Reminder of Give Away!!

Just wanted to remind you 

that today is the last day 

to place your name in the 

Give Away

for an

e-book copy of

Sew A Modern Home  !

Make sure to go over to my post on Monday 8/18

HERE

and leave a comment by midnight tonight.

Winner will be drawn tomorrow.

Sew A Modern Home Give Away!

 I have had the pleasure of working with quilt designer

Melissa Lunden

this last year on a few projects.

 I'm especially excited for her

as she has just released her first book!

 SEW a MODERN HOME

Quilts and More for Every Room

"Designer Melissa Lunden presents 19 contemporary patterns 

for sewing and quilting to refresh living rooms, 

bedrooms, dining rooms, and nurseries. 

With beginner-friendly instructions and a range of techniques, 

this collection is ideal for all skill levels."

 *Photos by Martingale/ Brent Kane

So many fun projects to choose from!

I love her clean line designs.

These projects look quite doable.

" Create pillows, place mats, napkins, 

a crib sheet and accessories, plushies, a play mat, and much more."

 Good News !

Martingale has generously allowed me to provide a 

Free e-Copy of 

Sew A Modern Home 

as a 

Give Away  !!

Leave me a comment of why you would like a copy of this book

by Friday August 22nd

and your name will be entered in a drawing  !

A winner will be announced on Saturday 8/23

 There are several opportunities to win
Sew A Modern Home  !
Make sure to visit other blogs
hosting the same contest.

Melissa Lunden is a lifelong lover of all things crafty.

 Her passion for sewing and fabric led to her starting her own sewing-pattern company,

 Lunden Designs.

 Her work has been featured in multiple magazines and at International Quilt Market. 

She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and daughter.

Those Mesa Ladies/ January

 My favorite day of the month

a day to sew

with those wonderful

Mesa Ladies

Several in the group

were making projects from

Lori Holt's book

Quilty Fun

 Such a great book

that can be found 

HERE

 I know Lori would be pleased to see so many in our

group sewing her designs :)

 Christine is new to our group.

She brought the cutest little bag

that held her sewing supplies.
*Pattern: Sew Together Bag
by SewDemented
can be purchased on Craftsy
HERE

 The side handles are made from the zipper.

 And the inside was full of several little pockets

that helped organize her notions.

 It was Julie's month to provide lunch

and she put on the most beautiful

and delicious meal

 of chicken tortilla soup and avocado salad.

These ladies really spoil us!

 Stephanie brought her home made salsa

 And Peg, the dessert wizard,

created a new cookie recipe

that was probably the best cookie I have ever tasted.

Julie gave each one of us a Valentine,

and candy hearts.

I don't think I've received these in years,

and her gift brought back many childhood memories.

A day where we all felt very loved :)

Sharon Schamber Workshop

 On Saturday I attended a Workshop

provided by our Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild

taught by 

Award Winning Quilter

Sharon Schamber 

and her daughter Christy Fincher

I learned to make a

New York Beauty block

using Sharons' 

Piec-lique technique.

Have you ever tried this technique?

It's a little bit like paper piecing

except you use a glue method 

rather than sewing on paper.

 The class was full, and it was so nice to have 

both Christy and Sharon moving between stations

to help us individually.

 We all worked away 

 Piec by Piec

 I always love these kind of workshops

where you see the same block

come alive in various fabrics.

 My favorite block was Danni's.

Sharon showed us a method where 

you can also add another insert

in the arched sections.

 My block

I still have some sections to sew together.

Of course, I had to use (Kaffe) Triangles 

for my back ground fabric :)

 The Piec-lique method is quite popular with many quilters.

Bari Ackerman (Bari J.)

is a member of our guild 

and was in the midst of making a Double Wedding Ring

using Sharon's technique.

 Piec-lique

can be found on 

Amazon.com

HERE

Sharon brought a few of her quilts

from the book.

Showing her amazing quilting

that she does on a domestic machine.

I learned so much from this class

and am so happy I had the opportunity 

to learn from one of the best

in the Industry.

Free Modern Quilt Patterns

 McCalls has published a 

FREE

Modern Quilt Patterns

e-book

with 

3 Quick Quilts.

Yes, you read that right!

This e-book is free

and can be downloaded 

HERE

I like Editor-In-Chief Beth Hayes

description of Modern Quilts:

"Notable for minimalist aesthetic, 

use of bright bold colors,

and large doses of white and other neutral colors,

asymmetrical designs, and 

free form piecing."

The 3 patterns from the book are

quick to make

and on a beginner to

confident beginner level.

 Pattern #1

Baubles and Beads

 Pattern #2

Rainbow Rhythm

Pattern #3

Lemon Squeezy

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

 Recently, Dutton Publishing

contacted me again

and asked if I would like to review the latest

Jennifer Chiaverini book.

I've always enjoyed her Elm Creek Quilt Series,

and my interest was piqued 

when I read this would be her first 

stand alone Historical novel.

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker 

follows the true life story of 

Elizabeth Keckley, former slave

who becomes Mrs. Lincoln's 

personal modiste

friend, and companion.

 Surrounded by all of the attention coming forth lately 

with the movie Lincoln,

Jennifer Chiaverini's writings prove good timing.

Jennifer's inspiration came from the 1868 memoir

written by Elizabeth Keckley 

Four Years In The White House.

After learning about the Civil War

for most of my life from a man's perspective,

I greatly enjoyed gathering a view

of what it was like for the women of the era, 

especially from the stand point of a former slave.

So much has been written on Mrs. Lincoln's personality.

Here we have the details from one

who was there during the most crucial years.

Mrs. Chiaverini wrote

"As a friend and confidante who observed Mary Lincoln closely in moments of triumph as well as tragedy, Elizabeth Keckley knew her as a real woman, full of flaws and virtues and surprises like any other.  It was this far more nuanced woman that Elizabeth Keckley depicted in the pages of her memoir, and since Elizabeth Keckley is my narrator, I shaped the character of Mary Lincoln according to her perceptions."

Oh, the insight and ability of a woman with a needle and thread!

A good read!

You can find 

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

HERE

at Amazon.com

Autographed Books, CD's and DVD's by Jane Seymour

 Looking for a last minute

Christmas present?

When I went into work yesterday,

at the

Chandler Deseret Book

I noticed we had a table full of

autographed books

CD's

and DVD's

all signed by Jane Seymour!

If you would like an autographed copy,

Deseret Book

is happy to mail your

order to you!

 The book

Good King Wenceslas

(includes DVD)

reg 21.99

on sale for $14.49

Complete with sticker showing it's an autographed copy.

 The DVD

Once Upon A Christmas

Reg. 24.98

On Sale $12.99!
* Blue Ray $14.99

 

 The CD is also available

Reg. 18.98

On Sale $9.99!

 All orders come with a free

Advent Calendar

Estimated shipping costs in the United States:

One book= $8

Two books =$10

with

Standard Overnight available too.

Orders can be taken over the phone

1-480-899-5469

Jane Seymour Book Signing

Last night was quite exciting

at the store where I work!

Jane Seymour

came for a

Book Signing

at

Deseret Book

in

Chandler, Arizona

We have prepared for weeks

for this big event.



 I was somewhat curious to see what she would be

like in real life.

A well known Hollywood Celebrity

coming with her entourage

including police supervision by her side.

The first words that came into my mind were

friendly

stunningly beautiful (!)

gracious

and

most accommodating.

 She came quite prepared to meet and greet

the many fans

who came with

multiple

books, pictures and posters to be signed.

Most brought camera's

to have their picture taken.

Miss Seymour

very graciously visited

with each person,

taking the time

for individual attention.

 

 We had long lines throughout the store.

 As customers waited in line,

we had TV screens set up throughout the store,

showing her reading of

Good King Wenceslas

with

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

 Another word that first came to mind

when I met her

was

 tiny

I think she must be about a size  -0

She is now 61 years old

and even more beautiful in person

than her pictures

(if that is possible)

I brought my camera, too

and at the end of the evening, we took a few pictures with our staff.

Shown above is my very nice boss

Craig Linford

Manager of the Chandler Deseret Book

and his sweet wife Tina.



In between helping customers,

a quick picture with me, too.

I've been a big fan of Jane Seymour

for years, and always considered her

the most beautiful actress

I've ever seen.

After meeting her,

my admiration

has doubled.