Author: modalissa

Merry Makers

September 12, 2018

There is no better description for this book, other than the info posted on the Martingale website as shown below.

Get your patchwork presents all wrapped and ready! The Moda All-Stars are back with 15+ handmade gifts to give or keep. Choose from stockings, pincushions, and coasters to make in speedy multiples. Lap quilts, table runners, and other deck-the-halls designs abound too!

Complete most projects in a weekend or quicker—no need to fear the Christmas time crunch. And just for fun, you’ll learn all about the favorite holiday traditions of the All-Stars in a series of Q & As.

Christmas Cabin Quilt by Pat Sloan

The book includes projects from Fig Tree & Company, Bunny Hill Designs, Kathy Schmitz, A Quilting Life, Brenda Riddle, Jo Morton, Pat A Sloan, Cotton Way, Carrie Nelson, Corey Hershberger Yoder, Barbara Groves, Betsy Reed Chutchian, American Jane, Sweetwater, Jane Shallala Davidson Quiltjane, and Lisa Hoefler Bongean.

Perfect items to fill all your quilty friends’ stockings with these adorable pin cushions from Carrie Nelson.

Twinkle Twinkle Star Wallhanging by Me and My Sister Designs.

Just a few of the festive projects by my friends- the Moda All-Stars. There are many other projects in the book, but I will leave some of those a surprise when you pick up the book.

One other story I wanted to share is about when I was a young mom, instead of an old mom, and the holidays were approaching which began the season of gift giving. I made many of my gifts, and I am sure my family still treasures those cute quilted pot holders I made for them some thirty-odd years ago. I was so proud of these gifts but when it came time for providing gifts for the kids that was a struggle.

A friend of mine, you know who you are, Kay Mayor, and I would load up the car at night and go put out boxes for Toys for Tots at designated collection locations throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We would do this night after night driving into areas we had never even heard of, and this was before google maps. The money we earned doing this helped us pay for our kids’ gifts. Anything that it took to make it all happen including setting up a trampoline in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve created great stories and memories. We could not have done this without the opportunity to help with this charity. So coming full circle, I could not be more proud that the Moda designers and the Martingale team choose the Marine Toys for Tots to donate the royalties of this book.

I hope each of you finds something beautiful to make for someone special in your life. This book is in stores now!!

I am doing a giveaway of a hot off the press Merry Maker book. Leave a comment telling me about one of the presents/ stories about a gift for your kids. I will draw at random, Saturday the 15th.

Enjoy,

modalissa

Giveaway closed! so many great stories

the winner is:

Telera McCullough

I want to tell you about a family Christmas when I was growing up. We agreed to all make gifts for one another. I was about 12 and my sisters were about 8 and 4. The most amazing surprise was coming in the door after celebrating with grandparents and finding THREE dollhouses that my father built for us. Each was 3 stories high, opened on both ends and the top and had wrap around porches. I still use some of the small sachets my 4 year old sister made that year. We are all still makers 40 years later.

SPLENDID SAMPLER 2

1 Comment

June 14, 2018

Today is the beginning of a beautiful quilting journey. If you did not finish your Splendid Sampler quilt, it is not too late to jump in on the second round. The blocks will be 6″ so any combination of Splendid Sampler blocks will work nicely together.

I am sharing my version of block 1 designed by Alex Veronelli! No better person to start us on our Splendid journey than the king of Aurifil thread.

I must admit I did not finish round 1, so I am combining blocks from both series. I am so inspired by the book
and all the creative settings online that
I have gotten my second wind and will be sewing along.
I hope you will also.

A big shout out to all the designers in the quilting community that have contributed their talent and creativity to share their blocks and their stories.

Book 1 shown above, available now. Book 2 already in the works and will be available later this fall.

Thank you to Pat Sloan, Jane Davidson, and Martingale for making it all happen. Also to Moda Fabrics for supplying the beginning round of fabrics.

My version is going to be scrappy since this will be an ongoing project. I would love to hear what your fabric choices are?

I had to show one more pic of my block mainly so I could show my favorite little tape measure. I am obsessed with plastic animal tape measures.
My grandkids can play with them and not break them!

Enough about me, join the FB group to follow along and get your patterns.
If you are not on FB, then follow the Splendid Sampler blog for all the details and patterns.

You are all splendid,

-modalissa

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April 12, 2018

If you know of Pat Sloan, stand up and clap your hands.

Now that we all have gotten a bit of cardio in, I wanted to let you know I am honored to be a guest on American Patchwork and Quilting’s podcast, hosted by Pat Sloan.

Tune in Monday, April 16th 3-4 central time. I am segment 4 in the show. I could say she saved the best for last but I don’t know who the other 3 people are so she probably just picked me for last becasue she knows I get nervous!

So tune in.

It should be a lot of fun.

You can listen on the computer, subscribe by itunes (search American Patchwork & Quilting), or download to a player.

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-podcast

Another little goody is that if you go to Pat’s Radio Show page on Monday, she has always has a find of something she likes, recommends or features! I can’t wait to see what it is on Monday.

Oh Scrap- Fat Quarter Shop + Giveaway

178 Comments

March 27, 2018

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

WINNER ANNOUNCED

Hop Hop Hop

The Oh Scrap blog hop is over.

But today is a bonus hop.

Oh Scrap-Martingale Publishing

16 Comments

March 26, 2018

All good things must come to an end. Today is the last stop on the Oh Scrap blog hop. Martingale Publishing is place to be, so visit them here. But before I finish my posts I want to tell you a few things about the quilting book world from the world as I see it.

Oh Scrap- It’s QuiltJane

3 Comments

March 25, 2018

Hop Hop Hop on over to my friend way across the pond. Jane Davidson of Quiltjane.

My mom always taught me that you can read people by their eyes. I am reminded of this every time I see Jane. Her eyes, her sweet smile and her gentle spirit drew me to her the first time I met her. I also think she was handing out the famous snack of Aussie’s, Tim Tam Bars.

Oh Scrap – Teresa Silva

8 Comments

March 24, 2018

Today’s Stop on the Oh Scrap blog hop is

Teresa Silva of Quilting is my Bliss.

Teresa quilted the Splendid Scraps quilt shown above.

Teresa Silva, Maggi Honeyman, Natalia Bonner, and Abby Latimer are the magic makers-machine quilters that brought my quilt tops to life., Thank you for that!

Both Teresa and Natalia have quilting books that overflow with inspiration.

The real artistry in the quilt world is the quilting. The stitching of the quilt top, batting and backing, the quilt sandwich that is secured together with the finest of stitches and design.

Funny Story:

in the late 1980’s Gary and I went to the Texas State Fair for some Fletcher’s corny dogs. Gary had his corny dog and I came home with a Gammil Quilting machine. I was going to save so much money by quilting my own quilt tops and maybe even quilt for other people. What a joke!!

This was before there was any classes, training or support on how to use such a gigantic piece of furniture. Once the machine jammed and I called around looking for help with no luck. The guy at the sew and vac said he had never worked on that kind of machine but bring it in and he would see what he could do. At this point, a few months had passed and I was so pregnant that even if the machine worked I wouldn’t be able to reach the handles.

It is State Fair time again, we tracked back to the state fair with a 5 yr old, 3 yr old and a 6 month baby. Headed directly to the Gammill booth for some direction.They were so kind and bought it back from me for exactly what I had paid for it the year before. They would pick it up from my house on their way out from the show. I needed the bedroom now for baby #3 and who was going to have time to quilt with 3 kids under 6?

We all paid a visit to Fletcher’s Corny dog stand and came home with corny dogs, great memories and a pocketful of $$.

The above story conveys how much I think the quilting makes the quilt and that is not a talent that is in my wheelhouse.

March 16th- Pat Sloan

March 17th- Corey Yoder

March 18th- Barbara Brackman

March 19th-Alison Dale of Fabric Expressions

March 20th- Melissa Corry

March 21st- Carrie Nelson of Moda Fabrics

March 22nd- Sherri McConnell – A Quilting Life

March 23rd-Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop

TODAYS STOP

March 24th – Teresa Silva- Quilting is my Bliss

March 25th- Jane Davidson – QuiltJane

March 26th- Martingale Publishing

-Modalissa

Oh Scrap- Sherri McConnell

2 Comments

March 22, 2018

One of my favorite people in the whole world is the featured person on the Oh Scrap blog hop today- Sherri Mc Connell.

Sherri from A Quilting Life is not only a prolific blogger and pattern designer , now she along with her daughter Chelsi are also fabric designers for Moda.

Sherri is a huge fan of American Jane fabrics and made my Burgoynne Surrounded quilt when it was introduced in the first American Patchwork and Quilting quilt-a-long series. This quilt changed my life which is why I included it in Oh Scrap and tell you more about that in the book.

Today on her blog, she talks about making this quilt which is included in Oh Scrap and has also been re- featured in APQ’s Best quilts issue on newsstands now.

I hope you are not tired of listening to talk talk talk via the blog but I am so honored and humbled by the people that I have had the opportunity to meet in my quilting life that I want to talk about them.

I have also had the opportunity to meet Sherri’s husband and he is also the nicest guy. He actually glows with pride when he talks about Sherri and Chelsi

I am lucky to be able to work in the same industry that is also my hobby- quilting!!

Time now to hop on over to see what Sherri has to say.- Enjoy!!

March 16th- Pat Sloan
March 17th- Corey Yoder
March 18th- Barbara Brackman
March 19th-Alison Dale of Fabric Expressions
March 20th- Melissa Corry
March 21st- Carrie Nelson of Moda Fabrics

TODAY’S STOP on the HOP!!
March 22nd- Sherri McConnell – A Quilting Life
March 23rd-Kimberly at The Fat Quarter Shop
March 24th – Teresa Silva- Quilting is my Bliss
March 25th- Jane Davidson – QuiltJane
March 26th- Martingale Publishing

Stephanie Woodward of Tomball Texas is the winner of the Friendship Blues fabrics.

Thanks for following along,

-modalissa

Oh Scrap – Carrie Nelson

6 Comments

March 21, 2018

Today’s stop on the Oh Scrap blog hop is Carrie Nelson at Moda Fabrics.

I have so much to say today so please bare with me!! or is it bear with me?This quilt is called Izzy Squared. I believe the official name is Granny Squares but my grands call me Izzy.
My niece couldn’t say Lissa so she called me Izzy, and now that nickname follows me, hence the name of the quilt. The diversity of this quilt is so great that I included instructions for 3 different sizes in the book including the king version shown here.

My daughter lives on a farm and this quilt was just calling to be photographed on her white fence, but Buddy thought the photo shoot was all about him. ( thank you Jillian)

I love their red barn so I used red centers and red corner squares. pop! pop!

I can’t wait to get it quilted with 108″ red/white buffalo check on the back. yum! yum!

My daughter actually sent me a text when she sent the pictures and said, ” I think I may want to start sewing again.” (insert chin drop to the floor) She hasn’t sewn since she was 8 years old and made a quilt in Jackie Galubenski’s quilt class. She did win a ribbon at the Dallas Quilt show. Incredible!

The stop today is at the Moda blog, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to thank a few people for believing in me.

I owe everything to Mark Dunn and Cheryl Freydberg for believing in me. Hiring me and allowing creative freedom to constantly say, What if??

Would you hire this?

I want to also thank Carrie Nelson for helping me out when I got all tongue tied. She has become the voice of Moda/United Notions and shares her brilliance with all of us and encourages me daily.

So many people from work offered to help, remember the majority of this time I was recouping after surgery and couldn’t drive. I jokingly called it house arrest. Susan Stiff, Tammy Vonderschmitt, Chelair Etter, Holly Hickman, Debbie Outlaw, Debbie Duckworth would bind, press, stitch or rip if I needed them. Just knowing such friends are also people you work with is what makes my job so joyful.