned a long time ago not to try to predict 🙂 But I think the future of Modern Quilting is exciting, and the industry, to keep bringing exciting new things to quilters. 



Thank you so much, Lee, for sharing your time with us. Your quilts are so original and fresh, (LOL), but I’ve always thought of them that way, even before the book came out. And thank you for sharing a bit of your life with everyone. It is true generosity of spirit, and that’s what my grandma Lo would say, when people do that with you. 

And Lee has generously offered a give-a-way today; a free pattern of the winner’s choice. Please leave a comment in my comment box, and tell us which one is your favorite pattern from Lee’s shop. The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 18. Please make sure I have your e-mail address, if you are a no-reply blogger. 


Please check out the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.  You will discover some wonderful new quilters and new quilt bloggers. 




I read every post, and reply by directly by e-mail. Happy Quilting!!

1930’s Top Finished and Reader Appreciation Give-a-Way

I would have thought this top would be finished a week ago. All that was left was to sew on the borders. But I encountered some unexpected challenges with them. Right now I just want to enjoy the moment of the finish.


Close-up of the middle section – the blocks.




About a year ago, this quilt was not working for me visually. I had used some fabrics from a jelly roll that had a lot of neutrals in it. To me, it looked entirely too drab. Fortunately, I had not yet sewn the 100+ blocks together.   I laid it out, and went back and forth about re-doing 75& of the blocks. 

In the end, I decided to re-do almost 95% of the blocks to make it really “pop” with color. And now it does. It is also smaller – 82 1/2 X 77 1/2.
I used Chloe Closet 1930’s reproduction fabrics, by Moda, and Moda Bella Solids. Some fabrics came from my stash too.

While adding the borders and also trying to use my scraps and leftovers, I really had to take the time to audition the fabrics. I learned in a class I recently took; to carefully look at the seam and examine how those colors and patterns work together. The objective is to create a contrast. That ended up to be the key to making this, a better looking quilt the second time around. An invaluable tip.



So to continue on the contrast theme, I decided to go 180 degrees and will use a black and white fabric for the backing. The backing fabric is by Windham Fabrics.



I love this purple lilac fabric, which came from my stash. (The selvage edges are cut off, so I don’t know what fabric company printed it). I used a little in a few of the squares on the front. 

Next stop….the basting table.

To thank my readers, and those who have encouraged me through my re-do, I am having a give-a-way. A chocolate give-a-way from Chocolations. This Sunday, Maria and her shop received a lovely write up in the New York Times.

Please leave a comment in the comment box and tell me about your favorite quilt that you have made.    

Or, tell me your favorite part about spring. 

Or just tell me what you are working on.

Or what your favorite color is.

I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 14 on this blog. This give-a-way ends at 12:00 PM on April 14. Please make sure to leave an e-mail address. 

Most of all, I want you to know how much I appreciate your sticking with me through this re-do. And the photos had to be a bit repetitive at times. It took me away from discovering new quilting information and other projects in the works, which I enjoy sharing with you.

I am linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Modern Pieced.

Happy Quilting!!

The Sewing Party and a 3 Give-a-Ways

I just received my ticket for The Sewing Party, on November 8th, and I am looking over the list of classes and teachers such as; Amy Gibson from Stitcherydickorydock, Jennifer Mathis from Ellison Lane, Carrie Bloomston from Such-DesignsRob Appell to name a few.

I have earmarked quite a few classes that I’m looking forward to.

Pretty Pouch: Don’t Fear The Zipper with Jennifer Mathias.

The Little Spark – Get to Know Your Creative Process and Rev-up Your Creativity with Carrie Bloomston.

Strips and Bricks Quilts with Malka Dubrawsky.

Machine Embroidery Basics – Mechanics Behind the Art with Lisa Shaw.

Designing Textile Basics; Fabric Baptism with Melissa Watson.

Understanding Color from the Inside Out with Carrie Bloomston.

Building your Skills: 6 Essential Sewing Skills with Devon Lott.

Rob and the Zen of Machine Quilting  with Rob Appell.

These are interactive classes, and although some are happening in the same time slots, I’ll have 90 days to check out the classes I missed. This is a great deal for only $40. There will be prizes and give-a-ways throughout the day. Now that’s a great sewing party!!

To Register, Click here!!

I have three tickets for the this event to give-a-way, each with a tee-shirt.
In order to win, please leave a comment in my comment box, and tell me who is your favorite teacher, and which is the class you are most looking forward to taking. I will announce the winners on this blog in the morning on Thursday, November 6th.

I can’t wait to see you in class. 

Quilts and Color Exhibition at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

This past weekend we had a great time visiting family in Boston. We also made a trip on Saturday afternoon to The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see the Quilts and Color Exhibition, The Pilgrim/Roy Quilt Collection,
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/quilts-and-color

Does the word “Wow” describe the collection?  You bet it does. 

Artists, Paul Pilgrim and Gerald Roy collected 59 quilts that were made from the per-revolutionary war period to the early 1900’s. The focus of the exhibit was on the use of color, variations, values, color vibrations and how this body of work parallels the “work of mid-20th century Abstract Expressionist and Op Artists.” (Quote from the web site), http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/quilts-and-color  There were many fascinating references to the color wheel throughout the exhibit in the I.D. labels below the quilts.

This basket quilt was made with cotton silk fabric.
 

When I looked at it from different angles, some of the white squares took on a gray sheen. This illusion is from how the light hits the silky fabric, and from wherever the viewer is looking at it. Pretty cool, huh?

The red star in the quilt below seems to vibrate, when the viewer looks at it.

 

The Carpenter’s Wheel Quilt, below;

This quilt uses yellow, green and red fabric all of the same value.

Simple use of primary and secondary colors were used in many of the quilts in the exhibit that are beautiful and inspiring.

In my post http://www.hudsonvalleyquilts.com/2014/06/welcome-to-new-bloggers-blog-hop-2014.html   Welcome to the New Blogger’s Blog Hop -2014, I discussed two of my favorite quilting tips. One of them was; a mistake is not a mistake. It is an opportunity to learn something new and be creative. 

The quilter who made the quilt below did not seem to be concerned when her flying geese triangles did not match up perfectly.

Nor did the quilter below seem to worry when she ran out of fabric. In the quilt below see the border. The green strip that is fourth from the bottom uses two different greens. The quilter made it work. Another strip of closely colored fabric was added. These “imperfections or mistakes” that we often attribute to our own quilts today, actually adds that unexpected detail. The result makes each of these pieces more interesting, and provides them with character. 

At first I thought maybe it was a mistake on purpose. Many quilters back then, and some still do today, make a mistake on purpose for religious or spiritual reasons. I have no idea if that is the case with any of the quilts in this collection. And I don’t why I think that is not the case with quilt above.

Resources were just not as abundant to quilters then, as they are today. I
thought a lot about that as I was looking at the dates of when these quilts were made. Our foremothers made do.

There was another big detail missing that I noticed in a few of the quilts; something I’ve never seen before. Some left off the top border. Why we thought?  We assumed it was because that top went under the pillow, when the bed was made, and it didn’t show, making it unnecessary. If you have any hypotheses about that, please share in the comments box.

The exhibit runs through July 27, 2014. I don’t think you will  be disappointed in this show at all. It’s a lot to take in, and I was inclined to go back and view it again, but there wasn’t enough time.

On a completely different note, there is still time to enter the give-a-way for a $25 gift certificate, from Fort Worth Fabric Studio in honor of my first blogaversary.

In order to win, sign-up for the Fort Worth Fabric Studio’s newsletter. Please leave a comment in my comments box, letting us know that you signed up for it, and tell us what is your favorite bundle from their web site.

I will announce the winner in the morning, on Wednesday, June 11th on my blog. Also, please make sure you include your e-mail address, so I can contact the winner directly.

AND, don’t forget to stop by Plum and June’s New Quilt Blogger’s Blog Hop http://plumandjune.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-new-quilt-blogger-blog-hop-and.htm The button is on my side bar.

Happy Quilting!!

First Year Blogaversary and a Give-a-Way

The year has flown by so fast. It’s hard to believe it’s my one year blogaversary today, June 6th, 2014.

I have learned so much from so many quilters and bloggers. I have made many online friendships and feel apart of an incredible community who have so much generosity of spirit. Thank you so much!!

To celebrate this occasion, Forth Worth Fabric Studio http://www.fortworthfabricstudio.com/ has offered a $25 gift certificate for me to give-a-way to one lucky winner.

 

In order to win, sign-up for Forth Worth’s Fabric Studio’s newsletter. Please leave a comment in my comments box,letting us know that you signed up for it,and tell us what is your favorite bundle from their web site. 

I will announce the winner in the morning, on Wednesday, June 11th on my blog. Also, please make sure you include your e-mail address, so I can contact the winner directly.

And don’t forget to stop by Plum and June’s New Quilt Blogger’s Blog Hop http://plumandjune.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-new-quilt-blogger-blog-hop-and.htm The button is on my side bar and below. 

I posted as a part of the blog hop on Thursday, June 4th, see http://www.hudsonvalleyquilts.com/2014/06/welcome-to-new-bloggers-blog-hop-2014.html

Thanks to Plum and June for organizing this amazing hop. Please check out the blogs of the other amazing quilt bloggers participating in this event.


Afton @ Quilting Mod
Barbara @ Suzy Homemaker
Rebecca @ One Wee Bird

I will be posting the lists of bloggers participating in this blog hop through July, so stay tuned!!

And thanks again to Jodie at Fort Worth Fabric Studios for making the blogaversary celebration even sweeter!!




Happy Quilting and have a great weekend.


A Visit with Pam and Nicky Lintott, owners of The Quilt Room in the UK and a Fabulous Give-a-Way

I am a huge fan of Pam and Nicky Lintott’s. Their creative work and patterns, published in their beautiful books are what inspired me to purchase a few for myself. They’ve published at least 15 quilting books, and have sold over 350,000. Before I looked at their books, I never worked with jelly rolls, charm packs, dessert rolls, or any pre-cuts, for that matter, except fat quarters. 

Not all of them are based on pre-cuts. Their newest one is, Quick Quilts with Rulers; 18 Easy Quilt Patterns, (see photo below), and was released in March, 2014.

This very successful mother-daughter team own an amazing shop; The Quilt Room, in Dorking, Surrey. I’ve promised myself I will visit there by next summer.

They have been in business for over 33 years. Pam began the shop when Nicky was only three,and they just keep going. The story and history of the shop is on their website. It is charming; http://www.quiltroom.co.uk/

I wanted to dig further, and get to know them better. Why? Because they are actually my heros. They pushed me out of my comfort zone when I discovered their books.

I want to introduce Pam and Nicky Lintott, who generously offered to do this interview.


Anne:  How did each of you become interested in quilting?

Pam:
When Nick (my husband) and I were sailing around the Mediterranean before having children, there were many days when there was nothing more important to do than lounge around in the sunshine. I used to spend time sewing English paper pieced hexagons on deck which people thought very strange! When children arrived and we moved back to the UK I started machine piecing log cabin quilts – certainly a lot faster than hand sewn hexagons. Log Cabin variations are still a favourite of mine and our pattern Log Cabin Hidden Stars, which appeared in our first book, Jelly Roll Quilts is one of our best-selling patterns. 


Nicky:  As mum has been running the business for over thirty-three years, quilting and patchwork has always been part of my life.  I remember sewing scraps of fabric together when I was very small and ‘helping’ in the shop.  I didn’t actually make my first quilt until in my early twenties but have made lots since.

Anne:  Why did Pam decide to open a quilt shop?


Pam:
When we returned to England and children arrived Nick opened a bookshop in a gorgeous old building in Dorking which dates from 1450. There was the most beautiful room upstairs with lots of exposed beams which really lent itself to hanging quilts. The Quilt Room opened in 1981 and little did I realise The Quilt Room would still be running 33 years later and I would be working alongside my daughter.

Anne:  Why did Nicky decide to join the business?

Nicky:
It just sort of happened.  I was a pediatric staff nurse for quite a few years and then worked abroad for a little while.  When I returned, I had the choice of continuing with my nursing or starting something new working with mum. I chose the quilting industry and never looked back!

Anne:  What’s it like to run a mother daughter quilt shop?

Pam:
  Working with your daughter is any mother’s dream. I consider myself extremely lucky. Nicky came into the business with lots of enthusiasm and different ideas and The Quilt Room can only benefit from that. 


Nicky: It’s nice as although we both have quite different ideas and tastes in fabrics and styles. It makes for an eclectic collection in our shop and quite often having different ideas and tastes makes you step out of your comfort zone which is always a good thing.

Anne:  What do you both like best and least about it?

Pam:
  There is not a lot I don’t like – except of course paperwork but everyone hates that! When new fabrics arrive it still feels like Christmas to me – I never tire of new fabric. Ideas for new quilt designs are always in my head and when new fabric arrives it is great to try out new ideas. 


Nicky:  The thing I like the best and least are the same thing; you don’t switch off.  You are constantly thinking about what to do next which is great but sometimes makes it hard to get a break!

Anne:  Do you prefer to use pre-cuts or regular fabric, and why?

Pam:
  I enjoy the mathematical constraints when you are working with jelly rolls or other pre-cuts. It sounds silly but it seems too easy to work on a quilt pattern when you could have endless fabric. I like knowing I have to make a gorgeous quilt with only 40 strips of fabric or 40 squares. At the moment I have it in my head to make quilts using eight fat eighths. Don’t ask me why but I’m enjoying myself and have some great little quilt patterns piling up.


Nicky:
  Both really. We have written many books on jelly rolls so they obviously feature a lot in what we use.  However, our latest book contains quilt patterns not made from pre-cuts but just regular fabric. 

Anne:  Describe the one quilt you are both most proud of making?
 

Pam:  That’s difficult as I have a few favourites. I think I will say Starlight Express from our first book, as Lone Star was always a design, I had avoided and to make it from one jelly roll was quite an accomplishment. Also we worked out how to piece it without any Y seams, so yes it was a good pattern.


Nicky: Probably the quilt I am most proud of making is Stepping Stones. This was made from a black and white jelly roll, and I mixed a few fat quarters of deep purple in it. This was the first quilt we made using our black and white jelly roll and I don’t think anyone was expecting it to end up looking as striking or as good as it did.  I made it over six years ago and we still have it in the shop. It still helps sell lots of those black and white jelly rolls.











Anne:  Everyone seems to have a least favorite, and favorite part of the quilting process. Tell us about yours.
 

Pam: That is easy – choosing the fabrics, especially if it is a jelly roll quilt. When you choose a jelly roll to use, you are never quite sure how the quilt is going to look. People often say they discard a strip of fabric they don’t like but I don’t allow myself to do that. Even if there is a strip I’m not sure about, I make sure I use it – and it is quite incredible that when the quilt is finished, it is often that strip which looks just perfect.

Nicky:  My favourite part is seeing the quilt really come together.  It’s one thing choosing the fabrics, but to actually see it all sewn together, and how it actually looks is my favourite part.  That and the longarm quilting of the quilt.

Anne:  What made you decide to publish quilting and sewing books?

Pam:  It was love at first sight with jelly rolls and we made lots of quilts and started a Strip Club at the shop. When we were approached by David & Charles for ideas for a book we already had half the quilts in the book made.


Anne:  What quilt books can we expect to see in the future?

Pam: Our new book Quick Quilts with Rulers is slightly different from our jelly roll quilt books. In our jelly roll quilts we try not to use too many specialist rulers, but in this book we have shown just what can be accomplished with specialist rulers.


Nicky:  Certainly at the moment we are heading towards more contemporary and modern looking quilts, both in the making of the quilts and fabrics, but also in our longarm quilting of the quilts.

Anne:  Do each of you have a favorite type of quilt you like to make and why? For example modern, traditional, Amish, etc.

Pam:  I suppose I am always going to love traditional quilts, but I am leaning towards the more modern designs – probably Nicky’s influence.


Nicky: Maybe it’s lack of time with a small child but I like quick and easy quilts using clever techniques. 

Anne:  When will you be coming back to the U.S. for a market or a festival?

Nicky: We usually go to Quilt Market once a year and, over the last couple of years we have come not only to buy fabrics, but as wholesalers too, as we now wholesale patterns. We hope to come to Houston either this fall or the next.

Anne: What do you see in the near future in the quilting world?

Nicky: Fabric collections certainly in recent years have a brighter look and we are certainly seeing more orange/tangerine colours in collections.  I think in general, quilters are also becoming much more knowledgeable using rulers and other quilting gadgets, perhaps with the huge resource of information that can be found online.  I also think the modern movement of quilts is very exciting. Quilting is like fashion; fabrics and trends go in cycles so there is always something innovative on the horizon. There is never a dull moment!

I really enjoyed doing this interview with you both, and can’t thank you enough. I can’t wait to see the new book and try out some of the patterns.

One very lucky winner will win a copy of Pam and Nicky’s new book, Quick Quilts with Rulers; 18 Easy Quilt Patterns.


All you need to do is leave a comment in my box, telling us what is your favorite pre-cut to work with, and why. If you prefer to work with rulers, tell us which one is your favorite and why. 

Please leave your e-mail address in the comment box, so I can contact you. I will be leaving the name of the winner on this blog, on Friday morning.  This give-a-way will end at 12:01 AM on Friday, April, 25th.

Thank you again to Pam and Nicky Lintott, and good luck to those entering the give-a-way.


The Roxette Thimble and a Give-a-Way from Colonial Needle

Earlier this week I had a chance to visit with Tom and Jim Collingham at Colonial Needle in White Plains, New York. They showed me their new quilting and sewing thimble, the Roxette, which comes in five playful colors.
 

Each color represents a different size; purple – extra small 4 1/2, pink – small 5, yellow – medium 5 1/2, green – large 6, and blue – extra large 6 1/2. Which colors are the most popular? If you guessed yellow and green, you would be correct, because they represent the most common sizes.


THIMBLE SIZING CHEAT SHEET
MEASUREMENTS – INSIDE RIM
DIAMETER
MM
19
18.5
18
17.5
17
16.5
16
15.5
15
14.5
14
13.5
13
12.5
12
11.5
INCHES
12/16
12/16
12/16
11/16
11/16
11/16
11/16
10/16
10/6
10/6
9/16
9/16
8/16
8/16
7/16
7/16

 

CIRCUMFERENCE MM

60
58
57
55
53
52
50
49
47
46
44
42
41
40
38
36

 

INCHES

2 6/16
2 5/16
2 4/16
2 3/16
2 1/16
1 15/16
1 15/16
1 13/16
1 13/16
1 12/16
1 11/16
1 11/16
1 10/16
1 9/16
1 8/16
1 7/16
CORRESPONDING SIZES
Roxanne
10
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5
7
6.5
6
5.5
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
Roxette
XL
L
M
S
XS
Raised Edge
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
6
5
4
Magnet Top
L
M
S
S/XS
Ladyfingers
XL
L
M
S
P
Crimp Top,
Dome Top &
Quilting
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4

 

Colonial

(nickel plated)
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
6
5
4
Simons Bros – Sterling
15
14
13
12
11/10
9
8
7
6
7
PONY
12
10
8
6
3
MEASURING THE CIRCUMFERENCE
Measure in metric or inches, but metric is more accurate.
TRADITIONAL THIMBLES
1. Wrap a narrow 1/8” strip of adhesive tape or paper around the first knuckle.
2. Place a mark where the end rests against the wrapped strip.
3. Remove the tape or paper strip from finger and measure its length from the end of the strip to the marked point. Repeat this process a few times until you are consistently getting the same measurement.
4. Select the corresponding size closest to your measurement.
ROXANNE & ROXETTE THIMBLES
1. Wrap a narrow 1/8” strip of adhesive tape or paper around the midpoint between the first knuckle and the nail bed.
2. Place a mark where the end rests against the wrapped strip.
3. Remove the tape or paper strip from your finger and measure its length from the end of the strip to the marked point. Repeat this process a few times until you are consistently getting the same measurement.
4. Select the corresponding size. If your measurement is between two sizes, select the smaller size.
QUILTER’S NOTE 
Fingers shrink after quilting awhile, so buy SNUG fitting thimbles
4/9/2014
4/44/

These colorful, new zinc electro-plated thimbles sell for $19.95. The advantage to using the Roxette, is that it is so much lighter, and it never seems to fall off my finger. My raised edge thimble feels much heavier, which I’ve been using for 20 years. Even though it’s the right size, it often falls off while I’m sewing, which interrupts the rhythm that hand quilters count on and enjoy.

Do you notice the grooves, that keep going over the finger tip area until the lip? Those grooves work in the same way as the top of the raised edge.










The open back pleasantly accommodates long finger nails.

As I mentioned, I have used a raised edge thimble for hand quilting. Generally, I don’t use a thimble for regular sewing, but I know many sewers that do. I used it while hand quilting, and I have to say it is lighter and easier to use than my raised edge thimble. You know how we can all be reluctant to change? Now I’m a convert.


 

Roxanne and her daughter, Deirdra McElroy sold the Roxanne product line to Colonial Needle about 5 years ago. Through a correlative effort between Ms. McElroy and Colonial Needle, the development of this new thimble was invented. In marketing jargon, it’s a line extension from their more expensive line of thimbles, that run from $60-$130. They come in gold, sterling silver, silver plated and bronze.

 


 

The Roxette and the silver and gold thimbles can be found at local, independent quilt shops. 











 

This lovely give-a-way basket, courtesy of Colonial Needle, will go to one very lucky winner. Please leave a comment in my comment box telling us; when purchasing a thimble, how do you pick a size, when you can’t physically try the thimble on? If you don’t use a thimble tells us what your favorite notion is.


This give-a-way ends on Wednesday, April 16 at 12:01 AM. I will announce the winner later that day on my blog. Please leave me your e-mail address, so I can contact the winner.

Happy Sewing!!