Blogger's Quilt Festival - Sheep Shape

The Blogger's Quilt Festival, is going on right now at Amy's Creative Side!   I always look forward to perusing this amazing virtual online quilt show each Spring and Fall, and this time, I can add one of my own original designs in the Small Quilts category.

Quiltmaker magazine calls it "Sheep Shape"!  

Yes, I was a little "Sheepish" (<< see that story) when I discovered that it was the Covergirl!!!   

And, yes, I may have lurked in the grocery store for a few extra minutes when I saw it on the rack!  By the way, it's still on newsstands, or available online at Quiltmaker.com. 

It was at last year's Quilt Market in Portland that the gals from Quiltmaker spied my little Hexie Meadow quilt.  I was using it to demonstrate my "Hexagami" make & take dimensional flowers at the Riley Blake Designs' booth, when they invited me to submit the quilt for a future edition.

I quilted swirls for the sheep's wool, meandering swirls and loops for the sky and a meandering zig-zag for the grass.  I used Cuddle faux fur for the backing, and the big, loose quilting will allow the loft to come through for a soft, cuddly baby quilt.  (Now, all I need are grandbabies!)

 Right now, the quilt is just wrapping up a trip to Quilt Market in Pittsburgh.  Can't wait to see her again!

Sheep Shape

Crib Throw, size 43-1/2" x 55"

Riley Blake Designs' Basics (dots, chevrons, shuffle, gingham, solids, shades)

Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly batting, Shannon Aqua Cuddle backing

Be sure to check out all the terrific quilts not only in this category: Small Quilts, but link to all the other entries here:  Blogger's Quilt Festival.

You can nominate your favorite quilt for Viewer's Choice this week HERE, and VOTE for your favorite quilts in each category beginning May 23rd.  Don't miss this fantastic display of quilts and their stories, submitted by quilters from around the globe, inspiring and stitching us all together!  Meanwhile... I'll be back at the farm... so to speak, herding more sheep (see a little flock HERE)!

Quilty Pleasures & Giveaways!

Sew exciting!!  Quiltmaker magazine is hosting a GIVEAWAY in honor of my little quilt on the cover of their May/June '14 issue.

Had a nice online chat with Diane Harris, Quiltmaker's Interactive Editor, who had a few questions about my quilting journey.  Poor thing, she may have gotten more than she bargained for!  I appreciated the opportunity to write it all down, though, and had some fun and shed some tears as I thought of what quilting means to me and my family.  You can see Part I at "Quilty Pleasures HERE, and Part II HERE.

(I first met Diane at this EVENT at AccuQuilt's headquarters)

At any rate, it has been a marvelous month of March (National Quilting Day Week Month!!) - full of quilty delights and surprises. Inside I'm still jumping for joy!

Jumping on the bed...

Now, about that giveaway.  The package includes a 10" Hexie-Half ruler and a couple of piles of fat quarters from Riley Blake Designs, and the Quiltmaker May/June '14 magazine.  Hop over to Quilty Pleasures and leave a comment to be included in this great giveaway.

PLUS, I'll have a small giveaway here as well!  The package will include Quiltmaker magazine, a 5" Hexie-Half ruler, a small stack of RBD Fat Quarters, along with some other fun Spring/Easter tidbits and goodies! Leave a comment here for a chance at that giveaway too!  Did you celebrate National Quilting Day?  What (or who) got you started on your quilting journey?

 Both contests will close Friday, April 4th at midnight.  Winners will be announced next week.

Cover Girl... SHEEEEPISH.

The other night, I opened the mail and let out a big squeal - my husband came running in to see what was the matter....  Sorry, honey.  It was just an episode of Quilt-itis.  I had just received my advance copies of the May/June 2014 Quiltmaker magazine... with my little Hexie Sheep in the Meadow quilt ON THE COVER!!

While I knew my pattern would be in this issue, I had NO idea she would be a Cover Girl!

They call it "Sheep Shape"...

And I think it turned out to be such a cute baby quilt!  I'll be all ready for grandbabies when they come...

Such a simple quilt to make, using half-hexagons sewn in vertical rows; NO Y-seams! They rated it "Easy".  I used a Hexie-Half ruler by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs.  The fabrics are all Basics from Riley Blake.

The quilt also features my favorite dimensional folded hexagons I call HEXAGAMI for the flower centers, top-knot and eyeballs on the little sheep.  I happened to be demonstrating these Hexagami Make & Takes at the Riley Blake booth at Quilt Market last May when Quiltmaker editors Carolyn and Diane stopped by and saw how I was planning to use these as flower centers on my new "Hexie Meadow" quilt top.  They asked if I'd like to submit it to the magazine.  *Ü*  I said yes.

HEXAGAMI VIDEO

What a fun HEXAGONAL year it's been!  You can see all my hexie projects and adventures HERE.   Next, I'll be playing with new half-hexagon AccuQuilt dies... I see a class coming soon!

Look for your copy of Quiltmaker, on newsstands April 8th!  You can also purchase the magazine online or as a digital copy HERE.