Happy Friday Everyone,
Today, I’m excited to be a stop on the Machine Quilting with Style Blog Hop hosted by my BQF (best quilting friend) and NEW author, Christa Watson.
What makes this book special?
I’m always on the look-out for books that I consider to be timeless and great as a reference book, that one can return to over and over again, learning something new each time. Machine Quilting with Style, in my opinion, fulfils those requirements.
Why do I think this is an excellent book?
Here are a few reasons why I think this book is, not only excellent, but also a great resource to have in your quilting studio:
- It includes 12 pieced projects that range from the definitely modern-style, to the more traditional style, in my opinion.
- It covers BOTH walking foot and free motion quilting designs, which I’ve never seen in another book.
- Not only does it include the quilting designs that Christa chose for the 12 projects presented, but she includes numerous tips and lots of advice, on how those quilting designs can be used in your own projects.
- The book includes numerous quilting design options, most of them geared toward a beginner and some more complex. However, each design option includes several tips to help you succeed.
- I don’t, personally, see a cohesive style to the 12 projects presented in the book. For me, that’s fantastic, as the styles are so different, and that leads to many quilting design options, that the reader can then use on their own projects.
Let’s explore some of the projects included in this book. All photography is credited to Brent Kane.
Of all the quilt designs in the book, this is my favourite, Facets:
I love both the finished quilt and the quilting designs chosen:
In January 2016, Christa will be hosting a quilt-along on her blog, focussing on one of the designs from her book.
Might I suggest, humbly of course, that you choose the Facets design. I really do love all of the little pieces, the opportunity to use up various scraps making the blocks, and the quilting designs are just fantastic.
Ok, that’s it for me … click the link below to view the Blog Hop schedule and to purchase Christa’s book:
Buy Machine Quilting with Style
& Visit More Blog Hop Participants
Inspiration for the October Mini Quilt Club Pattern
If you’ve been following my posts, you will know that I am experimenting and learning new quilting designs/options for my Mini Quilt Club patterns.
I have the October mini quilt designed, called Bear Necessities. Here’s a sneak peek:
I’ll be using a collection of fall-inpsired fabrics to complete this mini quilt. Additionally, I was inspired by the straight-line quilting design used in Christa’s quilt from her book, Little Man’s Fancy.
For the October Mini Quilt Club pattern, I have the design complete, the fall-inspired fabrics chosen, and now, the quilting design in mind, based on Christa’s quilt. This weekend, will be spent completing my mini quilt. The October pattern will be available October 1st.
Mini Quilt Club Give-Away
As part of this blog hop tour, I’m hosting a give-away for one of my readers. I’ll be giving away a full membership to my Mini Quilt Club.
To enter the give-away, just leave a comment below answering the following: “What is your favourite season? And why?“. For me it’s Summer, as I love the long evenings of sunshine and the hot, hot heat.
Winner will be chosen randomly on the morning of Monday, September 28th. If you’ve already purchased the Mini Quilt Club, I’ll refund your full purchase price, should you win the give-away.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Michele
Autumn is my favorite season — I love the deep rich colors, cooking comfort foods, and watching my son play football!!
I love fall, nice to cool off after the summer heat!
Thanks for being a stop on the hop – I’m so glad that Facets is your favorite, too!!
I like spring, seeing all the new growth of the plants. It shows such hope and promises for the future.
Living just north of the Houston area, my favorite time of the year is fall which won’t arrive here until mid-October or later. After all the summer heat and humidity, it will be nice to be able to walk outside without breaking a sweat!
Spring!! Living in Wisconsin, Spring means the snow will have melted and the grass is turning green and flowers are appearing. It’s a time of renewal. And warmer temperatures! Thanks for the chance to win!
Summer is my favourite season because I’m a gardener and a quilter!
Spring…when the brown “sticks”(trees and such) become fresh and new again.
Thank you.
Autumn is my favorite for the way the air becomes crisper, the sky turns bluer, and the leaves dazzle.
I love the spring, the beautiful flowers and fresh buds on trees. It holds so much promise.
I like winter! I’ve lived in Southern California for most of my life, recently have been visiting Boston area, and love it in the winter! It’s fabulous to walk in the snow, to see it falling outside the window, and to sew inside knowing it’s cold outside! Thanks for the chance!
I live in the desert southwest, where we have over 100 days of heat over 100 degrees, add another 25 over 105 and top it off with another 15 over 115. Then we add in the humidity from our monsoon season at the same time. It’s a very long 5 months every year.
I love our winter. It’s cool with high temps in the 60s and 70s. It’s sweater weather. It’s also the time of year that you can sit outside and enjoy figuring out your next quilt, or reading a new quilting book, or garden.
My favorite season is summer. I love the beautiful flowers, warm weather, and extra long sunny days. It is also perfect for spending some time at the beach.
My favourite is spring – I love the colours and the ‘newness’ of it all!
My favorite season is fall. I love when it cools down after the much too hot summers, and the temps seem to stay nice and enjoyable for a long period in the fall – at least here in Kentucky where I am. The spring, which would theoretically also be great, is always too short. As soon as it warms up after winter, it’s too hot!
Fall is my favorite season. I love the slightly cooler weather, because I enjoy being able to open the windows and turn off the a/c. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
I love fall, even though it heralds winter. I love the rich colors, the scents, the apples- just a great season.
Autumn is my favorite. Changing colors, cool evenings what more could you ask for.
Spring–it’s a new beginning!
Winter! Winter in the desert southwest is interesting. I can sit on my back patio in the 70 degree sunshine and look up at the snow on the mountain while sipping coffee and appreciating any plants that are strong enough to grow around me. Some days we get gale winds off the desert with actual wind chill. Most days, my protected front courtyard allows me to maintain my tan in comfort of about 82-85 mid-day temps. And then there is the rain. We get an annual average of a little over 4″ a year, so when it rains, it pours and we have flooding and puddles to stomp in and sand bags to place for keeping that water from our doorways. I get a 4 full seasons worth of weather in winter. It’s all excitement and not much stress. If it snows, we enjoy it and let it melt. It will happen again in 5 or 10 years or so.
I love all the seasons, changes in the weather…even the hot summers in the desert.
Fall is my favorite season, as the days start to cool down. Love the changing colors and having grown up on a farm, the harvest of the crops before winter takes hold.
My favorite season is winter! I live in Las Vegas and it’s the only chance we get for some cold weather! I love to cozy up with a quilt and have some hot cocoa.
My favorite season is the one I’m in. Love Spring’s light, flowery colors and patterns. Love Summer’s bright vivid colors.
Love Autumn’s beautiful, rich, full homey colors. Love Winter’s frosty colors.
I am ready for the cooler temperatures of Fall–that and the cider, pumpkin treats, and other such yumminess.
My favourite season is autumn. It is slower paced and the cooler temperatures and coloured leaves just beg for you to take long, leisurely walks.
Winter, is a wonderful time of peace. No major cleaning or yard work, just perfect for the quilting !
Fall is always my favorite time of the year, the colors, the cooler days, and slowing down from a busy summer.
I love summer! Love the heat and sunshine and swimming in my pool.
My favorite season is spring. Time for rebirth and renewal. Revs up the creativity.
I enjoy Fall usually because it is not as hot. Everything is getting back to normal with school. More quilting time. I love it when the leaves change.
My favorite season is fall. I like the cooling temperatures, the leaves changing colors, the crisp smell of the air, and the wonderful apples and pears from the local orchard.
Fall is my favorite season. I love fall because it is the perfect time for campfires and the bugs are gone! Plus my schedule usually slows down and then I have time to quilt. Thanks for the opportunity to win a great giveaway.
Fall is my favorite season. The days cool off and the nights get a little chilly, but still comfortable. The lawns are a deep green and thick and lush. Some flowers are still blooming … It’s nice to enjoy this beautiful place we call home. ktsquiltdreams ATgmail DOTcom
I love the fall! The rich colors that are everywhere, the cool, crisp air, the smells of cinnamon and spices, all of my senses are happiest this time of year! And of course, it is so nice to cuddle up with a nice quilt!
My favorite is fall – because of the rich colours of the nature. And its my birthday, too :)
I love summer the best! Mostly I love the warmth of the sun. I grew up in Boulder City just outside of Las Vegas and loved the hot summers (and still do). I feel and do better in warm weather. Even after living in Oregon for over forty years I still have not gotten used to cold weather.
Fall, I love the rich color palette, the smell of the crisp mornings, and the animals. I live in a very small town on a mountain top in Idaho, fall is the time to soak in the colors and sunshine before the snow arrives leading up to quilting season.
I like winter. You would think I would not because I have a disease that cold weather sends into a tizzy. Even cold air conditioning can do that, so… I grew up in an area where we had lots more snow than we do in Oklahoma. I love snow. I manage to get everything in the house for a long period of time and can huddle under a quilt for warmth. I love to see things glistening in the snow and how it brightens the world. I do well until I either have to venture out of the house or we have a power outage. What a fun question!
I love Spring. Everything is new and fresh. :)
craftyccain@gmail.com
My favorite season is summer. I love bright warm sunny days. It’s so enjoyable participating in outdoor activities and the long days!
I love the summer. In the summer we can stay outside the whole day, it is warm and we can eat outside. If we are lucky we can evan sit outside in the evenings.
I love spring everything is so colorful after the dreary grey winter.
Spring is my favorite season. I love the sunshine, rain, and warmer weather after a cold winter.
Always Spring because it follows a cold, frozen Winter. I hate cold.
Since we’ve moved to an area that has only two seasons (Summer and Not Summer), it is really hard to pick a favorite season. I just like having seasons at all! I miss having spring bulbs bloom (it doesn’t get cold enough for long enough here), I miss sledding and snowmen, and I miss those fall days where it is crisp in the morning and then warms up to that deep blue sky in the afternoon. I also miss the changing leaves and having those kinds of trees.
I Love summer! I live on the coast in Australia and enjoy our beautiful beaches, BBQs and glorious clear skies!
Of course this is a difficult choice, but I choose Late Summer because of the rains. I love to watch the weather while I see by ghd window!
Of course this is a difficult choice, but I choose Late Summer because of the rains. I love to watch the weather while I sew by the window!
I love summer because of all the beautiful colors in nature, the flowers, trees, sky and parks.