Turning Tiles in McCall's Quilting Magazine!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

I'm so excited to be able to share my Turning Tiles quilt with you! This quilt has quite the story behind it!

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine



The story starts well over a year ago when I submitted a quilt block called "Skyscraper" to the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine.

Skyscraper quilt block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 16 magazine

Along with my quilt block, I submitted this quilt design for consideration in their "Quilts from 100 Blocks" magazine.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine


The "Skyscraper" block was published in Volume 16 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine in November of last year. (You can read about that here.) (Digital and print issues are still available!) Then shortly after, both the "100 Blocks" and "Quilts from 100 Blocks" magazines went out of print.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 16 magazine

Then in June, out of the blue, I got an email saying the quilt design had been chosen for the January/February issue of McCall's Quilting! (The magazines have the same parent company.)

I digitally auditioned several different fabrics for the magazine version, but ultimately chose Island Batik fabrics from the Lavendula line. The rich purple and bright teal fit well with the "elegance and glamour" theme of the issue.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine



Now, there are a few important things to note about the timing of this. First, I was in the third trimester of pregnancy. Second, my midwife suggested that I start a no-sugar diet to ward off gestational diabetes. Third, we were remodeling part of our home in preparation of selling it. And fourth, we were getting ready to move across the state. Oh, and I had several other deadline projects that had already been on the calendar for months. But I hadn't planned on this one!


After receiving the fabrics, I immediately had to pack them in a box for moving! Then I kept that box with my purse, as it would have to be one of the first ones unpacked at the new house in order to meet the deadline!

After setting up the dining room table and finding my cutting mat, I began cutting the pieces for the quilt.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine



Next was to set up the sewing machine and find the box of Aurifil thread.


Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine


And about here is where you shout, "Plot twist!" Amid the chaos of moving and remodeling and new dieting and pregnancy and deadlines...I got stress hives. Like, crazy itchy all over my body hives. I'll spare you the pictures. And since I was pregnant, Calamine lotion was all I could do about it. I practically bathed in the stuff. Dr. Google told me the only way for them to go away was to eliminate the stress. So I kept unpacking and sewing.

I sewed and sewed and sewed. With a lot of Calamine lotion mixed in.


Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine
Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

Once the top was complete, I loaded it onto the longarm with Warm & Natural batting and 50wt Aurifil thread in Dark Dusty Grape #2581.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

I really wanted to do some custom quilting in the aqua squares and low volume diamonds, but the reality was the deadline was approaching quickly. And I still had boxes to unpack. And hives.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics and Aurifil thread in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

So instead, I free motioned a small meander in all of the purple fabric sections.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

After binding with more of the aqua fabric, we took the quilt to the lake that is just a half mile from our new house for some pictures.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine
Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine
Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine
Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

Boxing up the quilt to send to the magazine felt really good. Or maybe that was the Calamine lotion.

Either way, just a few days later, the boxes were unpacked, the new house was feeling more like home, and my hives went away.

I love how this quilt turned out, and I love that there's such a story connected to it for me.

Be sure to pick up your own copy of the magazine to see The Hives Quilt the Turning Tiles quilt! I've already seen it at my local grocery store! (And yes, I left signed business postcards inside!) JoAnn's, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, Target...the magazine is available just about everywhere books and magazines are sold!

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

In case you can't find it, you can find the issue digitally here. They also have print copies and subscriptions too. You can even get a subscription on Amazon!

McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine


I can almost look back and laugh about the hives now. Almost.

Turning Tiles quilt using Island Batik Lavendula fabrics in McCall's Quilting Jan/Feb 2019 magazine

22 comments:

  1. Wow! I'm in awe of all that you managed to accomplish in the past few months... moving while pregnant is not an easy task ( I know from experience) and doing all the other things, too.. along with the daily care of your two older cuties. It wears me out just reading about all of it... of course, I'm 69 years old now and I don't have the energy to do a whole lot anymore. You are doing a wonderful job and I enjoy reading your blogs whenever you get a chance to write them :) Happy Holidays

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  2. You had so much to do during that month or so, Laura, and I am impressed with what you were able to accomplish in the middle of it all. So, given the story of the quilt, do you have plans for it when it returns from being with the magazine?? Congratulations on another publication, and I hope the hives have stayed away since then!

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  3. WOW!!! Love the quilt and what a great story. Have you ever noticed great stories are only great AFTER they are over?

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  4. That is one heck of a story! The hives sound awful but you pulled it through....you are amazing. Congratulations on your publication. Hope the person that buys a magazine with a signed postcard enjoys it. That kiddo is adorable. I am sure you are glad you are through that hump!

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  5. Laura, as the saying goes - "Every quilt has a story!" Your quilt has a very interesting story. I'm sorry about the hives and your inability to do much about them at the time. The hives were truly a testament to stress. The quilt is beautiful. The colors are gorgeous. The lake setting is calming and particularly calling to me at this time of the year. I used to love the lake all year round - water skiing and boating as long as well could and then in the trailer when it got too cold the rest of the year for such activities. I had a therapist suggest that we start new traditions with our children, so we started having Thanksgiving at the lake in our OLD trailer. That didn't last long as the family dissolved a few years later, but there are still fond memories. Congrats on the publish.

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  6. You are amazing, talented, inspirational and oh so organized. Kudos to you and your accomplishments.

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  7. I love this quilt and I'm glad your hives are over!

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  8. Beautiful quilt and a humorous story (after the fact, I am sure). Had stress hives one summer so I can relate...but I wasn't pregnant at the time. I don't know that any other quilting would have been better because that purple fabric is dark enough it's hard to see the quilting. Congratulations on another published quilt. Again, I am amazed!

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  9. What a beautiful quilt, Laura! That teal just shines against the deep purple. I'm so glad you got through all of that, and your hives are gone. What a story, and what a memory.

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  10. That is one AMAZING quilt!! You definitely have a great story to go with it!! Hives are horrible and no one who hasn't had them can understand just how miserable they are (I got them from pain meds after surgery...scratched myself bloody!). I will definitely have to find that magazine and make your quilt!! The things we will deal with in our dedication to our craft!

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  11. Congratulations on seeing it come into print. That is exciting! It's a gorgeous quilt, and a great story - hives and all.

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  12. What a lovely quilt. Congratulations. And way to go getting it, and everything else accomplished. I am in awe.

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  13. Hi Laura! My goodness, could you have possibly added a few more things to your plate all at the same time. I'm so glad to see your healthy baby - heavens only knows how many hives they shared with you. I am going to pick up a copy of this magazine! The colors and fabrics you chose are just so gorgeous. How wonderful that they reached out to you for this fabulous finish!! Happy Happy Wednesday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  14. It's a stunning quilt. Love the colors. And what nuts to complete it! Congrats

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  15. Oh my gosh Laura! I’m so happy for you!!! �� How wonderful that one entry led to another. I got tired reading all you went through! but you persevered and did it! A beautiful quilt. I know you will laugh someday too at the Hives oops Tiles title! I will look for and buy this issue when I go to local B&N.
    Baby is growing so fast, such a cutie ��

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  16. That is a gorgeous quilt! And I love the colors you chose! Beautiful! And, what a great story behind it - one I'm sure you'll never forget! Sorry about the hives.

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  17. The quilt really is gorgeous and I bet you'll always think of it as the Hives Quilt, lol. Man, could the timing have been any more difficult for it? Any one of those things you were doing would have been difficult, but to have piled them all on top of each other?? Yikes! No wonder you ended up with stress hives. I hope you never have to experience that again!

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  18. You are amazing! Your quilt is stunning! And you tell a great story! Wow, I am sure you are glad the stress is all behind you! Congrats on the publication of your pattern!

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  19. Oh my goodness! It's a wonder you didn't turn into a weeping heap in a corner somewhere! Congratulations on your beautiful quilt that's been published, your sweet baby, and your mental toughness. All are remarkable. Perhaps calamine lotion needs a poster girl? Oh wait, the hives are gone. Joking aside, the quilt is stunning.

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  20. Laura, this is a beautiful quilt! Congratulations. And the story is wonderful, and simply adds to the quilt's value. Thanks for sharing this on Wednesday Wait Loss.

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  21. this is such a crazy awesome quilt! So beautiful! Great job!

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