…. Kim Plohocky!!!

Congratulations, Kim — and thanks to everyone who took the time to comment, and those who visited Cori’s web/blog site too.

Stay tuned for more quilty goodness!

Program 208 – a Surprise “Find” in Utah
(Right-Click or Ctrl-Click on the icon below and select “save link as…” to download the podcast to your computer)

Running time: 00:22:51 Size: 22.1 MB

Just before Market, I had the opportunity to go and visit my dear friend, Karen, who always takes care of me and is my partner in crime at the Utah Quilt shops. I walked thru the front door of Quilt Etc. in Sandy, Utah and what did I see?

Ok, so does this quilt send you into orbit, or what?!

I just went nuts. I had never seen a quilt quite so charming with little creative details and I had not heard of Cori Blunt or Chitter Chatter Designs before. It seems that Cori and her over-the-top mind-blowing quilt designs was a well kept secret in the state of Utah.

No More!

I had to have that pattern and this one:

This one is Cherry Tweet (Queen size) and the one above it is Very Cherry (wallhanging). Don’t you think Cherry Tweet would be a great wedding quilt?

Ok, here’s what I think of Cori Blunt: unbelievably, mind-blowingly talented! Her applique and design work reminds me of the Disney Animation brain-trust. Can you tell that I was mightily impressed by Cori and her quilts?

So not only is she an amazing quilter – she’s a savvy Mom of five kinders and sweet! You’ll find out more about Cori when you listen to the podcast.

Luckily, I was able to meet her at Market, when she had her very first booth:

and here is a quilt that she made of her daughters. No surprise that I love this one too!

What a great way to create a portrait quilt of your children or grandchildren!

Ok, so Cori is also extremely generous…. here’s the giveaway:

There is a giveaway here on my site and one on Cori’s too.

Here are the details: (please READ, don’t SCAN )

Listen to the podcast, then go and visit Cori’s website ChitterChatter Designs and her blog Creativity Among Chaos. Leave a comment for Cori on her blog and then come back to here and leave a comment for me – and tell me what you think is amazing about Cori’s talent.

This is a perfect giveaway for someone who loves applique, hand or my machine method. Which one do you like best?

I will choose the winner on Tuesday night, July 26th and announce on my blog the next day. The winner will have 48 hours to email their mailing address to me. A new winner will be announced if I don’t hear from the winner in time allowed.

I really think you’ll enjoy finding out more about Cori and Chitter Chatter Designs. Enjoy!

©2011 Annie Smith All Rights Reserved

the Winner of A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue is: Katie M!

and the Winner of Machine Embroidered Quilting and Applique is: Desiree Kumpf!

So, winners, don’t forget to send me your mailing address –

Sorry for that agonizing delay. I’ve been recovering still from my accident and trying to plan some scathingly brilliant new things — and of course, time slips away.

Ryan, my son, calls me out today and says, “Mom, do you know how long it’s been since you’ve done a podcast ?!”

I have two coming up, packed with inspiration and prizes that you will not believe — so stay tuned! Please? ; )

The winner of Country Comforts is… Jocelyn!

Congratulations, Jocelyn — don’t forget to send me your mailing address.

And, if you haven’t left comments for A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue, you have until midnite, tonight to do so –

Now, on to today’s book:

Machine Embroidered Quilting and Applique

by Eileen Roche

This is a Create with Nancy book, which means there is a DVD in the back that is hosted by Nancy Zieman, featuring the book! How cool is that?! (Well, so cool in fact that I have two more Create with Nancy book titles that will be a part of the book review and giveaway in the near future — for real!)

So I have to tell you, this book is a Machine Embroider’s, machine quilter’s and machine appliquer’s DREAM book.

Eileen is considered an Expert in the industry, as she is, also, the Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine

All of the instructions in the book are accompanied with detailed photos so you can see exactly how Eileen means for you to follow along. There are sidebar comments by Nancy Zieman throughout the book as well.

The projects in the book are simple, cool and do-able.

If you have an embroidery attachment to your sewing machine that is collecting dust because you haven’t taken the time to use it, or have been afraid to get started – this book is for you. Believe me – I have an embroidery attachment and just reviewing this book made me want to set my machine up and get going. Really — what have I been waiting for?

Eileen’s blog is filled all kinds of inspiration! And she does cool Stitching Sisters events.

To take a video peek at the book, click here.

For a chance to win this gorgeous book:

leave a comment on my website, after visiting Eileen’s blog (click on the link above) and leaving a comment for her (and your name will be put in the drawing a second time). If you let me know that you watched the video, your name will go in again.

I will pick the winner on Saturday, July 9th. So good luck!!

I have a surprising copy of a new book, A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue

a collaboration by two stellar quilters and authors, Christine Porter and Darra Williamson.

The book features 12 small quilts,  22″ x 26″,  offering a quilt for each month of year — themed!

For example, in January – Sue goes skiing, in February – Sue delivers a Valentine, and then, in March – Sue participates in March Madness! That’s collegiate basketball for those of you who don’t follow… ; )

I love the wit and whimsy of the quilts in this book — including the “Sue Says” sidebar tips. The quilts either made me smile or laugh out loud with the clever designs that Christine and Darra chose, like June’s “On a Quilting Cruise with Sunbonnet Sue” and July’s Sunbonnet Sue at the BBQ.

Christine and Darra met in 1992 at a Jimmy Beyer Quilting Seminar, They traveled between England (Christine’s home) to the U. S. (Darra’s home) to work on the quilts and the book together — a great collaboration.

For your chance to win this fun book, filled with technique wisdom from, uh, “Sue”:

Visit Christine’s website and Darra’s blog entries on the SeeHowWeSew blog

Leave a comment me here if you want to be in the drawing, for Darra on her blog for an extra point (Christine doesn’t have a blog), and I will pick the winner on Thursday, July 7th.

Lots more to come!

Hi quilters!

The Summer is quickly speeding past us. I can’t beleive we are in July already, let alone that we’re celebrating our Independence Day today.

I’ve been away from the podcast and blog because of a freak little accident that I spoke about a week or so ago. You can scroll down a few past entries if you missed it and you care to know…

So, in an effort to empty my treasure box of products, (and because I am moving s-l-o-w because of the accident), I decided to get back to the giveaway a day.

so… here we go!

The first review is of the book, Country Comfort by Cheryl Wall of British Columbia.

Ok, so I LOVE this book and thought twice about giving it away!
The subtitle of the book is “Quilts for Casual Living” – perfect.
There are 12 quilt projects in the book, each pieced patchwork, created with beatuiful fabrics. At least half of the quilts are embellished with applique too.

In the Introduction, Cheryl speaks about her love if primitives and that love is carried through her book. Instructions, diagrams and patterns are well written. The photography in this book is very well done — I dare you to choose just one of these quilts to make for your home or cabin.

My favorite quilt from the book is Mountains and Meadows,

which blends Delectable Mountains blocks with stars, flowers and hearts, flat cottons with felted wools.

Cheryl’s fabric choices for her quilts are spot-on, creating optical interest without losing the design with fabrics being to too close in value, or losing her appliques in the same way.

For an opportunity to win Country Comforts, visit Cheryl’s website and her Country Quilts blog — make sure that you click on each of the links, as her blog isn’t listed on her website.

Each time you leave a comment, at Cheryl’s blog and here on mine, your name will be entered into the drawing to win, giving you more chances to win.

I will choose the winner on Wednesday, July 6th — good luck!

… is Annie?

P.S. If you’ve left a comment for ANY of the giveaways, scroll down a little to see the list of winners that I have NO ADDRESSES for! If you have not sent me your address THIS WEEK, I don’t have it, and I can’t send you your prize!

Please email me with your address!