Fat Quarterly's Swiss Chocolate Roll-Up Giveaway!

Fat Quarterly is hosting a Swiss Chocolate Roll-Up Giveaway!  (And so am I - for a second chance to win see details below.) 

In celebration of this giveaway I have written up a recipe with this goody for my exclusive Chocolate Torte!
You can make it in rich, decadent chocolate...

Or with a hint of mocha...

To hear more of my blabbering and to download the recipe, visit Fat Quarterly's site.

You can enter the giveaway there as well.  For a second chance to win,

1. Become a follower of my blog.
2. After becoming a follower (or if you already are one), leave me one comment on this post saying you've done so and tell me which flavor of my torte (chocolate or mocha) you prefer.  Maybe even tell me what you would make with this collection, but that is not required - I'm just curious!  (MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A WAY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU SHOULD YOU WIN.) 

The deadline for the giveaway will be Saturday, February 5th. 

If you'd like some Swiss Chocolate, please ask your local shop to order it from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  (Fat Quarter Shop has yardage too, but no one has a roll-up yet, so if you win, you'll be the first!)  Swiss Chocolate ships February 20th!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Bloggers' Block-a-palooza Quilt Along

Some very talented bloggers out there have gotten together to put on a "Bloggers' Block-a-palooza Quilt Along"!  They are posting a block every Monday and every Thursday starting this week.  I think this is a great idea and decided to follw along.  John, of Quilt Dad, designed the first block, and you can find instructions on his blog.  They are really clear and also available in .pdf form for printing.  If anyone out there has sewn some beginner quilts and want to expand their techniques, quilt-alongs can be a great way to find the expertise and support one needs to take the next step.

I knew I wanted to use Swiss Chocolate for my blocks, but couldn't decide upon a color story, so I did one in chocolate and one in mocha.  I still can't decide which I like best, so I might have to do every block in both!

"Chocolate" Blog-a-palooza Block 1

"Mocha" Blog-a-palooza Block 1

I can't wait to see what other people sew and post to the flickr group!

Amanda

San Clemente Tote

I received the new Keepsake Quilting catalog in the mail today. Look at this cute San Clemente Tote pattern by Stephanie Prescott featured on page 95. It uses a "Garden Floral Medley" featuring Ambrosia. I think it is really cute! (Of course, I'm not prejudiced or anything.)

A Well-Dressed Table

This morning I uploaded my new complimentary pattern, "A Well-Dressed Table"!  It features reversible blossom-shaped placemats in my Ambrosia fabric with matching lined napkins. 

I was thrilled to see that many of you who signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop Swiss Chocolate giveaway last week were interested in doing home-dec projects with that line.  Swiss Chocolate prints would work well with this pattern as well - you could do one side in the chocolate color story and one side in the mocha!  (I'll be introducing a complimentary table runner  pattern for Swiss Chocolate soon.)

If you get a chance to whip some of these up in any fabric, please post them to my pattern Flickr group. 
Happy sewing!
Amanda

"Just Dessert"

The February/March version of Quilters Newsletter came today.

My diamond quilt, "Just Dessert" is on page 68! Don't let the diamonds fool you into thinking this might too difficult a project - this quilt is made with strip sets. If you have only made things with squares and rectangles this is a good next step to expend your piecing skills. (You can pick up yardage for this quilt at the Fat Quarter Shop.)

Also in this issue, a GREAT memorial article on Bonnie Leman.

Hope you have a great week!
Amanda

An Ambrosia Bag

Julie, of Jaybird Quilts, emailed me a link to an image she found this morning. Tina, thanks for making this bag in Ambrosia! I love the springtime colors I LOVE it!



Amanda

Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber

Imagine my pleasure this morning to wake up to this.  I am pinching myself.  I LOVE Jolly Jabber.  How fortunate am I????  I wrote up the piece over the holidays, but didn't know when it would be posted.  (Swiss Chocolate ships in late February.) 

Even better, Fat Quarter Shop is sponsoring a give-away of two Swiss Chocolate fat quarter bundles - one in "chocolate" and one in "mocha"!!!   You have until the end of Wednesday, January 12th.  Visit Jolly Jabber for more info.

If you get a chance while you are here, I'd love it if you would become a follower of my blog.  Thanks!

"Espresso" color story

"Mocha" color story