T, P and M

Using today, a snowy, wet, confusing day
as inspiration....

Texture, Pattern, and Movement

Play day number two.



How can you include texture



pattern,

and movement?

****

Pattern you can practically feel,

texture that confuses,

or movement that stops you dead center.

These thoughts crowd my brain today...


Time for another play day...

Perhaps with Layers?
Quilting?
Embellishments?

Soft color?

Loud color?

What if you throw it all into the pot?

Take a chance.

Explore.

create.

MAKE ANYTHING.


And perhaps stay in doors like Erin is in her block
for the BASICS home gather!
thanks Erin!

Erin's visit!

Erin (my patchwork life) came by today with her two, with her two handsome your boys!

We've been friends online for ages, and finally got to meet face to face...

 A great way to end the week!  She's been collecting blocks to make donation quilts as well, and she very kindly dropped off a quilt for BumbleBeansBASICS.  I will find this quilt a home on Monday when I visit Powers Shelter on Monday!

So many beautiful quilts coming in, and I want to say A HUGE THANK YOU 

to all of you for contributing.  You are doing a great work,and your kindness and generosity is so greatly appreciated!

Speaking of generous quilters! Here are the SANTA blocks so far!  A few more came in this week, from Kate R, Stephanie S, Elizabeth M! THANK YOU!!!!
If you still have a block, you have time til Thanksgiving, when I return home, I will be putting this beauty together!
THANKS!!!

I'm off to pick up my Mother at the airport... ;-) She'll be doggie sitting for us... The grand-dogggies!

After Dark Party

The Quilt Alliance After Dark party was great fun! My home was filled with QUILT LOVERS and a few straggling along husbands... ;-) including my own! LOL!  He was happy though, someone bought his book at the day silent auction event!   

 Hoodie Crescent, Myself and Yolanda Fundura

Kim H, Teri Lucas and pal, Cathy Johnston

It was a real treat to meet Karla from Cherrywood Fabrics. She came along with her friend and coworker Erin. The three of us Minnesota gals had a lot to chat about...LOVE their Fabrics...

We did some 15 minute play with pre-cut shapes at the party! People were asked to design blocks in my studio and leave them on my design wall, Here's a smattering of them! I love how some are traditional looking and most of them are very liberated! So fun! I will be putting these all together into one quilt for a Quilt Alliance auction. What fun to puzzle these together! more pics at 15minutes play

(yes, those are my SHOES on the sewing table... best there then on my feet... Long day! hehe)

7 of our board members for the Quilt Alliance, also made contest quilts and we auctioned them off that night.  I'm very happy to say that I bought Allie Aller's quilt... We're sort of "cousins" as far as our style of quilting,and I am a huge admirer of her work.

Allie's quilt, is now mine!

We had a fiddler, Alan, past board member of the Alliance, and Denyse Schmidt did some fancy foot work for us! This girl is so fabulously multi-talented it makes your head spin! her Q.S.O.S. interview as very very interesting...

Even Boo got into the act and drew winning raffle tickets... Here with our FABULOUS leaders, Amy Milne head of the Quilt Alliance and Meg Cox, President of the Quilt Alliance. Thanks to these two phenomenal women for putting together these great events!

****

The fairy tale FUN weekend came to close at 1am on Sunday morning...(that hasn't happened in a long time for me!)  

Back to work... Two quilts basted today....

One very special one, for a that special boy is half done.... ;-)  vroom vroom!

Hope your weekend was awesome too! What did you do?

Giveaway RESULTS

GIVE AWAY RESULTS!!

http://quiltinggallery.com/

GOT BLOCKS??

http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/sandy-quilt-block-drive/ 

 FED EX DELIVERED!!!!  I got my MYSTERY goodies, to share with you, from Houston!

Since I found so many goodies,  I'm giving away to  THREE winners!

The WINNERS have been randomly chosen:

Please send me you addresses ASAP.

The First TWO BUNDLES of BRIGHTS are from NEWCASTLE FABRICS.

WINNER:

JUDY @ SEW, RIP, REPEAT

TWO REPRO's from NEWCASTLE FABRICS goes to:

WINNER:

Carolyn @ Sweet boater chick

 And lastly: FABRI-QUILTS BUNDLE,

WINNER is:

Erin @ My Patchwork Life!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS!!!!

****

QUILTS & BLANKETS: ASAP

As many of you know, we have Storm #2 heading our way tonight. Many parts of NJ, and low laying water areas are being evacuated once again, as we speak. PLEASE. Take the Button below and SPREAD THE WORD.  These people need Quilts, NOW.

All of the local emails I get from volunteer org's here, can not get enough QUILTS, Blankets, Batteries and FOOD, and VOLUNTEERS!  

ANYTHING you can do to spread the word, makes you a VOLUNTEER!

We are all trying to do our part, any which way we can...

QUILTS:  STORE BOUGHT OR HOMEMADE

Storm #2 is on it's way...

Airports are closing again later today...

Please gather and quilts, blankets, store bought or home made ASAP.

All the INFO you need is here:

http://bumblebeansbasics.com/

and in the last post below this one.

Please grab the button above, and SHARE WITH ANYONE, not just quilters, ask your local stores, and or corporate connections to Give & Gather...

Pat's Mega Fun Book Tour!

Pat Sloan, This gal right here...

(IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!!

Has written her 33rd book! Can you believe it? She is the real energizer bunny.  I met her through my blog, when she emailed me saying she's send me Rose fabrics for a project I was working on, I nearly fell off my chair!  We became fast friends, and she has been someone I have looked up to and frequently ask questions about how this industry works... She's pretty sweet.

Now she's on a roll to teach Sewing BASICS, in her "teach me to" series books.

Have you wanted to learn the basics to Quilting your own quilts? Pat's book walks you through basic quilting info to start, thread, quilt designs, and focuses on free motion and using the walking foot.  All the questions you have about issues you may have, prepping your quilt, to when to change your needle.... All these thing that can affect your success at quilting by machine.

Problems and solutions, and VIDEOS to go along with the book for even better guidance!

Tips for success

and encouraging words for you and your work!

You need to have this book! Let go of the fear of quilting your own quilts!  The only way to get better is to jump in and learn.  This is the book you need.

Wanna win one?

Visit Pat's Giveaway Page to enter to win 

one of the 5 copies of  'Pat Sloan's Teach Me to Machine Quilt Book!    

Click here.

  
Winners drawn from outside of the USA will receive a digital copy. Be sure to enter by Midnight Dec 1st.  
  

Product Code: B1395
Product ISBN: 9781604688313

Popular teacher, designer, and online radio host Pat Sloan teaches all you need to know to machine quilt successfully. In this third book of her beginner-friendly "Teach Me" series, Pat guides you step by step through walking-foot and free-motion quilting techniques. First-time quilters will be confidently quilting in no time, and experienced stitchers will discover the joy of finishing their quilts themselves.

• No-fear learning for quilting novices--Pat covers all the information you need to quilt from start to finish
• Pat guides you through simple and fun practice projects, including a strip-pieced table runner and an easy applique design
• Collect the entire skill-building library of Pat Sloan's popular "Teach Me" series of books

Visit the following peeps below on their day of Pat’s Mega Fun Tour to learn more about Pat's book.  Some have interviewed Pat, a few might have a giveaway, or have made a project... it's all listed on Pat's page!  

Pat's Mega Fun Book Tour! 

Nov 18  

• Bonnie Hunter quiltville.blogspot.com/
• Pam Vieira-McGinnis pamkittymorning.blogspot.com/
• Alyce Blyth www.blossomheartquilts.com/
• Kimberly Einmo www.kimberlyeinmo.com/blog

Nov 19  

• American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine www.allpeoplequilt.com/blog
• Mathew Boudreaux misterdomestic.net/ and instagram.com/misterdomestic/
• Moda – Carrie Nelson blog.modafabrics.com/

Nov 20  

• Amy Smart www.diaryofaquilter.com/ with an Interview 
• Katja Marek of www.katjasquiltshoppe.com/ visit www.facebook.com/Katjas-Quilt-Shoppeand www.instagram.com/katja_marek/

Nov 21  

• Lee Monroe www.maychappell.com/
• Jacquelynne Steves  jacquelynnesteves.com/blog/
• Stephanie Palmer latenightquilter.com/
• Mary Abreu instagram.com/thatcraftaddict/

Nov 22  

• Sarah Maxwell of www.homesteadhearth.com/ Visit  designsbysarahj.wordpress.com/with a Giveaway! 
• Debby Brown higheredhands.blogspot.com/
• Jane Davidson quiltjane.com/
• Linda Thielfoldt lindathielfoldtthequiltedgoose.blogspot.com/
• Janet Clare janetclare.co.uk/blog/
• Baby Lock www.facebook.com/babylocksewing and instagram.com/babylocksewing/

Nov 23  

• Cheryl Brickey meadowmistdesigns.blogspot.com/
• Helen Stubbings hugsnkisses.typepad.com/
• Kimberly Jolly of www.fatquartershop.com visit fatquartershop.blogspot.com/ and www.instagram.com/fatquartershop/

Nov 25  

• Sherri McConnell www.aquiltinglife.com/
• Julie Karasek of www.patchedworks.com/ visit fabricjules.blogspot.com/
• Ebony Love lovebugstudios.com/blog/
• Martingale  blog.shopmartingale.com/

Nov 26 - Pat's Birthday!!! (Go wish her a Happy Happy Day!)

• Scott Hansen bluenickelstudios.com/
• Victoria findlay Wolfe bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/

Nov 28  

• Amy Friend  www.duringquiettime.com
• Heather Valentine  thesewingloftblog.com/
• Melissa Corry  www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
• Amy Ellis  www.amyscreativeside.com/

Nov 29  

• Aurifil Erin Sampson auribuzz.wordpress.com/ 
• Christa Watson christaquilts.com/
• Nancy Zieman www.nancyzieman.com/blog/ - Sharing a project 
• Amanda Niederhauser www.jedicraftgirl.com/

Nov 30  

• Kim Niedzwiecki www.gogokim.com/
• Karen Miller karensquiltscrowscardinals.blogspot.com/
• Wendy Sheppard  ivoryspring.wordpress.com/
• Brenda M. Ratliff  of Pink Castle Fabrics visit www.pinkcastleblog.com/

Tis' the Season for sharing.

OOH! Look at those sweet cheeks and grin!  This little guy was charming all of us yesterday when the Acacia Network and I went to deliver more quilts yesterday. He was loving all the attention he was getting, and was just as calm as could be....Just that hint of smile across his lips...

Your quilts made some people very happy yesterday. Thank you from all for your kind and generous sharing.

Erin's quilt found a home! See old post HERE.

There are more pics of the day here:  http://bumblebeansbasics.com/blog

Just a note, 

If you think you want a SIGNED copy of my book 15 Minutes of Play under your tree, 

I will only be able to ship between now and Friday...  

Please visit my STORE ASAP!    CLICK HERE.

Any orders that come in after Friday, will be shipped close to New Years;

As the Shipping Department, (ME), will be away...

Also, International shipping needs to EMAIL me first, so I can send you a proper invoice with Int'l shipping costs.

Saturday NYC mod quilters

 It was our NYC MOD Guild meeting today, and Boy did we kick it off to a good start! Our season is OCTOBER to JUNE... Christine Osmers and Kathy Miller (of MICHAEL MILLER FABRICS) came and spoke a bit about color, and what they do best, FABRIC!

 It was a very inspiring conversation and a in depth look at what goes into the fabrics they design... You can expect many new lovely things coming from Michael miller fabrics! We had a sneak peak!

They also brought us some fat quarter goodies, and everyone circled around the fabrics like vultures! we had to quickly figure out a system so it would be fair and NO ONE WOULD GET HURT...We all drew numbers for the order in which we got to pick...  It all ended smoothly, pheeew!

We all had many many great questions for them, and they had a few for us so, it was a very interesting event... Thank you SO MUCH, Kathy and Christine for coming by!

 We then launched into our Show and tell... E purchased this gorgeous old Dresden quilt on ebay... it's a beauty. lavender and orange with feedsack dresdens.... the use of the solids makes it look so modern!

 Some eye candy for you to enjoy!

Speaking of buying things on line... here's that hand made patchwork house coat I bought on etsy... 

We loved the fabrics, but I don't think I will be wearing it outside anytime soon... hehe!

More pics will be up on our guild blog soon... 

And lastly, I thought I should include a SIDE dish to the elephant stew recipe I posted last week... I mean, elephant can only go so far... so here is my family's FAVORITE vegetable side dish. (for real, no humor)

This is the 

how to get your kids to eat their Brussels Sprouts recipe...

4 pounds Brussel sprouts

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1 large red onion cut up in think strips

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons White sugar

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 coarsly chopped pistachios ( or slivered almonds)

1/2 dried cranberries

Steam brussels sprouts 6-8 minutes. (I don't like them to get mushy...)

Melt butter in skillet, add onions and 3 TBS vinegar cook until brown.

Add brussels sprouts, sugar and remaining vinegar, saute until carmelized/.

in the last minute, add in pistachios (OR silvered almonds) and cranberries... lightly salt and pepper.

Monday I pick the winner here for the Sullivans Edge ruler! Be sure to  hop over to all the sites to comment for a chance to win.  And also pop over to PAT's for some extra fun facts about her!

• PAT for a kick off – http://blog.patsloan.com
• Rachel  
• Allison Harris

Sept 28 (wed)

• Erin
• Victoria Findlay Wolfe 

Sept 29 (thurs)

• LizzieB Liz and Beth Hawkins 
• Sarah Fielke 

Sept 30 (fri)

• Dawn Stewart  
• Emily Cier