Announcement...BlockHeads 3 is coming

Good Monday morning!

I'm happy to announce, that next month in mid January, we will begin BlockHeads 3! Watch for more details and a few rule changes. More on the plan for a fun year of blocks to come.

Here is my quilt from last year's BH2.

Photo was taken then it went to be quilted and is currently hanging in Moda's lobby.

We designers haven't seen all the blocks yet, so I have little to tell other than it is going to be fun!!!

In BlockHeads 1 the 6 designers offered starter bundles and we are doing that again.  Below is a sampling of my palette and the fabrics that will come in my bundle.

I'll start with Sarah's Story, which is in shops now, and add a sprinkling of Susanna's Scraps. A second bundle will be available when Nancy's Needle arrives in the Spring.

Here are swatches of what I'm planning over 2 bundles, and by the time we get to April, I might add more, or not. I'm not sure the number yet. Fabrics will be cut in fat 1/16 (9"x11") pieces and will fit in a priority envelope for domestic delivery.

I'll get the details worked out, and will take orders then, after Christmas.

If my palette strikes your fancy, you can leave me a comment now. Number of bundles will be limited. I know it's a hard decision when you don't know where you are going.

Famous quote from my husband, "I don't know where I'm going, but follow me anyway!

I've been in an extreme time crunch and the holidays are in the way, LOL. Not really, but it's a juggling act to get the house decorated and make quilts and write patterns all at the same time. NO baking yet, but cookie making with my daughter and granddaughter is later this week.

Sarah's Story is here at my house, still in the boxes. I'm hoping if things go smoothly, for a couple of days, I can get to work on cutting this week.

be sure to follow me on Instagram @betsy_chutchian

for the latest news.

Here is the list of fabulous designers for BlockHeads3

Corey Yoder

Sherri McConnell

Brigitte Heitland

Betsy Chutchian

Jan Patek

Lisa Bongean

Lissa Alexander

Laurie Simpson

Vanessa Goertzen

Stacy Iest Hsu

Robin Pickens 

Janet Clare

Jen Kingwell

Joanna Figueroa

Hope you will join us on this great adventure in quiltmaking!

Enjoy the holiday season!

Until next time,

~ Betsy

and the winner is.....

I have absolutely LOVED reading all the comments about YOUR Thanksgiving (holiday) favorite mix it ups and the guesses as to my least favorite.

I'm a turkey girl, and this year Thanksgiving is on my birthday.  Since it happens every few years, it can be a wonderful celebration with family or a big mess and birthday is totally ignored.

I have never hosted Thanksgiving. But, I have hosted Christmas for 40 years. my first was at age 23. In our family, tradition has always been that the same menu be served for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When I was a kid, because of my birthday being on Turkey Day, Mother didn't want to make a cake, only pies and asked what pie I would like....Chocolate Icebox.

So we have chocolate icebox pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

I've been incharge of the dressing for years....loving making it. Mixing the cornbread, onions, celery, broth and poultry seasoning remind me of Mom and my grandmother in our kitchen, both great cooks....and I cook like they did. The aroma on Thanksgiving morning...heavenly.

I will eat anything except pumpkin pie, even brussel sprouts (which we never have) and green bean casserole. Corn casserole is my husband's favorite, mom's recipe, and I prefer it at Thanksgiving. I LOVE cranberries! and make the cranberry sauce. After having my Aunt Lyda's one year, I never opened another can.

Some of you may follow me on Instagram and saw my Halloween posts, maybe you saw the one where I wrote the only pumpkin spice things I like are jack o' lanterns.

I think it was a texture thing as a kid, because I'm sure my grandmother's would have been fantastic...for everyone else.  LOL

This has been so much fun...Thankfully the random number generator, picked the winner....

Congratulations !!!

Deb

who wrote,

My fave is chopping up a cranberry fruit relish vs the canned cranberry sauce. I'm guessing yours is stuffing the turkey.

Deb, I'll email you.

Everyone remember, when entering a giveaway, please include an email.

Thank you ALL for entering.

Thank you Moda and Martingale for providing the items and to all the designers for their creations!

Until next time,

~ Betsy

Mix It Up...Day 1 of a new blog hop and a Giveaway

Hi everyone!

 Welcome to Day 1 of a blog/social media hop for Martingale's newest compilation book, 

MIX IT UP.

 16 quilts from 16 designers. Compiled by Lissa Alexander.

Here is my quilt, Step it Up

...in the book

...with Cake Mix Recipe 8

...on the guest bed

 ...sideways, the way I think I will hang it.

For my quilt I used one Cake Mix Recipe 8 and a total of 26 - 10" squares of assorted cream prints  and a total of 26 - 10" squares of red, indigo, and brown prints from all my collections for Moda.

My best tip for sewing...put the light fabric on top under the cake mix paper.  After cutting the parts apart, press to the dark print with the paper on. 

This keeps your half square triangles nice and square. Then, remove the paper.

I really enjoyed selecting the fabrics for this quilt and equally enjoyed sewing the cream prints to the dark prints with the papers.  Arranging the rows was fun and I think you can see that substituting other colors or, including more colors would be just at good looking.  I will be using this quilt a lot throughout the year, as it fits in perfectly with my decorating scheme. I LOVE this quilt.

I hope you like  Step it Up and the others in the MIX IT UP book! Each and every one is wonderful, designed by very talented quilters.

Would you like a chance to win a prize from me and each of the participants?

Here is my Giveaway....

two Layer Cakes ( Sarah's Story and Bella Solids), one Cake Mix Recipe 8, 

and the Mix It Up book!

Here are the red, indigo and brown prints in Sarah's Story 

and golds and sky blues

Add more red, indigo and brown prints or, use all the colors in Sarah's Story. Add more lights to go with those in Sarah's Story or use the Layer Cake of Bella Solid. 

 Regardless of how you mix it, have fun with Step It Up!!!

Side note...Sarah's Story will be arriving in shops this Month.

If you would like a chance for my giveaway, shown above, please leave me a comment about your favorite thing to 'mix up' for a Thanksgiving get together or dinner, AND a guess as to what might be my least favorite....it's about that time to gather the recipes and start cooking.

Comments need to be made by Wednesday, November 5th at 10:00pm CST 

when my giveaway closes.

One lucky winner will be announced Thursday morning November 6th. 

Today, I am joined by Susan Ache @yardgirl60 and Martingale @martingaletpp  https://blog.shopmartingale.com/

Please visit Susan and Martingale to see what they are giving away.

Below is a complete listing of participants and the days they will post their quilts and giveaways.

Thank you for visiting and best of luck!

Until next time,

~ Betsy

Monday- 11.4:
Susan Ache - @yardgrl60
Betsy Chutchian - @betsy_chutchian / http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Martingale - @martingaletpp / https://blog.shopmartingale.com/

Tuesday - 11.5:
Zen Chic-Brigitte - @zenchicmoda / https://www.brigitteheitland.de/blog
Laurie Simpson - @minickandsimpson / http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
Moda - @modafabrics / http://blog.modafabrics.com/

Wednesday - 11.6:
Kansas Troubles-Lynne - @lynnektq / http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/
Brenda Riddle - @brengr / https://brendariddle.blogspot.com/
Corey Yoder - @corianderquilts / http://corianderquilts.com/

Thursday - 11.7:
Bunny Hill-Anne - @bunnyhilldesigns / https://bunnyhillblog.com/
Lisa Bongean - @lisabongean / https://lisabongean.com/
Me & My Sister - @meandmysisterdesigns / https://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/
Sherri McConnell - @aquiltinglife / https://www.aquiltinglife.com/

Friday - 11.8:
Janet Clare - @janeteclare / http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/
Pretty by Hand-Kristyne Czepuryk - @prettybyhand / http://prettybyhand.com/
Sweetwater - @sweetwaterfabrics / https://www.thesweetwaterco.com/the-sweetwater-blog/
American Jane-Sandy - @sandyklop /

I Can Make That

Hi everyone!

Welcome to I Can Make That blog hop!

Just before Spring Market in Kansas City, Moda designers were asked to create an 18" block from our newest line that would be introduced for Spring Market 2019. My new line is the beautiful Sarah's Story. Sarah will deliver to shops in November.
We designers gave a fun Schoolhouse presentation to shop owners and now we are presenting our creations to you.  And, the patterns are free.  All 18" blocks can be made quickly.  Do a little more sewing and make a sampler quilt, a table runner, or pillows! I chose to make my 18" block into a Pillow.

I knew I wanted to feature my floral in the center. Borders of squares and half square triangles complete the block.  It's like a mini medallion and really fun to make.

Sorry you have to wait until November for the collection to arrive.

3 of my florals that would look great in the center.

Ready to say I Can Make That???

 Click Here for the link for my block. 

Download the pattern and you will be ready to sew.

Below are the dates and designers for the hop. Catch up, or plan ahead!

September 23:  Lella Boutique and A Quilting Life.

September 24:  Kansas Troubles and Corey Yoder 

 September 25:  Crystal Manning and Me & My Sister

September 26:  Jan Patek

September 27:  Robin Pickens

 September 30:  Basic Grey

October 1: Betsy Chutchian and Lisa Bongean 

October 2:  American Jane

On October 3:  Kathy Schmitz

October 4:  Zen Chic and Deb Strain

Hope you enjoy making these blocks!

Come back and visit...if you follow me on Instagram, you know Spring and Summer have been challenging times for me with the massive swelling in my right hand.  No drawing, writing, typing or hand sewing for months does not make a happy Betsy.  Update - its better, but not fixed. Typing, drawing, writing, and sewing with a compression glove is very awkward, and frustrating. Today is my first attempt at typing on the keyboard since February. LOL 

Never give up...

Until next time,

~ Betsy

It's My Week! Block 45 Twelve Crowns Moda BlockHeads2

Can you believe we are getting closer to finishing BlockHeads 2 ???

This is WEEK 45 and it is my week!

What a variety of blocks and sizes! And what a good time I've had on this project. After you make my block there will be only 7 blocks to go!

Here is my messy design wall.  It's too narrow and too short to hold all the blocks. 

 I've had to pin blocks on top of blocks. UGH!

Before I show you the layout, here is my block.

Twelve Crowns

18" block

This pad of 1 1/2" triangle paper, Cupcake Mix 2 shown below, 

is what I used to make the small triangles.

I had a partial pad leftover from another project..such a good thing to have on hand!

Any brand of 1 1/2" triangle paper will work. Or make  your HSTs using your favorite method.

Select a 2 tone block, like I have done with indigos, blacks and shirtings from Evelyn's Homestead or 12 prints, in 12 colors,one for each crown. So many options.

I looked at my blocks and how they will go together and that's when I decided on the simpler color scheme.

Below, I've given pressing and clipping tips.

start your block by making 12 of these crown blocks.

I flipped the seams at the intersection sewn, and gave a little clip so seams will nest and the intersection will feel flat.

Arrange your block units with plain squares and sew together in rows and then join the rows.

Click Here

to download the pattern for Twelve Crowns

Here are the blocks as they go in the plan...

left side...

right side top...

right side bottom which spills onto the floor...

Just noticed the fish. lol, they will be turned correctly later.

Here is the Moda layout with my block, upper right hand corner.

Hope you have been following the progress the last few weeks.

Modern version...

Traditional version...

The open spaces show there are 7 open places to fill.

I fall more toward the modern group, with the light backgrounds, I think, even with my 1800's reproduction fabric!. In both of the above layouts, the block placement is the same.
Since there are multiple blocks of each size, expect some switching around in my final layout.
I'm not a planner...I made blocks in whatever fabrics I thought made a good block, LOL, not thinking ahead as to where they would be going.  I'm looking forward to moving blocks around, but some will stay exactly as planned.

Hope you are having as much fun as I am making these blocks.
Please visit all our designers below to see what they have made this week.
Don't forget to check in with the Moda BlockHeads Facebook group too!

I've just returned home from a wonderful teaching trip with a wonderful group of ladies at the Lakeview Quilt Guild near Houston. and I stayed at a wonderful retreat center in La Porte, And Sew It Began. Photos don't do it justice...it is SOOO me! so much so, I truly hated to leave at the crack of dawn Tuesday morning when Southwest cancelled the flight home. Thank goodness Renita called at 4:45 am and got us on another flight. Bless you Renita! We made it back home earlier than we had planned, so I could add these photos to the post.
Thank you Ronda, the owner or retreat house and shop and all our wonderful 'handlers' who made this trip awesome.

Retreat house, perfectly decorated with antiques and fabulous quilts!

 The workshop location, maybe 4 steps from the back door...awesome!

 The quilt shop, maybe 6 steps from the workshop door!

Silly me forgot to take photos inside!

Now, go sew!

Until next time.
~ Betsy


Betsy Chutchian

http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/

Brigitte Heitland - Zen Chic

https://www.instagram.com/zenchicmoda/

https://www.brigitteheitland.de/blog/

Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts

https://www.instagram.com/corianderquilts/

http://littlemissshabby.com/

Jan Patek

http://janpatek.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jan_patek_quilts/

Jo Morton

http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/

https://www.instagram.com/joquilts/

Laurie Simpson

https://www.instagram.com/minickandsimpson/

http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/

Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings

www.lisabongean.com

https://www.instagram.com/lisabongean/

Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles

http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lynnektq/

Me & My Sister Designs

Barbara Groves & Mary Jacobson

http://www.meandmysisterdesigns.com/blog/

https://www.instagram.com/meandmysisterdesigns/

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

http://www.aquiltinglife.com

https://www.instagram.com/aquiltinglife/

Stacy Iest Hsu

https://www.instagram.com/stacyiesthsu/

Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique

https://www.instagram.com/lellaboutique/

Carrie Nelson

http://blog.modafabrics.com/