Quilt Improv by Lu Summers | blog hop & giveaway
January 17th, 2014
I’m so excited to be a part of Lu Summers blog hop for her fantastic new book, Quilt Improv! Lu knocked this out of the park (but then she does that with everything)!
Wow, Lu’s book is breathtaking. Not only are the projects enticing and interesting, the entire look and feel of the book is freshly gorgeous. It is so worth a trip through the entire Quilt Improv Blog Hop to see all the assorted photos sprinkled on peoples posts. Seriously, clicking here is like a passport to beautiful quilts and the English countryside. And not just any people, Stitch Craft Create UK assembled some pretty crazy talented people for this hop, so totally worth a look just for that. I’m so honored to be amongst them!
I’m a picture-reader more than I am a word-reader, and Quilt Improv is a yummy feast for my eyes. Part of what makes me love Quilt Improv (besides who its author is!), is that even a picture-reader like me can get SO MUCH out of this book. My guess is that word-readers will get a lot out of Quilt Improv, too.
I’m so loving improv quilting/quilts, but I’m that quilter that likes pieces cut in precise dimensions and joined precisely by a ¼” to another precisely measured piece to achieve a perfectly inch’d unit. Improv quilting scares me a little because there are a lot of what-ifs involved. With Lu’s help and gorgeous illustrations I can grasp letting go of precisely measured pieces and units, and enjoy being free of the piece-anxiety. My bag of scraps has new purpose and meaning!
It didn’t take me long (or any anxiety) to gather like length’d pieces and join them into rows. Before I knew it, I have a handful of rows made. I’m kinda shocked still how fast this went. So it turns outs that eyeballing is hella faster then measuring. I feel a little bit liberated from that ball n chain known as math. Well, for today any how. Tomorrow I might be back on the 2½” x 4½”, 3⅞”, 5¼” juice.
I haven’t decided if I want to turn this little quilt top into a pillow or make a small wall quilt. Probably a small quilt because I’m a little giddy about having a binding opportunity.
But for today my little quilt top serves as a reminder that I need to take my Christmas lights and dec down first. And by first I mean March 1st.
RESOURCES:
– Lu Summers
– Quilt Improv for UK buyers
– Quilt Improv for international buyers via Amazon
– Quilt Improv Blog Hop
– Stitch Craft Create UK
GIVEAWAY:
F & W Media is generously giving away a hard copy of Lu’s book to one lucky reader of my blog. Just leave a comment here on this post and I’ll have random.org draw a winner on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 noon ish PST. Giveaway is open to UK, US, everywhere and the moon.
Want a comment question to answer? If you could be in any country to receive the winning copy of Quilt Improv - what country would that be?
Edited in: The giveaway has now ended, and using random.org for comments 1-171, the winner is #95 by Jennifer from Purrfect Stitches. Congratulations, Jennifer!!
Posted in Stuff |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
I too have scraps that need new purpose! Any country? Right now I’m in the UK and it’s cold and wet so somewhere warm/hot would do nicely, Australia! thanks for the chance
January 17th, 2014Lu’s book looks fabulous!
January 17th, 2014I wish I was in New Zealand right now - or anywhere it’s not raining!!
I like the project you display. So versatile for either a man or woman. I love the good old USA!
January 17th, 2014Love to have a copy of this book. That would be the US:)
January 17th, 2014I’m in Holland and that suits me fine: the weather is surprisingly warm for the time of year, and the sun is shining. Mind you, next week I might think the Canary Islands would be preferable.
January 17th, 2014Anywhere suits me really, as long as I have a sewing machine handy!
This book looks beautiful.
January 17th, 2014What a fun book, looks fantastic. I’m where I’d love to be in the USA, Long Island New York. Thanks for showing me another, “I have to have it book”. ;-> Toni Anne
January 17th, 2014I’m in Jersey off the coast of France, but somewhere a little warmer would be nice, but not Australia hot. India perhaps.
Love your grey and turquoise scraps. I heart your bag of scraps.
January 17th, 2014I would be in England, with my family :-) Love your quilt - turquoise always gets me!
January 17th, 2014Love your color combination of grey and turquoise, one of my favorites.
January 17th, 2014Having lived in the desert for over 30 years I would choose to be in Tropical North Queensland by the Pacific coast, lush, green and an ocean - fantastic!
I’d love to collect the book somewhere warm… I’m tired of New England winter. Thanks for the chance!
January 17th, 2014The book looks beautiful! I’d like to be in Australia for no reason except I’d like to be there :)
January 17th, 2014I also need to break out of my comfort zone and try some improv! The book looks wonderful!
January 17th, 2014Hmmm - I think I would love the book to be delivered to me in Canada so I could mix a trip to see family with collecting a FAB book!!!
January 17th, 2014That’s some question! I love games like this…drives my family crazy! And the answer is…(this is a tough one…) I would be in New Zealand! Love your improv quilt!
January 17th, 2014Thanks for a fun giveaway. I love the colours you used, and it really can be liberating not to have to measure so precisely. I live in England but I would happily go somewhere warmer to receive the book, Tahiti sounds good to me!
January 17th, 2014Im in the wet and cold US now so… i would love to enjoy the book on a Belize beach!!
January 17th, 2014I love the block you made and it looks much easier than working out angles and cutting exact pieces with a ruler and rotary cutter.
January 17th, 2014Given that the moon would be pretty cold, I think I’d choose Ireland. Curled up with a quilt and a big bowl of stew.
January 17th, 2014awesome book! I’d love to be in Australia visiting bloggy friends
January 17th, 2014I have been coveting this book! Love your fabric choice and agree eyeballing is hard but liberating
January 17th, 2014I’d be in Scotland (or India ~ hard choice).
January 17th, 2014Love your little quilt and how the fabric looks like it’s floating ~
Looks like fun!!
January 17th, 2014I am in the US - but right now I’d love to be somewhere warm…Find that place for me and I’m SO there. Maybe Australia.
January 17th, 2014Looks like a fantastic book, I’d be happy anywhere
January 17th, 2014Seeing all the photos of such extreme weather everywhere, both hot and cold, I think I’m happy to be right where I am! It’s been pleasant at about 80 in Hawaii!
January 17th, 2014YAYYYY!!! The comments are back on — I hope this is a permanent move! LOVE your colors — as always. And, I think it goes without saying — I’d be in the UK (which technically isn’t A country, but I just couldn’t pick a favorite among them)!!!
January 17th, 2014WOW-what a book!
January 17th, 2014Who wouldn’t love to have a copy?
Thank you for the giveaway.
Love the quilt! Thanks for a chance to win the book.
January 17th, 2014Oooh, this book was totally written for me then. I HATE the math of quilting but I LOVE the idea of a wee bit of direction when it comes to improving a quilt. YAY! So excited for this book! Even if you don’t pick me I’m going to have to go scoop it up! Thanks for the giveaway! :)
January 17th, 2014Scotland!
January 17th, 2014I would be in Belgium! I lived there for three years and still miss the food, the people, even the weather!
January 17th, 2014I would love a chance to win this book. I’m very interested in improv.
January 17th, 2014Australia would be pretty awesome right about now!
January 17th, 2014“the ball and chain known as math” is my new favorite phrase :) Gorgeous improv!
January 17th, 2014I’ve never been to Norway, so I’d love to be there to read the book!
January 17th, 2014I’d love to be in Paris eating a baguette with Camembert reading this book!
January 17th, 2014I notice several want to be where it’s warm and dry and of course, those of us in sunny California, where it was in the 80s yesterday, are desperate for rain
January 17th, 2014In another world, I would like to receive this book in France!
Love your quilt. I so need this book and the country I choose is the USA. There is so much to see and do in our great country
January 17th, 2014Hmmm - you could deliver it to me in Italy I think.
January 17th, 2014Lovely chevron improv piece - have fun deciding what to do with it! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
I live most of my life in the world of math. I don’t feel like it’s a ball and chain, but I do feel like I need to let go. If I could be in any country when I get the book I think I would pick the Netherlands. I’ve also wanted to go.
January 17th, 2014I love this! I too am bound by 1/4 inch precison. can’t wait to give something new a try in the good ole USA!
January 17th, 2014This book is on my wish list! Would love to win a copy.
January 17th, 2014I am happy to receive the book in the middle of Kansas and the USA. Thanks for the giveaway.
January 17th, 2014I would love to be reading the book in Australia instead of snowing Minnesota right now.
January 17th, 2014Beautiful book! Improv quilting scares me as well but I’d love to give it a try. And since we’re daydreaming about where we’d like to receive the book, I’ll go for Paris, please!
January 17th, 2014your quilt looks great, well done for leaping out of your comfort zone! Any country? Russia.
January 17th, 2014This book looks fabulous. Gives me the inspiration to go out and buy lots of modern fabric instead of the Civil War fabric I’m generally drawn to.
January 17th, 2014I would love to own this book! It looks like a great starting off point for practice with improv.
January 17th, 2014I would love to be in Canada (preferably in the summer!)
Beautiful book and quilts, and I love your little wall quilt. Gorgeous!
January 17th, 2014Oh I think I’m pretty happy right where I am in Abbeville, Alabama! So just send it on to me here!!
January 17th, 2014This book looks fabulous! I want to do more “playing” with quilts, and this would fit the bill!
January 17th, 2014Love, love your little quilt. I know exactly how you feel about giving up the preciseness. I think I’ll give it a try.
January 17th, 2014I would love to be in England - my only visit there was for 3 days. Saw an awesome lot, but there is so much more that I want to see and do…love to travel and really like getting to the out of the way places and meeting everyday people.
January 17th, 2014HI,right here in the USA!
January 17th, 2014Thanks so for your blog+giveaway!
I would love to win this book! I would be in Germany with my long-time friend Linda, who is also a great quilter! We would then jump right into some projects together!
January 17th, 2014Love your chevron quilt - thanks for sharing. I’d be in New Zealand. Thanks for the chance to win.
January 17th, 2014This looks like a great book. I wish I was in New Zealand.
January 17th, 2014La France! Thank you for the opportunity to win what looks like a fab book!
January 17th, 2014I’d stay here in New Zealand, is summer at the moment and it’s lovely. I love the idea of no measurements and not worrying about things matching up.
January 17th, 2014This book looks so wonderful! I would love a copy to rifle through!!! Thanks for the chance! And that little quilt your making….totally fab. I love the colors and the fact that the strips are offset! So cool! I vote wall hanging ;) Have a great day Monica!!!
January 17th, 2014Love the book….and the quilters participating on the tour. So inspiring at a time of the year that needs a Lift! Here in Washington State. Your sample is gorgeous….Love to see the finished piece!
January 17th, 2014improv quilting scares me, too, but I know my daughter would love the mini quilt top that you made…maybe I’m ready to make the leap!! :)
January 17th, 2014Now a scraptastic book is just what was missing from my Xmas List! This looks like the very thing to dive into those scrap baskets with.
I’d gladly open and delve into Quilt Improv while viewing the beautiful mountains of Scotland.
Slainte.
January 17th, 2014Book looks fabulous! I wish I were in bella Italia!
January 17th, 2014Would love to win a copy…and thanks for offering!
January 17th, 2014The book looks great! thank you!
January 17th, 2014Gorgeous! I want to try my hand at some of this to use up some of my batik collection!
January 17th, 2014OMG, I love this. And I love that you used the word HELLA. You’re so Portland lol.
January 17th, 2014I love this book, too, Moncia. And I love what you made!
January 17th, 2014Precise or improv, your work is always an inspiration. :>
I like where I am (south texas) but I would happily swap for Italy!! The book looks fab!
January 17th, 2014I love this approach to improv quilting! Would love to check out this book.
January 17th, 2014The book looks great, haven’t tried improv quilting before. In Canada with the most snow I’ve seen in a long time, I’d swap shoveling for quilting soon.
January 17th, 2014I love improv piecing. It’s so fun and unique! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this book. Thanks for the chance. The prints and colors look great together on your piece, by the way.
January 17th, 2014Doing anything improv scares the daylights out of me, but after seeing your success I have hopes that I might actually be able to do some myself. I’m sure this book would be very helpful. Thank you for the chance to win!
January 17th, 2014I love the turquoise, gray and black combo! Improv piecing is my favorite and this seems like a great book for inspiration!!
January 17th, 2014Bali please!!! Would love to go back- good food, great beaches, lovely Ubud… I think I also would go shopping for fabrics… Heaven in every sort of sense, right?!;)
January 17th, 2014HI,LOVE THE AQUA ,GRAY,BLACK!
January 17th, 2014THANKS FOR SHARING!
This book looks so good! As for improv, I am right there with you. I need to breakout!
January 17th, 2014The cover photo alone had me sold on this book! I’ll read it in Australia, please and thank you!
January 17th, 2014I do like the look of those chevrons. Thanks for the giveaway. I’m sitting in Northern New England but would love to be in England about now.
January 17th, 2014Love your colour scheme and the improv chevrons on your mini quilt.
January 17th, 2014looks like a fabulous book! I chose two countries to be in, Switzerland and Wales.
January 17th, 2014Would love to shop in quilt shops in different countries.
Intriguing book! I love her fabric designs, didn’t know this was out.
What country…Morocco, maybe? With lush fabrics and a bit of shade from the slightly-too-hot sun? Sounds so lovely…
(and great mini-pillow-quilt!)
January 17th, 2014I’d love to be in italy to receive this book!
January 17th, 2014Love your little improv quilt!!! I’d love to be in Australia since it’s summer there right now :)
January 17th, 2014Looks like a fun book. Thanks for the opportunity!
January 17th, 2014I wish I was reading from somewhere in the southern hemisphere right now - I’m missing summer sun! Love your little quilt Monica! And I’m going to put away the Christmas cookie jar by March 1st too! Thank you for the giveaway!
January 17th, 2014This book looks really interesting. I guess I like being in the U.S. so that is where I would want to be. Thanks for the giveaway.
January 17th, 2014I would love to be in Estonia…and receive this book.. it’s a wonderful place, where my mother grew up.
January 17th, 2014I would love to receive this book sitting on your couch, Monica, and chatting about Math, because I am not so good at it and I think I can learn from you!!! But my own couch(in the Netherlands) and your blog is also nice!
January 17th, 2014Just for a moment I’d like to be in a country with lots of quilt shops to buy some fabric to go with the book, so probably US, but otherwise I’m quite happy in my moderately cold Poland :)
January 17th, 2014I live in Australia & we’re having a summer of record breaking heatwaves so I’d like to be in a cool climate to win & receive this lovely book, maybe Canada? Thanks for the chance to win.
January 17th, 2014I’d love to be in with a chance of winning a copy of the fab looking book. If I could choose the country to be in when I win … I’d pick the USA so I could gorge myself on all the yummy quilt supplies I could :)
January 18th, 2014Looks like an amazing book. I’m a precise quilter who also has a hard time with improv but who also has a massive supply of scraps. This could be the answer!
January 18th, 2014This is an awesome book that I would love to use as a guide to be more creative.
January 18th, 2014This looks like a great book. If I was to win and be magically transported to any country I think I would choose America - so I could meet all the awesome people on that I have met online in person. Might take a while so having a new craft book to look through would be great. :D
January 18th, 2014I’m in Ireland now but am from the eastern US. If I had a choice of where I would be when receiving a copy of the book, it’d be the Pacific NW. Maybe in the San Juan Islands or a farm on Sauvie Island. Oh, to dream…
January 18th, 2014Lucie’s book looks amazing! I think I’d like to be in Austria - I’ve been re-reading some ‘Chalet School’ books (I loved them as a child and it’s nice to go back and read them again!) and now fancy seeing the mountains and lakes of the Tyrol!
January 18th, 2014Wow, freedom from quilting math……I might be nervous! This book might help me too, thanks for the chance.
January 18th, 2014Germany!!!! Having just eaten a delicious schnitzel meal and relaxing by a fire in a cozy ski lodge… please and thank you!
January 18th, 2014Your mini would make a fabulous pillow. I’m so excited to try this book!
January 18th, 2014I am thinking this book is right up my alley since I am not so precise in my quilting. For some reason things just got out of line here and there and it is very frustrating. This book looks like a it has lots of fun and beautiful projects that would make me feel a whole lot better about my quilting abilities!! Hopefully. I would love to receive it while on a quilting cruise to Hawaii. Why not! Thanks for the chance!
January 18th, 2014I would love to win this book! If I could be in any county, it would be where the sunshine is warm and the people are friendly…how about Costa Rica?
January 18th, 2014I love your improv block! And I’d love to be in Italy to receive a copy of the book. Thanks!
January 18th, 2014Looks like a great book. In my dreams I’d be picking up a copy of this book in France!
January 18th, 2014I live in New England US, but I love Ireland. We visited last year The countryside eas so beautiful and the people so friendly. Thanks for the chance to win the book!
January 18th, 2014March 1st! Haha… Gurl, get those dec’s down stat so you can concentrate on the real task at hand! No one likes the smell of moldy pine cones anyway! Thanks for the giveaway!
January 18th, 2014Being in the middle of a PNW winter, I’d take a sunny location like Hawaii or S. California. Australia sounds fun too (a popular suggestion in the comments I see), but I don’t know what happens to someone acclimatized to Seattle who is then dropped in the middle of their kind of summer. Might melt of something. ;)
January 18th, 2014Italy. That blue water & the great food are calling me. Thanks for the give away. Lovin’ this book!
January 18th, 2014This book is already in my wish list! thanks for the chance.
January 18th, 2014I’m in Canada, cleaning the house and doing laundry like a madwoman so I can start on two baby quilts tomorrow, when the hubster says ‘We really need to take the tree downstairs down’. What he really means is’You do it while I lie on the couch watching sports’. The damn thing is staying up all year. Thanks for the chance though!
January 18th, 2014I live in Canada and wouldn’t have it any other way- it is a great place to call home. This is a terrific looking book and I would love to win a copy.
January 18th, 2014Regards from Alberta,
Anna
Your post makes me want to play. Hooray for Quilt Improv!
January 18th, 2014Oooooooo…. I’ve been seriously lusting after this book. I love the mini-quilt you made - I can’t wait to see how you quilt it. Thank you for the giveaway!
January 18th, 2014Someplace warm like Belize would be nice :)
January 18th, 2014I love where we live in coastal Virginia but I would love to visit London.
January 18th, 2014I love how you made the background and the borders match. It’s beautiful this way - the design in the centre feels like it’s floating. I should give it a try.
January 18th, 2014Thank you for the chance to win. Love your blog!
January 18th, 2014I would want to be in Australia cuz it is summer there and I always have wanted to go there.
January 18th, 2014I would love to be anywhere with a beach right now, so that leaves the country open to many possible choices!
January 18th, 2014Oooh, I would love to win this!
January 19th, 2014I am now in Florida but wish to be in Denmark, Norway, and Finland area to have home time to quilt to see the sights and enjoy the view.
January 19th, 2014Yes, looks like a real help to get out the scrap box! Thanks
January 19th, 2014I am drowning in leftovers (I don;’t want to call them scraps) and I could really use this book!
January 19th, 2014Awesome book and I stay right here in the US
January 19th, 2014That book looks WONDERFUL! Thanks for the chance to win!
January 19th, 2014Yep, those look like a lot of the colors I purchased last time I was fabric shopping in Portland - lots of teals and navy from Cool Cottons and that Dear Stella ikat was on sale at Fabric Depot during the summer meetup! I love seeing those colors together.
January 19th, 2014I’d be in Holland, in Delft, where they serve the most amazing pancakes!! Your mini quilt is lovely and the book looks like one to keep delving into. thanks for the offer
January 19th, 2014I love our little quilt! Thanks for the giveaway!
January 19th, 2014This is a great way to use some of my scraps.
January 19th, 2014This book looks like fun! I’m lovin’ the USA. I sure enjoyed our time in the UK, too, but I’d rather be there when it’s warm and drier.
January 19th, 2014Would love to be in France to receive this beautiful book
January 19th, 2014i love it right where i am! with Quilt Improv book i’d be in the State of bliss, because i have spent a lot of time wanting that book!
January 19th, 2014I would like to be in Italy to receive this book as it is a beautiful country, hopefully it is a little drier and warmer there than the UK.
January 19th, 2014I’m in sunny Australia, it’s summer and it’s hot and it would be even better with a copy of this book. Thanks,
January 20th, 2014I would love nothing more than to be able to receive a copy of this book in Ireland! I have loved seeing the images of creations from the projects in this book. It’s on my wish list for sure. Thanks for the opportunity!
January 20th, 2014Hi! I live in Italy, but I would love to be in New York City. Baci
January 20th, 2014I would love a shot at winning Lu’s book, Monica ~ thank you!
January 20th, 2014And wonderful turquoises and grays in your small piece.
This looks like a great book! (Glad to hear that I am not the only one with Christmas still up!)
January 20th, 2014I would love to be in Australia right now. I’ve never been, but it seems amazing!
January 20th, 2014Just LOVE improv quilts and the one you made is very cool! This book looks incredible! Thanks for the chance to win :)
January 20th, 2014Well, I am thinking about visiting Ireland or Italy or New Zealand or Australia. But I would like to get the book when I’m at home in the US — where I’m close to lots of fabric and can start making something right away!
January 20th, 2014Love the modern look of this! The book looks like a lot FUN!
January 20th, 2014What a fun looking book, and I love your improv quilt. I think I would be right here, in California. It is heavenly these days.
January 20th, 2014Ooh, I like what you made! I think I wanna make something similar like that for a pillow case :)
January 20th, 2014The book looks like such fun. I need help in the improv area so this would be a big help. Thanks for the chance to win.
January 20th, 2014This book looks awesome, and I am in the warmest part of the US right now, the Arizona desert!
January 20th, 2014This sounds like a great book, with a real sense of Lucie’s style and creative sensibilities–I’m sure she has a lot to teach me.
January 20th, 2014I’d love to be reading this lovely new book here in Maine, US, except in summer by the shore.
January 20th, 2014Looks like a fun book!
January 20th, 2014I have a serious pile of scraps that would benefit from that book. Looks like a great book.
January 20th, 2014Any country? USA - Cambridge MA! It’s like a different world to me now sitting in San Diego. Enjoyed my stay there last year and am looking forward to returning! History, public transportation, walking culture, universities, book stores, friends, snow and glorious blooms in the spring! This book is calling out to me, would be so much fun to win a copy. Thank you for putting my name in the hat for the drawing!
January 20th, 2014You give me hope as a non-impov person. “What if I make mistake?” gets in the way of letting loose and having fun. Country - how about a tropical and sunny country…Bahamas?
January 20th, 2014I’d be in the UK. Easy-peasy.
January 20th, 2014There’s no place like home, I live in the most beautiful part of Canada ever! I’ll take rain over snow almost any old day. I’ve just started into improv and it’s definitely scary but kind of fun! Hoping to win, and looking forward to your visit to Abbotsford in April.
January 20th, 2014I’m in a part of England that is usually blanketed in snow this time of year but is unusually warm (as warm as can be in winter) and dry so I’m happy here. Maybe Japan would be a nice place so I can visit my friends.
January 21st, 2014I’d be in England. My paternal grandfather was born there and came to the US by himself when he was 17. I’d love to visit his homeland and see if I could find my cousins.
January 21st, 2014I’m always wishing to be in the UK again. I have such great memories of a vacation there!
January 21st, 2014I love what you did with those fabrics!
January 21st, 2014I am so impressed. I need to use my scraps and would love-love-love to win.
January 21st, 2014I love your small quilt, it turned out great. Thanks for the chance to win this great book.
January 21st, 2014I’d have to go with Australia or New Zealand. I’d love to do an awesome multi-week trip around both countries someday and right now it is way warmer there than it is where I live!
January 21st, 2014What an exciting new book! Would love a peak inside. Thanks for the giveaway chance.
January 21st, 2014Our wind chill factor here is nearly 20 below….yep, I’d vote for receiving this wonderful book in Australia or New Zealand. It’s SUMMER there!
January 21st, 2014I feel a bit like a hermit right now, so home would be a great place to page through this book.
January 21st, 2014Ooh! I like your block a lot!! Can’t wait to try it myself.
January 21st, 2014I love this book. Great pictures and color! And I love the page layout - fantastic for the visual learner.
January 21st, 2014Oh Goodness, your little quilt is ADORABLE! It has all my favorite colors.
If I could be in any country right now, it would have to be New Zealand so I can be together with my fiance. Oh, how I miss him so!
January 21st, 2014I’ve got to try improv!
January 21st, 2014I’m from Argentina, but I would love to be in Scotland!
January 21st, 2014i love your blue hutch, it is blue isn’t it? and all the white accessories.
January 23rd, 2014