GET A TOUCH OF WHIMSEY

What better way to introduce a new BOOK than with a new GIVEAWAY.  We had a crazy spring, new projects for market, the new book and a huge deadline, and in the middle of it all, I stopped and make a holiday pillow. It was fun and fast and immediately made it's way to my living room couch.  So it hit us, let's do a PILLOW BOOK.  We got our delivery from the printer the day before market.  The book was a big hit. 

A TOUCH OF WHIMSEY has 12 different decorative pillows.  From holidays to decorator, the pillows are quick and easy, and a great way to use up your stash or your favorite new fabrics.  They have fun textures and embillishments too.























We have color pictures of all the pillows throughout the book.  Here are a couple of samples.

 






















These are two of the pillows, all 12 are pictured on our website which brings us to our little contest.

Three winners will each get a copy of the new book, A TOUCH OF WHIMSEY.

THE RULES (if you can call window shopping on the internet a rule)  Get up to five chances to win a book.

1 - Head over to the our website, http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/, go to the shopping page and click on the Touch of Whimsey book.  It will take you to the page with all the pillows.  Pick your favorite and leave us a comment telling us which one by name.

2 - Tell your friends about our little contest on your blog.  We love going to your blogs to find out more about you.

3 - Become a follower of our blog. If you are already a follower, just let us know. 

4 - Add us as a friend on FACEBOOK.  Just look up Abbeylanequilts. 

5 - Tell your friends on facebook about our little contest.

That should do it.  We will pick the winners next week after the holiday.

Here is the back cover with a shot of all the pillows.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Janice and Marcea

AFTER MARKET RESOLUTIONS

So, do you think it is odd to make a new year's resolution in May?  So here's my list.

1 - Post more often.

2 - Share more recipes.

3 - Have more giveaways.

4 - Highlight great tips and gadgets.

That is probably enough.  Let's see how I do.

Now, as you probably already know, Spring Market in Salt Lake City just finished up.  For us, it is like a giant family reunion.  We have made wonderful friends over the past couple of years and it is so fun to catch up.  The good news and the bad news is we were so busy (that's the good news), that we didn't get to see everyone and I didn't get a single picture of anyone (that's the bad news).  I did get a few pictures of our booth so here goes SHOW AND TELL.

The most exciting news first.  We won the booth award for BEST MERCHANDISING.  All those hours painting paid off.  There were so many fabulous booths, we were thrilled and very humbled.

Starting from the top, We found these great letters to hang above our booth.  Wanted to make sure everyone knew where they were.

The awesome painted canvas floor.  It was a big hit.

Couldn't have done it without NELLIE.  This is Janice's daughter and she came to help.  By the way, that is a baby bump, she is due with her first little boy in just 4 weeks.  We were so excited to have her there.

The back wall, and A TOUCH OF WHIMSEY is our newest book.  12 decorative pillows.  We will have it ready to sell next week and yes, we will be having some fun giveaways.

One side of the booth with the FAB FIVE book which made the MODA TOP 25 BOOK LIST.  There is also a sneak peak of a new quilt with Kate Spain's new collection coming soon.

Finally, our other wall with a metal center to hang the patterns and my personal new favorite quilt featuring Basic Grey's new line, Curio.

It's good to be back in the blogging world, and I will be keeping my resolutions.  Next week we will debut the new book.  Unitl then, have a great week.

Janice and Marcea

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE ????

Woke up to this beautiful white site this morning.

5 inches and still falling.

 It's ok, though, because I am getting ready to work on Christmas projects.  Yes, Christmas in March, that way, you will have new projects for Christmas in July.   We have been checking all the new Christmas fabric collections for this year and there are some beautiful choices.

Today is a show and tell post.  We love it when we get pictures of projects you have made from our patterns.  Like a proud momma watching her babies.

THE MAGGIE MAY from Nann Reed

Here's what she had to say, "Here are some photos of Maggie May bags. I like to pander to current fashion while maintaining a whimsical feel, so I combined pink cheetah fabric with bold stripes and polka dots. The grey bag was created from cotton batik fabric and strips cut from items I found in the thrift shop, like neckties and an extremely flamboyant housecoat. Thanks again for the lovely pattern!"

And here are her pictures



Check out the beautiful decorative stitching on the handles



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Next, MATCH BOX from Gerry Gray
 
She sent us these pictures a few months ago, and this is what she said "Finished the binding today. Yeah~ Here are some pictures. Of course my two year old has to be on the quilt. The material is "Adoring". I used a Merry Christmans script as the background fabric, since Adoring is such a subtle Christmas print. Hope you like it.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And last for tonight, our good friend Lucy Moory sent us this little note.  She was using the FAB FIVE book.  Lucy writes, "had to show you and tell you.... I LOVED how easy your Fab 5 quilt goes together! I'm making more!!!!!


Thanks!

She used her own fabric line, PACIFIC TRADE WINDS, head over to her blog and check it all out, http://www.thedrizzledapple.blogspot.com/.

Here is the FAB FIVE book

This is the pattern we did for Lucy's fabric line.  It is called ROCK AND ROLL.

Thanks again for all the pictures.  Keep sending them.  Check out all the patterns and more on our website, http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/.

Have a great week, Janice and Marcea

ALL DOLLED UP

So is it tooooo late in the year to make a new year's resolution?   I just noticed the date of our last blog.  I resolve to write more often.   In our defense, though, we have a great reason.  We are doing a STASH BOOK, the really cool ones that are published by C&T publishing.  We finished the first draft yesterday.  While that may not sound like a lot, it has 32 projects which we have had to design, sew and write the patterns for.  Then we had to transfer it into a book language format.  The projects all get shipped next week.  It doesn't come out for a while though, so no more information for now.  Just needed a good excuse for not writing.

Now I have a great excuse for WRITING.  We had an email from our friend Amanda Herring, The Quilted Fish last week.  She has put together a fabulous idea for spring market which is in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It is called ALL DOLLED UP IN SALT LAKE CITY, and it involves quilts and prizes and a whole lot of fun.  She invited Utah designers to take a basic paper doll template and using one of four Riley Blake fabric collections, create a 10" x 12" block.  She had such an overwhelming response, that there are enough blocks to make two quilts.  The quilts will hang in the Riley Blake booth.  All the participants will also have their block in their booth, and here where the fun starts, yes, a BOOTH HOP.  Get a stamp from all the participating designers, and you get a chance to win one of the quilts, or numerous other patterns and projects that each designer is donating.  All the details and updates are found on a special blog, www.alldolledupinslc.blogspot.com/.  There is also a list of all the designers with links to their blogs.

So, now more justifying as my son would say.  I got the fabric for the block on Friday, but because of the book, couldn't even start until Saturday.  Amanda needed the block on Monday.  Actually, she remembered that even though we are officially a Florida company, yours truly lives in the Beehive state.  We are so glad she remembered us, even last minute.  Not sure how long everyone else had, but i assure you there are some amazing blocks.  I risked life and limb to get the block to Amanda's Monday.  There was a huge snowstorm and I was stuck on the freeway in a blizzard during rush hour.  It was worth it though, because I got a sneak peak at some of the blocks.

Let me show you a couple of pics of our block.  I used the Love Birds collection.  It has beautiful bright colors.  The doll is tall and skinny so I needed something to feel the space.  Of course, what is more us than flourishes.

 She had to have blonde hair, of course.  Now to the face.  I painted it on, yes that is paint. 

I did try numerous clothing designs, but decided on this cute little dress, great leggings, and a fabulous pair of chunky green sandals.  When it was done, I really liked her.  It felt just like our style.  I can just see myself running around in that little outfit, simple, but flashy.  Now the fun starts.  Checking out all the other designers blocks.  Most of the ones I saw looked just like their maker and they showed off their interests and talents.   It was so  fun to see so much personality and variety in a paper doll.  Just can't wait for the finished quilts.

So here she is all finished, kinda.  I embroidered Abbey Lane Quilts in blue floss after I took the picture.  I'm going to make a Great Big Block for our booth at market, and I think there are going to have to be two

blondes.

I will start posting pics of some of the other dolls.  If you just can't wait, head to the blog and see what your favorite designers have created.

P.S.  Not sure when, I think after market, the patterns to make all the doll blocks will be availabe free on each designers website. 



THE GLUEING DILEMMA

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Yes a little late, but better late than never.  What a holiday season.  As many may know, I take care of my 84 year old father who had massive heart failure the middle of December.  10 days in the hospital and we still have a long recovery.  He fell last night and put a huge gash in his head, spent an hour trying to decide whether to super glue it or not.  Opted not to.  Anyway, my hands are full.  I do however have a wonderful segway on glueing.

Janice and I are in the middle of a huge project, or 27 small projects.  Not sure we can really talk about it, and don't you just hate it when people say that.  Anyway, I made a sweet little quilt over the weekend and tried a new product that made it a lot easier.  I was raw edge appliquing small circles on to blocks, and I tried something new called LAPEL STICK.  A company from Canada sent us a sample.  Great Concept.  Spread it around the edge of the piece you want to applique and stick it on.  It holds while you sew, no pinning, you can press it with the iron and it washes out completely.  It is also very nice because it did not clog or gum up my sewing machine needle either.  The best part is it holds the edges down which is great when Janice machine quilts the quilt.

Now, I had the product, but had not even paid attention until Marlene, My Heritage Fabrics, told me that lots of ladies used ELMERS WASHABLE SCHOOL GLUE STICK.  She had a stick and so I stole it.  I really did, I just told her I am taking this.  I experimented with it on a sample piece.  Almost died at first because it went on bright purple and I was so afraid I was going to ruin the fabric with purple die, but before I had finished sewing the color was gone.

Now the dilemma, which to use.  The ELMERS was a little gooier, but the purple made it easy to see when I was applying it.  So, have you tried either of these methods and what were your results.  Inquiring minds want to know, ok, so I want to know.

Finally got the new patterns up for sale on the website, you may want to take a quick look, http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/.

It takes only 18 fat quarters for the whole quilt.





Have fun with Charm Squares and Ric Rac.


























Great for "Tweens" both girl and boy.

























Also, Janice has made who knows how many FAB FIVE quilts, http://abbeylanequilts.com/FABFIVE.html but here were two that I just loved.  This is the Pretty Posies, she used Sandy Gervais fabric for this one.  This version used 16 fabrics.



and French General on this one, which used 8 fat quarters.   They will be quilted this week.

Glad to be back, sorry it has been awhile.

Have a great week, Janice and Marcea







THE WINNERS ARE!!!

First, a thanks to everyone who left us a comment.  Janice and I both have our favorite quilts, but it is so fun to hear which ones ya'll like.  We had comments from 29 states and 7 countries.  Based on the comments, it looks like the book is as versatile as we hoped it would be.  There was no clear favorite winner.  They all got votes.  So, now, as promised, 5 books going home with 5 winners. 

We took all the entries and assigned them a number, the we used the Random Number Generator to pick for us.  Here we go.

Our First Winner is, #64 - Paula from Illinois

Our Second Winner is #43 - Kandus from Ontario, Canada

Our Third Winner is #174 - Karenfae from Arkansas

Our Fourth Winner is #75 - Lisa from Montana

and our Final Winner is #20 - Billie Dee from Texas

Thanks again, and if you didn't win, you can still buy the book on our website, http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/.

Please email us with your mailing address at abbeylanequilts@yahoo.com .

We have had several emails about a post we did last year for the 10 MINUTE TABLE TOPPER.  So, a first for us, a repost of this great last minute christmas gift.  Here is the post:

My local quilt shop is only three miles from my house.  It is called My Heritage Fabrics and is owned by Marlene  Lewellyn.  If you are ever in Ogden, you need to stop by.  When I stopped in the other day, she showed me her TEN MINUTE TABLE TOPPER.  It is a quick pattern that needs only two pieces of fabric.  One piece is 1/2 yard x WOF and the other is either 10" or 12" x WOF.

Marlene went a step further with the idea and made placemats to match the runner by cutting the runner in half.  She has a pattern she can email you.  Just send her a note and tell her you saw her runner on our website, myheritagefabrics@gmail.com.  Check her blog also, http://www.myheritagefabrics.wordpress.com/.

How cute are these.  I bought a couple of half yard pieces of christmas fabric and headed home to make some.    I had some assorted Moda Layer Cake bundles laying around.  I decided to use two of them to make my TABLE TOPPERS.

  I ended up making three.  I used the layer cakes to piece the front panels.  I couldn't do the fold down ends though, because they covered up some of the cute fabric pieces, so I altered the ends.  The third one used layer cake pieces for the front and the back.  When you see these, you will know why we design patterns.  Janice and I have a habit of changing every thing we sew.  Anyway, here goes.

TABLE TOPPER ONE

I added Ric Rac to the sides of this one and varied the sizes of the pieces in the front panel.  This one took a little longer than ten minutes.  Around 25 minutes with the cutting and Ric Rac.  Another fun note, these are all reversable.  How cute are green and cream polka dots.

TABLE TOPPER 2

Another different end.  This one had even strips in the front panel and took about 20 minutes to make.

TABLE TOPPER 3

By the time I got to this one, I was having way tooooo much fun.  The green front was 5 layer cakes cut into thin strips.  The back was 12 layer cakes.  I made this one longer, used the pointy end and added tassles.  I put Ric Rac across the strips on the back so I could use either side. I can't decide which I like better, the front or the back.

We have written more detailed instructions with lots of pictures and put in on our website, http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/.  Just click on What's New and then click on Ten Minute Table Toppers, or follow this link http://abbeylanequilts.com/TABLETOPPER.html.  This one did take about an hour and a half, but it was soooo much fun. 

Have a great week, and start making those TABLE TOPPERS. They make great gifts.

Janice and Marcea

CYBER BLOG WEEK GIVEAWAY

That's right.  A GIVEAWAY.  We have been waiting for today to introduce you to our newest book, FAB FIVE, Fun, Fast & Flirty, and to give away 5 COPIES, one each to five winners.  First, the book, then at the end, how to win a book.

The book starts with two different basic quilts,  the first quilt uses 8 coordinating fat quarters, 4 in one color wave and 4 in another color wave.  The other basic quilt uses 16 scrap pieces 10" x 18".  Then, you get to choose from FIVE different appliques.

 For Spring, PRETTY POSIES with 8 Fat Quarters

Then, PRETTY POSIES with 16 scrap pieces.

























Next,  for summer, STARS AND STRIPES with 8 fat quarters.

Next, STARS AND STRIPES with 16 scrap pieces.

For Halloween, SPOOK ALLEY with 8 Fat quarters.

And SPOOK ALLEY with 16 scraps.

And just in time for Christmas, we have HOLIDAY HOOPLA with 8 Fat Quarters.

And HOLIDAY HOOPLA with 16 Scraps.

All the quilts have raw edge appliques.  The Christmas quilt has ornaments that you can decorate with ric rac, button, jewels, whatever you like.

And if all the holidays weren't enough, we had the bonus cover quilt, LOTSA DOTS.

The finished size for the quilts is 50" x 60", a perfect lap quilt.  The are fast to cut and sew, and fun to keep or even give away.  You will want to make them all.

So, now for the giveaway.  We have several ways to get chances.  The more chances you have the better your odds.

First:  Leave us a comment and tell us which quilt is your favorite.

Second:  Sign up as a follower.

Third:  Be our friend on our facebook page where you get updates and quick info, http://www.facebook.com/ and search abbeylanequilts.

That's it.  It is almost as easy as making a FAB FIVE quilt.  If you want more info, head over to our website http://www.abbeylanequilts.com/ where we have the book for sale for only $18.50.  It includes color pictures of all the quilts and full size templates.  Check out all the other new patterns from market on our Pattern Preview page.

Can't wait to hear from ya'll.

Janice and Marcea

P.S.  We will anounce the winners next Monday.