We have a book giveaway winner!

Really.

I couldn't make this stuff up.

That's why we post the Random Number Generator too!

So, congratulations, Deb.

Please email me your snailmail address and I will send you your books!

TWO BOOKS!

They are all wrapped up and ready to go.

Please check back in October for another great

book giveaway

compliments of 

Martingale & Company.

BeginAgain

2010

natalie.

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

remember, if you want to purchase either of the books, 

go to the giveaway blog and use the link to amazon

for your purchase!

or you can purchase from the website - just go to bookstore for the link

It's not a quilt until it's quilted...

Quilted.

Thank you Kenna.

I did something out of the ordinary.

I got the hose out, and soaked the whole quilt. 

I hung it on the line to let the water run off of it,

and then I threw it in the dryer.

Kenna quilted it with an 80/20.

I did not prewash any of the fabrics used in the top, back or binding.

Here are the pics:

Wonderful quilting, Kenna.

Here it is hanging on the pole bean support in the garden.

"before-hose"

Here it is on the clothesline, soaking wet.

"after-hose"

And finally, the finished product.

"after quilting, hose and dryer"

I feel like I should add the small print.

"do not attempt this at home; trained professional on closed road"

and all that

there are personal choices we make every day about how we handle our quilts

pre wash fabric?  trust the manufacturer?

100% cotton or flannel batting?

batting blend?

hi loft poly?

pucker or not?

wash by hand or by machine?

hang on clothesline or toss in the heat of the dryer?

choose wisely

and the choices you make

will determine how long you enjoy your handiwork

choose wisely

and the choices you make

will determine how long you enjoy anything dear to you

For me, and for this quilt, because it was a utilitarian piece, not a museum masterpiece,

because of the construction, fabrics, and Kenna's hefty quilting

i took the calculated risk.

I chose to 'hit it with the nice fresh spring water of the hose'

and hang it on the line

(oh, and then toss it into the dryer for a little pucker)

BUT

I wouldn't suggest this type of treatment

for anything dear to you

for any length of time.

BeginAgain.

2010

natalie.

Hand wash with care.  If you use the washer, don't agitate.

And air dry your quilts, out of direct sunlight.

quilt kits available

hose optional

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

Rose Hughes

a 2010 interview by Natalie Barnes, beyond the reef

You have been an established artist for some time – exhibiting and creating fabulous gallery pieces and commission pieces – what is it like to now write a book about your process?

When I was working through my own quiltmaking issues, the number one thing I wanted to have in my quilts were curves. While there seemed to be lots of various ways to do curves none were really fast, and most were anything but fun, so I took a bit from here and a bit from there, working it until it became what I call Fast-Piece Applique™. For me it FPA is fast and fun and gets me quickly to the best part of quiltmaking (in my eyes) the embellishment part! 

After that it seems a natural to share this method with others. I love seeing hearing students tell me how great the method is, and how they now have a way of creating the quilts they have in their own heads.

Sharing the process is just part of the whole experience for me. I know that with this process any quilt made takes on the personality of the quiltmaker, not me… it’s amazing to see how it has been used.

You are asked to teach – all across the nation, and I know I can’t ask you your favorite teaching venue, but can you tell me your favorite 2010 story that occurred in the classroom?

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite place I have visited this year. And, though I have no ghost or bear stories from 2010 I did have a fun experience in my workshops at Sisters, OR, Quilters Affair.

Just before getting to Sisters I had made a stop in Seattle where I met Kara L.C. Jones. She’s a young writer and has out a self-published book called ‘You have permission to...read this book—1,000 Permissions Granted’. (click on image)  It basically is a great book of permission slips! I loved this idea so wanted to share it with my students. So, on the board each day we wrote out our own permission slips. Well, there were ones we all expected – like giving ourselves permission to have fun, or make mistakes, try new things… then on the second morning the very first permission someone granted us was TO EAT DESSERT!

I love Kara’s concept and try to remember it and share it anytime possible. So Natalie, what would you like to give yourself permission to do today?!?

I understand you have cats – do you talk out loud to them?

And most importantly, do you explain your quilting or design process to them while you are working?  You know, “I think I’ll try these roses in all one color – what do you guys think?  How about Yellow?  Do you guys like the yellow,” that kind of banter…

If you don’t talk to your cats how are they ever going to know just how to behave? Insert chuckle here, for everyone knows cats do exactly what they want.

I do talk with my cats, though I haven’t really ever thought about consulting them on color or methodology. Edgar and Nikita stick pretty close to me in the studio…sometimes trying to occupy the exact same space where I am trying to work. But, conversation usually pertains to meows of hunger on their part and additional chatting about what butterfly, hummingbird or stray cat is wandering through the backyard on my part.

Guess you could call them non-collaborators.

What was the smallest town you recently visited, and what made the biggest impression on you?

Though I have been to many small towns this year, the smallest has to be Sisters, OR – though they leave one of the biggest footprints on the quilting world. This huge footprint, started so long ago by Jean Wells, is carried out like a finely tuned orchestra. If you left unimpressed by this community effort, you just weren’t awake.

So much care-and shared opportunity was to be experienced by everyone living there and everyone visiting there..just amazing!

What was the biggest town you recently visited, and what was the smallest thing that made the biggest impression on you?

So many big towns to choose from, so many small, kind sharing things, leave impressions with me. I find that

Learning about these places, getting to meet the people who live there, and getting out and exploring in these places makes it wonderful for me.

What is your favorite book title of 2010 – sorry, non quilting book.

I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen, so while I read a bunch of fun mysteries, intrigues and dramas this year my favorites have been the ‘new’ Jane Austen novels – Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife, and Elizabeth & Darcy.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Darcy-Takes-Wife-Prejudice/dp/1402202733/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282578520&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Darcy-Elizabeth-Pemberley-Prejudice-Continues/dp/1402205635/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282578520&sr=1-2

 I know it’s a personal question, but I have to ask what is your favorite time of day?

Morning… no doubt about it. I love the quiet of this time before anyone really gets going. Like right now, for here I sit writing you these answers and am coming to the end of them right around 7:30… and yes, Nikita is here meowing for just a bit more attention.

(Listen to another interview with Rose Hughes)

Thank you, Rose, for sharing so much with us!

BeginAgain

2010.

natalie.

Martingale Book Giveaway - Rose Hughes

Rose Hughes.

You've seen her work.

In Galleries.  At shows.

Maybe you were lucky to study with her at Asilomar.

Did you know she has two great books published?

If you've been lucky enough to take a class, maybe you've picked up a technique or two.
If you haven't, and you want to make award winning quilts,
these books are definitely packed with step by step information.
Dream Landscapes

Honestly, step by step.

I personally love this "Selecting and marking the Fabrics" tip.

The pictures are more than just beauty shot pics.

By page 11 you have your 'toolbox'

You have a color lesson, materials review...even a sewing kit list.

By page 18, your top is prepared, and by page 22, 

you've used Rose's Applique technique, and you have created a quilt top.

Stitches and beading basics follow. 

But if you want more detailed information about this,

Head on to book two.

Exploring Embellishments

Once again, within the first 16 pages, you have learned about beads, embellishments

and been given a pretty great tool box.

Then it's on to a artful applique summary.

Both books have patterns for making additional quilts.

And both books have a great

ArtistsGallery

and

GuestArtistsGallery

(nicely put, Rose)

And as far as giveaways go,  this has to be an all time great.

Two books.

Rose Hughes.

Martingale & Company.

BeginAgain

2010.

natalie.

beyond the reef
(please leave a comment to be entered to win not one but both book titles by Rose Hughes, 
Martingale & Company; drawing will occur Monday September 27th)

More Housekeeping; Less Inspiration

It seems as tho we have

less inspiration; more housekeeping

these days.

tomorrow.

"deserae" has won the first book giveaway!!

"I have never been to a quilt class, but I want to go to one :)"

well, you get to go to 19 classes now!

please email me your snail mail

and I will mail your new release

Martingale & Company 

book

And I still need a snail mail addy

for our fourth August Fabric Giveaway

Tomorrow, I promise, we'll show you

Rose Hughes

BeginAgain

2010

natalie.

PS - one more thing - all items in the shop are still 30% off

because of the shipping glitch

30% off!

One More Day

It's LABOR DAY!!! End of Summer...

We're having a Labor Day Sale

at the new shop site

for the rest of today

and tomorrow

click on the phrase below to access the shop

enter the same phrase as the code 

"ENDOFSUMMER"

and receive

30%

off

yep.

I couldn't figure out how to make the fabric

$6/yard

so I put everything on sale

instead

30% off.

really.

HappiestDays.

natalie.

and remember

tomorrow we select the first ever

book giveaway

winner

and 

post a new book

for September's giveaway

have you left us your comment?

be sure to leave your email addy too