BLOG HOP DAY 5

Good Morning Friends!

Today is Day 5 of Quilting Gallery's Blog Hop.  If you leave a comment on the daily blog from March 8th until March 14th, you will be registered to win a copy of my book, ORPHAN BLOCK QUILTS.  Also, while you're visiting, I hope that you'll become a follower so that we can stay in touch.  Don't forget to visit the other blogs on the Blog Hop, too -- there's like 200 of them!

This morning I found myself working on the binding for the memory quilt I blogged about the other day.  It's amazing how fast binding goes on a small project.  After an hour, I am actually done with the binding.  Now I only have to tack down the hanging sleeve and the quilt will be finished.  I hope my neighbor loves it -- I'm really happy with how it turned out.

After I'm done blogging today, I am planning to begin writing the instructons for two quilts headed to Fons and Porter Easy Quilts.  They are both throw quilts.  One used Marblehead fabrics while the other one used fabric from the Sweetcakes line from Riley Blake.  I really love working with Riley Blake collections, they are fresh and fun and they definitely fit my style.  What's your favorite fabric manufacturer and why?

I finally heard from my editor Kent, who is on  his way to a vacation in Mexico tomorrow -- LUCKY HIM!  Anyway, all fifteen quilts arrived safely last week and are now waiting to have the straight-on photos taken.  Kent said that the book is right on target with space and we should have plenty of room for the diagrams and photos.  WAHOO!  I was a little worried about this because it seemed like so much stuff to cram into 96 pages.

Here's a little nibble about my new and upcoming book with Kansas City Star Quilts:  THE STORY IN THE BOOK BEGINS IN RUSSIA AND ENDS IN THE UNITED STATES!

Interested in knowing more?????  Then become a follower so that you can stay up-to-date on theis new book!

Getting in the Groove

I know a lot of quilters slow down in the summer due to the heat, but I don't. I even manage to sew on binding on big heavy quilts. My secret -- shhh! -- is propping the quilt on a TV table instead of on me as I hand sew the binding down. I also have a fan blowing directly at my legs which helps keep me cool. Add a cool beverege and a favorite DVD and I'm good for a couple hours of binding as long as the air conditioning is working hard, of course. Right now, I'm getting two quilts ready to go to Quilter's World for another upcoming book on precuts which will be out sometime next year. Instructions are written and the quilts are finished, I just need to get everything packages, printed, and mailed. I'm also wrapping up a quilt for FOns and Porter Easy Quilts magazine for Spring 2013. I just have to test the instructions to make sure they are accurate and then it too will get packaged, printed, and shipped. I'm also trying to complete the binding for my niece, Meghan's graduation quilt before her party on July 28th. I plan to make a matching pillow case as the gift bag too. I'm pleased that the quilt won't be travelling too far....she is attending my alma mater, Allegheny College, in the fall. In fact she will be living in the same hall I did when I was both a freshman and a junior, only just down the hall. I am incredibly proud of this young lady. Stay tuned for pics of her quilt and pillowcase in an upcoming blog. In the meantime I'm trying to get down and dirty with my new book project. I've contacted the publisher but do not have an assigned editor yet so right now I'm on my own. There are about 15 quilt projects in the book. I have two quilts quilted and in the binding phase, two tops ready for quilting, and I'm starting the fifth top. The majority of the story part is done. Photos are being translated as we speak. And I'm working on the book layout, or flat plan, too. I do need to start writing the instructions for the projects I've been working on, although I do jot down notes as I make the quilts. But I do need an editor ASAP and a deadline, of course!