Free-Motion Machine Sketching Review and Giveaway

I'm delighted to be a part of the blog tour for my friend Candy Glendening's newest DVD, Free-Motion Machine Sketching. 

Candy is an enthusiastic instructor who obviously loves to teach!

In this DVD she shares her personal design inspirations. I particularly like her descriptions of how to look at something and break it down to create an artful stitched sketch so that you can develop sketches based on your inspirations too.

She also gives step-by-step instructions on how to create a variety of motifs and construct a cloth book of sketches for reference. This is a great way to test out various fabric and thread combinations! I love that these sketches can be used for art quilts as well as fun tote bags and other projects.

Her relaxed and encouraging approach will have you creating your own thread sketches in no time.

How would you like to have a chance to win a copy of the DVD and a botanical sketch from Candy? Each of the bloggers on the tour picked a botanical for Candy to sketch. The winner on my blog will receive a thread sketched fern. 

Comments are now closed, thanks for joining in the fun!

To enter just leave a comment on this post by March 26 and tell me if you've tried free-motion sketching before. Here's the whole tour schedule - be sure to visit all the blogs for more chances to win.

• Wednesday, 3/12 –  Vicki Welsh of  Field Trips in Fiber
• Friday, 3/14  – Diane Doran of Ooh! Pretty Colors
• Monday, 3/17 –  Victoria Gertenbach of The Silly BooDilly­
• Wednesday, 3/19 – Susan Brubaker Knapp of Blue Moon River
•  Friday, 3/21 – Beth & Kristen of Sew Mama Sew
• Monday 3/24 – Melody Johnson of Fibermania
• Wednesday, 3/26 – Candy Glendening

Blog Hop and Giveaway Finale

The blog hop is now closed. Journi (New Journeys 2) is the winner of the DVD from my segment of the blog hop. wlstarn won the four fat quarters from her comment on Deborah Boschert's blog. Thanks to everyone for participating!!!

Thanks to everyone for joining us on the blog hop, and special thanks to my four talented friends for helping out! Candy, Sarah, Deborah, and Susan will be forwarding the emails of the first four DVD winners to me, and I'll contact the winners and mail the DVD's out as soon as I've received their addresses.

But wait, there's still 2 more chances to win! Leave a comment on today's post before Friday, January 31, for a final opportunity to win a copy of my new DVD, Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More. Let me know what type of project you'd like to create using fabric you've designed yourself. Also, be sure and leave a way for me to contact you if you win.

I will also select a winner of the four fat quarters of fabric on January 31. The winner will be selected from all the commenters on the hop, with the exception of the 5 DVD winners.

In the meantime, here are a few more examples of fabrics I've designed using the techniques in the DVD:

See how different these two fabrics look when all I changed was the colors?

I hope you've been inspired as we've traveled to my friends' blogs - whether it's from a technique that one of them uses, or to try some experimentation of your own with digital design. Stay tuned to find out who our winners are ...

Blog Hop & Giveaway Part 4

Welcome back to day 4 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

Today's talented hop hostess is Susan Brubaker Knapp.  To say Susan is a very accomplished quilter and quilt teacher is an understatement. If you browse through her website and blog for just a few moments, you'll see her wide range of expertise. She teaches internationally, has written books and patterns, been on QATV numerous times, and has filmed four Quilting Arts workshops. Plus, look at this gallery of quilts! Here are just a few examples of her beautiful artwork:

Bonnie & Clyde © Susan Brubaker Knapp

Psychedelic Peacock ©  Susan Brubaker Knapp

Fall Color © Susan Brubaker Knapp

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Susan twice this past fall. As soon as you meet her it's easy to understand her popularity as a teacher - her generosity and depth of knowledge make a great combination.

Susan's newest, just released Quilting Arts Workshop

So, be sure to stop by Susan's blog both for a chance to win a copy of my new DVD, as well as to get a peek at her lovely work. 

Many thanks to my four friends who have helped me celebrate!

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/ - entries close January 28

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/ - entries close January 28

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop & Giveaway Part 3

Welcome back to day 3 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

I'm delighted to introduce today's blog hostess, Deborah Boschert. I knew of Deborah for some time through her involvement with 12x12: The International Art Quilt Challenge. A few years ago I saw that she was moving to Maryland, and I eagerly emailed her to let her know about some of the art quilt groups here. Lucky for me, we ended up being in a critique group and SAQA together! I really miss her now that she's back in Texas.

It's been fascinating to see so many of Deborah's artworks in various stages of completion, from concept to finished quilt. She has a unique style, and is honestly quite fearless in her approach to using whatever will best produce her vision. Her technique of adding paint once a quilt is otherwise complete is particularly brave - and inspiring.

Tabletop Horizons © Deborah Boschert

Shelter and Stream © Deborah Boschert

In Light Of  © Deborah Boschert

Deborah also very effectively incorporates hand embroidery in her work, which can be seen in her three quilts above.  Be sure to look at more of her work on her website , and check out her online workshop as well as her Quilting Arts Workshop - Contemporary Fabric Collage: Design, Stitch, & Finish.

Don't forget to stop by her blog for a chance to win a copy of my new DVD!

And of course a *big* thank you to all the ladies who are joining me in the celebration.

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/ - entries close January 28

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/ - entries close January 28

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop and Giveaway - Day 2!

Welcome back to day 2 of our Blog Hop and Giveaway! My friends and I are giving away copies of my new Quilting Arts Workshop,  Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyed Fabric Effects and More, to celebrate its release (plus some fabric). 

Today's hostess is Sarah Ann Smith. Though I feel like I've known Sarah forever, we've only met in person a very few times. This past November I had the pleasure of enjoying a lovely dinner with her (and Deborah Boschert) in Houston during the International Quilt Festival. I'm fairly certain that I first encountered Sarah on the quiltart mailing list, probably at least ten years ago.

What has always impressed me about Sarah is not only her generosity, but her thirst for knowledge. Her hard work has paid off, as she's an expert on a variety of quilting techniques. Particularly impressive is her mastery of threads and thread painting/machine quilting. In fact, she recently filmed her own Quilting Arts Workshop on just that subject - Art Quilt Design From Photo to Threadwork.

And here are a few photos of some of her beautiful artwork:

Fields of Gold - one of my favorites!

A lovely lily with loads of gorgeous thread work

Sarah in Houston by her latest Dinner at 8 quilt - Listen to the Song in the Night

Thank you so much, Sarah, for helping me celebrate! Readers, hop on over to Sarah's blog for a chance to win a copy of my DVD, or potentially four fat quarters of fabric I designed using techniques from my workshop.

As a reminder, here's the whole Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Arlington QU

The last few days have been very busy in a good way. On Saturday I had the privilege of teaching a workshop at the Arlington chapter of Quilters Unlimited. Here's a photo of the lovely ladies just as class was coming to a close.

Look at those great smiles! We had lots of fun with feathers, fronds, and ferns.

And then Monday I went back to give a lecture. Thanks so much for being such a welcoming group!

In other news, today is the big day for Fiber to 5K! Don't miss out on the fun, not to mention amazing prizes and all for a great cause - fighting cancer. Donation go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Last but not least the DVD of my Quilting Arts Workshop is available today! Be sure to stop by Candy Glendening's blog for the ongoing Blog Hop and Giveaway with a chance to win a copy of my new Quilting Arts Workshop, or some fabric. Here's a reminder of the schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/ - entries close January 28

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop and Giveaway

As you know, I'm very excited about the release of my new Quilting Arts TV Workshop - Digital Surface Design: Simple Techniques for Hand-dyedFabric Effects and More.

The digital download is already available, and the DVD will be released tomorrow, January 15. Lucky me, I have four talented friends who are helping me celebrate with a Blog Hop Giveaway! There will be 6 winners. Each blog hostess will randomly select a winner from the comments on her blog. That person wins a copy of my new DVD. One winner will be randomly selected from all the remaining entries to win four fat quarters of fabric that I designed using techniques from the workshop.

Does that sound like fun?

Let's get started with Candy Glendening.

Candy on the set at QATV filming a workshop

I first met Candy a few years back - coincidentally when we were on set for QATV and to film workshops. I was already familiar with her beautiful and fun designs.

A darling set of organizers that Candy designed

Candy is not only a frequent contributor to various Quilting Arts publications, but is also an expert dyer. Her enthusiasm for her work is contagious, and she is a great teacher - both through her own Quilting Arts Workshops, as well as her online classes (available on her web page). I love to visit her blog to see her colorful and clever ideas.

Samples from one of Candy's classes

More samples - love that texture!

So, stop by Candy's blog for the first chance at winning! Thank you so much Candy for helping me celebrate.

Here's the entire Blog Hop schedule:

January 14 – Candy Glendening - http://www.candiedfabrics.com/journal/

January 16 – Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/

January 21 – Deborah Boschert - http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

January 24 – Susan Brubaker Knapp - http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

January 28 – Diane Rusin Doran - http://oohprettycolors.blogspot.com/