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March 2008 Carol Doak Newsletter
I love the fact the February is a short month, because it sends a signal that Spring is just on the horizon. The spring colors always offer lots of inspiration for quilts and the warmer weather is a welcome relief to the chill of winter in New Hampshire.
The Carol Doak Quilting Group
The Carol Doak Quilting Group continues to grow and is quite active with lots of different activities. February brought our 3000th Member which meant I needed to get busy and design the 3000 Member Celebration Block. Perhaps I had spring on my mind when I designed this new block and suggested quilt. A few members have made the block, but I am anxious awaiting the posting of a picture of the full quilt and the wonderful variations our members seem to create.
This wonderful 3000 Member Celebration block was made by Karen from Idaho. I actually had the opportunity to meet Karen when I was teaching in Idaho. Karen's block has such a cheerful feel to it and it may just be the start of a new quilt.
Members just received the second round criteria for our "Yours Truly Round Robin". This is a round robin members are making themselves. The resulting photos are just eye candy to see. This striking beginning was made by Tris. It is such fun to see the quilt tops develop from the beginning block and the subsequent borders. Stay tuned, as I will share quilts as they grow.And...I just uploaded the new March Block of the Month. This block has the potential to be a knock your socks of block and thus far the couple of photos posted already confirm that. This block was made by Carole D Wow...just love those points!!!
So, you can see we have been busy. Please feel free to join the fun or just come and admire the eye candy at
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/CarolDoakQuiltingGroup/
News From The Web Store
The "Bundle of the Month" for March is the 40 Bright & Bold Paper Pieced Blocks book and the Companion Foundation Factory CD for this book. The CD has just been redone with both the MAC and PC Version on the one CD so thought I would celebrate it by reducing the price for the month of March providing a big savings! Stop by the web store to take advantage of this sale item!Stop by the Web Store to see what is new http://www.caroldoak.com/store.php
Share A Quilt Picture and Story
Thank you Judy for sharing your story and congratulations for winning this month's story of the month prize.
Hello. Attached is a picture of a wall quilt I made for my daughter. She lives in southwestern Idaho, and I live a half continent away in Iowa. When visiting a quilt shop in her community, with her, she brought me your 50 Fabulous Stars book and asked if I could make any of the blocks. Being a mother, I silently gulped and said "yes" with summed up bravado. A customer in the shop, Cindy's in Caldwell, Idaho, said I would find the CD in the book invaluable.
I didn't even know how to use a CD in my computer! Nevertheless, we chose a few fabrics in Idaho and Oregon, and I added fabrics from my stash and from a small collection my daughter had picked out in Iowa, with no project in mind. To my amazement, the CD was easy to use and so helpful! Your specific directions and orderly work instructions made paper-piecing easy and fun. Previously, I had not enjoyed foundation piecing very much.
The result of the project is pictured. This photo was taken in my home. Today, daughter emailed photos of the quilt hanging in her home.
It was so much fun to do this and I look forward to doing more of your paper-piecing. My local quilt group also wants me to demonstrate your orderly method at a meeting. Thank you providing so much inspiration, fun, and sewing satisfaction!
Judy Schaper, Britt, Iowa
New Trip Planned for 2009!!!
Travel with award-winning quilter Carol Doak, and McCall's Quilting Editor, Beth Hayes, to New Zealand's North and South Islands throughout this first-class itinerary.
Right after I sent last month's newsletter, my McCall's Magazine arrived announcing my New Zealand Land Tour scheduled for January 2009. I had kept this mum until the announcement was made. I've had the pleasure of traveling to New Zealand in the past and after reading the full itinerary for this trip, I am so excited to return with Beth Hayes, Editor of McCalls and a group of quilters. If you want to experience one of those "once in a life time" trips, this would be it.
From rainforests to glaciers, volcanoes to grasslands, modern cities to Maori villages, New Zealand is unique . . . and one of the most exciting places on earth. On our 13 day adventure we'll travel the North and South Islands and see all the wonders of this exotic land, with stops and activities arranged especially for quilters.
For additional information on this trip, http://www.mccallsquiltingadventures.com/newzealand09.html
contact: Steve (1-877-64-QUILT) or steve@mccallsquiltingadventures.com
New Projects in the Works
I can't share too much yet, but just thought I'd let you know that the next book will be released this October. I've also been working on a couple of magazine articles that will be released in the fall. I'll keep you posted....On the Road Again
One really fun thing for me when I am traveling about the country teaching and lecturing is seeing some of the projects that you all make from my books. This quilt top was shown to me by Bonnie Taylor in Ocala, Florida on a trip there in February. Bonnie made this quilt from batik fabrics featuring all of the Mariner's Compass Stars made in a 6" size. It was simply spectacular!
I'll be traveling to Kansas, Tennessee and Ketchikan, Alaska in March. I hope to meet some of you along the way.
All the best,
Carol