Amy Butler's Blog Tour and Giveaway

Amy Butler's Piece Keeping

20 Stylish Projects that Celebrate Patchwork

I am thrilled that San Francisco based Chronicle Books invited me to host the blog tour for Amy Butler's new book - Piece Keeping. During our recent trip to India I had first hand experienced her passion for crafts and attention to details. Needless to say I was curious to see the projects in the book and try my hand at making one or two myself.

In her book Amy explores two classic patchwork motifs - Log Cabin and Triangles. She shares 20 projects finished with hand applique, beadwork, embroidery and hand quilting for any style and design enthusiastic.

Choose sewing and patchwork projects or design your home with  headboards,  pillows or a lamp shades. For those of you who are into personal styling, there are projects including patchwork dress and scarves or statement jewelry like belt, necklace or appliqued tribal hand cuffs.

Each chapter is filled with in depth instructions, full patterns for every project and detailed information about themes and techniques that inspired the projects.

As soon as I saw the pictures of Charming Garland, I knew I had to make it. Once I started selecting fabrics and making those circles, I didn't want to stop!

Step by step instructions made it easy to follow the pattern and execute the design.  

It's all in the details! How fun are these tassels?

And here are my niece's charming six months old twins! I think the garland will look perfect in their nursery.

Check out this video on my Instagram to see it swirl. What a clever design! They will be certainly entertained by it.

Now you can make one too!

Chronicle Books is giving away a copy of the book. Also, you have a chance to win  Amy’s fabrics from FreeSpirit, and ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons. I am going to pick three winners on 25th July.  All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section.

And that's not all! You can have multiple chances to win any of the three items in the giveaway.

Visit the blogs below to learn new ways to use your scrap fabric - also, each blog post will offer a chance for you to win a copy of the book, Amy’s fabrics from FreeSpirit, and ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons.
   

July 12, 2016 – The Root Connection

Project: Charming Garland

July 13, 2016 – Suzy Quilts

Project: Pyramid Pillows

July 14, 2016 – Rock Paper Scissors

Project: Dreamweaver Wall Art

July 15, 2016 – 100 Billion Stars

Project: Statement Necklaces

July 16, 2016 – Carrie Bloomston

Project: Talisman Necklace

July 17, 2016 – Late Night Quilter

Project: Tribal Cuffs

July 18, 2016 – Crimson Tate

July 19, 2016 – A Gathering of Stitches

Project: Embellished Infinity Scarf

July 20 – Heather Jones Studio

Project: Improv Pillows

July 21 – Make It In Design

Project: Illumined Lamp Shades

 GOOD LUCK!

Re-Entry

Hello friends!
 
Amy and I had the best time traveling together. Our travels came with the challenges of being on the road for so long but I can say this for both of us, our lives are richer with the experiences we have had with people we met. We had been talking about this tour and planning it for so long, it's hard to believe we are on the other side of it.

I am happy to be back to our new home. This little guy greeted me with same enthusiasm as my husband did.

He sits on the branch and sings his songs. No matter when I look up, he is there!

Along with my husband and this guy, moving boxes have greeted me. Lots and lots of them. I have been unpacking since the day I got here but seems like I haven't made a headway. Traveling from a world half way around the globe requires at least a week to recover from jet lag. I am also recovering from a cold and a bad throat infection I had during the last week of my stay in Mumbai. It's a slow go but I intend to keep at it until I get tired of it.

Meanwhile, leaving you with few images of India. Enjoy!

Madhubani Paintings on the walls of our hotel room.

On the grounds of once a palace, now a hotel.

A block carver/artist at Anokhee Textile Museum

I wish you all could see him working in person. It was an incredible thing to watch him carve intricate designs on a wood block.

Ruins outside of Amer Fort

Jaipur is famous for its blue pottery

I wanted to bring home every single piece. I settled with one!

Window carving at the City Museum in Jaipur.

I have been posting pictures on The Root Connection fb page. If you have missed them, link is on the sidebar.

Okay, time to get back to my boxes!
Sujata

Textile Tour to India

The day is almost here!

Tomorrow I get on the plane to visit my mom and then off to an adventure of a lifetime with Amy Butler.

Back Story -

I met Amy and David Butler at Houston Fall Market in 2014.
I shared my book and quilts, we talked for a while.
I met up with her again that evening... Few of her pals were also there.

After a picture or two she said, "After meeting you we have been thinking all day of may be traveling to India."

To which I responded, "Seriously? Can I go with you?"

Amy asked, "Really? Would you consider coming with us? We'd love that!"

In my head of course I was saying, "This is not happening.. Someone please pinch me!"

Few days later, when I came home from Houston, I had a note from Amy in my inbox about planning our trip together. I knew she was as sincere to go on this trip as me wanting to visit my mom. 
 
We have spent many months planing for upcoming two weeks in India. Two of us are traveling to Jaipur, Rajasthan and Kutch, Gujarat for an unforgettable experience. We will be exploring the palaces and markets, forts and mud huts, folk artists and museums, meet ralli quilters and embroidery artists, block printers to learn from the best. All to plan out a textile tour for early 2017.

Last year's visit to India is still fresh in my head. I am thrilled to be going home again.

Those of you who have been asking about a possible tour to India, Stay tuned!

Follow us if you will on this colorful journey. I will be posting pictures on this blog, on instagram @therootconnection and on fb www.facebook.com/TheRootConnection

Sujata

Winner of Cultural Fusion Quilts and Update on Lyme

My plan was to draw a winning number last night at midnight but time slipped away. 

Since I am over half a day late, without further due...

 
The winner of my book Cultural Fusion Quilts is PK Sews.

Here is what she said.

''Ohh. Your quilt is beautiful. I have an Amy Butter layer cake and a few fat quarters, and I haven't figured out what to do with them yet. I would love to make a quilt like this. I like the design decision you made about the quilting. Stippling in the background to give dimension to the lattice gives this quilt such a rich surface! I like Cap 1. Thanks for sharing this, and for the chance to win your beautiful book!''

Congratulations PK Sews!!!
Please send me an email with your address so I can send you a signed copy of my book.

Now the second good news!
My tests results came clear of Lyme infection. It has been long couple of months. I am relieved beyond explanation.

Thank you all for your sending good thoughts and wishes.

Happy Sewing!
Sujata

A new quilt with Bright Heart by Amy Butler and a Giveaway!

This Giveaway is Now Closed!

The first time I ever used fabrics by Amy Butler was back in 2005. I wasn't so much into buying fabrics and definitely not aware of designers and manufacturers. I would see fabrics I like, buy in minimum yardage allowed by the fabric shops and mix them with my own stash (which was also minimal) at home. 

Few months after my Houston trip, Amy and I decided to do a little collaboration. I offered to make a quilt with her fabrics. When Bright Heart collection arrived in the mail, I was excited to show how floral prints would work with free-form blocks. I chose ''Lattice'' pattern from my book so the quilt would look like a view outside my windows during summer months. I decided to also add a few shot cottons to create the background for prints to spark.

Amy's Bright Heart Collection inspired by her visit to Mexico and people she connected with. Name of her fabric line pretty much describes her as I know her. Bright at heart and grounded.

Here is the quilt made with Bright Heart Quilting Cotton - Cap One ''grounded''

Outlining the lattice and filling in the background with simple stippling was a way to go for this quilt.

It allowed me to create enough texture and dimensions to the quilt and gave it see through effect.

Most of the fabrics in this colorway were medium tone, I wanted to keep the quilt as soft as possible so instead of adding darker solids I went with light and medium tones of shot cottons. 

First time I ever used Amy Butler's fabrics was for my Wagon Wheel quilt. Although the whole quilt was not exclusively made with her fabrics, they gave me a great start. One of my first ''not so straight'' quilt was made using Denise Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy. It was made with wonky squares and few tiny triangles tossed all over the quilt. I called that pattern Box of Candies. I think that quilt gives a nice contrast to Amy's lush fabrics.

Here is some photo fun!

August is my birthday month. I would like to end this month on a happy note by giving away a copy of my book Cultural Fusion Quilts. If you win it you can not only make the Lattice Quilt but 14 other fun, free-form quilts from the book!

All you have to do is tell a friend about the giveaway and leave a comment after you visit Amy Butler's website.

Answer one of the following questions.
What was one of the designing decisions for this quilt?
Which one is your favorite Cap from Bright Heart Collection?
 
I will ship a signed copy anywhere in the world so everyone is welcome to enter. If you already have my book (I hope you do!) I am sure your sister or a friend would love a copy!

If you haven't heard of my book... WHAT??? Well then, grab a cup of tea and spend some time here, you have a lot to catch up!

I will announce a winner next Monday. Make sure I have your email I can't reach you if you are a no-reply blogger!

Good Luck!
Sujata

Early Christmas

Although my home is not decorated completely, there is still lots of baking to do but it sure seems like Christmas arrived early this year!

Cultural Fusion Quilts is one of  the best books of the month of December in Crafts, Hobbies and Home on Amazon!!!

Yay! I am aware of how much I constantly talk about the book but I am filled with a great sense of pride. How can I resist sharing it all with you all who have been on this journey with me for past four years.

I spent last couple of days trying to take some good pictures of my quilts with things around my house. It has been fun unfolding and refolding these quilts. Photographing quilts is like an exercise in space designing. To find the perfect way to arrange and rearrange them and to wait for just the right light to enter through the windows - It's all very time consuming but lot of fun. I enjoy it as a part of blogging as much as sharing the stories of the quilts.

Soon after I came back from the market, Amy Butler had offered to share my book and photos on her fb page. Off course I said, ''Yes!'' After the blog tour ended, my focus was to take some pictures and send them off. Amy shared couple of those pictures on her fb page today. You can see them on Amy Butler Design fb page by clicking on the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/amybutlerdesign# 

Thank you Amy, for that lovely shout-out this morning! I am touched by your sincere and genuine, kind self!  

These days I pinch myself at least a few times a day. At times I think I will never come down from up above but not to worry, I have asked my husband to pull me down if I float away for too long.

Peppermint Pinwheels and Hourglass Quilt

Writing this book has taught me things I had never known how to do. Like saving a screen shot for instance or setting up a Paypal account on my blog. Just couple of days back, my book was at #1 on amazon's Hot New Release list in Quilts and Quilting. I showed it to my husband and we both were happy to have spotted that. Later that evening a friend suggested to take a picture. By the time I went back, it had slipped back to #2! I learned to save the screen shot. I guess it is never too late to learn new things, achieve your goals and dream of next best thing.

So this all may seem like bragging a bit but I am reserving the rights for now!


I am enjoying these moments and fruits of my labor with this book. I will be back on the earth soon.

Have a great weekend!