Craftsy is having a holiday sale through Christmas Eve!

If you have been thinking about gifting a class for yourself or a friend now is a great time because all classes are up to 50% off!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Watch the Modern Holiday episode of The Quilt Show for free just for this week!

We learn to bind irregular corners (like on the Garland Tree Skirt), apply pom-pom trim, and make tree blocks... in historic Charleston!

Hop on over to The Quilt Show using this link - you can watch through the 22nd.

Don't forget, to subscribe to The Quilt Show use code 238744193687 to get a $5 discount!

Happy holidays, everyone!
Amanda

"Sundance"… a BERNINA Sampler

Well, the cat was out of the bag at Market and, since they've already announced it over at BERNINA's blog We All Sew, I'm so excited to show you "Sundance"!

"Sundance" - one of my favorite quilts that I have made.

This is a sampler I designed exclusively for BERNINA dealers.  (And I've had to keep it a secret all year - that has been so hard!)  It has a little piecing, a little embroidery (optional), and a little appliqué.  A little bit of everything but nothing too difficult.

The piecing forms a grid pattern when you sew the blocks together.

I set the blocks on point to allow lots of open space for quilting!

And the quilting - I can't wait to sew another version and quilt it on their new long arm launching in the latter half of 2014!  And we will be sharing our designs, from fabric choice all the way through to quilting, through social media and at participating BERNINA dealers.  Seriously, I am SOOOO excited to share this quilt with you all because it incorporates so many of the techniques I have learned through the years sewing on BERNINA machines.

I mirrored some of the fabric motifs in the quilting.

Of course, there HAS to be a Dresden Plate.

This piece was really inspired by the BERNINA 780 and by my Bonjour, Mon Ami collection for Blend Fabrics!

Sundance will be rolling out with the new year.  Check with your local BERNINA dealer to inquire about access to this program.

I hope you will sew along with us!!!
Amanda

Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew!

Note:  The winner of this giveaway is Tammy, who loves peanut butter cookies and homemade fudge.  And guess what - you all have put me at well over 1000 Facebook followers/"likes" (and made me very hungry with your cookie ideas) so THANK YOU!  Happy Holidays!

Guess what?  Today is Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day and people are giving away all sorts of great fabrics and sewing supplies.

Here I am giving away a copy of Modern Holiday along with three different fat quarter bundles.  One is from my Holiday Bouquet line for Blend Fabrics.  A second is a red and aqua Michael Miller bundle from my Crossroads quilt and the final bundle is a bit of Christmas Candy by Doodlebug Designs from Riley Blake that I used in the Christmas Gifts quilt.  All three will go to one lucky winner!

To enter simply leave me a comment on this post telling me what your favorite holiday cookie or treat is.  And please hop on over to my Facebook page and "like" it if you have a chance - I'm close to getting 1000 followers and we'll be making some cookies of our own to celebrate once we reach that goal!    The deadline to enter is midnight on Friday, December 13th.

Be sure to hop on over to Sew, Mama, Sew to check out the other giveaways!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

"Perfect Projects for the Holidays" is live on the Quilt Show!

I'm so excited because my episode of The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims is now live!

So far this season they have featured:

• Jean Wells
• Mickey Depre
• Grace Errea
• Wendy Butler Berns
• Sure Spargo
• Mickey Lawler
• Gwen Marson
• Sheila Frampton Cooper
• Angela Walters
• Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry
• Susan Else
• Rose Sheifer
• and Lyric Kinard

As if that's not enough, there is one entire episode devoted to scrap quilting, featuring Alex Anderson!  Not that any of us have fabric scraps lying around or anything...

If any of you have been thinking about joining they gave me a coupon code to share for 5% off - it is 238744193687 and you can type it in when you check out.  There is a fun quilt gallery and active blog over there so be sure to check it out.

Happy holiday season with lots of quilting!
Amanda

Modern Holiday… not just for the holidays (and a preview of The Quilt Show!)

I was going through my files this week when I came upon these comp files.  They are from my original pitch for Modern Holiday.  At the time we were talking about doing two versions of all the quilts (crazy, I know) - in holiday and non-holiday projects.  Eventually this idea was abandoned in favor of including more projects, but I thought you all might be interested in seeing the pictures.  Even though most of the fabrics aren't available anymore, these picts might inspire you to make some Holiday non-holiday quilts of your own!

The final Holiday Squares, in various Christmas prints by Michael Miller.

A larger version of Holiday Squares in "Heirloom", by Joel Dewberry for  FreeSpirit,

Holiday Squares in another color story of "Heirloom", by Joel Dewberry for  FreeSpirit,

The final version of Crossroads, in various red and aqua fabrics by Michael Miller,

Crossroads in various Christmas Fabrics by Robert Kaufman

Modern Madness, in "Flurry" by Kate Spain for Moda.

Modern Madness in "It's a Boy Thing" by Michael Miller.
I SO want to make this one!

The final version of Snowfall, in Brrr by Laurie Wisbrun for Robert Kaufman.

A non-seasonal version of Snowfall on a dark background.
This one is in Kumari Garden by Dena Designs for FreeSpirit.

A lighter version of Snowfall,
also in Kumari Garden by Dena Designs for FreeSpirit.

My favorite design at the moment -
the final version of "Trimming the Tree".

Trimming the tree set a little differently.
Large spring blooms in Flora by Lauren and Jessie Jung for Moda.

Another floral version of Trimming the Tree.
This one is in Sweetwater's Circa 1934 collection for Moda.

This was yet another way of setting the ornaments/flowers in Trimming the Tree.
I know this is Robert Kaufman Fabric.  I think it might be Laurie Wisbrun too!

Another version of the Ornaments in holiday fabrics by Robert Kaufman.

The ornament pillows as featured in Modern Holiday,
in Riley Blake fabrics by Doodlebug Designs.

Pillows made with the same setting I used for the floral version of Trimming the Tree,
inspired by the Ornament Pillows in Modern Holiday.
In Veranda, by me!

Holiday Wreaths as pictured in the book - in beautiful polka dot prints by Robert Kaufman.
One can never have enough of those!

The Holiday Wreaths quilt sans bows, showing Kate Spain's  "Terrain" collection for Moda.
It looks like spring!  

The final version of Bloom, also in Kate Spain prints.
This collection is "Joy" for  Moda.

A springtime version of Joy in Veranda by me!

Modern Ornament Runner, in various Michael Miller Christmas prints.

Modern Ornament Runner, in Circa 1934 by Sweetwater for Moda.

The final version of the Garland Tree Skirt,
in "Christmas Candy" by Doodlebug Designs for Riley Blake.

And a version in Kate Spain's "Flurry" collection for Moda!

Also, back in March I filmed a segment of The Quilt Show in historic Charleston at the Old Exchange.  I talk about the book, quilting, designing, etc.  It was so fun!  And I really had to pinch myself talking to Alexa Anderson and Ricky Tims!  If you hop on over you can see a preview.  In this segment I gave pointers for making the quilt on the cover and for making and binding the garland tree skirt.  That segment will launch on Monday and they have given me a discount code that I can share with you all then so check back.  In the meantime you can see a trailer here.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

P.S.  Kim of Chatterbox Quilts wrote a review of Modern Holiday and Christa of Christa Quilts! wrote a review of Color Essentials recently, so if you are looking for more information on either book check them out!