it’s okay…..

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IT’S OKAY IF YOU SIT ON MY QUILT
by Mary Ellen Hopkins
Many Christmases ago I received a gift from my sister in law. 
This gift was life changing. 
The gift consisted of a rotary mat and this book, 
along with a a little note saying that the 3rd part of the gift 
would be here soon. 
I could NOT figure out how this book and this big green mat 
were suppose to be used together.
I was a bit puzzled because I could not figure out what the 3rd part was. At this point in the game I already knew how to quilt, the old fashioned template way.
Can you guess what the 3rd part was?
About 3 weeks later, my very first 
rotary cutter arrived in the mail.
That was the life changing part. 
I had made a few quilts from THE SAMPLER QUILT by Diane Leone
 tracing all the pattern pieces  to templates, 
then to fabric and
 then cutting with scissors.
Not until THE IT’S OKAY IF YOU SIT ON MY BOOK 
(along with my trusted mat and rotary cutter)
came along was I truly inspire to quilt every single day.
Fast forward 32 years and 300 quilts later and I still love a good quilt book.
I am fortune to have been involved with the making of 
many books along with  
having good friends that are talented authors.
But my brand newest, 
most favorite book 
as of right now today is,  
The sub title says, Family, Friends, Foods  & Quilts. 
Because I love it so much, I am going to give one away.
Tell me why you need this book and I will draw a winner at random on 
SUNDAY, August 11th.
I will post the winner late in the evening.
Stop by all the other blogs on the book club hop today!
PLUS… the generous crew at United Notions has a special giveaway for 6 books to add to your own
collection on Moda’s Book Club Day here…
http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-lovers-day-hooray.html

Book Club

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I may not be Oprah, but I am going to be part of a 
book club 
to celebrate 
on August 9th, 2013
Join us as a few people from the quilting industry share the
 book that inspired them to start quilting.
 Also what is our favorite book right now!!
Visit the moda blog on August 9th for full details.
Follow Moda Fabrics on FB for the latest happenings.
Wouldn’t it be great if Oprah choose a quilt book for her club?

PIckledish Progress

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Remember when I said I would never make a double wedding ring, but a pickle dish would be different? I have always been enamored with Aneela Hoey’s Pickledish quilt along so I jumped in and gave it a try.
Button
I have been collecting Greys and yellows for a while now.
I thought these were the perfect collection of 
SCRAPS
 to use in my pickle dish quilt.
The technique that Aneela uses is absolutely brilliant.
And as always it makes me happy to use a bunch
of different Moda designers fabrics in one project.
Believe it or not there is a Deb Strain valentines fabric mixed with Kate Spain.
Add in some Eric and Julie Comstock with Zen Chic. Throw in some V and Co. Zig Zags.
You know I also used any grey or yellow dots
I could get my hands on.
Fun Fun Fun

The piecing of the arch’s went together beautifully.
I made a practice melon to test my skills at curved piecing.
Not bad.
Pin it and they fit together like a glove.
 
Another interesting thing that Aneela did was to construct these as blocks
 instead of rings with alot of partial seams. 
At first I thought I would tackle this differently,
 BUT
she was right. 
Piece it as blocks and join the blocks together does makes it a breeze.
Also the block finish fairly large so the quilt gets big fast.
I was also able to use the tiny tiny grey pin dot  as my background that 
I had been hoarding Bonnie and Camille.
Jump in and give this a try. If you do be sure and send me pics. 
I  have already started collecting oranges and blues for a variation of this quilt in my future.
Things change so I don’t think I will ever being saying NEVER again.
-modalissa

Never Say Never

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I have always said there are two quilts I would never make.
Grandmother’s Flower Garden
and 
Double Wedding Ring
The pattern I am making this from is actually named Pickledish,
 so I think this counts as still not making a 
double wedding ring. (more on this quilt next week)
Since I have started many hexagon quilts, but never a true Grandmother’s flower garden, I think I am still good for my word. Let me rephrase that…. 
I have made
many
 many 
many
hexagons but not finished a quilt yet. 
I may need to consult Barbara Brackman for this bit of 
historical info, but I am willing to wager that 
grandmothers flower garden quilts/tops are the most 
collected item “in pieces” at 
garage sales, estate sales, auctions, etc.
What is a quilt that you are nervous about tackling?
-modalissa

Hashtag quilt finished

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my Hashtag quilt is COMPLETE!
YEAH
Yippee
hurrah
  I am so into the color ORANGE that I had to use
one of orange 
prints from  the Scrumptious line.
Scrumptious will be in stores October 2013
 Who would have thought of a hashtag quilt before twitter
came along? This quilt was a class that
Camille Roskelley taught on Craftsy.
As soon as Camille told me she was doing this, 
I had to sign up since I am a fan.
These 2 pics are from my instagram. Sorry for any duplication.

When sewing on the binding, I like to add a piece of the
 selvedge so I can 
remember what collection I used to make the quilt.

My friend Julie Hardgrave is a fantastic calligrapher. 
She makes hand drawn labels for me!!
Call me lazy or smart, but I add my label in as I 
add the binding.
That is when I remember to put on a label!
 
 The quilting is yummy!!
Now the dilemma? Wash or not? 
Don’t laugh, I know that is a silly question. 
Eventually it will have to be washed. Normally I do 
not wash my quilts until 
they have actually been used. 
Most of the time I am making a quilt for market 
and I never want to run the risk of the 
quilt being 
“WRINKLED”
 for the show. 
What would you do?
-modalissa

Friday Yummy

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Today’s 
Friday Funny
 has been temporarily 
renamed to 
Friday Yummy.

The Dallas Sprinkles has this machine now. 
Thanks goodness because the lines at that 
store are out of control. 
I hope there are not any news stories where the 
ACM machine
“automated cupcake machines”
 are held up for red velvet. 
Have a sweet weekend.
-modalissa