Honeycomb Waffle, Too top finished and last day to enter the giveaway!

My original plan for the Honeycomb Waffle Too quilt was to use this gorgeous Stonehenge gray as fill in for the half blocks and triangles on the edges of the quilt. I think the dark edge helps bring out the depth of the other colors and the 3-D pattern. It's fun to play with layouts while a quilt is on the design wall, so I tried it with half blocks on the fill in spaces on the edges. I like it but still like a dark edge better. 

I wondered how it would look to make pieced half blocks using three grays. So I used the Stonehenge gray and two others to make some sections to try it out. I really liked this as it gives the depth I want plus adds the fun of the half blocks. 

I finished sewing the top together Tuesday. The pattern didn't call for a border, but I added a  border using the Stonehenge to finish it off. I think it evens out the grays on the edges. I want to start working on the quilting today. I bought a mottled blue print for the backing...it's all ready to load!

Sometimes when I look at the pictures of this quilt, my eyes see the center squares inverted, but when I look again or move my eyes over the whole top, it goes away. Has this happened to you as you've read this post? Just curious!

 I thought it would be fun to see what it looks like upside down and it's interesting this way too! 

Upside down, in case your eyes weren't already mixed up!

Today is the last day to enter the Miss Tess celebration giveaway. Just go here and enter before midnight tonight. Please add your email to your comment if you are a no reply blogger or if you are not sure. I won't be able to contact you if you win without an email.

Do you wait by the mailbox?

I was so excited last week to find out that I was the winner in Terri at QuiltNCards giveaway! She said she was giving away some fat quarters of batiks but I was really surprised when I received them to see how many there were! Fourteen fat quarters and some chocolate too!  Aren't they gorgeous? There is even one that looks like giraffe skin? I am working on a new version of Which Way is Up? out of batiks, so I will be cutting some of them up very soon. My assistant checked it out the minute I laid it all out to get a picture. She loves fabric and quilting!

Thanks Terri for the luscious fabrics and chocolate!

Still celebrating and another giveaway!

Most of you know that I teach quilt making classes at two local shops. One of my favorite classes is the Circle and Spin quilt. I've taught it many times and made several different versions.  It's fun to teach because quilters who are afraid to try circular patterns are always excited about the fact that they can make them using this technique. I love the abstract, but circular design of the finished quilt.

I am still celebrating the publication of Fade to Pink in McCalls Quick Quilts magazine today with another giveaway....visit my patterns on Craftsy and tell me which one you would like to win in the comments below. I don't have Circle and Spin quilt pattern listed on Craftsy at this time, but I will add it to today's giveaway as well. So enter below using Rafflecopter for your chance to win two great patterns! If you are a no comment blogger, please add your email address to the comment so I can contact you if you win.

The giveaway for the 2 McCalls Quick Quilts magazines or a $40 gift card to Fat Quarter Shop is still open until Friday, but you have to go to the original post to enter that drawing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I will choose all giveaway winners on Saturday, July 5.

Today I'm meeting with the final member of the last Beginning Quilting class. She was going out of town and couldn't come to the finishing classes so will be learning how to tie and bind her quilt.

Fade to Pink in McCalls Quick Quilts magazine and a giveaway!

Fade to Pink 

I am excited to share some news...my quilt, Fade to Pink is in the newest edition of McCalls Quick Quilts magazine! 

 I'm not sure how many people take pictures of their quilts coming home from a journey (possibly really silly?), but it's almost as exciting getting it back as it was to send it. Especially since I knew there would be advance copies in the box with the quilt! They even sent me a couple of magazines to share...more about that in a minute.

 The cover is so summery and pretty!

Now for a sneak peek into the magazine. I have always loved quilt magazines...where else can you get 10 - 12 project patterns for $6? The inspiration alone is worth that much!

This quilt is becoming well traveled...it was accepted into the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge at the Des Moines show last year. Since Des Moines is fairly close, I was able to go and see it there with friends.

Here are some closeups of the quilt as I took it off the quilting machine. I used the Leafage panto by Keryn Emmerson to quilt an all over pattern. I like the way this panto interlocks from row to row. 

Because I'm so excited about this publication, I'm hosting several giveaways over the next week!  McCalls Magazine generously gave me two copies of the magazine to give to two lucky quilters! You will love this issue, believe me!

Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop gave me a $40 gift certificate to give to one lucky quilter!Who wouldn't want to win that! If you haven't been to visit Fat Quarter Shop lately, now is your chance to see all of the gorgeous fabrics they have. It's fun to shop at your leisure from the convenience of your home. 

Enter NOW! and stay tuned for more next week! Just a reminder: if you come up as noreply comment, I won't be able to contact you if you win. Please put your email address in the comment!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yummy fabric? try this giveaway on for size!

Moda Chantilly

 As you know, I've been celebrating all week because my design, Twist and Shout, is in the new issue of McCalls Quick Quilts magazine. You can't celebrate a quilting milestone without celebrating fabric. That is a really important part of quilting..looking at fabric, touching fabric, buying just the right fabric. I sometimes wonder what comes first...the fabric or the quilt?

These are just some of the pretty fabrics in the Moda Chantilly charm pack!

Do you see fabric and try to figure out what you could make with it or do you find a pattern and then try to find fabric that will be perfect for it?

For me it's a little bit of both. I love designing and making quilts and other projects with fabrics. Sometimes I find fabric I have to have...and try to decide what I could make with it.  Sometimes I'm collecting fabrics for a project that I know I will be making (it's a good reason to collect, right?) and need more versatility.

 I went shopping at Cut Up and Quilt for a charm pack to giveaway this week and found Moda Chantilly. I love the range of color...the prints were unique too. I decided if I wanted it, someone else would too!

This one has to be my favorite, though there are many awesome prints and I loved them all!

While I was at Cut Up and Quilt, I saw the kits they made up for Twist and Shout. Right now they have a limited number of kits made up using the fabrics I used...they look so pretty all stacked up and tied in a bow! If you are interested in a kit, contact them at the shop!

So what do you think? Are we quilting because we love fabric or are we buying fabric because we love making beautiful things? Leave a comment answering this question on this post for a chance to win this gorgeous Chantilly charm pack!

You can still leave a comment on the previous posts to win one of my patterns, or a copy of the magazine. Just click on the links. All giveaways are open through Sunday, March 9. Thanks for helping me celebrate!  

A beautiful finish and another giveaway!

When I was teaching the Circle and Spin class at CUAQ last Saturday, Anne brought her finished Fly Away Home sampler out for me to admire. She did an awesome job...the colors are perfect! It's so much fun to see the finished quilts from my classes!

Do you put labels on your quilts? I think it's important, but don't always get it done. I took this picture when I was getting the quilt ready for shipping to McCalls. Since it was going on a trip, I wanted to make sure it had a label!

Giveaway, did I say giveaway? McCalls has generously offered to send five of my readers a copy of the April/May issue of McCall's Quick Quilts magazine that features my Twist and Shout quilt. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below...it's that simple.

You can still enter to win one of my patterns by liking me on Facebook, choosing which pattern you want if you  win and commenting here. Both giveaways are open until Sunday, March 9. Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends!

It's a giveaway!

Have I mentioned that I'm so excited about being published in a national quilt magazine that I'm hosting several giveaways this week?  Well I am! Many of you know that I teach quilting classes and that I design many of the quilts I teach, so I thought it would be fun to give away one of my other patterns. 

This is the popular Circle and Spin quilt...make circles without headaches or fear! It is one of my favorites because the blocks are quickly put together and you can use a variety of fabrics. I love it made with batiks, but have also used asian fabrics. I have taught it numerous times, most recently last weekend,  and  have made several, including one for each of my three daughters.

 Starflower Cascade is a newer design that I made last summer to enter in a contest. I really love the ombre effect this quilt has and think it would be so pretty made out of bright colors for a kid's quilt.

I have several for sale on Craftsy. Just visit my Craftsy store for more views of each one and see which one you like!

 Miss Tess  is my newest design and is fun and easy to make! It's a great design to use up fat quarters you've been collecting!

 Which Way is Up is a fun quilt with geese flying in different directions. Another great scrap quilt.

 Peas in a Pod  is easy enough for a beginner, in fact I have been teaching a version of it to beginners the past few weeks.

Tangled in the Kite Strings is stringpiecing at its best.

Twisterweave was a mystery quilt originally too...It's hard to tell where one block ends and the next begins in this one!

To enter, all you have to do is follow me here or like me on my Quiltinjeanie Designs Facebook page and leave a comment after this post telling me which pattern you want if you win! It's that easy. I will pick a winner on Sunday, March 9. Feel free to share this giveaway with your friends!

Opening day for Cut Up and Quilt!

 It was an exciting day in Council Bluffs, IA yesterday, as we welcomed a new quilt shop to town! Two friends of mine, Becky Ingraham and Kim Scott opened the doors of Cut Up and Quilt!

I wasn't there for the opening of the doors, but I heard there was a crowd of excited ladies there to greet them! In fact, they might have stormed the place!

 There is plenty of room to shop!

 Lots of holiday fabrics and the quilted models to inspire!

 They have the shop decorated in such a cute way, with kits made up for most of the models shown.

 The atmosphere here is friendly and warm. I saw it before they started and it is just amazing what they have done!

 Notions and pattern wall...lots of cute patterns to choose from.

They have many extra wide backing fabrics in a range of colors. Most that I looked at were 108" wide at a very reasonable price. You can see their magnificent computerized quilting machine through the window. It is a beauty and they will begin taking customer quilts next month to work their magic on.

 Of course I had to check out the classroom, where I will be teaching a few classes. They have a large ironing area, as well as design walls.

 My favorite corner....the batiks. They have lots of these, you can tell that Kim is a batik fan!

 I could get lost in those batiks for sure.

 They have the pattern for that cute playhouse that sits on a square folding table! So cute!

 I even loved their bags! They are recyclable and could double as a lunch bag. What's in there, you ask?

Gorgeous! They will be hosting their Grand Opening on Sept. 15. I will be on hand doing a demo using the Flying Geese x 4 ruler, which is my newest favorite ruler. I am not a ruler hound, buying up every ruler in sight, but this one is definitely a winner. I find most people do not love flying geese, and this ruler makes it easier to make them in many sizes.

Eventually they will have an online store as well, but first things first...getting that shop open so we can shop! If you are on Facebook, follow them there for the latest!

I finished another block for the new sampler yesterday, and hope to get the final block done today. More on that tomorrow!

The Blog Party Hop giveaway is still open. I will draw a winner Monday night.  I will ship anywhere, so become a follower and leave a comment on the original post. If I hit 200 followers, I am going to have another giveaway next week. Follow the link in my sidebar to check out more of the Blog Party Hop participants!