Thanks to all that entered their quilts in the Weekly Themed Quilt Contest. This week’s theme is Winter Fun.

Now it’s time for you to vote for your favourite!! The lucky winner with the most votes will a copy of the Quilter’s Cookbook.

• Voting is open Friday – Sunday @ 11 p.m.
• One vote per IP address (NOT email address), so have your family and friends cast a ballot for your favourite quilt (from home if you send it to coworkers)
• Winner announced Monday!

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P.S. You can also leave a comment here for a chance to win a copy of the Cookbook.

P.S.S. Next week’s theme is Two-Coloured Quilts. Get your cameras out.

Registration is now available for the Winter Time Mini Quilt Swap. Some of the rules have changed, so please read the guidelines page carefully before you register.

Registration closes January 31st. Partner information will be sent by February 2nd. The deadline to mail your mini quilt is March 1st for overseas shipments and March 8th for domestic shipments (and Canada/USA).

Looking for some inspiration? Check out these fabulous mini quilts made for the fall swap. Such fabulous work and amazing creativity.

Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. The theme is Winter Fun.

I’ve been quilting since 2003, when my Aunt-in-law, Karen took me to her Guild Potluck, I was so inspired and in aaaw that I signed up for every class and bought hundreds of dollars worth of the “must-haves”. I was married in 2001, and I thought once I got married, my DH would entertain me…I was in for a surprise :) So, I went and took a sewing class with an old Kenmore passed onto me from my Aunt. I LOVED it and then I took 2 or 3 more classes. It ended up that my sewing teacher was part of this aaaaw inspiring guild and I’ve been a member ever since.

I love to try new techniques and most of the harder ones like paper piecing, cotton theory, free motion quilting (which I still need to practice), I’ve learnt from books and magazines on my own late at night lol. I have, however, taken many classes and probably always will. I’ve taught a few classes and will be teaching more as I love to inspire and share quilting to all ages and levels of experience.

I’m originally from Jasper (area), Alberta, Canada (where my grandparents owned this resort). I grew up in the mountains and, as a kid, I definitely took it for granted but now as an adult I LOVE the mountains especially in the Winter and my roots. Some of my Aunts are sewers, stitchers (mostly) and my Mum has sewn since she was 10. So, I must I have the gene. I’ve always liked to be creative either by decorating something or knitting and now sewing and quilting.

I started blogging in 2007 but seriously blogging in 2009. Val’s Quilting is a true collection of my thoughts, quilting projects, UFO’s (don’t we all have a list), tutorials (some mine and some I’ve collected), friendships and more. I blog about Quilting in Alberta which is based around the two guilds I belong to and local events. I truly like this blogging world because you get to connect with like-minded people all over the world and they with you. I’m not sure I will ever go to Belgium never-mind if I did, have the time to find a quilter & become good friends with her while I’m there – blogging it’s fabulous! I’m very active on Facebook (personally and for my business fan page) and Twitter .

A tool I can’t live without is my Gingher Scissors and this is all thanks to Kim who introduced me to them years ago. These are by far the best scissors I’ve ever owned, they feel nice in the hand, they look great and the best thing about them is they stay sharp!

For 2010 I would like to finish my UFO’s, more e-interviews (if you want to be interviewed email me), more vid-casts and maybe start a podcast (I’ve had a few requests), spend more time with friends, design more, learn new techniques, save more memories by taking photos of everything, plan a few retreats (to come). I want to go to Houston this year maybe once if not twice (anyone want to join me?) and soak it all in.

I’ve always wanted to own a quilting store but the one I wanted to own wasn’t for sale sooo…this past fall I took the plunge and opened an online boutique style of shop, Pastimes Online Ltd. where I specialize in higher end quilting notions, projects, dupioni silks, block of the months , neat items like Quilters Tea (yum) etc.

Thank you for reading my entry as a Guest Blogger, now its your turn!! Thanks Michele for making this site so fantastic!

(All pictures taken by me, I love any type of flower and my cat, Tig)

Want to be a guest blogger too?

The Alliance for American Quilts has announced a new quilt contest.

“New From Old” is the theme of the 2010 contest and quiltmakers are encouraged to think broadly and creatively about this opportunity to celebrate the past in the frame of the present. They might seek inspiration and/or content from antique quilt blocks, fabrics, trims, color palettes or stitches, then use the tools and materials of contemporary quilting to produce a new wall quilt. Artists might also respond to the theme more conceptually-an “old” idea recycled, a new way of creating an old block, technique or style, or a more personal interpretation.

The rules are simple: quilts must be 16″ x 16″ (including a 4″ sleeve and a label) and consist of three layers. Contest quilts must be sent to the AAQ by May 31, 2010. The contest is also a fundraiser; all quilts become a donation to the organization and will be auctioned on eBay Nov. 8 – Dec. 6, 2010 to benefit the AAQ and its mission to document, preserve and share the history of quilts and quiltmakers.

The contest quilts will tour national venues, including the National Quilting Association’s annual show in Columbus, Ohio, June 16 – 19 and the American Quilters Society Show in Knoxville, Tennessee, July 14-17. All contestants will benefit as well from their quilts being displayed on the AAQ website, not just during the contest and auction, but permanently, on the Quilt Index.

I’m really excited about this contest, and have been thinking about ideas for the past few days. I’m thinking something miniature, Amish-like or totally scrappy. The Alliance does amazing work for quilters, and I’m happy to support their efforts in this creative way. Head over to their web site to get all the contest info.

Congratulations to OrkaLoca of Italy for winning last week’s weekly themed quilt contest, Snowmen, with her super cute quilt Looking at Snowflake. Thanks to Stef at Blackberry Quilts for her generous prize.

This week’s theme is WINTER FUN. To enter, read the rules and guidelines, then submit your quilt photo. Voting will start on Friday and last until Sunday night.

This week’s contest is sponsored by me. I’m giving away two copies of the Quilter’s Cookbook, Quick and easy recipes, so we can get back to quilting!.

The Cookbook contains 119 recipes, most with heart-warming family stories, as well as 76 photos of gorgeous quilts and the real life stories behind them. The recipes [PDF file] are broken down into the following sections:

• Appetizers & Snacks
• Soups & Salads
• Main Dishes
• Side Dishes
• Quilter’s Sweet Treats & Desserts
• Breads, Muffins, Scones, etc.
• Beverages

Read what others have to say about the Quilter’s Cookbook.

Second chance to win: What’s your favourite outdoor winter activity? Leave a comment below, and one random winner will be selected.

If you want to be a sponsor, contact me.

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You may use the code below to add the logo to your own blog. Thanks for helping to spread the word. The more contestants, the more exciting the contests.