Congrats to the Winners!
I hope everyone had a great time with the 100 Blocks Magazine Blog Hop last week.
Here are the winners I randomly selected using random.org.
Sarah Beyer won a “Santa Mouse” pattern from my website.
Kris S – Won “A Spot of Tea” from my website.
Lavonna ZWB – Will receive a copy of the 100 Blocks Magazine.
Ellen McCaulley – Will receive my “Flamingo Frolics” pattern.
Carol Kuse – Will receive a copy of the 100 Blocks Magazine. Her copy will be sent directly from Quiltmaker.
Congratulations to all the winners. You will be receiving an email from me shortly to get your mailing address.
I’ve Been Waiting for You!
Hello, and welcome to my blog! I’m so excited to have another block in the 100 Blocks Magazine. There are so many wonderful blocks in this issue to give you some quilting and sewing inspiration, you’ll be busy for months!
If you are anything like me, the ideas to create using these blocks are so abundant that I don’t want to do anything else but lock myself in my sewing studio and sew. Unfortunately though, life has a way of getting in the way of studio time so I just have to stitch a little when I can.
I’m happy that you have made it to Day 4 on the Blog Tour. When I sat down to create a block for this issue I wanted something that could be displayed year ‘round. After a few sketches I decided on a cupcake block as they are so sweet and tempting.
Here are a few ideas of ways to use my “Cuppity Cake” block.
You could make a traditional style quilt using any number of blocks, I kinda like the look of this nine block setting using alternate blocks of four cupcakes.
For something a little simpler, how about a table runner? You can add some cupcake quilting in the center block.
Or, if you really want to try something a little different, here is an idea using the completed block and then taking portions of the design to create something a little more unique. I really like the look of this one.
Giveaway Prizes:
Five lucky winners will be chosen randomly using random.org to win one of the five prizes. Prizes include one of two copies of the 100 Blocks Magazine, the kind folks at Quiltmaker are supplying one, and I will provide the other. Three Hissyfitz Designs patterns (winner’s choice) will be given away as well.
How to enter:
Go to my website, Hissyfitz Designs, check out my patterns and then leave a comment here stating which pattern you would like to win.
Giveaway will close at midnight EST on Friday, May 3rd. Winners will be contacted by email and will be posted here on my blog.
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Thanks for stopping by and I would love it if you would “like” me on Facebook to be the first to find out about my latest patterns.
Don’t forget to “share” the giveaway with your family and friends. We don’t want anyone to miss out on the fun!
Be sure to check back tomorrow with the Quilty Pleasures blog to see even more inspiring blocks and ideas!
Fun With 100 Blocks!
It’s almost here! The new issue, Volume 7, of 100 Blocks magazine will hit the newsstands on May 7th. If you want to get a jump on viewing some of the gorgeous blocks in this issue you can hop on over to the Blog Hop which starts today! This fun “hop-a-long” continues through the week and gives you lots of opportunities to win your own copy of the magazine as well as other prizes offered on some of the blogging websites.
Oh yeah, I have a block in this issue, it’s even on the cover. My cute little Cuppity Cake block is so easy to make. My date for the Blog Tour is Thursday, May 2nd but you can jump in anytime and start enjoying some creative fun. Head on over to Quilty Pleasures to join along. See you back here on Thursday.
More from Cincinnati Quilt Festival
There were so many beautiful quilts at the recent Cincinnati show I just couldn’t cram them all into the last post so we’re continuing the inspiration here.
Marmalade Sunset by Ludmila Aristova
I love the way Ludmilla used tucks in the fabric to represent the texture of the buildings in this cityscape of New York City.
Rainy Day – San Francisco by Sally Wright
Love the composition of this!
A World of Many Colors by Georgeta Grama
This quilt was made by a wonderful quilt artist from Romania. As I stood and stared at this quilt I tried to figure out how it was done. The techniques listed were shadow trapunto, fused appliqué and wholecloth. It is absolutely breathtaking and the machine quilting is exquisite!
Berne House Quilt
This quilt was made by members of the Bernese Quilters for an exhibition in Berne, Switzerland in 2010. One hundred fifty-six different blocks were made separately and then put together. One member took it upon herself to replicate the famous clock tower, a well-known landmark of the city of Berne, which can be seen in the lower middle of the quilt.
The Blacksmith: Tribute to Gilbert Hart by Melissa Burdon
Portrait quilts are some of my favorites. This quilt depicts the great-grandfather of Melissa Burdon who worked as a blacksmith in Okaramio, Marlborough, New Zealand. Melissa stated that a photograph of him at work, dated 1917, inspired her to make the quilt.
Captain Kimo by Nancy Sterett Martin and Karen Sistek
This quilt was inspired by a photograph taken by Captain Kimo (used with the artist’s permission). It was hand painted on silk by Nancy and Karen and quilted by Nancy.
Flower Quartet by Yasuko Sugaya
Japanese quilters always inspire me. This quilt was hand pieced, hand appliquéd, hand embroidered and hand quilted. It was made by Yasuko Sugaya as a gift for her daughter. Stunning.
Baltimore in Berlin by Karin Grabowski
Karin made this small Baltimore album style quilt in honor of her husband’s 50th birthday using silk ribbon embroidery and beading.
There were so many beautiful quilts in the show and I just didn’t have enough space on my camera to capture them all. If you ever get a chance to attend a large quilt show, don’t hesitate as it will provide you with so much inspiration. I usually leave these shows with so many ideas in my head that it is hard to sleep at night!
Inspiration
I returned home Sunday evening after such a great time in Cincinnati at the Spring Quilt Festival. My sole intention was to have a booth to vend my patterns but I always come away from these shows with so much more! I love meeting customers who are already familiar with my patterns but especially love meeting new converts as well.
Since I usually attend these shows alone, I don’t have as much time to view the quilts in the quilt show, so I try to arrive early each day and take in a little at a time. It helps to re-energize me for the day ahead when I see such amazing works of art.
I took many pictures over the course of four days and will try to post as many as I can here. I don’t want to overwhelm you with too long a post today so I will break them up over a few days.
This is what the vendor floor and quilt show looks like before the show opens, nice and calm with everything in it’s place. As the show opens and the crowds gather you can hardly see the red carpet on the floor. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a picture of the crowds because I was too busy welcoming people into my booth.
I must say that I love the reaction of customers the first time they step into my booth. Usually they stand there with a smile on their face as their gaze slowly makes its way around to all the quilts. Sometimes they are so excited about the designs that they return again and again as was the case with Joann Prince and Charisse Boychuk.
I especially enjoyed the show and tell that I received from eight year old Scarlett. Just look at those perfect points on those triangles! I see a quilt show ribbon in her future.
Modern quilts are certainly making a name for themselves and it was great to see a special exhibit from the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild featuring the Dresden Plate.
Mod Polka Party by Barbara Chenault, quilted by Katy Doench
Reds-den Plate by Janine Keeton
The Dresden Files by Kelly Biscopink, Quilted by Angela Walters
Switching Gears by Amy Thonnerieux
I was able to meet Amy and her mom on Saturday as they came by my booth. Amy’s sister, Tracey is a friend of my two daughters and was stationed with them in Okinawa, it really is a small world. Just as Amy’s quilt suggests with all the gears connecting, it is amazing the connections we make with people worldwide.
The next two quilts are also modern quilts but were in other areas of the quilt show.
Ripple by Daniel Rouse
Ripple by Daniel Rouse is a modern take on the Drunkard’s Path block.
Sky High by Kate Stiassni, Quilted by Jackie Kunkel
So many beautiful quilts to share and I’m really enjoying the modern quilt movement. It is especially exciting to see so many younger quilters getting involved and using their creativity to update traditional quilts.
Stepping Up My Game
Well the time finally came that I needed to update my webpage. After much nagging from my daughter I figured I’d better step up my game. I know that there are some things better left to the experts but as a small business owner (frugal) I decided to try it myself. It was definitely a challenge and I had to call for help (thanks Courtney) a few times but I’m really happy with the way it turned out. Using WordPress to create the site was easier than I expected. I had previously been using FrontPage which was no longer supported so hopefully this will bring on bigger and better things!
A Surprise at the Dentist
It’s not often that I go to the dentist and come out with a smile on my face. However, last week I had my six month dental checkup and my wonderful dental hygienist surprised me by bringing in a self portrait wallhanging that she had made. Robin did a wonderful job on her wallhanging and I was honored that she brought it in to share with me!
