The Villa Rosa Designs Fast & More Fun Blog Hop

 Hello Friends!

Today's the day for the kickoff to the 2024 Villa Rosa Designs Fast & More Fun Blog Hop!  I hope you are as excited about it as I am.  

 Here is the Blog Hop schedule with bloggers links:

Thursday, March 14
Villa Rosa Quilts -- https://villarosaquilts.com/

Friday, March 15
Kathleen McMusings -- https://kathleenmcmusing.com/
The Morning Latte -- http://livelylatte.blogspot.com/
Homesewn By Us -- https://www.homesewnbyus.com
Pieceful Thoughts -- https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/
C & T Publishing -- https://www.ctpub.com/blog/

Saturday March 16 -- National Quilting Day!
Needle and Foot -- https://needleandfoot.com/
MMM Quilts -- https://www.mmmquilts.com/
Texas Quilt Gal -- https://www.texasquiltgal.com/
Time 4 Stitchn -- http://time4stitchn.blogspot.com/
SIY (Sew It Yourself) -- https://blog.siysewityourself.com/

Sunday, March 17 -- Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Quarter Inch Capers -- https://quarterinchcapers.blogspot.com/
Norton House Quilting -- https://www.nortonhousequilting.com/blogs/news
Quilting Gail -- https://quiltinggail.com/

Wazoo! Newsbits -- http://wazoonewsbits.blogspot.com/

Monday, March 18
With Strings Attached -- https://withstringsattached.blogspot.com/
Jaftex/Scott Fortunoff -- https://scottfortunoff.com/
Cocoa Quilts -- https://www.cocoaquilts.com/ 

Quilt With a View -- http://quiltwithaview.blogspot.com/ (You are here)

Tuesday, March 19
Shout 4 Joy -- https://shout4joy-shouting.blogspot.com/
The Darling Dogwood -- http://thedarlingdogwood.blogspot.com/
Vicki's Crafts and Quilting -- www.knitbug2.blogspot.com
Something Rosemade -- https://somethingrosemade14.blogspot.com/
Quilts of Valor Foundation -- https://www.qovf.org/

Wednesday, March 20th -- First Day of Spring!

Grace and Peace Quilting -- https://www.graceandpeacequilting.com/
Happy Cottage Quilter -- https://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/
Joyfully Tracie -- https://joyfullytracie.com/
Patchouli Moon Studio -- https://patchouli-moon-studio.blogspot.com/
Electric Quilt Company -- https://doyoueq.com/blog/

Thursday, March 21 st
Villa Rosa Quilts -- villarosaquilts.com

 As you can see from the schedule, I won't be blogging for the Hop until Monday, but I thought you might like to have the blog links before then!

And here are the awesome Sponsors for the event.  There will be all kinds of prizes to give away -- 4 Grand Prizes, lots of individual prizes, and  Blog Hop Pattern Sets.  Thank you very much, kind sponsors!

https://hoffmancaliforniafabrics.net

https://modafabrics.com

https://www.ttfabrics.com

http://jaftex.com

https://electricquilt.com

https://www.northcott.com/home.aspx

http://benartex.com

https://www.hancocks-paducah.com

https://foxchapelpublishing.com

https://www.ctpub.com

https://www.pbtex.com

 

Wow!  That's a lot of great sponsors!

Head on over the the Villa Rosa Quilts blog to find out all about the Fast & More Fun Blog Hop!

See you right here on Monday, March 18th!  

                     Best,

                Tricia

Let's Have a Blog Hop!

 Hello Friends!

I'm SEW excited to announce that I am participating in the Villa Rosa Designs Fast & More Fun Blog Hop March 14-21. 

This is the 2nd year for the Hop and I'm thrilled to be part of it again this year.  Do you remember the Hop last year?  It was awesome!  Each of the bloggers created a VRD quilt and revealed them on their blog posts for the Hop.  There will be tons of prizes, too!  And 4 Grand Prize drawings this year -- wow!

The Hop kicks off this Thursday, March 14th, on the VRD blog -- villarosaquilts.com

Make sure you stop by the VRD blog on Thursday to  find out how everything works and how to register for prizes.

The time is perfect!  National Quilting Day is Saturday, March 16th -- what better way to celebrate quilting than to go on a Blog Hop adventure from the comfort of your home.  You can even wear your jammies!

More info to follow.......

                            Best,

                                     Tricia

Quiltmaker Magazine 100 Quilt Blocks Volume 15 + Giveaway

Hello and Welcome to my Blog!

Today I discovered that the Quiltmaker Magazine 100 Quilt Blocks Volume 15 Blog Hop started on Monday and today -- Thursday -- is actually day 4.  Somehow, I missed the Blog Hop boat and I have no idea how that happened.  I emailed Quiltmaker today to find out what was going on, but they didn't reply....

I'm pretty disappointed that I did not get to participate because Blog Hops are SEW MUCH FUN.  I decided that I would do my own Blog Hop GIVEAWAY since I didn't get the opportunity to participate in the official blog hop.

So....WELCOME to my very own solo Blog Hop!

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My block is called CITY BLOCK and it is #1476, on page 48.

Isn't it fun?  I chose a selection of modern fabrics by Cotton+Steel.   This block uses 2 1/2" strips so you can use jelly roll strips, too.

Here it is, replacing the printed fabrics with solids.  Striking, isn't it?

Look what happens when I use a black solid background in my favorite red, black, grey (or white) colorway!  Isn't it really sharp?

Now that we've played around with the block a little bit, let's see what it looks like in a project.  Here's a very mellow beachy table runner design using 5 blocks.  

How about a couple of trendy place mats?

 

I hope you've enjoyed playing around with my block a little bit.  I hope you'll look for the magazine at your favorite quilt shop or newsstand.  

________________________________________________________________________

BUT WAIT....................DON'T GO.....................THERE'S STILL MORE!  

KEEP READING......YOU'LL GET TO THE GIVEAWAYS SOON, I PROMISE!!!

_________________________________________________________________________ 

Ever since my new quilt book, I LOVE PRECUT QUILTS! came out, I definitely have precuts on my brain (oh no -- I hope it's not contagious!).  Just look at my City Block block (sorry about the repetition here......).  You can make this block from Jelly Roll strips, fat quarters, or even out of your stash.  Just about every quilt that I make now,  I find some way to incorporate precuts.  I'm even starting to challenge myself to make small projects out of my leftover precut bits and  pieces....

If you're new to my blog, let me tell you a little bit about my latest book.

 My book has 16 go-to projects ranging from place mats and table runners to wall quilts, throws, and YES! even big bed quilts.  The projects are easy enough for beginners but interesting enough for more advanced quilters, too.  It  has a fun fresh contemporary feel that is light and airy and all of the projects feature traditionally-pieced blocks.  

Here are some of projects from my book:

I'm really excited right now because I'm heading to Spring Quilt Market in St. Louis in 2 weeks for my book's official debut.  I will be participating in a Schoolhouse lecture and doing a book signing at the C&T Booth.  So if you're headed to Market, stop by -- I'd love to meet you and show you my new book.

Want your own copy??????

You can find my book (ebooks are also available!) at these locations online:

C&T Publishing

Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

 

I  also have SIGNED copies available on my website:

orphanquilter.com

(Psst!)  Don't forget to ask for it at your favorite quilt shop.

SURPRISE!  I'm also giving a copy of I Love Precut Quilts! away, see below. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY

 You've all been very patient, reading through my entire blog, so I promise that it'll be worth it!

I will be giving away the following:

  A  copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 15

 A copy of my latest book, I Love Precut Quilts!

Who knows?

 I might just add some more prizes along the way if I get lots and lots of encouragement.

(Wink!  Wink!)

Here's how it works:

You have up to 3 chances to win the prizes listed above.

1.  Leave a comment and tell me what inspires you as a quilter.

2.  Become a blog follower and leave a comment telling me you that you're a blog follower.

3. Follow me on Instagram @tricia.maloney and leave a comment telling me you're an Instagram follower.

Ready!  Set!  GO!

You have from Thursday, May 4th through Sunday, May 7th to participate.

 Winners will be selected randomly on Monday, May 8th.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!

 

I LOVE PRECUT QUILTS! BLOG HOP FINALE AND GIVEAWAY

WOW!  This has been such a fun week.  I'm sew very thankful that I've had this wonderful opportunity to share my new book with you.  Thanks for coming along! :)

Of course, I couldn't have done it without my awesome bloggers!  I want to send out a GREAT BIG THANK YOU HUG to  Bea of Beaquilter, Mark of Mark Lipinski's Blog, Julie of The Crafty Quilter, Sandy of  Upstairs Hobby Room, Camelot Fabrics, Generation Q Magazine, Joy of Am I Shouting Yet?, Cheryl of Cheryl's Tea Pots 2 Quilting, Bernie of Needle and Foot, and my publisher C&T.  Yay!   I really appreciate each of you taking the time to participate in my blog hop.

I'm a little sad that it's time to wrap up my blog hop, but what a fun time it's been -- 

kind of like a week long book party!  

 

PSST!  Don't forget to read all the way to the bottom for a GREAT GIVEAWAY!

_________________________________________________

Since this is the last stop, 

let me tell you why I love my book,

 I Love Precut Quilts! 

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FABRIC! 

Whoever invented precuts was absolutely brilliant!

Fat quarters were my first introduction to precuts.  I loved my fat quarters so much that I infected both my nieces when they were quite young -- I can still remember taking my oldest niece, Meghan to the quilt shop and encouraging her to pick out  fat quarters from the sale suitcase. (Meg, I still can't believe that you picked out that hideous pink and blue big polka dot fabric -- what were you thinking? I guess as a 2 year old, you probably didn't have a sophisticated fabric sense yet....)  I guess if I had to have the fabric bug, then I wanted everyone else around me to have it too.

Then I discovered 5'' charm squares..........be still my beating heart. Now I could buy an ENTIRE fabric collection for a small amount of money.  Charm squares were an easy transition for me into all sorts of different precuts. It wasn't long before I started cutting my leftover fabrics into 5'' squares, 2 1/2'' strips, 10'' squares, 2 1/2'' squares -- you get the picture.

Now that I had this terrible precut addiction, what was I going to do????  Too much fabric and not enough time.

VOILA!  Time to write a new quilt book with projects featuring all my favorite precuts.  The funny thing is, I didn't originally start out to write a precut book, but strange and wonderful things can happen when you least expect them.

FAST AND FUN PROJECTS = DONE PROJECTS

  I am a quilter with a short attention span.  I like fun projects that I can get finished fast so that I can move on to a new project.  Precuts have really helped me with this whole concept.  But it's more than just precuts -- the projects have to be designed to go together fast too.  When you add precuts to fast projects then you can make more quilts in less time.  Who doesn't want that?????

Here's one of my favorite SUPER FAST projects from my book:

It's called "Big Bow Ties" and you can literally make this bed-sized quilt top in a matter of hours with matching layer cakes and charm squares,  a collection of fat quarters, or even your stash.  The blocks are HUGE and there's only 16 of them to make.  

Add a couple borders and you end up with an 88'' x 88'' square quilt.  WOW!

Here are a couple more QUICK QUILTS from my book:

It's called "Around and Round" and you don't even have to cut up your charm squares!  

Choose a coordinating fabric and get sewing -- you'll have this cute throw done before you know it!

 This one is called "Breeze" and boy is it a breeze to put together.  It's big enough for a

 twin-sized bed, but you could easily add more rows to make it larger.  Or subtract rows to 

make a baby quilt or a throw.  Whatever size you make it, the hardest part of this quilt is deciding where to place the blocks!

MORE OPTIONS

Be honest.  Who doesn't want more????  I love that we had room in my book to add a lot of USEFUL EXTRAS.  Like "Tricia's Crayon Box" where I show you two additional colorways for a quilt.  Or how about TIPS scattered throughout the book to help you get the most out of your quilting?  There are alternate sizes for the quilt "Bounce" and a discussion about color theory for "Spritely."  I even threw in an extra project for a coordinating throw pillow. 

   

Here are two quilt variations that I put together to demonstrate that I Love Precut Quilts! isn't just a project book -- it's a springboard to more ideas and inspirations --YOURS!

This striking wall quilt is adapted from the "Divide and Conquer" bed runner.
Red, white, black, and grey is one of my favorite color combinations.

This cute little table topper is adapted from the wall quilt/children's quilt, "Bounce." 
Don't you love the batiks on solid black?

It never fails to amaze me how changing fabrics and adding/subtracting blocks can give
you an entirely new project. 

What project will you make first???

 

Now that you're as excited about my book as I am --

  

THE FINAL GIVEAWAY:

 

You've all been very patient, reading through my entire blog, 

so I promise that it'll be worth it!

I will be giving away the following:

1.  A copy of  I Love Precut Quilts!   (International winners please note that you will receive an ebook version)

2.  A pastel collection of hand-dyed fat quarters. 

3.  A bright collection of hand-dyed fat quarters.

4. A set of 42 hand-dyed 5'' charm squares.

Here's how it works:

You have up to 3 chances to win the prizes listed above.

1.  Leave a comment and tell me the craziest thing that ever happened to you while quilting.

2.  Become a blog follower and leave a comment telling me you that you're a blog follower.

3. Follow me on Instagram @tricia.maloney and leave a comment telling me you're an Instagram follower.

Ready!  Set!  GO!

You have from Friday, February 3rd through Saturday, February 4th to participate. 

 Winners will be selected randomly on Sunday, February 5th.

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS 

SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!

If you are not selected as a winner, don't be sad -- 

you can still get your own copy of my book  :)

1.  Ask your local quilt shop owner to carry my book.

2.  Order your very own signed copy on my website:  www.orphanquilter.com

3.  Visit C&T Publishing, Amazon, or your favorite online retailer.

  

Thanks for coming along on my Blog Hop!  It's been fun. 

 Let's do it again sometime.

 

 

Let the Blog Hop Begin!

Be here on Monday, January 30th to join in the fun for my book blog hop!  

Hope to see you here!!!!

QUILT BLOG HOP JANUARY 30TH - FEB 3RD

 Are you ready for a BLOG HOP?  

I'm hosting a Blog Hop for my new quilt book, 

I Love Precut Quilts!

 January 30th - February 3rd

Here's How it Works:

 

Each day during the week of January 30th through February 3rd, there will be bloggers blogging about my new book.  They might be showing you a project they made, reviewing the book, hosting an author interview, or whatever else the bloggers can dream up!  

Mark your calendars!  

Join us for some fun and great giveaways!!!!!

Stop back soon for the Blog Hop schedule.

 

Planning a Quilt Blog Hop

Right now I'm getting a Blog Hop put together for my new book, I Love Precut Quilts!  This is the first time I've ever organized a blog hop so I thought I'd write about my process in case anyone else might be interested in doing one at some point too.  Psst!  If you do a blog hop, sned me an email -- I might like to join yours.  :)

I do have a couple slots open if anyone is interested in joining my hop.....Email me at:  littlequilts@windstream.net.

STEP 1

The first thing that you need to do is figure out what your blog hop will be about.  Mine, of course, is going to be about promoting my new book.

STEP 2

Now you need to decide when your blog hop will happen.  At least give yourself 3 or 4 weeks to get everything organized or else you're going to feel overwhelmed.

STEP 3

Decide how many people you want to participate.  For example, if your blog hop will be five days long you will want to have at least 5 bloggers (yourself included), but you could feature more than one blogger per day if you wish, it just takes a little extra planning.

STEP 4

Invite bloggers to participate.  Start with your friends and acquaintances and branch out from there.  If you can pull in some "famous" bloggers then that will only help your blog hop to be more successful.

STEP 5

Double check your bloggers and your schedule so that you have the correct number of bloggers for the number of days that you planned.  Make any last minute adjustments if needed.  Make sure that you send out information to your bloggers so that they know what's going on and what you'd like them to do.

STEP 6

If you're going to do giveaways, how will that work?  Make sure everyone's on the same page here.

STEP 7

 Now it's time to Blog Hop!  Since you're super organized and everyone is ready, this will be a breeze, right?????

STEP 8

After the Hop, make sure all giveaways have been done as stated.  THANK your bloggers and hoppers for participating.