Hi everyone! Welcome to Day 8 of our Glorious Autumn Block Party. Today we have Rochelle Martin as our featured designer and special savings from Eleanor Burns’ Quilt in a Day.

Visit the Block Party Headquarters for more info and upload your completed blocks to the Flickr group.

Super Deal from Quilt in a Day

Quilt in a Day has everything you need to make a quilt – books, patterns, free block patterns, notions, fabric, rulers and videos. Quilt in a Day was founded in 1975 by “Hall of Fame” quilter, Eleanor Burns. Through out her career, Eleanor has published over 100 “How-to” quilt books, developed an Eleanor Burns Signature Pattern Collection and designed a variety of specialty rulers all produced to aid the quilter in successfully and easily completing their quilt. Her Quilt in a Day TV series began airing on PBS and is still broadcasting nationwide and abroad.

Today’s Super Deal:

85% off Select Eleanor Burns’ Signature Quilt Patterns. Purchase three of Eleanor Burns’ Signature Patterns for $3: Magnolia Bud, Cinnamon Swirl and Romance Rose; or $2 for one individual pattern. No special code is required. Expires September 26, 2012 at midnight PST.

Eleanor Burns’ signature Quilt in a Day pattern booklets each contain easy-to-follow diagrams and step-by-step, illustrated diagrams. Each time-honored pattern provide quilters with the tools to improve the efficiencies of quilt construction and teaches a wide variety of quilting techniques including: strip piecing, applique, scrap quilting, crazy quilts, piecing starts, triangles and squares! Patterns also include numerous quilt border treatments, tie a quilt, layer a quilt, and so much more! All patterns are perfect for both beginning and advanced quilters.

Get your Super Deal Savings here!

Featured Designer: Rochelle Martin

How did you get into quilting?

I tried it as a hobby first. My memories of quilting are good as I grew up in a Mennonite community where quilting is done by most of the women in the church. After the children were in school I had more time and I started making quilts for our family. My first quilt was for our son – a red/white/blue pieced and appliquéd quilt in the color story he liked best. The blocks were large and the design was from a library book and called Chinese Coins.

How/when/why did you transition from a quilter to a designer?

From the first I wanted better designs than I could find in books from the library. I’m also an artist so after I discovered the art of appliqué I drew my own templates. I then started making quilt tops for a woolen mill in another town. They wanted original designs so I designed quilts for them to make for the store. They filled them with wool batting and tied the comforters and sold them at the store shop. Years later I worked at our local quilt shop as a clerk, made displays and taught classes. I started making original patterns for the store using their fabric. When the patterns sold very well I started my company, Cottage Quilt Designs in December 2005.

Which quilt is your favourite? Did you design it? Why is it your favourite?

I developed an appliquéd pattern called Gallery of Birds some years ago for the hand appliqué class I teach at the local quilt store. The students did one block each month. My husband and I watch birds so this one is probably why its my favorite.

What size of quilt do you prefer to make/design? (e.g. table runners, lap quilts, bed quilts, etc.) I usually make throw size since I can hang it easily to get photos for pattern fronts. I also have made a lot of table runners for our home and the business.

What colour do you use most often in your quilts? I try to use all color schemes. Blue is my favourite color but I try not to use it even though I head towards blues in fabric stores.

Favourite one-sentence tip for a new quilter: Use a consistent seam allowance so that the patches will all fit together.

Block Party #8 – Harvest Turnabout

Here’s Rochelle’s block, Harvest Turnabout. I adore the gorgeous fabrics that she used. Head over to Rochelle’s blog to download the block tutorial.

Designer Give-Away

Rochelle is giving away two patterns on her blog too. Head over to her blog for the info and to enter her give-away.

Share the FUN on your blog

Please share the logo below on your own blog.

250px square

125px square