Saturday, April 28, 2012

Quilting Modern

Several of you asked me to report back after I went to the book signing this morning. Well, in three little words, "It Was Awesome!" Daughter dear and I had a great time and are now happy owners of Quilting modern: techniques and projects for improvisational quilts. Well let me back up a bit . . .

The signing was at The Quilting Loft, a lovely little quilt shop about half an hour from our homes, where we had shopped before and even taken a few classes. It moved into a new space earlier in the year, so we were anxious to check it out. (Very nice!)
Katie Pedersen, co-author of the book, is a regular teacher there, and whenever we've visited, we've seen some of her quilts hanging around the shop as samples for her classes. What meticulous work she does. Anyway, when we were ready to have her sign our books, we walked toward her and were thrilled that she lit up, happy to see us and recognizing us from the class we'd taken last year. She was gracious enough to let us take her picture in front of one of the quilts from the book. Personally, I really like this one! (It looked like the background was linen, but Katie said is was chambray.)
And of course, she signed our books.
Found out she's a hugger, which is fine by me. We just had a wonderful time hearing about the book and the quilts and catching her excitement. I've barely had a chance to crack my copy, but from my quick thumb-through, it looks like a book I will definitely learn from and enjoy using.

Confession time. Driving down to the shop, I had the bright idea to buy an extra book and give it away! And yup, Katie signed it too! The Quilting Loft was giving a little stack of charm packs to everyone who bought the book at their shop, so I have one of those too - for one of you!
So giveaway time! Leave a comment on this post between now and Monday night, when I'll come back and choose a random winner. International entries welcome, of course. I'd love to hear what new quilty thing you'd like to tackle - whether it's a technique, a new block to piece, or a new style of improv. You name it!


The giveaway is now closed.

54 comments:

  1. Debbie, I feel greedy entering your giveaway because I already bought this book. But I really like having books signed by the author, and if I win, I'll give my original copy away! Visiting Seattle in August so will add the shop to my list of "must sees."

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  2. So cool! I hadn't heard of this book before you mentioned it. I requested it from the library, you know, on the off-chance I don't win your giveaway. :)

    I really want to try some new quilting techniques and get away from the same old stippling once in a while.

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  3. I'm trying so hard not be jealous right now, but I don't know that I'm succeeding very well...You're a doll for getting an extra copy to share with us. Thanks, Debbie!

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  4. Oh you lucky duck! It sounds like you had a wonderful time at the book signing! Wish I was on that side of the country:( You are so generous to giveaway a signed copy! How awesome are you!

    I'm going to be tackling applique. I've tried it in the past but haven't really done much with it. That will change very soon.

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  5. I'm glad you had such a great time.
    Thank you for giving us an opportunity to win this book--I'm sure it would help me stretch my wings!

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  6. I'd like to try that large pebble stitching on the quilt on the book's cover. thanks for a chance to win!

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  7. Lucky duck! I'd love to meet her (and Jacquie.) Hmm, I don't know what I want to tackle - most of what I have in the works is fairly traditional and stuff I've done before. I think I need to get out of the quilty box!
    (Oh, and I might show up as no-reply. I'm dealing with Blogger issues.)

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  8. I keep meaning to try paper piecing. I just found a free pattern at Fresh Cut Quilts that I might give a shot.

    It sounds like you had a wonderful time with your daughter. :)

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  9. I so wanted to make it down from Vancouver for this. Love the Quilting Loft when I'm in Seattle and how great it would have been to be there to meet Katie. Life tosses curves though. In fact, that is what I want to learn next - sewing curves.

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  10. Sounds like you had a great time! And Katie looks like a fun person to be around! I would really love to be more improvisational in my quilting, so this would be the push I need! Love that pebble quilting on the cover! Thanks for the generous giveaway!

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  11. I have yet to learn to hand quilt- I have most of the tools, except for the pearle thread- want to learn so bad- sounds scary though ;)

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  12. I'm so jealous!
    I would love to visit the Quilting Loft - or live where you do!
    Hmmm, I'd like to tackle more improv piecing!

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  13. I really should be working on my FMQ some more. I haven't done any since my sparkle quilt and am sure I'll need to do a fair bit of practicing once again!

    Thanks for the giveaway Debbie. I'd loooove this book.

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  14. How exciting! I finally got my flea market fancy and am thinking about using it for my On A Whim pattern. But not sure about what background fabric to use yet

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  15. Hi Debbie,you are so lucky to have met the author of this book in person and have learned from her. Thank you for your generosity to offer this book as a give-away. Just yesterday I got a copy of "Modern Blocks", so studying "Modern Quilting" would be great! Enjoy your copy, Ingrid

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  16. It sounds like you had a lot of fun. My next thing is doing the AMH Prism QAL. I'm going to cut into my virgin box of Oakshott Cottons for this, so cross your fingers I don't screw it up. Thanks for the chance to win this great book & thanks too for getting her to autograph it!

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  17. Sounds like a fun day! I read Jacquie's blog and discovered that her hometown is the sister city to mine when I won a giveaway of hers. :)

    There are a few things I want to try. The top of the list are actually finishing a large quilt and hand quilting.

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  18. I am just now learning how to make HST's. It is a fun task. I am working on a diamond block with them. I would love to win one of her books you are awesome to give away one.

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  19. Lucky you! Thanks for sharing your experience AND for picking up a copy of the book to share too.

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  20. thank you for that chance! I'd like to try some paper piecing in this year, but I'm realy afraid of it...

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  21. Thank you!great giveaway and great book!

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  22. Aren't you lucky to have had such a wonderful day and thanks for thinking of us who couldn't make it!

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  23. A very bright idea!! Thanks for getting the extra book :)
    I need to do more fmq and there's lots of different quilting patterns I really want to try, particularly baptist fans

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  24. Ooh, fab idea!

    I want to try FMQ. I learned a bit about how to at the class I took for my sewing machine, but I haven't used it in anger on a quilt yet, and I have one coming up that will need a LOT of circles...

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  25. That shop looks so fun! And how cool that you live in such an awesome handcrafting city. I may be a bit jealous...I want to branch out into more interesting quilting. I really do love straight line quilting, but need to strengthen my skills a little. Thanks for the fun giveaway!

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  26. Oh I would love to win this book! At he moment I'm trying to figure out the QAYG method and playing around with some paper pieced New York Beauties:-)
    I'm also in the process of finishing my first baby quilt - modern style:-)
    Thank you for this give away.

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  27. Oh goodness it looks like you had a wonderful time. I'm jealous! I have had this book in my amazon cart for quite some time so it would be lovely to win.

    I'm toying around with two new quilt block designs in my head presently!

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  28. Katie looks really sweet. I love quilters like her! How nice of you to buy an extra book! I would like to try some improv. The only thing I've done so far is a little wonkyiness.

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  29. So glad you had such a great time! As far as what I would like to learn, anything...I'm fairly new so anything would be good!

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  30. Looks like a great book! I'd love to try some pebble quilting, and to piece something with curves.

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  31. I envy you! And you are so generous to think of your readers while you were there. I've been wanting to work on my FMQ skills, and I would love to be able to do that pebble quilting featured on the cover. Thanks for the chance to win this book!

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  33. This book looks amazing! I would love to win a copy! Thanks for the chance. : )

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  34. Would love to win this - thanks for the giveaway! Just this weekend I have dived into two new techniques - improv curved piecing and paper piecing (a giant pirate ship for a quilt for my son) Was afraid to try these, but they are so fun!

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  35. Can't help but hug you, your spark is contagious. Thanks for buying not one, but two books!

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  36. I've recently dived into paper piecing and enjoyed it. I think the next technique I'd like to try is curved piecing. Thanks for the give away!

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  37. This book is in my wishlist, how nice for you to pick up an 'extra' for a giveaway! I hope that I can do some paper piecing this year, I see some gorgeous stuff out there using this technique. Thanks for the chance to win :)

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  38. Wah - what an amazing giveaway! I love what she wrote in your book Debbie - so sweet and so true. Well I`ve only recently discovered improv.piecing but I LOVE it and I would like to tackle a big quilt with lots of negative space.So happy to hear you had a great time at the signing.

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  39. i am so so excited for you! i am so glad you had such a great time! and how nice of you to buy an extra! xo i would love to win!!! seriously, LOVE it! so, what would i like to tackle? my to do list... it is incredibly long! xo

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  40. Oh boy! Throw my name into the hat. I'm a big fan of Katie, love her blog!
    I want to try more paper piecing, practice free motion quilting, and use more linen and solids.

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  41. Fun! Such a lovely thought to get an extra and share :-) I'd like to conquer FMQ - or at least get better at it!

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  42. Sounds like you had a great day. I would like to try more paper piecing techniques - thanks for the chance to win!

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  43. I'm brand new to quilting and have been stalking blogs and building my courage to attempt my first quilt. I am ever grateful to all you who share your tips via blog; I've spent the better part of two months reading everything I can find online but I'd love to have a hard-copy resource at my fingertips.

    Thanks for the chance and for sharing your knowledge too.
    shel704 at aol dot com

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  44. I have such a struggle with doing improv blocks. It never seems to look right. I am so glad books and quilters like yourself, and Katie and Jacquie are out there to offer encouragement to keep on trying...

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  45. What a great five-away Debbie : ) I want to try more free motion quilting. So scary for me. Thanks!

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  46. Sounds like such a fantastic day! I have yet to make a "Modern" quilt, so if I were the winner, I would use this book for inspiration toward that end.

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  47. this looks like such an amazing shop! i love the quilt behind her too...

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  48. I'm a big fan of Katie's work, I'd love a copy too!

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  49. Sounds like a fabulous day! I need to tackle a quilt I'm doing with improv piecing... fun, but challenging in a new way!

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  50. So glad you had a great time, and so nice of you to think to purchase a second copy and have it signed.

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  51. obviously i don't want to enter...just wanted to say thanks for your support and for supporting katie! enjoy the book!

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  52. I hope I'm not to late for this give away!! I would also love for you to join me. www.sewcraftykathy.blogspot.com

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  53. I forgot to tell you that I've just been doing simple quilts and would love to learn to do anytype of quilt. I have signed up to take an American hanging Quilt May 19th at Linderalla's Sin Southern Pines NC/

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