The online social world

I have to say I've met some of the nicest people online. Really.
I now count some of my best friends as people I've never actually met. I talk to them all day, pretty much everyday. If I'm offline for a few days they email to check on me. We talk quilting, kids, work, spouses, hobbies and pretty much everything you can think of.

While I met a few from my blog I met most of them through twitter. It can be a great place to meet and chat with people, and the biggest names in quilting superstars are there too.
You can see what they're up to, get to know the person behind the designs, fabrics or books.

Twitter isn't scary, it's easy to use and I promise you can have a lot of fun. Sign up for an account, give a few people a follow (like me!) and get chatting!

And remember every Tuesday night from 9-11pm EST I host a chat over there that has awesome prizes, and tons of fun.
All you have to do is add #talknt to the end of your tweets to be involved. Since it can move pretty fast I suggest following it in tweetchat, http://tweetchat.com/room/talknt You can change the speed of the refresh and everything.
The first Tuesday every month is sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.

Gluten Free Donuts

DH made me the most delicious gluten free donuts and timbits ever. Mine were coated with cinnamon and sugar and tasted like those Elephant Ears you get at the fair! My absolute favorite, have actually eaten even though I get horribly ill treat.

We use Namaste All Purpose Flour blend, which a totally gluten free mix made in a dedicated facility. I use this flour for everything and it works as a straight substitution. Everything I've made has turned out wonderfully and DH and Little Bit eat it without noticing a difference.

I seriously recommend trying this blend if you or someone you know needs gluten free. It really is awesome and makes life easy and yummy.

The only thing with these donuts is they do get dense after sitting out for a day or two, which means store in an air tight container if they somehow manage to last that long. Ok they actually make a lot of donuts so maybe freeze some, or be like me- a total glutton and eat them all!

The recipe can be found here. We substituted 1 cup apple sauce for the sweet potato, you don't taste the apple sauce. Oh we, this is the royal we by the way, used our little deep fryer, and drained them on a wire rack over a backing dish.
We also did some with sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on, some plain, and some with blueberry icing. Basically something for all of us.

The Naked Bed Challenge

 If you are a regular on Talkin Tuesday you may have heard a few weeks ago about the Naked Bed Challenge...it was just thrown out there but THE Sarah Fielke has taken it and made it into a reality.

We discovered that several quilters did not have a quilt on there own bed! Kinda like the cobbler's children going shoeless.
The thought of all those poor beds naked, unclothed, cold and without love.

  So to change all that and get your beds covered up we're issuing a Naked Bed Challenge. You have 8 weeks to make a quilt top, it doesn't have to be quilted, for your bed. Upload the pictures to flickr and add them to the group and you will be entered to win-

1 of 3 $30 gift certificates from Fat Quarter Shop,

or

1 of 3 $50 gift certificates from 1 Choice 4 Quilting!!

And because we know how generous quilters can be we're going to hold a raffle! You could win a kit to make Sarah's quilt in the upcoming Down Under Quilts from Above All Fabric!

All you have to do is donate at least $10 to the Red Cross, and leave the receipt number on Sarah's blog post. The raffle will be open until 3pm, Saturday April 16 Sydney time

To help you out both Sarah and I are providing a free pattern for you! You can use our patterns or any one you choose or design for your challenge quilt. Sarah is providing Bless You, which comes in three sizes,

and I'm providing Chain Link.
 

AND, not only could you win great prizes, but the fabulous folk at Fat Quarterly are going to do our prize draw for us, and publish pictures of the
winning quilts on their website.

If you enter the competition using YOUR OWN DESIGN (That means you
made it up and didn't take measurements, settings or drawings from someone
else's pattern. If we find that you did, the quilt will not be eligible for
the prize), Sarah's lovely friend Deb at Down Under Quilts Magazine will pick
her favorite quilt from the original quilts entered and publish the quilt
and the pattern in the magazine. AND, she will pay you $300 AUS for the
privilege. Holy smokes!

The rules are:

1. The quilt must be made expressly for the Naked Bed Challenge, not
previously made.

2. It must be for YOUR bed. No cot quilts, wall quilts or dolly quilts. We
do not believe any of you are mice.

3. When you post to Flickr, MAKE SURE you leave your name and a way to
contact you, the name of the designer of the pattern you used if
applicable, and note whether you wish to be considered for the Down Under
Quilts prize.

That's it. We aren't very big on rules around here.

And here's a little button to put on your blog if you are so inclined:

use this code without the brackets (http://thelastpiece.typepad.com/the_last_piece/2011/04/announcing-the-naked-bed-challenge.html)


What are you waiting for? Get those beds covered up!

Debates in Quilting - "Dumbing Down"

Like anything the quilting world is rife with debates about everything under the sun.

Prewash fabrics? (never do it)
Rip vs. Cut (mostly cut)
Hand v Machine (machine)
Polyester or cotton threads (either)
Best way to make HSTs (half square triangles) (check my patterns)

The one that bothers me though is the idea about "dumbing" down quilting. Here's why.

Not everyone has the time, money, skill or desire to make a Baltimore Album, or Judy Niemeyer paper pieced masterpiece. ( I "borrowed" the pictures from Stitchin Heaven's kit page)

And that's perfectly alright.

It's not "dumb" to decide your hobby should be enjoyable and leisurly. Or that your quilts should be machine washable because kids actually use them.

And there is nothing wrong with making the elaborate touch-and-you-die type quilts. I have one on the go now. And the Baltimore Album-type and Judy Niemeyer paper pieced are on my bucket list.

Why do we feel the need to judge other peoples way of doing things? Unless its in a competition there really is no need.
If you don't like the patterns that are being put out there design your own!

We all have different aesthetics. What I like maybe you hate and vice versa. Yes, in my patterns I try to make more complicated designs simpler to construct. But that is my preference because I don't want to spend an immense amount of time ripping out stitches to get that perfect y-seam.

This idea that because its simple it's "dumbed down" is ridiculous! Why on earth would complicated equate intelligence? or somehow make it more worthy? or artistic?

And as beginners it is better to start simple, finish it and feel accomplished then get something way over your head that you never finish and turns you off quilting forever.

Ok, I get seeing a Turning Twenty in a judged show would make me go "whaaa" but honestly it's not going to make me throw my hands up and declare that quilting is going to hell in a handbasket.

For the fast majority quilting is a HOBBY. By definition hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable.

If applique makes you pull out your hair, or quilting the top on your home machine causes you pain, or precuts allow you to actually get to the part you like faster then there is NOTHING wrong with that!
Don't do it, use fusible, send out the top and buy away! It's for you!

Yes, stretching ourselves is good, learning a new technique could turn out to be the best thing you ever did because you fall head over heels for it but really that is no ones business but yours!

Do what YOU want. You quilt for YOU. The Quilt Police can only have power if you let them.

And if you're someone who thinks because it's easy or quick it's not worth doing....good for you! But really don't judge everyone because they don't share your opinion.
And if you don't think it's worth spending a year of your life on a huge intricate project then don't, but don't judge those who do.

 The only "rules" I say are really necessary are 1/4" seam allowance for a pattern. The pattern is written for it so without things won't match up. And pressing instead of ironing because of stretching. Which will throw everything out of whack.


But really the only golden-must-not-be-broken rules in quilting are enjoy what you do, and be nice and supportive to your quilting sisters and brothers.

Let's lose the superiority complex, the judgmental and elitist attitude and go back to being a community who share a love and passion for hacking up bits of perfectly good fabric and sewing it back together again.

Canadian Quilt of Valour

 Since I've received several e-mails about deadlines I thought I'd answer here. I'd like to receive the blocks by mid-May, earlier if possible but that will be the deadline.
 I'm hoping to have the quilts finished and sent off for July 1st, Canada Day.
Again if you're a "no-reply" blogger I can't email you back. I've been checking profiles to see if I can reply from there but if you don't have an email listed I can't reply to you.
You can send me an email directly if you like at caraquilts @ gmail.com


For my Australian friends. I've designed a Quilt of Valour for the Australian Armed Forces and it will be hosted by my friend Brie of Little Creatable. She will have a post up soon for it. The colours will be green and gold and will be a star block, finishing at 12". The basic design is this.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Australian flag, the white stars are what is called a Southern Cross and are found on the blue background of the flag.
The green and gold are the colours worn by athletes in international play.

If you are interested in having a quilt of valour drive for your country and would like some help, either designing or writing instructions let me know and I would be happy to help!

Canadian Quilt of Valour

 So with so many getting in on the Just One Star, including me, I got to thinking we need to make at least one Quilt of Valour for Canadian service personnel. To do this I need some help.

I've designed a quilt and need people to send me some some Maple Leaf blocks. I've provided a pattern here.
We need 16 blocks of Maple Leaf with Stem, and 8 Maple Leafs without Stems, for each quilt. Both blocks are 12 1/2" unfinished. This will give us a 68"x68" quilt.

The Maple Leaf itself should be in medium to dark red, with a white/light background. I'd really prefer no blue in any of the backgrounds used. It's acceptable for the patches to be different fabrics, so scrappy blocks. Canada is a country made up of different ethnicities so why shouldn't a quilt for one who serves her not be made up of different fabrics?
Each quilt will require (8) 12 7/8" squares for the setting triangles. If you like you could send in a square with your blocks. If not that's ok. I should be able to scrounge up some.

If you're a quilt shop who'd like to donate backing/batting, or if you can't do that, sell it to me at cost I would really appreciate it.
Any long-arm quilter willing to quilt this would also be appreciated.

Ideally I'd love every person who sends in to send 2 Maple Leaf with Stem, 1 Maple Leaf without Stem, and 1 12 7/8" square.
If you can only make 1 block that's ok too! I will make up the difference in blocks.

So who's in?

Please make sure you're not set to no-reply if you want to join in. I need to be able to reply to you and give my address. If you don't hear from me that is probably the issue, just send me an email. 

The stem block has a mistake. The stem should read 6 1/2" x 1 1/2". Sorry I've fixed it now.

Just One Star

Moda is spear heading a drive to create 100 quilts, Just One Star, for the Semper Fi Fund. Several bloggers are holding giveaways to encourage people to participate. I've sent two star blocks of this morning and wanted to make sure you all know about it.
All you have to do is make 1 block from the pattern provided and mail it to Moda. Easy peasy.

Why you may ask is a Canadian getting involved in a program for American military personnel? Several reasons, one my husband is a proud American from a military region in North Carolina.
I know many wives, daughters, sisters and mothers of American servicemen and women.
And I think it's a good idea. One of the reasons I love quilting and quilts is because of the comfort they can bring.
You can support troops and honour their service, without agreeing with the politics of their mission.

I've also been inspired to look into making some for our Canadian service personnel. How about maple leaf blocks? Anyone interested?