Stop Dreaming and Start Making a Quilt

What Everybody Ought to Know about Turning Traditional Quilt Blocks into Amazing, Creative and Treasured Family Heirlooms is Tucked Between the Covers of this Brand New Quilting Resource. And this Quilting Resource will Teach You How to Successfully Organize and Complete a Group Quilt.

 

From: Penny Halgren
Date:

Dear Friend,

Is art disappearing in our schools?

It might be, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

Even in the late ‘80s when my kids were in elementary school (the 1980s, that is!), there was concern about art being cut so that kids could spend more time learning how to read.

We all agree that reading is critical. But why did art go on the chopping block?

Many of the parents at our elementary school asked that very question. The conversation began innocently enough – a few of us began talking over a quilt. Then we asked at PTA. We asked at our District Advisory Council. Finally, we asked at School Site Council.

Everywhere we went, we got some goofy educator answer designed to confuse us. We weren’t buyin’. We knew that art was important to our children, and we wanted art in their classrooms.

About the same time, Nancy was having the same conversation with herself; and, maybe with her husband. Nancy was a teacher. A reading teacher. And she loved art, too. She was also distressed at the lack of art in classrooms, and was determined to figure out a way to bring it back.

It seemed as if one way would be to combine art with reading. Nancy spent an entire summer creating that exact program. At the beginning of one school year, she proposed a trial run in a few classes at our school.

Fortunately the principal thought it was a fabulous idea. She scraped together enough to pay for Nancy to come into half of the classrooms once a week for ½ hour for part of the year. Not a lot, but it was a start.

The Perfect Blend

The first day Nancy stepped onto our campus, it was almost as if Mary Poppins herself had arrived! Nancy arrived with a pack of books and art materials. First she read a book to the class, and then she pulled out her art supplies. Colored paper, scissors, glue, crayons. Within minutes of Nancy’s instructions, paper was flying, glue was sticking, kids were laughing, art was happening, and we knew our kids were in creative hands.

Her book about the fall leaves and her construction paper activity that allowed our children in Southern California to make their own fall leaves was a hit.

Each month, Nancy picked a theme. Each class in the school had their story time followed with a hands-on art time. The reading was instructional, and the projects were wonderful. And there was magic in seeing children become interested in books, art, and happenings beyond our little berg of La Mesa.

I remember when my daughter, Stephanie, came home with a little skeleton, bubbling with a story about the Day of the Dead. It was all news to me. First time I had heard of the holiday, and fourth grade Stephanie was so pleased with herself to be able to teach me something.

One year, Nancy decided to have a theme for the entire year. The first year it was lighthouses. Each month, she found books about some unique aspect of lighthouses. She was even able to teach some geography, showing the kids where particular lighthouses were located. Even after 9 months of lighthouses, the kids were begging for more.

One year, Nancy did barns. Now, that was really interesting for kids from Southern California, some of whom had barely seen a picture of a barn, let alone experience all of the wonderfulness of a barn.

And Then, A Year About Quilts!

So, it wasn’t all that surprising when Nancy announced to some of us moms that she was planning to do a year about quilts. Imagine. Quilts. One entire year about quilts. By now, her program had expanded to all classes at our school, plus two more schools. And we were excited to think of so many children learning about quilts.

There are plenty of books about quilts to read to children at all ages. Stories about quilters making quilts for their families; tales of children watching their aging grandmother start a quilt, then having the granddaughter finish it.

There’s a story about a little girl who finds a quilt in her attic and has her mother repair it. A generation later, her daughter finds the quilt in their attic. The cycle continued. And, of course, Underground Railroad quilt stories. Lots of stories about quilts, lessons about history, and plenty of artwork around quilts.

But Nancy didn't have a quilt. She wasn’t a quilter, and nobody in her family was a quilter. It seemed a shame for her to have only pictures of quilts to share with her children all around the school district. And none of us wanted to just loan her a quilt. So, a group of us decided to make a quilt and give it to her at the beginning of the school year.

A Group Quilt in progress.

Taking the book Eight Hands Round, we decided to make a quilt using blocks that were in the book. There were 12 of us, including the 10 year old Stephanie, who got together to make this beautiful quilt. We each picked a favorite block from the book, decided on a size for the block, and committed to having our blocks done by a specific date.

We had some quilting bee-type parties to keep motivated in getting the blocks finished, sewing the quilt top together, and finally hand quilting the quilt. There were many midnight oil lanterns burned out during those months. The quilt was passed from quilter to quilter for the hand quilting, and at the beginning of the school year, the quilt was done!

Now, what was the best way to give Nancy the quilt?

One of the quilters was the school librarian, and a good friend of Nancy’s. Bea offered to have Nancy over to her house for some afternoon tea (a regular event for the two of them), and have us hiding in the kitchen when she arrived. The plot was hatched, the invitations sent, and the day arrived. There we were – twelve tired quilters, one finished quilt, and a shocked Nancy.

 

A Successful Group Quilt

Looking back, I think we were very lucky. Everyone did their part, the blocks were relatively the same size, and we really weren’t that organized. Still there were problems. Many times, I wished that it had been more organized and we had been able to anticipate some of the problems, let alone have ready-made solutions for them.

It was lucky, too, that we had a book virtually handed to us that formed the basis for the quilt design. Without that, we’d probably still be trying to decide what blocks to make.

 

These Group Quilts are a Piece of Cake to Make

Today there is the perfect resource for a group quilt. Whether the quilt is for a teacher, a friend, a family member, a quilt guild project or a quilt for a fundraising auction, you can organize a group quilt with everything you need to know right at your fingertips.

And the patterns used are simple to make, with color ideas that make them stand out in a crowd of quilts.

M’Liss Rae Hawley’s latest quilting treasure, Round Robin Renaissance, is about making creative quilts with traditional blocks using a fun and foolproof system. Choose a simple 9 patch, a Pinwheel or a Triple Rail (3 rectangles in a block), and create an heirloom in a breeze.

These quilts can be made by yourself, or you can include your friends, and make one in a Round Robin style – where each person chooses a block that will be included in a “group quilt.”

Leave it to M’Liss to include everything you need to make a beautiful and unique quilt. Round Robin Renaissance includes:

5 different formats and 30 traditional patchwork blocks to ensure a one-of-a-kind quilt   An inspiring gallery of quilts, made using her easy techniques   Planning advice and sample forms to help organize your group, if you decide to make a group quilt   Ideas for embellishing your quilt with buttons, beads, fancy pins and rick rack   A Block Pool – your vehicle to creativity

 

A Group Quilt the Easy Way

Claim the newest quilting resource that will show you how to make a quilt with a group.

Using the straight-forward techniques and tips of M’Liss Rae Hawley, your project will look like it was sewn by a professional quilter. And M'Liss provides tips about what to do when things don't turn out as planned.

Whether you are a beginning quilter or more experienced, the ideas shared in this fabulous quilting resource will inspire and delight you.

M’Liss Rae Hawley provides 30 different easy-to-make blocks, separated into 3” blocks, 4” blocks, 6” blocks and 12” blocks. You choose the size, and find a block that easily makes into that size. Then find the page in the book with the exact pattern in that size. No guessing, no math, no messin’ around.

Although, your handy, dandy FabriCalc could be really useful!

This fabulous resource can be yours with just the click of a mouse, but only while they last. Our supply is limited, and we think these will go fast.

This book has just been released and is not yet in quilt shops. Once again, www.How-to-Quilt.com is proud to deliver the finest quilting resources before anyone even realizes they exist. Just imagine, you can have your quilt made before your quilting buddies have seen this new resource.

Or, when it’s your turn to lead the quilt block exchange, instead of avoiding the project, you can confidently volunteer to lead the brigade, and march forward knowing that you have all of the resources you need to complete a successful group quilt.

From selecting the pattern, to assigning the blocks and finishing the quilt, your group quilt will be a snap. You will certainly be the envy of every group quilt organizer, and you get to choose whether to organize it again, or share this mighty resource with the next group leader.

By now you are anxious to know how to get your hands on your copy of this treasure. It’s really quite simple. Just use your mouse to go to the order page on our secure server and order your copy today. We only have 24 of these on hand, so you’ll want to place your order right now while you are here and not take a chance of having to wait for the next shipment.

With this shipment having been two weeks delayed, we imagine the publisher is backlogged and the next shipment will be delayed as well. Plus, once this hits the quilt shops, your friends will be grabbing their copies, and the shops will have a hard time keeping them on the book racks.

Nancy and the completed group quilt.

 

Wait! You Get More Than Just Round Robin Renaissance

Because this resource uses Flying Geese and Half-square Triangles, I am going to throw in TWO of my step-by-step guides as Bonuses. One of them is brand new, and has never before been seen on this site:

 

Bonus #1
Sew Flying Geese in a Breeze
(Value $7.97 Yours FREE when you order Round Robin Renaissance)

Flying Geese

 

This fantastic resource will show not one, not two, but THREE different ways to sew Flying Geese.

Maybe you thought there was only one way to sew these very versatile little blocks. Or maybe you already knew that there were several methods to get the same results.

Either way, when you order Round Robin Renaissance, you will receive a special link where you can immediately download your very own copy of this handy report and see for yourself.

Pick the way you like the best or use the method that fits the fabric you have. Whether you use fabric from your stash or brand new fabric from the quilt shop, one of these methods is perfect for you.

This $7.97 value is included for FREE with your order of Round Robin Renaissance.

 

Bonus #2
How to Sew Half-Square Triangles
(Value $7.49 Yours FREE when you order Round Robin Renaissance)

Half Square Triangle

Did you know that there are at least 5 different ways to sew half-square triangles? You will learn all of them in this bonus report. Written in the same step-by-step format, this fully-illustrated report will take the mystery out of each method.

You will see exactly how to cut your fabric and how to sew the pieces so you end up with a perfect square made up of two triangles. This $7.49 value is included for FREE with your order of Round Robin Renaissance.

The price for all of these is a low $26.95. If you would like speedy shipping, there is an additional small charge. (Just enter 1 next to the shipping charge when you get to the order page.) Our free shipping is via Media Mail which may take a week or two. International orders pay just an additional $9.50 for Global Priority shipping. Order yours today, and be assured of having this new quilting treasure in your hands for your summer quilting.

Can't wait to get your hands on this great resource and fantastic Bonus Reports? Click here, quick!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

p.s. Stephanie made the yellow, pink and turquoise Pinwheel block.

p.p.s. These resources should go quick – there’s so much value in this package, so hurry before the remaining 24 are gone, and you have to wait for a new order to arrive! Click here to get your copy of Round Robin Renaissance delivered to your maibox so you can get started immediately creating your heirloom.