Vertical Quilting Curve

I have come to the decision to leave Vertical Quilting Curve as its writer. This was a very hard decision to make. It took me nearly a month to decide on this course of action because I really do love taking part in it. But, life happens. If I wasn’t working full-time and trying to accomplish so much at once, well, then maybe I could give this blog the deserved attention it needs.

If you are interested in maybe writing for this blog or others please visit the Write For Us page to express your interest. I wish you the best of luck. Thank you for stopping by and checking out the many articles I have written while I’ve been here.

Welcome to a new series - Unfinished Object (UFO) of the Month! Truthfully, I have so many of these I could probably do a weekly series but I’m trying to encourage myself to actually work on these projects.

The first project I’m sharing is a New York Beauty pattern that I started in a class by Karen Stone. During the class I finished this one block you see in the class. I have always had grand plans for this paper-pieced pattern. I thought it would be great to be a contemporary work of art on my wall. It is one of my favorite designs with the curves and geometric angles. I also love the colors I picked out: greens, reds, blues and a little purple.

Question for you: What are your favorite colors for a quilt? I’ve found mine do not always match my decor but rather what mood I’m in.

New York Beauty, quilts, Karen Stone, quilting

Congratulations to IamSusie! You’ve won my copy of The Runaway Quilt in my first ever giveaway.

I know you are going to enjoy this book and I will be in contact with you soon.

BTW, IamSusie has a great little blog about crafts, family and collections. She loves Japanese craft books and has several items made from them shown on her blog. She does embroidery and quilting as well.

P.S. Okay, you all, I only had one comment, so giving away my book was very easy for me this time. I will be going through my quilt books soon and finding something there to give away. I want you to make it harder on me so that I actually have to find a great random way to choose a winner. BUT, if I only have one comment I will always give it away, no matter what.

quilting, contest, book giveaway

The Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana is accepting submissions for its quilt art show. Deadline is October 20, 2007. The accepted entries will be shown January 12 through March 8. There will be $1000 for best in show as well as other awards. The prospectus is available in PDF format.

This would be an excellent challenge for yourself. The great thing is that there is not a minimum size for entry so it would be a nice opportunity to use some of your quilting or multimedia talents in an art quilt. If you create something, let me know and I will link to your blog entry or if you don’t have a blog send me a photo and I will post it.

Good luck to everyone who will enter and have fun!

quilting, quilt art, quilt contest, quilt show, Carnegie Center for Art and History, New Albany IN

Although I love having my books and I own more than I will ever use and there are many I will not part with, I thought it would be nice to pass some on. Therefore I am starting the Pass It On series for the blog. Once a month I will find something (or even a group of something) to pass on and share with my readers. I also encourage you to pass it on once you are through or maybe find something else you’ve had for awhile to pass on.

My first giveaway is the 4th book in the Elm Creek Quilters series by Jennifer Chiaverini, The Runaway Quilt. I’ve had this book sitting on my bookshelf for awhile and finally picked it up to read while my husband was in the hospital last week. I’ve only read the 1st book, The Quilter’s Apprentice, before this. Of course now I want to read all of them including the 10th one that will be out in November.

Although The Runaway Quilt has some reflections from the books preceding it, it stands alone in its storyline. The story centers around a journal and the quilts found with it from the ancestors of Elm Creek Farm unwinding a tale of suspense and hidden family secrets. It is based on the possible use of quilts as signals in the Underground Railroad. It also explores the role and strength of women during the era and the moral rights of all.

To win this copy all you need to do is leave a comment below and I will select a random winner. I would love to hear if you have read any of the other books or if you already practice the concept of Pass It On but you can say anything you want about yourself or quilting or to just say hi. You can leave a comment between now and August 28th. I will announce the winner by that Friday the 31st. Sorry but the contest will only be open to shipping addresses in the U.S.

Thanks for stopping by.

quilting, quilt fiction, quilts, Jennifer Chiaverini, Elm Creek Quilts

Photo by Tracy Olson

It’s the new reader comment contest for all 451 Press blog readers. All you have to do is leave a comment on any 451 Press blog in August. To start off you can fill in the blank below. Just do a little dreaming about those few extra dollars that might come your way. My twist for you here reading the quilting blog would be make it quilt related. For example, I might say, “If I had $300 dollars I would buy the new needlepunch embellishment machine.” I could think of a few other things as well. Also, check out the other hobby/craft blogs and leave comments there.

If I had $300 dollars I would buy________.

What would you buy with $300? Or even $200 or $100? Now is your chance to find out! Comment on any 451 Press site during the month of August and you could win! Three comments will be chosen at random to win a cash prize of $300, $200 or $100. The more you comment the more chances you have to win. So start reading and let those fingers fly.

I’m so excited! Today I will be at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show in Chicago. I’ll get to see some of the new products that will be in stores soon. I’ll let you know if I see anything quilt related.

Craft and Hobby Association

Welcome to my new series: Quilting for a Cause. This series is going to explore how quilters open their hearts and talents to support a cause. It will also serve as a challenge for everyone out there to take up your needle and thread and help your community out.

I viewed the “Alzheimer’s: Forgetting Piece by Piece” exhibit in November 2006 at the Greater Chicago Quilt Exposition. The exhibit is part of the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative that Ami Simms started and she was there to speak about it. This is a cause that is very personal to her because her mother has Alzheimer’s. It is an emotional exhibit not to be taken lightly but Ami’s lecture is full of hope and energy. She is hoping to raise $500,000. As of her last posting on her web site the exhibit and the accompanying auction “Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts” project the initiative has raised almost $70,000.

Here’s the challenge and how you can help. You can make a small quilt to put in an auction. The quilts are small - they can be no larger than 9″ x 12″. For complete details on the rules and where to send please visit the website. You can also view the current quilts up for auction and their current bids. If you have a blog and make quilts for this cause and post them on your site I will place a link here.

If you know or have a cause supported by quilters please feel free to contact me. I don’t how often I will post this series. Right now I’m thinking of posting the cause one month and then doing a post the next month with something I’m working on for the cause.

quilting, Alzheimer’s, donations, quilt auction, Ami Simms, Alheimer’s Quilt Initiative, quilt exhibit