Pat Sloan's Blog

A Fall Peep...

It's almost like 'leaf peeping' but not quite.... it's a 'peep' at something new coming TOMORROW!

During the retreat I got a pattern idea and decided that I'd work it up into a limited edition kit for Oct 1... yes... I did!

Call me crazy but I'm LOVING IT!!  So today while I finish the newsletter I'll be cutting kits...

Yes I think we should all have a little 'Fall Peep' and this is mine!

Sign up for the newsletter HERE (it's the same one you've been getting so you don't need to sign up at the webstore... I just put you here manually)

A Quote

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."  ~George Eliot

PS- I'm really pleased so many people joined in on my retreat.. thank you one and all!

We made it!

We made it! Another awesome virtual retreat... Thank you so much for joining me I had fun fun fun!!! 

Here are the prize winners for Sunday night
Sue G, Nancy L,  and I decide to give away a third 'over all' prize to Ter!

So was it hard to find TIME to make labels? Even simple ones? I got the triangle done for the Ocean Waves and did the same concept for another quilt that will be in a different book. I also have small labels for a magazine project done.  And got some of the demo and the give away labels sewn up. Not a collection, but further ahead than when we started!

Tell me what you thought of the retreat.. was it hard to make labels? Or just hard to come inside in fall? I'm thinking the later....hehe!

Did you read all the FABULOUS ways quilters love to ... or want to... hang out with each other? For those of you wishing for a cruise.. come along on my Jan Caribbean cruise

Click HERE for details

or May Alaska Cruise!

Click HERE For details

Thank you again and again for attending my Virtual Retreat! Watch the newsletter for the date of the next retreat. I may do a one day 'fast fast' in early December to finish up gifts or shopping or baking... we'll see how my schedule looks.

And may thanks to Becky & Linda of Piece o' Cake, Renee of Liberty Star, and Roseann of Rosebud's cottage.. you guys ROCK a blog hop stops!

Be sure to read all the FABULOUS quilt names given on the previous post.. I just LOVE them all!

And during our retreat I was doing LOADS of planning for a unique retreat option next winter (most likely in early February).... 

All Virtual... All the time... hehe... stay tuned in!

Virtual Retreat...Day 3 part 3~

The Quilt show website is running a 'guess the block name' using antique blocks. You do have to sign in, but you can read the blog page without being a paid member. 

Click HERE to go to the contest page

Here is what they said about the contest -
***We will show quilt blocks made in the 1800s.  See how many of the patterns you can name. Make up a sheet with 30 lines.  We will show two blogs a day with 5 blocks each. On Tuesday we will show the answers.  You will love the blocks and the old fabrics.  On Sunday and Monday you can email us your answers (the email address will be on the last blog).  You don't have to get them all correct to win the goody bag.  Entries must have 30 answers, you can only enter once, and we will select the winner in a random drawing. By the way, what is the block above?

Thank you to The Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, California.  They have allowed us to use these images from their exhibit "Untold Stories". The show features early American Quilts from the collection of Susan Brooks.  The show runs through November 23, 2008. 

This is MY favorite quilt from the exhibit (that I can see) ... I even noticed that Mary Lou Weidman showed that on HER blog the other day! Go Mary Lou... she got to see the exhibit and meet the collector.

Hey while you are over there doing the contest... send them an email that I should be on the show... don't you think that would be cool? I think it would! Send them here to my blog... woot!

To win a prize from ME.... give me a name for this quilt... not the block name, but a QUILT name... I WANT this quilt! leave your 'Oh So Creative' name in the comments here! Winner announced Monday... enter until I go to bed.. hehe

I hope you had a FABULOUS time at this Virtual Retreat... I did!

Virtual Retreat...Day 3 part 2~

First my corner label... It's one of the ideas that came up this weekend and I'm going to put this on my Ocean Waves (the one you see on the chair at my webcam)

One of the big questions about labels is... What do you write on the label?

The bare basics so people know who the quilt belongs to and who made it are

1. Your name (not nana... or auntie pat)... but your first and last name. You can put a sentimental note with nana but not for documentation.  If it's lost nobody can look up nana in the phone book!
2. First and last name of the person you are giving it to (instead of for Sissy or twinkle toes... hehe)
3. Your city and state
4. your phone number.. yep... if it's lost.. they can call!
5. The person who quilted it if you didn't
6. The date you finished the quilt.

The rest I think goes with the purpose of the piece.

• If it's for your first grandchild, then a wonderful note from you.
• If it's for a friend.. maybe why they are special.
• Did you name the quilt? ... put that one.
• Was it a challenge, explain the challenge .. someone talked about having a cloth envelope on the back. You could then put the challenge guidelines in it!
• If you used a designers pattern, then list the person who designed the quilt
• Your inspiration for making this quilt
• If it's an group or anniversary quilt maybe you'll have LOTS Of names... see my story below
• Do you want a cute quote, Beverly found this link with Quilt Label quotes.. thanks Beverly!

http://www.stitched4you.com/labelquotes.htm

When I went to Ireland with the quilters I took a large piece of muslin. I asked everyone to sign it and it became the backing of the project quilt for the trip! A SWEET memory!

And don't forget you can put lots of trims on those labels... rick rack... buttons... beads... RHINESTONES!! Woot!! Glitter up!

***

So let's do a little PRIZE chatter! I'll give you an off topic question this time. Leave me comment telling me where you would like to go with a bunch of quilters.

A vacation, a retreat, shop hopping. What is fun for YOU and what LOCATION do you want to go to with the quilters?

Ready Set GO.... Random Drawing tonight late.. AND there is another drawing for the last post at 5pm ... so be sure you come back!

Virtual Retreat...Day 3 part 1~

First our winners from yesterday..... Drum roll please...

Lynne in Hawaii and Pam in Thunder Bay...... YEAH YOU!

Our AWESOME prize Give Away Guest blogger for Sunday is Roseann Kermes of Rosebud's cottage! Roseann is a really good friend of mine (BFF) and she has a SELECTION for you to win!

You get to pick a fab-o kit... so hurry over there... and guess what ... Roseann will be one of my guest interviews (she doesn't know this yet... hehe!) Also check out the snack mix she had on the last post.. I think someone mentioned this one.. I gotta try it! If the Autumn treats post is showing... leave your comment there... otherwise leave on her Sunday post!

http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/

One more technique for labels.. applique something wonderful to the label! Something from the quilt itself or something else pretty.  Maybe even develop a 'signature' item  you always applique... like a tulip or a .... mmm... cupcake!

And have you bought funky fabric with words? Incorporate those into labels! I've had this panel since the beginning of TIME... and I think I'm going to cut it up soon and make labels... yep... it's in the label making bag now!

I did a label for my Times Remembered with a dragonfly.. same one on the free pattern tag at my website. Find it HERE  This is not a great photo but I can't find one of the real label.. next time you take a workshop with me ask to see that quilt's label!

Next post will be about WHAT to write on the label

PS - be sure to read the comments on AWESOME labels people have seen, done or want to do.. in the middle post from yesterday. GREAT inspiration... thank you everyone!

Virtual Retreat...Day 2 part 3~

Fabrics.com has a FABULOUS giveaway... and once again you can enter EVERY DAY until it's given away!
Pick a fashion package or a quilter's package... I think that Iron looks darn nice in the Fashion pack!

Click HERE to enter to win! 

On the Yahoo group yesterday we chatted about ways to Adhere your label... do you have more, put them in the comment area... it's fun to share!

Attaching Ideas so far

1-sewing into the quilt as a piece of the backing

2-sewing 2 sides into your binding area

3-making tiny 'pillows' you turn and have a turned under edge.. great way to keep backing from shadowing through your label

4-I iron under the 4 sides with heavy steam, then glue baste to the backing .. hand stitch.
5- Use fusible lightweight interfacing for the backing of your label with the fusible side to the right side of the label, stitch around, cut a little slit in the interfacing and turn (like a pillow). Then iron the label to the back of the quilt and stitch down by hand.

Mary sent me this photo of a label from a group project. Everyone sent a piece and 2 people made miniature blocks like they had in the swap! Isn't that CLEVER!  Be sure to read all the AWESOME ideas in the comments at the post above.. creativity is flowing today!

Remember to comment on the prior post of mine and over at Renee's blog...lots of hours left in the day to get in on the give-aways!