ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

KNOTTY GIRLS SHARE THEIR QUILTS

2012-01-31T21:13:00.000-05:00

Those Knotty Girls met recently at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and my goodness, did they have a lot to share. Judi showed us this beautiful Twister quilt. She said she enjoyed making this quilt; that it was like watching magic happen. Who would have thought you could make such a beautiful quilt while using up your scraps! I love the way she added the little twisters to the border.

Cindy made this chenille quilt and it is awesome with its soft thick fabric and raised pile. It is heavy and will be so nice to snuggle under during our long Michigan winters.

This bag is also by Cindy. Aren’t those fabrics luscious!

Sherri made this quilt. She started it as a BOM in 2001. It is hand and machine quilted.

Sherri also showed us this beautiful stained glass quilt. Wow, the work involved in that!

Barb showed us her most recent finish. She started this quilt in 2006 as a BOM at the Attic Window. Isn’t it cute!

Syverkstan has the cutest BOM called Crazy Dogs.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

BARB'S NEW TWILLING BOOK IS ON SALE NOW

2012-01-30T14:07:00.000-05:00

Barb David has been teaching Twilling for a number of years at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. Over the years people have urged her to put together a book with instructions and patterns for using the twilling stitch. Finally, Barb has had the book published and it is now up for sale on her new website. The book contains twelve full-sized patterns and instructions for making the twilling stitch. Each pattern has a picture that shows how it is stitched. There are also colored photos of completed quilts her students have done over the years. This is a must have book. Go over to Barb’s new website and check it out here. You’ll be glad you did!

The book has instructions for the beautiful snowflake quilt that I blogged about here. The above picture is of one of the blocks that Barb’s Twilling Club will be working on this year. You can see another example of her work at the bottom of this blog site. I find twilling to be relaxing and great for carry-it-with-you handwork. You will be glad you learned this stitch. Stop over and tell Barb hi and welcome her to blog world (and buy her book).

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

MODERN MONDAY BLOCK QUILT ALONG

2012-01-30T02:17:00.002-05:00

It’s time for the Modern Monday Block Quilt Along. This is the 18^th block. I have to giggle when I look at this and compare it to Lynn’s block or to the sample Jennifer had on her blog. For some reason I’m never able to follow directions…exactly. Oh, well, it’s my block and I’m sticking to it. ;o)

Check out Lynn’s block and then go to Jennifer’s blog and see what block we are supposed to do for this week.

Here are two things of interest for you. (1) My Patchwork Life has a tutorial for the cutest bookmark. Great way to use up those scraps. (2) Did you know this about dryer balls? The Pickled Herring has an interesting article and tutorial.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

IF YOU ARE AN LARs, THIS POST IS FOR YOU

2012-01-27T20:37:00.001-05:00

Calling all Local Area Residents (LARs). If you like anything at all about quilting, you are going to love the Heart of Winter Bus Tour. This trip on Saturday, February 11^th is for YOU. There are many reasons to participate in this tour, the above snowman being just one of them. You will get a Free pattern, each of a different season, when you visit each shop on the tour. The above Snowman is the FREE pattern from the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

Let me tell you about the trip:

Participants should arrive at the Attic Window Quilt Shop between 7:30 and 7:55 a.m. on Saturday. Why not come early? Chris said she will have warm coffee and goodies for you if you haven’t had time for breakfast. The bus leaves the shop at 8:00 a.m. sharp.

First stop is Portland where you will visit the Around the Block Quilt Shop. This shop provides a rich selection of colorful fabric, books and patterns to inspire your creativity. You will have an hour and a half to shop and enjoy looking at all the beautiful samples in the shop.

Next, the bus will take you to Quilts Plus in Kalamazoo where you will get an hour and a half to shop. You will find many quilts on display plus thousands of bolts of 100% cotton fabric, quilting books, patterns and supplies. After shopping you will enjoy a nice lunch provided by the shop (included in price of tour).

From there you will take the bus to Montague, MI where you will visit Quilted Memories. You will spend an hour and a half at this shop which has a wide selection of quality fabrics and supplies. By the way, the shop’s mission statement is “Helping you create tomorrow’s treasures.” Sounds like my kind of place!

Make sure you don’t spend all your money at the previous shops because, last but not least, the bus will take you back to the Attic Window to spend three hours shopping (Chris is just kidding). However, we will get plenty of time to shop the featured reproduction fabrics of all kinds, from Civil War prints to 1930’s fabrics, plus the wonderful selection of bright fabrics. New books, patterns, supplies and fabrics arrive at the shop on a daily basis. There is always something new to see, like their new dolls which have been featured on a couple blog posts.

You won’t want to miss this fun tour and take advantage of the free patterns, special discounts, and loads of fun with like minded friends. Call the shop today and register. Reserve your spot now. Space is limited.

Remember last Monday I blogged about a block that Wayne Kollinger had on his blog and mentioned that I had a little problem with it. Wayne has so graciously written specific details for making those triangles that gave me a problem. Thank you Wayne. I’m going to make some more of these blocks.

SewHappy Me is having a quilt along. Get over there now to get part 1 directions and templates as they will only be up for one week.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

FRIEDA ANDERSON COMES TO WMQG

2012-01-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

I thought this would get your attention. Isn’t it fantastic? This is just one of the many quilts that Frieda Anderson showed us during her recent visit to the West Michigan Quilt Guild.

Frieda has a background in Art History and Fashion Design and is well known for her beautiful raw edge fused quilts.

A winner at AQS, Frieda shared her inspirations and techniques for making her lovely quilts. It is hard to believe that these quilts are raw edge and fused. Using her technique, they look like they are turned applique or maybe even pieced.

Frieda also makes her own hand dyed fabrics and says this is a favorite part of her job. She discovered hand dyeing fabric twenty years ago. Her hand dyed fabrics and original patterns can be purchased by going to her blog. While visiting her blog you should become a follower or sign up for her newsletter and get weekly updates and tips. She calls her blog Walks in the Woods because her daily walk in the woods near her house with her dog are where and when she gets her inspiration. On a recent post on her blog, Frieda shares specific techniques on how she transfers her designs to the fabric. While there, click around and look at some of the past posts. You will find lots of information on how to make a paper keeper, numerous tips, articles on design, color, line, etc.

Frieda taught two different classes while she was here. One was a fusing and design class. It is my understanding that the above quilt, Autumn Mum, is what the other class concentrated on making. Isn’t it awesome?

Frieda you are one special lady and a fantastic artist. Thank you so much for this wonderful presentation and thanks to the WMQG for bringing you here.

Blue Elephant Stitches has a nice granny Square Quilt Block Tutorial.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

RED BARNS BOM AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILOT SHOP

2012-01-25T04:24:00.001-05:00

Isn’t this a beautiful quilt! This trunk show of the Red Barns is currently hanging at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.

This is a close up of one of the blocks. Maggie will be conducting a Red Barns BOM starting in April. Watch for the further details as to dates and times.

Freshly Pieced has a nice ribbon star block tutorial for you.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

AMY AND LEE ANN GO SHOPPING AT THE ATTIC WINDOW QUILT SHOP

2012-01-24T04:36:00.010-05:00

Hi, we are Amy and Lee Ann and we’re just sitting here at the Attic Window Quilt Shop, taking a little rest after a day of shopping and looking at all the new things in the shop. Our creator, Donna Barner said we could take some things home with us.

Amy loves this new book – Make It Sew Modern by Vanessa Christenson of V and Co. This book is full of ideas for adding new dimension and texture to your sewing. It is a definite must-have for both of us.

Oh, look, Lee Ann, here’s another book that we can’t do without. I love doing paper piecing designs. Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing has 10 dynamic quilt designs by Nancy Mahoney.

Well, Amy, I don’t know about you, but I have to have this new book on appliqué. Nature’s Beauty in Appliqué is full of pretty and practical projects by Susan Taylor Propst. It has lots of small projects, which is what I like.

Oh, by the way, all you gals out there; have you registered for the Heart of Winter Tour? It is on Saturday, Feb. 11, and bound to be so much fun! We’re going (unless some lucky lady decides to take us home with her)! Hope to see you there!

Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson had this wonderful tutorial for an orb block at Modern Quilt Guild blog today. The link to the tutorial is at the bottom of the post

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

MODERN MONDAY BLOCK QUILT ALONG

2012-01-23T02:21:00.000-05:00

It’s Modern Block Monday Quilt Along time. Above is my block for this week. I thought I had followed the directions exactly, but true to form, I must have done something wrong because my 6 ½ inch square block turned out 6 x 6 ½ inches. I made a quick decision – I’m not doing this over – and sewed white strips on the short sides. I think it looks okay, don’t you?

I did want to show you another block. It's not a Modern Monday Block but while surfing Sunday I noticed a block that Wayne Kollinger had on his blog. It looked interesting and I wanted to try it. Using the same fabrics I’m using in Modern Monday blocks, I made the above block. It wasn’t easy and I had to make those rectangles several times before I got them to come out right. I like this block because you get an optical illusion with it. It looks like the grays are curved, but they are not. It does remind me of a bird in flight. You’ll have to check out Wayne’s blog and see all the different designs that you can do with this block. It’s amazing. Before you do that though, don’t forget to check out Lynn’s Modern Monday block and then head over to Jennifer’s blog and get the pattern for this week.

Be sure and check the sidebar for all the upcoming classes this week at the Attic Window Quilt Shop. And don’t Forget:

· Snow Days at the Attic Window all during January. Get a free snowman pattern and snowflakes and discounts.

· Heart of Winter Tour is Feb. 11. Reserve your place now!

Carter Quilter has some cute heart patterns for you

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

IS THIS SNOWMAN INSIDE OR OUT?

2012-01-20T20:14:00.000-05:00

Snow was predicted again today so after work I hurried around running errands in a hurry to get home before the snow started to fly. The weather report predicted between 4-6 inches. One of my stops was the Attic Window Quilt Shop. I wanted to stock up for a long snowed-in weekend. When I walked up to the shop I saw this darling snowman looking out at me. I had to take a picture.

I was sorry I couldn’t get a better picture without the glare from the window. However, I think that glare in this picture makes it look like the snowman is outside looking into the shop. Chris created this cute little guy. She has lots of other new items, books, fabrics, patterns, etc. in the shop. Stop by and check it out!

Don’t Forget:

· Snow Days at the Attic Window Quilt Shop all during January. Get a free snowman pattern and snowflakes.

· Heart of Winter Tour is Feb. 11. Reserve your place now! You get a Free pattern at each shop visited and you are going to love the one that the Attic has for you!

Pleasant Home has a scrappy mug rug tutorial. You’ll love it.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

DO YOU LIKE USING YOUR SCRAPS?

2012-01-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

We got lots of snow over night and you know what I always say: A snow day is a sew day! I played in my studio all day long and made this. Well, actually, it didn’t take me all day. But it did take most of the morning to make this one block. I am not going to tell you how many times I had to get my seam ripper out. I saw the quilt on Pleasant Home and went over to A Little Bit Biased and followed the tutorial. I’m not much into piecing, but I love using my scraps. I kind of like the way it turned out.

The sun did come out this afternoon, but I couldn’t leave the house because a repairman was coming. You know how that goes…"he’ll be there between 1 and 5." So while I was waiting, I decided to make another block. Didn’t take nearly as long as the first one. It's a good size as the block finishes at 12 1/2 inches. I’m liking this block so much I think I’ll make some more. Maybe I’ll make the quilt in the tutorial. We’ll see. Hope you all had a good day of quilting. Looks like we will be getting more snow tomorrow, so maybe I’ll make another scrappy block.

Don’t Forget:

· Snow Days at the Attic Window Quilt Shop all during January. Get a free snowman pattern and snowflakes.

· Heart of Winter Tour is Feb. 11. Reserve your place now!

I hope I haven’t shown this before. I may have because I like Oh, Fransson’s Mod Mosaic tutorial so much. If it snows again tomorrow maybe I’ll give this one a try.

♥

Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll