Search This Blog

Friday, November 21, 2014

DRAWING #2

It always amazes me how some people can post on a blog every day or every other day. I was never very good at small talk and I feel like this is a place to put small talk. I'm not one to be on the phone every day, even though I think about my friends often. I call them when I have something specific to say or to catch up after not hearing from them for a while. I only like to write about something that imparts information to the reader.

My husband is just the opposite. He has a gift for gab. He is usually on the phone 3 or 4 (sometimes more) times a day with friends or family talking about politics or listening to their problems. He is a very good listener on the phone (but I don't always think he listens to me) and always has his opinion about things when people ask (and sometimes when they don't). He speaks his mind and always gives an honest answer whether or not they want to hear the truth. I always wished I could be like that. He is always telling me I should speak up for myself or people will walk all over me. I have gotten better as I get older. Especially when I was working in Special Education when I was in the head of a team of educators, who determined the future of a child's education. If I didn't stand up for my opinion, the team would not have respected my decision. I had to be confident that I knew what I was talking about so that others believed me too.

I was a shy child. The youngest of 3 children. My sister was the talker (and still is). She could tell you every little detail of things no matter how insignificant. If you had asked me in my younger days, whether I thought I would be speaking in front of large groups, I would have told you "no way". I have been back to groups, that I spoke to when I first started lecturing, and they tell me I have really come a long way from where I started. I still think I have a way to go to be the kind of speaker I want to be. I never thought when I first started quilting that I would be doing what I do today.

Okay, enough about me. Now down to business. I'll let you know more about me in future posts!

Patti Oakley was very excited about receiving her prize! (Well who wouldn't be excited about winning a prize.) Today's bundle is a little different than the one I showed yesterday. This P&B collection is called Bella Suedes. It has a variety of prints and read as tone-on-tones. If you don't know what that means; the colors in the fabric are very close together (different tones or shades of the same color). The bottom fabric looks blue in this photo but is actually grey with a black design.


I decided that if you wanted to use them in a quilt you would need a little more variety in the colors. I was playing with some of my patterns to see what the fabrics would look like in them. Many times we depend on a fabric pattern to help "sell" the look of the quilt. Designing with solids (or almost solids like batiks and tone-on-tones) is more of a challenge. When I work with those kind of fabrics, I have to make a quilt that lets the design of the block show off the fabrics instead of the other way around. I used my Mosaic Magic pattern. It was my very first published pattern and was picked up by Quiltwoman.com and can be found here: Mosaic Magic Pattern. It was originally published in McCall's Quilting magazine. The pattern has instructions for many different sizes from a wall to a king.


It has been my best selling pattern for at least 10 years! It can be used in so many ways.

It has a very simple block in it.


 

Here is what I came up with in two slightly different color settings.


                    












The fun thing about this block is that you can rotate it to create a myriad of designs.



Isn't that fun!!! The possibilities are endless. In my next blog after I pick a winner of the bundle along with my pattern, I will show you how to use my Cutting Corners template set to make the Flying Geese and half-square triangles in the block with very little fuss.

If you would like to be in the drawing for this, please leave a comment on the bottom of this post (click on comment) and tell me how you would use these fabrics or pattern. Please feel free to forward this blog to your quilting friends so they can participate too. Each drawing starts with a new group of participants, so the previous comments will not count towards this drawing.

Thank you for reading. And as always, do what you love and love what you do. Toby

21 comments:

Linda Schultheis said...

"Break a Leg" comment in Broadway is supposed to mean good luck, but not if you are teaching a quilting class!

Patti DePriest said...

I have always loved your Mosaic Magic quilt pattern and it is on my bucket list of quilts to make.

When you describe yourself, you remind me of myself. I'm the oldest, not the youngest, but I too am not a chatterbox and sometimes can't believe I get up in front of groups and talk about educational technology - and used to about quilts! I have to pinch myself and say, "is this you doing this?"

Sheepish said...

Such a coincidence. I picked up a magazine last night and on page 10 was "Chinese New year" Designed by Toby Lischko. It was February 2006 McCalls Quilting. Great pattern for the earnest paperpiecer and those Fabulous Bella Suedes

Debra said...

Great information.

Kim Q said...

I love that quilt block...it's like playing with a kaleidoscope!

Lynn S. said...

Hi Toby,
Love your blog. We missed you Wednesday at quilt club.
How would I use the fabric. I haven't a clue, but again a table runner comes to mind.

Susan Connors said...

The fabric is beautiful and so is the quilt pattern. I think the fabric would work very well with the pattern.
Susan Connors

Rina Mason said...

I love this pattern and how if you look at the center it radiates out creating an optical illusion. I think I would have to purchase more of the fabric and make the quilt just as it is.

Kd Brown said...

Toby, your Mosaic Magic quilt pattern is fantastic! The tone-on-tone fabrics are lovely too and would make a great table runner. Thank you for the giveaway.

Alice Goldsmith said...

Hi I am 85 years old ..widowed and love to quilt I would love the fabric..I have a blog it is
madquiltmaker.blogspot.com.
Alice Clark Goldsmith

Quilting Tangent said...

I would use them mixed with other fabrics in a scrappy quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Lee J. Quiltergirl McCoy said...

Truthfully, I never know what I'm going to do until I star! Ha ha! This is a really cool pattern and beautiful fabrics! ❤️

scottylover said...

These are so pretty! I need a throw to put over my legs at work and your pattern would make a great one! Thanks for sharing!

Sandy A

PS...I was terribly shy when I was younger, too. I still have problems in large crowds...

Unknown said...

I made this quilt once. I think this is one that I could do again.

Janet Rankin said...

I love this pattern. If I win maybe Kathy Stack can help me put it together!!!

Unknown said...

Enjoy your posts & beautiful fabrics! Love visiting your studio as well.

Unknown said...

I would love to win this pattern and fat quarters from P&B - what a great Christmas present this would be. P&B is the best!!!

Unknown said...

I would love to win this - would make a great Christmas present for me. It is a beautiful pattern and I love the fat quarters - the colors are beautiful and the pattern is amazing! I love P&B. Thanks Toby Lischko for sharing this!!!

Krochet4kids said...

Gorgeous pattern!

Patience Griffin said...

From a distance this looks like a complicated pattern, but up close it looks easy. I love this pattern. I would love to make this for my cousin who loves quilts and has been a wonderful cheerleader in my life.

Linda E in NM said...

I'd use these fabrics with others to make a community quilt for our guild. I find this a great way to try out patterns that interest me and make something that will bring joy to someone else.
thanks!