Double Wedding Ring Challenge

I made it, I'm home!  I just dropped my bags (didn't even touch the laundry) and sat right down to write my post for the Double Wedding Ring Challenge!

(ok, I lied.  I took a nap, fed the kids, and signed George up for swimming lessons first.  But now that they're all sleeping off their jetlag.. I finally have a minute to myself~)

Have you ever seen a DWR quilt in person?  For some reason, every time someone pulls one out at a guild show-n-tell it leaves a deep impression on me.  They always elicit a great response from the crowd..   oohs and ahs.  The curves!  the tiny pieces! the CURVES!

 I have never tried to make one, but that might change this year.  The NYC Metro Modern Guild is hosting a DWR challenge through December.  All the details and instructions for entering can be found here.  There are categories suited for every quilter, and there are PRIZES!   And while I've got a good 10 quilts I should be making, and another 5 I want to make, I'm really tempted to jump in here..
I do own one DWR.. it is hanging in my sewing room.  Here, have another look:

Yes, the patches are only slightly larger than my fingernail.  It's an amazing piece-- hand pieced and hand quilted by my mentor, Kikuyo Kubota in Hokkaido, Japan.  The whole piece measures 15" x 19". 

If I give it a try, I'll go with larger patches, of course.  And I'd like to encourage you to try to make something with these curves for the challenge too..
The generous people at Simplicity have sent me a set of Darlene Zimmerman's EZ quilting DWR templates to give away to one lucky reader.  Please leave a comment on this post telling me how you feel about curves-- in quilting, in life, in nature, in design.. (and give it some thought, more than just "Oh, I love them!").  I'll choose a winner on Sunday.  (Domestic and International entries welcome~)

The templates make large rings, btw-- a twin sized quilt would be 5 rings x 6.

So are you ready to start your Challenge entries?  Here's a bit of information from the NYC Mod Guild site:

This is a challenge FOR EVERYONE, All quilters… of any style from Anywhere! This is an international challenge.

Categories

SMALL: ONE RING! Easy! size: under 20″ or smaller… This is a great way to play and learn your curves, and try your own version of making this fun design!

TRADITIONAL: 4 rings or larger…  Make the traditional double wedding pattern by using the template and your choice of fabrics…not straying to far from the traditional style. Four rings or larger for this category… must have three layers and bound.

MODERN:  4 rings or larger… ANYTHING GOES!  How can you interpret the double wedding ring, put a MODERN spin on a traditional design? Piece it, applique, fuse, whole cloth? Possibilities are ENDLESS!!!  No rules other then, it must have three layers and bound.

You don’t need to use Darlene’s Double Wedding Ring templates to enter, but we’d sure like it if you did! Any double Wedding ring template will work.

EZ Double Wedding ring challenge and single arc is available at www.simplicity.com or at your local store. You do not have to use this template to enter the contest.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Images must be uploaded by Dec 1st.  Winners will be announced Dec 15th, 2013  **Winning quilts with need to be sent in by January 1st.

I am at the tail end of the Challenge Blog Hop, but please go around and stop by all the blogs.  Most have templates to give away, and you just might get lucky!

July 8th

​NYC MOD​ Quilters

 http://nycmetromodquilters.blogspot.com/

Interweave

quiltingdaily.com

 July 9th

Emily Bailey

emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/

Shelly Pagliai -

http://prairiemoonquilts.com/?page_id=62

July 10th

Amy Ellis

amyscreativeside.com/

Faith Jones

www.freshlemonsquilts.com/

July 11th

Amy Smart

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com

July 12th

Dan Rouse

http://pieceandpress.blogspot.com

Elisa Albury

www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/

July 13

Jenny Cameron

Fiberlosophy.blogspot.com

July 14th

Jane Davidson

http://quiltjane.blogspot.com

July 15th

Joanna Wilczynska

http://shape-moth.blogspot.com

Jackie Kunkel-

http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com

July 16th

Kathy Doughty

http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com/

Juki

http://jukihomesewing.wordpress.com/

 July 17th

Lisa Mason

http://theredheadedmermaid.blogspot.com

Flaun Cline

http://ipleadquilty.blogspot.com

 July 18

Pat Sloan

http://blog.patsloan.com

Jessica Alexandrakis (That's me!)

http://lifeunderquilts.blogspot.com

 July 19th

Jacquie Gering

http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com

Lee Heinrich

http://www.freshlypieced.com/

Monica Solorio-Snow

http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/

The lucky readers

And this is why I don't do giveaways!  I'm terrible with the follow through.

Thanks for your patience though.  With the help of Random.org, the winners are..

Books:

Judy in Michigan  April 2, 2013 at 6:57 PM

The best gift that I've given to someone was a ship's clock that I bought for my husband for our first anniversary. He had always owned a boat (from 10' to 35') so he loved all things nautical. We still have that clock and it faithfully bongs (loudly) the hours and half hours. He loves it!! Thanks for the chance to win - I've read all of the Chiaverinni books and my favorite was the first one, The Quilter's Apprentice, but I love them all. Your statement that you feel like you are there at the manor is right on!!

and

sewyouquilt2 April 5, 2013 at 5:59 AM

oh there are so many to choose from.....lets see..when my niece was 2 I gave her a costume of BabyBop that I made without a pattern. she loved it. loved it so much when she was 4 and it no longer fit we have a pic of her trying to fit into it! she is now 20 and cant wait for her baby to wear it. thanks for the chance to win! dawnieq73@aol.com

Pins:

Lucy @ Charm About You   April 2, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Fun giveaway! I've never read any of her books but would love to. I've enjoyed giving away all the quilts I've made as gifts. Oh and a couple of years ago I bought my husband a kayaking lesson and he loved it!

Jusmom1April 3, 2013 at 6:12 PM

Oh gosh how I would love to win her book. I have never read ANY of them!

The best gift I have ever given was a quilt I made for my dear father this Christmas. Dad was diagnosed with two totally different types of cancer 2 years ago. Since then, my dad, who was NEVER cold has starting feeling chilly when he sits in his chair resting. I made him a warm, wonderful flannel and faux suede quilt. It was the highlight of my Christmas...and his.

Thanks for the chance to win.
lindapawlak@verizon.net

Anonymous  April 4, 2013 at 5:08 PM

The best gift I have ever given was a bouquet of flowers, sent to my mom and dad on MY birthday with a note thanking them for that day __ years before. Even tough old dad shed a tear on that one. Carol

artsygranny2@ yahoo.com

Sarah   April 2, 2013 at 3:44 PM

I've loved the Elm Creek Quilts books and donate regularly to Linus, so I am really looking forward to reading this one over summer vacation! It's hard to pick a favorite gift - but since my kids are still young, it would have to be some of the special items they've received from Santa over the last couple years. What bigger example of a parent's love for their child is there, than to give somebody else the credit for the best present that the child really really wanted? My son's first football - Santa. My daughter wanted a stuffed guinea pig - Santa. The scooter and the remote control helicopter - the big guy in red. Seeing their joy when their faith in his abilities is confirmed is totally worth it!

Pamela   April 4, 2013 at 5:30 PM

I'd love a chance to win a book written in English! I live in Hokkaido and don't read Japanese. I found your blog last summer when I was looking for a fabric store and found your post about Kanariya in Sapporo. I have been there many times after that and have been reading your blog ever since.
I always think the best gifts are the ones I make. In January I finished a small quilt that looks like an aquarium of fish and sent it to the US as a baby gift.
Thanks!

heleen   April 2, 2013 at 2:48 PM

I've given my sister some little clothes I made for her little daughter. She is so cute. I'm now finishing a quilt for her to play on. I love the books from these series. Thanks for the chance!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks everyone for playing.  Emails have been sent  to the winners.  Congrats!!

The Giving Quilt: Review & Giveaway

I spent the last week reading Jennifer Chiaverini's latest novel, The Giving Quilt.

From Plume Books:

Thanksgiving inspires generosity once a year, but what happens to the spirit of giving on the other 364 days? In THE GIVING QUILT, now available in paperback from Plume, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini takes a page from her own life to deliver an emotional and poignant story very close to her heart. As a long-time member and advocate of Project Linus, an organization dedicated to providing handmade quilts and blankets to children in need, Jennifer decided to donate a very unique and special gift—a prime spot in one of her bestselling novels.

 

At Elm Creek Manor, the circle of quilters is hard at work preparing for “Quiltsgiving.” Held annually the week after Thanksgiving, expert and novice quilters from near and far gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make pieces for Project Linus. As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to the question, “Why do you give?” in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Each of the quilters, including a librarian, a teacher, a college student, and a quilt shop clerk, uses her unique talents to teach, inspire, and give back to her fellow campers.

 

With numerous New York Times bestsellers, Chiaverini is undoubtedly one of the masters of both modern and historical women’s fiction. Year after year, Chiaverini’s stories remain beloved by fans and praised by critics.

  

And my thoughts:

I have read several of Chiaverini's books and have enjoyed all of them-- not just because they're about quilters (yes, I have read bad quilt-fiction), but because of the comfortable atmosphere the storytelling evokes.  I feel like I've been there, at Elm Creek Manor, and I can imagine being in the workshops, guild meetings, and quilt shops she describes.  They are easy reads, and even though I don't agree with all of her characters' quilting choices or methods, I feel she really captures the essence of a quilter, if there is such a thing.  But anyway.. The Giving Quilt is similar to her other novels set in modern day-- characters are introduced and then their individual stories are told.  The highlight of this particular book for me was the return of Karen, a quilter we met in Circle of Quilters, who interviewed for a teaching position at Elm Creek Manor, but her two small sons got in the way (I totally identify with this character, btw).  As realistic as her cast of quilters is, there are some purely fictitious elements of course-- all of the quilters' husbands! Now my husband is pretty amazing, funny, kind, generous, and I love him, but I could NEVER imagine him saying, "Oh honey, you work so hard, why don't I keep the kids while you go off for a relaxing week at quilt camp with your girlfriends."  hahahahaha!  Maybe one day, a girl can hope, right?

Plume Books has sent me two copies of the novel and six pins to give away to a handful of lucky readers.  Now I've never done a give-away before, so bear with me.. if you'd like a chance to win, leave a comment telling me about your favorite gift you've given to someone.  Make sure I've got a way to contact you (add your email address and/or make sure you're not a no-reply commenter).  The giveaway will close Friday, April 5th at midnight on the East Coast.  It's open to all-- I will ship internationally.  Thanks for playing~