100 Block Sampler Sew Along

I have been lucky enough to be published in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks for quite a few issues. One of my earlier blocks is called Ladder Up from Volume 6. They are having a sew along so you will find lots of other blocks to make.

It is a variation of the Jacob's Ladder block. It is made up of half-square triangles and squares. Not a difficult block to make. The only difference is, I added triangles to the corners of the block. It is made with a traditional fabric collection by RJR, but can easily be made with batiks or more modern fabrics.

With the triangles on the corners, when you put the blocks together they create a star where they connect.

Those visiting my blog today can be in the drawing for this pattern. Just leave a comment on the bottom of the blog telling me what kinds of fabrics you would use in this block.

Continue to follow the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks to enter the 100 Blocks Sampler Sew Along.

As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading. Toby 

BOOK WINNER AND ELECTRIC QUILT DRAWING

First I want to thank those who left a comment about my book and wished me a happy birthday. Today is the official day and I've reached a milestone! 65 years. I can't believe I am that old! Not that it is old to me, but to someone who is under 40 they would think it was!

Anyway, the winner of my book drawing is Michele T. Congratulations Michele! You will be getting an email from me so I can get your address and put your signed copy of my book in the mail.

Starting today, Electric Quilt is having another drawing for my book. If you are here for the first time after reading Electric Quilt's blog, then welcome. I hope you will come back again and consider following me. If you are a loyal blog friend and reading this before going to Electric Quilt then you need to go to Electric Quilt's blog and leave your comment on their blog (not mine) for a chance to win a copy of my book. The reason that Electric quilt is featuring me in their blog today, is because I am one of their EQ designers and I designed every quilt in the book with EQ7. Maybe after seeing all of the wonderful things I can do with EQ7 you might want a copy of your own! They are also have a huge drawing for unbelievable prizes! You can see how to enter other drawings, including the grand prize, on their blog.

So far I have been giving you peeks of some of the quilts in the book. Today I decided to show you all of the quilts and explain a little about each one. Kaleidostars is a book about how to use symmetrical fabrics. Those are fabrics that, if you drew an imaginary line down the center of the design, it would be the same on both sides. A butterfly is symmetrical for example. Here is a sample of Paula Nadelstern's newest fabric collection called ChromaZone.

  
You can see many more symmetrical fabrics like this on my website.

In my book I tell you what to look for in symmetrical fabrics, how to cut perfect repeats every time, choosing coordinating prints, and how to sew the block together that has no "y" seams. 

Here is a sample of a block that one of my students made in my Northern Lights workshop. She used two symmetrical fabrics by Jinny Beyer called Carnival. You can see that there are two versions of the print, one with a dark background and one with a light. You can get this fabric on my website also.

 

 

I also used that collection for a quilt in my book and called it Carnival. Here is the EQ7 version and my version. I like how I can manipulate the fabrics in the program to create the symmetrical design, so I can see what they are going to look like when I sew them together, before I even cut one piece out.

      

Some quilts I only used one symmetrical fabric. Again, I'm showing the EQ7 version and the finished quilt. This quilt is called Parfait and since it only has four blocks in it, I suggest that if you haven't made a block like this, to start with this quilt. It has a 17" block.
 

 

Here is another quilt, that I used only one symmetrical fabric in it, called Royal Garden. It is really hard to tell the real version from the EQ7 version! This is probably the hardest quilt in the book because you have to match everything that comes together in the diamonds.

The next quilt is called Caribbean Blues. Again, it is hard to tell the difference between the real quilt and EQ7 image. That is how good the program is! This one uses two fabrics, one is symmetrical and one is not, but both are fussy cut.

The cover quilt, Mardi Gras also uses two fabrics, both symmetrical. Can you tell which one is the EQ7 image?

This next quilt uses one fabric. Instead of cutting the same repeat, I cut the mirror image (a right and left section of the fabric repeat), to create Fun House Mirrors. I didn't have a fabric that looked like this one in my EQ7 program so the image of it doesn't look like this one.

The quilt I really had fun designing is Electrifying! In EQ7 you can design all kinds of border treatments. It also has borders that are already made that you can pick from. Again, I didn't have the actual fabric in EQ that I used in my quilt but I was able to get the general idea of what the layout and border were going to look like. It uses one symmetrical fabric and I cut two different repeats in the same block. I think the title really fits the quilt!

In the final quilt called Northern Lights, I used three different coordinating symmetrical fabrics. 

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual trunk show and given you a good idea of what is in my book. I do have to add that most of these quilts are not as hard as they look. Just ask anyone who has taken my workshop. If you don't win the book you can always purchase a copy of it here: Kaleidostars

So for today's drawing, on my blog, I will be giving away a fat quarter bundle of Paula Nadelstern's newest collection called ChromaZone. All you have to do to be in the drawing is to leave a comment at the end of this blog telling me which quilt you think you would like to make. Be sure to LEAVE ME SOME WAY OF CONTACTING YOU IF YOU WIN. I can't tell you how many times I have drawn a name from the list only to find out I have no way of letting them know they won. If you do not want to leave your email in the message or you have difficulty leaving a comment, then use the contact me form on the right side of the blog and send me your email address. No one will see it but me.

Got to get quilting. I'm working on a new sample for one of my workshops (along with so many other projects). I'll post it as I make it on my FB page.

As always, do what you love and love what you do. Good luck and thanks for reading. Toby

MARCH MADNESS SALE AND ELECTRIC QUILT GIVEAWAY.

As I look out my window I see wonderful signs of spring. My Redbud and Dogwood trees are blooming. I love when everything starts to green up. Our woods are so drab in the winter when all I see are tree trunks!

For all of the Electric Quilter users out there, they are having a 25th anniversary celebration this year with lots of giveaways. The grand prize is unbelievable! You can follow their blog here: Behind the Mouse, The Electric Quilt blog.

Since I designed all of the quilts in my new book Kaleidostars, Electric Quilt be giving away a copy of my book. All you have to do is go to the Electric Quilt blog and leave a comment. Watch for my interview on the blog. Behind the Mouse, The Electric Quilt blog.

 
Here is how you can enter to win the grand prize. EQ Grand prize giveaway.

Here is one of the quilts in the book with the EQ7 image and the actual quilt image.

 It's hard to tell them apart! This is the quilt that is on the cover of the book. I love working with EQ7 because I can manipulate the fabrics to create the fussy-cut look you see. If you have never used Electric Quilt, you should consider purchasing it. It contains thousands of quilt layouts, fabrics, and block designs. It is so easy to use too!


You can purchase a copy of the book here Kaleidostars book.  (If you don't win it!) If you want a chance to win my book from me as a second chance along with Electric Quilt, please leave a comment at the end of this blog to let me know which quilt you like best in the book. A winner will be drawn at random.





Anyone who has been following me for quite a few years knows that I always have a huge sale at the end of March to celebrate my birthday. I'm sure you have heard the saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb". Well my maiden name is Lamb and my birthday is the last day of March. How fun is that?  

This is a big one! I turn 65! I don't know where the time went but I sure don't feel 65. I remember how old I thought my mom was when she was 65. Anyway, I will have ALL of my patterns at 50% off until March 31st. That goes for mailed copies or PDFs. Some of the shipping charges on the purchase of one pattern will be refunded (or all of it will be refunded for PDF purchases). You will get a refund to your account after purchase. You will also get 10% off the rest of your purchase (including sale items) which will be refunded after purchase. All purchases over $100 will receive free shipping. I will have an additional drawing on the 31st to celebrate my birthday. You will have to come back to find out and enter the drawing on that day only!

Check out some of my sale fabrics. These are from the Dreamweaver collection by Jason Yentor. They are only $8.00 a yard. Aren't they yummy!!!!

You can find them here: Dreamweaver
 
Be sure when you leave a comment you give me some way of contacting you. If you do not want to leave your email address in the body of the message then use the Contact me form on the right of the blog and send me an email.
 
As always, do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading. Toby

WINNERS!

First I want to say that the response to my book and giveaway was amazing!  I had a lot of wonderful responses to my blog and I thank all of you who participated. I will be emailing each of you, (who left me an email address), individually to get your mailing address so I can mail you your seam guide. When I promised to send a seam guide to everyone who responded I didn't know what I got myself into! Everyone who did respond will get a seam guide along with a $5 gift certificate good for purchasing either my Kaleidostars book or the 13" or 17" templates that go with it. (The 6-1/2" set is not used in the book and the $5 will not go towards the purchase of that one.) If you responded to my blog but did not leave me an email address to contact you, you can still contact me with your address by using the Contact Form on the right side of the screen. No one sees that message but me.

The winners were chosen by a random number generator to make it fair. Here are the winners:

The first place winner is Vicki (she didn't leave her last name). She said, "I'd love to see your book! The block is amazing! I really like to make different and beautiful items. Your designs are right up my alley."

You can purchase the book here: Kaleidostar book

Second place is Kathy Stack. Since she took my Northern Lights workshop and already has my 13" template set, she wins a 17" set. She said, "Can't wait to get your book. BTW my Kaleidostar is hanging on my living room wall. I am enjoying your 1/4" gauge. I am trying to figure out how to hang it on my machine so I will always have (it). I want to get another so that I will have one with both of my machines." I hope Kathy sends me a photo of her quilt so I can share it with everyone.

The templates can be purchased here: Kaleidostar templates

Third place is Ann McNew. She wins the 13" template set. She quilted one of the quilts in my book (Northern Lights). She said, "Your quilts are always breathtaking with those perfect points! And a dream to quilt!" She is an award winning longarm quilter and teacher. If you ever get a chance you should take one of her classes. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing one of her quilting samples. She will be teaching quilting at the MQX show in New England in April.

 
Actually all of you are winners! I received some responses out of the U.S. and I would love to have sent them a seam guide but the postage is prohibitive for something free. I will email them a $5 gift certificate though.

I do have a limited time special that the first 25 people who purchase my book will also receive the seam guide. So those of you who will have already gotten one, and purchase the book, you will get a second one. If you are like me and misplace things, an extra one will come in handy!

I wanted to share some blocks that some students have made from my Kaleidostar workshop. You can see how everyone of them is so different. Everyone had such a good time playing with their fabrics and creating their own unique quilt.

 

I will be teaching my Northern Lights workshop at the AQS show in Paducah, KY at the end of April. I still have openings for it so if you would like to learn how to make this interesting (but not complicated) block, please consider signing up for it. I also travel and teach this to guilds around the country, so if you belong to a quilt quild in your area I would appreciate if you would share my information with them.

You can sign up for it here:
Northern Lights workshop  

As always; Do what you love and love what you do. Thank you for reading, Toby. 

MY BOOK AND VALENTINES GIVEAWAYS!

So much has happened since the beginning of the year! Where do I begin? (Click on any of the highlighted links to take you to the web page.)

In January I was busily prepping for my video production with iQuilt, a new online production by AQS (American Quilter's Society) and sponsored by Bernina. They have started on-line classes similar to Craftsy and Fons & Porter. I have to say it is better because I will have one with them! They already have lots of wonderful workshops to pick from. I hope you will pick mine when it is released. If you are a member of American Quilter's Society you will get a discount.

I had frequent video conferences with my producer. A very new experience for me. I felt like a dinosaur to my very young producer, Cara.  I had to quickly make my sample and get pieces ready for filming. I called it Explosive! It is a class that will demonstrate how to make the stars in my new book Kaleidostars.

Finally the day came to film. They flew me to Denver, Colorado on Sunday January 24 and I was whisked to a hotel in Littleton. This is the view out of my hotel window. It just looks surreal!

Production started Monday morning. I had terrible butterflies in my stomach that morning, but the production crew was so nice and really put me at ease. It went a lot easier than I had thought. Luckily I did not have to memorize a script (at my age I'm lucky to remember what I did yesterday)! I have taught this class many times and I was comfortable with the process. Here I am with my producer Cara. We are rehearsing for the next taping.

 

Every morning I had a make up artist work her best to make me beautiful for filming!

We taped 6 sessions: An introduction; choosing fabrics; finding designs with mirrors; cutting instructions, including how to get perfect fussy-cut pieces; piecing the blocks; and finishing the quilt, including sewing on a mitered border. Here I am piecing the blocks. The Bernina 570 QE sewing machine I worked on was a dream!

 

Now to the giveaway! Since it is Valentine's Day and I love all of the wonderful quilters that I have met along the way, I am giving away a copy of my new book to one winner. In addition to that, I will be giving away a 17" or 13" set of Kaleidostars templates to two lucky winners. For anyone who leaves a comment I will send them my newest 1/4" seam gauge used to get those perfect 1/4" seams every time. The secret to my accurate piecing! Be sure to LEAVE A COMMENT TO TELL ME WHY YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF MY NEW BOOK AND LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN. I CAN'T CONTACT YOU IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS.

The video class is expected to be released at the end of March. Just in time for my birthday! What a wonderful birthday present it will be! I will be posting more information about it as it gets nearer. I will also be blogging along with Electric Quilt about how I designed my quilts in EQ7 and will have more giveaways then too. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT.

As always; Do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading, Toby. 

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I want to thank all of my followers for helping make 2015 a wonderful year. I know that 2016 will be even better with my new book Kaleidostars coming out in February. I will be having some special drawings on my blog when it comes out so be sure to check it out in the coming months.

I have some new items on my website. Here is my 1/4" seam gauge. I have a hole at the 1/4" mark to put your machine needle in so you have "consistent" and "accurate" 1/4" seams on all of your projects. It includes instructions on how to set up your own sewing machine so you don't have to struggle with matching seams ever again.

1/4" seam gauge

 This beautiful quilt kit is available as are the fabrics to make your own project. It is called Rose Abundance and features Timeless Treasures Rose Garden collection. It is 57" square. The pattern is also available if you want to make it in your own fabrics.

Rose Abundance

 

 

 

Here are some of the wonderful rich fabrics in it. Aren't they yummy!

Large roses

Border stripe

Small Roses

I also still have some nice fabrics for sale. If you like cats, this is a great one for a background. It is only $8.00 a yard.

Cat fabric

I also have some Paula Nadelstern fabrics on sale. This Palindromes fabric is great for fussy cutting!

Palindromes

I have plenty more SALE FABRICS, some as low as $4.00 a yard, but I don't want to make this post too long! Since it is the end of the year and today happens to be my anniversary (43 years) I will be having a give-away. Please leave a message at the end of this blog to be in a drawing for my new seam gauge and a fat quarter of your choice of any of the fabrics on my website. Tell me how you think that the seam gauge will help you in your sewing. DON'T FORGET to leave your EMAIL address or I won't know where to send your prize if you win it!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items in this blog, just click on the links to take you there. And please feel free to share this blog with all of your quilting friends.

As always; Do what you love and love what you do. Thank you for reading. Toby