Signature Block Swap starting!

Have you ever participated in a block swap? Do you like signature quilts? Join us in our first signature block swap hosted by Homestead Hearth!

We thought it'd be a lot of fun to exchange signature blocks with our customers and to let them exchange with each other too. When we saw Jo Morton's new book, Vintage Journey, we knew it was time to make this all happen.





So, here's the scoop: It's really easy to participate. You need Jo's book. Then, you need to pick among the four aged muslins we have selected as backgrounds. To make the quilt as shown with 64 blocks, you need 1 yard total of background fabric. You can pick just one of our 4 choices, use two of them or use a 1/4 yard of all four. This aged muslin we have selected is not just regular muslin you might have at home. It's specially dyed and has an old, worn look, perfect for this quilt. Here's where you can buy it: http://www.homesteadhearth.com/main.php?sortby=alpha&category=Fabrics&sc=1800s+Prints+-+Aged+Muslin

Be sure to note in the comments section or by a separate email how many blocks you hope to make so we can make sure everyone is in the same ballpark.

The prints for the blocks need to be Jo Morton 1800s reproduction prints you have purchased from Homestead Hearth. They can be old treasures or fabrics you purchase now.

What do we want in terms of signature? We'd love to know your name, city and state or country. The blocks are super easy so you can make lots in no time at all.

You need to mail your blocks to us by July 31. We plan to swap and mail back out on August 15.

Finishing kits to put your blocks together similar to the original quilt will be available from Homestead Hearth.

There's no charge to participate--just purchase your aged muslin from us and make sure to use fabrics you've bought from us. We will ship your blocks back to you using the US Postal Service and charge you for the return shipping or we can send them along with your finishing kit.

Feel free to discuss or ask questions in the comments.

Heartland Quilt coming to Homestead Hearth

We're so excited that we can share the Heartland American Sampler quilt with you starting Friday, March 6. This showstopper quilt is one of our upcoming Block of the Month programs. So, make sure you stop by & see the original quilt (we're doing the center medallion version) and then sign up to reserve your spot in the program.

Charleston 5 Arrives!

If you follow our newsletters, then you know that double pink & chocolate brown is one of our absolute favorite color combos. So, when we saw Judie Rothermel at Quilt Market, we begged her to do another group of these prints.

Guess what? She did! And, they just arrived at the store.

Here's a peek. You'll want to get these if you collect these colors too or you're ready to get into 1800s reproductions. There's just something about these colors that get me everytime! :)

If you're wondering about a project for the fabrics, we're busy designing something now that will in our new book out later this fall. Stock up so you can make the quilt or do something fabulous on your own!

Our favorite notion!

Dolores & I travel occasionally with a trunk show of our quilts. One question that always is asked: "How do you get your points point-y?" Aside from the basics of cutting accurately and then making sure your sewing machine is set up to produce an accurate 1/4" seam allowance, my favorite trick involves a notion: Judy Martin's Point Trimmer.

This cool little gadget helps trim the ends off your triangles so when you align triangles to each other or to squares and rectangles, they match up more easily. No more trying to center shapes on each other. As a result, the points almost always turn out better!

We always carry this item in our store so we can refer customers to it if they ask about how to improve their patchwork. Order one for yourself at our website:

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/main.php?sortby=alpha&category=Notions&sc=Judy+Martin%27s+Point+Trimmer

What's your favorite trick for improving your points?

Sarah

Applique favorites

People are starting to wonder where I am here locally since I have been hidden away in my sewing room appliquing blocks for the Women of Influence quilt that will be the Kansas City Star block of the month next year. Before I opened the shop several years ago, I liked to applique. But, once the store came along, time for relaxing with handwork seemd to slip away.

6 of the blocks in the Women of Influence quilt include applique so I'm back to it in a big way the last couple of months. As I worked, I remembered a couple of my favorite tools and thought I'd share them with you.


I do back baste applique, a technique I learned from Jeana Kimball. If you ever get a chance to take a class from her--do it! She's awesome.

Anyway, to make cutting your curves, points and other shapes effortlessly, I LOVE Dovo Scissors. They're a little more than some of the other brands but you won't be believe how effortlessly they cut. We're thinking about carrying them at the store. If you're interested, post here or drop us an email.

If you're wondering what that other item in the photo is, yes, it's an ordinary toothpick. You know how those little threads love to escape from curves and no matter what you do, the needle just won't push them under? Try a toothpick! It works every time. Just use the toothpick to swoosh the edge of the applique shape under as you would with your needle and those threads will disappear.

Here's a sneak peek at one of the blocks I just finished up:



Read all about the Women of Influence quilt & reserve your spot at:

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/programs/WomenofInfluence.htm

Talk more soon!

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

Make a Smilebox recipe

Calendar now available!

Hi folks.

We know some of you like to keep track of when your block of the month has shipped so you can start watching for your postman. Check out our new calendar on our website. We posted each day in November so you can see what happened that month. Now, we're in to December.

Each day we tell you what has shipped and sometimes there is additional commentary. Be sure to click on each post within a day for additional text.

http://www.homesteadhearth.com/calendar/index.php

Enjoy!
Sarah