Congratulations to #61 Brigitte for winning Elisa Wilson’s pattern and template give-away from last week’s guest blogger post.

Thanks to everyone that shared their favourite beginner’s quilting tips. Here’s Brigitte’s tip:

My first quilt teacher always made us rip out anything that was not precise. At the time I thought it ludicrous but realized in no time she was right. Nothing would fit if it was not precise.

Please join me in welcoming guest blogger Linda Winters as a she shares with us her quilting journey. Thanks for being a guest, Linda.

Hi, everyone! My name is Linda Winters and I’m living in Texas again after being away for twenty years. I grew up in the colorful city of San Antonio, where Fiesta parades and colorful celebrations made an indelible impact on my tastes. To this day, I have a very difficult time working with soft, muted colors although I often admire them in the work of others.

I have been interested in quilts and quilting since I was a very small girl. My grandmother made a Little Dutch girl quilt that I found fascinating. Every little Dutch girl had a different print dress and her little socks were tinted (probably with crayons) to match! I thought that was just the most wonderful thing! Quilting, though, was on the decline during those years so I didn’t learn to quilt until I was grown. I did learn to sew, though, and as a teenager and young adult I made my own clothes.

I started college with the intention of majoring in art, but was persuaded by my counselor to minor in art and major in education, since that was what most women were encouraged to do in the early nineteen seventies. (Being a compliant type person, I did just that.) I found that my creativity really helped to make me a better teacher, so I didn’t regret that decision. I taught elementary school for twenty years.

When expecting my first son, I was part of a group of women at church who met for the purpose of sewing for others. We made quilts for a children’s home and knit slippers for local nursing homes. I have very warm memories of sitting at a quilting frame with women in their eighties and attempting to “quilt” with them. (I wouldn’t be surprised if they had to remove my stitches after I left, but they certainly never let me know about it if they did!) The pieced tops we worked on were beautiful and the stories from their lives were fascinating to a young mother-to-be. From then on, trips to the library nearly always included perusing the needlework aisle and bring home at least a couple of books about quilting.

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Congratulations to Carla Cornelissen for winning last week’s Watercolour Quilts contest. Thanks to everyone that entered and took the time to vote.

This week’s contest is Baby Quilts and is sponsored by the Around the Block Quilters Shop.

Around the Block Quilters Shop

Babies! Babies! Babies! I love them! I would happily go "Around the Block" to hold one, or rock one, or feed one, or smell one (especially right out of the bath!). To celebrate Babies and the Winner of the Babies Quilt Contest, Around the Block Quilters Shop will be sending the Winner a 21 piece Fat Quarter Bundle from the Funny Babies Collection.

This is a $47.50 value. Follow this link to see some of those 21 fabrics in this very cute fabric line.

During the month of September, we are participating in the FabShop Hop and we have SPECIALS for all to enjoy.

September 11th – 17th – 20% off All Panels

September 18th – 24th – Free 1″ x 4″ Ruler with each order

September 25th – 30th – 15% off Deb Strain’s Saltbox Harvest Collection

Visit Around the Block Quilters Shop to take advantage of these special offers.

Enter the Contest

To enter the weekly contest, read the rules and guidelines, then submit your quilt photo by Thursday evening (EDT). Voting will start on Friday and last until Sunday night.