Livin’ Large winner

Happy Monday –  I’ll start with the winner of the Livin’ Large book.  It’s Carrie P., posted on Oct 8 at 11:53 p.m..  Please e-mail me your shipping address and I’ll send the book off asap (hmulder@wecnet.com).

Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts on the new book.  Like I said, I was a little uncertain how everyone would take me new look.  For those of you who are new to me,  I used to do everything in dark colors, with lots of black and a primitive, country, woodsy feel with lots of applique ( If you want to actually see the progression, you can go to my website and look at my books and patterns – www.ankastreasures.com ).  Over the last three years or so, I have gotten rather bored with that.  I was sick of intricate patterns and lots of applique.  I was sick of dark, gloomy quilts.  I was craving something fresh and trendy.  Plus, the fabrics that are coming out are really changing, helping me along with this slight problem I was having.  The result is my work looking nothing like how I got started, except for the traditional blocks that for the baseline for much of what I do (to see the new progression, go to the inspirations tab on my website).  These thoughts were really what inspired me to name the blog Trends and Traditions.  In fact, if I had just started my business now, I would have probably called it that (Not to slight my Great-Grandma Anka – I’ll tell you more about her sometime).  I think it gives me so much freedom  – I can really design whatever I’m feeling inspired to do, and I have an excuse to buy the new fabric lines!!!!  Sounds good to me!   Anyways, what was my point – oh, it sound like several of you are feeling the same way.  You’ve been quilting a while, as I have, and you are interested in something new, fun and (again) trendy.  Some of you also mentioned that it is taking these new big prints to get your granddaughters interested in quilting.  This has also been part of my mission since I started quilting.  I began as a freshman in college and didn’t know a single other college student that quilted.  Every retreat I went to was filled with people my mom’s age (or older) – (not that there is anything wrong with that age group, it just would be fun to find some quilters near my age group too.)   I would love to be able to catch the eye of the younger generation and pull them in!  But, on the other hand, I also want my quilts to appeal to the average quilt (fifty something).  Some days it feels like I am trying to make two opposites happy, but it gives me an excuse to keep trying and quilting (as if I need one!!!)  Either way it was great to hear that some of you “get” what I am doing!  I really appreciate that.  Granted, I had half as many people sign up to win the new book, so I know it didn’t hit home with everyone.  But, I am going to choose to focus on the fact that there were lots of you who were so supportive.  Thanks again!

The colors here in MN are at their peak.  Unfortunatly, this has been our weather:

 . . . gloomy and rainy.  It’s really hard to play with fabrics when you can’t see the colors properly.  The only great color has been the leaves.  Here is our driveway:

It is beautiful right now, and would be more so if the sun was shining.  However, if you come to visit us in the winter, you do need 4-wheel drive to get out (or a tow-truck). 

I’d love to sit out on the deck and enjoy the colors, but everything is wet and soggy.  Instead I’ve been inside finishing up a bunch of projects.  Some have been quilting (I’ll show you in a few days) and some have been knitting.

I’ve been making hats!  They are like table runners – instant gratification.  The models are my niece Addi and nephew Gavin.  Some of you have complimented me on my cute kids.  I wish I could claim them, but they belong to my brother and sister.  Plus, they are 9 months and 13 months, so it’s really wouldn’t be possible for them to both to be mine.

Both hats are from the Itty Bitty hats book

 

Gavin’s hat didn’t seem to stay on, but that’s okay – it fit his big sister Bella.  (it’s supposed to be a 1-2 years size and she is almost 5).

Here’s the top view of the girl’s hat:

And another view of those blue eyes  I mean the pumpkin hat.

And another one of Addi-

And sorry, another one of Gavin.  I just couldn’t pick which picture was the cutest, so you have to see them all!

He’s turning more into a little boy every day!  Oh, and back to quilting.  Look what Moda sent – just in case you were worried they would run out of new ideas 🙂

I wish I could show you more, but let me just tell you they are over-the-top cute.  I think I may have to start another book . . . . .

All for now,

Heather