Go Big, Go Bold - Large Scale Modern Quilts - 10 Projects. Quick to Cut. Fast to Sew

It's here! My new book is here! It was a long time coming and I am so excited to announce its arrival: Go Big, Go Bold - Large Scale Modern Quilts - 10 Projects. Quick to Cut. Fast to Sew!

So often, I am asked what inspired me to write, Go, Big, Go Bold. The answer is simple: To quickly teach others what took me years to learn; how to make great, sizable, quilted projects within days as opposed to within months or years. Case in point is the Big Pennant Quilt, just one of the 10 patterns included within the book.

This 45’’ x 60’’ lap quilt can easily be made in a weekend or even in a day if you have your nose to the grindstone. The secret? The top is made with just 14 pieces! Just 14 pieces and I dare say that this quilt has just as much color, interest, impact and warmth as a 140 piece quilt top. By quilting standards, making a quilt from start to finish in a single weekend is instant gratification, but the journey that got me to this point was anything but quick and easy.

I’ve been a quilter for many years, so many that I am not even sure when it all started. I have some fabrics in my stash that I can date back to 1982 so let’s call it 30+ years. Sadly, I can also say that during this time, I have started, and abandoned more projects than I care to admit. Why? Here’s a short list of the reasons: 

• Short Attention Span - I have the attention span of a common house fly. Call it inability to concentrate, lack of stamina, immaturity, call it whatever you like, the result is the same. I quickly lose interest in my project of the moment and if I do not bring it to a swift conclusion, something shinier and more interesting will walk by and lead me to reckless abandon. I know that this is not a unique condition to me. Do a Google search for ‘’UFOs’’ (UnFinished Objects) and you’ll see plenty of scientific evidence of their existence.

• Unexpected Result - Sometimes, a project just doesn’t seem to be going in the direction that it was intended. Maybe the fabrics aren’t blending as anticipated or perhaps a lack of contrast is making a pattern disappear. Whatever the reason, it is no fun spending good time after bad, working for hours and hours on something that is no longer appealing. For me, no fun equals ‘’let’s start something new!’'

• Modern Lifestyle - Let’s face it. Our modern lifestyles are chock full of activities; work, chores, holidays, vacations, family issues and appointments, just to name a few. Often, obligations necessitate putting aside a project. For me, a lengthy shut down often results in project abandonment. If duty calls and I can’t for example finish a Halloween project by October 31^st, the last thing I want to do is finish it in December. I am more likely to pack it away with the best of intentions of finishing it the following year, hoping that I if or when I remember to resurrect it, that I still like it and want to finish it. Often times however, this has not been the case.

• Imagery Overload - Thanks to the internet, we now have boundless access to every fabric, pattern and quilting idea ever conceived. This curse blessing continually lengthens my ‘’must do’’ list, making it more tempting than ever to throw over a work in progress for a fresh, trendy, exciting new project. A project that unfortunately, may soon fall out of favor due to my short attention span. Refer to bullet 1; and so it goes. 

The solution, Go Big, Go bold. The premise, get it done.

Get it done within a reasonable amount of time, using a reasonable amount of effort. Circumvent that short attention span and get that big quilt done before you mentally run out of steam. Make one dozen big flowers, not six dozen little ones.

Get it done, before the birthday party, not the graduation party when it is no longer relevant or on trend.

Get it done, and get what you want. Take advantage of Go Big, Go Bold’s six palette suggestions for each pattern and sound fabric selection tips about scale, value and contrast.

** GO BIG, GO BOLD GIVEAWAY **

To celebrate the event, I am giving away a signed copy of my book to one of my lucky visitors. All you need to do to enter for a chance to win is leave a comment on this blog post; only one comment per person please. Be sure to include an e-mail address for me to respond to so that I can get in touch to receive shipping details. The draw will take place at 9:00 am US Eastern on Saturday November 28, 2015. The winner will be informed by e-mail and will be announced by an edit to this blog post. The book will be sent to the winner!

** ENTRY IS NOW CLOSED **

Thank you for all of your entries!

The lucky winner of the book is:

Anonymous from Australia

who said:

I can relate to "imagery overload". There are just so many quilts I want to make.
I really like your big flowers blocks and would love to win a copy of your book.
thanks for the opportunity.

Congratulations! I'll be in touch by e-mail to get your shipping address.