Welcome, 2019! And welcome to my new book that’s out recently, Inspired Free-motion Quilting! What a long journey it has been over the last year to bring this book to fruition.
I wrote this with my co-author Bill Volckening, whose quilts form the basis for the motifs in the book. Of the hundreds of quilts in his collection, we went through each and everyone and came up with a set of interesting and important pieces that are also inspirational.
From these quilts, I created more than 90 continuous-line quilting motifs for machine quilters: each design has one start and stop! Along with a chapter about how to set yourself up for success with quilting tools, there is a chapter on how to riff off the designs and create something totally your own. Inspired Free-motion Quilting is a blend of history and the art and craft of quilting, and I think it’s something pretty special.
To celebrate this New Year full of potential and promise, I’ve put together a blog tour for the book with an interesting group of makers! While this book is meant for machine quilters, the people participating in this blog hop have quite a wide variety of interests and skills. They’ll be sharing how they use Inspired Free-motion Quilting in their own creative work.
- January 7: C&T Publishing for the kickoff, Bill Volckening
- January 8: Amanda Murphy of Amanda Murphy Design, Kim Lapacek of PersimonDreams
- January 9: Teri Lucas, Lynn Harris, Stephanie Palmer of The Quilter’s Planner, Debby Brown of Debby Brown Quilts,
- January 10: Robin Koehler of NESTLINGS by Robin, Patty Murphy of Patty Murphy Handmade, Mary Abreu of Confessions of a Craft Addict
- January 11: Joanna Marsh of Kustom Kwilts, and me! Amanda Leins of Mandalei Quilts
As you can see, there are going to be lots of chances to win an e-copy of the book, and on the final day, Friday 1/11/2019, come back here for the Grand Prize giveaway! The Grand Price includes not only a copy of my book, but a Quilter’s Planner set to help you plan out your quilting and crafting projects through the year! I’ll even let you pick your favorite color. What’s better, is that I’ll pay to ship the planner wherever you are, nationally or internationally. So head on over to the C&T kick-off blog post where I share the fun story about how Bill and I first started talking quilts!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Came over from BAQS – I would love to win a copy of your book! I’m always looking for new quilting designs since I tend to SITD as my fallback design
I would love a cope. I am mesmerised by your designs.
I also came over from BAQS. I would love a copy!
I found your site through BadAss Quilter and would love to use your new book to help me with fmq. Thank you for sharing your talent and knowledge.
I just started practicing my FMQ so such a book is awesomw. As a member of .BAqS this book wold be awesome..
I could soon use this book! I found you from the BAQS facebook post.
I just started practicing my FMQ so such a book is awesomw..BAQS SENT ME
BAQS Miss M has mentioned this book, what a blessing to any quilter of any level, domestic or long arm.
BAQS sent me… I always need inspiration for free motion quilting designs. I love traditional motifs with a twist! Thank you for the opportunity!
I surely could use this book, I have a stack of quilts waiting for design inspiration.
I came over from Bad Ass Quilters.
Thanks for the chance
Glad BAQS led me to your page! Hoping to get more creative with my quiltinf!
Maddie, at BAQS sent me! This book looks very promising. I’m hoping it’s the cure for my #1 quilting challenge: how do I quilt this?!
Your grand prize does indeed sound GRAND! Glad I found your site with the help of BAQS.
I love the idea of one start and stop! … ….and vintage inspiration is a bonus BAQS sent me! TIA
I am yotally mesmerized. Your work is amazing. I came over from BAQS and I am so glad I did.
This book looks amazing! No more worries about ruining a quilt top!❤️
Hi, I saw your book cover on BAQS and it really looks like it would be helpful. By biggest struggle is deciding how to quilt it. I probably have 10 or more quilts waiting to be quilted for just that reason.
Good Morning! Maddie from BAQS sent me over. It’s a struggle every time I load a quilt on the machine to decide what to do. My go-to is a “giant squiggle” (my name for it) but I have gotten brave enough at times to do something more adventurous. I just can’t ever decide what looks right. Good luck with the book!
Your quilting is awesome! I’m here form BAQ Facebook page! I’m a huge fan! Thank you!
Looks like an awesome and inspiring book to browse and then put into use.
Maddie from baddass quilting suggested to take a peek at now i can t wait to get this info!! Looking forward to info, info , info
Thanks for sharing! Came over here from BADASS QUILTERS SOCIETY 🙂 (woot woot!)
I’m a BAQS fan, and learned about this there. I look forward to exploring your book. I have several finished tops that need some love!
This book looks like it would be a great help in deciding what to put on the quilt top. I have several tips waiting for the right inspiration. Thanks for the great book.
Found out about your book thru BAQS! Sounds like a fabulous resource.
Congratulations on your publication! Saw your book on BAQS page and love the idea of your book. From the snapshots of your book, I like how the designs are broken down and seem to be less challenging. Would love to have this book!
Saw your book @ BadAss Quilters! Wow! I’m just learning and this sounds like a fantastic resource!
Congrats on your publication, I keep trying new design option with every quilt.
BAQS’er here! Book looks fabulous. If I don’t win it I will definitely buy it! Best wishes on the success of your book!
BAQ’er here! Your book looks very inspiring. I struggle with this part of the process and lack confidence I can do a good job.
Looks like a great book! BAQ is who sent me to your site and I’m glad she did.
BAQS gave you a shout out and I listened. Free motion quilting is fun, but planning the quilting design is a show stopper for me right now. This book sounds like the answer!
BAQS SENT ME LOVE THIS BLOG GLAD WE FOUND IT!!
Come over from BAQS… love finding new place to get inspiration from and people to talk to about quilts… I’m always stuck on how to quilt my quilts so I have a pile of unfinished quilts that need to be quilted…
I saw your book on the BAQS on facebook. Wow, congratulations. It looks great!
Saw this on BAQS. I have ten quilts waiting to be quilted. I need some help.
My quilt tops are like a blank canvas to me. I’m always looking for ideas for fmq. I learned of you book at baqs.
This BadAss Quilter needs help to finally make all my tops into real quilts. Sure, I can just throw a big honking stipple on everything, but that’s as boring as matchstick quilting! I love the traditional converted to more modern techniques. I hope the book is a bestseller!
Hey I just learned of your new book from BAQS I am a new quilter and this book would help me learn how to do my own quilting and how to choose the right design
Came over from BAQS!!! I’m a fairly new quilter and this would be great for me…also I entered over on C & T blog post! 😊
Came over from BAQS. Your book looks to be a great resource to quilt a vast number of blocks. It’s hard to know what to put in some of them. Thank you for the giveaway.
Wow! I’d love to win a copy of your new FMQ book!! It looks wonderful!!
Came over from BAQS. I’m always looking for alternatives to sending quilts out. Your book looks great for that!
I would be so excited to win. I get out books and look at photos and what is saved on my Longarm Quilting Pinterest board. It drives me crazy! Sometimes I struggle to find just the right design and I could have had another quilt made!!! 🤪
This is what I’ve been looking for to help me decide what the best design would be for my tops I could really use this book. BAQS sent me to your site.
I love your site, thanks to BAQS for sending me hete
Heard about you through BAQS! Wow your new book looks sensational!
I too came over from BAQS and your book looks wonderful. I’m a beginner, so I can use all the help I can get!
Heard about you through BAQS which I am a huge fan of!! WOW your book looks amazing and I need all the help I can get when FMQ!!
Great idea! Thank you and thank BAQS for sharing the news with me.
Love it !! BAQS sent me over…
BAQS sent me here to your blog site. I am a BAQS fan. The books looks like it will be awesome to help me with design choices. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
BAQS sent me …. your book looks terrific and I so need help with my FMQ. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
I came to you from BAQS, would love to win your book – I need inspiration!
BAQS shared your link- always wanting to learn since I’ve only quilted for 2 years. Only doing straight lines now. Would love to win your book.
This looks like a great resource for quilts that won’t tell you how to quilt them… You know, the ones that mumble. So glad Maddie mentioned it at BAQS.
BAQS checking in! Love the look of this book, and you have some of my fave bloggers (persimondreams) in your blog hop. Off to go link hopping!
Have done a lot of meandering on my quilts, but would like to take it up a notch. Thanks for the opportunity to win this great book.
Sharon
Came over from BAQS and would love to win a book. It would really help me with the quilt tops I have done that are waiting patiently for me to finish them!
Follow BAQS and love your book. Would love my own copy of the book for inspiration
Coming over from BAQS. My hardest thing about quilting is deciding on the fmq design. I am very anxious about that. This book looks promising for alleviating some of that angst!
I’m a BAQS fan and she shared your book with us!! So exciting!!
I came over from BAQ I just wanted to say Thank you girls you guys are awesome.
I also came over from BAQS and I would love to win a copy of your book! It looks very interesting and inspiring!
I hopped over from BAQS & am a BAQS Fan! This looks like a great book and would love a quilt planner. Thank you!
Your book looks AWESOME!!! Looks to have some fantastic ideas .. thanx for the opportunity to possibly win .. from another BAQS member 😋
Another BAQS member. Love the look of your designs!
I am a fan BAQS…I need help! I would love to win your book …it might give me the courage to do something with the large amount of quilt tops I have!
Wow! Cool site. BAQS recommended your site. I have just started to do my own quilting. So much to learn. Have completed 2 projects but only after brainstorming with friends, since I couldn’t decide what to do.
I found you from BAQS and am just getting back into quilting. Looking to learn anything and everything.
BAQS mentioned your book. Personally, I need all the help I can get!
I could definitely use this book to kick start my quilting mojo!
I came over from BAQS!!
Looks like a long shot but Iʻd love a copy of your book, too. Iʻm a rank beginner in that Iʻm still learning on quilt sandwiches – I have a long way to go and could stand to learn a lot from you. TIA!
Came over from BAQS! Desperate for help with FMQ!
Came over from BAQS! I’m always looking for new quilting ideas!
BAQS is awesome and provides lots of motivation for my quilting by featuring great products like this! I do okay atat creati quilt top, however, I struggle with creativity and confidence to actually quilt my projects. I would love more info that could help me in this area. This looks perfect for that! Look forward to learning more! Thanks for providing such a great resource!
Would love to win. Might help me get the courage to try this myself! Little spooked that I would ruin a beautiful quilt!
Your book will inspire me to push my boundaries of straight line quilting. I’d love to receive your book to learn the art of FMQ. As a BAQS member life is made for pushing boundaries just like Maddie always says with all her heart! Thank you for writing this inspiring book❤️
I also came over from BAQS to play along and get inspired. How fun! I’ve decide 2019 is the year I conquer fmq. So this would be great to expand my thoughts of what the heck to do!!!
Baqs sent me. I would love a copy. Of the book. I’ve started some classes but still need some inspiration
Hi!! I came over from BAQS!!! sometimes the quilt or recipient tell me what quilting is needed. BUT it is so hard on many quilts to know what to do.
Hopped here from BAQS. I would so enjoy expanding my long arm patterns and knowledge
Found you via Maddie at BDQS. Looking forward to reading more!
I came to you from BAQS. Your book would put my beginning quilting over the top like Diane Henry or Debby Brown. Thanks for offering up your book.
I was introduced to you by BAQS. Beautiful designs and I would love to have a book.
Bags fan here😀as a newbie I can really use the inspiration!