Simply Charming- MINI BOOK REVIEW

Mini Book Review and Giveaway
Starts TODAY!!
I am honored to be included in Moose on the Porch’s Book review and giveaway.
Konda has done it again with Simply Charming- Mini’s.
With fun quilt names like
Fire and Rain
Death by Triangles
Criss Cross Applesauce
In love with Minis ( Quilt not skirts!)
Flying around in Circles
and  12 more designs,
you will find a project to wet your quilting appetite.
Each of the  quilts are shown in 2 color options to
encourage endless color layouts.
The directions are black and white with fairly big print
(my eyes aren’t what they use to be)
in step by step directions.
SO I GOT TO THINKING!
Pinned Image
 On Pinterest I saw this picture from greylustergirl.blogspot.com. She basically framed her thread rack. 
Pinned Image
I have always dreamed of a wall of pictures like this but that got me to thinking, what about a wall of mini quilts? How fun would that be? I guess this would cost a bit more than new wallpaper but it wouldn’t be near as fun as making a wall of Minis!
http://freehouseinteriordesignideas.com/hallway-art-wall/

 And then as the wall of minis grows, it could be a hallway of minis with studio lighting.

How great would that be?

 

Konda is kind enough to have offered a book for the giveaway. So leave a comment about what you could do with mini quilts and I will draw a winner at random on the 31st.
Today hop on over to Emily’s blog to read more.
Each day visit these talented designers, bloggers, quilters, etc to read more about Konda’s book.
Wed, July 25
Thurs, July
Fri, July 27
Sat, July 28
Sun, July 29
Mon, July 30
Tues, July 31

DONT FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT.

Friday Funny

out of the mouths of babes….

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house..

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and
not some other mom?

1. We’re related.

 

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before
she married him?

1. His last name.
 

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.
 

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don’t do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom,
what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
 

2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Have a great weekend. This is post is in honor of the most perfect Mom & Dad ever, MINE.

Friday Funny

No children on husbands in the room for this one.
I would like to thank CE for sharing this story with me. This story didnt happen to CE but still a great story for a holiday weekend.
I had a flat tire on I-90 yesterday so I pulled over, got out of the car
and opened my trunk. I took out my cardboard men, unfolded them and stood them at the
rear of my car facing oncoming traffic.
They look so lifelike you wouldn’t believe it!
Just as I had hoped, cars started slowing down looking at the men which
made it much safer for me to work on the side of the road.
People honked and waved, and it wasn’t long before a police car pulled up
behind me.
He wanted to know what the heck I was doing so I calmly explained that I was changing
my flat. He told me he could see that, but demanded to know what the heck my cardboard
men were doing standing at the rear of my car.
I couldn’t believe he didn’t know! So I told him …
Well, I explained to the angry Policeman

They’re my Emergency Flashers!!!!

Hope you all got a good laugh like I did.
 Who is going to see the movie Magic Mike?

-modalissa

Quilt Roll 3

 
You know how much I love Hexagons and I am a massive strip piecer.
Combine the two and that tells you about my quilt show n tell for today. I made this quilt from a pattern from Sandy Klop of American Jane. Here is the info from Sandy’s website describing the pattern.
Merry-Go-Round Pattern #(AJP205)
Round and round they go, but no curves or Y seams. Jumbo hexagons are like flowers in Gramma’s garden.  Finished size 67” x 72”
 
It is no secret that I am also a dotaholic so this binding was done using a variety of mini pindots.
I try and stick with a theme for my quilt backs for an entire year. I thought this would make it easy to date the quilt. So this quilt was made during the year of the dot. One problem, I forgot to log what year that was. I will do a bit of research once I have all my quilts documented so I can clarify the following:
The year of the dot ( this may actually be two years)
The year of the plaid
The year of the DOG (remember the fabric that wouldnt sell?)
The year(S) of the pieced backs, etc.
Sandy’s quilt used two jelly rolls from the same collection.
HOWEVER….
started with one jelly roll,
 didn’t get the quilt finished,
ran out of the fabric (yes this even happens to me)
waited,
waited,
decided to complete the quilt using the next American Jane collection.
I think this made me one block short so I improvised by making one block that has all different sections. It is my favorite block in the quilt as shown above.
I jumped on Sandy’s website to reference the Merry Go Round pattern number and look what I found!!! More stripped pieced hexagon projects to add to my list!
Geez Louise, Does she ever sleep?
photo courtesy of American Jane
Assorted Flavors (AJP286)
Life savers and fruit flavors found in mother’s purse are the best ever when you have to wait. This quilt is eye candy wherever it goes.
Finished size 72” x 69”
This quilt was made using American Jane Pin Dots by Moda.
photo courtesy of American Jane
Flying Circles (AJP294)
Cart wheels, spinning tops, ferris wheels and polka dots all spell fun!
Finished size 72” x 90”
This quilt was made using American Jane Pin Dot, Fairy Tale Friends, Pezzy Print, plus Moda Bella Solids, and Essential Dots.
photo courtesy of American Jane
Y-Knot (AJP245)
I love the name of this pattern.
This is a block I have been waiting to do. You need 3 groups of fabrics, light (plaid), medium (florals), and darks (pin dots). Making this quilt is way more fun than a camp lanyard, so why not make a Y-Knot.
Finished size 47” x 60”
Which one is your favorite?

Friday Funny- money bags

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME
WE WILL SEE AND LIVE THIS EVENT
Calendar for July 2012 (United States)
This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. this is called
money bags. 
This was one of those emails that I recieved that says if I share it with my friends I will recieve money in 4 days. I am sharing it with all my blog friends, but I don’t believe I will be recieving money. I got the original email on April 20th- more than 4 days ago!!
  This is supposedly based on Chinese Feng Shui.
I will go buy a lottery ticket tonight and if I win that also I will share.

have a great weekend
-modalissa

and the winners are…..

And the winners of book reviews are….

MODERN PATCHWORK
Anita said…
I would love to win a copy of Modern Patchwork…thanks for the chance!
June 15, 2012 3:07 AM

SIMPLY CHARMING
Kathie said…
simply charming might help with the jump start I need to get working in the modern lighter brighter using solids fabric mode I have been dreaming about!
thanks! I am enjoying seeing all these new books , one never has enough books
Kathie
June 15, 2012 12:40 PM

Anonymous said…(margaret quilts)
Academy – I’m are interested in wining this book.
June 14, 2012 9:33 PM

Friday Funny

Happy Friday to all.

I wanted to share a joke that my husband sent me. It kind of reminds me of what my mom would have said.

So here go……

A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his beautiful, blond, female neighbor came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox.


She opened it, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into her house.




A little later she came out of her house again, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house she went.





As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here she came again. She marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it closed harder than ever.



Puzzled by her actions, the man asked her, “Is something wrong?”





To which she replied, “There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I’ve got mail!”

I hope everyone has a good weekend and a fantastic Father’s Day.

another BRAG

Did the title catch you?
Did you guess what BRAG stands for?
 I am not showing precious pictures of my kids and dogs.
 I am not publishing any report cards. Do they give report cards in college?
I am not telling about how I cleaned my sewing room closet.

BRAG is short for BOOK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY. Yes there is one more post. I could go one and on and still not cover all the great stuff happening in the quilting/publishing  world.
Simply Charming Modern
Modern was certainly the buzz word at Market, so I thought it fitting to show you a few books with Modern in the title.
First of all, we have Simply Charming, Modern from Moose on the Porch. This is a continuing series of books from Konda Luckau. Each of the books  feature quilts made using charm squares. Some of the other titles are Simply Charming- Kids,  Simply Charming – Seasons, Simply Charming- Circles and Simply Charming- Fun. 
Leave a commentand include the words Simply Charming if you want a chance to win.
Modern Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman
published by Stash Books
Elizabeth has made and machine quited  each of the 12 quilts featured in this book. The big bold shapes, graphic use of  scale and additional color options for each project makes it a feast for the eyes. There are a few quilts I have my eye on to try. I think I will start with the escape artist quilt. I cant show you which quilt it is. You will have to check it out for yourself….. if you win this book. Yes I have a book for a giveaway. Leave a comment including Modern Patchwork and i will draw a a name on Sunday night and annoucne it on Monday morning.
Modern is not in the title of this book, but if a book on English Paper Piecing can
 be categorized as modern, this one certainly is.

Hexa-Go-Go by Tacha Bruecher
published by Stash Books
I am truly a hex-aholic so this review may be a bit jaded. There is something just perfect about the shape of a hexagon that I love. Tacha has created a US flag full of hexagons. How cool and dramatic. I wanted to stand up and sing the national anthem when I turned to the page. She must also have a love for the Union Jack because she has  created a hexy Union Jack quilt as well.
SIDE NOTE: Did you know moda introduced a new cut at market that is perfect for paper piecing hexagons? Moda Candy- 2 1/2″ squares will be in stores this fall. Grab some Moda Candy and Tacha’s book to get started on your Hexa go-go project.
Moving from Modern to CLASSIC books
Harriet Hardgrave and her daughter, Carrie’s newest book is Quilter’s Academy, Vol. 4- Senior Year
Quilter's Academy Vol. 4
published by C& T publishing
Harriet and Carrie truly have developed an entire encyclopedia of information, techniques and designs throughout their four books. Volume 4 covers creating designs, drafting patterns, working with angles or complex designs. Completing any of the projects in this book will assure you  a diploma in quilting.
Leave a comment and include Academy if you are interested in wining this book.
One more book that I could only describe as Classically Elegant.
Applique and Embroidery Fundamentals by Jan Vaine
Applique & Embroidery Fundamentals By Janice Vaine
I have such an appreciation for Jan’s work because I do not see how the heck she does it. I think she wrote this book just for me. It is written for a first time stitcher with step by step illustrations to master a variety of applique and embroidery techniques. There is plenty of things in this book for the experienced stitcher as well.  I had the chance to see some of the projects up-close at quilt market.
Amazing!! Look at some of the things she has created using the new ombre fabric from Vanessa Christenson’s new line, Simply Color.
You know the drill,  a couple of these books I have as a giveaway. Leave a comment to let me know which book you would like to win. I will draw the winners Sunday night and post them Monday morning. I must be able to contact you via email or the book will go to the next person’s name I draw. Be sure and folow me so you wont miss out on any future news and giveaways.

and the winners are

Congrats! Hope you enjoy your new book.

Modern Minimal
 goes to
Laura said…
I would love to learn more about Modern Minimal quilting. Thank you so much for the chance to win!
June 11, 2012 11:34 PM

Scrappy Fireworks
goes to
LINDA
I would love to win the Scrappy Fireworks Quilts by Edyta Sitar. She’s one of my favorite quilters.
Linda on 6/13/12



Applique with an Attitude
goes to girlfriends gap
Setting a summer goal to try and increase my appliqué skills so appliqué with attitude would be a great help. Thanks for a chance to win. All these books look fabulous.janita on more book reviews and more giveaways

and the winner of Free Motion Quilting is
Wendy said…
Some great books! I’d love FMQ with Angela. Thanks!
June 10, 2012 1:49 PM