Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting ~ Blog Tour ~ It's a Family Affair~

Hello friends I'm so excited today to officially launch my new book blog tour. (before I tell you too much, I will be @ Seasons of Home this Saturday night, from 6-8pm signing books, yes you can purchase one there)

Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting ~ It's a Family Affair~ I feel that quilting becomes a family affair, weather you're sewing at your kitchen table, in your craft room, or at someone else's home it seems to me that my whole family becomes a part of my sewing.
So before we get started I'll tell you a little about my family. First there is Brad, he's the dad. He loves football, golf, hanging out at the pool and spending time with his kids.
Then there is Natalia, she's the mom, (that's me). I like sewing, and quilting, a lot. I also like to spend time at the pool, play with my kids and take long naps.
Next is Chesney, she is a spunky little girl with a lot of energy. She likes to watch cartoons, read stories, ride her bike and play with friends.
Brayden is the baby boy. He's just six months old, he likes drinking bottles, playing with toys and being held. Bocephus is the dog, he's an 8 yr old miniature schnauzer, we like him because he's a hypoallergenic dog. He's small enough to play with but gentle enough to play with the kids. My sweet family has helped me so much in the journey to writing this book. I appreciate them so much. However, at times I have another family, my blogging family.  My friends that I've created through this blogging universe support and encourage me so much that I feel like they are family. Starting tomorrow, October 6th, some of my "blogging" family are going to share some insights into my new book and give you the chance to win free copies of my book! YAY! So, join along with me and lets go visit my blogging family. Amy Webb - October 6th Melissa Corry - October 7th Melissa Mortensen  - October 8th Stash Books - October 9th Amy Ellis - October 10th Kimberly Jolly - October 11th Vicki Christensen - October 12th Candy Glendening - October 13th Angela Yosten - October 14th Gen Q Magazine - October 15th Tracey Jacobsen - October 16th Vickie Eapen - October 17th

AllisonHarris – October 18th

then back here to me for the final give-away, it's a great prize, worth winning!! All winner's will be announced October 19th. Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting is available for purchase here. If you'd like a signed copy email me.
 

Simply Fat Quarters Showcase!

I get to participate in the extremely cool Simply Fat Quarters Showcase which starts next Monday!

Over the next few weeks, several bloggers will be showcasing quilts we have made using the new Simply Fat Quarters book by It’s Sew Emma.

During the showcase, each blogger will show quilts we have made using fabrics we chose!  And there will be tons of prizes on each stop. 

Check out the schedule and follow along with us each Monday – you won’t want to miss our creations! Pick up a copy of Simply Fat Quarters and sew along with us!

10/8      Sherri McConnell at A Quilting Life (http://www.aquiltinglife.com)

10/15    Natalia Bonner at Piece ‘n Quilt (http://www.pieceandquilt.com)

10/22    Jane Davidson at Quilt Jane (http://www.quiltjane.blogspot.com)

10/29    Simply Fat Quarters at Quilt Market Special Feature!

11/5      Kaye Prince at Miss-Print (http://miss-print.blogspot.com)

11/12    Katy Jones at I’m a Ginger Monkey (http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com)

11/19    Pat Sloan at Pat Sloan’s Blog (http://patsloan.typepad.com/)

11/26    Showcase wrap up at the Jolly Jabber

I can't wait for my day! I have a fun quilt to share and a little something exciting about the machine quilting on those darling quilts! :)

Sweet Celebrations Blog Tour ~ Celebrate the Baby~

Welcome my SWEET friends! Today is my turn to tell you a little bit about the new Moda Bake Shop book Sweet Celebrations. Who doesn't love to celebrate something? I do! Oda May from the Moda Bake Shop asked me a few questions; What have you gained from the online quilting community? I have gained more than I could have ever imagined, friends, support, inspiration, I love the online quilting community!
What sewing accomplishment are you most proud of? I am very most proud of my new book Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, when I began machine quilting years ago I would have never imagined that I would be one day a published author. I'm also very honored to have some of my designs published in both of the Moda Bake Shop books!
How do you press your seams? I generally always press my seams to one side, and preferable toward the darker side. However there are times when I do break that rule and press the seams open and there are also times when it just works best to press the seams toward the lighter fabric.
If you could have a quilt shop spree what items would you snag off the shelf? I would run for notions, although I don't use a lot of notions I sure do love to look at them. :)
Do you prefer to celebrate with cupcakes, cake pops or plain old cake? I love plain old cake, although I hate chocolate, so any cake but chocolate. I know, now you think I'm crazy!

(quilt shown above is April's Hanukkah quilt, I machine quilted it.)
I am so excited about the new book, I've contributed a few projects but one of my very favorite is my baby quilt, when I designed and made the little quilt I was expecting my baby. Now that I have the little guy I can't wait to hang my fun baby quilt in his room. :)
Since now you know my secret, I'm not a big chocolate lover, here is one of my favorite sweet treats!  Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn.

You can also download my recipe here.
Or the printer friendly version is available below.

photo via instagram

Make sure you stop by all of the chef's stops to collect all of the recipe cards and enter to win a free copy of Sweet Celebrations!

October 1 – StashBooks and Moda Cutting Table

October 2 – Melissa Mortenson and Melissa Corry

October 3 – Mary Lane Brown and Natalia Bonner (that's me :)

October 4 – Lissa Alexander and Corey Yoder

October 5 – Jane Davidson and Angela Yosten

October 6 – Jo & Kelli Kramer and Stefanie Roman

October 7 – Sherri McConnell and Megan Jimenz & Heather Andrus

October 8 – Angela Mitchell and Ellie Roberts

October 9 – Katie Blakesley and Aneela Hoey

October 10 – Amy Smart and Angela Pingel

October 11 – Vanessa Christenson and April Rosenthal

October 12 – Moda Bake Shop

The giveaway – To enter to win a copy of Sweet Celebration with the Moda Bake Shop Chefs, leave a comment here telling me if you have quilts that you take out for special occasions! Deadline to enter is 10/14/12.  The winner will be drawn at random from the comments section and will be notified by email. Our winner’s name will also be listed here as an update to this post. *Note: Only entrants with U.S addresses are eligible to win the actual book. Winners with addresses outside the U.S. will win the e-book version.

Give-away closed!
Winner is Marianne.
Congratulation Marianne!

Paula's Central Park Quilt

Paula pieced this darling quilt made from Kate Spain's Central Park fabric.

 The quilt is just so cute and the Central Park fabric . :)

 I had fun custom machine quilting this quilt, lots of flowers, swirls and circles.

Purchase my book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, today!

Matching Boy Quilts

I recently machine quilted these two darling boy quilts. I love the colors and simplicity of the quilts.

Since the quilts are the same, just slightly different fabrics I decided to do the same with the machine quilting. 

The quilting is similar, but not the same.

Pattern is 1, 2, 3 by Amy Ellis and is available in Modern Basics.

Purchase my book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, today!