WIP Wednesday: Scattered

I felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions this week. Miss E finished preschool (sniff), I spent the weekend battling the weeds in my backyard (and I haven't won the war yet), I'm still a little disoriented after my re-entry from Quilt Market, and I spent more time than was probably necessary crafting my finely-honed gangsta image. And at the end of the day, all I really wanted was a glass of wine, but I got a little sewing done too.

New Projects:

EZ Dresden project - you'll be hearing a lot more a new contest called the EZ Dresden Challenge next week. (Hint: There are prizes. And they are major.) And I'll be blogging about this project as part of the challenge kick-off blog tour, so stay tuned.

Bee Blocks - two down, one to go! Woot!

Ongoing Projects:

New York Beauty Swap - this one's basically done. I just need to finish hand-stitching the trim/binding, and off it goes to its new home. I hope my partner likes it.

Back-Burner:
• Gen X Quilters' Charmed Prints QA
• Halloween quilt
• Farmer's Wife QA
• Figgy Pudding quilt

This week's stats:
New projects - 2
Completed projects - 0

Currently in progress - 7

Now it's your turn to link up! Here are the rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP)
2. Somewhere in your post, link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other links—because what fun is a linky party without comments?

Have a wonderful week!

Hangin' Out on Art Gallery's Corner

I don't want to shock y'all, but things are about to get a little more street* up in here. I'm joining a gang: The Art Gallery Fabrics Fat Quarter Gang. We're the baddest stitchers around, and we all roll with Art Gallery. 'Cuz they got the finest cotton, yo.

Me and the rest of my crew will be sewing up some sick projects for y'all using Art Gallery fabrics—a new free project tutorial each week. Check the Art Gallery blog for all the deets. No really, check it. If you think the picture above is good, you've gotta see the rest of the posse.

It's gonna be da bomb. Ya feel me?**

*And by "street," I mean "suburban cul-de-sac." 'Cuz that's how I do.

**Yes, I loved the TV show "The Wire." Re-runs currently on The Audience Network, yo!

Winner of the Market Goodies

So I'm sure you all want to know the winner of my prize package of goodies from Quilt Market: The Kona Color cards, charm pack of Bella by Lotta Jansdotter, and the premier issue of Generation Q magazine. Congratulations to commenter #109, Caitlin, who said, "I'm looking forward to Denyse Schmidt's new line 'Chicopee', and some Ombre solids and dots from Riley Blake!"

 Caitlin, I've sent you an email. Thanks to everyone for entering!

WIP Wednesday: Back To It

Whew. Well, you saw my Market wrap-up post from yesterday ... so you pretty much know what I've been doing this week. : ) Winding down from Market, sorting through photos and fabric purchases—basically everything except sewing. But let's make it official with this (lack of) Work-In-Progress Wednesday update. 

New Projects:

Christmas bee quilt. It's my month in the Milwaukee Modern Quilt Guild bee, and since I came home with a stack of Winterkist by Monica Solorio-Snow, I decided to have the MQG ladies make me a Christmas quilt. (Yes, I know it's early, but I've got the fabric! And anyway, if I start it now, it MIGHT be done by the holidays! LOL.) I asked each of the girls in the bee to make me a star block—any star block they like, any size, 8" square and up. I'm hoping for lots of variety in the stars they give me! I can't wait!

Back-Burner:
• New York Beauty Swap
• Gen X Quilters' Charmed Prints QA
• Halloween quilt
• Farmer's Wife QA
• Figgy Pudding quilt

This week's stats:
New projects - 1
Completed projects - 0

Currently in progress - 7

Now it's your turn to link up! Here are the rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP)
2. Somewhere in your post, link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other links—because what fun is a linky party without comments?

That's it! Have a wonderful week!

Spring Quilt Market: The Obligatory Ginormous Fabric Post

Okay, let's do this thing! Here's a sampling of some of my fave fabric sightings at Market. (Looking for my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day post? It's here.)

Liberty of London is introducing their first-ever "lifestyle collection" on 100% quilting cotton! I admit, I haven't been a huge Liberty fan in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised by this collection, called Bloomsbury Gardens. The prints are a bit brighter, bolder, and more graphic than what I've come to expect from Liberty. We met the designer in the Liberty booth, and he told us that was a deliberate choice, made with higher-contrast quilt designs in mind. I love that Liberty really thought about it! They didn't just slap their usual prints onto quilting fabric. You can check out some of the prints here.

Madrona Road by Violet Craft/Michael Miller. These colors really hit the spot for me right now—I'm starting to yearn for blues that aren't aqua, and Madrona Road has some beautiful blues! You can see the prints here, and while you're at it, check out Violet's Giveaway Day post—she's giving away two bundles of her new line! (This quilt, by the way, is from Elizabeth Hartman's fantastic new book, Modern Patchwork, now available on Amazon.)

And here is Madrona Road's large-scale floral used in a dress. How cute is this? It's from Sew Serendipity patterns.

Bella by Lotta Jansdotter/Windham. This was the fabric line I most wanted to get at Sample Spree (and yes, I succeeded!). So it's safe to say that it's one of my absolute favorites from Market. I fell hard for this quilt, which uses only the grays and oranges from Bella. It's amazing how different a line can look when you pull out only one or two colors like this. Bella ships in August. You can learn more here.

Storybook Lane by Ever Kelly/Andover. My favorite line from a new designer would have to be this one, shipping very soon from Andover. Such clear, bright colors—just what I like. Designer Kelly Lee-Creel also took one of the booth display prizes at Market this year. I predict we'll be hearing a lot more about her in the coming months. You can take a closer look at her prints right here.

Here's another quilt featuring Storybook Lane. Love that dresden cuckoo clock!

Chevrons by Riley Blake. I haven't been a huge Riley Blake fan in the past, but I came away from their Market displays thinking that their offerings are improving. There's a whole new range of chevrons coming from them in the next few months—larger chevrons, multi-colored chevrons, tone-on-tone chevrons, teeny chevrons, laminated chevrons ... they have got the chevron market so covered! I love it! Most of these will be shipping in July. Click here to see more.

Millie's Closet by Lori Holt/Riley Blake. That check/houndstooth pattern is fabulous. There's also a great dot in this collection, and a couple of nice florals as well.

Dear Stella just keeps churning out winners. I love love love the Fez print from their Bukhara collection. And the British-themed Town and Country is perfection.

The Birds and the Bees by Tula Pink/Free Spirit. Of course I'm dying to get my hands on some of this collection, which is due in July. Those colors! Be still my heart!

Winterkist by Monica Solorio-Snow/Lecien. Winterkist is the new holiday line by Monica of Happy Zombie fame. The Gnomas are back, and I scored a bundle of 'em at Sample Spree! This line is so bright and fun I'd just like to eat it up. But instead I'll probably sew something with it. : ) Click here to see more.

Echino by Kokka. As always, Kokka has some fab Echino prints coming out—I'm really digging those zebras.

Nursery Versery by Heather Ross/Kokka. Sure, those mice are cute, but hello, have you seen the Itsy Bitsy Spider prints??? I must have them! Click here for a closer look.

Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater/Moda. Lots of people are excited about this one, including me! Text prints are hot and Mama Said Sew has them in spades. I tried to nab some of this at Sample Spree, but it was completely gone in the first 10 minutes, so I was out of luck. This collection ships in August—get a closer look at their prints here.

Out to Sea by Sarah Jane/Michael Miller. There are mermaids and narwhals in this line!! Enough said. : ) Click here for a better look.

And there's more, of course—these were only some of the highlights for me. I'll be back soon with another Market post covering all the wonderful people I met and spent time with at Market. What an amazing experience to meet so many of my quilty idols! I tried really really hard not to act like a dorky fangirl around some of my favorites, though I'm not sure I always succeeded. : ) But everybody was super nice anyway and I can't wait to fill you all in.

Win Some Market Loot!

I was planning to sit out Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day this time around. But then I went and had the most amazing time at International Quilt Market in Kansas City. And of course I want to share some of the incredible goodies I picked up there with a giveaway anyway. So even though I'm still processing the overwhelming sight of Market and all that fabric fabric fabric, I might as well do the giveaway today, right?

So, my SMS Giveaway Day prize is:
• a Kona Solids color card from Robert Kaufman
• a supplemental card with 2012's 28 new Kona colors (which are spot-on, I might add)
• the premier issue of Generation Q Magazine (featuring a cover story on Amy and David Butler)
• and an advance charm pack of Bella, Lotta Jansdotter's new line for Windham.

Want to win all this great stuff? Just leave me a comment about your favorite new or upcoming fabric line this spring. I'll draw a random winner on Saturday. Head over to Sew Mama Sew to check out all the other bloggers participating in Giveaway Day (lots of good prizes there!), and I'll be back with a post or two about Market as soon as I can wrap my brain around it!

WIP Wednesday: While I'm Packing

Just one more day until I leave for Market! I am so excited! I've never been to Quilt Market, but I hear it's quite a spectacle. I can't wait to see it for myself and meet lots of quilty bloggy friends. In the meantime, here's what I've been up to as I scramble to get ready to go.

By the way, I'll be tweeting and Instagram-ing from Market, so follow me in both places! My Twitter feed is here, and I'm "freshlypieced" on Instagram. If you don't have the Instagram app, you can also follow on Webstagram to see pictures of fabric, fabric, and more fabric! You can find my feed here. 

Completed projects:

Summersville pillow - All done, but you'll have to wait a few more weeks to see the rest of this one.

New projects:

New York Beauty Swap - I joined a New York Beauty swap among a few friends and got that underway this week. My partner seems to have pretty similar taste to me, and especially loves bright, clear colors, so I'm hoping this will be right up her alley. : )

Back-Burner:
• Gen X Quilters' Charmed Prints QA
• Halloween quilt
• Farmer's Wife QA
• Figgy Pudding quilt

This week's stats:
New projects - 1
Completed projects - 1

Currently in progress - 6

Now it's your turn to link up! Here are the rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP)
2. Somewhere in your post, link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other links—because what fun is a linky party without comments?

That's it! Have a wonderful week!

WIP Wednesday: Screen Time

Well, it's been a good week and I've been mondo productive—except that it seems all my sewing-related progress has taken place behind a computer instead of at a sewing machine. I have been designing like a crazy woman, you guys. So much so that I'm wondering how I'm going to find time to actually sew all of these designs. Unfortunately that means there isn't lot to show you today, but yes, I have been productive. And I'm hoping to stay on this roll right up until I leave for Quilt Market in a little over a week. Lots to finish up before I get to go play!

Completed projects:

Cathedral Square quilt - I've basically been clubbing everybody over the head with this one, so you may have seen it already. : ) On the off-chance you missed it, deets are here.

New projects:

Summersville - On my sewing table right this minute: Summersville, Essex Linen, and Thangles. Oh yes, I am armed and dangerous! Not quite sure yet if it'll be a pillow or a mini-quilt or what. Regardless, I think it'll be yummy.

Back-Burner:
• Gen X Quilters' Charmed Prints QA
• Halloween quilt
• Farmer's Wife QA
• Figgy Pudding quilt

This week's stats:
New projects - 1
Completed projects - 1

Currently in progress - 6

You know the drill—link up any post from the past week featuring a Work In Progress (WIP). Link back here in your own post, and comment comment comment. Have a wonderful week!

Winners, Winners Everywhere

It's time to announce the winners of last week's giveaways ...

But first, I want to thank each and every person who left such wonderful comments about my Cathedral Square block from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. I'm so glad you all enjoyed this block! And I especially love that several people mentioned they're thinking of trying a modern-style quilt for the first time. I think the "modern-meets-traditional" aesthetic that I've embraced is a great starting point if you're considering a first foray into modern quilting, and that aesthetic is well-represented in this block. And as always, if you do make this block, I would love to see pictures of it in the Freshly Pieced Flickr group!

Second, a few people asked about how I make my quilt mock-ups (see my alternate layouts for the Cathedral Square block in this post). I use Adobe Illustrator for my mock-ups—as a former professional graphic designer, that's the program I know and own. But that's probably more than what most of you need. Lynne of Lily's Quilts is currently doing a fantastic series on using an iPad program called Touchdraw to make quilt mock-ups, blog headers, etc. There's a free version of Touchdraw you can try, and the full version costs only $8.99. The program is apparently being rolled out for Macs as well, if you don't have an iPad. Lynne's introductory post is here, posts about mocking up quilts are here and here, and here is her post about making a blog header.

Okay, now on to what you really want to know: Winners! The winner of the free copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 5, is #323, Kristen, who said, "I love the block! It looks far more complex than it seems and should be very easy to chain piece for a nice-size quilt. Thanks for designing it and for the chance to win!"

And the winner of the free copy of Emily Herrick's e-book Geared for Guys is #70, Becky, who said, "We have mostly males in our family. I'm onto making quilts for my nephews. Thanks for the giveaway."

Ladies, I'll be sending emails to both of you. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Geared for Guys!

So, have you ever tried to make a quilt for a man? Not a boy—a full-grown, adult man. It isn't an easy task, is it? Even the most modern fabric collections often have a bit of a feminine bent. And many quilt patterns just tend to be too intricate for male sensibilities. I know my husband is a 100% no-frills, no-flowers, keep-it-simple kind of guy. That's the worst kind to make a quilt for, let me tell you! LOL.

Enter Emily Herrick's new "Geared for Guys," an e-book featuring 8 quilt patterns specifically for guys like my hubs. What a fantastic idea for a book! And I'm excited to be a part of her 30 Days, 30 Blogs, 30 Books tour to give you the scoop on this new release.

You probably know Emily as the young-and-not-at-all-crazy lady behind Crazy Old Ladies, and the designer of some fabulous (and man-centric) fabric lines like Going Coastal and Hall of Fame. In fact, I just made my Scrappy Triangles quilt for my dad out of Going Coastal. But Emily is also an amazing quilter and quilt designer (you can check out her blog here).

Geared for Guys is loaded with great quilt patterns, but one of my favorites is Ivy League.  It's a classic guy design, and Emily does a great job with the pattern, showing you how to cut and piece the diamonds with ease.

I also love Oddball, with its neutral background and one bright orange circle. So fun! But yet still within the confines of manliness. : )

The Geared for Guys e-book is available as a PDF download for $14.95 from Emily's Etsy shop (can't beat $14.95 for 8 patterns, right?). But guess what—I'm giving away one free copy of Geared for Guys right here! Just leave a comment below telling me what guy you would like to make a quilt for, or what guy you have made a quilt for in the past, or your favorite manly fabric collection. The giveaway is open through Sunday and I'll draw a winner on Monday morning. And go visit Julie of Jaybird Quilts tomorrow for another chance to win a copy of Geared for Guys!


This giveaway is NOW CLOSED.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks blog tour. I'm thrilled to have a block in Volume 5 of this special issue of Quiltmaker magazine.

My block is #469, "Cathedral Square." (The inspiration for the name of this block comes from one of my favorite areas of downtown Milwaukee.) Yes, you will have to piece some flying geese in order to make this block. But yes, these flying geese are worth it! At least, I think so.

One of my favorite things about this block is that small tweaks can make it look like a completely new design. For example, staggering the blocks gives the layout an unexpected zig-zaggy movement. In fact, I loved this layout so much that I decided I had to make an entire quilt to show it off.

My quilt features 20 Cathedral Square blocks (two of them are cut in half) and measures 48" by 60". That's 160 flying geese units, in case you were wondering. : ) I used Flea Market Fancy, Farmdale, and other fun vintage-modern prints.

And check out some of the other tweaks you can use to make this block your own. Here it is with print squares in the outer block corners, instead of the background solid:

With half-square triangles in the outer block corners, instead of the background solid:

With the blocks set on point:

Yep, I could show you design options all day long. : ) But I won't, because here's where I give away a free copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 5. To enter, just leave a comment on this post. Any old comment is fine—although if you already have special plans for the Cathedral Square block, or a particular fabric line in mind for it, I would love to hear about it. I'll draw a random winner on Monday morning.

And in the meantime, be sure to visit Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, for lots more prizes and a list of all the designers participating in the Volume 5 blog hop (everybody's giving away a copy of the magazine, so there are lots of chances to win this amazing block resource!) Thanks for visiting!


This giveaway is now CLOSED.

WIP Wednesday: Squaring Up

It's been a busy week for me—I'm getting ready for not one but two blog hops later this week. Between that, the tote I made as a last-minute gift for a friend, and the usual kid-related chaos around the house, I haven't had time for much else!

Ongoing projects:

Cathedral Square quilt - this quilt features the block I designed for Quiltmaker magazine's 100 Blocks special issue. I'm loving it in (mostly) Flea Market Fancy! I'll be showing you a couple of different layout options for this block in my stop on the 100 Blocks blog hop, coming your way tomorrow.

Back-Burner:
• Gen X Quilters' Charmed Prints QA
• Halloween quilt
• Farmer's Wife QA
• Figgy Pudding quilt

This week's stats:
New projects - 1 (my Chevron tote)
Completed projects - 1 (Chevron tote again)

Currently in progress - 6

You know the drill—link up any post from the past week featuring a Work In Progress (WIP). Link back here in your own post, and comment comment comment. Have a wonderful week!