Hello all,

Well, today is a little anticlimactic.  I have just two little blocks.

Friendship Star - Blue

Friendship Star - Red

I was trying to use medium values (blue and red) in these blocks to stay with my vow of using a range of values in the quilt. I’m finding that to be more difficult than I first thought.  My eye naturally goes to the darker red and blue values, so I’m having to take a step back from my design wall and make sure that I am mixing it up enough. Next week I’ll share the first pictures of the quilt on the design wall to give you a better view of how it is shaping up.

I hope everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kathy

Looking for McCall’s Quilting back issues or patterns? A perfect gift for any quilter! Go to ShopQuiltersVillage.com and receive 20% off your entire order PLUS free standard shipping and handling on US order only if you spend $25 or more in the store. The promo code to get 20% off is QVBF30. The sale starts Wednesday, November 25, 2009 and ends at midnight on Monday, November 30th.

Hello all,

Today is day 2 in my journey to make the Grateful Heart sampler for my daughter Sarah. Here she is in her uniform:

Sarah and her Dad

The block today is Farmer’s Fields.  It was not difficult to piece, but at the end, I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t perfectly square.  I know it probably won’t show when it’s quilted, however, the perfectionist in me wants it to be absolutely right!

Farmer's Fields

Don’t miss our giveaway of the special issue which features this sampler on our new facebook fan page. Just click on our facebook fan page link at right to be connected.

This sampler is turning out to be a lot of fun, and the perfect quilt for Sarah. Tune in tomorrow for the next installment.

Thanks!

Kathy

Hello all!

We at McCall’s are very excited about our special issue that is coming out early in December – America Makes Quilts From the Heart.

I was personally inspired by the 25-block sampler that we have included, the Grateful Heart sampler. You see, my 18-year old daughter, Sarah, enlisted in the United States Air Force after high school.  She shipped to basic military training (BMT) on September 1, 2009 and she just recently graduated on October 29, 2009. She is now at Tech School getting her secondary training and waiting for orders to see what her first permanent station will be. There is a very real possibility that she will be shipped overseas to Iraq, Afghanistan, or Korea. I am so proud of her decision to enlist and serve her country and so proud of her accomplishments, but I miss her so badly!

So, I knew that she had to have a quilt to take with her and the Grateful Heart sampler seemed to be perfect, since I am so grateful for her. She is coming home for Christmas, so it will be a perfect time to give it to her. Since she doesn’t have internet accessibility, I thought it would be okay to share my journey with you over the next few weeks while I make this quilt for Sarah.

I’ve chosen to make the quilt in reds, blues, creams, and golds to celebrate the colors of the U.S.A. I’m using a mixture of Moda, Red Rooster, and Marcus fabrics, and I’m also challenging myself to use a variety of values (light, medium, and dark) throughout the quilt.

The first block is a Grandmother’s Fan block. I had never sewn a fan block before, so this was a fun challenge.

The next block is a Peace and Plenty block. This was an easy block to make and visually very appealing.

Peace and Plenty

Next was the Ocean Waves block. This block is very cool (according to my husband), but can be problematic due to all the bias edges.  In the end I prevailed and I am basically happy with the outcome.

Ocean Waves

I hope you enjoy this story and a sneak peak at our Grateful Heart sampler.  I’d love to hear from any of you with comments or suggestions.

Happy Quilting!

Kathy

Wow – we have had some amazing submissions to our Mystery Quilt Blocks gallery.  I just wanted to share some from Sharon English of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Sharon was one of our lucky travelers on the McCall’s Quilting Adventures trip to Ireland and sent these pictures in to our editor, Laura Roberts.  It looks like she will have a real batik beauty on her hands at the end of this story.  Congratulations, Sharon!

Make sure and upload your pictures into our gallery today.  Just go to McCallsquilting.com and click on the Mystery Quilt icon, then click on “Add an Image” in the upper right hand corner. It’s easy! Then everybody can see and admire your blocks.

Thanks!

Kathy

Congratulations to our 100 blocks blog tour winners – Barb Calvin, Cindy Barszczewski, and Linda Armenti! Thanks to everybody who entered our drawing and visited our blocks on the tour.

Three of the editors from McCall’s Quilting magazine were thrilled to participate in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designer’s Issue!

Each of our editors designed a very different block showcasing their different styles and personalities.

Beth Hayes' Block - Posy Power

Our Editor-in-chief, Beth Hayes, designed a pretty block showcasing large floral prints.

Kathy Patterson's - One Happy Family

Our Senior Editor, Kathy Patterson, contributed an appliquéd Advent wreath, a remake of a block featured in a quilt she designed for a McCall’s Quilting issue (One Happy Family, December 2007, page 60).

Laura Roberts' - Moss Ross

Our Assitant Editor, Laura Roberts, designed a vibrant batik block in pinks and yellows and green.

Follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily Nov. 9-13 at quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for inspiration, ideas and giveaways galore! Look for 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers in your local quilt shop, or purchase it at quiltmaker.com/100blocks.

To celebrate our participation, we are giving away 3 copies of the 100 Blocks issue. Just e-mail your contact information to Kathy Hannah at khannah@creativecraftsgroup.com by noon November 12, 2009 and you will be entered to win!

Happy Quilting!

Well, with Quilt Market and getting McCall’s February issue ready, we’ve all been too busy to blog. However, this was too good to pass up. Our own Sherri Bain Driver, Associate Editor, has a quilt that was awarded a Judges Choice ribbon in the Pacific International Quilt Show. (See pictures below.)

Sherri is an amazing quilter, and the author of Layer, Baste, Quilt in our magazine. Her column always has great tips on machine quilting. Don’t miss it!

We put the ribbon for her quilt next to her name tag. You will note that she has a guard flamino. The flamingo was a recent addition that she brought in for the pictures for Coral Beach Christmas in the current issue of McCall’s Quick Quilts. Somehow, they’ve become a permanent addition to her cube!

Once again, Congratulations Sherri!

Sherri and Sonoran Stars

Sonoran Stars

Guard Flamingo

That’s right, the staff at McCall’s Quilting wants to see your projects made from our patterns… and you might win a prize for your efforts!

We’ve put together 3 great prize packages that include a fall fabric package from Andover fabrics (including a festive panel with coordinating fabrics), some great patterns and useful tools, all for you!  You can see by the picture below that it’s a great win! (Each package may have slightly different, but comparable items.)

McCall's September '09 Contest Prize Package

All you  need to do is click on the link below and upload a picture of a project that you made based on a McCall’s pattern.  (If you are not already registered with the Quilter’s Village site, you will need to register before you can upload your picture.   Don’t worry, it is free… and easy!)

http://www.quiltersvillage.com/my_admin/gallery_contribute?idx=8862

Click the browse button to search your computer for the picture of your quilt (the ideal size is 300 x 300 pixels).  Then make sure to name your quilt in the Image Title/Caption box.

You must enter by September 30, 2009.  Upload as many different projects as you like, as long as they are McCall’s patterns and are each different projects.  For each picture you upload, your name will be entered into the drawing.  On October 1, 2009, we will draw 3 names and these 3 people will each win a prize package!  (You may only win one of the prize packages.)

Happy Quilting!

The Staff of McCall’s Quilting

Hello all!

It was a strange day last week when the staff of McCall’s quilting gathered in our heavy coats and scarves, draped ourselves in winter quilts and stomped out in the 85 degree sunshine to get our winter holiday picture taken.  Yes, that’s right – 85 degrees!

That is one of the strange things about working 4 – 6 months ahead of time.  Sometimes, you just aren’t dressed right for the weather!

I won’t spoil your fun and show you any of the pictures (you’ll have to take a look at the December issue for that), but I wanted to share another picture with you.  In this picture, photographer, Melissa is behind the camera, and art director, Ellie, is helping her with the shot.  Editor-in-chief, Beth Hayes, is just on the left side of the frame.  Now, when you see the picture in the magazine, you’ll know what it’s like from the other side!

Catch you later,

Kathy

How the other side lives!