The Inspiration behind the Quilt, My first Blog Award, Color Fix of Today

The Inspiration Behind the Quilt

I thought you may be interested in what inspired me to make the "cover quilt" for my first book Turkish Delights to Applique. On my first trip to Turkey, I was overwhelmed by the amazing Iznik Tiles I saw everywhere from the Ottoman Empire Days. These tiles became a focus of my study for the next visits back to Turkey and my sketchpad came with me as well as alot of film. These tiles have withstood centuries of earthquakes as you can see in the picture. I loved the medallion designs and the "tulip era" floral artwork of them. I instantly named this quilt Mediterranean Medallion for my love of the medallion shapes. I have alot of the history and abundance of slides in my popwer point show lectures that I give Quilt Guilds. I am sure many of you have seen it already and we all now appreciate the fact to open our eyes a little wider when
we travel in order not to miss so many design elements. Turkish Delights is now "sold out" in print... BUT so many of you requested it back that it is now on CD which you can order on my website. I love Book CD's because you have a whole book on your computer and you can now print out all the patterns on your printer! Hope you enjoyed this little peek into why and how I create some of my quilts!!! ~Linda

WOW! I received my first blog award!!!

I was given the "Honest Scrap" Award by nanabarb and was told that I need to reveal 10 honest things that I've never told before and to list 5 of my addictions to receive it. Hmmm, and I'm supposed to do that on the internet??? Ok then, here it goes:

1. I have cut my fabric with paper scissors (YIKES)
2. I have cut my paper with fabric scissors (Oh the horrors!!!!)
3. I have 9 pairs of reading glasses cause I keep losing them, then finding them
4. I stink at text messaging
5. My first book I wrote, I forgot to make a backup and lost alot of it and had to rewrite. :-(
6. I own more books than I've read
7. I color my hair (I'm sure you know that though!)
8. I own 3 sizes of clothes.....just in case
9. I've nibbled a dog biscuit to see what it tastes like
10. I can combine 2 languages in one sentence and my mom knows what I said!!!

~My Addictions~ 1.Ice cream 2. Gadgets 3. My computer 4. Applique hands down 5. Blogs

So nanabarb, did I pass??? :-)

Your Color Fix for Today

Here's some color for you today to help wake up some creative energy inside of you!

Meet my assistant Zoie-More Patchwork Furniture-Patchwork Barns

Hi! I'm Zoie! I thought it was time mom introduced me to you so I told her that since I'm gonna be her right hand #1 assistant in the sewing studio,and it was time you all got to know me. I was born on September 17, 2008, only 2 days after mom's birthday. She told me we could have a big birthday party together and I would get presents. She told me I am a Virgo just like her. What's a Virgo? I'm a Corgi, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi not a Virgo. I'm kinda a little dog, but not really with very short legs. I heard mom tell me that I am gonna get 12" high and about 20 " long. I love her sewing room. There is soooo much stuff to see, taste and drag around. Mom is always chasing me to get things back. I just think she wants to play with me, so I keep dragging stuff out so she chases me and then I get to run and make her laugh. You'll be seeing me here on her blog every so often. It's only fair that you know my side of things and I promise to tell you what she's up to. I'm really smart and pay attention to everything, so if she forgets to tell you the good stuff....I will!
*~Zoie~*

I am really doing good at "steps" now. Mom stands there cheering me on and I get so happy because she gives me treats for doing this stuff. I got so good at going up the steps that i tried really hard at going down them. When I did mom jumped up and down and then I jumped up and down too and then can you believe this...I got another treat for that. I like learning new stuff! I like being told I am the best little girl in the whole wide world.

Mom gave me this great ducky toy that I love soooo very much. It's kinda hard to drag around cause the ducky body is about as big as my head.Mom told me I would grow into my head.

Believe me when I tell you that I really do own more than just this one blue toy. I have ALOT of toys, great toys, the best toys in the whole world, but I like to drag them out of my crib and throw them all over the place.


**MORE AWESOME PATCHWORK FURNITURE**

The other day I showed you those amazing patchwork egg chairs and today I found this awesome overstuffed patchwork chair. It would go perfect in my sewing studio...if I had the room! This beautiful chair is designed by the Squint. The squint comes from London UK. They redesign old, antique furniture by upholstering them in colorful vintage fabrics.

**Patchwork Designs on Barns**

I can't tell you how many times I find really cool stuff on my travels when I am driving to a guild to teach and lecture, or when a guild member takes me on a tour of their area I am visiting. One of the things I find most fascinating are all the barns with traditional quilt blocks painted on them. As I researched them a little further I found that the folks at "American Style" magazine say there is a trend of these patchwork squares popping up on historic barns all over the USA. (YAY!!!) There seems to currently be a grassroots movement of colorfully painted quilt motifs appearing on barns throughout eastern Kentucky. The state arts organizations are now working to help organize this effort in hopes of driving tourism to these rural areas. If you really want to see some amazing barn quilts from Kentucky,Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,Tennessee and West Virginia....well then go to this link and have some fun! http://www.ohiobarns.com/otherbarns/quilt/quiltbarns.html Be sure to read the two articles on Quilt Barns, it makes fascinating reading. Oh! And while you're at it, please read this wonderful newspaper article on how "Barn Quilts Blanket State"

I want this patchwork egg chair!

I am totally amazed at some of the really neat stuff you can find out there in this big world of ours.

When I saw these, I just knew that I had to share these patchwork egg chairs with you. I don't know about you, but I really, really want one of these for my sewing studio. Aren't these great??? I thought the idea concept behind them must have been a fun project to work on.
Make sure to go read all about it here.