AND THE WINNER IS.....!!!!

I first met Mary Lou Weidman about three years ago when the West Michigan Quilt Guild (WMQG) invited her to teach a couple classes and speak at their Guild meeting.  I took those classes and heard her speak and I can tell you personally that she is a joy!   I joined her Yahoo Group and we have kept in touch via e-mail.  When she sent me two books and asked me to give one away one, I was thrilled.  Not only to own a personalized copy of the book  Out of the Box With Easy Blocks  by Mary Lou Weidman and Melanie Bautista McFarland, but it has given me another chance to meet you wonderful quilters who have entered the contest.  A special thanks to all of you who entered.  I wish I could send each and every one of you a book .

And now for the winner….drum roll….since some of the contestants entered via e-mail and others from the blog, I thought the only fair thing to do was to put each of the 33 names on a piece of paper and put them in this box and shake.  Then I had mother draw a name.  Since she is nearly blind, I don’t think she could possibly see any of the names on the small pieces of paper.

And the winner is….Farm Girls Designs. I don’t even know your name, so if you will send me your name and address, I’ll mail the book to you ASAP.  Congratulations Farm Girls Designs!

Thanks again to everyone for playing.  Head on over and check out Mary Lou’s  blog for more wonky designs.  Her swaps are great!

♥

Stay calm! Stay kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

DID YOU ENTER TO WIN?

This is the wonky cat and heart wallhanging I made from Mary Lou Weidman and Melanie Bautista McFarland’s new book  Out of theBox With Easy Blocks.  This is a book you are going to want to own. 

You can read in my previous post about how this wall hanging came to be.  

You can’t help but smile as you look at the ideas and pictures throughout this book.  You’ll want to view and read more about Mary Lou and her quilting fun on her blog  MARY LOU AND WHIMSY TOO.  (It’s also on my sidebar).

You will love the free-form piecing ideas and techniques.  Also, you will find the complete instructions for the Hoochy Mama blocks.  There is even a Hoochy alphabet that is a pieced, rather than appliquéd.  This style of making quilt blocks lets you put your own personal style into a quilt.  You put yourself, your talent, your skills into each quilt.  You are not just making a copy.

If you’d like to get out of your box, just leave a comment on my previous post and tell me about a quilt you would like to make using Mary Lou’s and Melanie’s techniques.  You could win your very own autographed copy of Out of the Box With Easy Blocks!   I’ll announce the winner on Thursday.    Even if you don’t have a Google account that lets you leave a comment, you can still participate in the drawing.  Just send me an e-mail at westmichquilter@gmail.com.

IF you don’t want to wait, I saw a copy at the Attic Window Quilt Shop when I was there Saturday.

♥

Stay calm! Stay kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll

MY FIRST GIVE-AWAY!

I am thrilled to hold my first Give-Away and that it is for Mary Lou Weidman’s new book!  Outof the Box With Easy Blocks is a book you are going to want to own.  Mary Lou co-wrote this whimsical book with the talented, Melanie Bautista McFarland. When I read in the introduction, "Who wants to do things like everyone else?....Be a stray once and awhile!" I knew this was my kind of book.   You will love the free-form piecing ideas and techniques.  Also, you will find the complete instructions for the Hoochy Mama blocks.  There is even a Hoochy alphabet that is a pieced, rather than appliquéd.  This style of making quilt blocks lets you put your own personal style into a quilt.  You put yourself, your talent, your skills into each quilt.  You are not just making a copy.

There is an entire section on creating faces.  Isn’t this angel darling?

You can’t help but smile as you look at the ideas and pictures throughout this book.  You’ll want to view and read more about Mary Lou and her quilting fun on her blog  MARY LOU AND WHIMSY TOO.  (It’s also on my sidebar).

This book has so many cute ideas I didn’t know where to start.  So first I made a cat.

Then I made some hearts.

Then I noticed how nice they looked next to each other on the cutting table.  

So I put them together and got this!  I was going to have the saying at the bottom (You have my wonky heart) on the top using wonky letters like those shown in the book; however, I didn’t have enough room.  Then I thought I’d put "Welcome" at the top.  But, when I saw “Smile” in Mary Lou’s book, I had to use that.  I love this wallhanging.

There is also an adorable Purple Cow in the book.  Em is making it up.  You can check out Em’s cow here  and here 

If you’d like to get out of your box, just leave a comment here and tell me about a quilt you would like to make using Mary Lou’s and Melanie’s techniques.  You could win your very own autographed copy of Out of the Box With Easy Blocks!   I’ll announce the winner on Thursday.    Even if you don’t have a Google account that lets you leave a comment, you can still participate in the drawing.  Just send me an e-mail at westmichquilter@gmail.com and I'll be sure to add your name.

IF you don’t want to wait, I saw a copy at the Attic Window Quilt Shop when I was there Saturday.

♥

Stay calm! Stay kind! Stay Positive!

Caroll