Springing into Spring- Let's Celebrate!

  After several days of raw, rainy weather, today finally felt like spring. And how better to celebrate than with a giveaway? 

    Martingale, Island Batik, and Ackfeld Manufacturers (makers of these adorable mini quilt stands) are sponsors. As an Island Batik Ambassador, I have a copy of "Little Gems" to give away to one of my blog followers; you also have a chance of winning prizes from Island Batik and Ackfeld.

   This is my version of Daisy Daze, made from Island Batik fabrics. The bright colors are from the "Full Bloom" line, and remind me of my multi-colored portulaca. I chose to make this pattern for the blog hop because I just love the little yo-yos, but truly, all the patterns are so cute that you'll want to make every one of  them. The title is so perfect; every pattern is a gem. 

So how do I enter to win? It's easy. Comment below, telling me why you deserve to win. Make it funny; everyone needs a few laughs. Then follow this blog. On April 20th I will choose a winner by random number generator.  And don't forget to go back to my previous post where you will find contact info for ALL the Island Batik Ambassadors who are participating- you can enter there too!

Good luck! 

A new giveaway...

Welcome to the Little Gems Blog Hop!

 Little Gems is the most recent book by Connie Kauffman published by Martingale and just released this February. The book features 15 mini paper pieced quilts.  Quilts measure 12" x 12" and can be made with a small amount of fabrics.

Island Batik is one of the sponsors of the Blog, and 8 of the Island Batik Ambassadors are taking part.  Each Ambassador selected one project from the book Little Gems and has recreated it using Island Batik fabric.  Be sure and check back each day to see the quilts made in new colorways with these beautiful batiks.  Look for a special prize of a bundle of Island Batik fabrics!

Martingale is another one of our sponsors.  They are giving away a free ebook at each Ambassador's Blog.  Be sure and go to each site to enter.

Ackfeld Manufacturer is our third sponsor for the Blog.  They create the great wire stands for each "little gem" you see in the book.  They are giving away a free stand - be sure to enter for that- all the "gems" look great displayed on the wire stands!

Our Blog Hop is 11 days of interesting projects, beautiful fabrics and great prizes.  Be sure to visit a new site every day.

April 8        www.kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com

April 9        www.blog.shopmartingale.com

April 10      www.conniekresin.com

April 11      www.bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com

April 12      www.sixgablesdesigns.blogspot.com

April 13      Ackfeld Wire hosted by www.kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com

April 14     www.tamarinis.typepad.com

April 15     www.teachpany.blogspot.com

April 16     www.beaquilter.com

April 17    www.onequiltingcircle.com

April 18     www.islandbatik.com/news

Sunday April 12th is my day.  Come back to see my "little gem", made from one of the patterns in Connie's book, with lovely Island Batik fabrics. Each blogger will have one book to give away, so you have 11 chances to win, and then there's that great fabric and the gorgeous little stand. Winners will be announced April 20th.

 See ya' Sunday!

Letters from Pothole Heaven

     The weatherman is forecasting a springlike day tomorrow, and after nearly two months of this:

it's nice to see the ground again with little green things poking up.
     Of course there's the happy upside to winter weather- snow days (unless, of course, you have children who would otherwise be in school). Snow day = sew day. I had lots of sew days.
     I took a workshop with Thomas Knauer and made a Braille quilt. Here's my Big Bang quilt. I really need to take a better picture, but I snapped this in a hurry to get it out to TK himself right after finishing it. The bright triangles spell out "star stuff" in Braille, and I have baby planets being born, which were fun to make. The quilting is a line from Carl Sagan's Cosmos, "We are star stuff which has taken its destiny into its own hands." I love, love, LOVE this little quilt!

     I finished a quilt top I started in a workshop with Anita Grossman Solomon in 2013. The pattern is Anita's Arrowhead, and since taking the picture, I have completed the remaining blocks and added a border. I made it longer than the pattern specified so it will cover my tall husband. This will go over our brown leather sofa.

     The snow considerately worked around my schedule so I was able to do a trunk show and lecture for Shoreline Quilters in Branford, Connecticut in early March. They got to meet Tacki, the Decorating Diva in all her tacky glory, but as I say on my web site, you have to invite me to speak at your guild to see her "in person". I have two guild events coming up in Massachusetts this month-
Linsey Woolsey Quilt Guild April 13th and Silver City on April 20th. I have a new kids pattern I'll be launching next week.  No picture until the big day itself.