Hi Everyone! I am so so excited to be popping in to say hello today!

My name is Rebecca Johnson, I’m an Aussie and I blog over at Chasing Cottons. Just like all of you, I am super passionate about Sewing and Quilting. I love to sew, I love to create things.

A few years ago I went to my very first quilt show, I instantly fell in love with the amazing fabrics and the incredible quilts. I bought my first bundle of fabric and first easy quilt pattern and I was off. Once I had cut into the fabric and got half way through the pattern I found I didn’t really like how it was coming together, so I started rearranging the pieces, adding more fabric here and there and I have been designing my own quilts ever since.

On March 19th 2010, I gave birth to my third child. A little boy named Chase. We discovered right after he was born that his lungs didn’t develop properly and after fighting for 2 days, he passed away. It was the most devastating thing for me, my husband and my two other children. We have all be struggling with the loss of my little boy.

So, I have found myself sewing, designing new patterns and quilts as an escape. To keep my mind focused on something else. To give me something to do, to keep busy, and to be excited about. To keep my mind active. I threw myself into the Blogging/Quilting world. It has been an amazing source of healing as it has helped me get through this difficult time. I named my blog after my son and my love for all things cotton… Chasing Cottons.

My blog has grown over the last 12 months and I have loved every minute of it. These past few months I have been teaching a free online course called Quilt Class 101. I wanted to be able to share my passion and quilting knowledge with you. The classes run over 14 weeks touching on a different topic. I wanted to have a place compiled in one spot that can help those that want to make their first quilt, maybe touch up on a few skills or link up your own tutorials to help those following along in the class. You can see the course outline HERE.

I hope you pop over to my blog and say hi. You can see some of my finished quilts, buy my quilt patterns or keep in touch on Facebook.

I love the online community. I think the best thing about the Internet, is being able to see all of your creations and inspire each other.. its like sharing your quilts with your best friends who ‘get’ quilting!!

Thank you so much Michelle for having me here today… Bec xx

xx Thank you… Bec xx

The theme for this week’s quilt contest is Log Cabin Quilts. Guidelines4Quilting is back as this week’s sponsor and have donated gift certificates to be awarded to the top two quilters with the most votes received next weekend.

Guidelines4Quilting

Hello Quilting Friends!

For the week of August 1 contest, we’re offering two gift certificates, $20 for the first winner and $10 for the second to be used on FinishedSizeQuilting.com.

Bonus for Everyone:

Save $5.00 on the Ultimate Stashbuster™ Set that works with any 6"x12" acrylic quilting ruler.

Last month, we showed you how easy it is to Resize Quilt Blocks. This month, we’d like to show you how you can make Flying Geese and Square in a Square blocks Any Size you want without any special templates, patterns or complicated math, using the the Ultimate Stashbuster™ tools.

August Quilting Tip:

Half and Quarter Square Triangles are identical in shape. How can you tell Half Square Triangles from Quarter Square Triangles in blocks like these?

Good luck to all the contestants, and Happy Quilting to everyone!
The Guidelines4Quilting Team

Enter the Contest

Get your cameras out! 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.

• Upcoming Themes

Last Week’s Quilt Contest

Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s Summer Fun quilt contest. I enjoyed seeing all of the gorgeous quilts. Thanks also to everyone that took the time to vote. Our sponsor, Jojo’s Quilt Shoppe donated a fat quarter bundle of Rural Jardin by French General for the top quilter with the most votes.

Congratulations to Linda Gilli

Blog It

Please share the logo below on your own blog. The more contestants, the more exciting the contests!

Join Jacquelynne Steves from The Noble Wife and other guest bloggers during this week’s Fruitful Hands Blog Tour.

Here’s the schedule:

Monday: Brenda Riddle of Acorn Quilt and Gift Company and Jill Finley of Jillily Studio
Tuesday: Pat Sloan of, well, everything!
Wednesday: Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches
Thursday: Michele Foster of The Quilting Gallery – that’s me, see you Thursday!
Friday: Sandi Andersen of A Legacy of Stitches

Rumour has it, you’ll be able to win copies of Jacquelynne’s new book Fruitful Hands, and perhaps some other goodies too from each blogger. The fun starts at Jacquelynne’s blog. See you on Thursday for my special day!