Saturday, August 31, 2019

Desire to Inspire - August Challenger - Meet Mary Crowther


Meet Mary Crowther- She took on the challenge of using "Shoe Love is True Love” by Kate Mawdsley in the month of August 2019.

My name is Mary Crowther and I  live in the beautiful Walla Walla Valley on a quiet street.  Summertime is the best with rolling hills of vineyards, wheat, and bluegrass crops. I  love all the trees and old houses.  There are three college/universities nearby.

In my big family, there is always something happening.  I kinda like Baseball and the Walla Walla Sweets have done pretty good this year. My family is scattered from Zillah to Richland & Kennewick to Wyoming and Missouri. One of our 22 grandchildren lives in Ohio. I  love when one of the faraway families come to visit,  everybody wants to get together. 

I grew up under a Quilt. When my grandma visited our home in Moses Lake, Washington, my mother would invite the church ladies to come and quilt. My job under there was to not bump the quilt and to thread the needles. They mostly did whole cloth quilts made of tricot and brushed nylon.  A quilting design drawn on plastic sheeting was traced onto the tricot. Quite the process. My mom worked so I loved when grandma came. I made my own first quilt in high school (the 1970's) so I could have a quilt to take to college. A flannel rail fence, cut with scissors and a cereal box template.  We tied it with colored yarn. Pieced quilts at our house were mostly tied, too many seams to poke the needle through. I  took my first quilt class after the invention of rotary cutters at the Hancock Fabrics in Pasco. Jo Fox was my mentor/teacher.  Pasco was a 45-minute drive from our home in Mesa, Washington. 

I'm a Traditional Quilter but love the novelty fabrics for fussy-cutting. I love designing my projects in EQ8. I got my EQ program when I was a McCall's Quilt Design Star in 2011. I'm 62 years young and am teaching my granddaughters to use EQ and make quilts at our annual "Quilting Grandma Camp". 2019 was our third year.

I belong to two guilds,  Walla Walla Valley Quilt Guild and the Tri-City Quilters Guild. I joined the second after entering their quilt shows for many years. Our local quilt show is coming up in September. The festival committee,  not the guild, sponsors it. I volunteer with the guild setting up and working at the front entry and guild table. I have gone on retreats and met Brady Pettit through the sew-ins, we wear our tiaras and call it tiara-time.

We are lucky to have five shops within a 1/2 hour drive.  I have taught classes for Josh & Tara at Walla Walla Sew, Vac and Spas. My quilt buddy, Lynn Wilson has a little shop behind her home in College Place. I have learned a lot from her. 

I learned to longarm on a Gammill with Suzanne Young around 2005.  I got 'Betsy', my Viking Mega Quilter 18-8 in 2014. She's computerized. 

I started my blog in 2008. It was after my Dream Job, working and teaching BOM (Block of the Month) at Hancock Fabrics ended, the store closed. August is my Blog-o-Versary. I blog about 3 times a week, linking to Design Wall Monday and One Monthly Goal. Usually on MWF.  

In my spare time, I read books about quilting, lol. My favorite authors are Jennifer Chiaverini,  Maries Bostwick, Ann Hazelwood, Arlene Sachitano, Sandra Dallas & Emilie Richards. I have a bit of Quilter's ADD.  I have made way more quilts than beds, windows, and walls in my house. Bought a lot more fabric than I can ever use. Like My favorite Quilty T-Shirt says, "To quilt or not to quilt? DUH!"

Mary's Projects Made with "Shoe Love is True Love"






Shoe Love is True Love Quilt #1


Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Desire to Inspire September - Looking for a Challenger!



"Irish Blessing" by Janet Rae Nesbitt of One Sister Designs is a 22-SKU collection that is sure to please! It features tossed angels, sunshine and moonbeams, halos, and swirly stars. PLUS there is a 24" x 44" angel panel, as well as a FREE quilt project.  Ships in September 2019.⁣

In this month's Desire to Inspire Challenge, the winner will receive this collection to make something great. The caveat is... it MUST BE made in the month of September, and pictures of your finished project(s) must be provided to us by the end of the month. Along with your picture and bio, too, of course. 

Are you ready to take on this challenge? 

Send an email to jennifer@jaftex.com to put your name in the hat!

Get Quilting- Home is Best Bundle Giveaway


Janet Rae Nesbitt's, "One Crazy Sister Club II" premieres in January 2020. In celebration of the upcoming launch, we are giving away a FREE bundle of her fabric. Make sure to read the entire blog post for more details on One Crazy Sister Club II.

Giveaway Details

Home is the starting place of love, hope, and dreams. Add a little comfort to your quaint space with "Home is Best" by Janet Rae Nesbitt. Featuring beautiful yarn stripes, tonals, and more. Additionally, there is one FREE quilt project available for download. IN QUILT SHOPS NOW!


Home is Best Quilt #1

Additional Club Details

Have you signed up your quilt shop to join "One Crazy Sister Club II" from Janet Rae Nesbitt? Premiering in January 2020, here is a sneak peek of the eight free small quilt patterns exclusively designed by Janet that will be available to club members only.

Featuring the "Best of Days" Collection by Janet Rae Nesbitt

Open Hearted - 24" x 24"

Spooling Around - 42" x 42"

In Full Bloom - 33" x 33"

Watch Over Me - 27" x 27"

Cats Are Angels Too - 31" x 31"

Hole in the Barn Door - 31-1/2" x 31-1/2"

How Does Your Garden Grow - 42" x 58"

Now I Know My ABC's 30" x 36" 








Monday, August 26, 2019

Get Quilting - Ghostly Glow Town Bundle Giveaway

"Ghostly Glow Town" by Shelly Comisky of Simply Shelly Designs. You won't want to miss this collection with its special "glow in the dark" feature! Includes one FREE quilt project that is available for download. IN QUILT SHOPS NOW!



Ghostly Glow Town Quilt #1

Monday, August 19, 2019

Get Quilting - Buttermilk Autumn Bundle Giveaway

"Buttermilk Autumn" by Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin. This 21-SKU collection has oak leaves, dot weaves, bud vines, and more! Additionally, there are two FREE quilt projects available for download. IN QUILT SHOPS NOW!
Buttermilk Autumn Quilt #1

Buttermilk Autumn Quilt #2

Monday, August 12, 2019

Get Quilting - Autumn Time Bundle Giveaway

"Autumn Time" by Color Principle is a 15-SKU collection that features tossed leaves and flowers, plaid scroll, and a banner panel with a beautiful fall, color palette. IN QUILT SHOPS NOW!⁣


Autumn Time Quilt #1

Autumn Time Table Set

Monday, August 5, 2019

Get Quilting - Wine Night Bundle Giveaway

Life is too short to drink bad wine, so why not have a stylish wine bag too? "Wine Night" by Mary Beth Baker is a 15-SKU collection that features tossed grapes, corks, and wine seals. PLUS there are two FREE projects: a table set and a wine bag.  IN QUILT SHOPS NOW!

Wine Night Table Set

Wine Night Wine Bag