Welcome to day one of the Between Heaven and Texas Blog Hop. Over the next 12 days, 12 talented designers will each be creating a 12″ star-themed quilt block tutorial just for you. Each of the participants will also be giving away a copy of Marie Bostwick’s latest book, Between Heaven and Texas, to one of their lucky readers.
Here’s the line-up:
Monday, April 29 – Marie Bostwick
Tuesday, April 30 – Michele – Quilting Gallery
Wednesday, May 1 – Bonnie – Quiltville
Thursday, May 2 – Pat – Pat Sloan
Thursday, May 2 – Kim – Persimon Dreams
Friday, May 3 – Melissa – Happy Quilting
Saturday, May 4 – Jo – Jo’s Country Junction
Sunday, May 5 – Wendy – Ivory Spring
Monday, May 6 – Victoria – Bumble Beans Inc.
Tuesday, May 7 – Vicki – Quilting Lodge Blog
Wednesday, May 8 – Melissa/Jake – Generation Q Magazine
Thursday, May 9 – Jennifer – Sew Hooked
Friday, May 10 – Jackie – Canton Village Quilt Works
We have a Flickr group set up too for you to share your completed blocks. I’d also like to invite you to complete an extra block (or as many as you wish) to send to Jennifer of Sew Hooked, as she’ll be putting together the blocks into quilts for The Linus Connection. You can follow along on Facebook too.
Now over to Marie to get this party started…
Whenever I give an interview, I’m almost always asked which of my novels is my favorite. It’s really an impossible question. Every book I’ve written has been close to my heart, but each in a different way. But when people ask which of my characters is my favorite, I don’t have to think twice before answering, “Mary Dell Templeton.”
Mary Dell Templeton is brassy, sassy, native-born Texan with a heart as big as her hair. And, as the host of a popular cable quilting show, she is possessed of every technical skill and talent required of a world-class quilter — except one: taste. Mary Dell doesn’t have any. Not a drop. Fortunately, Mary Dell’s son, Howard, a young man born with Down syndrome who serves as co-host on her show, has all the color sense his momma lacks and loves choosing the fabrics for her quilts. Together, they make an unbeatable team.
Of course, if you’ve read my Cobbled Court Quilt novels, you already know all that. But, what you don’t know is how Mary Dell got to be…well, Mary Dell.
You don’t know about her childhood in Too Much, Texas, a town that breeds strong-willed women and handsome but shiftless men. You don’t know that Mary Dell has a twin sister named Lydia Dale, that the women in her family, including Grandma Silky, Aunt Velvet, and her mother, Taffy, short for Taffeta, are named after fabric as an homage to the family history of producing expert needlewomen. You don’t know that those same women, including Mary Dell, have an unfortunate tendency to fall for exactly the wrong sort of good-looking man, a weakness they have dubbed “The Fatal Flaw”. Nor do know how Mary Dell falls in love on her honeymoon, or repairs her strained relationship with her sister, or finds triumph in the face of tragedy, or keeps her family from coming apart at the seams, or realizes her most audacious dreams…
Nobody knows about that, except me. At least not until April 30th.
That’s when BETWEEN HEAVEN AND TEXAS arrives on bookstore shelves, and longtime Cobbled Court fans, as well as those who’ve never read any of my books, will learn all about Mary Dell and absolutely fall in love with this story, these characters, and this little Texas town. I believe that BETWEEN HEAVEN AND TEXAS is my best work to date. And, though I’ve never been able to say so until now, I think I’ve finally found my favorite novel.
I do hope you’ll read BETWEEN HEAVEN AND TEXAS. I know you’re going to love it as much as I do. And, if you live near one of the cities I’ll be visiting on my tour, I hope you’ll come see me and get your book signed. It’s always such a joy for me to meet readers face to face. The dates and locations are all listed on the Appearances section of my web site, www.mariebostwick.com or follow along on Facebook.
And, of course, in celebration of Mary Dell Templeton and the Lone Star State, I hope you’ll have fun collecting these twelve star blocks in the BETWEEN HEAVEN AND TEXAS blog hop. Many thanks to Michele and my quilting blogger friends for hosting this tour. And many thanks to you for stopping by!
Sew Happy!
Marie Bostwick
Mirror-Mirror Star
Here’s Marie’s free block: Mirror-Mirror Star.
Download the free block tutorial here!
If you make the block, please share it in the Flickr group and consider making an extra one for The Linus Connection.
Give-Away: Win a copy of Marie’s book by entering the give-away here and come back tomorrow for my own block and enter for another chance too.
Love this block. Thanks so much!
What a great block! Can’t wait to give it a try.
The block is very bold which makes me excited to see what comes next! Honestly, I have not read any of the books yet but will definitely look for them at the bookstore. How nice to be living your dream…quilting and writing! Good for you! Happy quilting and writing!
Love your books, it is painful having to wait for a new one to come out. Thanks too for the block, I’ve been quilting since 1996 but haven’t seen this block before.
Thank you. I drew this up in EQ, made it into a quilt and had a wonderful time flipping it around to see all the different views.
I love your star block! I can’t wait to make it. The book sounds great. I can’t wait to get a copy and read it. I have read all of the cobbled court books and I love them!
Great block! Love the mirror image, makes the block very interesting. Can’t wait to read the newest book, as I have read the previous three and am hooked on these characters.
My cats do the same thing, no matter what I’m working on they want to sit on it.
Would love to have this book not just because I’m live in Texas but the beautiiful quilts I’m seeing!
I love this block. Glad your little furry friend is enjoying it also :)
Thanks so much for the great block–time to stitch! Cute kitty!!
Nice block, thanks!
thank you so much for this great tutorial. hugs
Interesting choice – like any block without pinwheels.
Thank you for the lovely block and great instructions! I can’t wait to give it a try.
The look Phat Cat is giving you….yep, I have seen that same look all too often from my cats.
Thanks you …like the block choice. Looks like the cat does too!
Oh, I hope all the following ones are good like this one…. Hoping for a sampler star quilt to use more of my stash up!
Great looking block and have the instructions now too!
Love the colors you selected for your block.
I can’t wait to read you new book. I loved reading your Cobblestone Court books and have gotten quite a few in my guild to reading them, too. This one sounds like it has a lot of great characters.
Thanks for the great pattern for a mirror block. It’s very unique. The character of Mary Dell is one of my favorites too. I’m looking forward to reading your new book.
Great block. Love the “quilt police”! Got them at my house too!
I love Marie’s books. I love that she has a down syndrome character. Our local quilt store owner has a down syndrome daughter and Marie was there last year. It was so interesting meeting her. Love the block.
Nice block. Can’t wait to read this book.
Love this block! Can’t wait to read the new book as well! Great post!
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I am excited to be involved in this 12 block quilt project!
This is my first introduction to Marie Bostwick and her books. I love reading about women who quilt and their lives and I can’t wait to find her books and start reading them. Thank you for introducing me to Marie.
The perfect block for a mystery swap – love it :) I haven’t read any of Marie’s books before – can’t wait.
Loved the book review by SewCal Gal. Made me want run out and buy you first series as well as your new book. Thanks for sharing your block. I now follow you by tweet, Facebook and blog. Good luck with new book.
Sewsck@gmail.com
Thank you for the block pattern–I’m eager to make it. I also would like to read the books after I retire in a month!
I love the block. It is so bright. I have read all your books and can’t wait to read this ine too
I don’t normally do this sort of thing but I am a big fan of yours, The Cobbled Court series and other books too. I am busy travelling at the moment so i hope to be able to keep up with the blocks and work on them some time soon.
I would love a signed copy of your latest book, how is the best way for me to get one, I live in Israel.
I make many quilts for victims of terror and other charitable projects here in Israel and am always looking for new ideas to make quick and fun quilts. Thank you again for your wonderful
stories.
Very interesting block. I love to try new ones and do different color choices. As I have not heard of your Cobbled Court novels will do some searching. From what others are saying they will keep me reading. Thanks for a chance to win.
Love this block.
Hadn’t heard of the book before but have now downloaded the first book from the library to read. Love the block.
I am so excited to learn about this book series. And I will give this block a test drive too.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Marie,
I was watching the tv and saw you on one of the quilting shows, just recently, but can’t remember which one..LOL anyways, great block and your book..the characters sound down to earth and I will be looking for your novels in the library…
Take care my new friend and happy travels,
Linda J
VA
I saw you at the Knoxville Quilt Show 2 years ago and met you. Thanks for the giveaway. I love your block.
SA
I am looking forward to reading your your new book! Love finding a new author. Can’t wait to try the block!
I had not been familar with you or your books. I read the first two pages of this book and was intrigued. I will definitely be looking for your Cobbled Court series.
I would like to make all the blocks on this tour, they all look great so far. Love your books, too.
This is a lovely block