Shipshewana Quilt Festival

Last week I was at the Shipshewana Quilt Festival in Shipshewana IN.  If you aren't familiar with the show, check out their website and Facebook page.  I grew up about 45 minutes from "Shipshe", as the locals call it, so the town will always have a special place in my heart.  Even though I live several hours away now, I try to get there as often as I can. 

This is my second year vending at the Shipshewana Quilt Festival and while last year was good, this year was amazing!  In my booth I displayed quilts from my stand alone patterns, books and online classes.  Last fall, when I was signing up for the booth, a 10’ x 10’ booth sounded huge, but when I got everything moved it, it was a challenge to get everything to fit!

I displayed quilts from my 4 books – T-shirts, Memories & More, The Simple Sampler, 2018 Christmas Collection and Ribbons & Rosettes.

Always a favorite from my T-shirts, Memories & More book is the framed Scrapbook Style Photo project.  It is a great way to preserve handwritten memories. 

From The Simple Sampler,  I had several of the 1 block pillows as well as the 3 block bed runner.  From 2018 Christmas Collection, two of the quilts were in the show - my Jingle Bells Quilt as well as Tree of Presents. From Ribbons & Rosettes, I had a couple of the pillows on display as well as the Wreath Hanging. I wish I could have displayed more, but I needed a bigger booth!  Maybe next year ;)

I had all 8 – yes 8 – online classes for sale.  My Learn Stack & Cut Quilting class just became available a few weeks ago and was getting a lot of attention.

I always have a DVD playing at the shows so people can see how my online classes are professionally produced.

And of course, the best part of any show is getting to connect with customers and other vendors.  Its always rewarding to meet face-to-face with customers I have met through social media. 

I do a daily drawing for a free pattern.

Plus I had 3 quilts (Jingle Bells Quilt, Tree of Presents and Modern Irish Chain) in the show along with a quilt that my Mother made which I designed and quilted.  It is the cover quilt from The Simple Sampler.

Vending is always an exciting yet exhausting time!  But the fun never ends as today we get to unpack the trailer and put it all away until next year! 

Playful Pillows - May 2018 Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

This month the challenge for the Island Batik Brand Ambassadors is pillows ... and there is nothing that I love more than a good pillow!

I am super excited to share my pillow with you.  The color combination is completely out of my comfort zone but I absolutely love how it looks! Now I just wish I had a decorating scheme to go with it.

I almost never work with earth tones unless I'm challenged - oh ya, this is a monthly challenge - but there is something soothing, refreshing and grounding about the finished combination.  

I pieced the pillow using Aurifil thread and used Island Batik fabrics from several collections, both of which were provided from their respective companies as part of our Brand Ambassador program.

The block pattern is from my The Simple Sampler book which is due out very soon (like really, really soon!!! - but you can't tell based on the number of exclamation points that I'm using !!!!!!!!!!!!!  :)  !!!!!!)

For the back of the pillow, I used an envelope style backing and complete instructions for making these are included in the book.

I really like using the envelope style backing because it lets you change your pillows seasonally by just removing the pillow form and putting it in a new pillow cover.  Plus it takes less space to store pillow covers than it does entire pillows - which means you can make more pillows!

I hope you have enjoyed my Playful Pillow! To stay up-to-date on my quilting adventures, be sure to follow Masterpiece Quilting on Facebook  or Instagram @masterpiecequilting 

2018 Monthly Color Challenge June = Purple

It's a new month and time for a new color!  And it's my favorite color too!  This month our color challenge is purple. 

If you are finding this blog post for the first time and aren't sure what we are talking about .... To get all the scoop, be sure to check out Jen's post.

So let's show off all this lovely purpleness!  I'm using Jen's pattern (available on her blog - see link below) and this month I made the 12" block.  I've got the 6" block cut out, but it just didn't get finished.  Stay turned during the month and I will get it finished and posted. 

I think the purple block will look great with previous blocks that I have made each month.  

I can't wait to see what your block looks like.  On Jen's blog you have an opportunity to share your green block or anything made with green from June 21 to 30 to be eligible for prizes.  And speaking of prizes, the sponsor for this month is Art Gallery Fabrics who are giving away a fat quarter bundle. 

Also be sure to visit the other bloggers who are participating this month.  It's so much fun to see what fabrics everyone has selected and how different the same block looks with different fabric choices!

Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen
Jen Strauser of Dizzy Quilter
Sherry Shish of Powered By Quilting
Jen Rosin of A Dream and A Stitch
Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon Quilting
Joanne Harris of quiltsbyJoanne

And if you are playing along with us, make sure to use #2018monthlycolorchallenge on social media! And speaking of social media, be sure to follow me on IG: @Masterpiecequilting and Masterpiece Quilting on FB for sneak peeks and updates!