Book Giveaway Winner!

Thank you for your comments - and during the holidays, too!

I appreciate all of the followers, readers, and comment-ers; thank you.

If you would send me a snail mail addy, I will send you the book!

 jackiero said...

Before we were scattered across the US, via the military & going were the jobs were, we were blessed to have surrounding our Thanksgiving table a total of five marriages,and two grandkids. All of which made up four generations of family, all from my new husbands side. I loved all the conversations, especially listening to my new grandparents-in-law. How old you ask? This was Grandpa's last year, maybe 88yo, Grandma near this age, too. Dinner was the classic turkey meal, the highlight was how quickly they ate & cleaned up to play their tradional game of Sheephead cards. They played the old German style, hard to play by my eyes, I fell out on the first hand, Grandma won. It was wonderfully fun to watch and a great memory.

BeginAgain.

2010

natalie.

www.beyondthereefpatterns.com

November Book Giveaway!

Thanksgiving

What a perfect book giveaway from Martingale & Company

 This book is 111 pages of nothing but projects and ideas, large and small.

 I am making this one, I don't care what any of you say.

Oh wait.  I have to get a copy of the book, don't I?

Because, if you leave a Thanksgiving tale

about the OLDEST person 

you have ever had at your Thanksgiving table,

and the random number generator

picks your number on the last day of November,

this incredible book will be yours.

More than 20 projects.

Now that'll keep you busy.

Kim Diehl

Simple Graces

In her own words, here she is:

1.  Kim - your books all start "Simple".  Many of your every day followers know about this, but for new readers, why don't you tell us the meaning behind your titles?
  When I began thinking about my first book, I had several title ideas in mind, but decided that "Simple Blessings" was perfect.  It felt uncomplicated and homey.  That was the single best decision I made, because the word "simple" has lent itself to a whole series of quilting books! Personally, my favorite quilts and designs feature basic, tried-and-true blocks that have been loved by quilters for years -- I especially love quilts that look complicated and pack a "wow factor" at first glance, but are easy to stitch together and assemble when you break them down into their individual components.
2.  Your pictures are lovely - and I know you're from Idaho.  What would you say is your favorite spring Idaho bloom?  Have you used that bloom in any of your designs?
  In all honesty, I have no favorite...after making it through a snowy winter in Idaho, I love ANY bloom!  My flower beds are full of old-fashioned favorites like hollyhocks, snap dragons, roses, and daisies.  I've used many of these in my applique designs for my quilts -- sometimes they are recognizable, and sometimes I take artistic license and just please myself.
3.   Are you a quiet designer or a busy designer?  By that I mean, do you sit quietly and sketch, or do you pull fabrics, colors, inspiration and put on music?
  I think that I somehow manage to be a quiet designer AND a busy designer.  I use graph paper and a mechanical pencil to sketch my designs, and I treat myself to something on TV for a little background noise while I'm working...this is usually when I treat myself to one of the "guilty pleasure" shows that I secretly like.  I'm a little bit of a planner and I like starting with a finished sketch, but I always feel free to change things as I work through the project.  I did try spontaneous designing once, and seeing where the wind would blow me as I worked through the quilt, but I found myself lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering what my next step would be -- that's when I decided that surprise is highly overrated.  I decided to embrace the fact that spontaneity isn't my thing.
4.  The pictures in your new book Simple Graces, are lovely.  Would you say your home is decorated in a similar fashion?  Do you 'live' with your quilts?
  Oh, absolutely!  I love being surrounded by my quilts, and they are scattered, draped, and used throughout my house...in fact, the photos for Simple Traditions and Simple Seasons were from my home. The trick is knowing how much is too much so that you can achieve a balance.  Really, I subscribe to the philosophy of "the more the merrier".  I think restraint is waaay overrated, and I would much rather use my quilts than pack them away somewhere and not be able to enjoy them.
5.  Who is the oldest (age wise) quilter you quilt with - that inspires you?
   Looking back to my childhood, I grew up with my grandma's hand pieced quilts on my bed, and I can see now that this is where my love of quilts really began.
6.  Who is the youngest (age wise) quilter you have quilted with, and how did they inspire you?
  My daughters both made their first quilts when they were in grade school, and it was so much fun for me to see their excitement as they learned all of the steps in making a quilt.  As a toddler, my youngest daughter would literally beg me to let her sit at the sewing machine and sew, but we had a rule that she had to wait until her feet could touch the pedal.  Believe me when I say that she checked daily!  Until that time she was finally tall enough, I would cut little squares of fabric for her and she would sit for hours with a needle and thread and sew "pockets".  Now that is a true love of quilting!
7.   What is your favorite 'lets go out to breakfast and chat' meal - or cafe?
  I probably don't have a favorite meal or cafe, but anyone who knows me, even in passing, will tell you that if I have a double-shot coconut mocha in my hand, I'm a happy girl.  For the days when I really want a little extra "oomph", I go all out and treat myself to a triple-shot.
8.   What do you think is the single most important tool for a new quilter to have?  (tool as in something that is very important to KNOW - not something to buy or own)
  Personally, I feel it's important to be fearless.  This may sound silly, but what I mean is that you can't be afraid to make a mistake...because what better way to learn?  If you try something and it doesn't turn out the way you expect it would, it's not so much a failure as it is one way not to do it -- you learn from the experience and the next time, you make adjustments.
9.  What is your earliest recollection of a quilt in your own life?
  Growing up, I loved to burrow under my grandma's quilts, and I would spend hours running my fingers over the seams and quilting stitches while drinking in all of the designs -- the textures, shapes, and patterns just fascinated me.  At the time, I only thought of these as my "blankets" and I had no idea as to the amount of work my grandma put into making them.  To this day, quilts give me the happiest feelings of contentment and comfort, and I make it a point to set aside some special alone time each night to read in bed under a quilt.
10.  Since this is a November giveaway, I just have to ask, what is your favorite Thanksgiving Turkey side dish?
  Ooh, it might be better to ask what side dish don't I love.  There's cornbread stuffing and gravy, potatoes and gravy, turkey and gravy....wow, I guess it would be gravy!
Thanks Kim, for sharing so much of yourself with us!
Natalie.

Remember, leave us a story about the OLDEST person at your Thanksgiving table.

And remember, it's a time to be thankful.

Be thankful for the simple graces in your own life.

I know I am.

BeginAgain

2010

natalie

beyondthereef

A Friendship Group Tradition

Friendship Groups.

a very special kind of quilting group

I am a member of this friendship group

ATeam

In December, we put on our 'Festive Attire'

We have a candlelight dinner by the roaring fire

And we take time away from quilting to remember

how thankful we are for each other.

It's time for our annual Holiday Party

5:30 champagne

7pm candlelight dinner

Please RSVP by leaving a comment below

(include which side dish you would like to bring)

I wish you could all join us, but as you can see...

there's just enough room

for

the

ATEAM

For the rest of the year, we meet monthly to have a restaurant dinner, and dessert at the host's home.

We share projects, techniques, fabrics, magazines, books, stories...

We share our lives.

Some of our members have been quilting together since their kids were born.

For those of you not close enough to a Quilt Guild meeting,

why not gather 11 other quilters

and create your own  friendship group?

I promise you, ten years from now, you'll be thanking me

for suggesting the idea.

Start your own traditions.

BeginAgain

Natalie

JUDY 2008

JUDY 2009

JUDY always requests a drumstick...

Giveaway Winner!

We have a winner!

Aleisha said...

I love the fabric! I made a quilt for my grandmother for her birthday and I have a 2nd one for her in the works - in my mind. (It hasn't made it to paper or fabric yet:) Thanks for the great giveaway!

And now, personal note from me.

I appreciate all of you - and I do mean all of you - checking in from time to time

to read the blog

I know when I look at the map, that people from around the world

stop in to visit.

I thank each and every one of you.

I will on occasion ask you to become a follower, or to jump in as a fan on facebook.

Simply put, this gives me 'street cred' with my industry

so that I can continue to preview fabrics, books and other quilting items

and send them on to you as giveaway items.

So.

Won't you 'tell a friend'?

Won't you 'reach out and touch someone?'

Won't you become a follower, if you aren't already?

And last but not least, since it is after all YOUR blog,

please leave me a note and let me know

what type of content you most enjoy

when you come

to visit.

Look for tomorrow's post.

A Fabulous Author Interview and Book Giveaway.

Kim Diehl

Simple Graces

Thank you Martingale & Company

BeginAgain

2010

natalie.

Holiday Inspiration

Here come the Holidays

be inspired

thank you to the talents that created this

Amy Powers, the design team and the contributors!

BeginAgain
Natalie. 

Fabric Giveaway

Do you love fabric?

I do.

I think I mentioned that I have had the chance to work with RJR Fabrics.

I was given the fabulous opportunity to design a quilt for a new fabric line

ASANTE

And I was given the fabulous opportunity to make that quilt in a second line

WOODLAND

by Lori Mason

Which means

You all have the fabulous opportunity to win a set of fabrics from the same line!

Not ALL of the fabrics in the line, mind you, but 15 fat thirds and two one third pieces!

On Lori's site, she says,

"My passion for quilting is about people—the evocative stories told by quilts and the personal relationships pieced through the fabric.  I cherish these connections as well as the beauty that emerges through the patterns; they both soften and become richer over time."

Please leave a comment about a quilt you have made

and the person - the relationship - the connection

that you have made

through that quilt.

And for a little more inspiration, here is Lori herself:

1.  Lori - your new line Woodland, for RJR Fabrics, really has some unusual colors in the line.  They are a delight to work with!  What was your inspiration?

Well, it is a Fall/Winter line, and the subject matter was inspired by some of my findings on walks during the Fall months.  I knew I wanted at least one color combination to have that deep, rich maroon color.  The blue color combo was inspired by the dawn sky in crisp winter.  I live in the Pacific Northwest, land of the evergreens, so the third combination had to start there - deep forest green with the rusty-orange pop of deciduous trees turning color. 

2.  Woodland.  I just have to ask...are you a hiker, rock climber, gardener, naturalist?

Hiking and mountaineering were a big part of my experience growing up in the Northwest.  My dad started us off at a young age going on hikes on the weekends, and as I grew older I never lost the habit.  The beauty found in nature has always been an inspiration to me.

3.  Everyone wants to know about two things - how you work, and of course, where you work.

When I ask how you work, I have to ask specifically do you work in silence or with music?

And when I ask where you work, what I mean is - do you sketch wherever you are, or do you sit down with all of your resources and then get to work?

My studio is located above a packaging company in northwest Portland, Oregon along with a handful of other artist's studios.  I usually carry a small camera with me in case there is something that catches my eye wherever I may be at the time - it could be something as simple as a fence, a leaf, or the side of a building.  I'm fascinated by patterns, especially those found in the natural world.  I also collect natural forms that I can scan or draw when I get to the studio.  When I feel like I've collected enough, then I sit down and sort through what I've got.  If I'm doing any sort of "figuring" or organizing of ideas, I usually need silence, but I love to sew to music. 

4.  The holidays are approaching, you have a new line of fabric being released to stores - - will you take holiday guests to the quilt shops like a 'proud mom'?

Of course, who wouldn't!

5.  Speaking of the holidays, what are some of the secret family ingredients in your cranberry sauce?

Horseradish.

6.  Are you a morning person or a late nite person?

I would have to say somewhere in the middle, but my sweet spot for working is 9-noon when I've had my cup of tea and feel fresh.

7.  If you could travel anywhere in the world, and quilt with any one person for a weekend, not a class or anything, but just 'quilt weekend', where would you go and who would you want to quilt with?

If I could travel anywhere, I would travel back in time and spend a weekend quilting with my Granny Eva who died 12 years ago.  She was a true inspiration to me even though she didn't quilt. She was a sculptor, originally from Vienna, and she spent her entire life making art.  There were many unfinished works in her home studio when she died at age 80.  She never got to see my fabrics, but I know she would have loved to see them.

8.  Okay, I have to ask - speaking of travel...what is your favorite mode of travel?  Road trip in the Car?  A train excursion?  A quick jet to get there and get going? 

I'd have to say a quick jet trip - I don't like to be stuck inside sitting down for too long - although I much prefer riding in a train than a plane.  Perhaps a high-speed train in Europe? 

9.  Are you going to make any holiday gifts with your new fabric line?  Or are you on to the next line already?  Can you give us a hint?

Right now I'm making some beautiful place mats and napkin sets along with some tablecloths - they're really fun.  I've actually already designed Spring 2011 - production takes a while so we have to work ahead.  I think you'll all be happily surprised at the direction I took, but that's all I'm going to say - you'll have to stay tuned!

10.  It's hard to come to the last question, you know, that one last thing that you think people might want to know about their favorite fabric designer....let's see...okay.  I have one.

Cake or Pie?  Ice Cream or Chocolate?  Tea or Coffee?

I reject the premise that I have to make a choice!  Pear-Ginger Crisp hot out of the oven with vanilla ice cream and a cup of homemade chai

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

We're inspired now.

Leave a comment to be entered to win the fabric by 

NOVEMBER 15.

Hurry.

Tell your friends.

Oh, and we'd love to have you become a 'follower'...

BeginAgain

natalie

looking for tropical or bright fabric?

look no further...go to:

beyondthereef

Is it October 31?

I'm a little late...

congratulations to...

 Marcia said...

We live in a rural area and will celebrate Halloween on the 29th and 30th. My birthday and brother's annual cookout and hayride are first. He drives a hay wagon with lil'kiddies all over the farm at night and across the fields to our house. We are "THE candy stop" and werewolves. The kiddies get to see wildlife, cows, horses, etc. Then, the next day we have a "Halloween themed" baby shower for my niece followed by trick-or-treat evening visits by older kids. Lots of fun! Thanks to you and Martingale for this great giveaway. 

This sure sounds like a fun Halloween - - hayrides and cookouts!

Congratulations again, Marcia.

Next year, with the patterns in this book, you can have quilts for the hayrides!

Thanks again, all of you.

Our November book giveaway?

SIMPLE GRACES

by Kim Diehl.

look for the blog book review coming soon!