It’s time for a birthday celebration, even though it’s not technically my birthday. Although my daughter did make me this lovely cake when it was my birthday last month.
My favorite cake – German Chocolate with Coconut icing. The strawberries were a nice touch.
Happy Book-Birthday!
What I’m excited to celebrate is that it’s my first book’s first birthday, this Thursday, September 8th! (The fact that I published another one less than 9 months later makes them almost like twins right??)
But anyway… I can’t believe it was just a year ago that I released Machine Quilting with Style, with the help of my friends at Martingale/That Patchwork Place. Now, some might call this an “anniversary” celebration, but writing a book really did take as much time and effort as having a child, so I think “birthday” is an appropriate word. 🙂 And what a fabulous year it has been!
Click the image above to see each of the quilts in the book, plus an alternate version.
I have to thank so many loyal friends and followers for helping this book be so successful! It really does mean a lot to me when you guys cheer me on. 🙂 In the last year, I’ve met so many fabulous people, while Machine Quilting with Style has reached some milestones, too.
It’s consistently stayed in the top 100 for patchwork books on Amazon, and it’s been one of my publisher’s Top 20 bestsellers. Seven of the quilts have been in local and national quilt shows, and three have won ribbons. All of this furthers my goal of reaching a wider audience and helping people understand that it’s okay to make “perfectly imperfect” quilts!
Quilts ON Display from Machine Quilting with Style:
In order above: Facets won 2nd at AQS Paducah, Candy Pop and String of Pearls won ribbons at my local show, Rain and Focal point hung at QuiltCon, Lightning and Square in a Square were juried into Road to California. The rest are: Little Man’s Fancy, Static, Ripples, Color Crystals, and Broken V.
If you haven’t yet seen the book, take a look at this awesome video review from the folks at Chatterbox Quilts. Honestly, it made me tear up a little. I mean, you love what you create, but when other people do, too, it can be quite a humbling experience!
Let’s Celebrate!
To celebrate this huge milestone, I thought it would be fun to re-color each of the quilts in EQ7 (the software I originally used to design the quilts), and then showcase them side by side along with the original quilt so you can compare the two. I’ll share one new colorway each week, starting this Thursday. After all, sometimes a quilt can look completely different just by changing up the fabrics.
And of course, no birthday celebration would be complete without gifts! So along with helping you imagine what the designs would look like in different fabrics, I’ll be hosting 12 weeks of giveaways, one for each quilt. Won’t that be fun??
I love all of the detailed photography in the book, shot by the talented Brent Kane for Martingale.
Sharing is Caring
As I re-share the quilts each week, I hope you’ll also share your versions of them in my Facebook Group: Quilt with Christa. This will provide loads of inspiration for those just starting out on their quilt-making journey. Many times, I end up liking my friends’ versions even better than the originals!
Click the image above to join my facebook group and share your quilts, finished or not!
Where to Buy
So I’ll meet you back here on Thursday to get this party started!! In the meantime, you can purchase Machine Quilting with Style from your favorite local quilt shop, or these locations:
Signed Copy from Me
Amazon (lowest price)
Martingale/That Patchwork Place (free e-copy with purchase)
The very first copy I received is the most special because it was signed by all those who helped produce this book. It really does take a village to write a book!
Christa Quilts 
Love the quilting in Feathered Chevrons.
Christa, you are an inspiration to all beginner free motion quilters.
Thank you.
Love the quilting in Feathered Chevrons.
Christa, you are an inspiration to all of the beginner free motion quilters.
Thank you.
I just bought the kindle version! Thanks for this great blog.
This is such a fun idea! I look forward to seeing some EQ7 alternate colorways of all the quilts. Happy Birthday!
I just bought the book today at Sew Yeah! What a coincidence! Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Book Birthday. It really is a great book, and you are so encouraging of newer quilters in it. Thank you.
Congratulations, I was just reading a borrowed copy of your book, very helpful and well I just need my own copy. You have helped me take on the challenge of quilting on my home machine.
Congratulations Christa! This book and your encouragement have helped me so much in my journey as a new quilter. Can’t wait to see the recolorings!!
What a fun celebration! I still have quilts to conquer from both of your books. 😉
happy birthday. what a yummy looking cake
Thanks! It was delicious!
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa
Congratulations Christa! Your an inspiration to so many…keep up the incredible work.
Congratulations on your book-birthday. Somehow I missed the release (I was working on my own book – gee, I wonder why I missed so many things during that time period . . . ) Enjoy your blog and your teaching methods – thank you!!!
My birthday is September 8 and I have a Gammill. Guess I better order my birthday twin book! Kim
Sent from Kim’s iPad
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I loved looking at all the quilts from this book-just beautiful! I’m so excited to see new color ways too!!
Thank you! It’s fun to make virtual quilts as it is to make them for real 🙂
Christa Watson Instagram @christaquilts website/blog: ChristaQuilts.com Click here to join my facebook group: Quilt with Christa