Modern Traditional #DSTTchallenge

[Details in this post were updated 4/15/14 at 9:50am EDT]

Have you heard about the Dear Stella & Timeless Treasures Modern Traditional  mini quilt challenge?

Be sure to share your progress shots on Instagram using #DSTTchallenge and check out their blogposts for all of the entry details.

Since my love of mini quilts isn't a secret, and I do tend to favor modern traditional styles, they asked me to be a guest judge for the challenge. And that does sound like it could be a lot of fun!

The winner gets to take home this scrumptious stack of fat quarters half yard cuts from Dear Stella and Timeless Treasures! The prize is 60 half yard cuts of Timeless Treasures Sketch and Dear Stella Mini Confetti Dots, for a total of 30 yards of fabric!

I'll make my own Modern Traditional mini quilt using some of these fun fabrics. Keep an eye out for my mini quilt reveal when the challenge wraps up!

Tell us in the comments if you're working on a #DSTTchallenge quilt - or if you're inspired to get working on one now!

© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

Shimmer Blog Hop

I'm a part of Jennifer Sampou's bloghop for her new fabric line, Shimmer, from Robert Kaufman. Shimmer is arriving in stores now and we're sharing some cool project ideas on this bloghop about how to use Shimmer when you bring it home.

Shimmer comes in a some great pre-cuts, like charm packs and roll ups. And I love working with pre-cuts! And I love giving away charm packs (hint hint ;-). Keep scrolling to find out how you can get your hands on one.

The beauty of working with Shimmer is that it's a great fabric line inspired by nature, with just the right touch of modern sparkle. The crew at Robert Kaufman thought it was the perfect compliment to my Day Break pattern. They had a trunk show sample pieced by Ramona Rose and quilted by Angela Walters. They sent it over to me so I could see it and play with it for a while.

Angela's quilting always leaves me impressed and inspired.

Day Break is my first full sized quilt that uses both my Hex N More and Sidekick rulers. And there are no Y seams!

Of course, there was some cuddling...

My Day Break quilt pattern is fat quarter friendly (and did I mention there are no Y seams to it!). You could win this beautiful bundle of Shimmer to make your very own Day Break quilt!

Details on how to enter the giveaways are below.

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The Rules to win the Shimmer Fat Quarter bundle from Jennifer Sampou

1. Go check out her bloghop intro post.

2. Subscribe her mailing list (in the left margin).

3. Leave a comment on her blog & here (or on another bloghop stop).

4. Simple as that!!

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The Rules to win the Shimmer Charm Pack from me

1. Leave ONE comment to enter. Make sure your contact info is in your profile or that you leave it in the comment.

2. Tell us why you love charm packs. What are your favorite projects to make with charm squares? Or what does Shimmer inspire you to make?

3. Comment entries must be left on this blog, www.jaybirdquilts.com, to be valid. Comments sent via E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media will not be counted.

4. Simple as that!!

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You have until Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at 9pm PST to enter.

© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

Make a block for our wedding quilt!

You are invited to make a block for our wedding quilt.

Lawrence & I made the first two blocks.

About our wedding quilt: A huppah is the canopy a Jewish couple stands under during the wedding ceremony. It can be a sheet, a family heirloom tapestry, or a quilt! It is held up by four poles and it symbolizes the home that we will build together. I am going to make a quilt for our huppah, naturally. It is going to be large and I need 222 small triangle blocks to make it. That's where you come in.
Details 1. Make a triangular block that finishes at 6" tall. (See Template for more info.) You can also use the Creative Grids 60° triangle ruler that is used in my Chopsticks, Varsity & Ballerina quilt patterns to cut a 6 1/2" tall triangle. I took fabrics with me to Sew Down in Portland and came home with some blocks. These are the first 15 blocks:

2. Piece your block using any technique. Please avoid adding embellishments or appliqué.

You can use my HexNMore, Sidekick or Mini HexNMore to create a triangle as shown in these blocks.

You can make a square or rectangle using straight piecing and trim it to the shape of a triangle as shown in these blocks. (Or you can send me the larger piece and I can trim it down.)

You can create a block with improv techniques using straight lines or curves.

The possibilities are endless!!

3. Use any mix of the 20+ Kona Solids shown in the image below. Please do not add any print fabrics or other solids to your block. We want the quilt to have a uniform look.

Our friends over at Pink Chalk Fabrics have graciously agreed to help out all of the sewists who want to participate and don't have the colors on hand to whip up a block. You can find a small, coordinating fabric bundle from the Kona palate we're using in their shop.

4. Sign the back of the block in the seam allowance with your first + last name + the date you made it.

Here are our signatures on the back of the first blocks.

Our social media hashtag for the wedding is #lawlovesjulie. We would love it if you shared your finished block on Instagam using #lawlovesjulie in your comment.
5. Mail the block to me by April 30th.  Julie Herman
Jaybird Quilts LLC
Po Box 131201
Carlsbad, CA 92013 

This is the "plan" for the quilt. In the center I'm going to make a medallion. It will be surrounded by a ring of 54 blocks. The final ring then contains 168 blocks. 

Details 1. Make a triangular block that finishes at 6" tall. (template link here) 2. Piece using any technique. (Please avoid adding embellishments or appliqué.) 3. Use any mix of the 20+ Kona Solids listed above. 4. Sign the back of the block in the seam allowance (first name + last name + date made) & share a photo of it online with #lawlovesjulie. 5. Mail the block to me by April 30th.

Please mail your finished block by 4/30/14 to:

Julie Herman 

Jaybird Quilts LLC 

Po Box 131201 

Carlsbad, CA 92013 

We can't wait to see what you will make! Thank you so much for being a part of our celebration!

© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

365 to go - #lawlovesjulie wedding countdown!

Our wedding is exactly 365 days from today!

We're so excited!

I promise to keep the wedding buzz on the blog to a minimum, and I promise not to leave you completely in the dark and wondering "what's up with them?"

A couple of weeks ago my amazing brother came down to San Diego to take our Engagement Photos. Here are some of our favorite photos and outtakes.

We started out at La Jolla Shores right before sunset.

My brother had a GoPro attached to his hat. He had it set to take a photo every 5 seconds and caught some fun moments with it.

We love this pier. We actually shot the cover of Park Bench from the top of it!!

We had to take a Toes in the Sand photo too!

My brother kept telling us to move our feet a bit this way... a bit that way... little did we know he was just snapping photos of us and not our feet at that point!

My brother has a way to capture me like nobody else. 

Right before sunset we practiced a few dance moves.

It got chilly so out came my tula pink neptune bee quilt.

This photo was from my brother's GoPro and it is one of my absolute favorites!!

We then headed out to dinner.

We love frequenting places that get to know us and make us surprise deserts like this one!

Sometimes I'm just a goofball!! (but hey Law is too!)

The next morning we headed to Torrey Pines just after sunrise.

This one is a favorite too!

Love the sunburst!

Lastly we rocked our Stately Type shirts at Legoland.

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I am making a quilt for our wedding and would LOVE for you to be a part of it. Below are the first few blocks for the quilt. I'll do a post in a couple of days with all the details of how you can make a block.

The yummy Kona solids colors for the quilt!

© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/