As a big fan of Elizabeth's blog, Oh Fransson!, I was thrilled to be a part of the blog tour that Stash Books is sponsoring for her new book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork. It's an absolutely gorgeous book that does not disappoint! These are some of my favorite projects...
The best part of hosting part of the blog tour for me is getting to interview Elizabeth about the book and her quilt making process. Read on for the mini interview with Elizabeth...
Q: A lot of our readers are very seasoned quilters. Do you think there is something for the more experienced quilter to be gained from your book?
EH: Well, I always think it’s interesting to see another quilter’s designs and compositional choices so, in that regard, I suppose it might be interesting to a more experienced quilter. Because I’m self-taught, I also talk about some less-orthodox methods that may be of interest to more conventional quilters looking for another perspective.
Q: I noticed that you pieced and machine quilted all of the quilts in your book, which seems like a superhuman feat to me! Between the book and your blog projects, why do you choose to quilt them yourself versus sending them out for long arm quilting?
EH: I guess I felt that it would be disingenuous for me to write a book telling others how easy it is to make a quilt at home, without actually making all my quilts at home. I also chose to quilt everything in the book in a uniform and very basic style that I thought it would be easier for readers to duplicate.
Q: Have you considered getting into long arm quilting? What do you consider to be the main pros and cons between long arm and machine quilting?
EH: Long-arm quilting is an amazing craft in and of itself. I think it can produce beautiful, polished results that may be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve on a home machine. It’s no wonder than many quilters eventually find using a standard machine to be too limiting and move on to using long-arm machines. I can definitely see myself investing in a long-arm setup in the future!
That said, I don’t consider long-arm quilting to be especially accessible for the average quilter, especially for beginners. For starters, it’s expensive. It can also involve sending ones work away to an unknown third party, which can be scary.
Really though, I just think there’s a lot to be said for completing an entire project oneself. Most quilters aren’t out to win any competitions. I think most of us are mainly interested in having fun, expressing ourselves creatively, and making something useful with our hands. For those ends, I think quilting on home machines is a perfectly sensible approach.
Q: Ever since I started following your blog, I've been consistently amazed that you find time to complete so many projects. What is your secret to being so productive? What do you enjoy doing when you aren't sewing or quilting?
EH: It’s funny. People are constantly telling me this, and yet I always feel like I don’t get enough done. I guess my secret is that I don’t do a whole lot else!
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS: TERESA, LINNEA, AND JOANNA!
Now it's time for the giveaway! Actually, it's giveaways plural because we couldn't leave it at just one. We have three prizes for three lucky commenters:
Stash Books is giving away a copy of Elizabeth's book to one lucky commenter. Elizabeth picked out our Quilter's Candy Solid Stack for another winner, and we've added our Essential Bright Thread Set for a third winner. Just leave a comment and you're entered to win. I'll announce the winners next Monday. (Contest closes at Midnight PST Sunday.)
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS: TERESA, LINNEA, AND JOANNA!
Nov 9, 2010 at 6:00 PM Would love to get my hands on this book!
Nov 9, 2010 at 9:06 AM love to get the book!!
Nov 9, 2010 at 6:09 AM I would love the fabric or thread!
Nov 8, 2010 at 10:02 PM Thanks for the chance to win this book !
Nov 8, 2010 at 3:36 PM Great interview and book!
Nov 8, 2010 at 7:16 AM Thanks for both the interesting blog and the giveaway.
Nov 8, 2010 at 4:38 AM I was interested in her commments about quilting her own as opposed to sending them out for long arm service. It is costly, so I've just started experimenting with my machine to do more at home quilting. The book looks great!
Nov 8, 2010 at 3:50 AM The colours are awesome and the combination's are inspiring.
Nov 8, 2010 at 12:58 AM Lovely giveaway, lovely blog!
Nov 8, 2010 at 12:30 AM The more I look at the book the more I would like to have one.
Nov 7, 2010 at 8:18 PM The more I hear about this book, the more I like it. It's going on my wish list whether I win or not!
Nov 7, 2010 at 6:42 PM I can't wait to get my hands on this book in person. Thanks for the chance!
Nov 7, 2010 at 6:02 PM what nice prizes for your winners- a quilter can never have too many ideas, too much fabric or too many kinds of thread. Thanks for the opportunity to win such great prizes.
Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna
Nov 7, 2010 at 5:42 PM Thanks so much for the opportunity to win Elizabeth's book (I'm a huge fan of hers) and the other goodies!
Nov 7, 2010 at 5:28 PM Love your colorful quilts! I'm always looking for new ideas. Quilting has taken over my life! hope I win 8)
Nov 7, 2010 at 5:18 PM great book.. thanks for letting us share in the excitement!! hope I win.. ;^)
Nov 7, 2010 at 4:18 PM What a colorful set of giveaways...oh, the things to be made with those combos :)
Nov 7, 2010 at 3:24 PM All of these giveaways are wonderful! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks! Regan
Nov 7, 2010 at 1:33 PM amazing! I totally want it. I'm just learning how to quilt right now I'm following your ninepatch tutorial.
Nov 7, 2010 at 12:04 PM what fabulous giveaways! the book is so amazing, and the threads and fabric are so yummy!!
i couldn't wait, and had to order the book asap, and i received it yesterday. i figure if i actually win a copy (which is pretty unlikely!), it'll be a great start to our new guild's library!
Nov 7, 2010 at 10:08 AM Love this book and the chance to win a copy. Would also love to win the fabric or threads.
Nov 7, 2010 at 8:01 AM I enjoy Elizabeth's blog and I, too have wondered how she gets so much accomplished! The book looks great and love the pretty fabrics and threads. Thanks
Nov 7, 2010 at 6:29 AM The more I see about this book the more I like about it. If I don't win one, I think it might go on my wish list.
Nov 7, 2010 at 6:18 AM Yay, thanks for the giveaway, i'm really looking forward to this book.
Nov 7, 2010 at 6:16 AM I'm new to using bright colors in my quilts. This book is giving me tons of inspiration!
Nov 7, 2010 at 5:23 AM Pretty fabric, fabulous book! Thanks for a chance to win!!
Nov 7, 2010 at 5:07 AM I've been waiting for another source of inspiration and here it is! A good book and great colors. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
Nov 7, 2010 at 12:54 AM I have been following this book's blog tour, and am loving all the new sites that I'm discovering! If I don't win this book, it'll definitely go on my Christmas list!
Nov 6, 2010 at 11:48 PM This book looks so amazing!!
Nov 6, 2010 at 8:26 PM I'm the most serious wanna be quilter I know and would love to have this book, the fabric and the thread! Any chance it could be all three? I spent the afternoon pooring over my newest catalog from Connecting Threads and this interview with Elizabeth Hartman is inspiring!
Nov 6, 2010 at 8:21 PM What a great concept for a book. I am loving those appliqued petals. Thanks for the giveaway.
Nov 6, 2010 at 7:57 PM Would love to have that book,fabric, or thread. i am a quilter of 15 years now and i love the blog as well. I have been following it for a while now. keep up the good work.
Nov 6, 2010 at 6:31 PM Those quilts are gorgeous! I'd love to own that book. And of course I love the fabrics and thread!
Nov 6, 2010 at 6:02 PM I am giddy with excitement! Thank-you!!
Nov 6, 2010 at 3:42 PM I love to read interviews with authors. Thanks!
Nov 6, 2010 at 1:55 PM Love your conversation with Elizabeth and can't wait to get her book. (free of course)
Nov 6, 2010 at 1:36 PM Exciting giveaway! Thanks!
Nov 6, 2010 at 11:45 AM This is a great giveaway & I'd love to win any of these prizes. Thanks for hosting.
Nov 6, 2010 at 10:51 AM Thanks for the great interview, and the giveaway! I have drooled over the Quilters Candy Packs for a long time. The book looks great.
- Mary, The Curious Quilter
Nov 6, 2010 at 10:40 AM Thank you for the giveaway. Would love to be included in the draw! Cheers, HeatherB.
Nov 6, 2010 at 8:00 AM All of the items look delicious! I would love to win anyone of them!
Nov 6, 2010 at 7:31 AM I would be happy with any of the prizes! Thanks for the giveaway!
Nov 6, 2010 at 7:15 AM Thank you for the review and a chance to win!
Nov 6, 2010 at 7:15 AM Oh those quilts look so pretty - I love the one with the leaves - now I know what to put on my Christmas wish list!
Nov 6, 2010 at 5:55 AM I discovered Elizabeth late last summer when searching for pattern to make a laptop sleeve for my daughter. Since then, I've turned a junk room into a sewing room, made the sleeve (turned out great because of the excellent instructions), hemmed three wide-skirted dresses, and started sewing some old quilt blocks together that I had pieced and put away a decade ago. And did I mention poring over Oh, Fransson! faithfully and dreaming of a modern stash? One of the most inspiring revelations for me is seeing how Elizabeth intersperses coordinating solids into her work, making it particularly beautiful and setting it apart like a jewel. I have Elizabeth's book on my Christmas wish-list, and I now have a place to put together those jewel-toned fabrics and threads. Thank you for the inspiration to get back into quilting and for the chance to win these can't-wait-to-get-started prizes!
Nov 6, 2010 at 2:08 AM My grandmother taught me how to sew and make quilts when I was 13. Those are memories I will always cherish. I love to quilt and I know this book will give me more ideas to make more quilts.Such beautiful colors and thank you for giving me a chance to win such great prizes.
Nov 6, 2010 at 1:43 AM Fantastic looking book - fingers crossed
Nov 5, 2010 at 10:30 PM OOOH! Can't wait to give this book as a Christmas gift to my budding quilter daughters. I'd have to include that adorable fabric stack and awesome thread set too. Christmas shopping...done!
Nov 5, 2010 at 3:44 PM Thank you for the chance to win such great prizes. I would love to receive the book.
Nov 5, 2010 at 2:54 PM The book sounds interesting. I love new ideas and could use it to teach the girl scout troop to quilt.