150th Aniversary of start of the Civil War

April 12th, 2011 is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. I designed this quilt out of our Classic Wovens homespun line using the Lincoln's Platform block to commemorate the event.

After making the quilt, I thought to ask Barbara Brackman about the history. Here's what she said: The block was given that name by the Ladies Art Company, maybe at the end of

the 19th century. I think they were trying to draw a block off an old quilt

and got confused by what was block and what was sashing. It would be better

drawn as a regular monkey wrench with a sashing and cornerstone, but it

turned out so interesting with the four-patch behind it I'm glad it's an odd

block. As far as how old is the block? Those Monkey Wrench Churn Dash quilts

seem to turn up about the time of the Civil War (maybe the 1840s) but when

did somebody start calling it Lincoln's Platform?????

My friend Tori did most of the piecing. She's brand new to quilting and this is a visually complex quilt so a couple of the blocks are a little wonky but I think it adds to the charm. The piecing is easy - just triangle squares, squares and strips - but when you make the blocks, each corner churn part goes to a different churn. It can mess with your mind. If you'd like to buy a kit, click here.

The free download for the pattern was on April 12th.

Either way, let's stop for a moment and reflect on the lives that were lost, families and friends that were torn apart and the horror that the war brought to our country. Now it's interesting history - then it was not. You can follow the course of the war on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Blog by clicking the blog button on the right.

Wow! Look at what we did!

This is "Favorite Things" the Girl Gang quilt from a couple of years ago. It was made by a member of my Girl Gang Toni Peerbolte. She added the piano key border and outer border to make it bed size. Awesome work Toni. (I should say, as usual, - she wins ribbons at shows and fairs all of the time.)

This is "Max and Josie's Wedding Quilt". It was done in blues and whites for Josie in my book Say it With Flowers. This version was done by Raedene Frost. I almost like the colors better but then I love fall.

This quilt was made by Wendy Held. She used a quick piece center and added applique from Garden Dance in the border. Great combination of piecing and applique, Wendy. And I really like your color choice too.

Thanks ladies, for jpgs of your work. It's all beautiful.

And finally I am so excited. My new book, Country Quilts for Your Soul, by Quiltmania is out at last. When they asked for 20 quilts (Carol said to use some of my older favorites as well as newer ones) I was a little flabbergasted. I mean most of my quilts are pretty pattern intensive. It's 244 pages! Somewhat of a Russian Novel.

Well, back to work. I still have the next Girl Gang to finish as well as the quilts for Market. I leave for the show in Nantes, France on the 24th, get back on May 1st and leave for Salt Lake City on the 9th. And I still have to keep up on the Bible Quilt and Over the Meadow. Believe me ladies, applique blocks go where I go. To order the book from Quiltmania (I'll have them for sale later but right now I haven't even gotten one) click on the title of the book above or the picture in the gadget to the right. Thanks.

We're not Fooling Around

Happy April Fool's Day. Does anybody know why there's an April Fools Day - what it means? Anyway, we're combining April Fools Day and Friday Freebie to bring you a special.

Today only you'll get a free book (excepting KC Star books) or 2 new patterns with the purchase of any kit. This includes the Cockscombs & Bird kit and Mary's Basket kit that are on special. Just write the name of your book or patterns in the comments section if you buy your kit through the store or email Byron at janpatekquilts@yahoo.com if you want to use your credit card at other than the google or paypal sites. Don't forget we'll need your updated card information and security code.

This is our latest Wallhanging Club kit. It went into the store today so it's included in the offer. Club members, we'll be shipping your kits next week but you can be in on the Freebie. Besides your 15% discount you can get the free book or patterns too. But you have to email Byron today to tell him what book or patterns you want. This is an April Fools Freebie Friday only.

Have a great day and a good weekend.

I'm going to my Girl Gang in Lee's Summit tomorrow and will bring back pictures. Toni has Favorite things quilted and it's awesome.

All sorts of new and exciting things

This is "Cockscombs & Bird". It isn't a new quilt but it feels new because we just found it again. We really are doing Spring Cleaning with all of the changes we're having and we found these kits that haven't been listed in the store. So we're putting them in our Spring Cleaning Sale - March 30 - April 5th - 20% off.

The new Primitive Quilts & Projects magazine is about to hit the newstands. We're all pretty excited about it. My "Crabapple Farm" pillow is in the first issue and as soon as I get my issue I'll show you the picture they took of it. I'll also have a few kits for sale, but just a few as Lilac Hill sold out so quickly. So keep watching. I'll post things as soon as I get my copy. Meanwhile if you want to order a copy or a subscription go to www.primitivequiltsandprojects.com or call 304-375-9665. I just can't wait to see all the other projects.

And speaking of ordering things from us, if you've been reading my blog over the last few months, you probably know about all the problems we've had with the Merchant Service people and the fraud problem. Since August we haven't been able to find a secure way to take credit cards.

WELL - MY BRILLIANT SON HAS OVERCOME ALL and found a way. Huzzah! Huzzah! We can now take credit cards again. We can email you a Quickbooks invoice - the normal invoice we usually use, but now there's a place to click on it to charge the invoice to your credit card. Or - if you are a Club member in particular, call him at 816-632-7632 and update your card information including the 3 or 4 digit code number and we can autobill your club shipments and orders.

We're slowly getting things back in order after Tara left. She met a guy, decided to get married and apparently decided she wanted to be a "stay-at-home wife & mom". And it was all rather sudden. I wish her the best. It has been rather difficult figuring things out with no help but I think we're getting there. If you find errors or things are slow just get in touch with us and we'll try to straighten them out.

This picture was taken of Quinn & Cullen about 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning. As I got ready to leave my bedroom - here they came, coats and boots on over jammies, wanting to go outside to play. It was just beginning to get light but we live in the country. Sure - why not. Go gather eggs for breakfast and let the chickens out.

Life is good!

Spring Cleaning and Lilac Hill quilts ready for Trunk Shows

We actually were Spring Cleaning in the office and came on a tub with Mary's Basket in it. I couldn't remember seeing it in the store. On checking, lo and behold, it wasn't in the store. It's a lot harder to sell kits if they're not listed. So we're having a special on it this week. Such fun spring colors.

And speaking of spring colors, the Lilac Hill quilts all got labels and went off on trunks shows.

That was a really fun line.

And speaking of new lines, back to work. Have a good week ladies. Keep quilting

Saving a little Green - & We're at it again!

Happy St. Patricks Day.

Celebrate by saving (and sewing) a little Green with our St. Paddy's Day sale.

25% off of Tic-Tac Baskets and Summer Nights from the 17th thru the 22nd. (The price in the store reflects the discount.)

Meanwhile - back at Moda.......(I'm the one on the far right in the back row.)

FREEBIE FRIDAY

This is a Lilac Hill Petit Four - a 2 1/2" square of all the prints in Lilac Hill. Isn't it cute? Moda gave us a pack of them at Market. They're strictly a promotional item but I couldn't just let them sit there, could I?

So I designed this little quilt using the Petit Fours.

And today, the Petit Four and the pattern are FREE (well, 1 cent because my store doesn't do free) as long as they last. Hope you like it and have fun.

Jan