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/

A Splendid winner.....

Hello everyone! It's another Splendid Sampler 2 Thursday!

While I'm still trying to catch up, this has been a very busy week (as most weeks are before Christmas) and, I finished  only 2 blocks from last week. Jane's First Aid and Pat's Antique Memories. You will note in the photo, a few favorite tools: Aurifil thread, Kai double bent scissors and Olfa's Frosted 1" x 12" ruler that is really 1 1/4" x 12 1/2". the ruler was perfect for cutting strips for Pat's Antique Memories.

Last week I told you if you left me a comment there would be a chance at winning a grab bag of assorted fabrics, from my lines with Moda that I'm using in my sampler.

There were 103 comments as of 10:00 pm eastern standard time, Wednesday.

 I loved reading every comment!
A random generator picked number 69 PAT IN TEXAS
Hope I counted correctly!

  Please email me, link in my profile, your info and I'll get the goods to YOU!
If Pat doesn't respond, I'll pick another name.

Fabrics used in Jane's block are from Hope's Journey, Evelyn's Homestead, and Harriet's Handwork.

Fabrics used in Pat's block, are from Hope's Journey, Lizzie's Legacy, Rachel Remembered, and Harriet's Handwork.

Today, there are 4 new blocks to sew, more catching up for me, LOL.
For links to the Designers on this week's tour, go to www.thesplendidsampler.com

Have a great day stitching the blocks.
I'm going to finish decorating for Christmas.

Until next time.
~ Betsy

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