Sharing my excitement!

A few months ago when I received an email from Heather McArthur, the Editor of Quilter's Connection magazine, you could have knocked me over with a feather...and that's no easy task, I assure you!  Heather wrote to ask if she could do a feature on me in their next magazine.

Now really, Heather...did you actually think that I was going to say no?  It goes without saying that I was honored to think that they even considered l'il ole me! 

Quilter's Connection is a Canadian publication that is published quarterly in March, June, September and December.  

Although the exact one has yet to be determined, I will also be designing a project that will appear in one of the 2015 issues.

It's always a thrill to see one's name in print, excluding the obituaries, of course.  *wink*

I just had to share my excitement.

Happy stitching!

Starting Over

Sometimes...no, almost always...I drive myself crazy.  I'm the kind of gal who very happily skips two steps forward and then before I know it and much to my chagrin, I'm taking ten steps backwards.

Why?

Because I'm a perfectionist and I can't be entirely happy unless things are the way I think they ought to be.

Remember the new project I just started working on that I spoke about in my last post by Australian designer Leanne Beasley?  Well, I had just about finished stitching the first block I was working on when Marlene, a gal who reads my blog, sent me a link to her version of the same quilt that she had made back in 2012. Marlene doesn't have a blog so she sent me the link to Judi Madsen's blog at Green Fairy Quilts.

If you want to be blown away, just click HERE.

Did you have a look?  Well now you know why I had to regroup, put my first attempt aside and start all over again...not because I don't love Leanne's design because I do...otherwise I wouldn't be taking the time to make it.

But...  

there was just something about the layout and the flowers in the original design that just didn't sit right with me. As an artist, I don't mind a bit of whimsy but I also like a touch of realism. 

The night that Marlene sent me the link to her Down in the Garden quilt, all I did was dream about it.  When I woke up, I knew that I had to make some changes to the original line drawing until I was satisfied with it.  

Here's what I came up with.  

So it's gone from this...

to this...

I am sooooo much happier with this layout. 

Because I'm not a match-y kinda gal, I changed the symmetry of Leanne's original line drawing to an asymmetrical version and added different flowers, leaves and some honey bees!  I left the wording that she used in tact because those sentiments reflect how I too feel when I'm in our garden.

So what does this mean?  I now have to redraw virtually all of the remaining nine blocks so that they harmonize with my altered one.  I'm looking forward to working on them one at a time, when I need a break from stitching. 

Because the nights are getting cool now, Mr. Painted Quilt started the stove in the kitchen this morning.  I'll leave you with this photo of Frankie and Ollie having their first "by-the-stove" cuddle of the season.

Happy stitching!

New Project

I recently started a new project called "Down in the Garden", a quilt by Leanne Beasley, an Australian designer. She initially introduced it in 2010 as a ten month BOM but it is now available to purchase as a set.

Leanne's original finished quilt.

I love to combine stitching, patchwork and applique in my own designs and I fell in love with this one the moment I laid eyes on it.

My friend Julie from Australia and I are making this quilt together.  We started with different blocks and are working at our own pace.  We message back and forth, chat, share photos of our progress and offer advice and encouragement as we proceed.

I started with Block 5, the one that has the most stitching. I intentionally chose this block because it's been a while since I had a really good, long stitch-in. I'm happy I did because I'm savouring each and every stitch.

My goal is to finish this block sometime this week. Stay tuned!

Happy stitching!

Sneak Preview

Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine recently updated their Facebook cover page photo which features some of the projects that are included in the Winter 2014 issue due out next month.

Can you guess which one is mine?

Happy stitching!

Remembering...

We will NEVER forget.

And the winner is...

Thank you all for your understanding and overwhelming support with respect to the decision I made to "retire" my First Friday Freebie program.  It means a lot to me.  

After reading your comments, it would appear that some of you seem to think that I'm done here and that I'm now going to ride off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.  

No way!  

I'm not going anywhere and it will continue to be "business as usual" with both my blog and Facebook pages.  You all have become a HUGE part of my life and want you to know that and I'm in this for the long haul.  

And you just never know when I'll surprise you all with another FFF.

Now that we've straightened that out, it's time to announce the winner of my giveaway for the signature set of Valdani threads.

Sheila of Sheila's Quilt World is the lucky winner!  Sheila's been notified by email and I'm just waiting t hear back from her.

Happy stitching!

First Friday Freebie - The Final Chapter

Today will be my last "scheduled" First Friday Freebie.

I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing my 40+ free designs with you for almost 5 years now but inevitably there comes a time when all good things must come to an end.  

By now you all realize that designing is my passion and that I love to share.  I have agonized over this decision for a while now because I know there are many of you who have followed and supported me since I started this journey and I feel like I might be letting you down.  Please know that you are all very special and in turn have made me feel special as well.

To those of you who took the time to leave a comment and graciously offer your thanks and encouragement, I want you to know that your words meant so much to me and always will.  Now I am looking forward to tackling my HUGE 'to do' list while I still can in addition to the occasional magazine project thrown in to keep my creative juices flowing. 

I hope that you understand and will support my decision.

Now does this mean that I will never offer another freebie design?  Of course NOT!  It means that I will do so spontaneously when I feel the urge or when I have something that I'd like to share and not just because I feel obligated to have to live up to the schedule and time constraints that I set for myself.  

I encourage you to check back from time to time because you never know what you might find here at The Painted Quilt.  The links to my FFF designs will remain on the sidebar of my blog forever and they will always be FREE.

Soooooo, my final 'scheduled' FFF is entitled Autumn Sampler 2014.  For this particular design, I used a combination of wool, flannel and homespun cotton for the elements which are both machine and hand appliqued onto a cotton background.

The design works up quickly which will allow you plenty of time to get it done and be able to enjoy it during this Fall season.

To download the PDF file which includes the photos, instructions and line drawings, please click HERE.

And if you remember, a while back I promised that I would have a giveaway for a signature set of my Valdani threads when I reached 1000 "likes" on my Facebook page.  

Well that happened just a couple of days ago so what I'm going to do is pool the names of my Facebook friends as well as those who leave a comment at the end of this post, then draw a name on Wednesday, the 10th of September when I'll announce the winner.  The giveaway is open to everyone near and far.  

If I cannot contact you by email...in other words if you are a no-reply blogger...you will NOT be included in the draw.  An easy way to check whether you are "no-reply" is after you publish your comment, click on your name where it appears in your comment.  This will take you to your profile.  If your email address does not show up in your profile, then I have no way of contacting you. You will have to change your settings and add your email address in order to be included in the draw.  If in doubt, just leave your email address in the body of your comment.

Thanks to you all and most importantly, thanks again for your continued support.

Happy Stitching!

"Camp Wilderness"

The pattern for "Camp Wilderness"...more affectionately referred to as my 'man quilt'...is now available for purchase in my Etsy shop here.

The pattern is 27 pages in length and includes detailed instructions, illustrations, tips, full sized line drawings and 7 color, close up photos.  The finished size of the quilt is 102" x 92" which translates to a very generous queen or king.

What am I going to do with all my free time now?  Ya, right!!!

And just a reminder that this Friday, the 5th of September, is the First Friday of September when I'll be releasing my final First Friday Freebie.  I've designed something with an Autumn theme which I think you're going to like.  Oh, and I also have a little giveaway planned.

So enjoy the rest of the week and we'll see you on Friday!

Happy stitching!