We have a winner in the “Name the Kids” contest for the Christmas Morning Redwork.  They are Bobby and Sally!  Here’s block 4.  Bobby and Sally are saying their prayers before bed on Christmas Eve.

It was so fun reading through all of the suggestions and I thank everyone who left comments.  I chose the names Bobby and Sally because they are my brother and sister!  Now they’re tucked in bed, waiting for Christmas Morning!

The first person to suggest each name has won a Christmas Morning panel.  Thanks again to all who participated.

My latest fabric collection is called Christmas Morning.  It has this panel:

I know it’s a little hard to see, but as I get the blocks embroidered, I’ve been posting them on my Anna Lena Facebook page.  You can “Like” the page and you’ll see the blocks as I finish and post them.

The blocks tell a story.  The first one is darling kids mailing their letters to Santa.

In the second block, Santa has received their letter and is looking it over.

Meanwhile, the kids are decorating their house in preparation of Santa’s visit.

Now I think these children are just adorable, and I also think they need names!  So, will you please leave a comment with a suggestion for names for these two?  I’ll pick my favorite boys name and favorite girls name, and the winners (the first to suggest the name) will each receive a free Christmas Morning panel.  You have until March 17 to leave your comments!

Thank you all for your input on the layout for my String Pieced blocks.  It was so interesting to read all of your comments.  We’re a diverse group!  I’ve decided to go with the Offset Diamonds.

There were 116 comments.  I used a Random Number Generator.  The winning number was…………

Susan will be getting a package with 100 “strings” to start her on her own String Pieced Quilt!

Thank you all for your comments.

In June I posted a tutorial for String Piecing for A Quilt Block A Day.

Finally, I’ve finished 100 blocks.  Now I just have to decide how to put them together!

My first thought was to set them in a Chevron pattern.

It didn’t look as good on the design wall as it did in my mind, so I went more traditional, with X’s and O’s.

Hmmm……I’m liking that, but I just had to try one more setting.  I call this Exploding Diamonds.

Oh, wait!  Just one more…….  How about if I do Offset Diamonds!?!

Oh, too many decisions.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment and let me know your favorite setting.  I’ll enter your name in a drawing to be held November 28.  The winner will win 100 fabric strips to get you started on your own string pieced quilt!

We have a winner in the Name The Quilt Contest!

The winning suggestion was Pretty Maids All In A Row.  It was suggested several times, but Linda was the first—so she wins a kit to make her own Pretty Maids quilt.

I also used a random number generator to pick a second winner.  There were 138 entries.  The number generator chose #86, so a second quilt kit will go to Emilee in England!  Congratulations to both winners and thanks to all of you who left comments.  To order a kit of your own, CLICK HERE!

You know how it is when a co-worker’s great-nephew’s girlfriend is having a baby, and your co-worker comes to you because she “…knows you just LOVE to make quilts and it wouldn’t be too much trouble, would it, to make something for the little expected bundle of joy???”  So you’re looking for something quick, really quick, but not something that looks like you didn’t care.  That’s why I put together kits to make this super fast but super cute quilt.

As an experienced quilter, you know it’s just a matter of zipping those strips together.  The end result, though, is a very adorable (if I do say so myself!) quilt made with my Dolly Dear fabric collection.  I’m ready to add the kits to my web catalog, but I need a name for the quilt.  I want something that represents how easy this quilt is, and my pea brain keeps spitting out “Stripping With the Dollies.”  Yeah, I know, there’s just something wrong with that!  After all, they’re already in their underwear!

So, I’m turning to you for suggestions.  What would you name this quilt?  I’m going to give away two kits–one to the person that comes up with the winning name, and another one to a random commenter.  Here’s your chance to win!  Leave me a comment with your suggestion.  This should be fun!

Added July 31—Thanks to all who played along.  The contest is now over!  CLICK HERE to see a post about the winners.

I know it’s almost winter now, but I just have to share with you a wonderful new book written by my quilt-y friends Sally Bell and Susan Maw, Summer at the Lake Quilts.  Just look at the cover.  Does that say SUMMER, or what!?!

This book is full of great quilts, bags and projects, but more than that, the photography is stunning!  Susan and Sally had the projects for this book photographed on beautiful Swan Lake in Montana.  What a perfect setting to showcase this Alpine Lake Quilt.  This quilt, with it’s myriad shades of blue, really is reminiscent of the sun shimmering off the surface of a wind riffled lake.

And just look at these Water Lily Pillows!  Can’t you just imagine making these for a little girls room?  It would be so fun to pick out fabrics to match the room’s decor.

As I turn the pages of this book, I think, “Ah, this is my favorite quilt in the book.”  Then, I turn another page, and think, “No, THIS is my favorite quilt in the book.  I can’t quite choose between the Sunflower Picnic Blanket and the Meadowsweet Basket Quilt.  They’re both wonderful.  Here’s the Meadowsweet Basket Quilt.  I’m in love with the circle of forget-me-nots in the center of the quilt.

What would a summer at the lake be without a picnic, and what would a picnic be without ants?  Susan and Sally didn’t overlook a thing–they even have a Picnic Ant Pincushion pattern in the book!

But, hey!  I promised you a give-away!  Right now, Sally and Susan are giving away a copy of their book AND an ant pincushion.  All you have to do is click over to their blog and leave a comment.  Tell them Karen sent you!

HERE’S the link.  Good luck!

Wow!  445 people left comments on my blog for the Giveaway.  I was blown away!

The Random Number Generator picked number 47.  That means our lucky winner is Susan H.  Congratulations.  And thanks to everyone who played along.

I was delighted when Jodi at Pleasant Home emailed me and asked if I wanted to play along in her Scrappy Giveaway.  You bet I did.

More than scraps, I always accumulate bolt ends.  So, I’ve gathered up 3 yards of them, and some lucky winner is going to get them in the mail one of these days!

Just leave me a comment before November 17th.  I’ll add you to my email list, use a random number generator to pick a winner, box up the scraps and send them off to you.

Check out Jodi’s blog for more scrappy giveaways.

Time for a Give-Away.  I’ve written four quilting books, and I’d like to give away all four of them to one lucky winner.

Besides blogging, I also send a weekly newsletter.  If you leave a comment, I’ll add you to the newsletter list and put you in the drawing for the books.

The drawing will be August 15.  Good luck!