Pat Sloan's Blog

Searching the net...and Back Art

oh boy... searching the net for FUN STUFF..  some FREE STUFF...

Free cutie patootie pincushion pattern from Moda  CLICK HERE

Need a new 'tool belt'... whip up an apron with a bunch-o-pockets!! CLICK HERE to learn how!

And cupcakes.. because I can!!!! Post about them HERE and the blog HERE were cupcake images flow day and night!

Yesterday's comments to my post were so interesting to me.. people are very passionate about their backing fabric... or not!!! I'm in the 'or not' category. If only the wall will see the back of a quilt... and even IF people see the back.. it's not where I spend a lot of time coordinating fabric... my backs often have nothing to do with the front... just saying!

I've been fascinated with back art since I learned to quilt... my backs RARELY go with the front as I'm a use it up kind of gal.  But there is a wave of quilts being done right now with cool back art.. it's another quilt.. only much simpler.. using up the fabric that did not find it's way to the front! See the front of this quilt by clicking HERE.

Some of you are super particular about your backs.. which is GREAT!!  I think we should have a "Back Art Challenge"... what do you think? Post photos of your quilt backs and I'll get a celebrity judge in for this?? Tell me what you think in the comments!

oh.... what did I do with the fabric from yesterday? It needs to cook a bit longer.. it's not ready to be hidden on the back of a wall hanging never to be seen again... I took it's PHOTO after all... there is some strong love still happening for that fabric!  It's now in the blue bin in my studio... a very light tonal went on the back of the quilt!

And a thought

"It is better to sleep on things beforehand, than lie awake about them afterward"

 ― Baltasar Gracian

A Bit more obsession and how to save

Just a WEE bit more Fabric Obsession Chatter....

I have a pretty big box of fabric marked 'backings'. I went through my fabric recently and pulled out the great big pieces that I ....

1. Still liked... or rather LOVED
2. Was more than 1 yd
3. had been hoarding for awhile but not hoarding so long that the fabric was stiff (you know those ones.. the ones from the 80s and earlier.... stiff fabric!)

This fabric all went into the BACKING box to be oohed and ahhed over each time I needed to back a quilt.

But here lies the problem... I pull this one out..

• it's blue.. the front of the quilt is blue..
• It has flowers... the front of the quilt has redwork flowers (well .. BLUEwork flowers)
• it's big enough

But the problem is... I think this might be TOO NICE for backing!!!

For backings I'm usually a 'use it up' gal.  Why waste GOOD STUFF for backing on a wall quilt or a table runner or such?  I usually back quilts with the stuff I wondered why I bought it.. stuff I'd used too much and was tired of or stuff that I'd outgrown.

But this fabric I still like a BIT MORE than that... I auditioned it on a chair.. I've laid it out on the ironing board.. I took it's photo.. and now I'm sharing my dilemma with you... The question i  s

"Do I need to hoard this piece JUST AWHILE LONGER until I really feel it's backing material.... or should I just USE IT?"

Let me know!!! 

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  A lot of you told me loved hearing my interview with Art from Reliable. He told us about his V100 iron, how it's constructed, and explained why it does not leak.. woot woot!

If you missed the interview, CLICK HERE and listen to the Feb 22 show. Art was about half way through, right after Jenny.

CLICK HERE to get all the specs and details on the Iron, which has a 1 year warranty.... and buy one for yourself!

A few of you said you need to save up... and i want to tell you that all you have to do is forgo 16 yds of new fabric.. and the iron is YOURS! Not much as I'll bet you buy 16 yds pretty quickly. 

So save that fabric money or just treat yourself.. either way I have the irons with Free Shipping to many places CLICK CLICK CLICK!

PS - If you want a Meadow Breeze Applique Starter Kit, EMAIL ME to be on the Notify LIST.. I need to get in more fabric and once it's here I'll send you a note! 

Fabric Obsession....

I'm having a bit of a fabric obsession....  does that ever happen to you???

FIRST I am working on a project with my black and white fabrics.. and I discovered I must have been TOTALLY insane when building this collection....

They are mostly Fat Quarters.. What was I thinking???? 

Fat quarters are not very useful to me. When I decide to start working on a project.. you know.. about 9pm just 3 days before it is due ... I need to have QUALITY stash here at Camp Sloanie.

I need borders, enough for a totebag, how about the front and back for a pillow, or maybe a big chunk for pieced blocks.

But a  Fat Quarter does little to help me meet this goal! .. But no Fear.. TWO fabrics in those bins worked.. the OTHER FQ's are now fighting to be on the team... as they won't ALL make it!

And I'm also REALLY REALLY REALLY obsessing about this fabric collection... I want to make a quilt for my bed with these fabric... like.. YESTERDAY.... I even have the bin out

..... where I see it every single second... planning... scheming... waiting for me to finish the living room things.. the pillow covers for the chairs in my studio... and mmm... other stuff I suppose!

ps... I have one of my red bins overflowing with this collection... yummy!

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The Winners ARE.....!!! 

Michelle F. has won Jenny Doh's coveted Necklace... Michelle's comment

"I loved hearing about Jenny's new website and also that fabulous V100 iron. Each show is so fun!"

Jill has won the V100 Iron from Reliable ... Jill's comment

"Pat once again another great show!!! Art hit it on the nose quilters are always looking for a dependable iron, WHOA had no idea that ALL irons no matter the price are pretty much the same however TWO heating elements so simple yet SO GENIUS! Like ART said who wouldnt want to use steam?? sometimes if my quilt blocks dont come out exactly precise i have to steam it into submission :) !!!!"

******** Both winners have been notified by email... thank you everyone that listened to my show.. more fun on Monday with Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co!

Turkish Delight

Have you ever had REAL Turkish Delight? This is the box.. don't they look yummy? 

My dad just got back from a trip to Istanbul Turkey and I got these! REAL Turkish Delight Candy.  I had heard the word before but didn't know what they were and never had any.

They are quite unique.. not as unique as some of the candies in China ... but not what I was expecting either.

This is the inside of the box.. with LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of powder sugar!

The cubes are about 1/2" squares and the texture was not what I was expecting. I thought they would be hard and they are not hard at all (unless maybe they are stale!) They are the texture of a jelly bean, but not as sweet and have a pistachio inside .... then piled high with powder sugar. 

VERY.... VERY ... ADDICTING!

Took them with me to my sewing group the other night so everyone could try them.. and my friend Heidi told me the jelly bean is based off this candy! They wanted a similar texture without the powder sugar.. hehe! (they ARE messy!)

CLICK HERE to Wiki to learn more about Turkish Delight Candies!

And yep... the Jelly bean had it's origins in Turkey Delight Candy... read about it at WIKI HERE

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Listen to my Creative Talk Radio show.. down load it to play while quilting, cooking, exercising, doing laundry, playing games on Facebook or ... oh my.. CLEANING!!!

CLICK HERE to the page to listen to the Radio show.

And we have PRIZES!!! CLICK HERE TO LEAVE A COMMENT.. YOU might win a V100 Iron or a Necklace made by Jenny Doh!

Meadow Breeze ... a FREE BOM!

I have a fabulous new Block of the Month for you!

This is our first block, the heart. I really love asymmetrical appliqué and the organic twiggy shape of this block.

For my project I’m using all my 40 wt Thread Art kit colors for the appliqué and the piecing… let’s take a look!

I selected 3 colors (my names for them!)

1. Olive Green – 5013
2. Caramel – 2210
3. Pear Green – 1147

Caramel is my ‘go to’ color for the lights in this project… see how it works on the pieces above.. either blends in or is a nice light accent.

I’m using heat n bond light with the center cut out and then the blanket stitch to appliqué down the pieces.  If you are not familiar with this method, see my book ‘Learn to appliqué’ for how I do fusible and keep the shapes as soft as possible by cutting away.. plus it’s economical as you don’t waste fusible!

GET THE FREE BOM BLOCK

CLICK HERE to Download AURIfil BOM by Pat Sloan Part 1

I am offering a limited number of 'starter kits' for the applique part of the quilt. The starter has all the fabric I am using for the applique and 1 yard of the applique background fabric. In March I'll have a kit for the pieced part of the quilt. The pieced kits will be not limited as it's all my Georgia Fabric

http://patsloan.biz/starterkitformeadowbreeze-onlyappliqueandbackground.aspx

My Applique book

http://patsloan.biz/learntoappliquewithpatsloan.aspx

Chat with me at my forum

http://quiltmashup.com/index.php/topic,537.msg6460.html#msg6460

Share photos at our Flickr Folder

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1366594@N23/

My newsletter, top right sidebar at Http://www.patsloan.biz.

Be a AURlfil fan on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/aurifil.quilt.thread

BE MY facebook friend too! http://www.facebook.com/PatSloan

Join my Fan Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pat-Sloan/59964830850?ref=ts

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LOVING the Comments about the Monday Radio show... you guys ROCK!!! Your comments are really important to me!

And many of you said you are saving for the Iron.. guess what!!!!

All you have to do is bypass buying 16 yds of fabric ... each time you want to buy a yard.. put that money aside.. in just a short time (as I KNOW you like your fabric).. you'll have saved up for your very own AMAZING V100 iron! 

Just trying to help you out as it's not hard to save up that bit... one month will do it for many of you!

CLICK HERE for "Radio Monday"... listen to the show and leave me a comment!

Looking for Georgia

I hope my Georgia Fabric line is in your local store!!!

If it is... then EMAIL ME to get on the  schedule to have my 'Baker's Dozen' Quilt visit your store!!! Yes... REALLY! 

Right now the 1/2 world tour is scheduled for ....

• Saving Thyme, Stoughton, WI  - January 29 – February 11 (hope you got to see it, let me know!)

http://www.savingthyme.net/

• Quilting Adventures, Richmond, VA – February 15 – February 28

http://www.quiltingadventures.com/

• Kelly Ann’s Quilting, Warrenton, VA – March 3 – March 16

http://www.kellyannsquilting.com/

• Patchwork Cottage, Lawrenceville GA March 23 – April 6

Patchwork Cottage, Lawrenceville, GA –

• Carriage House Quilts, Naples, NY – April 22 – May 5

http://www.carriagehousequiltsnaples.com/

Email ME if your store carries my fabric and we'll contact them to see if they want to have my 'world tour'!

CLICK HERE to email me!

CLICK HERE for P&B 

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If you listened to my radio show yesterday you got to learn a bit more about me as well as my guests. I love to see how creative people work and live. Yesterday I saw a blog post about 2 artists in Denmark that share a studio, they don't work together but do work IN the same space!! Not only do we get to see their studio, but they share photos of their homes too.. how wonderful is that!

CLICK HERE to read the whole store and see LOTS of photos!

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My Radio Interview yesterday was SO FUN to do with 3 different guests.

Click HERE to listen and scroll back to yesterdays blog to leave a comment.. you MAY JUST BE the winner of one of the amazing prizes...I have the BEST GUESTS!

Then become my Friend at Facebook.. as I like to know EVERYTHING about EVERYONE! CLICK HERE

More goodies tomorrow.. stay tuned!