And the winner is

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Blogger tpott said…

Years ago my husband used my 6×24 inch ruler and broke it. I’m still not sure, what he was measuring with it. I was so upset he never used any of my quilting supplies again. I think at the time I only had 2 rulers. It seams like a million years ago, I have SO many different rulers now.
June 7, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Congratulations!!! You are the winner of A quilting Life book by Sherri McConnell. 

Grey and Yellow

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 Here is my stack of fabrics for my next scrappy project. I have been accumulating/hoarding everything I can find in greys and yellows.
I think this color combination first started wit  a piece from
Vanessa Christenson’s Simply Style.
Then came along Baby Jane by Eric and Julie Comstock.
Then  Kate Spain’s newest fabric, Sunnyside has some yummy pieces
in it so I had to add them to my pile.
The stack of fabrics continues to be fermenting so I had to get serious 
and start weeding out the ones I was going to use. 
I like to cut swatches and make my own little inventory list
of fabrics as I collect them.
 Then when it comes time to narrow down the pieces I look at them in grey scale. Nowadays this is much easier to do by just taking a picture of it on your phone and turning it to grey scale. I use to drag myself up to the copy shop and lay it on the copier to make a black and white copy.
 
If you have trouble with color this is a good exercise to build your color confidence.
 I think color is scary for a lot of people, when that actually is the funniest part
with the fewest actual “rules.”
What is tough to get a grasp on is the difference of what
value and scale will do to your project. 
By looking at the grey scale swatches you take all the color out of the equation. Sometimes we use a fabric just becasue we love the color, yet the scale or pattern ends up sticking out like a sore thumb.
 I ask myself do I have the right mix of small, medium and large prints regardless of the color? 
Looking at the fabrics in grey scale also helps determine if any of your fabric choices are way too dark or way to light.
I tend to gravitate to a certain scale of fabrics so I always have to make sure my choices all look the same. Try this out next time you are choosing fabrics. It is amazing how it helps narrow down your choices while adding visual interest to your fabrics choices.
-modalissa

A Quilting Life blog tour

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Hello to all, 
I hope you have been following along.A Quilting Life
All of the following people have been sharing bits about their quilt life.
Everyone is also giving away a copy of Sherri’s super duper book. All you have to do to win onw is visit each of the blogs throughout the duration of the hop. 
The winners will be posted on the 14th.
Monday June 3rdNanette at Freda’s Hive http://fredashive.blogspot.com/
Tuesday June 4thSinta from Pink Pincushion http://pinkpincushion.blogspot.com/
Wednesday June 5th Jodi from Pleasant Home http://www.pleasant-home.com/
Thursday June 6th Judi from Green Fairy Quilts http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/
Friday June 7thLissa of ModaLissa http://modalissa.blogspot.com/
Saturday June 8th Amanda of AmandaMurphyDesign http://amandamurphydesign.blogspot.com/
Sunday June 9thAnna of Thimbleanna http://thimbleanna.com/
Monday June 10th Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/
Tuesday June 11th Kristyne of Pretty by Hand http://prettybyhand.com/
Wednesday June 12th Sherri of A Quilting Life http://www.aquiltinglife.com
WINNER’S ANNOUNCED the 14th.
(International winners will be sent an e-book)
Okay so that is the business part, on to the fun part.
 Sherri’s blog has got to be the most perfect name ever, right? 
Who among us cannot say we live the quilting life or at least dream of the quilt life. 
Sherri is a gentle giant working alongside so many other people. 
She has sewn for many people, set-up quilt booths, designed contests & 
events & challenges, organized Schnibbles parades, 
creates projects for the Moda Bake Shop and so, so much more. 
 So I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to hear 
that she was going to share some of this talent 
on the pages of her very own book appropriately titled, 
A Quilting Life.
 The projects and inspiration in this book range from pillows, table runners, totes, wall hangings, so there is a project for literally every aspect of your home.
One of my favorite projects from this book is the Mod Runner.
Our assignment for this blog hop is to tell a little bit about our quilting life.
My quilting life began in 1980  and there is not much of my life that did not involve quilting. I am also lucky enough to have a job doing something I am passionate about. Did I say passionate, maybe I meant obsessed.

Quilting is my life, I had a dream once that I got called into the Principal’s office because my son called someone a fat quarter.  I did get called in at a later date for him looking up a girl’s skirt on the playground.

When I worked and taught at a quilt store, sometimes my students would call my home asking quilting questions. My family was comfortable thinking they could answer. If they were asked, about how much yardage should they buy? The standard answer was, “I think 1/2 yard would be plenty.”

Quilting is my life, 
if my grown son uses my supplies to make his dog a Dallas Cowboy super bowl outfit.

I once was blamed for our foundation issues. 
Well after all my fabric stash was on that side of the house.

 Quilting is my life…..If I use my children for human quilt hangers.

 Do you let people use your good scissors to cut paper? What about using a rotary cutter to cut pizza? you know who you are… Quilting is my life. 

angie-and-lissa-at-Christmas

 If all your Christmas stocking are made from 
quilts, then quilting could be your life.

 
When I show any of my quilts to my crew, they always say, ” Is that a log cabin pattern?”
 
There is nothing better than sharing the craft with the next generation.
Quilting is my life.
Sherri’s grandmother shared it with her and I hope you have the opportunity to share your quilting life.
Leave a comment and let me know  how one of our family members has used your quilting supplies to win one of Sherri’s books. I will also throw in a few of my favorite charm packs. The winner will be announced on the 14th.

Triangle Swap

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Recently I participated in a triangle swap with 20 other gals.
I have always been a fan of Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts and her triangle papers.
These papers fit beautifully on fabric approx 7″ x 22 making it a 
wonderful project for scraps or fat eighths.
 
Each package comes with enough papers to make 700 triangle sets. The papers are printed on newsprint paper making it easy to tear the papers off once the sets are sewn together.
Once my triangles were sewn and pressed, they  were sorted into stacks to swap.
As I sorted them I had fun entertaining myself by playing with different designs.
Rows of flying geese, anyone?
Cheddars, poison greens, madders, oh my!
Reds, blacks and a pop of royal blue.
Here is what the triangle paper looks like with fabric right sides together.
The sewing directions are easy to follow with arrows all along the way.
Directions are printed on each sheet.
Now the swap has happened and I have thousands of  2″ finished triangles. 
So many triangles, so many fabric combinations, so many design options.
Now it is time to make a decision on how to put all the triangles together!!

Honeycomb Precuts

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 After returning from a whirlwind week at Quilt Market one of the trends that was all over the show was my favorite shape, Hexagons.
Just in case you haven’t seen how easy the moda honeycomb’s (6″ hexagons) are to sew together, Kimberly from Fat Quarter shop said I could share this video with you.

I use to be afriad to do anything with a set-in seam, but after sewing these shapes together set-in seams are a breeze.
Have you tried the honeycomb’s yet?

-modalissa

to market to market

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Today is going to be a busy day at the office. We have sales meeting for the Dallas staff, making sure all the sales meeting stuff is ready for Portland and mainly just making sure we have packed everything. 
After sending 2 – 18 wheelers full of booth stuff I would hope we didn’t forget anything.
This time of year is kind of like Christmas. 
I am sure you have all been through the late night assembly of toys only 
to find out you need 4 – C batteries that Santa did not include with the package. 
Well, setting up a booth for 40 sales people is much the same. 
If we have forgotten anything at this point we could probably blame it on Santa.
I do not know why I wait until the last minute every year
 but now it is time to pack my own suitcase.
old suitcase - Google Images
old suitcase – Google Images (clipped to polyvore.com)

The first day of the show we tell all the sales reps what color to wear for our annual group picture.
 Months ago we sent them the color palette for the booth.

  Pretty colorful, huh? 

hexagon shuffle …. quilted by Natalia Bonner

 
We did narrow down the choices  to 10 different Bella colors. It does always seem like these are colors that are not readily available in my closet. I know, I know picking booth colors in all black or all brown would be a bit drab.

Check back for our group picture to see how well we all follow fashion directions.
 

Indigo Trail

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It is amazing what I came across as I was packing up things for Market. I forgot to show off one of my favorite quilts. How classic and timely is indigo and yellow?
This quilt is published in McCall’s Quilting.
I normally would have used Blue and red. That is so predictable, right? 
So instead I was a rebel and used yellow.
Indigo Trail: Classic Antique-Look Lap Quilt Pattern 
The quilt is made from Indigo Crossing by Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson.
 
I love love love this line of fabrics, but WAIT by now you may have
 seen their next line of fabric, 
MidWinter Reds that will be in stores September.
 I think I may have to make another quilt using these fabrics. What should be by rebel color to combine with these?
It is exactly one week until we start to set up our booth for quilt market in Portland, Oregon. The staff at moda has done such a great job and the show should be pretty darn good. 
If you are at market, be sure and stop by and say hello!
-modalissa

Blogger Girls Month 5

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I can’t believe it has been a month since my last post.
Boo Hiss- I will make myself stand in the corner!
 I guess I have been in a funk.
Thank you to Monique because being a part of the
Blogger Girl’s Quilt Along
has made me have to hop on to my blog, hopefully ending the funk.

As you know from last month I had added some batiks.
Trying to break out of my predictable shell so I tried with several
color options for block 5. Disregard the digital lines.

Month 5 is my favorite block
 You all know that I love polka dots so I couldn’t help but throw in this brown and green polka dot from Paint Box by Laundry Basket. I love how strong and graphic 2 fabrics make this block.
 I wanted to see what this block would look like as a positive/negative colorway. I did change the center block out so the block is now 4 sawtooth stars.  
Changing 1 fabric color completely changes the block.
And finally, 

I think my favorite of the 3 blocks. A scrappy block made 

with a combination of prints and batiks.
 
Stop by and see the color options at the other blogger girls.
Monique From Open Gate Quilts – opengatequilts.blogspot.com/
Sherri from A Quilting Life – aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/
Nicole from Sister’s Choice  ~  sisterschoice.typepad.com
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com
Instructions for block 5 can be found at Open Gate.
 Don’t give up on me. 
It won’t be another month until my next blog post!!