Perkins Dry Goods

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy working with Quiltmaker Magazine.  The 100 Blocks issues are truly wonderful to be able to contribute to.  The Blog Tour for Volume 9 runs Today through May 2nd. The 100 Blocks Volume 9 will be on most newsstands May 6.  It is another great issue!

My block is called “Building Blocks” and is a super simple block that has lots of design possibilities.  The fabric  used is Vintage Play by Susan Marth for Red Rooster Fabrics.

To make this table runner, just make two blocks and two extra 3″ x 6″ flying Geese and four 3″ x 3″ cornerstones.  Add a border if you want a bigger runner, or just bind it for a 12-1/2″ x 30-1/2″ runner.

This is the quilt that I made for the Gallery – you can see it in the magazine or if you go to Golden, Co, you can see it in person!  I rotated the blocks in each row and added sashing with a Flying Goose unit to complete each block.

Now for the good part!  There is a magazine giveaway with this blog post!  TWO magazines plus one each of my new patterns to be released at Spring Market in Pittsburgh on May 15th.  The new patterns are Barn Dance, London Star and Tinsel Time (a book!).

All you have to do to be entered is comment on this blog post and tell me how long you have been quilting and why you love it.

Stop by Konda’s blog – Moose on the Porch Quilts –  for the block pattern and more info on the Quilt Along!

Leave a comment and you will be entered into a drawing for one of my newest patterns!

A special treat – a runner project that you can make from the block pattern:

Click here for pattern.

Here we go for Day 3 of the Mistletoe Make & Bake blog hop!

Leave a comment about one of your holiday traditions and you will be entered in a drawing for one of my new patterns.  Six lucky winners!

Holiday Party Icebreakers…

My husband and I go to very few Holiday Parties anymore, but every once in awhile one comes up that we need to attend.  Most of the time these are work functions….he dreads them and I kind of look forward to reconnecting with some of the people he works with.  That being said, I don’t always know what to say to get things going!

These are a few of the things I try to remember….Notice something about the person and compliment them.  Talk about something that you did recently like a trip you took that was interesting.  Keep things light and neutral.

My recipe for today is another family favorite.  Years ago when my kids were little I would get together with  a group of friends  each year to do holiday baking.  We’ve all gone different directions now, but this is one of the recipes we always made.  It’s a no-bake recipe that freezes really well.  Click here for a printable version.

And as a thank you for stopping by, here is a quick topper that you can make as a holiday gift!

Click here for instructions.

Be sure to stop by Patrick and Kelly Ann’s blogs to see what they have cooking today too….and don’t forget to comment on all three of our blogs to be entered in a grand prize give away!

For a quick and cute holiday project, head over to Roseann’s blog.  This was her project for the Cross Country Blog Hop that ended last week.  I couldn’t resist!  I added my own touch by chopping off the corners about an inch away from the corner squares. I used Crazy Eights by Sandy Gervais.

I came across this cool little tutorial on making a tissue cozy at Kimberly Mason’s (KimQuiltz) blog yesterday.  She has a project called Share the Love!  Make two – give them to a friend who can keep one and pass one on.  These go together super fast – you won’t be able to stop making them.  Click here for the pattern.  Thanks Kim!~

Greetings to all of the blog tour visitors – thanks for stopping by.  Look for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers, Collectors Edition in your local quilt shop, on newsstands after Nov. 16 or purchase from Quiltmaker.com.

I was approached at market in Pittsburgh about contributing to the issue…I thought it sounded like fun and besides, the block wasn’t due until later in the summer.  Well, summer flew by and the deadline was upon me.  My husband chuckled and shook his head.  I guess I am pretty predictable in that way and somehow am always working against a pressing deadline!

I had just finished a project using the Frosted Memories line by Holly Taylor from Moda.  I loved the soft greens, reds. creams and tans.  I had bits and pieces left from a Layer Cake pre-cut pack, so went to work with that, determined to make it work as a scrappy block.

Here is a setting option using four Four Corners blocks – what a cute Christmas topper this would make!

Four Block Topper Yardage

Sashes:  1/4 yard
4 rectangles 2- 1/2″ x 12- 1/2″

Cornerstone:  Scrap
1 square 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″.

Border/Binding: 1 yard
2 strips 4-1/2″ x 26-1/2″ for sides
2 strips 4-1/2″ x 35″ for top/bottom
4 strips 2-1/4″ x width of fabric for binding

The 100 Blocks magazine has setting options for larger sizes as well.  This is an issue worth having!

Prize drawing! Before you continue on, be sure to visit our website and be sure to leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers. The winner will be posted here on Thursday morning!

Follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily Nov. 9-13 at quiltmaker.com/quilty pleasures for inspiration, ideas and giveaways galore!

The minute we finished the blog hop, I got on a plane to California to visit family…it was a lovely vacation, way too short!

Now I’m back and have been working hard to finish a project that should have been done for Spring Market…..here is a sneak peak:

It’s  a  darling Tree Skirt pattern called “Under the Tree!”  It should be available within the next week or two. I made it in two sizes, one for a table top tree and one for a living room sized tree.  Stay tuned!

I will be drawing for a free Under the Tree! pattern from comments made in the next 7 days….don’t miss this chance!

Terry Atkinson posted a darling project for an art binder that is a perfect last minute gift – for any age! Here is the binder that I made yesterday.  For project instructions click here to go to Terry’s blog.

Happy Holidays!
Celine

I would like to feature quilts made from my patterns in the Gallery on the Perkins Dry Goods website. I know that dealing with images can be daunting…..so I am sweetening the pot. If you send me a picture of a project you made from one of my patterns, I will send you a free pattern. This is a time limited offer for the first 10 people who respond with images that I can use.

The rules are simple:

1. One pattern per person, even if you send multiple pictures.
2. Click here for submission guidelines.

Thank you to Pam in Kansas City! She sent images of three Grandpa’s Best quilts that she made. Here is one of them ~ click here to see the others.

You know you’re going to have good day when the kids all get up on time and are out the door without a hitch.  I love those days!  With three teens in my house, “good morning” is often a question rather than a greeting!

An even better sign is getting an email first thing (after the darlings have gone) from a new friend with show and tell.  Janet, the Idaho Quilter made up one of my new patterns – Three for Tea -  in the cutest new line from Fig Tree – Dandelion Girl.  I just love it!  She even scalloped the corners just like the pattern.

Speaking of scallops, they are one of my all time favorite things to do with borders.  Lots of people are afraid of them, but they really aren’t that bad!  The best part is the bias binding.  I know you’re reading this thinking “she’s nuts!”  If you read Janet’s blog about the binding, she even says it just rolls into place.

If you want just a little project to try out the scalloping biz and bias binding, I have a free pattern at my website for a little checkerboard topper.  Let me know what you think!