Quilt Giveaway -- Enter Here!

Want to win this quilt?  It's from my book Imagine Quilts that was released this month and is the pattern featured on the cover called Posy Patrol.

I've said numerous times here that I'm generally not a pattern based quilter.  I usually have an idea for a quilt and then sketch, compute, calculate and scratch my forehead until I figure out how to make the idea in my head translate into a quilt. Both as a quilter and as a blogger the number one question I get asked time and time again is, "Where do you come up with ideas for your quilts?"  Imagine Quilts is my answer to that question and an open invitation to grab some graph paper and discover how your design process works.

I made it with the new fabric line from Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics called Field Day.

Alison describes Field Day as a collection of prints representing the growth of plants in their wild and natural settings.  The designs represent the beautiful and often unruly nature of growth and are perfect for my Posy Patrol pattern which was inspired by the daily walks my mom and I take around our yards each day to see what's blooming.  We affectionately call this walk our daily posy patrol.  The fabric and pattern seem like a match made in heaven if you ask me.

The quilt measures 50"x50" and is made with 100% cotton fabrics and batting.  It is machine washable and dryable and a perfect size to have on your lap.

And the quilting.  Can we just stop and pause and admire the work that Russ Adams of The Back Porch Quilters does for a moment?  Breathtaking.  I never tell him what design I want done on a quilt because in my opinion he is an artist and whatever decision he makes will only enhance, compliment and make my quilt sing in ways I didn't know possible.

So you wanna chance to win this quilt?  It's a two step process to enter.  First, send me an email at dana at oldredbarnco dot com with the name, address and contact info of a local quilt shop that you think should carry my book Imagine Quilts.  Do that in an email to me directly so that that info isn't broadcast here on my blog for the world to see.  Second, once you've done that, leave a comment here telling me where you get inspiration for your quilts.

International entries welcome.  The contest entry time will close on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at midnight US EDST.  A winner will be chosen randomly and announced Thursday, August 7th.

And you should follow both Alison Glass (@alisonglass)  and I (@oldredbarnco) on Instagram because Alison will be giving away a bundle of Field Day fabric and I am giving away signed copies of Imagine Quilts.

Finally, I'd be tickled pink if you'd like to purchase a signed copy of my book.  In all honesty, it'll feel weird and make me all wide-eyed and blubbery.  You can click below if you fancy. It only calculates shipping for US customers but if you're international, let me know and I'll work with you to find the cheapest shipping option possible.  Big wet sloppy kisses.  From my pups.  Not me... cause that would be awkward.

Good luck on winning the quilt!

-dana

DISCLOSURE:  The addresses and contact information that you provide of your local quilt shops will be used by me to send a personalized postcard advertising my book.  I will share those addresses only with Alison Glass and she will use them to personally advertise her products.  This information will only be used for the stated purposes and not shared with any other third party.  If you mistakenly share the contact information in the comment section of my blog instead of sending it directly to me at dana at oldredbarco dot com, I will delete your comment so as to keep the information private.

Tune in won't you?

Tune in Monday, July 28, 2014 4pm eastern to American Patchwork & Quilting Radio hosted by Pat Sloan.  I'll be talking about my book and other shenanigans.

And starting Monday you can enter for your chance to win this quilt.  It's a remake of my cover quilt called Posy Patrol.  This one's called Midnight Posy Patrol. Stop back by Monday for details.

-dana

Indelible Blog Hop

My friend Katarina recently released her first line of fabric, Indelible, with Art Gallery Fabrics and to say that I'm in love with it is an understatement. Kinda along the lines of saying I sort of like pie,  I own a few quilts, or we've watched a little bit of soccer the last few weeks.

I first got glimpses of it on her blog in early 2014.  And since then I stalked the Internet to find more. And more.  And more.

The colors are rich, saturated and combinations that are new to me . . . yet familiar.  The deep eggplant next to the mustard yellows, soft grays and bright teals are sophisticated while the prints and patterns are fresh and a bit whimsical.  The repeating bird print owns me.  As do the chevrons.  And the birch bark trees.

Don't even get me started on the lining fabric print.  I don't know what it is and think that's part of why I love it so much.  I've studied it more than any one person probably should rightfully study fabric.

I bought small cuts of the entire line but after having it in my hands I know that I need to buy yardage of several of the prints. This project bag is just the tip of the iceberg of the love affair that is going to be Dana and Indelible.

Thanks for including me in your Blog Hop Katarina.  Can't wait to see what you design next!

-dana

P.S.  I made this bag to carry projects with me to Sew-OK. If you'll be there too, don't get any crazy ideas about trying to steal my bag.  I'm watching you.  I didn't follow a pattern... just sort of winged it.  I used Annie's Soft & Stable to make it so it stands up on its own.

My book, Imagine Quilts, officially out in the world!

Um.  Ya.  I know this video is pretty rudimentary as far as self produced videos go.  It took me For.  Ev.  Er.  Not the videoing part, obviously, but first I did it on my phone, then couldn't get it onto my iPad, then reshot it with my iPad.  Then had to figure out iMovie.  And then how to get the whole thing to the PC.  And on and on.  I consider the fact that you can't hear my dogs barking in the background a success.

 So, as of Tuesday my book is officially out in the world.  You can find it directly from my publisher Martingale, on Amazon and at your local quilt and craft shops.  Later this month I will be giving away a remake of my cover quilt, Posy Patrol, and there will be lots of fun giveaways on social media in the weeks to follow.

Finally, I'm guest posting over on STITCHthis! today and talking about how I find inspiration for my quilts.  They are giving away an eBook copy of my book so I hope you'll check it out.

-dana

Checking 'em off

I'm happy to report that we've been checking things off our summer to-do list.

Two weekends ago we traveled to Mammoth Caves National Park in Kentucky and went on two separate caves tours.  And road bikes.  And hiked.  And talked with good friends and generally solved all the world's problems.

And this past weekend, we hiked to the top of a local mountain and watched fireworks from all the surrounding communities. I think we counted 20 different displays at different times.

So, ya.  We are waking, eating, drinking, splashing, breathing, hiking, and soaking up summer.

Hope you are too.

-dana

Definition of summer

We've been to the beach.  And horse camp.  And helped strip wallpaper from a bathroom.  And on the paddle board.

We have dirt under our fingernails.  And sand in between our toes.

The kids have tie dyed.  Made glass beads.  Had fun with leather and made some amazing recycled art.

And we've spent time with our littlest niece/cousin.  

Still on tap?  Camping. Cave tours.  Hikes.  Bike rides.  S'mores.  Lightening bugs.  More paddle boarding.  Picking the soon-to-be-ripe berries in our yard.  Making jam.  Grilling pizzas.  Seeing more cousins.  Sewing with friends. Driver's Ed.  ::Gulp::  Book release.  Quilt giveaway (it'll be here in a few weeks!)  Birthday parties.  Diving off docks.  Craft festivals. Clogging performances.  Tomatoes. Making tomato sauce.  Eating squash fries.  Caprese salad by the platter.  Rushing to grab beach towels off the line before the afternoon rain.  Swimming at the pool.  Eating popsicles.  Viewing fireworks from our favorite spot.

It's full swing summer around here.

-dana

You ask. I answer. Volume I

I get emailed all the time with questions usually relating to something I've said here.  Though sometimes it's because of something I've posted on Pinterest or Twitter or Instagram. Some questions are easy to answer, others I have to google, some are strange, and others are repeatedly asked.  I think that every now and then I will share some of those questions and answers here.  Mostly it will be the ones that I'm asked often.  And of course sometimes it will be the strange ones.

Awhile ago I said that we drink raw milk, and I get asked about that at least a couple of times a month. Back in 2008 when we first found a source for raw milk we drank it and enjoyed it for several years. Then that farmer stopped milking and we were out of a regular source for awhile.  However, we've recently found a new farmer and are happily drinking the milk, enjoying the cream and the amazing biscuits it helps make, making butter and thinking about learning to make cheese this summer. Probably mozzarella because I've heard it's easy.  Any recipes you want to share?

Back in 2009, I hosted a quilt along that taught each step in making a quilt.  I still get a ton of traffic to those posts and end up fielding lots of questions about the quilt making process.  I love that! I love turning people into quilters!

When I first started quilting in 2006/07 I learned most everything I knew at an area quilt shop and from ladies from a long-standing traditional quilt guild in my area.  I remember the little lady that taught me how to bind a quilt and she explained that her mother taught her, and her grandmother taught her mother.  She taught me to bind in the exact way that I outline in my tutorial . . . and the way the ends meet up with the end tucking into the other was purposeful.  She explained that quilts got lots of loving and daily use and bindings often needed repaired or replaced over the years and that's the way they liked to do it. I honored that tradition and taught that same method during that quilt along in 2009. Whenever I sat and stitched with those ladies it garnered lots of approving nods and knowing looks of respect when they saw I was doing it the same way.  But, to answer your question, somewhere over the years since then I've stopped doing it that way and now connect the two ends of the binding before stitching it down.  I've gone back and forth on whether to amend the original tutorial but always decide to keep it as is.  It just feels like the right way to honor the woman that taught me and those that taught her.

-dana