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The story behind Jane's block... |
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| I have fun news to share with you. You may remember that I was asked to submit a block to QUILTMAKER magazine last year. It was so exciting when QUILTMAKER’S 100 BLOCKS was released. To be chosen as one of the 100 Top Blocks was thrilling. The magazine was very popular. At that time I told you about the creative process and gave you the information for ordering the magazine. We also offered a challenge — basically the rules were to purchase the magazine from us, use my design in the magazine, do something creative and get the project back to us. It was all very fun! |  |
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We looked forward to the return of the challenge quilts. Glenda Mitchell’s winning rendition of my block was fabulous. I wrote to you about that, too. She created a pattern which we offered for sale. We hung Glenda’s quilt in the bunkhouse and enjoyed it every day! Last spring I was communicating with June, the editor of QUILTMAKER, about a new quilt I had designed. I mentioned Bill and I would be visiting our family in Denver and she said, “We always hear about your visits to Denver after you’ve been here. Why don’t you come see us at the corporate headquarters?” I had visited the headquarters many years ago when I had a quilt hanging in a show there and thought it would be fun to visit again. We set up a convenient time to visit. She asked me to bring the Mexican Train Quilt which they had already promised to use in a future publication. |
I thought June would like to see the winner from our fun challenge using the 100 Top Blocks publication, so I included that in my luggage. When I visited June introduced me to Carolyn Beam, the creative director. They loved Glenda’s wonderful challenge winning quilt and wanted to keep it. I think they really appreciated what had been created from their brainchild. We talked about the QUILTMAKER’S 100 BLOCKS II which they were putting together. The editors thought they would like to feature different designers for the second volume, so I was surprised when I received an invitation to design another block. |
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What would I do? I loved the china cup that was mine as a child. Since we had a new black lamb born in our flock last spring, I had asked my friend Miriam, Juli’s teenage daughter, to draw a pattern which I could use for embroidering the charming design. Bonnie, our Moda sales rep, had shown us a new American Jane fabric line and we had arranged to get early samples of it. I could use that fabric to border the embroidered piece. That would be perfect, I would use that idea! |
I already knew I loved coloring on fabric as I had done quite a bit of that in the past. The stitching went quickly. I used two strands of black embroidery thread. A deadline always helps speed the project along. I wasn’t going to use a zillion different Crayon colors. I had a brand new basic box (only 8 colors) of Crayons. That would be simple and fun for this motif for the QUILTMAKER publication. |
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The rest is history as they say! The staff from QUILTMAKER kept me informed. Last week a little carton came from the editors. This was exciting! What was in the carton? For one thing it contained the most interesting packing material called "ExpandOS". I think someone should arrange a challenge for using those little cuties! Also included was a huge button which I told Bill I thought I could wear! He looked at me like I was crazy! A charming mug featuring the 100 Blocks filled with mini-candy bars, plus a congratulatory card where also in the carton. What fun! |
Perhaps the best part of all this is the Spotlight on the last page of the QUILTMAKER’S 100 BLOCKS II. It shows my block from the first issue - Midnight Sun Garden - along with Glenda's challenge winning quilt based on that block. I do hope you will order the issue so that you can read more about Glenda. One more thing - remember last spring when our ewe Spot gave birth to Dot, her black lamb? Well I named the block after Dot. Of course I remembered my days walking to country school, but we didn’t have any lambs on our farm to follow us to school! The magazine is supposed to be to quilt shops and newstands by November 16th. It is an honor to find my block amongst well known quilters. I’m anxious to learn the story about their responses to the invitation from QUILTMAKER. This week you can learn about the inspiration and story behind the blocks of other designers by visiting http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/ throughout the coming week. |
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| While visiting the QUILTMAKER blog you can enter your name for all sorts of wonderful giveaways, from fabrics to books, to copies of the magazine. We donated one opportunity to attend the Quilting in the Country Day in the Country, August 19, 2011!! Enter our Quilting in the Country Challenge. A fabulous prize will be offered. Use more than one design from the new issue, including my "Dot Goes to School" block. The completed entry is due February 1, 2011. You can get a started now and finish up after Christmas. Please enter! It makes it so much more fun if we have lots of entries. Maybe your winner could be featured in the Spotlight of QUILTMAKER’S 100 BLOCKS III! Call first to make sure they have arrived (406-587-8216) and then come by to purchase QUILTMAKER’S 100 BLOCKS II - $6.99. You’ll love the designs. My favorite is the Egg Plant. Look for it when you get your copy. |
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If you would like to order Glenda’s Ruby Ruth’s Twining Garden - The cost is $15.50. What a special quilt to give as a gift or for yourself. |
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Call QIC at 406-587-8216 with any questions.
Click here to visit the Quilting in the Country home page.
