Check out the review for my book "From Ensign's Bars to Colonel's Stars"  - I'm really excited about the book and the review!!

 https://www.netgalley.com/publisher/viewReview/review_id/1536740

Read my guest blog!

 I'm really happy to be a guest blogger on Purrfect Spots Blog by Nan Baker. Here is the link - go and check it out!

 

http://purrfectspots.blogspot.com/2014/11/meet-my-guest-blogger-renelda-peldunas.html

 

I'm a guest blogger on Nan Baker's blog!!

Check out Nan Baker's Purrfect Spots Blog - purrfectspots.BlogSpot.com - I'm her guest blogger today!!

Presenting at Schoolhouse in Houston!

My book - "From Ensign's Bars to Colonel's Stars" will be out in November 2014! and I'll be talking about it at Schoolhouse in Houston next week!! Stop by and check me out on Friday 24 OCT at 3:10 in room 361F. See you there!
This is a close up of Colonel's Star, come and see the entire quilt and several more quilts from my book!!

Schiffer Publishing guest blog

NEWS Author and patriotic quilter Renelda Peldunas-Harter guest blogs Head over to the Schiffer Publishing tumblr page for a guest post written by Renelda Peldunas-Harter, author of the upcoming From Ensign's Bars to Colonel's Stars: Making Quilts to Honor Those Who Serve. #

Baaad Sheep Exhibit!!

Quilts for the "Baad Sheep" exhibit are starting to come in!!
Look at "SAY MY NAME".
Is it Walter White baaad or what?!?

 

 

 

Can't wait to see what comes in next!!

Row By Row

If you are anything like me you have been collecting the Row By Row patterns from local and regional quilt shops!!

My favorite one so far has been from "The Scrappy Apple" in Winchester, VA!! The theme this year is 'seasons' and Kelley Bova, owner of the Scrappy Apple, designed a really cute winter scene complete with snowman, evergreen trees, snowflakes and a quilt!!

I have collected six patterns so far and hope to get to a few more quilt shops before the end of the month!!

Sheep Behaving Baaadly!

Sheep Behaving Baaadly! Come join the fun!
Northern Virginia Quilt Consortium (NVQC) - not to be confused with any other quilt consortium especially the Virginia Consortium of Quilters - is sponsoring its first traveling quilt exhibit!
We are very excited about this idea and hope to see an interesting quilt submission from you!
Check out the rules and email me if you are interested.

Announcing:

 

Northern Virginia Quilt Consortium (NVQC)

Quilt Exhibit: Sheep Behaving Baaadly

I. Background: I saw a fun exhibit featuring cows called “MOO-STON Cow Stampede”! (Check some of them out below). I think that there is something inherently intriguing about animals and the idea for this exhibit was born. I have the hemisphere’s largest ‘sheep’ collection (collected in travels by myself, my three brothers and assorted relatives and friends) so it would be a natural the first animal selected for this series would be sheep. The challenge is not just to create a caricature of just any old sheep, but sheep exhibiting naughty behavior or sheep behaving baaadly, hence the name “Sheep Behaving Baaadly”. The quilt should be fun to make and to look at!

II. Specifics: Must be a 3-layer quilt which can be easily stacked and folded to fit into a 20” x 24” box with other quilts and mailed.

          a. The Sheep:

          The sheep-shape should be the main figure, the focus of the quilt. The sheep body will be shaped either roundish or oval shaped. The head will be round or oval also. The figures at the left show some different combinations of body and head shapes. The sheep’s simple shape will allow the ‘baaad’ or naughty to pop out!  Embellish to your heart’s content!

          b. Quilt:

                   (1) Size: The quilt can be any size between 20” x 24” and 40” x 48”. It must be able to be folded into a 20” x 24” box.

                   (2) Label: All quilts will have a label with: Quilt’s Name, quilter, date, e-mail & phone number of quilter.
          c. Due dates:  A picture of the finished quilt and application form (please request application form from Renelda before sending picture) is due NLT 8 October 2014 to r.peldunas@comcast.net.

          d. Write-up: The write-up will include:

                   (1) Quilt Info: Quilt Name, quilter, date, email.

                   (2) A 100 word or less, write-up about the quilt may include inspiration, explanation and quilting techniques/embellishments.  The write-up appears on cards next to the quilts. 

                   (3) Quilt group or guild association (if any).

III. Juried: The NVQC board members will jury the quilts to ensure consistency with theme. Results will be announced by 10 Oct 2015. Finished quilt is due to Renelda 15 Oct 2014.

IV. I am seeking a Corporate Sponsor for our exhibit.

(These three quilts were photographed by Renelda Peldunas-Harter and are meant to convey the fun nature of this challenge, not to be copied or for any other use.)

V. Additional Info: Contact Renelda at r.peldunas@comcast.net or 540-338-0338.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, vol 7!!

 I'm very happy to say that I am have another block in the latest edition of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!!

                                                      My name is Renelda and I've been quilting for several years (OK - over 30!).  I love to design quilts, especially using geometric shapes.  I'm standing in the office of the Loudoun Breast Health Network in front of a huge pink quilt (2012 Text on Textile Exhibit, International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX) which I made and hangs in our office!  (We are an all volunteer, 501 (c) (3) non-profit).  I'm also working on a quilt book to honor the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces - if you are interested look for details in the blog and email me.

         The block in Volume 7 has been, quite literately, years in the making.  I have been creating Bargello quilts for over 25 years and when I've tried to 'help' my friends catch Bargello fever, everyone complains that it looks too hard to do.  So I simplified the process - how could I possibly simplify a Bargello?  What if instead of long rows of little blocks I made actual 4" x 4" or 12" x 12" blocks?   And then joined them together?!  Sounds simple?  It is!  I call them 'Julep Blocks' and they are very easy to make!   

My block is block #686 'Spring Julep', page 64, it is a 12" x 12" (finished) block which can be assembled in many ways.

The quilt to the right appears in Volume 7's "Designer's Gallery" on page 12 - it is a mini-gello (small Bargello) entitled "Spring Julep" and it measures 11" x 11".  It is made from four scaled-down Julep blocks each rotated and joined together.  The mini-quilt blocs have some special construction techniques to aid in their assembly, but they are so cool to put together!

 

       The quilt to the left, "Mint Julep", (69" x 69") is made from 20" x 20" blocks and give the appearance of motion.  The larger the 'Julep' block, the larger the quilt!!

       Julep blocks and quilts have more 'pop' if you have one or two fabrics that really stand out.  Look for several light fabrics, several mediums and a few dark fabrics.

         The quilt on the left measures 41" x 41" and was done using a Moda Jelly Roll.  Jelly Rolls can be good to use if they have enough contrast, this one had the red, white and blue I was looking for.  That is not true of most pre-cut 2 1/2" rolls.           



          

      The quilt to the right is another mini-gello measuring 14" x 14".  It is composed of 100% scraps - mini-gellos are great for up-cycling your scraps!!



           If you are in the Northern Virginia/Maryland/DC area check the schedule below for when I'll be speaking in May and June several area quilt shops about Block # 686!!  Carolyn Goins, block # 666, 'Counter Spin' and I spoke at a local quilt shop when we both had blocks in 100 Blocks, Vol 5 and it was such a huge success we decided to branch out to the entire metro area!!


          My brand new 'helper' Smudge just came from the Loudoun County Animal Shelter last week and already she is a "big" help!  She is what we call a 'love sponge' - she'll suck all the attention she

can get from you.  She has already shed, I mean provided a protective coat, on many of the quilts going into my book!

 

 

 

 

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, vol 7.

I have another block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol 7 magazine!!

A fellow 100 Block artist - Carolyn Goins - and I are appearing at several regional quilt shops to present a 50 minute talk about how we design our blocks and to answer questions - AND - it gives you the opportunity to shop at some great quilt shops!!

+ Sat. 18 May, 11.00-12.00 at Seminole Sampler in Catonsville, MD 21228
+ Fri. 24 May, 10.30-11.30 at Patches Quilting & Sewing in Mt. Airy, MD 21771

+ Sat. 1 June, 11.00-12.00 & 12.30-1.30 at The Scrappy Apple in Winchester, VA 22601
+ Tues. 4 June, 12.30-1.30 at Capital Quilts in Gaithersburg, MD 20877

We had so much fun doing this last year at The Scrappy Apple - thanks Kelley! - for 100 Blocks, vol 5 that we decided to do it again, but bigger this time!!

Come and join Carolyn and Renelda, have some fun, listen while we yack about quilt/block design, buy some 100 Block magazines and ask us some questions!

Make a quilt for my book!!

Quilt #1                                                                Quilt #2

Quilt #3                                                                                 Quilt #4

 

Quilt #6

 Quilt #5

Hi!

I am working on a quilt book with a series of military-themed quilts to honor our service members!

I want to show that these quilts also have a wider appeal and so I am asking for assistance.   Your completed quilt may be chosen for the book!  Here is the deal:

1.   Chose one of the six quilts (pictures attached) and contact me at r.peldunas@comcast.net  with the Quilt # of the quilt you would like to make.  (I’ll need name, address, phone # and email.)

2.  I send you the instructions for that quilt and you sign a non-disclosure statement (saying you won’t reproduce and share the pattern). 

3.  You choose your own fabric and make a quilt based on the pattern.  (The quilt does not need to be an exact replica of the pattern, i.e., Quilt #6 does not have to have 23 “stars” – use your imagination and make a quilt with maybe 9 “stars”, set them on point or break them up with plain blocks interspersed).

4.  Contact me immediately if you have any questions or don’t understand the instructions – I’ll be counting on you to help me proof my patterns!  Feedback please!

5.  Make the quilts as large or as small as you wish, I have to recognize it as based on one of the six quilts attached.

6.  Quilts must be completed and given to me to be photographed by 15 Jun 2013 (maybe later - I'll keep you posted).  If you live outside of the Washington, DC area and it would be too expensive to ship the quilt and you have a good quilt photographer, I’ll accept a picture of the quilt.

7.  The quilt pictures accepted for the “Quilt Gallery” will be the final decision of the author and editors and will be based on space available.

 

I'm in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks again!!

I've been notified that a block of mine was picked up to be in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, vol.7!!

Vote for Turtles!

Vote For Me! "Turtles at Sea" (MQ) Quilt Design Star 2012/Professional Creative Crafts Group Go to the McCall's website under Professional Design Star Challenge!

McCall's Designers Quilt Challenge 1 posted!

They have posted all the Challenge 1 quilt tops and are they ever creative!!

Above is the quilt top "Turtles at Sea" - my entry!!  The rich batiks give the illusion of the "turtles" swimming!  Add a few applique turtles and you have trove of turtles - just like in the pond out back!

Above is a closeup of one of the turtles swimming with a friend!

McCall's Quilt Design Star Challenge 1 - throes of points!

Quilted Cora here - and in the throes of making "Storm at Sea" mine!  Not only does the block have all kinds of sharp corners and points - but it has to fit together with other like blocks!!  Good friends at lunch today, Carolyn Goins and Cindy Simms, gave me a hint about making it all fit together - steam, steam and more steam!!  Since the blocks have been blessed with water and steamed (sounds like cooking veges), I'll just have to let it sit overnight and sees what comes out tomorrow!  I hope Challenge 2 will involve something more simple - like the codes to launch nuclear warheads.  Or, maybe applique!  Back to the salt mines!

McCall's Quilt Design Star

Quilted Cora here!  My "peep" Renelda is working hard on he quilt to for Challenge 1!  I hear a lot of 4-letter words coming from her side of the studio - words like "iron" and "points" - OK, maybe not all the words are 4-letter ones!  She is having a great time matching up all the points and making sure she cuts out the correct fabric with the correct template!  I think she said she has half of the blocks done - that means I need to go and snooper-vise her or she'll never get finished on time!

McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012 Challenge 1

Quilted Cora supervising blocks for the McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012! 

Hi! Quilted Cora here!  As my "peep" Renelda writes this I am hard at work with McCall's Quilt Design Challenge 1.  I have to use the "Storm at Sea" block for the challenge.  I am good at designing and constructing quilt tops - I usually go with something more original.  I have never used the Storm at Sea block before and am looking forward to trying my hand on this one.  A lot of points, a lot of matching points!  Hopefully the next challenge will play to my strong suit - applique.

McCall's Quilt Design 2012 Challenge 1 finalist!!

Quilted Cora is proud to announce that her "peep" Renelda has advanced and is now a McCall's Quilt Design Star 2012 Challenge 1 finalist!! Thanks to all who voted for her and the Colonel's Star quilt.  I'll keep everyone posted about when to vote for Challenge !!!

 

Thanks to everyone who took time out to write!  Thanks to all of you who voted for the Colonel's Star quilt for the McCalls challenge - you can still vote (everyday - until 20 May).  Just go to;  http://ck.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=54018     click on VOTE, my quilt is #18.

Marcia won the free copy of 100 Blocks from Quiltmaker!

Quilted Cora said for everyone to stay cool! Thanks.