Color Run and Christa’s Quilt Links: Shop Hop and More

November 17, 2012March 19, 20132 Comments

This morning I ran a super fun 5K with a couple of my friends. It’s called Color Me Rad and it was basically a crazy color-soaked extravaganza. While we ran the race course, volunteers were standing by throwing bags of colored starch onto us and our white T-shirts. At the end, we looked like a tie-dyed mess! I sure love color even if it gets all over me!

Now onto some other cleaner things to share with you.

The FabShop Holiday Hop is going on now through December 15. Browse through hundreds of fun online stores, sign up for their newsletters and you could possibly win a fabric shopping spree. How cool is that?

Don’t call Me Betsy is starting a brand new quilt along kicking off on Monday, Nov 19th.

It’s an original pattern of hers called Sea of Stars.

She’s a prolific designer, teacher and blogger so it should be fun!

Thanks to one of the blogs I follow, Quilt Story, I found a new fun blog this week: Sew Sara.

Sara has an adorable Applique Letter Tutorial that she posted earlier on her blog.

You could use this technique on items like boutique clothing, baby onesies and of course, quilts!

I didn’t have quite as much time to browse through my huge list of blogs I follow so these are just a few highlights.

Remember, if there’s a cool blog or nifty technique out there that you run across, feel free to share it with me. If I’m not quilting, I love reading and dreaming about sewing fun new projects all the time!

Christa’s Quilt Links – Help for Sandy Storm Victims

November 10, 2012March 19, 20131 Comment

I wanted to focus on how we as quilters can help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Donated quilts will not solve all the problems of those who’ve been impacted, but they can help keep them warm through the cold winter and provide a warm “hug” to let them know someone cares!

The American Quilter’s Society has teamed up with Project Linus in New Jersey to collect and distribute quilts to those in need. Project Linus usually focuses on giving quilts as a hug to children who have suffered trauma due to illness or loss.

However, when disaster strikes, they are more than willing to expand their scope to reach as many people as possible. You can get the shipping address for quilt donations as well as needed quilt specifications here.

EQuilter and Timeless Treasures Fabrics have also joined forces. They have set a goal of collecting 5000 quilts to distribute to storm victims.

Timeless Treasures has generously donated warehouse space to receive the quilts. Click here for the shipping address and detailed instructions on how to donate your quilt.

The quilt at left was photographed at the Houston Quilt Festival and was made by Marianne Williamson.

The Quilting Gallery is doing their part to help by hosting a quilt block drive. They will be matching up those who want to sew blocks with those who would be willing to assemble the completed quilts. You can register here to participate. There is even a free tutorial on how to make scrappy wonky log cabin blocks for this heroic project.

I know my local guild plans on coordinating efforts of our members as well, so I will be sure to donate a quilt and some supplies. Please check with your local guild, too!

Christa’s Quilt Links: Time to Vote and Share

November 2, 2012March 19, 20131 Comment

In light of the storm devastation this week, Jennifer from Knotted-Thread is collecting donations of quilt blocks that she will use to make quilts that she will personally deliver to one of the affected areas in December. Please click the link above and send a block or two if you can. I’m sure there will be tons more quilters and sewists banding together to help out during this time of need.

There are lots of things to vote about this time of the year, and fortunately many of them have to do with quilts! Below are fun links to explore from my web travels this week:

The 2012 Blogger’s Quilt Festival is now underway. Nominate your favorite quilts in 15 categories through November 4. (I am sponsoring the winner for the Home Machine Quilted category). Vote for your favorite quilts in these categories November 5-8. Winners will be announced November 9. As of this writing there are over 600 entries to choose from!

Alyssa at Pile O’Fabric has lots of fun stuff going on, too. You can vote for your favorite finalist quilt in her Totally Groovy Quilt Along. This original pattern was designed by Emily Cier and was used as the basis for the QAL.

Curves not your thing? Then how about triangles? Check out Alyssa’s Triangle Wheel Quilt Block Tutorial. I’ve never seen a block like this before. She recommends using Kona Cotton Charm Squares for ease of construction.

Speaking of tutorials, I have another fun one I want to share with you courtesy of Elizabeth from Don’t Call Me Betsy.

Elizabeth is taking part in a Cathedral Windows Quilt-Along series.

She chose Summersville fabric to make a very modern version of her Cathedral Star Block.

Very cute Betsy — I mean Elizabeth!

Finally I wanted to end with this fun quilt by Jacquie Gering of Tallgrass Prairie Studio. It’s her nod to the 80’s – complete with neon fabrics, musical notes and yes, that’s a cassette tape! Remember those??

Here’s the disclaimer: I’m blogging about what interests me and I in no way receive any compensation for endorsing anything I write about. These are strictly my opinions. I’ve gotten blanket permission from individual blog owners ahead of time to share photos.