Wednesday, November 4, 2020

The BIG REVEAL!

 Finally! I can show the world the 2021 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show.

Designed exclusively for The Quilt Show by award-winning Australian designer, Wendy Williams, this quilt is only available on The Quilt Show through all of 2021. Color My World is a fun quilt that has so much to offer! It features Small buildings, Tall Buildings, Little Houses in the City, four landmark Skyscrapers and a beautiful Mariner's Compass center. All contained by Inner and Outer Roads and surrounded by Trees:


Here is my Sample quilt top, with my granddaughter, Stella, for size reference. I changed the Mariner's Compass center fabric choices to make this my own:

And here is mine, completely finished:



In the coming weeks, we will talk about Fabric Selection, the Kits that are available from The Quilt Show if you want them, and how to prepare now so you are ready on January 1, 2021 when paid Star Members of The Quilt Show will be able to print the first month's patterns for this quilt, absolutely FREE!

The Introduction  is up now under Download Instructions and my Fabric Selection Video is up under Instructional Videos. These are open to all. The patterns will only be available to Star Members, beginning January 1, 2021. 

My usual pitch--if you are not a Star Member of The Quilt Show, I can think of no better time to Join Now! Between now and December 31, 2020, you can download and/or print the 2020 Block of the Month Quilt, Afternoon Delight, designed by Sue Garman--an $80 bargain. It leaves December 31, 2020 and on January 1, 2021, this new Block of the Month becomes available--patterns are posted on the first of each month, throughout 2021. And you get access to ALL the shows ever produced, over 300 of them--you can learn so much for such a small cost.

I made my sample Color My World quilt in 8 weeks, start to finish, from the day I washed the fabric to the day I sewed on the label. I learned a lot:

1. How to use Freezer Paper Patterns--so many advantages to this method
2. Precise piecing means the circles all fit into each other--really!
3. Designing buildings any color I want them is fun
4. Machine Quilting this quilt myself was fun and easy

Each month I will have a Blog post with tips and tricks for that month's patterns. There will be Facebook Live posts, later shown on YouTube and videos showing exactly how I made this. Having someone walk you through this will add to your quiltmaking Journey.

I hope you will join me and many others as we create a bright and colorful world going forward into 2021. It has been SO hard to keep this under my hat all this time. Please let me know if you are as excited as I am about this one!

Let's quilt.

Barbara


32 comments:

  1. Fun fun quilt!! Love seeing it next to Stella, for scale. I just might like to change out the Transamerica building for Willis (aka Sears) Tower :)

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    1. Perfect idea. My locals are adding the Saturn Space rocket that identifies Rocket City—Huntsville, AL.

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  2. What are the 4 corner skyscrapers?

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    1. Big Ben, London
      Eiffel Tower, Paris
      Centrepoint Tower, Sydney
      One World Trade, New York City

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    2. Thank you.
      If I make this BOM, I think I'll swap out the Seattle Space Needle for the Sydney tower.

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    3. Michele, that is perfect. Choose a local landmark to make this quilt your own--I will tell you how.

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  3. I'm sure you'll guide all the quilters through the year perfectly just like 2020!

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  4. Ok, I fizzled out on this year's TQS BOM but I'm going to try harder to do/complete this one - it looks more like my 'style'. Thanks for sharing the photo and the info, I missed Alex's live announcement on FB :( Getting excited now.

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    1. You can still see Alex’s announcement video. Go to the home page of Thequiltshow.com, scroll down to the Playlists and that will take you to all the YouTube videos. It is there.

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  5. I understand this has foundation paper piecing. Will you be walking us through how to do this? I've never had a lot of success with this method.
    Thanks,
    Carolyn H

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    1. Absolutely! Go to my Tutorials Page, right up there at the top, and look at both the Tutorials I have for paper piecing. The one on Freezer paper actually shows the Mariner's compass from Color My World. The one called Paper Piecing Primer reviews a lot of information that will apply to the freezer paper technique. This quilt can be done with regular paper piecing if you prefer.

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    2. For those not liking this style, I feel that I definitely get my moneys worth and more from my subscription. I've never done the BOM. The videos help me pass the time wisely while my husband watches TV shows that I don't care for.

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  6. I must be an old fuddy-duddy. I generally LOVE the Quilt Show's BOM but this one just does not resonate with me. I may not renew this year. Sigh.

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    1. I have to agree with you! I love Afternoon Delight and some of the older ones. This one, not so much (sorry, Barbara).

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    2. No problem! 2020 and 2021 are so different I expect them to appeal to different kinds of quilters. That's why there is chocolate AND vanilla.

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    3. There is a lot more to The Quilt Show than the Block of the Month. Much value from the shows and various other classrooms throughout the year. I hope you will stay.

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    4. I didn't do last years BOM but that wouldn't be a reason not to renew my annual subscription.
      Think of all the information on the shows you will be missing.

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    5. I have only tried (not finished) one BOM, but have never regretted a cent spent on Star Member!!! I joined at the very beginning for the shows and have never missed one. The BOMs are only a bonus rather than the focus of membership. Stay with us - you’ll find something else to love.

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  7. This is really an incredible quilt. It is not something I would attempt, but I will enjoy watching the journey of those who join in.

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  8. This is wonderful! I can't wait to get started. I think I will use a bunch of hand dyes that have been languishing in my stash waiting for their moment of glory!

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  9. I am finally finishing up my 2018 bom, I will now be able to keep up monthly with the 2021! Love it!

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  11. I passed on last year's BOM, although I collected the patterns each month!
    Reading about people changing out a building or two, made me think. I'm from California, any suggestions on how I can incorporate our Sequoia trees? that would make it very personal for me. Or a mountain cabin?

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    1. Yes, you can design your own buildings to make this quilt your own--I will show you how. Our local quilters will add the US Space Center Saturn Rocket to theirs--a Huntsville, AL landmark. Others plan to add addresses of their former homes to some. Make it your own.

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  12. This BOM is stunning and I can't wait to get started! I'm still finishing up the 2017 (ok, I get distracted) but I'm ready to roll on this one!

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  13. This looks like a lot of fun, looking forward to your instructions during this year, and seeing the "special" landmarks from other participants. I am really enjoying this emphasis on making it your own, because having some help is so encouraging .

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  14. Wow, Barbara, you make it sound fun and easy. I'm looking forward to getting the pattern each month. I'm not expert enough for such a pattern right now, but maybe someday - I've been learning with Alex Live sessions. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Watch and I bet you will want to try. We start with small houses, a little investment in time and fabric to get started. Or you may find it better to wait for increased skills in the future. Either way, it will be fun to watch what others do.

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  15. Ive collected a few fabrics and found some new shot cottons as an experiment for me. I understand you would like us to wash and dry then dry iron every piece. Shoud we use steam? Mary Ellen's Best Press? Anything else? So excited!
    Thank you

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    1. Cut a small snip off all four corners before washing—this cuts down on raveling.
      I dried until almost dry them used a dry iron to finish pressing dry. I did not use steam or anything else.

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