NEW! Flyfoot Block Pattern Available

"Flyfoot" is now available as a 12" finished block!

Goodbye Needle-Turn, Hello Button-Hole!

This past week I have been so frustrated that I've dreaded quilting and put off working on the Sunny Floral Applique quilt. Why? Simple. I had forgotten how much I hate to needle-turn!

On Friday, I concluded that clenching my teeth, tightening my shoulders, getting a stress-headache, and the pain in my neck just wasn't going to cut it. And I wasn't even half finished with the first block, Mexican Rose!

Once I came to the conclusion that needle-turn must go and button-hole must come to my aid, I literally breathed an audible sigh of relief. That made me laugh, as that was the very second that I realized how much I hate needle-turning.

Quilting should be fun. Not stressful. Ya think?

2 New Applique Blocks!

2 new blocks are now online. I'm still working on the needle-turn tutorial, but if you're already an applique diva, you can go for these.


Mexican Rose


Three-Part Rose

I'm currently working on the Mexican Rose and will post a photo of my finished block ASAP!

This is, by the way, part of the Sunny Floral Applique Quilt series. I hope some of you choose to participate and make this quilt along with me.

FOLLOW THIS BLOG!

Did you know you could follow this blog easily? That means that you would be notified via e-mail each time I publish an article/new pattern.

Simply click on the "FOLLOW BLOG" link at the top of this page. If you do not have a Google account, it can be created quickly and for free, with very little personal information.

So, follow this blog!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY GIVE-AWAY

At the end of this month, midnight July 31st CST to be exact, I will be having a drawing for a surprise fabric package totalling approximately 3-5 yards of very good quality (non-Christmas) fabric that will be given away to someone who follows my quilting blog.

I am trying to generate traffic, obviously, and so at the end of the month, I will take all of the person's names that have commented on this site (even you just say "enter me in this drawing!" under this article), pool them together and draw a single name for the fabric package. If you comment more than once (under differrent articles, for example), your name goes into the pool more than once; one ticket entry per comment for the month. To gain access to all of the articles on this site, simply click the "Quilting With Terry" graphic at the top of the page; it will take you to the home page of my blog.

I also have another, very important, reason for doing this: I spend quite a bit of time writing and researching to try to give useful information to my readers in the articles I develop. It would be nice for me to know if this information is helpful or if there are suggestions for improvement or whatever... and I have no way of knowing that at this point without reader feedback. Which is where you come in. :)

So, please put this site in your favorite bookmarks (http://quilting-with-terry.blogspot.com/) and take a few minutes to check it every day or two for new announcements. Your comments really are appreciated... and help motivate me to keep giving you more free articles and quilting patterns!!

Inspiration For Designing Quilts

To read this original article in its entirety (to get more design ideas), refer to "Inspiration For Designing Quilts".

Designing quilts is a passion for me. My mind is always on the alert for ideas and new quilts. It is something that you make yourself aware of to begin with, then it just happens automatically. Quilt ideas soon begin leaping at you from everywhere and when you see a design and share it with a non-quilter... well, just know that your creativity may go unnoticed, ignored, and under-appreciated!

I moved into my new cottage in early May (quite a downsize!) and I've been going through my storage... sorting items into the "keep" pile, the "donate" pile, and the "sell it" pile. This is quite a monumental task, as I went from 3000 sq. ft. down to 600! I am having to be very, very selective; something that I am definitely not used to.

Well, Monday, I found a rug that I had forgotten I had. I purchased it about five or six years ago with the single thought that this would make the most spectacular pattern for a wallhanging! It is floral (imagine that from me), by nature, with a hummingbird, which simply "looks" like it has the grand potential to become a gorgeous appliqué design. I think it'll be my "next spring" project. This is one of the most difficult aspects of designing for me; thinking that far into the future!

Quilting And Color

SPECIAL NOTE: To appreciate the full value of this article and to completely understand each concept, it is vitally important to view the rich graphics and read the entire article located on Quilting Passion.

What is your first thought when you begin to formulate a plan for a new quilt and get to the color part? If it is one of "Oh, no, how can I make this work!", then this article should provide some useful information for you!

Color can make... or break a quilt, so understanding basic concepts and terms about color, plus the use of a few tools provided can give you a foundation to base your color choices on. This information about color and how it works in the natural world can allow your quilt to become your work of art with a lot less effort than imagined. How? Keep reading!

Terms, or definitions, are necessary in order to better understand and communicate color and color characteristics. This article only includes the basic terms and eliminates the "more-information-than-you-probably-need-at-this-point" definitions that have the distinct possibility of totally confusing the issue.

Topics covered in the original article are:

• COLOR WHEEL
• PRIMARY COLORS
• SECONDARY COLORS
• TERTIARY COLORS
• TINT
• TONE
• HUE
• SHADE
• WARM AND COOL COLORS
• COMPLIMENTARY COLORS
• SPLIT COMPLIMENTARY COLORS
• VALUE
• CHOOSING FABRICS AND COLORS
• SUMMARY

Hopefully, this article will be informative and help you with future color selections!

Comments to the article are definitely appreciated, as are suggestions.

Copyright Rant!

Monday, I had someone (thank you!) to e-mail me that they recognized one of my articles on geocities.com, with THAT person (the geocities user) taking credit for writing it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I first thanked the e-mailer, then promptly sent HIGH PRIORITY e-mail to the geocities user in violation of my copyright AND to geocities. I've yet to hear from geocities and the user's e-mail address is no longer valid. I feel like calling geocities, but I'm betting the hold time would be inconceivably astronomical!

I sure feel a copyright article coming on...

New Floral Appliqué Quilt Coming Soon!

A couple of years ago, I began a Block of the Month (BOM) quilt called, "Sunny Floral Appliqué".

Thanks to a computer and server crash, I lost every single file, four or five blocks into the nine total blocks in the quilt. I was heart-broken!

Over the past few months, I have had numerous e-mails asking me about the pattern, so I decided to once again give it a go! One organized e-mailer sent me a photo of the completed design that I had had on my Web site and it was enough to allow me to redesign the quilt. Although it isn't exact (one different block and the colors), it is mighty darn close! The original is located at the bottom and I will post the new design later this week!

Stay tuned for 12 new patterns!

July 2009 "Quilty" Desktop Wallpaper

Do you like to change the desktop wallpaper/background on your computer every once in awhile? Do you get bored with the same old thing? Do you love quilts and/or quilting?

If you answered "yes", then here is a possible solution for you.

Each month, I create a new "quilty" desktop wallpaper that you can use.

Directions are on the Web page so that the process of using it is simple and fast.

July Quilt Desktop Wallpaper

Please let me know what you think of this! Enjoy!

"Backyard Bird Quilts" Book Review

I just finished reviewing a wonderful book by Jodie featuring 18 paper-piecing projects.

If you love birds and quilting, this book is a must-have!

http://quiltingpassion.com/Terry/reviews/br-backyardbirdsquilts.html

Please comment to let me know what you think about this book and/or article? Thank you!

Welcome!!

Welcome to my blog spot!

I love designing, writing about, and making quilts, as well as traveling. I am also an avid reader.

Please take the time to check my blog a few times a week to see what's new. I'd really appreciate it if you could comment, also. It motivates me to do more! :)

To learn more about me, check out http://quiltingpassion.com/.