Thursday, July 11, 2019

Hello Again!


I think it might be time to introduce myself again. I have noticed quite a few new followers almost daily. While lots of you have been around forever (and I love you for it!) I'm also excited to welcome so many quilters who are 'new to me' perhaps?

A little bit about me... 

I've been quilting for almost 25 years! I learned how to quilt before my first baby was born, so I could make her a quilt, and I never stopped stitching! That baby is almost 22 now and her brothers are 20!

I started my pattern company Butterfly Threads Quilting in 2013 to share some original designs that friends had requested.

I thought it might be fun to have a quilt in a magazine, so I submitted quilts to QUILT, American Patchwork and Quilting, Fons and Porters Love of Quilting, Easy Quilts and Primitive Quilts and have been thrilled to see my projects in all of these magazines.

You might recognize my name from Craftsy (which is now Bluprint) because I was a content writer for them for over 5 years. I shared lots of tutorials and designed a block of the month for them. When Bluprint took over, I got canned along with everyone else. Or at least I guess I did, because I haven't heard back from them in several years. They are still repackaging and reposting much of my content, but at least they still slap my name on it.

I've published 2 books with C&T Publishing. SCRAP QUILT SECRETS was published in 2016 and STRIP QUILT SECRETS was published in 2018. And NO, I'm not currently working on another book, although I have several ideas I want to pursue.

Many of my patterns are currently distributed by Checkers, and I offer them wholesale and retail from my website.

I spend most of my time traveling around the country meeting awesome quilters and sharing all of my 'secrets' with them. I love teaching workshops and sharing my quilts with guilds and groups. You can see where I'll be by checking out my calendar here.

I became the proud owner of a Handi Quilter Amara longarm with PSP (Pro Stitcher Premium Computer for digital quilting). I am having so much fun learning all about what it can do. While I bought it with the idea of finishing more of my own quilts, I discovered that I love quilting for other people as well. Go HERE for information about having me quilt for you!

I work at a local quilt shop, Tiny Stitches on Wednesdays (when I'm in town) and I love seeing so many quilting friends there!

I'm a member of two local guilds. I will be designing another BOM (Block of the Month Program) again this year, starting in September. If you would like to see my recent block of the month programs and get FREE DOWNLOADS of the patterns, you can find them here. If you would like to share the program with your guild, please let me know and I'll send you more information. It's been so much fun for me to see guilds across the country (and Canada) sharing my current program. There's never any charge for these.

While I try to share lots of information, tutorials, and fun stuff here on the blog, I post most frequently to my Instagram and Facebook accounts. So follow me on social media for almost daily peeks into what I'm working on at the moment and to see what Boomer (a very spoiled Golden Retriever) Bailey (a sweet old black lab) and Buddy (a grumpy Lhasa Apso) are up to. But who's kidding, it's mostly about Boomer!

Blogging is a lot of work and takes more time than I wish it did, but it's worth it when I get to read your comments!

If you are a new follower, I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment telling me how you found me, and I'll draw a winner for a free download pattern of your choice. You don't have to be new to enter to win, but I would love to hear how you found me!

I will announce the winner on the 21st!

And no matter how you ended up here, WELCOME!

Diane

16 comments:

  1. Hello, I discovered you on Blogs referrals. I have been looking for when you are near the lower SE side of Michigan and hope to get into one of your classes. Love your work and designs. Medallion Quilt design was awesome.

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  2. You were a speaker at our Guild Meeting and I purchased your book and a few patterns and started following you. I am currently making 2 of your quilts - not exactly sure of the names, but the Summer Quilt you made for your son - I am making for my son - he requested Navy, Dark Purple and Gray. I'm also working on the pumpkin quilt and am almost finished. Next up is the Christmas one.

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  3. So sweet to read all about you again!! You are such a busy fun lady with lots of terrific ideas!!

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  4. Wow that is a LOT! I must have found you through the quilty blog world. I do love reading quilting blogs... when I'm not actually quilting!

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  5. Let me know when you have a pattern ready to test!

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  6. I cannot remember exactly how I found your blog but it was through a link on another blog. I enjoy reading it.

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  7. I can't remember how I ended up with a link to your blog but it has been in the last 3 or 4 months. When I dip into a new-to-me blog, I often go backwards in time to suss out the blogger's writing and quilting style. If it matches my own or inspires me in new ways, then I subscribe or follow along. I'm bad about commenting though, because it feels funny to start a conversation with a stranger. Perhaps I have to wait for an opening where I feel I have something worthwhile to add. Today was that day. I'm a Canadian quilter who spends way too much time on my screens watching what others produce and learning new techniques but not enough time practising what I want to learn.

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  8. It is great to read about your quilting history and everything you have done. I have no idea how I found you, followed a link from somewhere, but I have been following for awhile. I love reading your posts, but I have no idea if I have ever commented!

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  9. hi! i have absolutely no idea how i found your blog, but i follow it and enjoy all you ideas!!!thank for sharing

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  10. I follow you a short time and I think it was thru a blog hop for one of your books.

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  11. I can't remember when or how I met you--most likely from another blogger. Feels like I've been following you forever!
    Thanks!

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  12. Every time I check out blog posts I look at who that person follows and pick my favorite blog name and follow them! It's worked out so well, I have found so many interesting beautiful blogs that way and yours was one of them!

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  13. I’m not quite sure how I found you, but I’m glad I did! I love seeing your posts in my email inbox and am inspired to make more quilts!

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  14. I think I found you on on of many blog hops I've followed over the years. Thanks!!

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  15. i don't remember for sure, but we've been following each for a long time now I think.
    You sure get a lot done!

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  16. I follow you for some years! love your pattern and your QAL! Meet at Nantes was a great moment! hugs!

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I love to hear what you have to say, sadly, the spam has gotten ridiculous, so I will be approving comments from now on. I apologize for any inconvenience and I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!