Friday, August 30, 2013

Ready for Another Year?

One year ago today I visited Quilts in the Barn for the first time.  Linda and Bev had invited me to bring and share the CCCQ with some like-minded friends. The year that followed has been awesome!



These blocks belong to Nancy from Tattered Garden Quilting.  Nancy can't stop at just one, she has made two of almost every block.  She made one for me too.




So, what's new for the second year? The Second Year is what's new.  There are eleven more patterns to be released once a month, and the first one will be ready .....  Now!

You can get just Block 13, Alice Criswell's block, or you can sign up for the whole Second Year.  Or you can visit Two Bits Patches on Facebook.  Or you can leave a comment below.  Enjoy the journey!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Quilts in the Barn






Are you going to Quilts in the Barn?  I haven't been before but I am going to go this time.  Linda Collins very generously opens her home and studio and hosts a wonderful quilt show.  Last year the theme was red and white quilts; this year it is All About Chintz.  You can read more at Linda's blog.

You might win the raffle quilt....


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Photos of Martha Lambourn's Block 12

Did you enjoy Martha Lamborn's block?  I found it challenging myself but I was very pleased when I finished it.

Block 12 Martha Lambourn

This block was one of the blocks in the original quilt that had me convinced I could never be clever enough to make this quilt.  How glad I am that I was wrong!

On Facebook today I came across a post by James Clear.  James was writing about Richard Branson's successful lifestyle.  This quote stood out for me.
If you want to summarize the habits of successful people into one phrase, it’s this: successful people start before they feel ready. Branson has started so many businesses, ventures, charities, and expeditions that it’s simply not possible for him to have felt prepared, qualified, and ready to start all of them. In fact, it’s unlikely that he was qualified or prepared to start any of them. 
 If you’re working on something important, then you’ll never feel ready. A side effect of doing challenging work is that you’re pulled by excitement and pushed by confusion at the same time. If you’re working on something important, then you’ll never feel ready. A side effect of doing challenging work is that you’re pulled by excitement and pushed by confusion at the same time.You’re bound to feel uncertain, unprepared, and unqualified. But let me assure you of this: what you have right now is enough. You can plan, delay, and revise all you want, but trust me, what you have now is enough to start. It doesn't matter if you're trying to start a business, lose weight, write a book, or achieve any number of goals... who you are, what you have, and what you know right now is good enough to get going. We all start in the same place: no money, no resources, no contacts, no experience. The difference is that some people — the winners — choose to start anyway.
1. Write your blog post. Publish it on your blog.
2. Copy the link of the specific blog post. This is not just the link to your blog itself (www.chestercriswellquilt.blogspot.com), but the link to the specific post: (http://chestercriswellquilt.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/hows-it-going.html)
3. Click the blue link up button below and paste your link into the box.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Wow Factor

I received this lovely photo from Zoë in British Columbia, Canada.  She's completed all The First Year blocks.


Zoë has stuck to the red and green 1850s colour scheme but has chosen from a wide variety of values and prints.  I noticed something interesting in the top left hand corner and asked Zoë about it. It's a little drawing of her house.



Yes, it's a picture done in brown ink.  I have enough trouble just signing my name in a block - how special is it to create an inked sketch? I feel very privileged to find that my patterns have become a starting place for some beautifully creative work. 

A number of people have completed the first twelve blocks.  If you send me a photo I will put it in the next blog post. 
And  if you are waiting for the Second Year check your email inbox next week. Details of the next exciting installment will be soon revealed ....