Hi everyone!  I’m excited to introduce a new complimentary pattern, the Virginia Reel Pillow.  Virginia Reel is a quilt that I designed for the folks over at Fat Quarterly.  Most of you are probably familiar with that magazine, but if you are not, it is an online-only magazine that comes out 4 times a year.  Each issue is absolutely chock full of quilts, projects, interviews – with no ads.  It is really a great deal. 

For Issue 6, which comes out early next week, I designed a quilt called “Virginia Reel” in my Veranda line. I called it that because it is comprised of dozens of pinwheels that seem to spin between pairs of columns, just like dancers in a reel. 

Want to take a peek?

Hop on over to Fat Quarterly’s blog to download the pattern for the complimentary coordinating pillow, or, if you would prefer a traditional pdf to google docs, you can download it here.

The columns and rows upon which the pinwheel hangs wrap around to the pillow back!

Yes.  I used more Doodlebug buttons for the back.  Buttons with stripes!  Can’t get enough of them.

I’m giving away my sample of the pillow right here!  I so enjoyed reading your comments last week about favorite handmade gifts you have given others, so to be entered in this giveaway leave me one comment on this post (only one please) telling me your favorite handmade gift you have been given.  Remember to leave me a way to contact you should you win.  And please become a follower, if you aren’t already.

The deadline is this Friday the 29th at midnight.

Good luck and happy sewing everyone!

Amanda

#s 27 and #28. Can you believe it? What are the odds that the random number generator would select consectutive numbers?

The 27th entry is Jane, who said…
My best was my last one, a baby quilt. It was just a panel with pretty borders added, but it turned out so stinkin cute! I outline quilted the little animal scenes in the panel and did daisies and loops in the borders. Hope the mother liked it as much as I did!

AND

The 28th entry is SewingMom2Three, who said…
The best handmade gift I ever gave was a hand painted Christmas village that I painted for my Mom when I was in high school. She had no idea I was painting it and I managed to keep the whole thing a secret from her. It was so fun to see her surprise when she opened it on Christmas!

Contact me so you can claim your flowers and patterns!

I so enjoyed reading all of your messages and stories. For me, this was my favorite giveaway ever. Thanks to everyone who commented.  If you commented early on or didn’t have a chance to read through the messages at the time, take a second and peruse them. They’ll warm your heart!

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Hi everyone!  This week I’m doing a giveaway in conjunction with Kelly of I Have A Notion, and she does.  She actually has a ton of notions!  Like most of you out there, I LOVE NOTIONS.  In addition to stocking a rotary blade sharpener that I have been coveting ever since she reviewed it last week, Kelly stocks of ton of Accuquilt dies.  We thought it might be fun to do a giveaway incorporating my patterns and Accuquilt products. 

This past weekend our kids and I cut some fun flowers using the Accuquilt fabric cutter – 20 in Veranda and 20 in Ambrosia.  They are the perfect size for my Village Green quilt pattern.  I’ll be giving away each set, in conjunction with a Village Green pattern.  So, if you follow this blog, leave me a comment (only one) telling me the best handmade project you’ve ever given. 

I’ll start by saying that the best project I’ve ever given was this quilt that I made for my mom.  It was actually going to be her first quilt – I know – she is an overly ambitious person, but she was very distressed to find out how it soon overtook her house, so I inherited it very early on.

It was my favorite because of how much she appreciated the work that went into it.  My friends lovingly referred to it as the “Guilt Quilt”.  Mom even bought a new couch to go with a quilt.  Only a mom buys a new couch to go with a quilt, for goodness sake!  (Not to mention the fact that she is decorating her new house in Swiss Chocolate!)  All year I told her that there was no way I could get it done, even as I was finishing up.  We made her go on an embarrassing treasure hunt around the neighborhood to claim her prize, and when she came back home she was shocked to find it finished on her bed!

My second favorite giveaway is this Amy Bradley quilt I made for my nephew. Unlike his grandmother, he did not reupholster a couch to go with his quilt, which is why this is my second-favorite gift (sorry Ollie!), but he does know all the dogs by name. 

For another chance to win a fun prize, go over and visit Kelly’s blog at I Have a Notion.  She is also offering a great discount on the AccuQuilt GO! Round Flower Die that I used in the above photo and on the GO! Baby Fabric Cutter.

The deadline for both giveaways is midnight Thursday.  We’ll announce the winners on Friday.  Good luck and happy sewing!
Amanda