Quilt with Tula and Anglea

When I was asked by the wonderful folks at F & W Media if I wanted to review their newest release, Quilt With Tula And Angela, it took all of about 2 seconds to say Absolutely!!!!   I am such a huge fun of Tula's amazing work and her beautiful innovated way of playing with color.   And Angela is such a amazingly talented quilter and teacher and a very dear friend.  Remember when we got to share this special little Market presentation , ya things like that just bond you for life ;)  So when you put these two power houses from this industry together, you know you are going to get something amazing!!!  Let me tell you a bit about it ;)

Tula and Angela really are allowing you to Quilt the Rainbow as they break their book out into beautiful chapters each focusing on a specific color, as well as the Warm, Cool, and Rainbow aspects.  There are 17 signature Tula Pink quilt designs and 47 Quilt Design Motifs from Angela Walters tucked in these beautiful pages.  And the illustrations and photography is just stunning.

My favorite thing about Quilt With Tula And Angela is how detailed each chapter is on walking you through how to build your quilt start to finish with the focuses on color and shape.

 Each chapter starts with a title page with a stunning picture of the quilt in that chapter as well as a color narrative that I just love.  You can totally hear Tula's voice in these narratives and they are phenomenal fun way to teach you all about how to understand that color better.   There is also a quick rundown on the piecing techniques you will be using for the quilt.

Following the introduction narrative is a fantastic guide on choosing the fabrics for your quilt.  I absolutely love how Tula shares an in depth view on why and how she picks each of the colors in her quilts.  It really helps you understand her innovative color play ;)

And then, you get to the piecing of the quilt.  And of course, this is done with wonderful graphics that are super easy to follow and lots of little extra tidbits to help your piecing be perfection.  But this isn't where the chapter ends.

After you get your quilt top all pieced, you have a guide on quilting it!!!!  Angela shares pages and pages with wonderful written directions as well as easy to follow diagrams.  With each chapter she shares several ways to quilt each design and lots of options on how to make it your own.   Angela is such an amazing quilt teacher and it comes out so well in her directions, you will feel like she is standing right over your shoulder coaching you along ;)

And you get all of that instruction in each of the chapters, for each of the colors across the rainbow and the combinations of them as well.   It truly is like the subtitle says, "a start-to-finish guide to piecing and quilting using color and shape"  and it is phenomenal!!!

Now the only hard part is going to be choosing which quilt to make from this awesome book first ;)  I love so many of the designs, but I think I will have to start my to make list with "The Hood".  It's scrappy, its happy, its rainbow, and it's adorable little houses.  It just doesn't get better than that ;)

So  to sum it up (if you couldn't tell) I love Quilt With Tula And Angela !!!!!   It really is just an amazing book filled with wonderful insights, gorgeous quilts, stunning quilting, and beautiful photography.   It would make the perfect Christmas Present for your quilty friends, or you can always drop a few hints and hopefully it will end up under your tree with a gift tag for you ;)   I am wrapping mine up so I can open it all over on Christmas Morning ;)

I hope you are having a very Happy Quilting Monday!!!

See ya tomorrow with Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day :)

Splendid Sampler Saturday!!!

It's Saturday and each week I get a little more excited, because there are not a whole lot of Saturday's left in the Splendid Sampler!!!   So lets see some more blocks.

First up, is the Spool block designed by Melanie Barrett.  This was another one of those blocks that allowed me to work on my paper piecing skills and I am so happy to say that I think I have it down now.  This block went together so smoothly and I actually quite enjoyed this bit of paper piecing.   It is so fun to do all of those little strings ;)

And next up is the Heartstring Star block designed by Elizabeth Dackson.  And yes, this is another paper pieced block.  You paper piece the star points, and then it is just like sewing a 9 patch together.  So much fun, and I liked that you could almost assembly line piece the star points, so it felt a little faster than regular paper piecing.  And don't you just love the solids ;)

And finally, is the Minnesota Maze block designed by Roseann Kermes.  I will admit, that chevron print might not have been the best choice.  It makes this block just a little bit crazy, but I still think it is pretty fun.  It just makes the focus of the block a little opposite from the original one, but highlights the secondary design instead.  I like it enough to keep it, so it's all good ;)

And those are this weeks Splendid Sampler blocks.  And I have to share one more little tidbit!!!  I finished the 9 patch black and white blocks that wills serves as an Irish Chain setting for my Splendid Sampler blocks.  I have been using them as leaders and enders while working on the blocks and I was super excited to finish all 72.  Now as soon as the blocks are done, they will be ready to sew right up into the quilt top.   So fun!!!

Only 16 more blocks to go!!!!

I hope you are having a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

#LIGHTtheWORLD

It's December!!!!  Yippee, It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!  I truly believe this and love to see how the Christmas spirit can change the world around us.  So this year, I am trying to add to that spirit by participating in the #LIGHTtheWORLD activities each day leading up to Christmas.  

If you would like to participate in this event as well, You can watch the informational #LIGHTtheWORLD video below, and go here to see more videos and  find out more about all of the ways you can help #LIGHTtheWORLD this Christmas season. It just warms my heart to think of people of all faiths,  from all over the world,  coming together to make our world better.

         

The #LIGHTtheWORLD idea is to share the light of Christ and Christmas each day leading up to Christmas and there is even a "In 25 Ways over 25 Days" Advent Calendar you can download and print  that provides suggestions  each day on how you can help to "LIGHTtheWORLD"  Today is the first day and it is being kicked off with a worldwide day of service event ;)   I will be teaching my sister-in-laws how to make homemade chocolates for my service.    

So,  Happy December to each of you and let's try and make this the best December filled with joy and happiness and love for all  :)  

I Have a Plan

So for the last few weeks I have been debating about what to do for the MQG Mini Swap.  There are just so many options and how do you choose one that will be just perfect for your partner.   So after mulling it over, I am happy to say that I finally came to a decision last night, and I am super excited because it involves the new Starbust 30 degree ruler and some of the First Blush blocks paired with the happy colors of Hello Dot!!!!!    EEEkkk, If this come together the way it is in my head it is going to be so happy and fun!!!!

My plan is to use 2 of the small blocks from the First Blush book.   But rather than do them in an alternating 2 colors, I am going to do a whole bunch of colors, to make cute little rainbow stars ;)

And then, rather than cutting them square, I am going to cut them on fun angles, so that when they are all sewn together there will just be dancing stars on a beautiful low volume background ;)

So that is the plan!!!   And I was so super excited about finally having a plan that I already started cutting.   Now just to sew these strip sets together and then let the Starburst ruler do it's magic :)

I will be sure to share pictures along the way and here's hoping that it turns out just the way it is in my mind ;)  Regardless, it sure is going to be fun to play with this new ruler and watch it all come together.  

Have you played with any new rulers lately??  I would love to hear about them, specialty rulers are just so fun ;)  

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day.    Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of a Layer Cake of their Choice from Olie and Evie  is . . .   Number #233 . . . Congrats Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts!!!   I have emailed you :) 

      

   

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Green Fairy Quilts.  Green Fairy Quilts is your home for pre-cut goodness and they always have amazing sales going on every weekend on a selected pre-cut or notion!!!  You will want to be sure and sign up for their newsletter so you won't miss these awesome deals!!!

And today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for an awesome Desert Bloom Fat Quarter Bundle by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda!!  I have already played with this line for some secret sewing and let me tell you, it is fantastic!!!  Someone is going to be super lucky this week!!!

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me your favorite season ;)  We now have snow and while I love the snow, already I am wishing for a little more warmth, although not quite as hot as a desert.  Fall is my favorite ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Green Fairy Quilts love.   You can follow them on Bloglovin, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter so you those sales!!  or you can visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Green Fairy Quilt Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, December 6th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!