Fresh Salsa Flavors

jill here....You may have heard the shopping expression "don't know what I'm looking for but I'll know it when I see it"!  I fell in love with these blue, slightly periwinkle fabrics.  Didn't have a project in mind  but one took shape.  The Salsa block from Quilts du Jour was chosen: five fabrics that were strip pieced to create the block's 4 different variations.  Quick and fun!  A blended outcome is created with the use of less contrast in the fabric choice.

Baby sized Salsa blocks set in a random horizontal setting.

The prints are Tara by Dena for Free Spirit Fabrics.
The multidirectional, overall texture is Tule by Leah Duncan
for Art Gallery Fabrics.

These are the accompaniments adding in a blue geometric
and one yellow green with just a bit more zip.
One of the lighter prints was saved for the back.

   

The Snack Circuit sample from the book features the block
in solid, modern colors and a very graphic modern setting.

The same block presented in two totally different fabrics creates many options.  That's the surprise factor that makes it fun.

Fresh and sweet!

The large scale print surrounded leftover blocks on the backing.

Ready for the perfect baby!

Enjoy the day.  'till next Tuesday....

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Quilts du Jour Mise en Place

 jill here...Perhaps you have heard the term 'mise en place' as it pertains to kitchen ingredients.  We debated on whether to use the term in our book but since most of us don't have command of the French language we chose the term 'prep the ingredients'.  Either way, we're getting our ingredients in order for our upcoming social engagements!

Firstly, we have our inaugural book signing at the Ames' Quilting Connection! We'll be there from 1-3 pm this Saturday, October 17th.  The Q.C. is our former stomping grounds so we look forward to seeing friends and customers and introducing our newest designs.  Most all of the Quilts du Jour projects will be displayed through this week.  Please join us!

On Monday evening, October 19th, we're presenting the quilts to the Fabricators Quilt Guild (based in Gilbert, Iowa).  April West, our long arm quilter, will also discuss the featured quilting designs. The Fabricators meet at 7 pm in the Gilbert Lutheran Church on School Street, Gilbert.  A $5.00 donation is requested for non-members.

And just before International Quilt Market, the end of next week, we will present at Schoolhouse.  It's a classroom opportunity to share our featured quilts and describe how retailer's can best use our book.  We'll show the chapters on Appetizers ( 6 blocks), Tasting Menu, Settings Menu and Desserts!
The blocks work well for a Block of the Month with lots of teaching options for easy to more complex projects.

The first block in the Appetizer Menu...

Make the Crudites blocks into the
quilt Antipasto Platter from the Tasting Menu....

Make the Crudites blocks and set it
into your own desired size and layout....

This menu has options galore to create your own....

Or make the Crudetes blocks into
this Tempting Turnovers quilt
from the Dessert Menu!

Hope we can connect at one of these upcoming venues!  Otherwise, 'till next Tuesday....

Win a copy of Quilts du Jour and completed Petits Fours quilt

Marny here...last Friday C & T posted our Quicker Bindings from Quilts du Jour blogpost. Head on over there and enter the Raafflecopter giveaway on their site to get a chance to win a copy of our new book. Only a couple of days remain for entering.

Plus, take a look how we apply binding quickly, accurately, and in a way that is meant to last through washings and lots of love.

You can see below, the cute bias binding Jill put on a recent sample made from Quilts du Jour! The sample will soon be hanging at the Quilting Connection here in Ames, Iowa. They plan to have kits available! Hint, hint!

The newly completed Petits Fours quilt using It's a Wrap Blocks,
found in Quilts du Jour. 

Jill blogged about this quilt backing here. 

Close up of the bias cut binding and the cute Blend fabric collection! 

Bound and 'bound for' the Quilting Connection as a sample.
Kits available!! While they last.

Petits Four Backing Tutorial

jill here...A brand new book sample is close to completion.  This Blend collection is a perfect  gender neutral baby combination.  Polar bears and penguins, oh my!

I had 3 fairly large pieces of a similar taupe to get my backing  started.
I left the selvages intact and turned to the outside.
The majority of the piecing will be central to the back.

As we showed you earlier with scrappy backings, I'm using pretty much of what is leftover (plus scrap yardage from my stash).  The last chapter of our book Quilts du Jour shows all the backings of our quilts with descriptions and some recipes to build on.  An improvisational flip side is not always faster but is definitely more interesting.

Small rectangles, leftover strips, a fat quarter and some yardage
from my stash will be featured.

The prints were sewn between the white backgrounds
that were made the same width.

Here are the leftover strips pieced .

I checked my widths and trimmed to keep
them straight and square.

Trying different arrangements for better balance...

I'm not usually a pinner but sewing long spans
helps those measurements to merge equally.

My big board helps keep those edges straight while I pin.

A bit odd but lots of fun and different from the usual!

We'll show you the finished product soon.
'till next Tuesday....

Quilts du Jour shipping!

Marny here...two pictures tell it all!

Today!! Quilts du Jour is shipping from C & T Stash now!
This means distributors will be receiving them soon and will be shipping them onto stores soon!

To illustrate how far we have com...photo of the first six patterns taken in September 2010. Where did the time go? We've come so far.
Thrilled to meet a lifetime goal...book published. Check!

Till Tuesday...

Quilts du Jour coming soon!

Marny here...Wahoo, yippee, and hooray our advance copies of Quilts du Jour have arrived. It is an amazing feeling to have our book in hand at long last!!! 

C & T Publishing, specifically their Stash imprint, was absolutely wonderful to work with from start to finish! Go to the Quilts du Jour page at C & T to get a taste of what is offered. They plan to have the book available September 14th. 

We'll describe the ways to use the four flexible menus of modern blocks, yummy quilts and innovative settings in upcoming weeks on both this blog and on the C & T blog. 

Sharing Quilts du Jour with you will be so satisfying. We are busy organizing workshops, trunk shows, lectures, and book signings at quilt shops, guilds, and retreats. If you or someone you know is interested just leave a comment or email us! Our contact information is one of the tabs.

For now, see how our "baby" arrived.

Cards to each of us were enclosed with our two advance copies.

Our editors sent us sweet personal messages!

So much more to come!

Till Tuesday...