Tag Archives: Book Review Tuesday

Gypsy Wife Quilt Along + Winner of Pillow Pop

Have you see the buzz around Gypsy Wife Pattern? Does this not look interesting and exciting?? Possibly a challenge or a great gift for next Christmas?

Intrepid Threads and Amitie Textiles are both offering BOM’s (Block of the Month) for this quilt. I really want to do this pattern but I did not want to do a BOM, where fabric is provided as part of the price. The reason, simply is, I have enough fabric and I would like to make my own Gypsy Wife blocks with my current stash.

Talking with Kristel @ Work in Progress Girl and Daisy @ Ants to Sugar, they were both:

Interested in this pattern (and have it already)
Interested in making and following a group of folks who are also interested in making it, so we can meet and experience it with others.

As we were talking, we thought it would be fun to do a Quilt Along (Gypsy Wife Quilt Along). Details are still being worked out but the general idea will be:

Join in with us, on flickr – Gypsy Wife QAL. Grab a button, if you want for your blog (see below).
Schedule will be posted at the end of this week. Expect it to have a feature block and a couple of filler blocks per month. First month for blocks would be February and the final blocks to finish up in December.
Buy your pattern, and select your fabric, in January.
A link-up will be provided each month, where you can link-up a post or pictures (i.e. Blog is not necessary).

I bought my pattern @ Westwood Acres on Saturday, and it arrived yesterday (Monday). I have added additional online shops that offer the pattern for purchasing, to a post, on Flickr.

I am also, looking into getting a couple of give aways for folks that link-up, during the year. If you are interested in participating in the giveaway’s, please send me an email: ml_wilkie@hotmail.com.

Here’s the button you can use and I hope to see y’all over on Flickr.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/2517508@N22"><img alt="GypsyWifeQAL" src="https://factotum-of-arts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/gypsywifeqal.jpg" width="199" height="199" /></a>

Lastly, the winner of the Book Review Tuesday – Pillow Pop is:

and #5 was Carol B. I will be sending you an email for your mailing address. Congratulations!!

Book Review Tuesday: Pillow Pop

48 Replies

Sorry this is so late today….I came down with the flu and have been feeling under the weather all day. I know…what a New Year’s Eve right ?? Anyway, after watching several episodes of Doctor Who, I am overcoming my cold to bring you one of my favorite books of 2013. I thought it a fitting way to see out the year.

Review

My two favorite books of 2013 would have to be Pillow Pop and Patchwork, please.

Title: “Pillow Pop”
Author: Compiled by Heather Bostic
Publisher: C&T Publishing/Stash Books
ISBN: 978-1-60705-478-8

I love sewing pillows. They are a great project to practice your skills. They are quick projects which means you easily get finishes and a sense of accomplishment – great to put in between quilt finishes. Finally, they make great gifts!!

Pillow Pop has a fabulous collection of 25 pillow projects. The projects are all by different people, so that means there is something for everyone in this book. The projects are at varying skill levels and pillow sizes and provide you with plenty ideas for a guild pillow swap or gift for a friend.

Each project is well put together, with materials, cutting instructions, and block instructions. The projects have great accompanied pictures and layout, which make them appealing and easy to follow. At the end of the book, there is a chapter that covers various tips on how to finish of the pillow, and the techniques you may need for the project. For example, how to make HST (half square triangles) or put a zipper in or make an envelope back, the details are provided.

My only caution for the book is to make sure you check for corrections. The Metro project, for example, has at least two errors in measurements. This was frustrating and meant some rework and re-measurement, to ensure I was not going crazy some how misread the instructions (which of course can happen ;-)) .

As mentioned, the book offers 25 projects. Of which, I would like at some stage, to make at 12-15 of those. I think that is a great return of investment. For this reason and the enjoyment I have had in making a couple of the projects already, I would give this book a rating of 4/5.

Projects

I have made at two of the projects from the book so far. Both of which I had a lot of fun making and had the chance to practice different techniques.

Sea Spray: This was made from the “Crystallized” pattern by Angela Mitchell’s (page 82). This was the my first attempt using HST and low volumes.

The Metro: This project is one of the first in the book and is an easy, quick project. Great for beginners. I used this project to practice improvisational piecing (at least the fabric selection) + straight line quilting.

I plan to make more of the patterns, as I just joined the Threadbias Pillow Pop Sew Along (and yes it was in my plan ;-)). It would be great to see you all over there. It starts in January, and there are plenty of projects throughout the year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Give-away

One brand new copy of Pillow Pop will be given away, all you need to do is leave a comment on what is your favorite pillow pattern you have tried or your current favorite craft book. There is a second chance to win if you are a follower, just leave a second comment. A winner will be chosen at random and announced after 6pm next Tuesday.

A disclaimer, all reviews and opinions of the books reviewed will be mine, unless otherwise stated. Please note, I may not respond to all comments due to volume and bandwidth.

2014 – Looking forward

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After reading Daisy’s post @ Ants to Sugar, instead of going a fabric diet, I am going to plan out my year (see: Amy’s post @ Badskirt on Curate) to control my fabric purchases and other aspects of my crafty doings.

So, this post is to see what my year will look like. Take stock on what I am participating in. Also, take a look at my goals.

Goals (keeping it simple)

First off, I need to be realistic….I will be doing very well, if I can finish a quilt a month. Luckily all of them, have more or less been started, so I think this is doable. I will be participating in “A Lovely Year of Finishes” to stay on track.
Host Book Review Tuesday every two weeks
New Project – Borders and lines (see below)
Attempt to be published in a quilting magazine
Teach a quilting class
Maintain posting a recipe per week

Balance + New Project

I was fascinated a while back, as one of the blogs I followed, posted about the Sketchbook Project, run by the Brooklyn Art Library. You receive a sketchbook and your job is to fill the pages on a given theme. I was inspired by one of the themes, they had in the list “Borders and lines”.

To get balance back with the other art areas that I enjoy, I have decided to start a year long project to explore “Borders + Lines” in multitude of media. I plan to check in at a minimum once every two months to share what I have done.

The Plan

January	February	March

Riley Blake Challenge Quilt (Fabric Purchased, Kona White needed) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash)	X & + Quilt (Fabric Purchased, including backing) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash) Publish Tapa Cloth Stars Paper Piecing Pattern Border & Lines Project Check-in	Four Seasons in One Day Baby Quilt (one without buttons) (Fabric TBD) SECRET PROJECT 1 (Fabric Purchased – Grey Kona Solids) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Tutorial (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash)
April	May	June

Attend Nashville Sew Down Blocks and Patterns complete for Sample Block Mini Quilt (Fabric TBD) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash) Border & Lines Project Check-in	Pullme, Pushme Mini Quilt (Fabric Purchased) Carolyn Friedlander Tree Mini Quilt (Fabric Purchased) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash)	Natural Corridor Charity Quilt (Fabric Supplied) NZ Birds Quilt (Use Stash) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash) Border & Lines Project Check-in
July	August	September
	Photo and design from Lee @ Freshly Pieced
Pinky Bar Quilt (Fabric Purchased) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Tutorial Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Pillow Pop QAL (threadbias) (Use Stash) Chair Bags/ Chair Pockets (Fabric Purchased)	Sean’s Quilt (based on this quilt) (Fabric Purchased – Constellations) Scrap-bee-licious Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Border & Lines Project Check-in	Scrappy Trip Around the World (Fabric Purchased, True Colors…JD, HB, AMH) SECRET PROJECT 2 (Fabric Purchased if Botanics/ Fabric not purchased if Color me Happy, V and Co. ) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash)
October	November	DecembeR

Through the Shattered Looking Glass (Use Stash + Stash Bee Blocks, may need to purchase Kona Silver for background) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash) Border & Lines Project Check-in	Orange/Grey King Size Quilt (Fabric Purchased, may need white sashing) Stash Bee Blocks (Use Stash)	Tula Pink City Sampler (Fabric Purchased) Hexagon Lap Quilt (Use Stash) Christmas Gifts (Fabric TBD) iPad/iPhone Stands (Use Stash) Border & Lines Project Check-in