All About Blend Fabrics...

Hi everyone!  I thought I'd take a moment to tell you a little bit more about Blend Fabrics, who will be producing my Bella line, along with other fun things in the future!  Blend is based in Atlanta, Georgia and is a subsidiary of Anna Griffin.  Anna Griffin is quite well known in the stationery and paper industry and you can read more about her here. 

Anna Griffin's Camilla collection
(photo by Jerry Mucklow)

Anna Griffin's Leopard collection
(photo by Jerry Mucklow)

I've been a long-time admirer of Anna Griffin products, so I was so excited to hear that she was expanding into the quilting market last year, especially because I think our styles fit so well together!

Blend Fabric's Calypso collection (photo by Jerry Mucklow)

I hope you all enjoyed reading a little more about Anna!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S.  For those who have asked about Robert Kaufman, I am pleased to say we are still working together on other fronts.  Blend Fabrics will be producing my fabrics, but I am currently working with Robert Kaufman on other fun projects that are top secret for the time being.  Stay tuned!

And the winner of the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway is...

Stephanie, who said:
It is nearly impossible to choose just one; your patterns are soooooo pretty! Beribboned, or beflowered, or.... I digress ;)

Well Stephanie, you won't have to choose!  Thanks to everyone for entering - I wish I had giveaways for everyone, but I'll do doing more soon so there are always more chances.




Thanks also for the kind comments about Bella.  I'm really excited about her release this fall too!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Bella!

Hi everyone,
I'm SO excited to announce my new fabric collection for Blend Fabrics - Bella!  She comes in Buttercream and Seaglass!

She'll be shipping in the fall!  For more information, please visit Blend Fabrics.  I will be designing some special patterns for this collection for the fall so be sure to ask your local shop to contact Blend Fabrics and order the fabric in advance!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Introducing "Encore"

"Encore"  is a 12-1/2'' blocks inspired by theaters and opera houses., and you build an audience using your scraps!

You can use it to make this...

Or this...

Or this...

Want to learn how?  Head on over to Madame Samm's tomorrow!

Happy sewing!

Amanda

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway!

Hi everyone,

It is time for the biannual Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day!  I'll be giving away the 8 most recent editions to my pattern line!

Bedazzled

Beribboned

Bejeweled

Beflowered

Caramel and Cocoa

Cafe Mocha

Garden Jewels

Garden Sampler

To enter, leave me a comment on this post telling me what your favorite of my patterns is.  (Thumbnails are listed on the sidebar on the left.)  International entires are welcome.  If you aren't a follower I'd love for you to become one, but it isn't required.  Please make sure to leave me a way to contact you should you win.  The deadline for entry is May 25 at 5 p.m. PST.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

It is Bloggers' Quilt Festival time over at Amy's Creative Side.  I just love visiting there and looking at all the amazing projects.

I'd like to share my Easter Table Topper.  It was such fun to design and quilt with my Bernina 580e and I loved incorporating the embroidery features.  I alos love that I was able to use many of the specialty stitches on my machine!

Because I developed the pattern for Bernina, it is free!  You can find it here.  The embroidery is optional, but you can always leave a comment with your email address if you would like me to send you the file.

Have fun visiting Bloggers' Quilt Festival!
Amanda

Skyrise

Introducing Skyrise... a modern block inspired by architecture.

For instructions, hop on over to Madame Samm's where I'm be guest-blogging!

With Skyrise you can make lots of fun quilts, using up scraps in the process.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Modern Blossom

Today (and once a week for the next four weeks) I'll be guest-blogging with a new, original quilt block over at the website at one of my favorite bloggers - Madame Samm!  So, if you would like to learn how to make a Modern Blossom...

hop on over to Madame Samm's.

And, if you make something fantastic with this block (or any of my patterns), please add it to my Flickr group that I am always forgetting to talk about.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Winner of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks - Volume 5

Yes, it is Volume 5, not Volume 6.  Don't know what I was thinking. 
So, without further ado, the winners are...

Bairdmtn , who commented:
I had already spied your block and decided I had to make it into a quilt or tablerunner! Love it! My favorite size quilt is a twin sized because it is small enough to cuddle up with and large enough to put on a full or queen size bed, too! Can't wait to get my hands on Volume 5! I have the other 4 issues and refer to them ALL the time! Just liked you on FB and followed and subscribed to your e-mails! 

and Sandi T., who said:

I really admire you and enjoy your blog so much. Lap-size quilts are the ones I make a lot and sometimes I will make queen-sized quilts. Yes, I like your idea of the black and white tuxedo quilt. I can actually visualize this quilt. Great block and great idea. Thank you for your participation and giving us all a chance to win such a fantastic magazine.

Please send me your addresses and the three patterns from my pattern line that you would like me to include.

Thanks to everyone who participated.  Lap quilts were overwhelmingly popular, but the answers were all over the map - there is a lot of creativity out there.  Thanks for the kind comments as well.

Don't forget to send pictures if you make my block!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Craftsy...

Note: If you would like to enter the giveaway, please comment on this post instead.

Just wanted to let you all know that some of my patterns are now on Craftsy! 

I don't want to compete with local shops, so they are only in pdf form, but if you live in an area where they are hard to locate, you now have a solution!

And have any of your checked out Madame Samm's blog today?  She has the cutest Sunflower Pin Keep tutorial - no sewing so it is quick.  I want to make one!

Have a great day with lots of sewing!
Amanda

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks - Volume 6

If you guessed that mine was the third row down, directly to the right of the text, you were correct!

You might have spied Veranda!

I made this block roughly the same time I made Bejeweled.  I had yo-yos on my mind.  Its called "All Buttoned Up" and I think it would also work well in black and white - like a little tuxedo!

I originally pictured this block running vertically down a lap-sized quilt.  Wouldn't it be cute in a kid's room?  I like it "sans borders".

It really isn't complex to make, and the yo-yos make it perfect to take on a trip.

Now for the giveaway!  I have 2 Quiltmaker 100 Block Volume 6 magazines to give away, and each winner will get to choose three patterns of their choice from my pattern line!  All you need to do is leave me a comment (just one) on this post telling me what size quilt is your favorite to make.  And your favorite to buy patterns for if they are two different things.  (There are those of us who are famous for biting off more than we can chew when we are looking at patterns and books or even fabric... ahem.)  Do you like making lap-quilts, wall hangings, twin sized quilts, etc.?   Please consider becoming a follower if you aren't already and you must leave me a way to contact you should you win.  Deadline is this Friday (the 4th) at midnight.

For more chances to win please visit the other block designers who are participating in the giveaways today, as well as Quiltly Pleasures, Quiltmaker's blog.

Good luck and happy sewing!
Amanda

Housekeeping

A few things...

My Easter Table Topper directions are now available as a pdf, so make sure to download it if you plan on making one. 

Have you heard about the Red, White, and Blue blog hop going on this summer at Madame Samm's? 

I'm participating and can't wait to collect my red white and blue scraps and start sewing!

Some very creative people have sent me photos of some of their great work this week and I thought I would share.  Look what Jacque of Lily Pad Quilting created with my Easter Table Topper pattern!  I love the basket of additional eggs that she placed in the center.  Why didn't I think of that?

And Marilyn used Me and My Sister's Amelia fabric to create a vibrant version of my Beflowered pattern. 

Love it - expecially the color choice for the quilting thread!


I think that wraps it up...

I'll be back late tonight to post about my Quiltmaker block, along with a fun giveaway!

Happy sewing!
Amanda