book review: beginner's guide to free motion quilting = {a giveaway}

I was so happy that Natalia asked me to be a part of her blog book tour! (all photos courtesy C&T publishing)

If you have followed her blog at all then you know that she does some amazing work.  Between the quilt designs (many with amazing applique) and the actual quilting, she is one talented mama!

Natalia has written her first book for the beginner home machine quilter!

As Natalia said in her kick off post, quilting does seem to be a family affair! I learned to sew and quilt from my mother.  We didn't have formal lessons, I just learned as we worked on projects and as questions arose.  I love that at the beginning of the book she lays out simple instruction with photos of the different aspects of quilting: the type of feet you might need, thread selection, basics of basting, etc.  I love having all of that information so handy in one place!  I'm always learning something new!

Lately my littleslouwho are my reason for quilting.



I've made and am working on many quilts for them and me and the mrlouwho.  I wish I had Natalia's book when I free motion quilted my first quilt!  It's a good thing no one inspects each little stitch!!

The book has great step-by-step photo instructions to achieve many basic quilted patterns!

There is also valuable information on achieving something more than just an all-over pattern of stipples or loop-de-loops.  Which as a beginner is mostly what I do these days!

I am finding that I really love doing the actual quilting part, but I need more practice.  I can't wait to dive a little deeper into the book and try out some of the techniques!  I have some more placemats to make, they are the perfect size on which to practice! I'll show you when I finish them.

Natalia, thanks for including me!  There will be a giveaway on each post during the tour and a grand prize on her blog at the end of the tour!! All winners will be announced 18 March!

Would you like to win a copy of Natalia's book?  Just leave me a comment here telling me who or what inspired you to start a current project you are working on!

geared for guys book review and giveaway!

I met Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies Quilts last fall at the sewing summit! I was a fan of her boy inspired fabric designs and was really excited to hear about her new book Geared for Guys full of inspiring color palettes and quilt patterns with a masculine edge.

Emily is as fun and sweet as they get! I was really happy to participate when she asked me to to review her book and be a part of the tour!  I received a copy via PDF and am really happy how easy it is to read on my iPad.  I've not ventured out much into the world of eBooks, but so far I like it!!

I love how inspiring the patterns are in the book.  As we all know, it is a challenge to sew for the boys and men in our life.  Emily has successfully married color and design to create eight guy-friendly quilts that I would enjoy too!

There were two quilts in Emily's book that I was immediately drawn to.

I love the grays with a pop of orange in Odd Ball.

And Switch Back is an awesome pixelated version of the ever popular chevron!

I really love the simplicity of her designs in this book.  Things that work really well playing a lot of solids with masculine design.  The focus of the quilts becomes the colors and the patterns - not necessarily a bright focal floral like some of us, ahem (me), might be used to.

If you would like to win a copy of Emily's book Geared for Guys just leave me one comment (with email) answering the following question:

- What is the best thing you have made for a guy in your life? OR What would you LIKE to make for him?

To continue hopping along for more chances to win visit the lovely Pat Sloan for her review tomorrow.  Of course you can visit Emily's blog each day to see where the giveaway is for that day!

I'm so excited I might actually bust one of these out for my guy this summer!

Modern Basics book review and giveaway

Welcome to the end of the line of Amy's blog book tour!

Amy and I go waaaaay back! Well I like to think we do. I remember "meeting" her because I think we were both fairly new to the crafty-blogging scene and she was one of the first blogging friends I made. And a few months later when I visited Utah, I emailed her to see if she wanted to meet up and hang out. I remember her telling me her husband was worried I was some crazy person who may or may not be trusted. Little did he (or we) know the online sewing community is full of such niceness! And that more than 2 years later we would still be good friends!  It has also been fun to quilt with her in an online quilting bee.  And I can't talk about Amy here without acknowledging her part in inspiring Sew & Tell!

If you haven't heard yet, Amy has written a book!

I was so excited to see the book in person.  It is chock full of simple sophisticated quilt designs that even the earliest beginner could tackle.  The first page of each pattern has a photo of the quilt laying flat, supply lists, clear cutting instructions and suggestions for different sizes.

I love this window pane effect!

I've always loved a postage stamp quilt and this variation doesn't dissapoint.

This is the first project I have earmarked to make from the book!

 
I asked Amy a few questions so we could all get to know her a little better.

How and when did you learn to sew?
I learned to sew from my mom and 4-H.  Mom is left handed, and didn't want to teach me backward.  I was 10 when I started, and haven't stopped except for a few years in college.

What is your favorite thing about quilting?
I really love all of it, but my favorite is finishing the binding.  My husband has watched me lay a corner out, and see the first finished corner. Watching it be finished, is magic!

What is your favorite non-quilt thing to sew?
Bags!  I like to think up my own shapes/patterns and sew a new bag for each season.

What or who inspired you to start this book writing project?
As I started sewing more and more quilts, I was looking for simple and interesting patterns that could be finished easily in a week or two, instead of a month or year.  I wasn't finding them, and started sketching my ideas, which eventually turned into a book proposal.

Is there any sewing project or skill that intimidates you?
I'm not an expert at applique, but I don't let it intimidate me!  I keep trying it in small doses to gain the experience.

What is your biggest hurdle in completing projects?
Like any of you...TIME!  There's always a project, or two, on my brain waiting for the time.

What is your biggest asset in completing projects?
I'm very systematic in my approach, this helps keep me organized, and makes it easy for me to pick up where I left off. 

Are you indeed, superwoman? ;)
Hahaha, no.  I wish.

Fruit or Chocolate?
Chocolate - for sure!

Naps or sewing?
I wish my kids still napped!  I rarely nap, and much prefer to sew with my free time.

Thanks so much Amy for letting me a part of your tour! You can check out the rest of the blog tour posts here - there may still be giveaways open to enter! And if you are too impatient to find out if you win a copy, you can always purchase a copy here.

Amy has offered up a copy of her book to one of you!
To enter:  Leave me a comment telling me how long you have been sewing and if you have ever finished a quilt.  
Giveaway ends Tuesday March 8, winner announced on Wednesday! Make sure you leave an email in your comment if you are a no-reply blogger.  Winner will be drawn by random.org.
I love finding things out about you guys!  Good Luck!

awesome mail day #3

I got this in the mail from my friend Amy at Amy's Creative Side!! Woohoo!  I consider myself lucky to have received a preview copy!

I will be concluding Amy's book tour in early March.  The tour started yesterday and she'll be sending you to a new blog each day with reviews and a chance to win your own copy.

I'll share more about my impressions when it's my turn, but these quilts are awesome - and approachable!  When I was visiting Utah last January I got to see most of these quilts in progress.  It's fun to see them all finished up and even better to have the instructions on how to make them!  I have my eye on one already...

I realize I posted the pincushion kit giveaway on a Saturday of a long weekend.  So here's a reminder to go to this post and leave a comment for this darling kit!

And then while I was sewing today 2 of my crumbsnatchers were watching a movie. I heard them trying to get a blanket, thinking they were going for the down throw that they always use. When I went into the other room, this is what I saw!

Warmed my heart, for sure. It's still needing a little bit more quilting and a wash. But I plan on sharing it this Friday for sew & tell. Are you ready with a finish?