I have a few free minutes...

So let's start a new quilt!

Do you feel that way too? Every so often I get a pocket of time with no commitments, no travel, no deadlines ~ just free time to sew for myself. This is one of those times. Nothing major on my plate for 2 whole months! So what do I want to do? Fill up that space with new projects.

I started a list of the new:

1. Amy Butler Weekender Bag (so 5 years ago) but I've had the pattern forever and still want one.
2. Sew Together Bag (so 2 years ago) same as above
3. Fancy Fox - new baby boy due in the family around July
4. Cover the vintage chairs I scored at Goodwill about a year ago

And then I thought, "Whoa, hold on sister! Maybe you should tackle some of the old." Such as:

1. Loulouthi Quilt: needs backing/basting/quilting/binding (b/b/q/b)
2. Twizzle: Just pieced the top this past weekend - needs borders and b/b/q/b
3. Plus Quilt: Same as above
4. Modern Meadow: needs borders and b/b/q/b
5. Sewing Machine Mini: I made 2 for gifts, this ones for me! Finish piecing and b/b/q/b
6. Bento Box: had the blocks for years - needs piecing and b/b/q/b
7. Yellow/Gray Bee Quilt: ditto above
8. Vintage Charm Quilt: b/b/q/b
9. Pinwheel Pillows: these are samples from a retired class. Just need to assemble.
10. Facing East: just started this one. A long term project for sure
11. Paper Pieced Stars: Another long term one.
12. Moda Building Blocks: all the large blocks are finished - on to the 6 inchers

I'm sure there's more if I dig a little deeper into the UFO bin. But keeping the list at a dozen seems somehow more manageable.

No pictures today. That would take another hour or so. Time better spent actually making. I'll post them as I finish them (or at least move them closer to the finish line.)

Instead, I'll leave you with a picture of my kids. All.Growed.Up.

Happy Quilting!

Organizing Fabric

If buying fabric is a quilter's #1 pleasure, I think organizing it can't be too far behind. Just a quick google of "sewing room organization" or "fabric storage" reveals such wonderful eye candy.

Truth be told, I have a decent sized studio (I started calling my basement sewing room a studio a few years ago - makes me sound more legit  :-) I have ample storage. But that doesn't stop me from looking for alternative solutions.

Last week, I was out doing errands, which happened to take my by our local Goodwill store. Most times, I'll drive on by. On this particular day, I heard it whispering "Come in - I've got something for you." How could I resist an invitation like that?

I quickly made my way through the front of the store. No voices. But in the back - cue the angel choir! I found this:

Yes, not much to look at, and a little bit 90's with it's wonky shape. But oh, the potential. (And I am a bit partial to wonky.)

After a few quick coats of spray paint:

And all loaded up with fabric and stuff:

I like that it holds some of my vintage Pyrex! And the width is a good size for half yard cuts of fabric.

A bowl full of Allison Glass

Cute storage for under $10! I like it!

What are sewing up this weekend?

Maple Mini: A Tutorial on the C&T Blog - Plus Giveaway!

I just got back from three fun filled days teaching at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Thanks to all my wonderful students who came with an open mind and willing spirit. It was so much fun hanging out with you!

While I was away, this little tutorial popped up on the C&T Publishing Blog

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Head over there now for the tutorial and a chance to win a copy of my book Classic Modern Quilts!

Happy Fall, y'all!  (I'm allowed to say y'all after living in Texas for 3 years!)

Modern Quilt Guild Webinar featuring Me!

So, this is happening.....

Very excited! A little lot nervous. Oh, how hard can it be? No harder than teaching, right? Which isn't hard at all.

Hope you can join me! Register right here. 

Jaftex Blog Hop Day Six - And a Giveaway!

Welcome to day six of the month long Jaftex blog hop! Never heard of Jaftex? It's the parent company of some of my favorite fabrics: Sudioe, Blank Quilting and Henry Glass fabrics. 

Jaftex is celebrating it's 85th anniversary in style, with an amazing blog hop and giveaways each step of the way, as well as some really awesome grand prizes. (See below on how to win!)

30 bloggers were given a bundle of fabric with the directions: make something. Easy enough!

This is the bundle I received from the  Fusion Illusion  line from Blank Quilting.

As soon as I saw the bundle I started thinking of a rainbow quilt. And since I'm on a bit of a wedge kick right now, I decided to combine the two.

Here's my quilt Roy. (Named after my dad, and a nod to Roy G Biv!)

A little grainy. My photographer neglected to take any close ups.

Here's a better photo. Ignore the water pump in the foreground.

Here's a close up of the quilting. My guild-mates from the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild will be shocked that I chose variegated thread! Quilted by Maria O'Haver.

This quilt came together really quickly! I really love the results. I'm thinking of writing it up as a pattern. If you're interested, be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the side bar. You'll be the first to know when it's ready.

So, on to the giveaway! Would you like to win a bundle of Fusion Illusion?

Just leave me a comment below. What would you make with this awesome bundle? For an extra chance, follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then come back here and let me know that you do. (Sorry, US only please. However, if you're the winner and international, I'll send you  a download of my Subway Art and a pattern. Deal?)

You can also enter to win awesome prizes from Jaftex right here:


85th Anniversary Giveaway



Here are all the stops on the blog hop! Be sure to see Kim Diehl's post from day one on American Patchwork &Quilting. The next stop is another Heather: Heather Mulder! Have fun and happy hopping!

September 1 - Kim Diehl guest posting @ American Patchwork & Quilting

September 2 - Pepper @ Pepper at the Quilt Studio 

September 3 - Anjeanette @ Anjeanette Klinder 

September 4 - Leanne @ The Whole Country Caboodle   

September 5 - Mark @ Mark Lipinski's Blog

September 6 - Heather @ Heather Kojan Quilts  (you are here!)

September 7 - Heather @ Trends and Traditions  

September 7 - Martha @ Wagons West Designs  

September 8 - Linda @ Linda Lum DeBono 

September 9 - Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts 

September 10 - Jill @ Jillily Studios  

September 10 - Dana @ My Lazy Daisy  

September 11 - Penny @ Sew Simple Designs  

September 12 - Ida @ Cowtown Quilts 

September 13 - Liz and Beth @ Lizzie B Cre8ive  

September 14 - Melissa @ Sew Bitter Sweet Designs

September 15 - Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl    

September 16 - Amy @ Kati Cupcake 

September 16 - Barbara @ QuiltSoup2 

September 17 - Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting 

September 18 - Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure 

September 19 - Margot @ The Pattern Basket  

September 20 - Sylvia @ Flying Parrot Quilts   

September 21 - Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts  

September 22 - Kim @ Aurifil Threads  

September 23 - Rebekah @ Don't Call Me Becky   

September 24 - Julie @ The Crafty Quilter 

September 25 - Mary Ellen @ Little Quilts  

September 25 - Mary Jane @ Holly Hill Designs 

September 26 - Daisy @ Ants to Sugar

September 27 - Melissa @ Happy Quilting

September 28 - Janet @ One S1ster

September 29 - Jenny @ Martingale& Co.

September 30 - Teresa @ Third Floor Quilts

Happy Birthday Jaftex!

There's a blog hop going on that you really should know about:

Prizes, giveaways, prizes, and, did I say prizes?

You can win a Janome Sewing Machine, fabric and a whole lot more.

Here's where you can enter to win:

85th Anniversary Giveaway

And here's the roster of bloggers on this amazing trip (and by the way, be sure to come back to my blog on September 6th where I'll have a luscious fat quarter bundle to give away!)

September 1 - Kim Diehl guest posting @ American Patchwork & Quilting

September 2 - Pepper @ Pepper at the Quilt Studio 

September 3 - Anjeanette @ Anjeanette Klinder 

September 4 - Leanne @ The Whole Country Caboodle   

September 5 - Mark @ Mark Lipinski's Blog

September 6 - Heather @ Heather Kojan Quilts  Hey! That's me!!!

September 7 - Heather @ Trends and Traditions  

September 7 - Martha @ Wagons West Designs  

September 8 - Linda @ Linda Lum DeBono 

September 9 - Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts 

September 10 - Jill @ Jillily Studios  

September 10 - Dana @ My Lazy Daisy  

September 11 - Penny @ Sew Simple Designs  

September 12 - Ida @ Cowtown Quilts 

September 13 - Liz and Beth @ Lizzie B Cre8ive  

September 14 - Melissa @ Sew Bitter Sweet Designs

September 15 - Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl    

September 16 - Amy @ Kati Cupcake 

September 16 - Barbara @ QuiltSoup2 

September 17 - Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting 

September 18 - Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure 

September 19 - Margot @ The Pattern Basket  

September 20 - Sylvia @ Flying Parrot Quilts   

September 21 - Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts  

September 22 - Kim @ Aurifil Threads  

September 23 - Rebekah @ Don't Call Me Becky   

September 24 - Julie @ The Crafty Quilter 

September 25 - Mary Ellen @ Little Quilts  

September 25 - Mary Jane @ Holly Hill Designs 

September 26 - Daisy @ Ants to Sugar

September 27 - Melissa @ Happy Quilting

September 28 - Janet @ One S1ster

September 29 - Jenny @ Martingale& Co.

September 30 - Teresa @ Third Floor Quilts

  

The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters Blog Hop - part deux- and a Giveaway!!

It was December of 2013 when I first heard of Sherri Lynn Wood. A guild member had suggested her as a speaker. Curious, I popped over to her blog to check her out. I hadn't done a lot of improv quilting up to this point (that was about to change!) and was intrigued by her quilts. It just so happened she was putting a call out to quilters to test some ideas she had for her upcoming book The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters. 

I'm a hand raiser. I said yes. A week later I was given my assignment.

I was to test her Bias Petals  score. Sherri gave us some general guidelines and links to helpful videos. Then it was up to us to create.

From the beginning, I knew I would improv piece the centers of my petals. 

From there, I figured I'd arrange them in a flower shape and call it a day. 

Eh, it's okay. Not great. I took the shapes to my design wall. There they were, all lined up like little kayaks. Or surfboards. 

This felt right. 

I'd love to say that the rest was smooth sailing (see what I did there?) But it wasn't. How to fit an oval peg into a rectangular hole, or something like that. I struggled for a while. Tried some things, ripped them out. Then I quit. ("I don't have time for this. I don't owe her anything. She doesn't know me. She'll have plenty of other testers.)

And after I talked myself off the ledge, I figured it out. 

But really, it wasn't until I got to the point of squaring up the rectangles, that I felt comfortable again. That's what improv (and this book) will do to you. Push you out of your comfort zone, make you try new things, make you make things you don't like, until you get to the other side and realize you love what you made.

Here's my quilt: Surf

I took a picture. Sent it off. Hoped for the best.

And a few months later got this email from Sherri Lynn: 

Thank you for submitting your quilt, "Surf". We love it and would like to publish it in the Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters. There were 164 amazing submissions and 22 were chosen for publication. Congratulations! 

And there you have it!

Here's my page in the book ( I'm neighbors with the awesome Sarah Fielke I might add!)

About that giveaway.....would you like to win a copy of the book?

Just leave a comment about improv piecing. Love it, hate it, never tried it, etc. For an extra chance, follow me on instagram, then come back and let me know.  A winner will be chosen July 13th. Please make sure I have a way to reach you by email.

Please visit these other quilters included in the blog hop:

July 1: The Quilting Edge by Marianne Haak with giveaway!

July 3: Andrew Steinbrecher

July 6: Heather Kojan Quilts with giveaway! (you are here!)

July 8: Fiber Antics by Veronica

Date TBD: Latifah Saafir Studios

July 16: Marion’s Journal

Thanks for visiting and good luck!