TGIFF + Pattern Release + Giveaway = Party!

Welcome to TGIFF – Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday on my blog – we open Thursday evening and close Saturday at midnight to allow bloggers from all over the world to post their finished quilt projects. 

Austin was first published in the Make Modern Magazine Issue 60.

It is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern. 

Designed in EQ8 and made with Island Batik fabrics from the Peppermint Sprinkles collection, Austin finished at 60" by 80". It is a perfect size for charity quilts.

Austin

Austin is a modern take on the Quilt of Valor theme. A longitudinal design is reinforced by long borders (only on the sides) and walking foot quilting in one direction. Using just four fabrics plus the background, Austin relies on simplicity for his appeal.

Walking Foot Quilting

The detailed directions include step by step guidance and colored graphics show the dimensions of each cut fabric for easy reference.

Crushing on You

Priced at $11, you can get Austin at a discount of 25% ($8.25) for one week. Sale ends Thursday, 4/10/25. 

Labelled

Two lucky readers can get the Austin pattern (or any other pattern of your choice) for free. Please leave me a comment on this post, telling me your most (or least) favorite thing about Spring. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email address so that I can reach you. I will pick the winners next week. 

Hullo Handsome!

Do you ever look at a quilt and wonder - how would this look in a different colorway? I often do :-)

I recolored Austin using two different Fabric collections. Here is one. Check the Etsy listing to see the other colorway.

Austin in Petal Poetry

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In other news, I made some super fun braided placemats to promote Kate Colleran's new book.

Using Island Batik scraps and the mini braid tool, I cut lots of small units.

Cutting Braid Units

Kate's book has 13 projects in varying levels of complexity.  Take a look.

Making Braids

I chose a black background, of course. It makes all these warm colors pop and sparkle!

Finished Placemats

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Angela has announced the RSC color for April. It is Red. Here are my initial picks. 

Island Batik scraps

Plenty of mediums and darks. I think I need a couple more lighter values. What do you think?

Now it is your turn. Join the Party

The rules are simple – share your quilting finish for this week. The linky party is open from 6 pm on Thursday, April 3rd through midnight on Saturday, April 5th.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

My First Quiltcon

I was going to write a short description with a few pictures from Quiltcon. Or so I thought.
But Quiltcon exceeded all my expectations and it therefore deserves a full post of its own.

Sunday at Quiltcon

I dropped off the completed flimsies at the collection point next to registration.  The blocks were overflowing from the table, when I handed her my contribution.
Woman 1 - How are they going to take everything back?
Woman 2 - It is a good problem to have.

I silently wished there wasn't a need for these blocks/quilts.

Let the eye candy begin.  I have included the artist's description following each quilt.

Deportation by Jackie Benedetti

Detail

This is Bob. Bob won the Viewers Choice Award, which confirms my belief that at heart we are all kids :-)

Bob by Patti Coppock

Sedona Sunrise by Erin Andrews

Unfinished by Kathy York

Detail

New Mexico Crosses by Terrie H Mangat

Detail

Tuberose by Anneliese Johnson

Mell and I have very different styles. She is most definitely a modern quilter. My style is more traditional - Traditional Modernism at best. But there were a few quilts that we both agreed upon. The next quilt with improv triangles and color wash effect is one of them.

Triangle Color Study III by Nicholas Ball

Detail

 The following quilt won a ribbon. I can see why.

Like a Girl by Niagara Modern Quilt Guils

Detail

Homes for the Homeless - Community First Village by Kelly Hogan

There was a section devoted to Youth Quilts.  Here are my favorites from that.

No explanation required

Made me cry

Twist by Maria Shell

 And here is Jayne's quilt. Sold!!!

Making Waves by Jayne Willis

Damned by Skye Rayburn

Usually I would be hard pressed to pick one favorite in a quilt show that had so many spectacular beauties. Also it is hard to imagine that I would pick a quilt that had no color.  But this is that quilt.  It made me so happy, I have been going around and showing it to complete muggles and reliving the experience of reading it the very first time. I love this one!!! Kudos to you Tulsa Modern Quilt Guild.

For best experience, read aloud from left to right, one line at a time.

As far as techniques go, this is the one that I want to learn.  I had the opportunity to meet the designer Audrey Esarey. She won two ribbons but this is not one of them.  You can see her winning quilts on the MQG website.

Retro Radial by Audrey Esarey

I was not familiar with Lizzo's music or this song, but I fixed that as soon as I returned.  And I can totally relate to this quilt - music or not.

I Heart Lizzo by Alison chambers

Can you Get Inside by Isabel Munoz

Resonance by Cassandra Beaver

Nothing I Desire by Patti Coppock

Typographic Abstraction by Jessica Wheelahan

I was happy (but not surprised) to see Cindy's quilt. She is in my guild.

Kaleidoscope by Cindy Grisdela

This was a spectacular beauty that left both Mell and me awestruck!!! And yet not a ribbon in sight. Hmmm...

Zenith by Cassandra Beaver

We ended the day supremely exhausted but insanely happy.

People of Quiltcon

I met Alison Glass and showed off my finisher's pin from the Trinket QAL. She was kind enough to pose for a selfie.

With Alison Glass

I met Vasudha of Storied Quilts and talked about future quilty ideas. I invited her to DC and she offered to host me for the Quilt Market.

With Vasudha

Mell and I were admiring a quilt and trying to figure out the piecing.
Mell - It is partial seams
Me - Yes, but it is not partial seams in a block. It is the whole quilt. She had to sew one huge jagged edge of fabric to the next huge jagged edge of fabric.
That is when Victoria Findlay Wolfe surprised us, came from behind and said - Totally crazy, isn't it.
We chatted for a bit and I called her a glutton for punishment. She wholehearted agreed and then I took this picture of her.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe

I met Anja but forgot to take picture.

The best part of the day was when a kind looking woman approached me and asked me if I was Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts.  Yes, I replied.

Someone actually recognized me from the blog!!! Boy, I have arrived.
It was a mild high. OK, it was a huge high.
It was Kathleen. Oh but your picture doesn't do you justice, I remarked. She smiled and accepted the compliment.
We hugged and chatted.

Sightseeing in Austin

Monday morning Mell and I decided to check out the Capital in Austin.  Here are few pictures.

Life Size Sculptures

He was stealing my goat

I put up a good fight

I eventually lost but not without a fight :-)  Mell was kind enough to go along with my silliness.

Pioneer Woman

Goofiness

Spectacular

When I returned, I became a member of the Modern Quilt Guild. I am sure there are more Quiltcons in my future.  I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. As usual I'd love to hear your thoughts.