Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living Blog Tour

Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living Blog Tour

You can imagine my excitement when my first quilt book Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living (Landauer 2017) became a reality this October and I could hold a printed copy in my hand. Well, I'm even more elated about the upcoming blog tour! Starting Monday, December 4th with the talented Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt and running each day until the 19th are 16 creative bloggers to tell you all about my book. 

Monday 12/4  Heidi Staples - Fabric Mutt

Tuesday 12/5  Amy Friend - During Quiet Time

Wednesday 12/6  Maureen Cracknell - Maureen Cracknell Handmade

Thursday 12/7  Amber Johnson - Gigi's Thimble

Friday 12/8  Karen O'Connor - Lady K Quilts Designs

Saturday 12/9  Kori Turner-Goodhart - Olive Grace Studios

Sunday 12/10  Silvia Sutters - A Stranger View

Monday 12/11  Sarah Maxwell - Designs by Sarah J

Tuesday 12/12  Jessica Swift - Jessica Swift

Wednesday 12/13  Lisa Ruble - Love to Color My World

Thursday 12/14  Cindy Wiens - Live a Colorfullife

Friday 12/15  Eleri Kerian - Sew and Tell Project

Saturday 12/16  Anjeanette Klinder - Anjeanette K

Sunday 12/17  Stephanie Kendron - Modern Sewciety

Monday 12/18  Christopher Thompson - The Tattooed Quilter

Tuesday 12/19  Susan Playsted - Hopewood Home

To kick off the tour I'd like to share a free quilt project with you that I designed to go along with the book. Roman Stripe is super fun to make and a great scrap quilt. You can use jelly roll strips or cut your own 2-1/2" wide strips - the more the merrier with this one!

Roman Stripe by Sharon Holland

Roman Stripe by Sharon Holland

The premise of my book is to make quilts to be used. Don't stress about stitching museum showpieces or quilts you're afraid to let anyone touch--make quilts to be part of your everyday life. Experiment with colors and prints. Feel free to create what sings to your heart and forget about color theories (of which I do go over in the book as a basic understanding of color theory).

Make what you love and love what you make. 

Even though this book is only 80 pages, I've managed to pack it full of everything you'll need to make 12 easy-to-piece quilts from start to finish. This is a great resource for a beginning quilter or even seasoned quilters that want fun new projects. I go over fabric selection, cutting of fabric, patchwork basics, utility-style quilting, and finishing of the quilt. The quilt projects are based in traditional patchwork but all have a fresh-modern look--perfect for today's home. 

CORRECTION NOTICE

It pains me deeply that I already have a correction in my book but that's what happens when you have different people to depend on and many hands on a project. This beautiful quilt called Goose Chase has some changes to the material list and cutting instructions on it's first page. Use this link to Landauer Publishings Correction page and download the changes. I know this stuff happens but that gives me no comfort and am sorry for any headaches it may cause you.

My lovely daughter and dashing son-in-law were my models for this photo. The beauty shot photo of this quilt in the book has a different version and includes my granddaughter in the scene who at that time was less than a year old.

I like to pack meaning in everything I do and this book almost feels like a family album in a way. My friends and family all played a big role in making this possible. Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living is as much a lifestyle book as it is a quilting book. I wanted a cover that could rival any home decor magazine and purposely started the reader outside in front of a house. SIDE NOTE: And no, it's not my house but I like to say it should've been my house. We looked at that home when it was fresh on the market when we were finding a place to live in Ohio. Unfortunately it was priced well beyond our comfort zone and we had to find something else. I love that it's the cover for my book and that curved roof line is divine!

From the exterior of a home I lead you through a home beginning on the porch and into the front entry. Every room of this collective home represents how people live today. We end the projects with Goose Chase out in the backyard for a sweet, impromptu picnic. The life-style inset photos were taken by Susan Playsted of Hopewell Home and Susan can tell you more about how that all came about on her blog tour day. Let's just say social media is truly social and it was an amazing collaboration!

Tracery by Sharon Holland

I'm happy to announce that this website now has a STORE! My first and only item in my shop right now is my book. I have limited quantities to sell and although you could get the book through Amazon (affiliate link) and potentially pay no shipping costs you can only get it signed through my site so hopefully that offsets the extra expense of paying shipping :) Please note that I'm only shipping to US residents at this time. As I get more comfortable with having a store and add more items to my shop then I will open shipping up to more global locations in the future. 

With every good blog tour also comes good giveaways, right? Each of the Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living Blog Tour bloggers has the opportunity to give away one of my books to a lucky follower. I'm leaving it up to the blogger to run their own giveaway, so visit each of their posts to see what project(s) they've created from my book and if they're offering a book giveaway. Since the winning books will be shipped directly to the lucky winning entry via Landauer Publishing I'm sorry to say they will not be signed copies. 

This giveaway is now closed

Congratulations to Jessica Rampelburg!

Follow along on the book blog tour for more chances to win a copy of Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living. 

Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans

The end of the calendar year is approaching and it's impossible not to start thinking ahead about the next year. I'm already mapping out the bigger events that will happen in 2018, like when my second grandchild is due, vacations, Quilt Markets, and when fabric collections need to be finalized. 

Daylily quilt photo by Kitty Wilkins courtesty of the Quilter's Planner

Not only will I be keeping all my appointments, career goals and project deadlines, as well as organizing my day to day thoughts in the 2018 Quilter's Planner calendar (affiliate link), I also have a quilt in next years book!

The 2018 Quilter's Planner comes with a separate magazine with beautifully illustrated and written patterns for all the projects in the calendar. Alison Glass designed organizational stickers for the Planner, a monthly sampler quilt, and there's so much more...

Courstesy of The Quilter's Planner

Besides all that is listed above, the gals at Quilter's Planner have thought of everything! Here's a link for instructions on how to make a customized cover for your planner and other printable to keep you organized for special events. 

Photo courtesty of the Quilter's Planner

I'm excited to start filling the pages of my Quilter's Planner and do away with my old system of scraps of paper with cryptic notes, lists, and ideas scattered all over my house! I also want to make a cover for it and love the added zipper for pens and pencils!

photo courtesty of the Quilter's Planner

So, join the fun and make 2018 your best year yet! 

AGF Quilt Block Collection Blog Tour

AGF Quilt Block Collection Blog Tour

You all know how much I love Art Gallery Fabrics, right? Well, of course I do, I'm one of their designers but I loved them even before I was designing for them. They are leaders in the industry for sewing inspiration, fabric quality, and fresh, modern prints. Their website and blog is stocked full of free projects, giveaways, and ideas for your next sewing adventure.

For some time now AGF has been building a quilt block library for you with Youtube demonstration videos for making each block. Art Gallery Fabrics has asked Sharon McConnell of Color Girl Quilts to host a AGF Quilt Block Collection Blog Tour so you can get even more ideas on how to sew with all these fun traditional quilt blocks. I jumped on the chance to be part of the tour and today is my turn to show you what I made.

Nov 13 - Sharon McConnell | colorgirlquilts.com/blog | @colorgirlquilts

Nov 14 - Karen O'Connor | ladykquiltsdesigns.com | @ladykquilts

Nov 16 - Amy Friend | www.duringquiettime.com | @duringquiettime

Nov 17 - Kate Basti | www.quiltwithkate.com | @katebasti

Nov 18 - Yvonne Fuchs | quiltingjetgirl.com | @quiltingjetgirl

Nov 19 - AnneMarie Chany | www.genxquilters.com | @genxquilters

Nov 20 - Maureen Cracknell | maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com | @maureencracknell

Nov 21 - Sharon Holland | sharonhollanddesigns.com | @sharonhollanddesigns

Nov 22 - Lucy Brennan | www.charmaboutyou.com |  @charmaboutyou

I knew right away I wanted to make a table runner from the Aztec block. This block makes me think of pine boughs and perfect for all the pretty Art Gallery Fabrics I have in spruce, mint, teal, silver, and wintery-white mixes. 

To make a runner like mine you will need:

• Six 10'' square light prints

• Six 10'' square dark/medium prints

• (1) 20'' x 60" rectangle backing and batting

• (4) 2-1/4'' x 42'' strips for binding

I mixed my own AFG prints with fabrics designed by other AGF designers for the perfect winter-greens look. Here's a list of the Art Gallery Fabrics collections these prints came from:

Bountiful prints by me Sharon Holland (me)

Coastline print by Sharon Holland

Bachelorette Fusions with prints by Sharon Holland and Pat Bravo

Floralia Fusions with prints by Sharon Holland and Bari J.

Woodland Fusions print by Maureen Cracknell

Spices Fusions print by Bonnie Christine

I always like a physical print out when I'm working with a new pattern. You can download the free Aztec block here. The AGF instructions are well illustrated and easy to follow. I did jot down a few notes for myself when I was making this block and I'd like to share those tips with you. 

First off, I made you a downloadable coloring page for this runner. It's three Aztec blocks sewn short sides together to make a runner that finishes around 15'' x 54'' in size. If you'd like a longer runner, then simply add more blocks. The reason I suggest working out your fabric placement before you begin has to do with the sub cutting and the direction of the points. Click on the coloring page image (below) for the download to pop-up. 

When you first are sewing your half-square triangle (HST) units, use a short stitch length to keep your pieces from unraveling after sub cutting the strips. Be sure to use an accurate seam allowance and square your HSTs to 9-1/2". 

Audition Before SUB Cutting

My original idea for fabric placement ended up changing once my sections for the blocks were all assembled but for this tip you can see how I reference my colored page before I made the sub cut strips. Notice I kept my HST seams running the same direction (like in the AGF instructions) BUT the light and dark placement of the HST have been flipped in my cutting so the points are correctly oriented when I put the blocks together. My suggestion is to have your coloring page by you and flip the HST before cutting to see if everything matches up with your colored page. When you're ready to sub cut, cut the strips into 2-3/8'' segments. 

Pairs of A/B sections ready to assemble into blocks. After I had my block sections sewn I played with the placement and decided to make my blocks so the green prints meet in the center of the block. 

Now here's a runner perfect to leave out all winter long. Dress it up with sparkling silver and metallic accents or create a snowy lodge-look with rustic elements. The quarter inch straight-line machine quilting accentuates the needle-like quilt block pattern and was a fast way to finish this table topper.

What AGF quilt block would you make from their quilt block collection? I hope you've been inspired by the tour makes and if you have, Art Gallery Fabrics wants to see your blocks and block inspired projects and they have an Instagram contest to help celebrate all your quilty creations! 

Here's how to enter: 

-Sew up a block from the AGF Quilt Block Collection with AGF fabrics

-Share them on your public Instagram account using the #agfquiltblockcollection hashtag

-Every month AGF will be choosing two lucky winners who will receive a fat quarter bundle of AGF fabric featured in the AGF Quilt Block Collection!!!!!!

Bountiful Holiday Tour Week 3 Recap and Giveaway

Bountiful Holiday Tour Week 3 Recap and Giveaway

11-01  Mathew Boudreaux  Mister Domestic

11-02  AnneMarie Chany  Gen X Quilters

11-03  Brooke Sellmann  Silly Mama Quilts

11-06  Blair Stocker  Wise Craft Handmade

11-07  Silvia Sutters  A Stranger View

11-08  Peta Peace  She Quilts A Lot

11-09  Sharon Holland  Sharon Holland Designs

11-10  Heather Andrus  Quilt Story

11-13  Maureen Cracknell  Maureen Cracknell Handmade

11-14  Anjeanette Klinder  Anjeanettek

11-15  Alexis Wright  My Sweet Sunshine Studio

11-16  Katie Skoog  The Simple Life Company

Well, I don't know about you but my gifts to-make list just got a whole lot longer after seeing all these beautiful sewing ideas made by the Bountiful Holiday blog tour designers. 

It's been another incredible week here on the tour and also our final week. If you missed any of the blogger's posts, here's a review of what they made.

Bountiful Shine Pillow and photo by Maureen Cracknell Handmade

Monday my good friend and sister Art Gallery Fabrics designer Maureen Cracknell started out our final week with four must-make projects. Maureen is well known for her quilt-as-you-go technique and she used this same concept to get two different looks. This stunning Bountiful Shine pillow is so cool the way the prints and colors are arranged in a radiating design. 

Bountiful zipper pouches and photo by Maureen Cracknell Handmade

From left over fabric from making pillows, Maureen was able to make these pretty and oh, so useful zipper pouches! I can think of a million uses for zip pouches, can't you?!?! Read all about these makes on Maureen's blog post. 

Bountiful coasters and photo by Anjeanette Klinder

Good things come in small packages couldn't be truer with Anjeanette Klinder's Bountiful Holiday make posted on Tuesday. These beautifully detailed coasters are amazing! Each coaster is exquisite. Anjeanette gives a step-by-step tutorial on her blog for making these hexagon coasters. You know, I just had a thought of how cool these coasters would be with my placemat project from last week, hmmmm, the gift ideas keep coming! Find out how to make these coasters on Anjeanette's blog and stitch a bunch up!

Blushing Bunny and photo by Alexis Wright

Wednesday brought on the cuteness! My sweet friend Alexis Wright of My Sweet Sunshine Studio is going to make her niece one happy little girl this Christmas when she receives this stuffed bunny. Alexis is an extremely talented garment sewer and makes most all of my clothing samples for Market. She is also a wonderful photographer and blows me away with everything she does. This bunny pattern is called Blushing Bunny by Violette Field Threads and is perfect in everyway. The Perennial Renewal and Plain Weave Thatch prints from my Bountiful collection could be more perfect for this adorable rabbit. See more about this make and tote bag on Alexis's blog.

Crazy Chicken Runner and photo by The Simple Life Company

Last but not least is the Crazy Chicken Table Runner by Katie Skoog of Simple Life Company finished out our tour on Thursday. Katie is a garment designer and owner of the Simple Life Company. She's an all round talent when it comes to sewing and quilting is no exception. Katie designed this appliqué runner just for this tour and is also offering the project as a free download from her site. I love how Katie incorporated so many of my Bountiful prints and used the Tracery print from my Tapestry collection for the boarder. This runner will be perfect all year and cheer up any kitchen. Find out more about this fantastic pattern on The Simple Life Company.

The Giveaway is now CLOSED

Congratulations, to Susan Spiers!

With every great tour there should be a giveaway, right? I've teamed up with The Fat Quarter Shop to offer you a chance to win a 10-piece Bountiful Harvest fat quarter bundle. 

Enter to Win

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (one entry)

2. My followers get a second entry! If you follow via subscribing to my posts, on Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (optional extra entry) Note: I'm no longer on Facebook.

3. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the giveaway on YOUR instagram, facebook, tweet, pin, blog post, etc... (optional extra entry) 

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Monday, November 20th! The winner will be picked at random and I will announce their name at 4pm EST at the bottom of this post, here on the blog.

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

See also my Instagram feed for a second chance to enter this giveaway. Simply repost your favorite tour makes to your public IG account and use the hashtag #bountifulholidayblogtour to automatically enter your name into a drawing for the 10-pc Bountiful Harvest fat quarter bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop. The random drawing on Instagram will also be selected on Monday, November 20th at 4pm Eastern time. 

xxxx Sharon