Thursday, November 29, 2018

Splendid Sampler 2 It's My Day!

Hello everyone, I'm so happy to share with you my block for the Splendid Sampler 2. Today we are showing 4 blocks by 4 designers. 
I have lots to tell you and lots to show you and finally an opportunity to win a grab bag of some of the fabrics I'm using to make my blocks.

My block, Piece in Chaos pretty much exemplifies my quilting life, at it's best.  Like many of you, my love of quilting centers around my love of fabric. I'm constantly busy, working on deadlines  and then life interrupts, with a new idea, a new project and yes, new fabric and chaos ensues. 
I love the excitement of starting a new project, the variety of tasks and fabrics, but  then when things are due at the same time, it is just crazy. 
I've often times found my best ideas come when the clock is ticking.

Here is my block, Piece in Chaos on Page 49.

Imagine the beginning of a project as the center pinwheel, all the parts assembled, then framing it, and calm surrounds. Then, out of the blue, the 4 corner triangles represent 4 new ideas or deadlines.  LOL.  Are you a finisher, or would you run to start the new project.?
  Welcome to my world as an author and fabric designer. Add juggler and pattern designer. 
And I love it ALL!


All kidding aside, this block was super fun to make. So I made a few more...


and sewed them together.  I love the secondary design that is created!  Four blocks with different fabrics and you have a cute little 12" x 12" table topper.

For all the blocks I've made, I have selected a warm palette of rich reds, creams, tans, browns and dark blues from my different lines with Moda Fabrics.
Many of the fabrics are from my newest line with Moda, Harriet's Handwork.
For each line I design for Moda, I select a woman's name and give a little of her story to add to the fun. I select prints from my antique quilt collection to go along with the time period. Here is a little bit of Harriet's story....

Harriet Hanson, at age 10, began working in Boott Cotton Mills in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1835. To help her widowed mother and family, she took a position as a "doffer". As a "doffer", Harriet replaced full bobbins with empty ones. For 15 minutes each hour, Harriet raced back and forth along the loom alley carrying a bobbin box almost as big as she.  In her free time, she could read or play, passing time until needed.  She held this position, working 14 hour days at $2.00 a week for a number of years until she was promoted to "drawing - in" girl. This position was a desirable one which required steady hands and nimble fingers to draw-in the warp threads to prepare the beam for the loom.  With this position, Harriet worked at her own pace and was paid by the piece.  Harriet continued to work in the mill until she married at age 23. 

Below are a few photos of the blocks made so far.  I LOVE this palette.




I'm still trying to catch up and get the blocks done in a timely fashion.
I did not get to make the other 3 designer's blocks for to day, unfortunately.
Please go to their blogs or websites to see what they have made. Links below.

As a thank you for being with me today, I'd like to host a little giveaway.
If you will, please leave me a comment and using a random number generator, I'll select a winner for a grab bag of Betsy fabric and send to you.

Please click on the name to visit Jane Davidson, Patrina Jahnke, and Pat Sloan to see their blocks.


 In stores now, if you don't have a copy.


I'm so happy to be a part of The Splendid Sampler 2  design team!

Thank you Pat, Jane and Martingale!

Don't forget to leave me a comment before you go.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time,
~ Betsy

101 comments:

  1. I also love your new fabric line. The stories are charming. Thank you.

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  2. I love pinwheels and bright, bright fabric but your color choices are so calming that I hope I can find fabrics that will achieve the same calming.

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  3. I love your color choices, same as mine except I don't have the reds. I might have to add some reds after seeing yours!

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  4. I love your fabrics you are using. So warm and inviting. Love the secondary pattern your block makes too.

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  5. When I saw your block, I thought "Oh this will be good!".

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  6. Your blocks look great! Thank you for a chance to win a bag of scraps. I do love your fabrics! Have a wonderful,day Betsy.

    Mary

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  7. love your block and your color pallet Im doing mine scrappy

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  8. I love the colors in your fabric line!Thanks for the giveaway!

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  9. Harriet's Handwork collection is perfect for this sampler. Thank you for a chance to win a bag of scraps!

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  10. Love history and all the aspects of quilting. They go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. I love your color palette for your SS2 blocks! I am using shirtings but with bright scraps this time. Thank you for your story about the Lowell mill girl. Have you read Lyddie by Katherine Paterson?

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  12. You're in a new book! Yea! I think I have EVERY book that you have done AND most of your fabrics. Love your work!

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  13. I love the colors/ fabrics. This is going to be a wonderful quilt! This quilt block makes such a delightful small quilt! Love it too! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for The chance to win a bag of scraps!

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  14. I love your fabrics, too. It would be awesome to win some of your scraps. Thanks for the chance.

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  15. am so enjoying the Spendid Sampler 1 and 2. Not able to fully participate but have been picking and chosing blocks I like and want to try. I made yours last night, finishing it as soon as I got up this morning. Thanks for sharing your talents.:)

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  16. Wow! where have I been? Just now catching up. What a great quilt each of you is making!

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  17. Love your blocks and the fabrics you used. Very pretty..

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  18. I love blocks that make secondary designs! All of your blocks look so beautiful together--it's going to be a great quilt!

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  19. Absolutely love this line and the blocks. Can't wait to start my own!

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  20. Your blocks are lovely! Thanks for designing such a sweet block for our quilt.

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  21. I love the palette of your fabric line and the table topper made with four blocks. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. I think your fabrics are lovely and the table topper with the four blocks is very pretty.

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  23. I visited one the old cotton mills while visiting the eastern states. Interesting stories.

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  24. I just love the fabric Harriets handwork. Thank for story. I llove hearing old stories I find it fascinating

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  25. I love to make the smaller quilts. Like you, I go from one project to another. This year 2018 has been as year of finishing for me! So I can use some new fabric!

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  26. I love your block and the fabrics that you are using!

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  27. Thank you for giving a piece of history that otherwise would go unnoticed. Your line of fabric just went to the top of my purchase list.

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  28. Thanks for the history. Love your block!

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  29. I love love love your colors! Very warm and inviting!

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  30. Loved the history! My 1st job was sewing in a uniform factory for $0.75 an hour!!! Wow this really brought back memories! Thank you

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  31. Loved your block and it was easy to sew. Thanks, Maxine

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  32. I love your block design and your fabric. Beautiful.

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  33. What beautiful fabrics ! The table topper is A nice touch !

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  34. Love your block and your fabric choice. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  35. Beautiful rich fabric. Love it. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  36. I really enjoyed visiting your website.
    And your block is lovely. Thank you for your contribution to the Splendid Sampler II.

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  37. You always come up with the best color combinations and fabrics!

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  38. Oh Betsy, where do I begin?? I love how your fabrics blend, I love all of your tiny blocks you made in Blockheads 1, I love your stories of old, I think I just love everything about you, :-)

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  39. I've always wondered about the names of your fabric lines. That's so much fun to imagine these people and what they were doing at that time.

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  40. Love your block!! And I feel like we are kindred spirits, the way we work! I have so many projects going and yet I can’t wait to begin new ones with new fabric lines and patterns! I love the little history lessons behind your fabric lines!!

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  41. Love the way you take abstract fabric and florals to make beautiful designs!

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  42. Love all of your fabrics and books, Betsy!

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  43. I love your fabric and your block!! I would love to have a grab bag of your terrific fabric!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  44. Who knew about a differ? Thanks for your stories and your your fabric line. It is lovely as well as your blocks.

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  45. Love your fabrics and patterns! Quilting makes my heart happy!

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  46. Always learning more from your stories! Especially loving the circular block, and the tree branch looking block, as well as the flying geese with that border print. Hmmm...Ok so I really do love it all!

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  47. Love the stories and your block, just beautiful Betsy!

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  48. I like the table topper which I can make for my table. I love the color combination in Harriet’s handiwork

    Minerva Pena

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  49. Such great fabrics for the Splendid Sampler. I hope I win your bundle! Thanks for contributing to the Sampler Blocks.

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  50. Thank you for the block. And your storyline.

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  51. Love your color choice for these blocks! Enjoyed Harriet's little story.
    I am (slowly) working on my Wheel of Fortune blocks that I started when you were at Minglewood in September. Thank you so much, I sure enjoyed my time with you! HUGS... and stitches

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  52. Your fabric choices are exquisite!!! I love it and I love the block!!

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  53. I love your block and can't wait to get started on it.

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  54. I just love your new line Harriet's Handwork! The colors are scrumptious, totally my colors! And I also loved reading the history behind this fun block. Thanks for a chance to win your wonderful scraps!
    Carmen Montmarquet

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  55. I love the history you share about the women you name your fabric after! Beautiful fabrics too! I really enjoyed your presentation at the Quilters Guild of Dallas a few months ago! You made me want to know more about all these women.

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  56. I loved your story today, and I love your fabrics. I'm looking forward to starting this sampler - just one more quilt to finish first! best wishes to you, Kathy

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  57. Thank you for sharing your stories....I love hearing about days gone by and try to imagine what life might have been like. I’m in awe hearing how hard people work for such little pay.
    I love your work....the blocks are charming as always.

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  58. I loved reading this blog and I love your description of your quilting life in the block you made! It was a perfect description of life too!

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  59. I like your block! And the table topper is so cute!

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  60. I love your block and your colour choices ♥️

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  61. Love the block and love the colors. Everything is so cute.

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  62. Beautiful fabrics made up into a great block. A winning combination. I Would love working with these fabrics.

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  63. Oh my goodness.. your story has brought back memories. When we married in 1962, my husband was making $1.05hr as a doffer at Brenham Cotton Mill here in Tx. He worked there for 48yrs, various positions ending as supervisor until they closed their doors. Love the stories and your fabric, would love to include it in my collection and use in a quilt.

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  64. Lovely fabrics! I love to read about your named fabric lines and their history.

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  65. Sweet block, I really enjoy making the more traditional looking patterns best!

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  66. I like the colours you have choosen for your blocks
    aubphg (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  67. I enjoy your blocks on Blockheads too. Thanks for sharing your creativeness.

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  68. I especially love the little bird block. Great colors.

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  69. I love your beautiful fabrics and the story of Harriet!

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  70. My Grandmother worked in the Paterson, NJ, silk mills as a young teenager, where her father also worked. This was in the early 1910's.
    I love that you keep the stories of women alive!

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  71. Love your block and your new fabric line! Geri

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  72. Your new fabric line is scrumptious!

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  73. I love your blocks & the fabric's you used!

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  74. Beautiful block & fabric line. For some reason, it reminds me of my late grandfather, and the small log cabin house he made by hand and gave to me so long ago.

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  75. Beautiful block, beautiful fabrics used.
    Piece in Chaos is a lovely block and I think I will do mine if Civil War fabrics.

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  76. Civil War is my Dark Chocolate of the Quilting World, I just can't walk past without having some, thank god we have so many talented designers to keep producing those fabric line from times gone by.
    I love the table centre you have done, it looks right up my alley.
    Keep up the great work as I am loving being a part of SS2

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  77. Love your fabrics. Would really enjoy using them.

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  78. Love your Piece in Chaos block; your fabrics are gorgeous as well! I am enjoying SS2 immensely!

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  79. Didn't sign my name to the comment above - thought my email address was enough, but I now Know better. Collette Dean

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  80. Love your coloe palette and fabrics.

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  81. Dear Betsy, I like your block very much and am looking forward to making it. Have a great first Advent weekend! Birgitta

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  82. I loved making your block! Thank you.

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  83. Betsy loved your block and enjoy looking at your blog. It is always a fun and interesting site.

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  84. I must have some of your new line, Harriet's Handwork! It will go perfectly into my Moda Blockheads project!

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  85. A 14 hour day for a 10 year old - wow! Your blocks are beautiful made with your lovely fabrics.

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  86. I love your new line and will be watching for it! Your block was fun. I really took my time and it came out wonderful! Thank you.

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  87. eagerly awaiting your new line -- each one has been such a stunner with gorgeous colors and a great mix of textures!

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  88. Love the block and your fabrics. Enjoyed the story about Harriet.

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  89. Beautiful blocks and fabrics. Ty

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  90. I love the colors in your blocks! So warm and inviting! Thanks for sharing.

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  91. Love the warmth of your period colors. Harriet’s story is just as charming as the fabrics!

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  92. I have to admit I was a little intimidated when I first saw your block. However, when it was done I was very happy to see that I LOVED it. Thank you for this beautiful block :-)

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  93. The colors in your fabric line reach out to me. I love your designs, stories, and lessons.

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