Tag: Martingale Publishing

Sisterhood of Scraps- Barbara Brackman

Hello all,

I want to Welcome Barbara Brackman today as she does a guest post about her quilt in my new book, Sisterhood of Scraps.

“When Using Stripes and Plaids Buy Extra Fabric to Match.”

Someone ignored that good old HomeEc advice to make the Orange Zig-Zag. Lucky for us.

The quilt top came from a Topeka, Kansas thrift store in the 1970s. I asked church ladies in Garnett, Kansas to hand quilt it in the ‘80s. I’d guess the quilt dates to about 1920 due to two fabric style characteristics. The oranges are all cut from the same solid and it looks like a 20th-century dye, not chrome orange, a 19th-century dye. It’s not really lightfast. I hung it too long one winter in Seattle where there’s not much sun; yet the orange faded a bit.

The light fabrics are shirting stripes and plaids, which were quite popular for everybody’s clothing in the teens. Even the giant black and white stripes were probably meant for a snappy men’s shirt, worn with a celluloid collar.

Ad from 1910

I’ve enjoyed hanging it over the years to the envy of my friends who decided to make their own. You might want to use Lissa’s pattern beyond the advice I gave them:

“Get a bunch of orange prints & solids and white stripes & plaids. Make a 60-degree diamond template. Piece rows. When you get bored piece some half diamonds along two sides.”

That’s how I do things, but my friends bought a 60-degree ruler and counted.

We had an orange-fest at our quilt show a few years ago. The quilt on the left is by Kathe Dougherty, a faithful copy. Karla Menaugh’s on the right was done in a Kaffe Fassett workshop.

Kathe was really able to match the look of a century ago.

Orange Zig-Zag by Carol Gilham Jones (Not Orange)

Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your quilt in the Sisterhood of Scraps.

Here is my version that primarily uses the Lollies fabrics by Jen Kingwell. I want to make a quilt exactly like Barbara’s and probably still will.

Please share your version by using the hashtags #sisterhoodofscraps.

Enjoy,

Modalisa

Little Farmstead Living

I live in Farmers Branch, a small town that
sits immediately north of Dallas, Texas.
I have lived here since I was eight years old. Three of my five kids live here, and all four of my grandkids live here.
My oldest grandson just started Kindergarten at the same elementary school I attended.
Why I mention this, is our family roots run deep and while I live in a suburb of Dallas, Texas surrounded by international business,
bustling highways, I love anything country/farmhouse related.

When I found out Martingale was publishing a book from Julie Thomas, I knew I had to own it.

I have followed Julie on instagram for quite a while and love everything she does.

Now I get to drool over the pages in print as she shares how they
“created a country life just past the city limits.”

Sounds completely heavenly!

Not only is the book full of gorgeous pictures, but it is also full of how-tos,
such as creating an outdoor eating area.
Many of these ideas are doable regardless of your space.

Gardening? My brown thumb doesn’t work, but I love reading about it,
dreaming about it and eating out of other people’s gardens.

Chickens Like Pumpkins Too.

This saying made me giggle.
My daughter lives in the country and raises chickens, so I do enjoy fresh, colorful eggs.
I will certainly send my pumpkins to the farm as treats for her chickens.

And if this is not the cutest thing ever,
an Olde English “Babydoll” sheep.

Not sure if this is Teddy, Winston or George but I
could stare at him for days.

A great book to add to your Christmas wish list! Available at your favorite book retailer. Stock #B1500

(all above photos used courtesy of Martingale publishing)

The book will be in stores October 1st, but as a special treat, I have an advance copy that I am going
to share with one of my country girl readers.

Leave a comment and let me know if you had an animal growing up.

I had many animals, but one of my favorites was my duck named Frito.

I will pick a winner at random on Wednesday the 18th.

 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

  Winner

I love Quirky

I love the word Quirky and I love little quilts, which is why I am taking part in Quirky Little Quilts quiltalong. I have choosen some of my favorite Minick and Simpson Christmas scraps.

Book and fabrics- Ready to go!
photo from https://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/

How super cool would it be to have a jar big enough to hold mini quilts or enough mini quilts to even fit into the jar! That is what I am going for.

Sheryl shared many tips on finishing the mini quilts and I can’t wait to get finished to try some of them out.

The Quiltalong starts on March 25th and all you have to do is make 4 mini blocks a week. To find out more details, click here.

Be sure to use the hashtag #QuirkyLittleQuiltsQAL when you post about your progress on Facebook and Instagram. I can’t wait to see what you create!

Splendid Sampler II

Welcome to the last stop on the Splendid Sampler 2 block hop.

I have a story about my quilt block, but first I wanted to tell you about a few behind the scenes details. (excuse my analogies, but it fits)

While I did not birth this Splendid Sampler baby, I was indeed there at conception. A few years ago, I sat with the uber-talented Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson as they talked through this little idea they had. I immediately asked how Moda Fabrics can be involved. We continued to talk through the process from beginning to end, organizing the fabrics, creating Facebook pages, building a website, featuring patterns and inviting creatives to be a part of the journey. We all hit the ground running. Over the next fun months the baby grew and grew, we had our version of morning sickness as we orchestrated picking two color palettes,  dividing the fabrics into sets, shipping them across the world. Whew! Pat and Jane were contacting designers that could tell a story and teach a different technique all in a 6″ block. The baby was birthed, and it grew, bigger than anyone would have expected. It became so much and eventually turned into a book.

Pretty Awesome!
They survived the stretch marks, morning sickness, and delivery.

Well, Jane and Pat decided that they could do this again!!

June 13, 2017, I received the second invite to be a part of another birth…….

Below are swatches of the color palette for Splendid Sampler 2.

Fabrics were cut, folded and mailed.

My block’s name is Big Sun.

I made this block during the Hurricane Harvey.

We were asked to tell our story about Best Quilting Life as we were making our blocks and this is why I named this block,

Big Sun even though it is a little 6″ block.

I couldn’t help but think about how so many people were affected by this storm,
that I wish a Big Sun would come and dry up all the water.

I have been so fortunate to start quilting at a very young age, to have met many people through the process

and eventually found a job in the industry doing what I love.

My quilt block instructions can be found on the Splendid Sampler website, click here for more info.

Splendid Sampler- Big Sun

What I know is quilter’s use their gift of quilting to help others, whether it is making a

quilt for a new baby or comforting those experiencing national disasters.

The life of a quilt lives on long after we are gone, it is a part of the maker, it is part of their story.

Who knows what is in store for Pat and Jane on their journey, but I always hope to be a part of their story and

thank them for including me in the birth of the Splendid Samplers!

Now if you have read all the way to here,
you know I have something good in store for you!
YES, a giveaway!! I have a couple of prizes.

Prize 1

Splendid Sampler 1 book with some fabric goodies!!

Prize 2

Splendid Sampler 2 book with some fabric goodies!!

Leave a comment, letting me know what your favorite size quilt block is and I pick a few winners at random.

I will announce the winners, November 8th.

Be sure and check out all the other great talent that has shared part of their story through the Splendid Sampler projects.

June
14 Alex Veronelli
21 Rebecca Bryan
28 Helen Stubbings

July
5 Wenche Wolff Hatling
12 Susan Ache
19 Lori Kennedy
26 Sharon Burgess

Aug
2 Brenda Ratliff
9 Amy Friend
16 Rachaeldaisy
30 Nadra Ridgeway

Sept
6 Irene Blanck
13 Carl Hentsch
20 Jo Avery
27 Nicole Vos van Avezathe

Oct
4 Jenny Doan
11 Jane Pineapple
18 Carolee McMullin
25 Pat Radio Waves

Enjoy,

-modalissa

Red and White


What is your favorite color? Mine is red so when I was asked to participate in a collaborative project from Martingale Publishing, I jumped at the chance.

In 2011, I was able to attend the Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts exhibit in New York City. If you are a quilter, you would understand when I say this was a religious experience. 650 red and white quilts from the collection of Joanna S. Rose were exhibited in Park Avenue’s 55,000 sq. ft. Armory’s Wade Thompson Drill Hall. Mrs. Rose celebrated her 80th birthday by creating this exhibit and sharing it with all of us.

Walking up the steps to the Armory everyone was a-buzz with excitement, but as soon as the doors opened, there was silence. Everyone’s breath was taken away with the greatness of the exhibit and the venue. Quilter’s from all over the world attended the exhibit along with historians, educators, children, and artists. To read more about this exhibit, visit Park Avenue Armory.

Crowd Pleaser by Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Daydreams by Camille Roskelley

Enough With The Curves by Jen Kingwell

Flower Power by Helen Stubbings

Forever Thoughtful by Sue Daley

Happy Accident by Susan Ache

Memory of a Masterpiece by Lisa Bongean

All of the quilts will be on exhibit at the International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston, Texas, November 2019.

Ruby Jubilee by Karen Styles

Scarlet Song by Kim Diehl

Stars in Flight by Jill Shaulis

Sweet Dreams by ME!! with massive quilting by Teresa Silva

I left there hoping to make 1 red and white quilt a year. I have made 3 since 2011 so that was another reason I wanted to participate in this book. Now I have 4 red and white quilts along with patterns for several more.

Tracking Tradition by Debbie Roberts

#Twisted Cabin by Sarah Huechteman

Walk This Way by Carrie Nelson

How is that for a virtual quilt show?

Does it make you want to make a red and white quilt?

Or Maybe even just drool over the pages?

Well, guess what, I have some advance copies of Red & White Quilts, 14 Quilts with Timeless Appeal from Today’s Top Designers, and I want to give away a few.

Leave a comment telling me your favorite quilt show you have ever been to. If you haven’t been to a show, let me know which one you want to go to.

DISCLAMIER: I will be attending Quilt Market and Festival so I won’t be able to do the drawing and announce the winner until Saturday, November 10th.

Next week there will be an additional chance to win, follow my Instagram page,  https://www.instagram.com/modalissa/for details.

Books will be available in stores mid November, but if you are attending Quilt Festival, Primitive Gatherings will have some for sale.

Izzy Squared- baby quilt

 

The fun of making scrap quilts is that I sew bits and pieces together and let the plan develop as I go. I always ask my quilting friends, “Do you cut out the entire quilt before you get started, or do you cut some pieces and test your color choices before you cut the entire quilt?”

I think I have always done the latter and maybe that is because of my love of scraps quilts.

And because of this I often have some leftovers in quilting, not in cooking. I added more squares and had enough pieces from my Izzy Squared quilt (large version) to make a baby quilt.

  

Thought this would be a good time to talk value which is basically one word for light, medium or dark. If you haven’t read Oh Scrap yet, the book is full of color coordinated quilts that push the envelope a little bit in the study of value and fabric placement.

Don’t get me wrong, I love everything about all of these blocks, they are scraps so by definition anything is acceptable. So i am going to share some value tips from some of the blocks. The best way to study color is to look at things in black and white. Crazy, right?

In the above picture, look at the grayscale block. What do you see? Look how strong the royal blue block stands out. It is definitely considered a dark. The fabric has very little design in it so also reads as a solid. The other fabric in this example is the red corner square in the bottom right corner. Dark and reads as a solid so it is a strong selection.

When I mentioned leftovers sometimes start my quilts, sometimes they help me finish. I was about out of reds for the centers and came across this tiny 4 patch that I trimmed to just the right size for my center square. I love the quirky little block.

 

These two pictures are not side by side so  you may have to scroll back and forth to see the differences. I have shown the grayscale version above. Look at the bottom middle block, notice how the square in the left hand corner disappears?

Here is the color version of the sweet little aqua fabric that is just perfect for this block. It also reads as a solid but would be considered a light. When studying value, you also have to take into consideration the background fabric. This little aqua square is close in value but different enough in color to work.

Shown here is a larger section of the quilt showing the difference in the values of lights and darks makes you eye explore all the colors. I love the block that is just the 5 red squares.

When asked if I have a favorite version of these blocks, it is like asking if I have a favorite child. I love them all for different reasons! I am always surprised how each block turns out!! Love, love, love.

 


Then once your quilt top is complete, the quilting is always the icing on top. Maggi Honeyman quilted this quilt for me with an all over design. When studying color, pattern and values keep in mind that quilting does add another layer of art by defining or minimizing some of your fabric choices.

I used one of Bonnie and Camille’s 108″ wide quilt backs from Moda. (leftovers from another quilt back). The backing is so soft and almost silky feeling which will be yummy once it is washed and wrapped around a little one.

Shown below is the larger version of this color way of Izzy Squared quilt. To read more about it, go here.

Ask for Oh Scrap book at your favorite quilt or specialty store for patterns and more color tips.

Enjoy!

-modalissa

Merry Makers

Giveaway closed!!

 

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

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.

 

 

Oh Scrap – Teresa Silva

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 – Carrie Nelson


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.

This crew is a great scrappy bunch!! I love each and every one of them especially John Atkins!! He is the one flirting with the nun!


Oh Scrap was born.

The baby size version of Izzy Squared made the cover. Red centers but print sashings give the two quilts a complete different look.

Start collecting Moda Mini Charms, throw them all up in the air and magically you will have mini charming quilt.

Share your version of any of these quilts by sharing them online using #ohscrap or #modalissa. I can’t wait to see what you create.

Hop on over to the Moda Cutting Table to be entertained by our Carrie Nelson. If she says anything nice about me, it probably isn’t true.

March 16th- Pat Sloan

March 17th- Corey Yoder

March 18th- Barbara Brackman

March 19th-Alison Dale of Fabric Expressions

March 20th- Melissa Corry

TODAY’S STOP ON THE BLOG HOP

March 21st- Carrie Nelson of Moda Fabrics

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

Enjoy,

-modules