Magazine Features, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Happy Thursday! Things have been a bit quiet on the blog front, but they haven't been quiet here at home! I've been giving our apartment a complete overhaul! Lots of pictures to come when everything is done.  Today I want to share a few recent magazine features before they're off the stands!

Modern Quilts Unlimited - Winter 2014, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Modern Quilts Unlimited - Winter 2014, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Modern Quilts Unlimited - Winter 2014, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

You'll find two things from me in the Winter 2014 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited.  The first is an article about working with color! This one was really fun for me to write.  It was great revisiting my Art of Choosing series and pull out the best bits for this article.

The second is a project, my Fly North Pillow made up in Nordika.  This pillow packs a lot of punch and uses half-square triangles.  It was a fun one!

You can find Modern Quilts Unlimited issue on their website here, or on newsstands.

Mollie Makes - Issue 36, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Mollie Makes - Issue 36, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

This next feature was a surprise! I was so happy to see my Nordika collection featured in this beautiful Date Night quilt pattern by Leah Farquharson in issue 36 of Mollie Makes!

This issue is on newsstands now! You can also buy issues here.

Love, Patchwork & Quilting - Issue 4, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Love, Patchwork & Quilting - Issue 4, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

My column in issue 4 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting is all about making and keeping crafty goals! Here in the states this issue should be arriving on newsstands soon! You can also buy this issue here.


Fancy a digital copy of Issue 4 of Love, Patchwork, & Quilting? Lucky you, from February 28th (tomorrow!) 9am GMT to March 4th, 9am GMT you can get a copy for free! Here are the details:

All you need to do is download the iTunes app - http://tinyurl.com/n5fswod - open up issue 4 of Love Patchwork & Quilting (that's the one with the gorgeous butterfly quilt on the cover!) and click on the 'voucher' icon. Then enter in code: MADNESS14 and 'submit' and you can download the issue right away – easy, peasy!

Thanks Love, Patchwork & Quilting!

Love, Patchwork & Quilting - Issue 5, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Love, Patchwork & Quilting - Issue 5, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

My column for issue 5 of Love, Patchwork & Quilting focuses on social media and quilting! This was a really interesting topic to think more about! This issue will arrive on newsstands in the states in a few weeks!

Happy Sewing!

Favorites

Favorites, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

1. Patchwork Prism Back, 2. IMG_5009, 3. Fractured quilt!, 4. Granny Square, 5. Mosaic Quilt Finished, 6. MQG Challenge - Front, 7. Constellations Queen front, 8. Fractured Heart - Pantone Quilt, 9. City of Reds

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Friday!

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks for your patience, I've been a bit under the weather this week and things have gotten away from me.  How is it Thursday already?

The winner of the Quilting with a Modern Slant book giveaway is #237, Kristin! Congrats!

Happy Thursday!

Weekly Snapshot

Squaring Up, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Getting ready to finally release a few quilt patterns I've been working on since late 2012! The quilt above was quilted by Melissa of Sew Shabby Quilting! Hopefully they'll be ready at the end of the month!

Tula's City Sampler - Block 1, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Amanda, Jacey, and I (+ a few others too!) are going to sew through Tula Pink's City Sampler book this year! This is my first block.

Handmade Geek Goodies, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I received my geeky reward this week, awesome goodies from Amanda!

Scones, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I was craving scones after a visit to a tea house last week in Ohio. I made these from Smitten Kitchen but with golden raisins instead of cranberries.

Vintage Video Games, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

We had a very geeky Valentines day after I came upon this ridiculous collection of vintage video game consoles (and games!) at a thrift store. Michael went with Playstation 1 and I went with Gamecube!

If you're local, it's the St. Vincent de Paul on Odana Rd.

Michael & I, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Last Saturday we celebrated Michael's Birthday and 6 years together!

Happy Valentine's Day!, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Of course poor George had to be dressed up yesterday! His shirt says "Hug Me"! I of course hugged him after I took photos!

This week I love the..
Smell of: Cookies baking
Sound of: Happy from Despicable Me
Taste of: Girl Scout Cookies
Sight of: George wearing clothes, hehe
Feel of: A relaxing night in

Good things about this week:
- Hanging out with Lei today!
- Lots of happy mail!
- House of Cards season 2
- Got a quilt cut out this week

 For more adventures, follow me on Instagram. I'm jenib320!

Favorites

Favorites, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

1. N+K's Wedding Quilt Progress, 2. Matt & Althea Wedding Quilt, 3. image, 4. Little Windows Quilt, 5. My home has the worst lighting ever!!! #aneelahoey #hellopetal #swoon @aneelahoey @thimbleblossoms I'll have to sew this up tomorrow, it's sofa cuddles time!, 6. City Sampler Top, 7. Plus One pattern from Sweet Jane with Cuzco fabric by Moda, 8. Backing for my SBC2013 top, 9. Mod Blocks

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Friday!

Quilting with a Modern Slant Review + Giveaway

Happy Tuesday! Today I'd like to share a beautiful new book with you! It's Quilting with a Modern Slant by Rachel May. The book is a bit of an encyclopedia for modern quilting. There are loads of tips and tricks from a variety of quilters, informational tidbits, patterns, and nearly 80 interviews with different quilters. Beyond that it's simply filled to bursting with quilted eye candy!

I've really enjoyed leafing through the book and I'm looking forward to reading about each quilter more in detail when I have the chance. I am happy to know many of the quilters in this book, it's interesting to hear a little more of their stories.  Today however, I'd like to share a few new-to-me quilters that I found inspiring and because of this book!


Andrew Mowbray: He makes quilts from unconventional materials, such as these quilts made from Tyvek. You can find his website here.

I love the simplicity of his quilts. It's always interesting to see how other people approach quilting.  While many of us think strictly fabric is appropriate in a quilt, there are really so many other materials out there that we could use! So cool!


Nancy Crow: An improv master and revolutionary quilter. You can find her website here.

I was immediately drawn to this quilt, I just love the playful color.  Upon learning that the fabrics are hand-dyed I was even more interested.  I've always loved dyeing fabrics, and the colors and look you can produce has such a great quality.


Lisa Mason: Artist and member of the Metro Modern Quilt Guild. You can find her website here.

I think this is my very favorite quilt in the book, there is just so much to look at.  There is so much movement in it, and the color adds to the craziness in such a good way.  Makes me want to stitch up some flying geese!


There are a few patterns I'd really like to try out of this book (like the Fraction Quilt by Rossie Hutchinson), but I am most drawn to it because it has documented our community.  It's really lovely.  I'll definitely be turning to it when I need a little boost of inspiration.

For more on Quilting with a Modern Slant, check out the book's website, here.


This book has made me consider why I quilt.  It's always an interesting question to think about, and it definitely changes a bit year after year.  I've been struggling over the last year or so with this question. When I first started quilting I was getting nearly all of my creative fulfillment from it. When things shifted and quilting became my primary job, it became more difficult to find that fulfillment from quilting alone.  Now that I've started knitting, it's actually made my relationship with quilting a lot better.  I don't need as much from quilting to be happy, so it's taken a bit of the pressure off.  On top of that, I'm enjoying it like I haven't in a while and that's been really good.  Honestly though, in the end, I quilt because I'm always cold. Let's be real, I just love to use quilts!


The kind folks at Storey have offered a copy of Quilting with a Modern Slant to an In Color Order reader! Just leave a comment on this post to enter. US entries only, giveaway will end Sunday, February 16th at 5pm CST. Winner will be announced the following Monday.

Good luck!

Favorites

Favorites, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

1. Update picture!, 2. Mini Quilt ~ Color Blocks, 3. Little Island pillow, 4. Baby Emery's Hourglass Quilt, 5. 2014 Jan. finish------Who Needs GPS? My original design inspired by scrapbook paper., 6. Dragon's Teeth Quilt, 7. Playing Favorites, 8. Umbrella Prints Quilt, 9. www.flickr.com/photos/56335509@N06/12164169654/in/faves-j...

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Friday!

Weekly Snapshot

Lined Drawstring Bags, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Happy Thursday! I'd like to start a new regular series here on the blog starting today! I am finding that my "catch up" type posts are getting more rare by the month so I thought a nice weekly space for that type of post would be a good idea. I'll share some of my favorite smaller moments and happenings once a week. I'm hoping to do this for the most part on Thursdays, but it may fluctuate a bit depending on what's going on behind the scenes!

Shining Stars Quilt - Quilted, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

My Shining Stars quilt came back from being quilted by Melissa Averinos! I am so in love with what she did with it, I can't wait to bind it and share!

Follow Your Arrow Shawl Knit Along, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I've been knitting the Follow Your Arrow Mystery Shawl by Ysolda and this is my finished Clue 1B.

Half-Square Triangles, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Did quite a bit of half-square triangle sewing this past week!

Matrioshka Victorinox Pocket Knife, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

I couldn't resist buying myself this ridiculously cute Matrioshka pocket knife. I bought mine here.

Vintage Tablecloth, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Didn't have too much thrifting luck while I was here.  I did pick up this unused and still in the package vintage tablecloth at an antique store!

George Bunny, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

These snapshots are really an excuse to get George back on the blog, just so we're clear! ;)

This week I love the..
Smell of: Popcorn
Sound of: Sherlock
Taste of: Lemonheads
Sight of: My favorite paper store
Feel of: Relaxing on the couch

Good things about this week:
- Headed back to Wisconsin today!
- Successful work trip.
- Went on lots of adventures!
- SHERLOCK!

 For more adventures, find me on Instagram. I'm jenib320.

Patchwork Drawstring Bag Tutorial

Happy Wednesday! Last week I came to the realization that I had never made a patchwork version of my lined drawstring bags. For as much as I love patchwork, this is ridiculous! So, I had to remedy that immediately, and I took a few photos along the way so I could share a mini tutorial with you! Are you ready to make some patchwork drawstring bags?


*For additional sizes and custom sizing check out the pattern version here.


I'm going to show how to do this on the Everything Size bag (the tutorial size).

For my bag I used fabrics from my Color Me Retro collection and one of the new Squared Elements by Art Gallery Fabrics.


Sewing Level: Beginner
Finished size: Approx. 10" tall, 7" wide, 3" deep

Materials:
- (45) 2.5" squares for Exterior Main
- 1/3 yard of SF101 Woven Fusible Interfacing
- 2 fat quarters for Exterior Accent + Lining
- 2 yards of 1/2" twill, or 1/8 yd fabric for ties.

Looking for supplies? Check out my Pattern Supplies and Resources post.

Instructions:

*Use a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted.*

1. Sew squares together into a single piece, 5 squares wide by 9 squares tall.  Press seams in each row in a single direction, alternating direction every other row.  Piece rows together, press seams open.

2. Cut interfacing to the size of the piece and apply interfacing to the back according to manufacturer's instructions. Press well from the top.


3. Starting from one of the short edges, measure and cut a 9"x10.5" piece.


4. Starting from the opposite short edge, measure and cut a second 9"x10.5" piece.


5. Sew the accent pieces to the clean top edges and match up the trimmed edges.

Cutting the pieces this way ensures that the intact patchwork will be near the top, and the trimmed edges will be hidden on the bottom of the bag.


Refer to tutorial or pattern instructions to cut remaining needed pieces and construct your bag.


This patchwork variation is worked out in all the original pattern sizes plus instructions for custom sizing in my new Lined Drawstring Bag Expasion Pattern! It's the perfect companion to the original drawstring bag pattern.

Find the original pattern here: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Find the expansion pattern here: Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Happy Sewing!

Giveaway Winners!

fabricsandflowers.blogspot.com, a photo by ColorGirlQuilts on Flickr.

Happy Sunday! Congrats to the winners of the Polka Dot Bikini Quilt PDF pattern, #135 Carla G & #147 lroghair/lparks! Look for an email soon with your PDF!

Cheers!