Hi All! I love this day each year, the opportunity to give back to the community and say thank you. So thanks to my followers old and new.
For those that are new, you can also find me on Instagram (IG) – ml_wilkie. I have been quilting for 3 years and have loved that I can combine my STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) background and my arts side. I discovered through Quilt Design a Day, modern quilt designing is definitely my favorite aspect of quilting. Many of my quilts are my own designs.

This has been such an amazing year from finishes and success. I hope you take some time to look around. The mosaic above shows my finished projects for 2015 – they can be found in the menu above.
Onto the give away!!….I wanted to make sure that I give back to all those who supported me through the year. So, this giveaway combines two things that I love:
- Fabric – $50 gift card to Hawthorne threads

- 3 books I have enjoyed lately (sent via amazon)

Thanks to all who left a comment. Fantastic suggestions and I had fun reading all the comments. Drum roll….the WINNER is:
Erica – Erica I will send you an email shortly to get all your details for posting the books.

I also follow you on Instagram. Thank you for the giveaway! You are my favorite to shop in–I hope I win the $50.00 gift certificate. janicelashley@gmail.com
1. Where do I begin with a blank piece of paper and a pencil? Always a difficult first step. Thanks for the opportunity. acbeier71@gmail.com
Oh what an amazing giveaway! And this is a good question, I’ve started two self drafted medallion quilts and partway through I realize I don’t have a cohesive plan. I’d like to learn how to do the whole layout first because winging it doesn’t seem to work so well!
I follow you by e-mail. acbeier71@gmail.com
My comment did not show up. My question is how do you begin with a blank piece of paper and a pencil? A little bit like writer’s block. That’s my issue. Thanks. acbeier71@gmail.com
I love your hippo quilt! Not sure what specific tips, but I often feel a bit lost between the design process to actual implementation
I’d love to know about modern quilting, improv quilting and designing modern quilts. Thanks for the chance!
I’m a follower on Bloglovin.
I’m a follower, via RSS feed- also loveelizabeth hartman, although haven’t seen too much from her recently
Wow, what do I want to know about design to reality? Hmmm, I think the thing I am struggling the most with is if I should put effort into publications (I really hate secret sewing) or keep plugging away and self-publishing. If only I had a crystal ball!
Hmm, I think you already know about and follow a lot of the same people I do… do you know about @cassandra.beaver on IG / the not so dramatic life (blog)? I think her works is stunning.
Thanks for a great giveaway! I think I would love some tips on starting in on more complicated sewing even if all you have is the most basic of sewing machines (like I do).
An amazing array of finishes for this year! I don’t know where to start on design tips. I do design some of my own quilts, but usually rely on my squared notebook and pencil and improvising on a design wall. I find the quilt design tools/technology have a steep learning curve for me. It’d be good to know more about your process
I always appreciate tips about the actual quilting process!
Color choice and how to best figure out what works together well. coudre at dmdrafting dot com
I enjoy Cat Patches as it is a little sewing, a little embroidery, a little cooking, lots of cats and a woman with a great sense of humor 🙂 coudre at dmdrafting dot com
I follow via bloglovin. One of my favorite bloggers is Diary of a Quilter
You probably already read Hilary’s blog at Entropy Always Wins? She always does amazingly creative work. http://entropyalwayswinsblog.com/tag/quilt/
I always run into a block when it’s time to start quilting. I need to expand my horizons beyond straight lines. I would love to hear more about how ppl come up with their quilting plans.
I never know how to quilt my tops, so any post on that would be appreciated. Thanks!
I’m very new to quilting, but love the modern quilting aesthetic. I’d like more tips on using colour, especially patterned vs solid fabric!
I recently discovered Tales of Cloth and Rossie Crafts, both interesting for different reasons. I can’t say my quilts are modern, but they’re definitely not traditional – in fact, I find it hard to categorise my work; each one is tailored to its recipient, none is purely decorative. I enjoy your blog because of the window it offers into the thought processes that go into constructing a true modern quilt.
Using prints in modern quilting, Thanks!
I enjoy Cheryl Sleboda’s bog at muppin.com
I am scared to try curved piecing and would love to make an orange peel quilt
I’m a follower and one of my very favorite blogs is Diary of a Quilter.
Like you, I like to design many of my own quilts. The real problem is getting them from graph paper to a finished quilt. I’ve tried EQ7 but maybe just haven’t invested enough time learning the software. Most of my quilts don’t follow a traditional block format. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com
I love reading lots of details on other’s design process. What gave them the inspiration and the interpretation choices they’ve made.
I follow via IG. On blogLovin, I like Sew We Quilt. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com
I would love to know about color play within modern quilts.
I follow via bloglovin. One of my favorite blogs is by my friend who just started blogging at QuiltedBlooms.com
The actual quilting part is what I usually need help on. Once something’s pieced I sometimes get stuck.
I could use tips on the quilting part, I always struggle to pick designs, especially when there is lots of negative space.
I follow by email. There are so many blogs I read and enjoy! I’ll say Confessions of a Fabric Addict because of the charity quilt drive she does each year.
I am drawn to the fractured quilts (random line quilts) but plunging in to try is my hurdle.
I’ve always wondered, can you make a quilt top into a duvet cover? I like the look of quilts, but the warmth of my down comforter!
Learning to quilt is on my bucket list. For now I sew many bags and admire modern quilting, specially those designs that play with geometrics.
I’m a new quilter, and am finding it very difficult picking out fabrics that go together. I’d appreciate tips on that. The choices paralyze me. (april.snook@gmail.com)
I’d also like to know how you decide on what design to quilt on the tops. I’m just starting to quilt and enjoying it very much!
I struggle with having very large blocks not get unintentionally wonky
I think I need to learn how to think outside the box with my colours, I am working on experimenting 🙂
I am (now) following through email 🙂
I’m more interested in improv quilt tops but I usually get stuck from the creative standpoint.
FOLLOW>GMAIL
HI, I’d like to know more about quilting with stripes. Thank You!
I need to know how to design my quilting stitching to be more dramatic!
When I made my first, and only, quilt I couldn’t find anything about quilting without batting. I wanted a light quilt so I just used flannel as the backing. I read that on a forum somewhere.
I think I am most interested in design software tips and tricks. Thanks for the chance to win! sarah123quilt AT gmail DOT com
Right now I’m really enjoying following Ants to Sugar on IG and Periscope. Thanks again. sarah123quilt AT gmail DOT com
I’d like to learn how to take my ideas and turn those ideas into a workable design.