Planning Ahead . . . .

I'm still working away on Crazy Eights,

but while I'm working on one project I'm always thinking of the next one,

and here's one I hope to get to soon.....

I'm so excited I had an excuse to buy a layer cake of this adorable fabric,

Max and Whiskers by Basic Grey for Moda. This is the first line of fabric I've purchased by Basic Grey.

I was thinking this little guy could use a quilt,

as soon as he stops growing, so I know what size to make!

(I think that line suits Tucker to a "T")

Cooper demands equal blog time.

Two dog pictures, each with a panda, even-steven I would say.

(I think Tucker is a bigger fan of the panda than Cooper!)

Today, Nicole over at Sister's Choice, is kicking off week two of the Fat Quarter Winners by Monique Dillard Book Tour. I think she even has a tutorial, be sure to stop by!

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Just a Little More Eventide . . .

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments for our Eventide Sew Along Parade!

I agree, they all are winners!

I was finally able to download a decent picture of Carol's Eventide . . .

Doesn't that make a difference! What a beauty, thanks for being so patient and understanding Carol!

I also posted Sinta's Eventide before it was totally pieced. Here's her finished Eventide.

I never could figure out how to swap the picture in my blog with this one.

Sinta has named her finished Eventide her "Dear John Quilt", check out Sinta's blog for her Dear Eventide letter. Sinta, I think you'll fall back in love with this quilt at some point, maybe not today, or tomorrow, but for sure, one of these days you'll be so happy to have this big lovely Fig Tree quilt on your bed, I just know it.

I learned so much hosting my first sew along. Next time I will give folks more time to work a sew along into their schedule, a little more time to prepare and finish what is currently on their sewing table before the official start date. I'll also make sure adequate patterns are available before the official start date. As a whole, I think things went pretty well.

I will host another sew along and am currently mulling over some ideas. One idea is to go at a slower pace, to give new quilters and busy quilters time to easily participate. Maybe have monthly goals over a 6 month period. Another idea I'm trying to figure out is a sew along where we all use the same fabric but chose our own patterns. I'm having a hard time figuring out how I could get a group to not only agree on a family of fabric, but to go out and buy it. Stay tuned for updates.

Now for our Sew Along Winners -

Gretchen - Stella Bella Quilts, you are the winner of the $50 Gift Certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop - donated by Kimberly

Carol - This and That, you are the winner of a prize donated by Carrie Nelson.

Thanks to both of our very generous prize sponsors!

I'm working on the mug rugs I promised each finisher at the start of the sew along, I hope to get them in the mail next week.

Now that I've wrapped up the sew along, I wonder what to do with all my spare time, maybe some Evening Bloom and a new quilt or two, for sure I'll be back to reading my favorite blogs, checking out the new ones from folks who followed the sew along, and getting caught up on my comments!

Today is Lisa's Fat Quarter Winners Book Tour day, go check out Pinochle, you'll love it!!

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Book Tour . . . .

Welcome to Week One, Day Three, Thelma Day One, of the Fat Quarter Winners Book Tour!

Or as I like to call it, my turn!

Fat Quarter Winners is the first book written by Monique Dillard. You are probably familiar with Monique through her Open Gate patterns or Fit to be Geese rulers. The book is published by C&T Publishing and is currently available for purchase through several online book stores, online quilt stores, or maybe even a quilt shop near you. The book is also available through Monique's Open Gate Quilts website.

Since I don't get in a quilt shop very often, I keep a list of books I see folks blog about online, and then when I finally do get to a quilt shop or book store, I look them over. I won't buy a book for one pattern, I have to like at least TWO projects in the book and am really happy when 3 projects appeal to me. But that being said, I do prefer books over individual patterns. There are usually more illustrations in quilt books than individual patterns, there are usually more colorful pictures, and I just love the introductions, those first few pages at the beginning of quilt books that you may skip. It's in those first few pages that you get a real feel for the author and I usually pick up a few new tips. At a minimum, those introductions reinforce that what I am doing, I'm doing correctly.

So imagine my excitement to get the opportunity to actually look at a book before it hit the shelves. This book has eleven different patterns and I like them all. The other features of this book that appeal to me are the alternate quilt sizes for each project, you know how I like to make my projects any size but the pattern designer's size. No math required, Monique provides several alternatives to meet your size need. I also like how the patterns in this book can be made with any style of fabric, you like Civil War reproduction fabric, that works, you like Kaffe Fassett, that works, into batiks, perfect choice, looking to use up some of your stash, this book has you covered. I would say this book gets the "C n D" stamp of approval.

The first thing Lisa, Nicole and I needed to do when we got our books was to decide which pattern we wanted to make for our book tour. We each made a list of our top 3 favorites then shared our lists, we all chose the same pattern for our number one choice, Pinochle! Well that wouldn't make for an interesting blog tour. I'm not making Pinochle for the book tour, but believe me, I will be making Pinochle! (interestingly, while we all picked the same number one choice, all of our number two and number three choices were different!!)

My second choice was Crazy Eight.

I liked how the center block spilled out into border, I liked how depending on your focus, this project has different looks, sometimes it looks like it is two large alternating blocks, sometimes the blue blocks look like they form a circle around the background four patch, sometimes it's the diagonal line of blue blocks that catch my eye. It also didn't hurt that there was a little red in the pattern!

So once I chose my pattern, I then needed to decide on my fabric. I've never made a red and black quilt and I thought that combination may work really well for Crazy Eights.

I started with this bundle of Sophia fabric by Wyndham that I bought for no purpose other than to set out in my sewing room, well no more, I pulled out the fat quarters that were predominately red or predominately black.

To those I added any black or red fabric in my stash that caught my eye. I just stacked them on this shelf until I had what I thought was a good assortment.

The quilt size I'm making is 60" x 72" and calls for 10 black, 10 red, and 10 light fat quarters, how easy is that! So easy that I figured I would go with 20 different reds and 20 different blacks, you know me, I've said it before, "more is more". I also decided to go with one background fabric instead of several, just to give my project less background noise.

Each block is made up of red and black sets. So I needed to match my black and red fabric into sets.

Here they are.

Even though the book calls for fat quarters, this particular pattern doesn't use a strip of fabric wider than 2 inches so you could also use jelly roll strips, or any other strips you may have.

So that's where I am, I've got my fabric selected, my strips cut, now I just need to make a few of these blocks.....

84 to be exact!

I used this basket when I was making my twelve thousand hst units for Belle Meade, I never did get this basket full,

maybe 84 Crazy Eight blocks will fill it up! Come back next Wednesday for an update!

So here's this week's Fat Quarter Winners Book Tour Schedule:

Monday - Nicole - Sister's Choice, Nicole is making Rummy

Tuesday - Monique - Open Gate Blog, Monique is making Spades

Wednesday - Me and Crazy Eight

Thursday - Lisa - Stashmaster, Lisa is making Pinochle!! Yes, Lisa won out and is making our number one favorite pattern, I bet you can't wait to see it, I know I can't!!

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Eventide Parade . . . .

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means . . . it's Eventide Parade Day!!

WOO HOO!!

It came right down to the last minute for some folks but I am thrilled with the number of sew along participants who were able, or almost able, to finish their Eventide for today's parade!!

First Up

the quilt that started it all, the original Eventide by

Carrie Nelson for Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

Carrie, thanks so much for the inspiration and wonderful pattern.

This Eventide looks more like a Schnibble.....

Sorry Carol, I just could not get your beautiful Eventide, made with Wiscasset by Minick and Simpson any larger in my photo software. I'll try to steal a better one from your blog when you post one! This is a beautiful quilt, this photo does not do it justice.

Sinta - Pink Pincushion, had several variations of her Fig Tree Eventide before settling with the dark brown fabric for the large star points.

Here's Sharrie's, Needles Zing , almost done Eventide. Sharrie pulled pastels from her stash to get this fresh and springlike look. Sharrie said she ran out of steam and thread late last night. Thats OK, we're an equal opportunity parade.

Gretchen, Stella Bella Quilts, finished her Eventide last week but storms in Georgia almost prevented her from getting her finished picture to me, but we made it. And I'm so glad we did, Gretchen, your Fig Tree Eventide is wonderful. I think your Eventide also feels like spring with all your light greens and yellows.

Mary Lou, at Cheaper Than Therapy Quilting, has everything done but the border. And Mary Lou, no one's going to notice you sewed that one block sideways,

really! ; )) It looks great!

Be sure to send another picture when you get your border on.

Here's Lisa the Stashmaster's Luna Notte Eventide. Lisa finished days ago and just kept waiting for a sunny day to take her picture, but she lives in Seattle, so she finally had to take the picture indoors. At least she found a nice bright spot in her house. Great job Lisa!

Marianne was the last person to join the sew along, just three weeks ago, and finished her Eventide made with Garden Party yesterday, at 2:09 pm.....another great job! This was Marianne's first online sew along. Thanks for giving it a try Marianne, I hope it's not your last!!

Paula's Luna Notte Eventide looks as pretty at the pattern cover quilt. Paula, it wasn't an easy finish, but it sure is a beautiful one.

Here's our only Christmas themed quilt. Judith selected Roses de Noel for her fabric and went looking for a different name, Sinta, also in our sew along, suggested Winter's Eve. Great job, great name! Judith was our Netherlands sew along participant, her blog, Smokey From the Netherlands is mainly written in Dutch.

Here's Nicole's final Eventide. I say final because this project had several different looks before it got to this point. Nicole, your eye for color really came through for you on this project, your subtle background colors make this a beautifully quiet quilt.

Here's Beatrice's Eventide, she used Collection for a Cause - Heritage by Howard Marcus for Moda. Beatrice's solid outer border and her differing large star colors gives her project a great and different look. Beatrice gave our sew along a French flair, I have no idea what she said about our sew along and her project on her blog, but it sure sounded great!

Here's Deb's Eventide made from Jo Morton fabrics. Of course I think the red inner border is the perfect touch, but I also really like punch of color in the Ohio Stars against the light larger star points. Deb said, " It's been a pleasure working with you and the other gals the last 6 - 8 weeks to complete Eventide. I've had a really good time, and with the pressure of getting it done by a set time, I actually was able to complete one timely!" Thanks Deb, it's been a pleasure hearing from you each week.

Here is Sue's Luna Notte Eventide, Sue was the first sew along participant to finish, almost a month ago! Sue liked her quilt just like this and decided not to add the outer border of rectangles. I agree Sue, this quilt does look finished without that outer border. Sue's blog is Cozy Little Quilts.

Peggy, I love your Eventide made from Gatherings and I love your setting for your picture. What a perfect background for this quilt. Peggy said "I really love how it turned out. The larger stars are darker than in Carrie's sample, but I like that." Peggy, you weren't the only one who went with darker star, I think it looks great.

Here's Gayle's finished Eventide. Gayle used an assortment of darks blues, olive greens and khakis for the main portion of her quilt and went with two reds for the inner border, all from her stash. Gayle said," the quilt went together quickly and quite easily". Great Job Gayle!

And finally, my Eventide which I have named "Dancing with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight"

Once I make sure I've not left out any finishes, we'll have the drawing for a $50 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop

and for a prize donated by Carrie Nelson.

If you're working on Eventide but didn't quite make the finish date, be sure to drop me a line when you blog about your finish or a picture if you don't have a blog. I want to see every finished project, regardless of when that finish may be!

If I missed getting your finished project in the parade, I'm so sorry, send me a note and I'll get your quilt added to the parade.

My heartfelt thanks to all for making my first sew along such a success, to the folks who participated in the sew along and the folks who followed our progress every week, every step of the way. I had the best time, I hope you did too!!

PS Don't forget to check out Monique's blog for her first Fat Quarter Winners Book Tour post, my first book tour day is tomorrow!!

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Back Home . . . .

Lifetime Quilt # 60 is home from the quilter!

Welcome Home A Mazing Abundance! My quilter thought a simple all over design with plenty of curves is what this quilt with all its straight lines needed, I have to agree.

The fabric I used was Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and my favorite fabric from that whole line is on the back.

Perfect timing, I was ready for a change in my bedroom.

The pattern for this quilt is Ashcombe by Carrie Nelson for Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

It's hard to tell in these pictures, but the background fabric is a green on cream print that is perfect for this time of year, when things are starting just to turn green around my yard.

This quilt is still such a surprise for me, I just love it, unexpectedly so, and I can't even tell you why!! There's just something about that fabric married with that pattern, sometimes it's just as simple as that.

All I need now is a big square pillow made from the scraps that I saved from this project right in the middle of those two red shams! Maybe I'll get to that next week, stay tuned for an update!

Tomorrow's Tuesday, Eventide Tuesday, and not just any Eventide Tuesday, it's the big reveal, all the finished Eventides will be parading across my blog, don't miss it!

If you're a Eventide Sew Along finisher, make sure you send me a picture or link to your blog of your finished quilt if you've not already done so, THANKS!

Julie I'm Keeping Busy in WA won this Schnibbles Bag O'Goodies from last week's Eventide post. Congratulations Julie, and thanks for following the Eventide Sew Along!

I've been asked to do a book tour for Monique Dillard's new book Fat Quarter Winners. I was happy to agree to do the book tour for several reasons; first because I met Monique last fall and found her to be a delightful person and talented quilter, also, it's Monique first book and I am just so proud and happy for her that I want to shout it from the rooftops, but only a few squirrels and deer would hear me, so I figured my blog would be a more constructive way to get the word out, and and finally, I love the book, it's fresh and fun.

So here's how it's going work, me and a few other bloggers have selected a pattern from the book and plan to dedicate one day each week the month of April blogging about our quilt. We also plan to blog about Monique's book, throw in a tutorial, add a giveaway, Bob's Your Uncle and we have a book tour. Mondays are Nicole's at Sister Choice days to blog. So pop on over to Nicole's blog and read her first official post for the Fat Quarter Winners Book Tour!

See ya right back here tomorrow for the Parade, the forecast is for a perfect day!

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