What better way to start off the new year than with a new weekly virtual quilt contest. And who better to help me kick off this exciting contest than Pat Sloan.

Join the fun, show off your wonderful creations and be inspired by what your quilting friends have made.

Each Monday a new theme will be announced and you can upload a photo along with a short story of a quilt you’ve created that represents the theme in some way. Hopefully, there will even be weekly prizes donated by generous sponsors in the quilting industry. Each weekend, visitors to the Quilting Gallery site can vote for their favourite quilt.

This week’s theme is New Year’s Party Time. Pat has donated a copy of her new book, Pat Sloan’s Camera, Color, Quilts, a 4-spool thread sampler pack of fabulous Aurifil threads, and some of Pat’s new Georgia fabric.

I had the pleasure of first meeting Pat at the Nashville AQS show in 2008. She is a bundle of enthusiasm and energy, that I’m sure if she could bottle it would be a best-seller. So, who is Pat Sloan anyway? You can read her story here.

Her blog is always entertaining with contests, challenges and give-aways. Be sure to check out her Quilt Mashup Forum and her Death by Quilting games… fun!!! You’ll find her on Facebook, Twitter and in Second Life too.

This weekend, Pat’s also giving away another copy of the prize donated for this contest. To enter that give-away, just head over to her blog and follow the instructions there. Hurry, you have until Monday to enter her blog give-away.

To enter this week’s New Year’s Party Time contest, follow the links below. Come back next Friday (Jan. 8th) to see all the fabulous quilts and to cast your vote for your favourite.

• Guidelines
• Themes, winners & sponsors
• Submit your photo
• How to sponsor a contest

I’m still working on the themes page. I’d love to hear your weekly theme suggestions. Leave a comment or send me an email.

Let’s see your fabulous New Year’s Party Time quilts!!