Another new sponsor - Eagles' Wings Quilts!

I want to introduce you to a new sponsor for our Pets on Quilts Show later this month!

Everyone put their scissors and needles down and give a round of applause for Eagle's Wings Quilts!
Here is a link to their site....if you want to, go and check it out! Or just read on, and I'll tell you about them!

Eagles Wings Quilts is the Canadian home for English paper piecing! They sell to their friends in Canada, and to their neighbors in the United States (their prices are in Canadian dollars, so sometimes that helps us out, here in the US!).

Cathy is a long-time nurse and also a long-time long arm quilter. Some of her happiest moments are spent quilting, when a client has turned her loose to express her creativity on a quilt! (Grin) Some of her other happy times are camping and playing with her grand-kids! She is extremely creative and enjoys pushing herself, trying new techniques and skills. 

Two years ago, she and her friends were constructing their own unique versions of Willyne Hammerstein's La Passacaglia -- I can't pronounce it, but I watched the process as Cathy showed it on her blog! It was a challenging and beautiful project, but it was a frustrating process: it was difficult to source the needed paper piecing shapes affordably in Canada. 

So, "Little Bits" was born . . . a line of Canadian made (card-stock weight) paper piecing shapes, and the coordinating acrylic templates. 

Cathy has now retired from nursing and her whole family is joining her in her design and retail business, Eagles Wings Quilts. Don't ya love it when a quilter "spreads her wings"? (Sorry, had to put that pun in there...)

Cathy and the whole crew at Eagles Wings will be sponsoring a prize for one lucky winner in our August drawings! Among her own designs on her site is a pattern called Castor and Pollux. This is a pattern first published in the 1920s, and attributed to Nancy Cabot, a quilter/writer at the Chicago Tribune. Cathy has written up awesome and clear instructions for this old design, and has offered a complete package for one of our winners!

The pattern and the instructions....

The acrylic templates.....

And the paper pieces for piecing....look at all those shapes!

The complete package is a $50 value in Canadian funds....wow! Just think of busting your scrap stash with this package! (Or maybe you have a collection that would work well with it!)

Thank you to Cathy, hubby Scott, and Rebecca, Matt, and Noel! What a wonderful prize for one of our winners!

Our Pet Show is coming soon.....hope you are snapping pictures and getting ready for the linky party!

We'll re-publish our rules soon, for rookies and veterans alike!

Love,

We interrupt our usual programming.....

..........for this announcement!

You simply must go and check out Lori Holt's new book over at the Fat Quarter Shop!

I was sent a copy for review, and I must say, there's a lot packed into it! 

If you have enjoyed Lori's first three books, then you will love this one -- and if you've not looked at her books before, get this one and start some projects!

 Look at all the inspiring projects that you will see -- mug rugs, banners, wall-hangings, and more!

You'll see great examples of how to incorporate letters and words (and numbers, too!) into your quilted projects.

With over 190 pages of complete instructions, color photos, and great tips, this is a book that you will truly enjoy.

All of Lori's blocks have instructions so that you can create them in two sizes, for a wealth of options in your quilting. Eighteen different projects are pictured.

Here is a link to check it out!

I'll just bet there's a bee in your bonnet to hop over there and see Lori Holt's newest Bee in My Bonnet book!

See you again soon!
Love,

A first-time sponsor: Aiming for Accuracy!

I bet that many of you already know our special sponsor today! Michele Foster (aka Mishka) is a long time supporter of the quilting community, with her Quilting Gallery.

She specializes in designing quilting pattern and skill building booklets that are easy to understand and follow. Michele has something for everyone: pieced patterns, applique, and paper pieced, too! Aiming for Accuracy is the name of her company, and I hope you will click on the link to see all the inspiring designs!

Aiming For Accuracy is offering a wonderful Quilt Along opportunity that you will want to click through and see.....it may be that you'd like to join in! Here is what Michele says about the quilt:

Each block in the quilt has been chosen for it’s learning potential. Blocks range both in size and complexity. At the end of the quilt-along, you’ll be confident in your ability to make half-square, quarter-square and split-quarter-square triangles, as well as, square-in-a-square, flying geese, fusible appliqué and English paper pieced units.

What else will you learn as you quilt along?  How to quilt in stages, so that you can easily complete the quilting on your domestic machine, how to avoid chopping off your triangle points when applying sashings or joining blocks. Been there, done that, need this instruction! (Grin)

Loads of free quilt block tutorials can be found on her site, like this lovely one that she just released:

Another free tutorial is called "Milo's Star."

And here is Milo! (In his before and after photos!) Isn't he adorable? Looks like he is all dolled up and ready for our Pets Show!

Something that I really appreciate on her site is that all of her patterns are labeled as to their complexity....in other words, how "veteran" a quilter you should be for each one! Patterns carry suggestions such as "Beginner," "Confident Beginner," "Intermediate," and more.

I'm excited about her newest online venture: I Love Buttons, Etc! And I mean fun and unusual buttons! And thread clips, and scissors, and quilting-themed charms, and more cool buttons!

Check these out!

I really like these cute owl cases....I think they would make great business card holders for those of us who still need to have "that other life" that makes money for our quilting addiction, er, hobby!

Michele would love for you to stop by at all of her interwebs homes: just click on these links to be whisked away through cyberspace to say "hello!"
Aiming for Accuracy Pattern Co. - quilting designs
I Love Buttons, Etc. - buttons, charms, ribbons and more
Quilting Gallery - a community for quilters
Facebook Community - chat and friendship

Michele is sponsoring a wonderful prize for one of our lucky winners in August! (Ya know, that Pets on Quilts show is coming up fast! Hope you are getting ready!)

One lucky winner in our drawings will be able to choose FIVE button packs to receive from Michele's online store! So much fun!! This winner will need to reside in the US or Canada.

Thanks, Michele, for sponsoring a prize!

Love,

Stella Lighting

What do you think of, when you hear the word "stella"?


Does your mind conjure up stars?

Do you think of a raw, emotional Brando in the iconic "Streetcar Named Desire" movie scene?

Uh oh, I'm showing my age here, I guess . . . many of you aren't old enough to remember that film. You may recall Brando (in a more recent movie) portraying a guy in a tight suit, talking like he just stuffed his mouth full of dry saltine crackers....and he's planning to make a guy an offer he can't refuse. (Grin)

Oy vey. You youngsters....

I have digressed......THIS is Stella!

(Photo courtesy of Stella Lighting)

Actually, this is Stella Two! Brand new, and awesome!

When I finish telling you about her, you will be wiping the drool off your keyboard for sure!

The folks at Stella Lighting are sponsoring a Stella Two light as a prize for our upcoming (August) Pets on Quilts Show!

As their site says, "we all need to see better." The Stella Lighting company story is one that resonates with me. In my other life (the one that keeps me busy and pays the bills) my hubby and I work with entrepreneurs and designers and the like -- and as they note on the "About" page, it can be a frustrating but rewarding process to bring a concept or an idea to life!
(I learned a lot by reading their pages....didn't know that they began as a task light for kiddos, nor did I realize that the colors of light could influence how they work and learn!)

Here are some reasons why I'm crazy about this new light:

     1.  The Stella Two is 25% brighter than the original Stella light.
     2.  You never have to change a bulb again -- these LEDs are rated for 10,000 hours!
     3.  LEDs don't produce heat while illuminated.
     4. The Stella Two has TriSpectrumTech -- three light color options!
     5. You can compare fabric and thread with warm light, cool, or even daylight!
     6.  The light can be changed ten steps from brighter to dimmer, in those three options!
     7. The Stella Two has raised buttons for nearsighted folks like me!
     8.  Stella offers superb customer service - no questions asked repairs and returns!
     9. You can get a task light, a clamp light, or even a floor lamp!

Y'all really have to watch this video from Pat Sloan -- check it out! She shows all the features that I just told you about! And she makes it more interesting! (Grin)


Pat Sloan talks about Stella Lighting from Stella Lighting on Vimeo.
And you will never guess what else I love . . .

You recall my fascination, er, obsession, er, addiction to Mary Engelbreit fabrics, right? I have shared a few projects that I have made from my hoarded, er, cherished ME stash, right?

Oh. Be. Still. My. Heart.

There are Mary Engelbreit Stellas......

Just look!

If you would like to have a Stella of your own, you can do it at a discount! The lovely folks at Stella have offered a discount to all you Lilypad followers -- just use the promotional code "petsonquilts" and you will receive a 15% discount AND free shipping!

What a wonderful offer! I hope that some of you will take advantage of that!

While you are at the Stella Lighting site, check out the Stella Studio blog:

You'll find lots of fun things like tutorials, tips, giveaways, and more!

I'm really excited to welcome Stella Lighting as a sponsor to our show in August! Just think, you could be our lucky winner of the Stella Two!!

(Waving) Thanks, Stella Lighting!

See you at the Pet Show!

Love,

Intrepid thread sponsors in August!

The Intrepid Thread online store is a long time sponsor of this blog -- we love Julie and the crew, and we are proud that she is sponsoring a prize for the August Pets Show again!

I've always loved Julie's fabrics; she has wonderful taste and really knows what is lighting a fire under quilters as new fabrics come out!

I was thrilled to read her about page....as a history buff and the daughter-in-law of a proud WWII vet, I was stoked to see where the name of her shop came from!

The Intrepid is one of the aircraft carriers built in the huge mobilization of manufacturing resources at the beginning of WWII. She was known as the Fighting I, and had an illustrious career spanning many years. Julie's dad served onboard, hence the name of her shop!

Julie has an extensive store, with fabrics, thread, custom bundles, and patterns. You will be drooling at your keyboard (fair warning!) when you browse the store!

Gorgeous Tilda bundles!

Lovely collections by Pat Bravo, Cotton and Steel, Anna Maria Horner, and many more!

The Intrepid Thread is an awesome resource for quilting fabrics, but also has apparel fabrics, voile, and gauze to offer, as well!

The Intrepid Thread crew is sponsoring a prize for this August's Pets Show! A lovely Aurifil thread pack for one lucky winner in our drawings!

Our winner will receive a five pack of full size spools!! And with all of the beautiful colors in the Aurifil line, that will be awesome!

Thanks, Julie! We're proud to have you as a sponsor!

Hope all of you are getting ready for our show!

Love,