Friday, April 3, 2015

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? Modern Rainbow Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Hi, all!

Here it is, Friday again - time to get our whoop whoop on!  And I've got something special today - a review of a new book and a GIVEAWAY! Whoop whoop indeed!!


When I heard that Becca Bryan of Bryan House Quilts was looking for people to participate in the blog tour for her new book, I took one look at the book and knew I wanted to be a part of it!  You know how I love rich, vibrant, saturated colors - and this book is chock full of it!


The first twenty-nine pages of the book cover some very important basics - how to use the color wheel correctly, how to use neutrals to make your rainbows "pop", things like that.  I finally learned the difference between a hue, a tint, and a tone!  There's a lot of good information to be found in these pages.

But then you get into the best part of the book - the quilts!  And oh, they are lovely!  She starts with a section called Modern Traditional Quilts - one of which is this beauty... Lucy In The Sky!


There's a section on Modern Quilts - and Flame is featured in that section.  I love the way she mixed neutrals and the rainbow hues in this quilt.


And then there's a whole section called Improvisational and Liberated Quilts.  Rainbow Remix is my favorite quilt from that section.  Inspired by the Gees Bend quilts, it is truly liberated, having irregular borders and distorted blocks.  But if that's not your thing, she's got instructions on how to make it less wonky.


I wanted to try making something from the book as soon as I looked at it, but didn't have time to make a whole quilt before the blog tour.  So instead of taking a block and turning it into a whole quilt, I took a whole quilt and turned it into a block!  This quilt is called Scattered...


I had a lovely stash of 1.5" squares that my mother-in-law had collected over the years, so I chose a selection of neutrals and some rainbow tones and put together this pillow!


Now, you're probably saying, "1.5 inch squares?  Is she nuts?"  Well, I tried out a new technique!  I laid the squares out in the design on a piece of very lightweight fusible interfacing, then pressed them down to securing them.  I folded on the grid lines and stitched, and voila!  Add a pretty vintage green linen border and back to the quilted block, and it's now a bright, sunny, spring-y addition to my pillow collection!  

 *&*&*&*&*&*&*

There's lots more places to learn about this gorgeous book, too!  Check out the other stops on the blog tour...

March 23rd             C&T/ Stash Books
March 24th             Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt
March 25th             Generation Q Magazine
March 26th             Jennifer Mathis of Ellison Lane 
March 27th             Sally Keller of Sally’s Angel Works

March 30th            Amy Garro of 13 Spools
March 31st            Angela Walters of Quilting is my Therapy
April 1st                Rebecca over at Craft Buds
April 2nd               Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness
April 3rd               Sarah Craig of Confessions of a Fabric Addict

April 6th                Janice Zeller Ryan of Better Off Thread
April 7th                Beth Vassalo of Plum and June
April 8th                Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft
April 9th                Giuseppe Ribaudo @giucy_giuce
April 9th                Shannon Brinkley of Bottle Tree Quilts
April 10th              Rebecca Bryan at Bryan House Quilts

If you'd like to win a copy of Modern Rainbow (hard copy in the U.S., e-copy for international winners), just leave a comment on this post by Thursday, April 9th at noon CST.  Link up and join the Whoop Whoop party and you'll get an extra entry!  I'll draw a winner and announce it next Friday - giving someone a very good reason to whoop it up!!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

And now it's your turn!

What are you whooping about today?


What's got you dancing the happy dance?

Share - we want to dance right along with you!

The party will stay open until Thursday at noon - 

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

108 comments:

  1. Great inspirational post Sarah! The best of all is your pillow, I love the neutral tunes as a base for the shining colors! Thanks for the party!

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  2. Rebecca's book is such a gem! Love the boldness of her colorful quilts. Great idea for making the pillow!

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  3. Your new technique sounds intriguing!
    Thanks for the book giveaway.

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  4. The quilts in this book are stunning--and I think I have to copy your pillow!

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  5. I would love to see the rest of these quilts in the book as Iove juicy color!

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  6. This looks like a fabulous book! Love the Rainbow Remix quilt! Whoop whoop!

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  7. These quilts are awesome. Like the idea for the pillow

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  8. Great book! I can't decide if I like Flame or Rainbow Remix better. I would love to win a copy.

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  9. What a great idea to turn a quilt into a block! Love your pillow! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book.

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  10. Love that pillow with the colors and black and white, absolutely beautiful!

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  11. Love Rebecca's modern scrappy things!

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  12. Spring is making me do the happy dance! Flowers, sunshine, new fabric and a great giveaway! Thanks!
    akronne17@gmail.com

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  13. I've always wanted to try the patchwork on fusible technique. Your pillow is so cheerful and those corners are so perfect, I think trying this has just moved higher on my list. Beautiful pillow!

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  14. I am working on some (3 ideas) rainbow inspired quilts right now. I am so excited about this book. Where do I sign up?
    Sew Preeti Quilts

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  15. always interested in new ideas - lots of times I stick to traditional quilts but sometimes will throw in a modern idea as well to make it different

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  16. I love a book, and especially one full of color and ideas!! Thank you for your weekly party, ideas, and open sharing nature. LeeAnna at not afraid of color leeannaquilts at gmail dot com

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  17. Congrats on the book! I cannot even imagine how happy you must be!

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  18. The few pages of the book you have shown are a great "teaser". Although I have always considered myself a "contemporary" AKA "modern quilter", I can see where this book could really provide me with even more ideas! Hope I am chosen! Thanks for the chance!

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  19. Beautiful, inspiring book. Thanks for the review ... and the giveaway!

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  20. Beautiful, inspiring book. Thanks for the review ... and the giveaway!

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  21. I love the colors in that book. I am a fool for rainbows. They just make me happy. Thank you for the chance to win this book.

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  22. Love your pillow, Sarah! Love the quilt that inspired it too, gotta say!

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  23. Interesting book and ideas. I am using 1.5" squares in a quilt now, and I've even used smaller squares. They are fun.

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  24. I have been following the tour and enjoying all the quilts. I like your way of thinking, If you don't have time to make a quilt make a pillow from the quilt. Really like how it turned out. Rina

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  25. I love these happy quilts!! I want to make every one of them!!!

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  26. I love all things rainbow and so need this book in my hands! Thanks for hosting the link-up and giveaway.

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  27. I love bright colors in my quilts (see my son's wedding quilt for proof). Have a great weekend, and don't float away in the rain.

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  28. I've been admiring this book since I first saw it advertised on a blog - the whole rainbow concept just "floats my boat!" I have this on my wish list just in case I'm not a winner!! Thanks a bunch.

    Liz
    boltonia55@yahoo.com

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  29. Would love to win a copy of the book!

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  30. I loved your review and that you made a pillow with a quilt pattern. Reading about how others use quilt patterns to make other items broadens my view of the usefulness of patterns.

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  31. I have that book on my wish list on Amazon. The quilting on all of the quilts is amazing.

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  32. Great review on a fun looking book. Thanks for sharing it and offering a chance to win it.

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  33. Love your pillow. Looks like a great book with lots of info. Fun quilts. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  34. Wonderful pillow! I've got a bunch of 1 1/2" squares. I think I'll try your technique.

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  35. I love that sewing 1.5" squares can be done with the gridded fusible. But it's so good, it's almost hard to believe! I have to try it some day.

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  36. Some beautiful projects and photos in that book - I am excited to see it!

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  37. I love projects with the full spectrum of colors. Great idea for a book.

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  38. I've been following the blog tour for this book and it looks like it has lots of great ideas in it! Your pillow was a clever way to play with a pattern without making a big quilt.

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  39. I love that you turned a whole quilt into a block! Thanks for a chance to win a copy of this book! I don't have any great finishes for today, otherwise I'd link up.

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  40. I love rainbow quilts (and pillows). Thanks!

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  41. THANKS for sharing in the Rainbow Tour! Love your projects!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  42. I love rainbow and that makes me dance!

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  43. I love all these rainbow quilts - they're so cheerful!

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  44. Sorry to say I have no finish. Your cushion is looking good! I like this technique as well.

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  45. Very clever to make a pillow! Although I am not entirely sure that mini is faster

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  46. very cool idea ...........ty for sharing will have to try it out.....

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  47. Those projects look very fun!

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  48. The book looks like a lot of fun. Pretty pretty. Thanks for the giveaway and chance to win. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)

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  49. Love all the different rainbow quilts. Quite different.

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  50. Rainbows are my quilty friends!

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  51. I think this book was made with me in mind! I am a bright-color lover and have color in every room of my home (it's all tasteful too!). What's got me dancing today is that I've finished sewing up several little bunny treat bags to add to my Easter dinner table. They are so cute!

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  52. I haven't seen the Lucy in the Sky quilt before. That's just stunning with the black & white dots!

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  53. I haven't seen the Lucy in the Sky quilt before. That's just stunning with the black & white dots!

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  54. I am whooping it up that it's Friday and I have two whole days off before going back at it again. Thanks for sharing the giveaway.

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  55. Love your pillow, the book, and the pony dancers! Amazing!

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  56. Love your pillow. I've been meaning to try that method since I love pixel quilts, but hate sewing tiny squares accurately.

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  57. I think that"scattered" will be a great opportunity to use those little treasures that I have been saving.they will be seen and have room to breathe in all the lovely grays

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  58. Such gorgeousness!! Loving all of the patterns!

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  59. Wow what an inspiring book! Love all the rich saturated colors of the rainbow in these quilts. Your pillow really works well representing her quilt. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  60. Great pillow! Great inspiration for some gifts I need to make in the next few weeks. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  61. What a neat idea to minimize the design into a pillow.

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  62. I LOVE this book. I'm happy today, because I finished our taxes!

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  63. Love the book and your beautiful cushion.whoop whoop sue

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  64. Love the book and your beautiful cushion.whoop whoop sue

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  65. What a gorgeous book! Who doesn't get happy seeing color?

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  66. I love almost all the patterns in this book. I really like bright colors and these designs definitely have that!

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  67. I haven't been able to pick a favorite from this book! Each one is amazing! Who doesn't love a rainbow?! Your pillow is adorable!

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  68. Your pillow is fantastic! I love all these rainbows!

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  69. Wow love all the things you showed from the book. I would love to do a rainbow anything!!!

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  70. Great idea! Came out just lovely

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  71. Great pillow! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the chance!!

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  72. I love that you tried a news technique. Were you happy with the results? Thanks for participating in the hop.

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  73. I love your mini quilt as a pillow. I often try a design out in a smaller size, good for a pillow or table topper.

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  74. This look a great book - Huckleberry is my favourite!

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  75. Isn't that fusible grid fun! I love your happy pillow and you inspired me to try that grid again!

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  76. Thanks for the chance! sarah@forrussia.org

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  77. From your pictures and your description, it looks like a book worth having. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  78. These quilts are so pretty. Must make them all!

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  79. The quilts are wonderful, Easter is here and so is Spring so all is right in the world.

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  80. I love the quilt with the rainbow squares and the contrasting black and white polka dot squares. Thanks for the post. :)

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  81. I love your Scattered quilt and the 1.5 inch squares pillow!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  82. I'd love to win the book, and that last gif you attached is adorable! I couldn't help but watch it for a bit... :)

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  83. I love your take on the rainbow! I'm doing my happy dance because I just had a wonderful Easter Day with the family! kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet

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  84. Finishing the top on my first H2H quilt definitely has me doing a happy dance. Winning a book would have me dancing overtime.

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  85. I haven't tried the interface method yet - your squares are well-matched and crisp, and the pillow is awesome on the green chair!

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  86. Beautiful book! I would love to win!

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  87. I've heard of that method with the fusible interfacing and want to try it one day. Cool project!

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  88. Your pillow is gorgeous! I love all of the colors!
    Good to hear about the interfacing technique!
    Susie

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  89. I love all the rainbow quilts! Your pillow is fabulous!

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  90. I started my quilting journey with rainbow quilts, and I would love a book devoted to new techniques and designs.

    I've wondered how the interfacing technique works, and if it creates too much bulk.

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  91. I am currently working on a BOM using the fusible technique and I like it. Once you get your squares fused, you can stitch anytime. I am also doing a rainbow challange BOM. This book sounds GREAT!

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  92. The projects in this book look fantastic!

    silverthimble@shaw.ca

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  93. These rainbow quilts are so pretty. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

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  94. Would love to win this book! thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net (I'll try to make a link up - I'm not the greatest blogger, although I love to read blogs.)

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  95. Love this book - the use of color is fantastic!

    lflemin at msn dot com

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  96. Love your pillow (and all the rainbow projects. Looks like an inspiring book!) I've used that grid technique with interfacing but afterward, my iron always needs to be cleaned because the fusible leaves some gunk on the plate. Happy stitching!

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  97. What a great idea to break down a quilt project into something manageable like a pillow! And it looks great! I'm going to steal this idea, as I don't have time for a whole quilt either, well I've got several other projects that need to be in line "first". :-) Never thought about the grid technique so thanks for that tip. Book looks fabulous, would love to win it!

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  98. I love the rainbow projects. I haven't been purchasing books lately, but this might be one I would buy.

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  99. What a fun book! I don't blame you for being super excited about it! ;-)

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  100. Your pillow is soooo cute!

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  101. That does look like a really great book, and I love how you made a pillow-version of one of the quilts!

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Comments make me smile!! If you want a PDF of a pattern, PLEASE leave your email address in your comment, or email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!