Happy, Happy New Year!

Phyllis, your #6 comment won the giveaway for last week - a Pheasant Feathers booklet & charm pack. You'll be the first on your block to receive them - just as soon as they're printed! Thanks to everyone for your New Year's Eve comments. I'm hanging out with grankids during the day, then just R and I for the evening. My favorite time is New Year's morning, snuggling in bed watching the parades. Robert fixes brunch and we pretty much snack the rest of the day. I just discovered Trader Joe's this year so we loaded up on small portions of appetizers from crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms to apple dumplings and artichoke dip. I'll be in my sweats all day, for sure!

I'm continually amazed at my grankids' minds. I found a note from my 8-yr-old grandaughter, Aleece, on my note board after she left yesterday. "The sool (soul) with in you will make you strong." Wow! I don't remember being that introspective at 8!

My 6-yr-old grandaughter, Delainey, showed off her new karoake microphone and shared, "I love singing so much I could do it all day, but Mommy & Daddy clap more if I only do it sometimes." How true! Grankids can certainly teach us life lessons, if we take the time to listen.

This week, I hope you all begin the new year with hope in your heart and a new quilting project you can't wait to begin. I'll help you out with this week's giveaway. I have a scrap strip bundle of Pheasant Hill with someone's name on it. It's about 2 Jelly Rolls worth - plenty for the Pheasant Feathers pattern (last week's giveaway) or any scrappy quilt on your list. Here are a few of the prints included in the 40+ strips.

Tell me what you're hoping to make this year!

Post Christmas Poundage

So explain to me how eating less than a pound of cheesecake equals 5 pounds gained on the scale? It just makes no sense to me! Obviously I've done my share of indulging this past week with celebrations at my Mom's house and at the KT Retreat with my kids/grankids. All 14 of us snacked, played games, opened gifts, ate some more and laughed until we cried. It's the first time in years that all of them have been able to spend the night for Christmas. I forget just how funny my kids are. A wonderful time was had by all.

As for the giveaway last week, congratulations to scottylover. You're the winner of the KT Loose Change book and set of 2 rulers. Enjoy! This week, we'll be giving away a Pheasant Feathers booklet and Charm pack. The booklet is being edited this weekend and printed next week, so it'll be hot off the presses. Joyce Spaulding, you'll finally get your Pheasant Feathers booklet and mini charm in the mail, too!

All 4 of these projects using my layered patchwork for easy, peasy blocks are included in the booklet along with another pillow topper using a single star block. So much fun for so little! The lap size quilt features a Dessert Roll - one of Moda's newest precuts. It features (20) different 5" x WOF strips from Pheasant Hill that make the blocks and much more! Just 4 more fabrics are needed to complete the quilt with enough leftover to make a pillow or runner. What a deal! Watch for Dessert Rolls in your favorite quilt shop in March.

Let me know how you celebrate New Year's Eve or your wish for the New Year. Ours will be quiet, as usual, after having grankids in and out all week. More good food, but I think I'll pass on the cheesecake. My jeans can't take it!

Enjoy the rest of your holiday season and a Very Happy New Year to all!
Lynne

Holiday Prep

Good Morning Ladies! Less than a week until the whole tribe shows up for our family Christmas this Sat. night/Sunday. I spent most of the weekend rearranging/cleaning/redecorating the bedroom of the retreat space to accommodate everyone. It's been almost 4 years since we hosted quilting retreats and the bedroom was looking weary. I'd put away most of my antique quilts and vintage decorations since the grankids were the only ones sleeping there. After moving beds, pulling out quilts and decking the walls, it feels like the cozy KT retreat space it always has. I don't have all the beds made yet but will have pictures soon.

Congratulations to Christie (commented on 12-10@6:41pm) and Linda (commented on 12-11@7:42am). You're this weeks winners of the Christmas patterns. Christie will receive the 3 patterns from last week's giveaway and Linda will get the Merry, Joy, Wish and Warm Memories booklets. It's not too late to send in your money for either set of patterns - or both! $5 postage would cover it all!

We're so pleased with the response to our new book, Loose Change, and the rulers -Five & Dime and Spare Change. Soooooo, this week's giveaway is a set of rulers and the book! I'll be posting next Monday, Christmas Eve, to announce the winner. What a fun Christmas gift for yourself or a friend. 

There are several fast & fun ideas for Christmas included in Loose Change - Christmas Coins features a Layer Cake and Charm pack (watch for my new Christmas collection in May 2013, Icicle Kisses),

 A darling wall quilt using a charm and mini charm pack with wool holly & button berries and a Christmas wish embroidered in the border by Cheryl Ross of Heaven on Earth Quilt Shop in Wabash, IN....

and a cute pincushion made from an extra block! Even I could get a couple of those made for gifts next year! 

One more trip to the store for brunch fixin's and a couple of stocking stuffers (and another bottle of holiday cheer!) and we'll be good to go for this year's celebration. I love that all the kids and grankids come to spend the night, then we open presents in our p.j.'s and have Christmas brunch like we used to when they were little. As they head out the door Sunday evening to gear up for their own family Christmases, Robert and I sigh a little and relish the quiet once more. 

Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and a blessed Christmas with family and friends. 

Holiday Mind Scramble

I opened my blog this morning to announce the winner of the 3 Christmas patterns from the blog special last week and guess what? NO COMMENTS! I wondered if everyone was so busy Christmas shopping they weren't blogging, but then realized I hadn't posted that little bit of information. So sorry! Sooooo, this week, there will be 2 winners - one for this week's giveaway of 2 Christmas booklets and last week's for the 3 patterns. For this week, how about Warm Memories with a feather tree & ornaments to count down to Christmas...

AND Merry, Joy, Wish with double stars simplified with our layered patchwork technique and 

fused raw edge applique in the borders. 

Each booklet has several other projects for the holidays including runners, pillows, etc. It's still not too late! Who am I kidding? At least you'll have a good start for next year. Why does it feel like December only has a couple of weeks in it? I haven't even gotten a tree yet! My excuse it that we're moving virtually every piece of furniture we have to lay new carpet next week, I'm moving my office from one end of the building to the other, and we're changing internet providers. Lots of people coming and going making a mess with nothing in it's right place. Hauling out a bunch of Christmas decorations to add to the chaos didn't seem like a good idea. Before the kids & grankids come to spend the night, I'll hang some Christmas quilts, pull out the little already-decorated tree and pile presents underneath. As long as there is plenty of food and warm hearts, it's all good around here.

Hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly. Let me know how you do it all and stay sane!

If you'd like to purchase these 2 booklets ($10.95 retail each), please send $15 cash or check to: Lynne Hagmeier, PO Box 278, Bennington, KS 67422. We'll pay the shipping since they won't fit in a regular envelope. Robert would love it if you include a self-addressed label - that would be awesome!

Counting down...

Congratulations to Joyce Spaulding - you're the winner this week of the Pheasant Feathers booklet and Pheasant Hill mini charm pack. Please be patient as the pattern won't go to the editors next week. We'll send it out as soon as Robert prints it.

I'm making my lists and checking them a dozen times. I enjoy wandering through the stores to see what's new and collecting small gifts for the stockings, but a little of the holiday crush goes a long way for me. Much of my Christmas shopping is done online since we live far away from major shopping areas. Besides, many of the items requested this year are easily found on Amazon or ebay. Why spend the time and money to hunt for it when it practically jumps out at you from your computer screen yelling, Buy Me! Buy Me!

The most fun shopping, of course, is for the grandkids. Aleece is into collecting recipes - actually, she loves to copy recipes onto cute recipe cards. It's been amazing to see how much her handwriting has improved since she's found something to write that she's interested in. I'm stocking up on recipe cards, stickers, a recipe book with sleeves and an assortment of cool pencils. She also asked for her own paper punch and a mini stapler - too funny! Any other suggestions?

Delainey is pretty easy, anything to do with dance is on her list - leotards, a sweat suit to wear to dance, leg warmers, etc. She's our little performer, for sure. Bronson, with limited mobility, is always a challenge, but a new Matchbox track that mounts on the wall looks like it might just be the perfect solution. Cooper at 12 is way past the toy stage. He just wants really cool shoes. Santa might have to grant that wish. The kids/grankids will all come to stay the night on Dec. 22nd with brunch and gifts in our p.j.'s the next morning. It feels just like Christmas past when they were all little. I love it!

What's on your Christmas wish list? If KT books, patterns and fabrics are on your list, stay tuned. Each Monday between today - Dec. 3rd - and Dec.17th, we'll be offering a KT Blog special. Just send a stamped, self addressed envelope in the size indicated and cash for the items that week and we'll make your holiday wishes come true! This week's pattern bundle (offer good until Dec.13th.) :

Twinkly Stars from KT Stash Society (retail value $7.95)

Light Up the Holidays Mini Table Treats (retail value $5.00)

AND, Deck the Walls Charm pattern (retail value $6.50). Total value $19.45!

Receive all 3 patterns for only $10 (cash or check) with a postage paid ($3.00) 6" x 9" self-addressed envelope (Continental US only). Gather up a few friends (up to 5 offers in one envelope) and send $5.15 and a self-addressed label - we'll provide the USPS Priority envelope.

There's still time to whip up a simple project for someone special this year!

Check in next Monday to see the weekly special. Lynne

Stuffed

We have our family Thanksgiving on the Sat. after the big day to avoid over-stuffing. The kids and grankids go to the in-laws on Thursday, take a break for a day, then come here on Saturday for, basically, Thanksgiving Day leftovers. I cook my bird and  it goes directly into turkey hash. We looooove stuffing, so I make a layered stuffing, turkey, gravy dish that we've always just called hash. It's super easy and yummy - after all, you just can't go wrong with turkey and stuffing covered in gravy. The usual sides accompany with green bean casserole, crock pot corn and cranberry/waldorf salad. I'm not much of a pie baker (and my Mom was out of town) so I cheated and made a pumpkin dessert with a crunchy topping and apple crisp. Bribed with a pile of Cool Whip on top, everyone swore they didn't miss the pie crust at all. My daughter, Nicole, brought her now famous chocolate/butterscotch chip cookies that are so fat and chewy and tender I'm not sure how she does it. As soon as she walked in the door, they disappeared (our family's version of an appetizer, I guess.) Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend with all the people they love. If not, we have another shot at family bonding in just a few weeks.

Now, on to the business at hand. Congrats to ytsmom - you're the winner of the KT Retreat Gift Certificate! I hope you can grab some girlfriends and come see us this year. We're making lots of fun changes around here this winter and can't wait to share it with all you. For those of you who didn't win, watch for another chance before the year is done.

Here's a preview of one of my new projects for Pheasant Hill, Pheasant Feathers, featuring Moda's new precut, a Dessert Roll. A Dessert Roll consists of (20) different 5" x WOF strips from the Pheasant Hill fabric collection. It's a good chunk of fabric for blocks that have a bit larger pieces to cut, such as these modified star and square blocks. Each block starts with the same basic units. On the stars, a larger triangle is layered and stitched on each end of the dark squares; on the squares, 2 triangles are added. A mini charm square is centered and stitched onto each block.

The 4-patches in the corners are turned to make a secondary block in between. So fast, so easy! A Dessert Roll, a mini charm and 3-4 fabrics is all it takes to make this lovely lap quilt - big enough for two! A pillow with mini blocks and a runner are also included in the pattern.

I'm finishing up the pattern next week, but no Dessert Rolls available until March, so comment here and win the Pheasant Feathers booklet and a mini charm from Pheasant Hill. We'll do a Dessert Roll giveaway as soon as I have one.

Have a great Cyber Monday. Take a minute during this busy season to pamper yourself.
Lynne

More KT News

First of all, congratulations to Loris. You're the winner of the Point it Out pattern/kit this week. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. I, too, am a stuffing/gravy addict. In fact, we forgo tradition and start with the leftovers! My kids all go to their in-laws on Thanksgiving Day, so we celebrate on the Saturday after. Everyone has had the traditional turkey dinner at least once by then, so I make our favorite - turkey hash. It's just basically MORE stuffing and gravy mixed up with chunks of turkey. We love it!

Thanks to all of you who emailed to say you'd love to be part of the new KT Collector's Club. I'm so excited to get started! It's not too late to sign up. We'll have a place on the website where you can purchase individual Club packs as long as supplies last, but your best bet is to email or call me so we can get your name on the auto-ship program before Jan.1st.

And now, on to another BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - Kansas Troubles Quilters' Retreat  will open again in March 2013!! Yes, you read correctly. We're opening the second story over the KT Studio to quilters once again for weekend (or week day) retreats - with a few changes. We have ample room for up to 8 quilters. The retreat space will be available for $250/night for up to 4 quilters with an additional $60/person per night over 4. Continental breakfast will be available in the retreat kitchen. All other meals will be at the quilters' expense. We have some new dining options in Bennington with the expanded menu at Westside Ventures - including hot breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Just down the street, the new soda fountain, The Linger Longer, offers evening dinner specials and homemade shakes, floats and ice cream novelties. And of course, there's still the cafe with it's salad-plate-sized cinnamon rolls. Downstairs, we'll have KT books, fabrics and notions available for sale during store hours along with sewing collectibles, antiques, jewelry and other unique treasures. We're opening our doors beginning April 11th. Come for a few days to relax, quilt and laugh with your quilting friends. Here's a look at our KT Retreat from the lens of Pam Buda -

 You'll sleep dorm-style in vintage beds covered with antique quilts and linens.

 Our kitchen is fully equipped to host a party - and is a feast for the eyes!

After a long day of machine sewing, relax in the sitting area with some handwork or a magazine to unwind. There's plenty of room for everyone!

Ladies, I can't wait to meet each and every one of you. If I'm not traveling to teach at guilds or quilt shops, I'll stop in to visit while you're staying at the KT Retreat. My husband, Robert, will be your host during your stay. Hope to see you all soon!

To celebrate the new again KT Retreat, the giveaway this week is a $50 gift certificate for a group of 4 quilters for 2013. Grab some friends and make plans today!

Join our New KT Collectors Club

Congratulations to The Woolen Cellar! You're the winner this week of the Loose Change book, Five & Dime ruler & Spare Change ruler. Enjoy!

Have you made your deposit to quilt & sail with Pam Buda and I next September along the New England coast? Time - and space - is running out to make your reservation. Along with the beautiful scenery and lovely ports, we'll each offer 2 classes and a trunk show of our quilts during the week. Call me if you have any questions. We'd love to have you join us!

Do you wait impatiently for each KT fabric line to arrive at your local quilt shop? Do you love to pet and fondle each piece as you select the perfect ones for your next project? Wait no more! Announcing our new KT Collectors Club. Three times a year when our new fabric collections are released, you can be the first on your block to receive an assortment of the very newest prints. Beginning with Pheasant Hill in March,  Icicle Kisses in June and my new fall collection in September, you will receive (6) fat 1/6's, a mini charm pack with (40) 2 1/2" sq., and a pattern from our KT Stash Society using the new fabric. How fun is that? For just $25 for each collection (shipping included), we will automatically charge and send your package directly to your home. What a delightful surprise in your mailbox!

To sign up, email or call us with your mailing info and a Visa/MC and we'll add you to our list of KT fans who can't wait to get their hands on each collection. Do we really have to wait until March??????

For this week's giveaway, I have the November KT Stash Society pattern/kit for one lucky blogger. With just 2 fabrics and a mini charm pack, you can make a wonderfully simple runner to compliment your fall table decor. Comment on a favorite Thanksgiving dish to be eligible. I'm desperate for something a little different this year. Thanks for all your input, ladies. I love reading all your comments.

This weekend, I'm headed to Arthur, IL to meet up with my buddy, Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts and friends to antique shop. Can't wait to see what's in store! Updates next week.

Market Update

First of all, thanks to Mary for naming the new Pheasant Hill charm pattern - Pheasant Crossing. Love it! For the winning submission, we'll be sending her the charm pattern and a charm & mini charm so she can start on the quilt. Thanks, Mary, and to all of you who offered names. Believe me, I've saved some for future reference. Be assured you'll receive a little something in the mail if your suggested name is used in the future. This is definitely the way to brainstorm!

From the last post, we've drawn 2 names for unclaimed Harvest Moon prizes - Terry @ a quilting blog has won the Harvest Moon scrap strip bundle and Becky wins the Harvest Moon charm/mini charm. Thanks for hanging out at my blog ladies.

Now, on to what's been going on the past week or so in my world. After a thoroughly hectic week before market - I received my final precuts 6 days before leaving for market. I made a quilt Thursday, got it to my quilter and back over the weekend (thank you, thank you Lori Kukuk for giving up your Sunday to quilt for me), photographed it on Monday with no binding, and bound it in the motel room the night before market. Whew! Such is the pace before market. Anyway, here's the quilt I threw together in about 3 hours using only  1 Dessert Roll [(20) 5" x WOF strips of Pheasant Hill] and 1 fabric for border/binding. So fast, fun and easy! I just cut an inch from one edge of the strip; layered them wide, skinny, wide, skinny; pinned them in place, kinda; then stitched close to the pinked edges. Some of them went a bit wonky, but it just adds to the movement and uniqueness of the quilt. Lori quilted it in horizontal rows with 3 different motifs for fun. For a quilt this fast, inexpensive and fun, I love it! I also threw together a bag and a pillow using the same technique with just a few strips. It's called Dessert for Two.

On Wednesday of last week, I headed south to Wichita and picked up my good buddy, Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts who flew in to ride with me to market and help with my booth. Who could ask for a better friend? The only condition was we had to stop in Dallas at the Moda warehouse since she had yet to visit there. Once there, we found all kinds of goodies, including some "vintage" KT fabrics from over 10 years ago. I was in heaven! More on that in another post. Anyway, we shopped the warehouse and checked out the KT display with Loose Change and the many other titles they carry. It's still exciting to see my patterns & books at Moda!

We trekked on to Houston to unload the car and set up the booth. Lots of work, but so worth it. We showed all of the Loose Change projects, the new Pheasant Hill projects and some of the favorite KT Stash and Mini Table Treats from the last year, too. I demonstrated the Five & Dime ruler, showing how simple it is to center, stitch, cut and sew precuts into delightfully easy quilts in the Loose Change book. I did my demo so many times I think I was muttering it in my sleep that night! There's a YouTube video of the demo, too. I'll have that link for you soon.

Moda's booth won First Place in Multiple Booths! It was so clever and fun with the theme of "My favorite color is Moda". Paint cans, stir sticks, paint swatches and dripping paint made for a colorful and eye-catching display. Awesome!

 The highlight of the weekend is always the Moda party. Mark Dunn, owner of Moda/United Notions, throws a party and invites all his designers and customers to come eat, drink and play for the evening. He'a a truly generous businessman and we all appreciate his sense of fun. This year, the theme was Cowboys with cowboy hats, a country & western band, a Reba McIntyre impersonator and mechanical bull. What a hoot! I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt! The Moda party makes all the hard work of preparing for market worth every minute. Thanks to Mark Dunn, Lissa Alexander, Cheryl Freydeburg and the entire Moda family for making us all feel a part of theirs.

If you can't get enough of market, there are dozens of designers and shop owners taking pictures for their blogs and facebook. Check it out!

This week, we're giving away Loose Change and a set of rulers - Five & Dime and Spare Change - to one lucky winner. Comment on your favorite blog - other than KT, of course. I'd love to know who you follow and why. See ya Monday, Lynne

Busy, busy, busy

First of all, congratulations to picketsews - you're the winner of the brand-new-nobody-else-will-have-it-for-months-Pheasant Hill charm pack. To everyone else, don't despair, there will be more opportunities to win strips, precuts and patterns for this collection throughout the winter, so keep checking in.

The week evaporated right before my eyes. Lois and I have been sewing like mad women to piece quilts to send to Lori Kukuk, machine quilter extraordinaire - at the last minute - before market. She's shipping the last one back next day air to hit the studio Monday - then binding, pictures and a brochure before leaving for Houston on Wed.  Whew! This weekend will be spent putting a few finishing touches on props and projects, assembling displays, making backdrops, and cleaning out my car (there was a minor sweet/sour sauce mishap last weekend in the back seat). Then I still need to figure out what to wear!

Here's a first look at the charm pattern for Pheasant Hill. Still need a name - by Monday - any suggestions?

I still have the Harvest Moon scrap strip bundle and charm/mini charm packs from the Moda Blog Hop. No one has claimed those prizes, so let's try again. Submit a name for this quilt and win! Thanks for your help.

Hello ladies! I would like to invite you to the 2nd Great Girlfriend Getaway in September 2013 for a cruise up the New England coast into Canada. What a treat! Pam Buda, of Heartspun Quilts, and I have partnered up for quilting adventures all over the country. This last August, our first cruise to Alaska was a splendid success and confirmed to us that this is the most fun way to see everything we want to see - hang out with quilters! With the leaves changing, it promises to be a delightful way to welcome fall. We'll have workshops and trunk shows on board with lots of surprises, so join us! Contact Bunny at the number below to reserve your space now!

A definite cool down

The weather here in Kansas has definitely taken a turn for fall this weekend. We had our first hard freeze Saturday night. A good thing to get rid of bugs, a not so good thing where my plants are concerned. We covered what we could and hoped for the best. So far, not much damage. I just hope fall hangs on for a while and we don't rush into a cold, dry winter. The crisp, cool days are so invigorating!

Now, down to business. Congratulations to comment #5, Sallie. You've won the Starry Moon pattern/fabric. Please email your shipping address and we'll get your package together later this week.

As for today, I'm headed to Kansas City to speak at the Greater Kansas City and Olathe Quilt Guilds tomorrow - a program in the morning, a workshop all afternoon and another program Tuesday evening. Whew! I better take some extra vitamins for lunch! Looking forward to visiting some "local" guilds again even though they're about 3 hours away for me. It's always a good excuse to go to the big city and shop. Maybe something new for market....

Speaking of market, UPS delivered the new Pheasant Hill fabric on Friday. Lois went home with the first project but we have lots to do after I return home. Here's another peek at a couple of the prints in the line:

 I love the trumpet vine floral - it's a great size for borders and comes in a yummy purple. The Puddles fabric is a delish tone-on-tone in every color in the collection that is also going to be available in 108" wide backing fabric - perfect! The diagonal stripe is fun in several colors and adds great movement in blocks. Can't wait to show you all the finished projects right after market.

For now, comment here about a favorite fall recipe for a crowd (we're having the annual Oct/Nov Birthday Bash here on Saturday) and you could be the first on your block to win some Pheasant Hill fabric!

See you next week, Lynne

Loose Change Winners

Congratulations to Shannon Wallace of SD, and Deborah from Valparaiso - you've each won a new Loose Change book! I'd love it if you'd share something you make from this book someday. Thanks for commenting, ladies.

And thanks to all of you that follow my blog. I enjoy reading all the comments and take to heart any suggestions you make. Please use this space to let me know what you'd love to see from KT in fabric or patterns in the future. Your feedback is priceless!

 One of the things I enjoy most is pictures of KT projects from quilters around the country. Here's one from Brenda who leads the KT Stash Society at Country Fabrics in Brainerd, MN. Her ladies always have fun creating variations on the Stash project using a multitude of fabrics from batiks to brights to KT darks. Here's three of their A Wave to Old Glory projects from June:

Terri Jones attended the KT Quilt Addicts retreat in Danville, IL a couple weeks ago and shared with me that she'd made an armful of stockings from an older Stash pattern. She stitched them up for friends and family to hang on their front doors - how cool is that?

If you're interest in checking out our monthly projects and newsletter, go to ktquilts.com and click on KT Stash Society. You'll find a list of new and previous Stash projects, then scroll down and click on the red box that says Current Newsletter for all the latest KT happenings. Past newsletters are also available. Under that, we list the quilt shops that participate in the KT Stash Society. These shops are the best! They have a good selection of KT fabric/patterns. It's a great way to find a kit for the Stash projects or any KT fabric.

The KT Stash Society project for October is Starry Moon. I love the featured fabric in the Harvest Moon group, so we enlarged the moon and acorns and appliqued them on a trio of stars with a band of flying geese on each end for good measure. It would make a great Thanksgiving runner for your holiday table.

Personally, I'd leave the center star plain for a neutral background for my centerpiece, whatever it may be - a pile of mini pumpkins, a vintage coffee tin full of wildflowers or a wooden bowl of nuts in the shell with grungy gourds.Anything that says fall to you. But don't stop there! This would also make a wonderful runner for the 4th of July with a navy background and scrappy red geese. Substitute the applique of your choosing for the moon/acorns - how about firecrackers? The possibilities are endless with a simple idea to start.

Comment this week on how you'd change the Starry Moon fall runner for another season and you could walk away with some Harvest Moon fabrics and the Starry Moon pattern. We'll see you next week, unless something really exciting happens around here - like the UPS guy brings new Pheasant Hill fabric!

P.S. I still haven't heard from 2 winners from the Moda Designer Blog Hop - Michelle from Atlanta, GA and Carla (with comment #10). I was unable to email you, so please contact me. Any prizes left unclaimed by Oct. 31 will be redrawn from the Blog Hop comments.

Need Loose Change?

I'm pleased as punch to finally announce the arrival of 80 pages and 18 projects in KT's new book, Loose Change. We've featured precuts - Layer Cake 10" squares (dimes), Charm 5" squares (nickels) and NEW Mini Charm 2 1/2" squares (pennies) - in our layered patchwork technique to create fast, fun quilts with loads of dimension and personality.

Inspired by our popular Five & Dime quilt, many of the projects utilize the Five & Dime or Spare Change mini ruler for centering and cutting the blocks. This is how our layered patchwork technique makes your life (and making quilts) easier - simply center a charm square on a Layer Cake square, stitch close to the pinked edges, cut into fourths, and sew 4 different squares together. It's that easy!

Loose Change shows you how to layer, slice & stitch precuts more than a dozen different ways for Christmas, fall, everyday, 4th of July, kids and more!

Loose Change is available now at your local quilt shop or at ktquilts.com. This week, comment by Sunday night on your favorite precut for a chance to win one of 2 signed copies of Loose Change. I'd love to see what you choose to make!

Moda Blog Hop Winners!

Congratulations to our Blog Hop Winners:
Carla (#10 comment) - Harvest Moon charm & mini charm
 Susie Johnson from California - Harvest Moon Layer Cake
Michelle from Atlanta, GA - Harvest Moon Strip Bundle

Ladies, please send your mailing address to me at: ktquilts2@twinvalley.net to claim your prizes. Just FYI- when commenting on a blog for a giveaway, add your email address to your profile for easier notification. I hope you all come back to check to see if you've won!

Thanks to the more than 500 of you that commented - what fun to read all about your hometowns! I was in another small town this past weekend for a program at Threads of Time in Danville, IL. Lois and I stayed to hang out with the KT Quilt Addicts Yahoo Group for a retreat there, as well. What a lovely shop and retreat facility. Definitely worth the drive for a weekend of quilting and shopping.

It's almost that time of year again, fall quilt market in Houston. I've been playing with the new collection to premiere at market, Pheasant Hill. Here's a sneak peek at a couple of the prints.

Lots of feathery, grassy prints in our classic KT reds, greens, plum, black & navy just right for spring. I've been working with a new precut - Dessert Roll - with (21) 5" x 45" strips. Half of the prints in a full width strip for larger blocks and a scrappy look. Very fun!

My post next Monday will be all about the new Loose Change book. We'll be picking it up from the printer this week. There just might be a free book in your future - don't miss it!