Loose Change everywhere

I'm putting all the pages together to take to the printer tomorrow for my new book, Loose Change. There are piles of paper with instuctions, color pictures, cover options, notes and text all over my studio floor. I see some semblance of order, but Robert only sees chaos. Are you a neat quilter? Do you keep your sewing space cleaned up while you're working or do you make horizontal piles and clean up after each job is done? I've decided as long as it makes sense to me, it's all good. Especially when I need to find something in a hurry. Usually if I put it away, that's when I can't lay my hands on it in second. Anyway, thought I'd share a few more pictures of the projects in the book to whet your appetite.

These are just a few of the 20 projects plus some optional queen/king sizes included in the book. Who knew there were so many ways to layer, stitch, slice and sew together precuts into quilts. I've coined the phrase layered patchwork (with a lot little help from my quilting buddy, Pam Buda) for our unique method of utilizing the pinked edge of precuts in my designs. It adds a fun, dimensional element, doesn't unravel and gets softer with every wash. Plus, it's so much faster to whip up a quilt when you start with a collection of perfectly matched scraps and most of your parts cut for you. Watch here for a special offer on the book when it's finally completed the end of August. Believe me, you'll be the first to know!

Our giveaway this week is for the August Stash Society project, 25 Yard Dash - pattern & fabric. Our churn dash quilt takes just (25) 10" squares (I thought yard sounded better in the title) and binding. Using our layered patchwork technique for the triangles makes the points float - no need to match them up in the seams. It's a great way to give our simplified, primitive technique a try.

Let me know your opinion on clutter or not while you're working on a project. I know I can't be the only messy quilter out there. See you back here next Monday. Stay cool,  Lynne

Come quilt with us!

Here's the information on our next two quilting trips. The first is Feb. 2013 to Cancun, Mexico. For those of you who prefer not to cruise, we're flying to our destination and staying at top-rated, brand new all-inclusive resort to hand stitch for a week. Air fare, lodging, food, drinks, kits and classes are all included in the price. We'd love to have you join us for a break from the cold wind to create some fun projects in the warmth of Mexico in winter.

Our second trip in 2013 is a cruise to New England. We stop at a different port almost every day for a close-up look at the beautiful fall foliage and New England life. Pam and I will both teach a class plus a few extras including a trunk show, coffee klatch and more!

I'm putting up a link on my website with these fliers. We both enjoy meeting new quilters and spending time with old friends, so come along for a quilting vacation to remember.

Thinking Fall

Congrats to Nancy E for winning the Harvest Moon MTT pattern/kit this week. We're finishing up the last of our Harvest Moon patterns, hoping for rain and a break in our 100+ temps, wishing for fall. For now, I have plenty to do inside surrounded by cool AC.   My list includes finishing the new book, Loose Change, completing the next round of Stash Society projects, whipping up a block for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks and sending in our next project for Primitive Quilts magazine for next spring. Whew! So glad I have Lois and Robert to help me out on a daily basis. Otherwise, things could get a bit unbalanced, if you know what I mean.

Pictures for the book were finally done on Monday. Here's a shot of the north end of the cabin with my new KT "barn quilt". It's 4' square but looks fairly small once we got it up on the peak. It took Robert and my burly twin sons to install it. I was informed it's up there for the duration!

I'll have a few more peeks at the new book in the coming weeks, but for now, this will have to do. Right after pictures, I barely had a chance to enjoy that it was over before packing up and heading out to meet Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts, at Heidi Kaisand's Hens and Chicks Quilt Shop & Retreat in Conrad, IA. We had a mere 36 waking hours to plot and plan the final elements of our first ever Great Girlfriend Getaway Alaskan cruise next month. (More on that in a minute.) Heidi's place is delightful with numbered rows of twin beds and sewing tables to accommodate 18. We had the whole space to ourselves for 2 nights and took full advantage of it. 

Her quilt shop is downstairs, brimming with samples & fun ideas for quilting, scrapbooking, wool projects and items from local artisans. I was fascinated with the mini scrapbooks for proud Grammas or Moms that come in a complete kit. Everything you need is precut with instructions on how to put it together and add your photos. It's like charm packs for scrapbooks - I love it!

 (note the KT quilt hanging over the racks of patterns)

As we said our Goodbye's, we also wished Heidi "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed special cookies and treats for her big day. Pam and I are tickled to have found a comfy spot halfway between us to meet and plan our new partnership in quilting excursions - Great Girlfriend Getaways. Besides our Alaskan cruise (leaving in a mere 29 days) we already have a trip to Cancun in Feb. 2013 and a New England/Canada cruise for Sept. 2013 on the books. We'll fly to a brand new 5-star all-inclusive resort in Cancun (prices include airfare from KC or Chicago, lodging, meals and ALL beverages, classes with Pam and Lynne and kits - what a deal!). We'll be stitching by hand (no sewing machines on this trip) with wool and cotton to create some fun projects while we're there. I should have info soon on both, but Pam has them on her website now. Is there anywhere you'd like to go with Pam and I and your quilting buddies? Sister's Quilt Show? Houston Festival? Lakeside cabins, stitching for a week? Let us know your bucket list and we'll see what we can do.

Better get back to work this morning. Stay cool and keep quilting.
Lynne

Finally, relief!

Sunday afternoon saw a high of just 88 degrees here - refreshingly cool after blistering heat over 100 for the past few weeks. Robert and I sat outside under the tree admiring all our hard work. Let me tell you, starting a garden from scratch in this heat is not for wimps, altho we certainly felt that way on several occasions.

Note the trailer full of tree chunks. That's the next project. Stay tuned to see the results.

Congratulations to Kim Ray and scottylover. We've selecting two winners this week since I fell down on the job - again - and didn't get around to posting last week. Hope that makes up for it. :) Between grankids coming and going (but mainly staying), editing the new fabric lines, fireworks, birthday parties and preparing for pictures, I didn't know if I was coming or going the past couple weeks. It's all finally coming together so I can take a deep breath and work on the final pages of the book.

This week's giveaway is for the new Harvest Moon MTT pattern/kit.

 Comment here by next Monday night and we'll see who wins. Thanks for checking in on me. Lots of new junk to come this summer.
Lynne