Back From St Charles Illinois

First, I visited Quiltfabric.com in Westmont, Illinois and taught a workshop to these wonderful ladies.  http://www.quiltfabric.com    The owner Chris Sass and I met my very first year of my business.  That was 10 years ago!!!

I know you have seen these at workshops but I thought this one was really clever.  She bought the TV table at Wal-Mart and covered it with quilt batting and that special heat resistant ironing board fabric.  Before she stapled it on she made this pocket/cover that holds her cutting board and ruler.  I love how she added Velcro tabs at the bottom of the pocket.  She then folds the pocket over the top of the table and fasten it to the Velcro tabs that she attached underneath the table. It is then ready for transporting.

I then headed for St. Charles, Illinois for two guild talks and one workshop. I am so disappointed that I didn't get a group shop at the workshop.  It was a day of workshop fun with the Prairie Star Quilters.

Caron on the right was my keeper/program chair for the guild.  She was my saving grace to all sorts of things and a joy to be around.

Chris was working on my Happy Halloween blocks.  I did mine with purple backgrounds.  I love her bright orange and yellow backgrounds!

I laughed when I saw this wee little thread catcher.

This was a large super friendly guild with so many exciting things going on. They had all sorts of stations to stop off for education or to sign up for something fun.  I loved that they had a UFO table give-a-way.  They had three UFO's with a basket in front of each one. You can buy a $1.00 ticket for a chance to win one.  One was a big bag of half squared triangles. One was a beautiful small quilt top.  The last was a little wool wall-hanging kit.  They drew the winning tickets after the break.  Everything was donated to make money for the guild.

They also make good money by selling bags of donated scraps at their quilt show.  I wish I could go to their show .... it sounds wonderful!

A big thank you to Caron, Chris, Sue, Marla and all the Prairie Star Quilters!  Amy

Alphabet Quilt Blocks

Check out this website:  http://www.heavenlypatchwork.com/photos_of_children%27s_quilts.html
They are auctioning off these amazing blocks designed by Amy and made by world famous quilter Ruth Harris (http://www.redroosterstudio.com/) and her daughter Chantelle Cory to benefit Children's charities.

Brown Skin Diva Pin

Due to popular request, we now have a brown skin version of our popular Quilt Diva pin!
You can buy them here: http://www.amybradleydesigns.com/qudienpin.html

Winner of St. Patrick's Day Pattern

The winner of the St. Patrick's Day Pattern is mlcquilts.  Thanks for posting!

Look what I found!

This weekend I was helping my Mom and Dad paint a room in their new house. Mom and I took a  break to pick up pizza.  We stopped at a new antique store on our way back.  Dad was so busy watching sports that he never knew we were gone so long...and the pizza was still warm!  I bought these little napkin holders.  I rolled up a miniature quilt in between the two of them.  I might exchange the little quilt for pencils or paint brushes.  Such decisions.

Lemon Bundt Cake

I bake two or three times a week.  Almost always for our staff at our veterinary hospital because they work so hard for us.   I am not much of a lemon fan but I could not keep out of this cake yesterday.  It was so moist and delicious!  Anytime you add extra oil, eggs, and pudding to a cake mix you can't go wrong but the lemon-lime soda was a bonus.

Lemon Bundt Cake

1 lemon cake mix

1 package instant lemon pudding mix

3/4 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage ( I used Sprite)

Directions
1.   Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
      (I sprayed the pan with Pam and then dusted the pan with flour.)
2.   In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix, then stir in the oil.
      Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the lemon-lime soda.
3.   Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes,
      (I had to cook mine a lot longer.) or until a toothpick inserted into the center
      of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool 15 min. in pan before inverting
      onto a plate.

Glaze:  I made a glaze of powder sugar,  ½ tsp vanilla, and milk.

In honor of St. Patrick Day this Sunday.  We are giving a way our little St. Patrick Day quilt pattern on Friday.   Leave a comment about anything green for a chance to win. 

Have a great week!  Amy

Show and Tell

I was so excited when I got a letter in the mail from Deanne Throop with photos. She sent me photos of how she took my "Merry Christmas" pattern and made a tree skirt.  I love it....and why didn't I think of it!!!!!  This happens a lot.  I like getting photos from very creative quilters who think outside the box.  I so enjoy seeing photos of imaginative interpretations of my designs.  It inspires me!  Deanne said she is not even a quilter.

I love the sequins!

I love the big stitches in red!

Then I got a e-mail from Terry Weiner and she sent me this photo. Wow!  Two quilters with the same idea.  She said this is one of her first projects.  Amazing!

She did such a nice job with color!

Then I got another e-mail from Debbie Hatt who took my workshop in Red Deer, Alberta Canada last month.  She finished her "Quilter Yearbook" blocks.  They represent her eight friends in her local clothing club.  I love how she put glasses on one of the ladies head.

We played strip poker with fabric strips and she won.  She included some of her winnings fabric strips in this quilt wall hanging.

She was listening when I said to personalize them like her friends.

Thank You!  Thank You Deanne, Terry, and Debbie for sharing your photos!!!!!!!!

Winner of Easter Pattern

The winner of the Easter pattern is Mary!  Mary, we can't see your email so please email us at info@amybradleydesigns.com with your mailing address.

I am going to be on the radio!

Pat Sloan - "The Voice of Quilting"TM
Host of American Patchwork & Quilting Radio - 

show time is Monday 4pm eastern, 3pm Central, 2pm mountain, 1pm Pacific........this afternoon!

the recording will be available about an hour after it ends
http://blog.patsloan.com/2013/03/whimsical-designs-quilts-for-kids-and-a-ton-of-tips-from-the-home-ec-teacher.html

No more snow!!!!

The winner of the "Meet the Tweets" pattern and "Rock the Flock" fat quarter bundle is Melissa Gutierrez
Melissa, your email wasn't public, please email us your mailing address to info@amybradleydesigns.com

I enjoyed reading all your comments about your favorite movie.  My all time favorite is "Gone with the wind".  I think I have seen it five times.  I still remember when I saw it the first time.  I was about nine and I saw it with Tracy Kirkbride.  I was totally mesmerized by it all

No more snow!  Two big snow storms back to back is enough.  I am so ready for spring.  Above is a silhouette of the tulips that my husband bought me against our backyard of snow.  Yesterday I got my new car stuck in our long driveway. Aaugh!  I was able to get it unstuck by myself...with a shovel and some gravel.  Girl power!

I told you I would show the rest of what I bought at the Pilot antique sale.  Below is my new sewing cabinet....love it....love it!

Here is my new wagon that I bought at the sale.

Can you tell that I like old toys too.  I bought this old train with three cars and now it has seven because I have found them along the way.

My sister and I played with this little doll playpen when we were young.  I recently made a little red and white quilt for the bottom.



Since Easter is right around the corner I want to give-a-way our little Easter pattern.  Leave a comment about your favorite Easter candy or dessert.  Mine is a white chocolate Easter bunny. The other question: what do you bite first ears or feet?  We will announce the winner Wednesday, March 6th.

10 1/2" x 12 1/2"

 Have a wonderful weekend!  Amy