Tutorial: Traditional Log Cabin over at Chasing Cottons!

Bec over at Chasing Cottons asked me if I would take part in her Quilt Class 101 series of blog posts by guest blogging a tutorial on sewing a Log Cabin quilt block - according to her I am the queen of log cabins (who knew?!) - and of course I said yes!

My tutorial for this traditional block is included in Part 2 of Bec's series; it finishes at 12" square (12.5" unfinished) and while it is a traditional block I feel that I pumped up the "fun factor" by my choice of fabrics and the fact that the fussy cutting in the centre square is actually off-centre giving the whole block a slightly asymmetrical look even though it is, in fact, perfectly symmetrical.

So head on over to Bec's today and check out my tutorial if you want to get the lowdown on making this block! I'll be back soon with some more crafty goodness, and don't forget on Sunday October 2nd I will be sharing the block I designed and the tutorial to go along with it for the Quilt Uber-Fest Quilt Along! Go ahead and grab our button if you'd like!




<a href="http://bluenickelstudios.com/?p=3183" target="_blank"><img src="http://bluenickelstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Uberfest-logo.png" /></a>

Terrain Giveaway Winner and Some News!

As promised today is the day to announce the winner of the Kate Spain Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle from my lovely sponsor Fat Quarter Shop! Now who could it be? Hmmmmm...

Sarah Craig of Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Congrats Sarah (who by the way is a quilting machine - seriously, check out her blog!) - please email me with your address so that FQS can send you out your bundle!!

So, um, right, the news... well, if you "like" my page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter you may have already heard but for those of you that don't (or who missed the update), I am happy to report that I did in fact get the job that I interviewed for last week! Can I get a "woot woot" from my peeps?! I will be working as a Media Librarian at the CBC (Canada's national public broadcaster) and am starting in mid-October. It is going to be very cool and will involve your everyday-librarian-like activities such as cataloguing but I will also get to help out with research too. I am very excited and can not wait to start!

Alrighty peeps, I gotta go and get some sewing done! I am brimming over with ideas right now!

It's Giveaway Time - Terrain by Kate Spain!

Hey there! What's up everyone? So, um, who's in the mood for a giveaway? My lovely sponsor Fat Quarter Shop is offering up a Kate Spain Designer Select Bundle! Designer Select Bundles are exclusive to Fat Quarter Shop and comprise both prints and coordinating solids - you'll remember back in June I gave away a Tula Pink Designer Select Bundle when I first welcomed FQS as a sponsor.

This exclusive bundle is made up of twelve prints from Kate Spain's just-released Terrain collection for Moda and three coordinating Bella Solids. Jennifer and I picked up and split an entire fat quarter bundle of Terrain at Quilt Market and let me tell you - it is absolutely gorgeous in person!

And I guess you want to know how to answer right?! You have two chances but please be sure to leave two separate comments for each entry:

1. Leave a comment letting me know what collection from

Fat Quarter Shop's "Coming Soon" section you are most excited about.

2. Leave another comment if you are a follower of my blog.

That's it - two easy, peasy chances to enter! I will close the comments in a week (on the 22nd) and announce the winner here on the blog. International entries are, as always, welcome!

Alright folks - you best get entering! I'll be back soon with some other fun stuff to share...I have a list...because I keep forgetting to show things...and I've been pretty busy for the last bit ;)

*the giveaway is now closed*

Happiness is a form of courage. -Holbrook Jackson

Hey all, what's up?! Yesterday was the first Saturday that I've not had to go to work in two years (except for the occasional family event, etc) and  it was great! I'll no longer be working on Saturdays (at least not at my present job) which should be both fun and interesting; I also have a job interview tomorrow for a full-time position so wish me luck!

In honour of having Saturdays off Alex and I headed to the St. Lawrence Market and got some meat, cheese, and fresh produce - yum! I've got both yellow and green zucchini waiting for me and I'm thinking I'll make some more spiced zucchini bread. We're also planning on heading to St. Jacobs to check out the market, antiques, and maybe I'll find some Mennonite quilts too! We'll also be going to the Shaw Festival (probably the first weekend in October) to check out some plays and to hopefully see some beautiful fall colours in Niagara-On-the-Lake. Now doesn't NOT working on Saturdays sound awesome?! Yes, I think it does! Today I spent the day watching old episodes of Ancestors in the Attic and hand piecing a new project (which I will be sharing very soon)!

Photo by Karyn

I thought I'd post this picture because there are never any pictures of me from crafty events (since I'm always taking pictures). This is Katherine, Melody, and I at the friendship bracelet party that Karyn hosted at The Workroom in honour of Lizzy's visit to Toronto (I blogged about it here). Doesn't Karyn take lovely photographs? She has a super-spiffy camera but trust me - that girl is all kinds of talented! I kinda want to be Karyn when I grow up...does that sound weird?

I also wanted to let y'all know that I added a few destash bundles to my Etsy Shop in an effort to raise money to have my sewing machine fixed and tuned up and to put away to help pay the bills in case my job interview doesn't pan out. I still have a few more to add - including some Flea Market Fancy and Mendocino - but here are a few that I added last week:

Munki Munki by Heather Ross Bundle

West Hill by Heather Ross Bundle

1974 by Urban Chiks Bundle

I'll add the rest of the fabric over the next couple of days to a week! If you purchase something and  mention in your "note to seller" that you found the destash through my blog I'll throw a couple of extra fabric-type goodies into your package!

Quilt Uber-Fest Comin' Atcha!

Remember back in February when I was one of the designers for the Bloggers Block-a-Palooza Quilt Along? Well, I'll be doing it again but this time it's Quilt Uber-Fest organized by the super-talented Scott of Blue Nickel Studios!

Y'all know I love Fall right? It is my favourite season and this quilt along is not only taking place in my favourite season, it is also taking place in my favourite month - October! Not only is my birthday in October, we've also got Thanksgiving (Canadian, of course!), Halloween, temperatures chilly enough for layers and chunky knit accessories, gorgeous colours, apple cider everywhere, and pumpkin everything (Pumpkin Spice Lattes anyone?) - really, it's just the perfect time for quilting!

There are sixteen of us taking part in the quilt along running from October 1st to October 16th (i.e. one block a day for 16 days); we'll be using the not-yet-released-collection Sleeping Beauty by Nel Whatmore for Free Spirit (you can see some of the prints in this post from True Up) and some Kaffe Fasset woven stripes and shot cottons. Each designer is also allowed to add one print or solid from their own stash if they wish. At the end there will be an auction for the finished quilt (made from our tutorial blocks) for charity - we'll keep y'all updated on that!

Are y'all ready for Quiltober? Blocktober? Blocktober Fest? Here's the line-up:


Oct 1 John Adams

Oct 2 Kaye Prince <--- That would be me!

Oct 3 Karen Linton

Oct 4 Konda Luckau

Oct 5 Amy Lobsiger <--- This would be my birthday... in case anyone is interested ;)

Oct 6 Ryan Walsh

Oct 7 Scott Hansen

Oct 8 April Rosenthal

Oct 9 Cara Wilson

Oct 10 Amanda Jennings <--- This would be Thanksgiving... if you feel like eating along with us.

Oct 11 Susan Sobon

Oct 12 Jan Peoples

Oct 13 Erin Singleton

Oct 14 Charlie Scott

Oct 15 Emily Cier

Oct 16 Rachel Locke

Hope to see y'all playing along with us! Oh, and there will be a Flickr group for sharing blocks and such once the time draws closer!