Hey hi! I’m so thrilled to be part of Jacquie and Katie‘s Quilting Modern celebration! Jacquie and Katie are right up there as two of my favorite quilters and bloggers, and in fact I’ve been reading both their blogs since I started quilting. So of course it’s no surprise that I was very excited at the prospect of their book, Quilting Modern. And indeed, I had reason to be excited – this book is absolutely gorgeous, right down to how it feels in your hand (something I find weirdly important!).

I was inspired even after just a first quick peek through the book, and I wasted no time in starting a little something inspired by one of their quilts, the Swirling Medallion quilt. This one hit me with a “why didn’t I think of that!” – I absolutely love the combination of the half square triangles with their improvy flip and stitch triangle technique. It’s quirky and fun and I love how it updates the look of a half square triangle design.

I had a whole bunch of teeny tiny half square triangle units left over from my Swoon quilt which I was desperate to sew up into a fun wall hanging. I hadn’t been inspired up until now, but as soon as I saw their Swirling Medallion quilt I knew I had found my answer.

Then, because I hadn’t really gotten my fill of this design, I pulled out a favorite Lizzy House Red Letter Day print that I had been saving. I love how Jacquie and Katie used a fun print for the backing of their quilt and used the colors from that print for the front, so I pulled some similar colored prints and solids from my stash and made up this baby quilt top.

I can’t wait to get that Red Letter Day print on the back so I can see the whole thing together!

Is it overboard to show you one last project inspired from the book? Perhaps, but I love this book so much that I just can’t stop! This last little project is based on their Stepping Stones quilt, which I shrunk way down to turn into a quilt block as my addition to Penny’s Traveling Quilt.

As someone who typically shies away from patterns, what I most love about this book is that even though directions are provided to recreate their quilts, somehow they’ve also managed to create a book, and a series of quilts, that inspire you to put your own spin on their ideas. That truly is my favorite kind of book. Congrats Jacquie and Katie – I can’t wait to start on another quilt!

Stop over to say hi and congrats to Jacquie and Katie, and then be sure to spend some time this weekend checking out these other blogs for more information, projects, and giveaways during the Quilting Modern blog celebration weekend!

A Stitch in Dye – Malka Dubrawsky
Fat Quarterly blog – Tacha Bruecher
Film in the Fridge – Ashley Newcomb
Generation Q – Jake Finch
Handmade by Alissa – Alissa Haight Carlton
Happy Zombie – Monica Solorio-Snow
iheartlinen – Rashida Coleman-Hale
Oh Fransson! – Elizabeth Hartman
One Shabby Chick – Amber Carrillo
Pink Chalk Studio – Kathy Mack
Quilting is my Therapy – Angela Waters
Red Pepper Quilts – Rita Hodge
Sew, Mama, Sew! – Kristin Link
Sew Take a Hike – Penny Layman
West Coast Crafty – Susan Beal
Whip Up – Kathreen Ricketson
Wise Craft – Blair Stocker