Friday, April 23, 2010

Excuse Me While I Finish Things

It's been a crazy busy week. No time to take pictures. I had my first finish...a BIG one, my quilt for the Block Party book. I can't show you anything, not even a peek. I packed it up, tracked it, insured it and sent it on its way to Los Angeles.

Some of my favorite bloggy friends are starting a new venture called 'The Fat Quarterly.' Here's their announcement:

The authors of six blogs popular for their modern sewing and quilting projects have teamed up to launch a new e-zine featuring quilt patterns, interviews with top fabric designers, previews of upcoming modern fabric lines, and more.

Fat Quarterly is a collaboration between Kate Dixon (One Flew Over...), Katy Jones (I'm a Ginger Monkey), Brioni Greenberg (Flossyblossy), Tacha Bruecher (Hanies), Aneela Hoey (Comfortstitching) and John Adams (Quilt Dad).

"With Fat Quarterly, we hope to provide a source of ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in the modern sewing and quilting aesthetic", says Ms. Dixon. "We have assembled a truly global team with diverse skills and styles, but connected by a love of handmade items and of sharing the joys of creating with others."


Fat Quarterly will officially launch when its first issue is available on Tuesday, April 27th. This introductory issue will be packed with exciting and original content including six brand new patterns for modern quilts and other sewing projects, designer interviews and previews of six upcoming fabric lines, book reviews, a report from the British Quilts exhibit at the Victoria & Albert museum, amazing giveaways of some of the fabric and books featured in the magazine, and much, much more.

The publication will be released four times per year.

Learn more about Fat Quarterly at www.fatquarterly.com, where even more original content will be available. Current and past issues of the magazine will be available via the Fat Quarterly Etsy shop (fatquarterly.etsy.com). Fat Quarterly is also on Twitter (www.twitter.com/fatquarterly)!

To help them launch their venture they've offered a free issue of their new e-zine to one of my readers. So leave a comment and let me know what's up for you this weekend. Entries close Sunday at midnight central time. I'll announce the winner Monday morning.

Are you 'Spring to Finishing?' Check out Rossie's post 'feels good to get stuff done.' She made this great list and I'm loving her rewards too.

130 comments:

Lauren The Artist said...

Fat Quarterly looks like its going to be awesome.

Angela Nash said...

I would love to win an issue - looks like it will be awesome. THis weekend, I think I need to spring to finish your bee blocks :)

Julie said...

I'm so excited about Fat Quarterly - I can't wait to see what's inside! I'm brand spanking new to quilting and have been devouring any information I can find - this new e-zine couldn't be more perfectly timed!

carol said...

I would LOVE a free subscription because right now, I'm too cheap to buy it myself! With my DH out of work, I just have enough to keep up my fabric obsession and even that isn't what it used to be. LOL

andie said...

I would love to win the first issue!! This weekend I will get to spend all day Sunday quilting with my "SewMod" quilters group. So excited!!

Kelly O. said...

I'm really interested in the scrappy flying geese pattern in the first issue!

Sarah said...

Aah the suspense of waiting for the book to come out...! I've been tackling my to-do list and hope to knock out a few more things this weekend. Fat Quarterly is going to be great!

Tong said...

We are going to the amusement park this weekend before it will be open to the public! No, we haven't got strings at the amusement partk, just friends of friends who work at a big bank that has got the park booked for its employees and friends and families. And I'm heading to my local modern quilt guild meeting on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

Mary P said...

I have already made some progress on my spring to finish! I just need to finish the binding on one quilt and I already finished another. My plan this weekend is to piece the backing of my paintbox quilt, and at least baste another quilt, if not quilt it completely.

Valerie said...

I am so excite for Fat Quarterly's release! We have a FASCAR racing event at church tomorrow afternoon...and I have high hopes of doing some sewing, too. My LQS is running their first annual "Spring Cleaning" sale and I plan to get in on the action!

Jewel said...

That is gonna be a fun 'zine! I bought my mom tickets in March for a concert on Saturday that I am taking her to. That should pretty much wipe out my weekend.

Marjorie said...

With Fat Quarterly, I could always have UFO's available for your finishing project challenges!

Lynn said...

This weekend, working in the garden, son's baseball game, pizza!, finishing my first spring to finish item,

Ellen said...

Thanks so much for the give-away! This weekend, the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild is having a Saturday Sew, and I will be there! I'm working on Mother's Day and graduation presents!

Cheryl said...

This weekend? Sewing, hopefully, and Fat Quarter Frenzy at our local shop.

Char said...

I'm sure I will be doing some yard work on Saturday but most of the weekend I'll be sewing. I'm going to finish up some UFOs while getting used to my new machine.

Debbie said...

Anxious to see Fat Quarterly!
I've been busy "springing to finish" & making great progress on the stack of minis I have sitting around!

PiecefulChaos said...

I will be finishing swap items this weekend! Please enter me in the drawing- thanks!

Michele said...

I'm hoping to hit the lake this weekend.

Jennifer said...

I just got my first Spring to Finish done and I'm on to my next this weekend... another quilt!

I'm so excite about Fatquarterly; it looks like it is going to be great!

Jennifer :)

Rossie said...

Thanks for the shout out. This weekend, I'm sewing!!

Annie said...

I have a baby shower to attend tomorrow, and I really need to get some sewing done! Thats really all I have planned for the weekend. Fat Quarterly looks like it will be really cool.

Live a Colorful Life said...

Sewing, sewing, sewing. And I'm really excited about Fatquarterly.

Tara said...

Oh--I'm off to my sewing nook right now to try and get some stuff done! Why do I have four quilts started and none finished?

troy and christina said...

This looks like it's going to be a great ezine! This weekend looks like it's going to be 1. house painting and siding if the rain holds off OR 2. steeking a sweater and lining a knit bag if the rains come.
-christina

The Domestic Intellectual said...

This weekend is quality time with my boyfriend, finishing altering a bridesmaid dress for a friend, binding a quilt I made for my newest niece Lydia and starting and finishing a simple fabric bag for her sister Abby. Lots of sewing and socializing :-)

Karen said...

Looks like a neat magazine! This weekend I'm running the Oklahoma City Memorial 1/2 Marathon!! No sewing this weekend.

Anonymous said...

That would be fun to win! This weekend my daughter is competing in the state gymnastics meet in Eugene, OR...we're heading that way tonight.

badlandsquilts said...

We have company coming tomorrow so I am cleaning like a fiend today so I can sew tonight before they get here and get myself lined up with some hand sewing or cutting for after bed tomorrow since my sewing room is the guest room!

Megan said...

Oooh! Sounds like a great new source of information and inspiration! I'm going to work on some of my Spring to Finish items this weekend. And I've already completed one of my projects that was on my list. Go me! The best part about finishing one thing is that it makes room (both physically and mentally) for a new project to get started.

Jessica said...

binding a charity quilt, and working working working on the charity event!

Cheryl Arkison said...

I'm excited for this new venture! Good luck to all!

Jenny said...

I love the spirit of these quilters at fat quarterly. exciting to see what they have put together. im working on quilt as you go log cabins this weekend...have a colowheel quilt cut out on the wall, but it will have to wait!

Barb said...

Looks like a great source of information. Thanks for the chance to win.

momto2wasd said...

Fat Quarterly should be great!

Melissa said...

We were going on a biking/camping trip along the Katy Trail in Missouri this weekend but the rain has made us postpone. Now I'm planning on visiting the Farmer's Market in Lawrence, checking out the Kaw Valley Quilt Guild's quilt show, and get some things planted in between rain showers.

Fat Quarterly looks very exciting!

Kat said...

I'm so excited about this magazine! This weekend is nothing special for me. Work and hopefully a little sewing.

Trisha said...

Can't wait for the first issue!

Lindsey F. said...

Busy weekend so I probably won't get any quilting in...maybe some knitting. Looking forward to reading the first issue.

Rachel said...

Fat Quarterly sounds intriguing - I saw it mentioned on a couple of other blogs, but didn't really know what it was (probably because I was just lookin' at the pictures haha).

I have avoided putting too much pressure on myself to get things done lately because I'm so busy at work. However, I did manage to finish a wall hanging and make a dress, so who knows - maybe I will get things accomplished. But still, I'm not adding myself to any lists or making any promises. No way!

Doris said...

Rossie's post is awesome! Thanks for the link... I've cleaned two of those three closets already (from my list) 'cause I decided to start with the least fun item on the list! I also finished binding my king size Girlish Charm quilt.

Those FQ kids are really building up the excitement, aren't they?!

Susana said...

FQ looks to be great! My weekend will be sadly filled with work-work, so no finishing anything for me. Or even starting. Hope yours is great!

MichelleB said...

I'm so excited for this to come out!

This weekend I hope to get some sewing done, and to get some decluttering done. I love all of the blues in your last post, too. Lovely.

Urban Crunch said...

This weekend I will be cheering on runners at a 5k, hopefully planting some veggies & doing a little hiking. Happy Spring!

Janet said...

I got my first "spring to finish" item - the premie quilt - finished and in the mail. I also made a selvedge postcard for my sister and mailed it. That wasn't on my list. Oh well, that's the problem, I always get sidetracked. My reward for the finish is to go to an art retreat this weekend - where I'll be painting not quilting.

holly | bijou lovely said...

This weekend I'll be going to a White Sox game and out with some girl friends!

Stevens Family said...

Sounds like a great e-magazine.
I have projects to finish, start, and continue this weekend. A baby quilt for a baby shower needs the rest of the binding tacked down. I need to start quilting my baby sons quilt, just getting it on the frame (finally!) and need to continue working on a kind size lonestar so it's done in time for a Christmas present.

em's scrapbag said...

Fat Quarterly sounds like so much fun. I'm really excited for it.

grendelskin said...

You can't give one teensy sneak peek? I'm looking forward to FQ! this weekend I'm going to the middle school play (Oklahoma!) and to a quilt show in Rhode Island; lots of eye candy! No finishes just lately but nothing's been shoved into the closet either so perhaps that's breaking even!

Alisa said...

I'd love to win a copy of Fat Quarterly - it sounds really great!

No sewing in my weekend. My little brother is getting married and we are surrounded by family from far. Very fun and exciting!

Katie said...

I am so excited for this e-zine. Even if I don't win I will be buying a copy! This weekend I have a lot of sewing projects plan, cant wait to get some things finished and shipped off.

~Michelle~ said...

Definitely excited for the e-zine... glad for the renegade publishers ;)

Molly said...

Fat Quarterly sounds like it's going go be awesome! This weekend I'm opening up my parent's house and cleaning it. They're snowbirds and are coming back to WNY in the warm safety of late April!! Oh .... I'm sure I'll be sewing sometime too ....

Pattie Crum said...

Waiting for the release date. I have 540 half square triange squares to press and trim for an ocean waves quilt, not my favorite part of quilt making, but hope make some progress with it Sunday.

Tami @ Lemon Tree Tales said...

Fat Quarterly sounds like it's going to be a great new quilting resource. Sometimes the print magazines seem the same without any fresh modern projects. Looking forward to the first issue.

Alissa said...

Yay! Can't wait to get the quilt!!! (Count me out for the giveaway...)

Sarah Seitz said...

Been hearing a lot about them! Would love to win one! Thanks

Becky said...

How fun. Can't wait to see it. Hey, who knew I would pick up a copy of the latest "Stitch" and read about you in it. Quite the popular lady!

Penguin Treats said...

I can't wait to see the first issue.

Current plan is to work on an in-progress quilt top this weekend. They're predicting rain this weekend - which resolves any "should be working on the garden" guilt.

DianeY said...

This weekend-hmmmm? Maybe I should think about packing for a trip to LA next week! But I'll probably sew & pack last minute as usual!

Kimberly said...

Looks like a great ezine. I'd love to try it out for free. :)

Luv 2 Kreate said...

This weekend I will be binding my hubby's b-day quilt, grocery shopping, and grilling :)

debra lynn said...

We'll be getting our garden ready and maybe I'll do some top stitching on a long time coming quilt. Looking forward to the publication.

What Comes Next? said...

I can't wait for the release of Fat Quarterly - it looks awesome! Saturday is our guild drop in day, so I'll be sandwiching 2 quilts, and maybe even get started on quilting one of them (for the Spring to Finish challenge!) Sunday will be a kitchen reno work day.

Gwyneth said...

celebrating my bro-in-law's bday!

bruinbr said...

We're going to the LA Times Festival of Books this weekend at UCLA :) We can't wait! Have a great weekend!

A.S.K.-P. said...

Anxious for the debut of Fat Quarterly. It looks like it's going to be a great zine.

As for my weekend...going to Walla Walla (Washington) and play around with my hubby tomorrow. Sunday I'm going to shoot some wedding invitation pics for a friend. Should be a blast if it's as pretty out as it is today.

Patty said...

Love the sounds of the magazine. This weekend is cleaning and then some SEWING!!

Amber said...

I loved Rossie's list...and my plans for the weekend include sewing all day tomorrow and then soccer on Sunday..followed with laying on the couch for the rest of the day wondering why I didn't run a bit more this week :-)

Erin said...

This weekend I hope to get some more work done on a watercolor exhibit I am being a part of, and also to work on a baby quilt for a dear friend, and to make a cake for my MIL's birthday party Sunday night - totally do-able, right?!? This new eZine sounds right up my alley!

elle said...

Flowerbeds are calling. A free issue would help me decide how eZine would download on dial up!

Poppyprint said...

Running a quilting retreat for 20 tomorrow and catching up on bloggy reading while the dinner's in the oven. Count me in for issue #1 please!! I'm so excited about FQly and also the Block Party book!!!

Jacque. said...

With those people involved, Fat Quarterly is going to be hugely popular...cannot wait to see it!

Tracey Jacobsen said...

so cool what can be accomplished via the virtual world. :)

I'm looking forward to it.

I'm plugging away on my challenge items... if the baby will go to sleep! The cropdusters in the area woke him as I was laying him down. Not good for any of us.

Anonymous said...

I would love to look but of course I will be too busy quilting. My daughter has numerous projects lined up for me and this weekend I have to finish sewing around chickens.....such is life!

Unknown said...

Shipping stuff off with UPS is a huge sigh of relief and really scary at the same time! Yay you :)

I'm super excited about Fat Quarterly, thanks for the chance!

Oh and this weekend may have a little sewing . . . mostly editing.

Karissa said...

Looks like a very cool idea! I'd love to win the first issue! This weekend will find me quilting some Mother's Day mini-quilts and hopefully finishing some softies for upcoming birthdays. May is a busy month...

Lindsay said...

I'd love to win the first issue!
My weekend plans are not exciting - mostly cleaning and organizing. I'm hoping to get a quilt top done for my sister-in-law's baby on the way too.

Karen said...

Thanks for the giveaway. Its got the makings of a fantastic magazine.

Dena said...

Congratulations on your finish!

I'm anxious to see the first issue of this magazine. Thank you for the featuring the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

Yay for your big finish! And I'm really excited for the Fat Quarterly folks. They are all really great people with lovely quilts!

Q @ JAQS said...

That's awesome. Love to get my hands on a copy.

This weekend is all about putting together a design for my new quilt and finishing up
my scrappy project. href="http://quiltsbyq.blogspot.com/2010/04/scrappy-project-continues-scrappy.html"

henny said...

I would love to win the first issue!

My weekend plan is going to finish a tote bag and going to my boy's first afternoon piano home concert.

Katie @SwimBikeQuilt said...

fun! This weekend for me? hosting a "find your balance" fun run and healthy walk event. Hopefully next week I can start sewing again.

Nicole Gendy said...

This weekend I hope to get some laundry done, cleaning up my bedroom, finishing a quilt top and getting the binding done on a quilt. We'll see how much actually gets accomplished.

pinkchook said...

the new e-zine sounds great, unlike my weekend. I have to tackle mount washmore and do some dreaded mending, love sewing hate mending. The only highlight is a quick visit to the parents place for the kids can can have granny and pa cuddles apparently there cuddles rock, as opposed to mine.

Sue said...

Since my laundry got done today, I hope to sew some pinwheel quilt blocks for 'Quilts for Babes' project this weekend. My grandson is the same age as Lawson so the project grabbed my heart and is giving me incentive to get back to my sewing machine. A new e-zine sounds great (being online is my other 'passion') so I hope I win the Fat Quarterly issue.

bellaandmolly said...

I will be planting all of my little sprouts in my vegetable garden and finishing a skirt....I will master the invisible zipper! Very excited about the new e-Zine.

♥Duff said...

free zine? dial me in! totally pimpin'!

Anonymous said...

Sat is off to the cottage in southern ontario for cleanup, sun my oldest has 2 parties an hour apart and overlapping, i have soccer at night unless we get stuck at wings n beers first........

Terra said...

I just finished the baby quilt that had been hanging over my head for the past two months or so, so now I'm free to move on to the projects that I've been wanting to start for a long time. Throw-pillow covers, here I come!

Barbieann said...

I have been seeing bits about this ezine and its looks very very interesting. thanks for the giveaway

Nichole said...

This weekend I need to do some yard work, but we're supposed to get rain. Maybe I'll just have to sew instead! Thanks for the nudge to finish stuff and the giveaway.

gale said...

I'd love to win an issue so I can sample it before buying. I just don't know if I have the $$ for it right now but without seeing it, it's harder to decide.

Audrey said...

I'm going to be working on a quilt for a friend who recently found out she has cancer.

Little Bluebell (Adrianne) said...

w00t! w00t! Fat Quarterly. Can't wait!

This weekend I get to quilt! Really quilt. I've been working on a quilt for my son for two months, and it's finally ready for the quilting part. I'm excited. For this weekend I see, quilting, sunshine, binding, sunshine, washing, drying and more sunshine. Hey, it's been raining all week. I'm happy to see some sunshine!!

mamammelloves said...

I would love to win a copy of this new magazine! :) I am currently working on 5 different quilts, so I will probably be making a little bit of progress on each of them this weekend.

Have a great weekend!

Deb @ PlainStitch said...

Ohh yes please! I can't wait for Fat Quarterly, inspired idea!

Nancy said...

Sounds like a fantabulous new magazine. I would love to receive the new issue. This weekend I had planned an outing with the family, but weather isn't cooperating, so I think we'll play it by ear. Do I hear the sewing room calling?

Ramona said...

I will be helping my daughter move some items back home before her college year ends and hopefully working on a quilt for my son.
ramona_murrayatcomcastdotnet

Robin D. said...

i'd love the chance to check out this new e-zine, thanks for the great giveaway! this weekend, i hope to be working out in the yard and cutting fabrics for a future quilt project.

WendyLou said...

Big crafty weekend for our family. We're all working on projects to fill a booth at a local show. We're raising money to adopt two from Ethiopia. So this weekend we will ... make more soap, finish our lip balms (assuming the bands arrive today in the post), continue making our wooden matching games, finish sewing tote bags, try out a new bag pattern, quilt a bag for a friend, build and upholster cornice boards for a customer, and whatever else we have the energy for :)

Jenny Ward McDonald said...

Sounds like an awesome mag. Will spend the weekend piecing and dodging storms :)

Arnden said...

I am getting more excited with each giveaway. This will be a great Ezine! This weekend we will be doing more yardwork and maybe we will go swimming.

Juanita said...

Sounds like a wonderful publication/e-zine! Would love to have it.
This weekend will find me at soccer games, a German Festival, and hopefully some hand quilting on the back porch!

Unknown said...

I am so excited for this to come out!!!

Jody said...

I'm looking forward to checking it out!

Kitkat said...

This weekend I am making dinner for my parents in honor of my mother's
82nd birthday, attending a Middle Eastern cooking class and hoping to do a little sewing.

Esch House Quilts said...

It looks like Fat Quarterly will be amazing!
This weekend:
quilting with friends Sat morn, help Mom pack condo and other family stuff Sat afternoon and eve, host birthday party for my Dad and niece on Sun and pack for quilt retreat next week!!
Way too much, but all good!

Lauren H said...

I am anxiously waiting for Tuesday morning and the launch of Fat Quarterly! Would love to win the edition!

MissLindsay said...

I'm so excited to see the new patterns in Fat Quarterly! How exciting!

Cameron H said...

Can't wait for Fat Quarterly! This weekend is nice and quiet for me -- a little housework, a little rest.

Carla said...

It would be wonderful to win this issue! I'm excited for you!

This weekend is packed with family time. I host a family breakfast once a month and that was today. Tomorrow is my grandmother-in-laws birthday party. She'll be 93! I'm hoping to get in some sewing even it it's just sewing 2 squares together.

Moving to Europe said...

block party book?? that sounds exciting! :)

can't wait for fat quarterly, i'm sure it'll just be fantastic. :)

as for weekend plans, we're moving and having to completely paint our old apartment. i can't wait for this to be done with so i can get back to sewing next month.

Unknown said...

This sounds like the right thing for me to follow - I'm definetly veering away from the more traditional format of quilts - I'd love to win a free issue and plan to check the e-zine out on Tuesday - off now to see what Rossie's been up to - PC permitting

Amy Sp said...

I can't wait to see Fat Quarterly!
This weekend I am hoping to get the kids clothes changed out for the next season. Closets are currently overflowing and need some help!

Tammy W said...

Sounds like it will be really fun to see. I enjoy your blog. It inspired me to finally put the binding on a wall hanging earlier this week.

Unknown said...

Sounds fun to me!

Andrea said...

This weekend = cut the final fat quarters (76 thru 80) for the vintage sheet patchwork swap, took my son out to buy tomato plants and seeds for the garden, slept late on Saturday morning! Mostly at home this coming week with my kids on school vacation - sure would like to be reading the first issue of Fat Quarterly... Thanks for the chance!

Anonymous said...

love this idea, can't wait to see what fun stuff they put in the first issue

Sally said...

Looking so forward to Fat Quarterly! Thank you for the opportunity to have a peek!

rebecca said...

You have to love technology. Sooo exciting, can't wait for the new venture!!

Wendy said...

I was just introduced to your beautiful column and look forward to reading more. I'm working on a memorial quilt this weekend and trying to finish up a quilt along. Thank you for this opportunity and I will head on over to fatquarterly.com to check out the ezine.

sally said...

ohhhh this sounds seriously fun!!! thanks for the chance to win!!! :)
sally
http://sallysangelworks.com

Anonymous said...

I CANNOT WAIT to see what this talented group will present! Thank you for offering this giveaway.

As for me, I was at the second gathering of our modern quilt guild. A group of us got together and sewed for about 6 hours - it was great!

barrie p said...

how exciting
great idea for all us who aspire to be as creative as all those involved
would like to be one of the first to read and enjoy
thanks

AllieKatMom said...

Sounds interesting! I will have to check it out!
I am working on a sampler. I finished the top and I also have a few quilts that have to be racked and quilted :)

Bellgirl said...

Ooh I'm really looking forward to Fat Quarterly!

Troops 1909 and 5434 said...

I am starting a vacation so I headed out to the fabric shop for fabric. Please enter me in the drawing.

qltmom9 said...

Thank you for the chance.

Lucy~