Quilting From Every Angle...

Title: Quilting from Every Angle
Author: Nancy Purvis
Publisher: Interweave
ISBN: 978-1-63250-086-1

Welcome to Day 3 of Nancy's book tour!

I am delighted and honoured to have been asked by Nancy to be a part of her book tour...have you seen the list of incredible quilters on there?!

I have known Nancy for quite some time via Instagram and have had the pleasure of having her and her lovely family come and visit me. I have long since been a fan of Nancy's work. She is on my Top 10 favourite quilters...actually higher than that but I don't want her blushing too much.

Nancy's style is bold, graphic but with a limited colour scheme...exactly what I am drawn to in a quilt design.

Nancy's book, Quilting From Every Angle, is a true reflection of her style and is consequently one of my favourite quilting books ever. I do love a good quilt book but in truth they are normally lovely eye candy full of wonder but with maybe 1-2 projects that I would actually want to make. Quilting From Every Angle is full of quilts I want to make...every single one of them.

Not only is the book full of quilts that I would love to make but it is a great resource too. I love the initial chapter, Inspired Quilting. It is so interesting to read about where Nancy gets her inspiration from and also to read invaluable tips on where we should look to for quilting and colour inspiration. Nancy goes on to give such great information on techniques she uses...I am definitely going to give glue basting a try...thanks Nancy!

The projects themselves are written in a very clear way with fantastic diagrams to go alongside. Actually I have to admit to sometimes just using the diagrams to construct the quilt I made, they were that good. What can I say I am a visual learner...words baffle me!

Because I truly love all the projects in the book I struggled to choose one to make for this review but I settled on the Desert Blooms Medallion Quilt, mainly because I have always wanted to make a Medallion quilt so this was the perfect opportunity.

I was inspired by Nancy's colour scheme to make this quilt as I thought the bold design could take it and would highlight the details of each border to the best effect. 

Unfortunately with my recent house move completing the quilt centre and first border was as far as I got but having said that I think it stands alone beautifully and would make a lovely mini for the wall as it is. I will finish it however as I want to see how it looks in full.

If you haven't yet got your hands on a copy of Nancy's book you really should. I am also pleased to let you know that I am having a giveaway here of a digital copy for one lucky reader. Just leave a comment here to be in with a chance of winning. I will draw a winner next Friday, 20 November. Good luck!

Don't forget to follow the rest of the blog tour, where there are other chances to win a copy of the book. Details of all the wonderful peeps are here...

11/10- Michelle Wilkie of Factotum of Arts
11/11- Hillary Goodwin of Entropy Always Wins
11/12- Karen Lewis of Karen Lewis Textiles
11/13- Anna Graham of Noodlehead
11/16- Rachel McCormack of Wooden Spoon Quilts
11/17- Tara Larson of Rad & Happy 
11/18- Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane
11/19- Holly Hughes of Holly Gets Quilty
11/20- Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft
11/23- Pat Bravo of Pat Bravo Fabric Design and Jesse Maloney of Art School Dropout
11/24- Astrid Slagle of Red Red Completely Red
11/25- Holly DeGroot of Bijou Lovely
11/26- Christopher Thompson of The Tattooed Quilter
11/27- Spoonflower

In the meantime if you would like to purchase a signed copy of Nancy's book then go right here.

Also just to mention, as in all books some errata aren't picked up in the editing process. To be kept up to date with errata that have been rectified go here.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the tour!

p.s. I have to apologise for Nancy's pictures being so small...when I enlarged them they were too blurry...I need to find a way to fix that so you can really see how wonderful they are.

Time for a new start...

Blueberry Park's days are numbered. Thank you all so much for being with me on this chapter of my journey. It is time for things to move on...to find out more about the new chapter of my journey go here.

xox

Blueberry Park Makes 5...

October 2014 makes from Instagram with the tag #blueberryparkmakes...

What a wonderful bunch of makes in the group.

 It was so difficult to choose my favourite 4 since, as usual, there are so many original makes that you guys are all doing. Really it blows my mind to see.

Please do check out the group to see all the awesome talent, but in the meantime October's Top 4 belong to...clockwise from top left...

@greenandbell The start of a mini for Rebecca's #igminiswap...boy this is going to be incredible...

@fleathem I am loving seeing my quilt patterns made up as well as seeing my fabrics in all your work and am loving Fi's fab Hourglass quilt come together...

@alittlegoodness A little bit goes a long long way and if you have ever wondered what on earth you can do with the itty bitty scrap packs I sell then seeing Leslie's oh so cute hair elastics should inspire you! Just gorgeous.

@polkadotlane Kelly took on the task of creating my Pixelated quilt from Love Patchwork and Quilting and I just love her version...don't tell but I think I prefer it to mine ;-)

Please please please keep making and posting to #blueberryparkmakes ...you are all so inspiring and I can't get enough of your makes!

Karen x

Blueberry Park Makes 4...

September Instagram's #blueberryparkmakes

Wow that came around quickly! It seems like everyone has rediscovered creative time with the kids going back to school n all!

It has been another month of wonderful makes ~ man you lot are so creative!

As ever I can only choose 4 so September's favourite 4 Instagram pics with the hashtag blueberryparkmakes are as follows...

clockwise from top left...

@themessynest ~ Cuter than cute row of pips on Jen's apple block...check out Jen's other apple blocks with Blueberry park centres...

@theochiltree ~ the most stunning log cabin block EVER...and check out Nikki's feed to see what she did with this block...it's awesome!

@sewist53 ~ the ever creative Sue's coffee jug jacket...love it!

@littlecreatable ~ a paper piecing masterpiece by Brie is just too astounding for words. I can't even imagine how incredible this is in person.

Thanks as ever to all of you for lighting up my world with your amazing creations...I can't get enough of them!

Lucky Number 13...

A new issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting landing on the doormat is always a treat and Issue Thirteen,, out now was right up there.

From first glance the pretty blue cover, with Lynne's stunning Medallion Quilt, along with Manda's gorgeous lampshade, oh and my deer cushion!, didn't fail to entice.

This is yet another stunningly put together Issue. Jen's styling brings projects to life in a way, as a contributor, you just can only imagine.

Lucky Number 13 for me though as I have not one, but 2 projects in this issue and, with both of them, Jen captured such a cool freshness that almost made me not recognise them as my own!

The first project was one I had a great deal of fun making, partly because I just love Carolyn Friedlander's fabrics and this quilt was inspired by a swap we did with each other with our respective fabrics.

The second project was a pair of vintage and linen cushions made with some vintage fabrics my dear friend Cathi had sent me. The reverse applique deer took me out of my comfort zone, but I am so pleased it did...I absolutely love the finished effect. Don't you find that is often the case? Push yourself out of the norm and something rather spectacular happens...if you haven't thrown the fabrics away in frustration and given up first!

If you want to see more of these projects, or some of the other great ones in the mag go here to get a copy before it sells out. You really won't want to miss out on this one.

Blueberry Park Makes 3...

So you have all been super busy over the summer and August's IG #blueberryparkmakes was full of gorgeous creations.

It was honestly so difficult to pick, but rules are rules soI could only pick 4...

clockwise from top left we have...

@greenandbell ~ Rebecca's scrappy improv quilt is an absolute delight...so much beautiful piecing for the eye to gaze over.

@nohatsquilts ~ Sarah is the queen of miniature piecing and I just love these pants!

@lisasew ~ lisa came to one of my first screen printed workshops and designed and printed up the central panel for her sewing machine cover...love it!

@isobel_hill ~ Isobel's drawstring bag is a win on every level...cute bag...gorgeous colours and hexies...ticks all round!

Thank you everyone for making and tagging your pics. I just love seeing your makes. Go check more about these and others in the group and keep making with my fabrics!

x

Book Signing Evenings...

So the book is out...a lot of you have already kindly bought it...and I hope you love it!

I am very excited to say that I have been invited to a couple of fabulous shops for Book Signing Evenings and would love to see you at one of them if you are able to.

The first is at my favourite local design shop, Chirpy, here in Leeds, next Wednesday evening, 27 August, 7-9pm.

The second is at a favourite London fabric store, The Village Haberdashery, on Monday 8 September, 7-9pm.

Come to either - come to both! - I will have books to sign for you as well as demonstrating one of the techniques in the book. You will also have an opportunity to have a little print yourself! 

I really hope you can come!