C&T Publishing – Stash Lab Quilts

Purr-fect Patchwork Blog Tour

August 27, 2021

Well, here we go! Welcome to my stop on the Purr-fect Patchwork blog tour featuring the projects you will find in my friend Pamela Morgan’s delightful new book Purr-fect Patchwork with C&T Publishing!

Full disclosure, I am not a current cat owner – but that didn’t disqualify me from joining the blog tour! (I do have a golden doodle named Winston and cats like me, so maybe I was just grand-fathered in or something.)

Whether you’re owned by a cat or just know someone who is, this book is full of adorable projects. One of the things I love about this book is the mix and variety of projects – quilting, appliqué, and embroidery. When it came time to pick one, I was thrilled to get to do one featuring wool appliqué because, well, Modern Wool, what can I say?

Here’s Pam’s version of the Cat Nap Pillow I chose, it’s delightful. Pam is multi-talented and she did all the photography in the book herself and it really is beautiful. Just imagining her setting up the photo shoots for all the projects is beyond me. When you see some of the settings you’ll see what I mean!

Cat Nap Pillow #1, photo courtesy of Pamela Morgan

Cat Nap Pillows 1 & 2, photo courtesy of Pamela Morgan

So The Cat Nap Pillow #1 it was! The scrappy low volume background was right up my alley of course and I had fun pulling those fabrics. And then when choosing my wool, I stuck with Pam’s original colors but went a bit brighter/darker only changing the color of my kitty. We have a neighborhood orange tabby visiting our yard so I went with two shades of orange for him.

There’s a Cat Nap Pillow #2 also but you’ll have to check out my fellow blog hostess Nichole Vogelsinger to see that one!

Here are my two quick tips for wool appliqué: first, when using fusible, group all the pieces you plan to cut from the same color close together when you trace your shapes like this…saves wool and helps keep you organized.

My second tip is to arrange your prepared wool pieces on the background on your ironing surface. This way you don’t have to risk your pieces shifting while carrying it from a table to your ironing board before they’re fused into place!

O.k., here it is! I think it turned out pretty good and it looks like it might have been made just for this spot in my studio. It matches that chair pretty purr-fectly! (I couldn’t resist.) I might just keep it there!

A blog hop isn’t complete without some PRIZES so let’s get to it!

2 WAYS TO WIN

To win an e-copy of Purr-Fect Patchwork, please leave a comment below telling me where you’re from and your cat’s name – or make up a good name for your hypothetical cat if you were to suddenly get one! ( No worries, the prize is an e-copy of the book, not a real cat!) Winners will be announced and contacted after the end of the Blog Tour, by August 30th.
For a chance to win a grand prize bundle from Pamela Morgan you must visit each of the blog tour stops and comment. Pam has a grand prize bundle of goodies for one lucky winner! Including her book and a bunch of sponsor goodies you won’t want to miss!

Want to buy your own copy of Purr-Fect Patchwork? Shop Here!

Purr-fect Patchwork Virtual Tour Schedule

Fri. August 20:

C&T Publishing | http://www.ctpub.com/blog/ | IG: @ctpublishing

Pamela Jane Morgan (that’s me!) | pammiejane.com/blog | IG: @pammiejane

Sat. August 21:

Sherri Noel | https://www.rebeccamaedesigns.com/ | IG: @rebeccamaedesigns (Chasing Dreams Quilt)

Shannon Fraser | https://shannonfraserdesigns.com/ | IG: @shannonfraserdesigns (Stabby Tabby Pincushion)

Sun. August 22:

Lorna McMahon | https://sewfreshquilts.com/blog | IG: @sewfreshquilts (Get Your Paws Off the Tablerunner)

Tracy Brittain Loyek | https://www.purplekatzquilting.com/blogs/news| IG: @purplekatzquilting (Purr-fect Pocket Tote)

Mon. August 23:

Natalie Santini | https://sewhungryhippie.com/blogs/tutorials | IG: @sewhungryhippie (Hiss and Make Up Bag)

Kaitlyn Howell | https://knotandthreaddesign.com/blog/ | IG: @knotandthread (Ziggy Kitty Quilt)

Tue. August 24:

Audrey Mann | https://www.theclothparcel.com/blog/ | IG: @theclothparcel (Just Kitten Around Pillow)

Charisma Horton | https://charismascorner.com/ | IG: @charismahorton (Feline Floral Quilt)

Wed. August 25:

Mollie Johanson | http://blog.molliejohanson.com/ | IG: @molliejohanson (Tale of Two Kitties Needle Book)

Corinne Sovey | https://www.corinnesovey.com/home/blog/ | IG: @corinne.sovey (Tuxedo Cat Wristlet)

Thu. August 26:

Melissa Averinos | https://yummygoods.com/blogs/yummy-goods-blog | IG: @melissaaverinos (Blooming Curiosity Quilt)

Jeni Gaston | https://woolenwillowdesigns.com/blogs/jeni-s-blog-at-woolen-willow-designs| IG: @jenifergaston (Whisker Away Quilt)

Fri. August 27:

Tonya Alexander | http://stashlabquilts.com | IG: @stashlabquilts(Cat Nap Pillow #1)

Nichole Vogelsinger | https://wildboho.com/ | IG: @wildboho (Cat Nap Pillow #2)

Sat. August 28:

Stacey Day | http://www.staceyinstitches.com | IG: @staceyinstitches(Laser Cat Quilt)

Amanda Niederhauser |http://www.jedicraftgirl.com | IG: @jedicraftgirl (Self Pawtrait Softie)

So that’s it! I hope you’ll click through all the stops for your chance to win some great prizes from Pam! This project was so fun to make, the book is beautiful, and I’m sure you’ll love it!

Happy stitching,

Tonya

My version of Cat Nap Pillow #2, little knit mousy made by my friend Val!

Modern Wool has arrived!

March 28, 2021

It’s finally here! I’m so excited to have my hands on my first copy of Modern Wool: 12 Projects to Get You Stitching in real life and ready to share with all of you.

Earlier this week I did my first-ever video – opening the box on my first delivery! You can check it out on Facebook here. And a shorter version on Instagram here. Added bonus – Our lovable Winston joins me in the video, too. ❤️🐾

While you’re there, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. I’ve been sharing more photos and details there that don’t make it onto the blog. A quick glance of the blog posts will assure you that it is not my most frequent mode of communication!

One of the best things about this week with the book coming out has been the enormous amount of lovely comments and support I’ve gotten from everyone! You are all so wonderful and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them all.

Self-doubt is the killer of creativity and I am definitely not immune. My quilt motto has always been to simply make what I love and love what I make but putting things out into the marketplace is next level when it comes to wondering what the heck I think I’m doing!

I’d love to share some wool inspiration with you in Modern Wool, to encourage you to give wool appliqué a try, or expand your ideas of what wool appliqué can be in your own projects. There are several ways to get your very own copy now!

Go to your favorite local quilt shop (or give them a call) and ask them to get you a copy! Ask them to stock it for your friends, too. They will appreciate your business!
Order it on my website – and let me know if you would like your copy signed!
Order it at C&T Publishing and check out all of the other great titles they offer while you are there!
You can also find it on Amazon – be sure to put in a review there, too!

With that, I’ll close out this post with another thing I enjoyed this week – this beautiful congratulatory delivery from the kind and creative folks at C&T. Thank you for everything!

Happy stitching,

Tonya

Pre-ordering for Modern Wool!

February 21, 2021

We’re a step closer! I’m happy to share that you can now pre-order your copy of my upcoming release of Modern Wool: 12 Projects to Get You Stitching right on my website. If you’d like a signed copy, be sure to drop me note in the comments on your order. Anticipated date is currently March 25, 2021!

You can also pre-order a copy directly with C&T Publishing or – and this is a BIG ONE – go to your favorite local quilt shop – ask them to preorder a copy for you and help support their shop! There are so many ways to use your consumer dollars in important ways, especially now while so many small businesses are struggling.

There are 12 projects, but there is a double bonus because I featured both a low-volume and a dark version of every project! Thinking about how we see color and how colors appear on dark or light backgrounds, all became part of my exploration of wool along with combining wool with modern, mixed cotton fabrics for all of the backgrounds. I think it’s fascinating how the exact same color in the applique shapes can change appearance, all by just changing the background! Here’s an example of what I mean:

This is the project called “Rest” in both the dark and light versions. It’s my take on traditional penny wool projects and the wool pennies are exactly the same in both versions. The only difference is in the background fabrics I chose. Colors can appear to recede or advance with a simple change in the background creating so many wonderful design opportunities in your projects! Here are some more quick images of some of the projects:

I’ll definitely be sharing more images and details about each of the 12 projects as we count down to publication but most importantly wanted to share that you can now pre-order your copy now.

Be well my friends and happy stitching,

Tonya

New book release for 2021!

January 9, 2021

Let’s just pretend 2020 never happened, o.k.? I am only looking forward – and to the most exciting thing – a new book release coming in March 2021!

I couldn’t be more excited to share my newest book project with you. It’s bright, it’s beautiful, and every project just makes me smile!

Reinvent wool appliqué with bold projects

Take wool appliqué and make it bright, bold, and modern. Contemporary quilters can now experience the joy and satisfaction of working with wool and traditional quilt blocks and techniques, but with a fresh twist on color combination and design choices. These 12 projects are made with beginners in mind and include helpful step-by-step commentary. Beautiful, forgiving, mobile, satisfying, a few of our favorite things about wool hand appliqué projects.

12 projects each with two colorway options (light and dark backgrounds)
Modern aesthetic for table runners, wall hangings, pillows, needle books, pincushions, and more
Perfect for wool appliqué beginners! Includes tools, techniques, and tips

Modern Wool: 12 Applique Projects to Get You Stitching is being brought into the world with my partners at Stash Books and C&T Publishing and will be available at the end of March 2021. Pre-order information will be available soon!

Be well friends,

Tonya