100 Blocks Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Yeah!!! It's Blog Tour time and my giveaway day for Volume 11 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!!

If this is your first time here, Hi! I'm Heather. I've been quilting for over 25 years. I'm the founder of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild. I teach and lecture in and around Baltimore, MD/PA/DE and Virginia as well as with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.  I'm also a contributing author to Classic Modern Quilts. Thanks for stopping by!

This is my second time in Quiltmaker's 100 blocks, and I'm thrilled to share my bock with you: 

Strippy Scrappy Kisses (note: naming blocks and quilts is not my strong suit!)

Here's the cover of the magazine, so you can recognize it in the stores:

Oh, hey, there's my block on the cover! Left side, second one down!

For this one, I stayed with what I like: scrap quilts, improv quilts, string quilts. The block components are simple, and can be changed up in lots of ways.

Here's the original:

And here are some other ways to assemble the block. So versatile!

How about that giveaway? Would you like to win your own copy? Just leave me a comment below. Now that the warm weather is finally here, let me know what your favorite summer beverage is. (Mine is green tea lemonade: brew 8-10 green tea bags in about 2 cups of water. Add to a 2 quart pitcher. Add one sleeve of crystal light lemonade mix. Top with water and ice to fill pitcher. Delish!) For an extra chance to win, follow me on instagram. I'm @heatherkojan. Then come back and leave another comment letting me know you're a follower! Oh, and make sure I have a way to reach you, too!

Thanks for visiting! Enjoy all the other stops on the blog tour!

English Paper Piecing with Snowflakes, Jessie and Faraway Road

Let me tell you about my sweet friend, Jessie.  I met her a few years ago when she was president of the DC Modern Quilt Guild and I was president of the Baltimore Modern QuiltGuild. She is one of the nicest people, and also makes beautiful babies:

Jessie and baby Vivian

About a year ago, Jessie and I were having lunch, and she told me about her idea for die cut, freezer paper English Paper Piecing pieces. Although I wasn't much of an EPP-er at the time, the idea sounded fantastic. 

Fast forward to now, Jessie has made her dream a reality!

Snowflakes Freezer Paper Pieces are now available!

A few months ago, Jessie offered to send me some snowflakes to try out. I was already making some 6 pointed stars, so requested 60 degree diamonds (Jessie offers 5 shapes, all in several sizes.) 

Aren't they pretty? I think I'll need about 100 for a decent sized quilt!

 There's so much to love about the snowflakes. First, they're much thinner than the shapes I was using, which, I think, will translate into more accurate piecing. Second, because they're freezer paper, when you iron them on to your fabric, they stick! No shifting! A huge bonus if you want prepare a bunch of shapes in advance. Also, no need for pinning or paper clips. So nice when EPP-ing in the car (as a passenger, of course. Do not sew and drive!) 

If you haven't delved into English Paper Piecing, or have tried it but would like some pointers, Jessie has a series of tutorials on you tube. Her ladder stitch tutorial makes everything so clear! 

So, are you ready for a new project?

Spring Basket

Go to Sew Mama Sew  for the tutorial for this darling Spring Basket. Jessie has some kits available in her shop as well.

I hope you'll give Snowflakes a try! (Oh, and they don't melt in the summer heat, lol!)

A Name Tag Swap

Don't you love a swap that's cute and practical?

We just had one with my guild, The Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild. We did a name tag swap. A quilted name tag has been on my list of things to do forever. And yet it never gets done. So I was super excited for this one.

My partner was Kat. I was hoping to get her! She's super cool, and she has a short name, lol! Her only request was to make it green. I pieced her name using Tonya Ricucci's Word Play Quilts and couldn't resist adding one of my tiny improv log cabins to it. There's room on either side of the log cabin for a pin or two, and the back side has a pocket for business cards, cash, whatever. I made it lanyard style - easy on, easy off.

Deb got me as a partner. She knows me well - an improv star!

She got all fancy and had my name embroidered! Thanks, Deb! Love it! And I'll never be nameless at a meeting again.

100 Quilt Blocks Blog Tour!!

I'm thrilled to have another block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Spring Edition. This is Volume 11 if you're counting!

Hey, this time I'm a cover girl! (Left had side, second one down.) Stop by Tuesday for a chance to win a copy of your own!