Blog Tour--Star Struck Quilts

--Sept. 1--Bidding is now closed on this post. You can comment if you want but you won't be entered in the drawing. Winners announced soon.--

Note--my "official" blog tour day is the 26th but I'm flying out early on the 26th (to the same area Barbara Cline is from!) so this will be late on the 25th instead.

The last time I was in Virginia, my sister took me to this to-die-for quilt shop not far from her place in Dayton. I started talking with the capable lady behind the counter and found out she is Barbara Cline, one of a flock of creative sisters whom I admire for their astonishing creativity and envy for their practice of getting together once a year for a week of sewing. Imagine, a whole week of sewing with your mom, sisters, and nieces.

As I chatted with Barbara I found out that she was in the process of having a book published. She handed me a flyer. “Star Struck Quilts,” it said, with a photo of a star quilt in--appropriately--a striking black and red.

And now Barbara and her book are on a blog tour, and this is stop number four. I’ll list the others at the end so you can browse there and learn a bit more and register for the giveaways.

Yes, giveaways. If you leave a comment on this post, I’ll put your name in a hat and you might be a winner. 1st place winners will receive Star Struck Quilts. 2nd place winners will receive a Pen-style Chaco liner, Flower head pins, and Best Press spray). At the end of the blog tour someone will win RJR fabric and $25.00 gift certificate from Patchwork Plus.

As I scrolled through a copy of Star Struck Quilts online, I kept exclaiming, “Oh my stars!” until I suddenly realized what I was saying and felt a bit silly. But this is a book for exclamations. The quilts are stunning, and the designs get more complex as the book goes along.

Here are a few questions I asked Barbara—

Who is the book written for? (beginners/medium skilled/advanced? Or a combination?)

It starts out on the beginner level teaching one how to make a simple star. Each star gets a little harder with new techniques being taught. Also as you continue through the book the piecing gets smaller and smaller with each star. With each pattern you learn techniques, steps and tips as you continue throughout the book.

How did you learn to trust your eye for color and design?

When picking fabric for a quilt I first pick a print with the number of colors I may need in that particular quilt. I call this my main fabric. This fabric is then my guide to pick the rest of the fabrics. I will pick different values and tones of colors that are in this main fabric and needed for the particular quilt I am working on. There are times when I will toss the main fabric and not even use it in the quilt. Since I work at a fabric store often I will get my selection approved by another employee and get their input.

Why stars, as opposed to log cabins, applique, etc?

Lone stars have intrigued me since I started piecing quilts. When I learned I could create designs inside the lone star my fascination grew and grew. That is how the book Star Struck Quilts began to take shape.

Do you feel that quilt-making has changed a lot since you first got involved? If so, in what ways? What changes do you expect in the future?

Yes, it has changed quite a bit. Machine quilting has really taken off and art quilts have really gone places. As far as the future I really don't know but I feel traditional quilts will always hold a special place in peoples hearts.

Here's the official book blurb--

Mix ‘n match blocks and center stars for up to 27 different quilts

This book includes complete instructions for 9 wall hangings, which can then be transformed into 27 bed-sized quilts. Barbara shares many valuable life lessons and shows you how to achieve the fine workmanship found in the quilts made in her Mennonite community.

Barbara Cline as been sewing since the fifth grade. She comes from a long line of quilters with a strong heritage based on Mennonite traditions. She resides in the Shenandoah Valley community of Bridgewater, Virginia.

Julia Graber August 23

Polly the Patchworker August 24

Quilters Corner August 25

Dorcas Smucker August 26

Canton Village Quilt Works August 27

Deb Girotti August 28

Spun Sugar Quilts August 29

Quilternity August 30

Burgundy Buttons August 31

Little Lady Patchwork Sept 1

Tazzie Quilts Sept 2