Meet a Quilter and a Give Away

Good morning everyone!
Let me introduce you to Rhonda Cratty, quilter and author.

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What Inspired Me to Write Our Family Quilt

My family and friends, trips to the mountains, baking apple crisps, and quilting.  Everyday experiences nurtured and inspired me to write Our Family Quilt.

Whether I am quilting, writing a book, an article or a blog, it never just happens. It takes experiences, adventures, love, encouragement and support from family and friends.

Our Family Quilt didn’t begin when I sat at my laptop.  A tiny seed was planted in my writing soul when my mom, started me on my sewing journey. A box of scraps of material inspired my first try at putting bits and pieces together to create something new.  A Christmas sewing basket with little scissors, thread, pins and buttons is still treasured. My grandma, gave me her sewing machine she used since the 1930’s. I remember the moment she gave me the machine and tried to weave it into my book. On my thirteenth birthday, my parents gave me a Sears Kenmore that went forward and reverse (which I took with me when I got married, sewed little-boy blankets, and used until it would sew no more). It was those memories I put into words.

Once I was married my husband became my creative sounding board, patiently listening as I created with words, pins and thread. Supporting me with many adventures to fill up pages.

While I was raising children, teaching, and writing articles an idea for a book started brewing. My life supplied the inspiration.  I developed the prologue and the epilogue. I also knew from beginning to end the journey I wanted to take the characters on.  I knew how to sew but not quilt -which was critical in the story.

I walked into my friend’s office, who quilted, and asked her to give me enough information so I could write my book.

With a happy heart, she took me into my first quilting class and I was off on another adventure.  I went to quilting shows learning everything I could. I joined a quilting guild, listening to all their inspiring speakers and meeting encouraging quilters. I bought quilting magazines and books. As we traveled we stopped at each quilting shop along the way.  As I absorbed new experiences, I became inspired to add a different dimension to both my quilting and my book.

I not only finished the book but fell in love with the art of quilting.  The needle became my pen and the thread my ink. As I wrote about Grace, a master quilter, -as she shared her creative gifts with her young granddaughter, Audrey. I was thinking about sewing with my mom.

As I wrote about their lives unfolding around their family quilt.  The love between grandmother and granddaughter was a mirror of my love for my grandmother.

Each memory you create today becomes a springboard for future creativity.

As you read about Grace and Audrey, may it inspire a memory for you to use as your own creative springboard.  So you too, may piece together your own family quilt.

Rhonda Cratty

To read: Our Family Quilt: The Fabric of Life visit Amazon.com.

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Thank you Rhonda for sharing your inspirational journey with us today. Each quilt we make really does tell a story of our lives.

Visit Rhonda’s website HERE

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Rhonda is graciously giving away one signed copy of her new book.
Open to USA residents only. Enter below for a chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Guidelines and Rules for FunThreads Designs give away.

• No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the USA only.
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• While we hope you will leave a comment on the post of the day because we love comments, we want no reply bloggers to have a chance at winning also. Rafflecopter will collect your name, state, and email.
• One signed copy of Our Family Quilt book will be given away to one winner.
• Winner picked at random via Rafflecopter at the end of the day on March 27th. Winner will receive notification via email. Winner will have approximately 5 days to claim their gift, if 5 days passes, the gift will be offered to another eligible entrant. Winner who will receive a shipped item will need to provide name, address, city, state. All prizes will be awarded.
• Winner will be announced on this blog and in the Rafflecopter window here on this page.Winner agrees to allow their name, city, state to be publicized.
• Odds of Winning a prize are based on total number of Rafflecopter entries.

• You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win where applicable.Some restrictions on gifts will apply based on shipping policies.This sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law.

Meet a Quilter #15 and a Give Away

 

I know I’m a few days early this month…..

Let me introduce you to Jessica Caldwell. Jessica is a blogger, quilter, designer, and an  Island Batik Ambassdor.

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Thank you Carol for having me as a guest on your blog. I look forward to introducing myself, and getting to know more quilters, because let’s face it, quilters are the best people to meet! Today is a milestone for me as a blogger. It is my first ever guest post on another blog.

My Quilting Background

A little over a year ago I started Desert Bloom Quilting to blog about my quilting. So far it has been a wonderful experience that has expanded my world in ways I never imagined. While I am new to blogging, quilting is quite the opposite. As a generational quilter, it has been a part of my life for as long as I remember. There have been five generations to come before me.

Bear made by my grandmother from a quilt made by my great grandmother.

Growing up we always did a lot of small sewing projects, but didn’t I make my first quilt until the age of 16. My grandparents would regularly come and stay in Arizona for the winter, and it was during this visit that my grandmother helped me make my first quilt. The pattern was picked out from Peddler’s Wagon in Parkville, MO, while visiting family. At the time I had no idea how much quilting would expand my world.

My first quilt.

After that quilt was made I was hooked and proceeded to make another quilt, with the same pattern, for a friend that was graduating that year. Over the next few years I made a few simple quilts here and there. Mostly gifts for family and friends. Although they were simple I was always itching to tweak patterns, and designs.

A sampling of quilts made between 2001-2010.

In 2010 I stumbled into The Quilter’s Market and ask for a job. This proved to be a turning point in my quilting. The skills I learned, and the connections I made proved to be invaluable in my growth as a quilter, teacher, and designer. Summer of 2011 I designed my first 2 quilts, Talavera Tile and Cactus Bloom with the hope of teaching both. Cactus Bloom was also the first, and only, quilt I’ve entered in a quilt show. It was shown in the 2012 Quilt Fiesta, in Tucson, AZ, where it won first place in the pieced category.

Talavera Tile, in 2 color ways, and Cactus Bloom Hanging in the 2012 Quilt Fiesta.

In 2015 I started my site, Desert Bloom Quilting, as place to run a Mystery Quilt Along. Blogging was an afterthought, but I found I quite enjoyed sharing, and exercising my writing skills. As the result of a chance meeting (I won a giveaway from and Island Batik Ambassador), I was introduced to the program. For 2016 I applied, and was accepted!!! So far it has been a wonderful experience.

April Challenge on the left, and the start of my May Challenge on the right.

I am also excited to say that I will be having my first quilt at market with Island Batik this fall. While I can’t show you the full design, here is work in progress picture!

Frequency Sneak Peak.

More About Me

A little about me that is not quilting related. Growing up I was in to quite a few activities, most notably was tap dancing and orchestra, where I played a variety of instruments. Of all the instruments I play Cello is by far my love.

After high school I joined the Marine Corps where my job was supposed to be fixing AC units for communication trucks. At my first unit I managed the maintenance logistics for my department, and after a year there I volunteered to guard Embassies and was selected. The next 3 years were spent split between Pretoria, South Africa, and Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

On the left, doing Toys for Tots in South Africa, and on the Right, Toys for Tots in the Slovak Republic.

After getting out of the Marine Corps at the end of 2005, I drifted around for a bit. I met my husband playing World of Warcraft, and we are now married with a spunky, and lively 2 year old, and 3 furry minions (cats). Currently I work for a technology company creating automated reports, technical documents, and learning some project management skills. Life is full and wonderful.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and get to know me.

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♥THANK YOU♥ Jessica for sharing your quilting story and congratulations on your first guest post. Your little quilted bear is such a special treasure.

Be sure to hop over to Desert Bloom Quilting and see what’s new.

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Sweepstakes Give Away

Open to residents of the USA only. One winner will receive a copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks vol. 13 and a pack of Bali Pops.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guidelines and Rules for FunThreads Designs give away.

• No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the USA only.
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• While we hope you will leave a comment on the post of the day because we love comments, we want no reply bloggers to have a chance at winning also. Rafflecopter will collect your name, state, and email.
• One winner will receive a copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks vol.13 and a pack of Bali Pops.
• Winner picked at random via Rafflecopter at the end of the day on April 17th. Winner will receive notification via email. Winner will have approximately 5 days to claim their gift, if 5 days passes, the gift will be offered to another eligible entrant. Winner who will receive a shipped item will need to provide name, address, city, state. All prizes will be awarded.
• Winner will be announced on this blog and in the Rafflecopter window here on this page.Winner agrees to allow their name, city, state to be publicized.
• Odds of Winning a prize are based on total number of rafflecopter entries.

• You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win where applicable.Some restrictions on gifts will apply based on shipping policies.This sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law.

Meet A Quilter #14

Today I’d like to introduce you to another amazing designer, quilter, and fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Suzy Webster.

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My name is Suzy Webster and I blog at websterquilt.blogspot.com.  I started quilting when I was 8 and rearranged my mother’s scraps into a quilt and asked her to sew it together.  When I was in middle school my parents took the TV down for the summer and I had to find other things to do and that’s when quilting really sank in.

I started entering my quilts into quilt shows in college and won my first ribbon in 2002.  Since then I’ve won over 70 ribbons at national and international shows.  It’s a bit addictive and it’s how I let my perfectionism come out because it certainly isn’t present in my quilting studio organization….nope, disorganization.

I love to do applique quilts and paper piece.  My favorite parts of quilting are designing, picking fabric, and free motion quilting.  I tend to free motion quilts to death because it’s my favorite part of the process.

I originally started my blog because it was suggested to do so when submitting a book proposal.  Little did I know that I would love it so much and would let me express myself in new ways creatively.

I currently have a Flower in a Pot Quilt Along going on my blog.  I love to applique flowers.

I have a book coming out from the American Quilter’s Society in August.  I am so excited!

A big thanks to Carol for letting me be a guest on her blog!

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♥THANK YOU♥ Suzy for sharing your beautiful quilts and story with us. Your flower pot quilt along is gorgeous. Keep an eye out for her book everyone!!!

Meet A Quilter #13

 

Today I’d like to introduce you to an amazing fiber artist, designer, and fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Pam Geisel.

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My name is Pam Geisel from For Quilts Sake and I just finished my 500th quilt! It’s called “She Paints With Fabric” because that’s how I explain to people how I make my art. (It’s made with Island Batik’s Sea Salt Sandy fabrics, by the way.)

I made my first quilt in 2001. I had taken shop class in Junior High so I wouldn’t have to learn how to sew, but I’ve always loved fabric and quilts so I decided to take a class on hand piecing and quilting at a local quilt shop. I really loved the result but boy did it take a long time to complete! I realized that if I used the sewing machine I’d just have to use it to sew forwards and backwards, I wasn’t attaching shirt sleeves or zippers.

I’ve taken a few workshops on quilting techniques since them but I’m mostly self-taught, although I still have no idea how to attach a shirt sleeve or a zipper!

I primarily consider myself an art quilt. Like most art quilters, I started making traditional quilts. One of the things that I really enjoy about traditional quilts is the secondary patterns that emerge when quilt blocks are put together. I’m also intrigued by how the look of a pattern can changed if you use different colors in different locations.

I belong to several quilt guilds. It was with the Miami Valley Art Quilt Network where I really delved into art quilting. We created a monthly study group and were working through the exercises in the book “Art Quilt Workbook" by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston. I created my first series, the Feather Series then.

Around this time I started working with fusible adhesives for fabrics. I know it’s possible to piece curves and also applique curved shapes with a needle-turn technique, but I wasn’t interested in doing either of those. But once I realized I could raw edge applique curved shapes, creating got much freer for me, and I was able to create more realistic landscape quilts.

I enjoy participating in challenges. I was in an on-line quilting group with Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams started “Project Quilting” back in 2010. She enjoyed the show “Project Runway” and wanted to have quilt challenges that had to be completed in one week, although no one would be asked to leave.

Because of my schedule at the time I wasn’t able to participate as a contestant the first year, but I did participate as a judge that year. I’ve participated every year since then and was even the Grand Prize Winner in 2011 (they only did official judging the first two years).

“Early Morning Nine Patch” was one of the challenge pieces that I made for Project Quilting in 2012. I went on to win Best of Show in “The View,” a juried landscape competition (for all media and not just fiber) at the Rosewood Art Centre Gallery in Dayton, Ohio. It’s one of my favorite quilts that I’ve ever made and I even had notecards printed with it on them.

I’ve been entering my quilts in quilting competitions and also art shows with other media. I’ve gotten rejected from several, but I’ve been fortunate to have some included in national fiber exhibits in Oberlin, OH, Paducah, KY, and at the American Quilter’s Society’s Quilt Week in Landcaster, PA where I got an honorable mention for my quilt “Lavender Diamonds” which is a traditional partial Broken Star design (similar to a Lone Star) but mine is made in a non-traditional way by fusing fabric instead of piecing.

I also do a lot of custom quilts, including memory quilts that use items provided by the customer such as t-shirts and other clothing, a wedding dress, and neckties. These projects are always interesting because the items have such a personal meaning to the customer. Many times these items are a gift to another family member and I’m honored to be a part of making an heirloom that will be cherished for years to come. This one was made with ribbons won in horse competitions.

One of the most unusual pieces I’ve made was for an exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute called “Inside the Box.” Selected artists were provided a wooden box and asked to create something inside it (and outside it within reason). I created “Inside of a Dog” based on the Groucho Marx quote “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.” I’ve never created a doll or a dog’s heads, legs, and tail before. It seemed like I spent as much time thinking about how I was going to create it and the steps involved as I did creating it.

A big thanks to Carol for inviting me to be a guest blogger. If you want to know more about any of the projects I’ve mentioned, you can find them on my blog: For Quilts Sake.

I’d like to offer a set of note cards that are professionally printed of my quilts. I have six different sets available, four that have six different images and two that just have the one image. You can check out the different options in my Etsy shop here.

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♥THANK YOU♥ Pam for sharing your wonderful quilts and story with us today. Congratulations on quilt #500!!! Now I’m curious and will have to try to figure out what number I’m on. LOL.

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SWEEPSTAKES GIVE AWAY

 

Pam has generously offered a set of her beautiful quilt note cards to one lucky winner. Open to USA residents only. Enter Rafflecopter below for a chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Guidelines and Rules for FunThreads Designs give away.

• No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the USA only.
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• While we hope you will leave a comment on the post of the day because we love comments, we want no reply bloggers to have a chance at winning also. Rafflecopter will collect your name, state, and email. 
  
• One set of For Quilts Sake notecards will be given away to one winner.
• Winner picked at random via Rafflecopter at the end of the day on April 19th. Winner will receive notification via email. Winner will have approximately 5 days to claim their gift, if 5 days passes, the gift will be offered to another eligible entrant. Winner who will receive a shipped item will need to provide name, address, city, state. All prizes will be awarded.
• Winner will be announced on this blog and in the Rafflecopter window here on this page.Winner agrees to allow their name, city, state to be publicized.
• Odds of Winning a prize are based on total number of rafflecopter entries.

• You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win where applicable.Some restrictions on gifts will apply based on shipping policies.This sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law.

Meet a Quilter #12 and a Give Away

Today I’m going to introduce you to a fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Adele.

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Greetings to all of you! First I'd like to thank Carol for inviting me to be a guest on her blog. I'm delighted to be here! My name is Adele Mogavero; Quiltmaker and designer, Author, Pianist, Baker, Island Batik Ambassador, lover of Giraffes and all things creative.

 

To be totally upfront and honest though - I am first and foremost a techie geek :) I wanted a website before I had a clue what I'd do with it. I love all the nitty-gritty behind the scenes stuff that makes a webpage look perty and fun. I picked out the name Del~Lillian's 5 years before I heard of the online marketplace called Etsy. With all that said, you might be wondering why I have been invited to write a Meet the Quilter Post! I Quilt, therefore I am :) Last Saturday afternoon I sat back and looked at the entry way wall. It is now a showcase of mini quilts.

 

I asked my husband, Do you think it's too much??? From where I was sitting, I could see the wall with all my mini quilts, three more quilts hang over the living room doors, and one hanging on the wall over my right shoulder. Although I never set out to be a one, I became a quiltmaker and designer. I often joke around, "If I keep hanging these quilts up, the house is going to look like a padded cell!". There is at least one quilt in every room.

How did I become a Quilt maker and designer?

I didn't grow up with quilts or quilty ladies, nor did I like quilts. My early crafty experiences were sewing, crochet, plastic canvas and cross stitch. I began my designing career with crochet and plastic canvas designs; those designs were published in a various craft magazines. Quilting wormed it's way into my heart about 25 years ago when I made some nap quilts for my sons. Those quilts had bits of receiving blankets and pieces of fabric from clothing that I had made. A lot of the fabrics weren't really suited for quilts, but I didn't know about that stuff back then. I just happily made scrap quilts for the boys. These quilts were a learning experience and the quilts that began a journey into a new creative muse and has become a creative business pursuit.

 

It also allows me to use my designing talents to make some pretty awesome gifts for family and friends.

 

My Style…

I don't think my style is totally unique, but it is me. Colorful, bold, modern, and free spirited, yet at times quite traditional in style and tone.

 

My Improv Quilts…

One of the reasons I enjoy making improv quilts is...I actually struggle at sewing straight seams. Improv quilts are a fun way to explore different techniques and break all the rules. It is quite freeing. Although I enjoy making my artsy fartsy quilts, I still work on my basic piecing and sewing skills so that I can always be improving. My Shop DelLillians, began with my "off the wall Quilts".

 

These little pieces of art are designed

• To be used as placemats, but could be hung on a wall too
• To bring a small piece of art to the dining table
• To use fabric scraps in an interesting way
• As "green", because they utilize what many would throw away*
• To be one of a kind

*I say "many would throw away, being a scrap aholic and fabric hoarder...um I don't throw away the scraps"

My Space…

I am very fortunate to have the space I have, I call it my Quilting Cave. The term was actually coined by a quiltsy friend from Etsy - Sally Manke, a very talented fiber artist! I liked the name and it's stuck. The quilting cave is in the basement, and does resemble a cave during the snowy winter months. It's cozy and quiet. I love it! But it's not like you need a huge space to quilt. I began working from my kitchen table. I admit it was a pain to have to pick everything up when it was time for meals. But it was always well worth it!

In Closing…

I love the process of designing a quilt and seeing the creation I have imagined come to life.

 

It gives me as much pleasure to give a quilt as a gift, as it does to sell one to a stranger. Each quilt is a part of my personality. My Website www.adelemogavero.com focuses on quilting - most of the time It is a journey of discovery. I learn something new every day and love to share those things, whether it is a quilting tip or a techie website thing. I believe that no matter where you are in your life, or in your quilting skills, there is always room for learning and improvement. Whereever my journey leads me, I hope it will always be a source of inspiration and motivation, for others.

Happy Quilting. Thanks for reading!

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♥THANK YOU♥ Adele for sharing your quilting journey with us. Can you really have too many quilts in your house?…I don’t think so

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Sweepstakes

Enter Rafflecopter for a chance to win two 5” wide stash building rolls of Island Batik fabric ~ approximately 1 1/8 yards in total. Open to residents of the USA only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Guidelines and Rules for FunThreads Designs give away.

• No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the USA only.
• You must be 18 or older to enter.
• While we hope you will leave a comment on the post of the day because we love comments, we want no reply bloggers to have a chance at winning also. Rafflecopter will collect your name, state, and email. 
  
• Two 5” wide stash building rolls of Island Batik (approx. 1 1/8 yard in total) will be given away to one winner.
• Winner picked at random via Rafflecopter at the end of the day on April 18th. Winner will receive notification via email. Winner will have approximately 5 days to claim their gift, if 5 days passes, the gift will be offered to another eligible entrant. Winner who will receive a shipped item will need to provide name, address, city, state. All prizes will be awarded.
• Winner will be announced on this blog and in the Rafflecopter window here on this page.Winner agrees to allow their name, city, state to be publicized.
• Odds of Winning a prize are based on total number of rafflecopter entries.

• You are responsible for claiming and paying any tax owed on the value of any gift that you win where applicable.Some restrictions on gifts will apply based on shipping policies.This sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law.