Introducing EQ Mini + Giveaway

I've been using EQ7 for several years to design my quilts. It's a very robust program with extremely useful features, such as being able to input your fabrics into designs, print out paper-piecing patterns, and estimate the amount of fabric you need.
I was very excited to discover that EQ has recently released a less involved version of EQ7, called EQ Mini. For those who aren't planning on quitting their day job to design patterns full time, but enjoy branching out from commercially-produced patterns, this is a great option. The program walks you through all of its features, and you jump right into the quilt designing stage, without the need to create your own blocks. Not only is the Mini version more approachable, it's also $100 less!

If you start lusting after the more elaborate features of EQ7 after purchasing EQ Mini, it's a non-issue. You can upgrade any time for the difference in cost of the two programs.
Since the cost of EQ Mini is about the same as a quilt kit, I suspect an enthusiastic quilter would make up for the investment by using the fabric estimator to avoid drastically over-purchasing, testing fabric combinations before butchering fabric irreparably, printing patterns instead of buying them, and saving time she would have spent drawing in seam allowances or calculating measurements.
Also, as a Mac user, I appreciate that the program has a version for both Apple computers and PCs.
How about a tour?
The program opens with a tutorial slideshow to take you through the basics. After you've got a handle on things, you can choose to have it avoid showing the introduction screen at startup. There's also a question mark that appears when you click on each tab. When this is clicked, it opens a tutorial explaining that particular section. If you have additional questions, you can also contact customer service; they are very informative and willing to help.

There are four tabs: Start New Quilt, Adjust Layout, Edit Borders, and Design Quilt. From the Start New Quilt tab you can choose from four layout options.

The Adjust Layout tab lets you adjust the center layout of the quilt.

The Edit Borders tab allows you to add or remove borders. You can choose from 8 border styles, and adjust the width of all four sides.

The Design Quilt Tab is where you fill your layout with blocks and fabrics, which you add to your project sketchbook from a vast, included library. What's more, doyoueq.com has free monthly fabric downloads.

You can choose to print your entire quilt, yardage estimates, templates, rotary cutting measurements, or foundation patterns.

Something new to EQ Mini that EQ7 doesn't have is the Share to Facebook button. The button next door is extremely useful too, as it leads to a video tutorial series covering all the details of the program.

Now that you've had the run-down, here's a project I made in very short order.

I chose a horizontal strip quilt, and picked an assortment of border styles for the rows. Then, I made the right and bottom borders substantially smaller than the others.

I dropped Log Cabin blocks into each space. Holding down the control key allowed me to fill in an entire row at once. I recolored to my heart's content using the Swap All Colors. It very conveniently changes everything that is one color to another in one click.

When I was satisfied, I printed my fabric yardage.

I can also print paper-piecing patterns. EQ Mini did the coloring and numbering for me. How nice!

As awesome as all this sounds, I have ever better news! The wonderful folks at Electric Quilt have kindly donated a copy of EQ Mini for a giveaway.
Use the code BIGSAVINGS to get 25% off.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Quilt Market: Free Spirit

At Quilt Market in October, Free Spirit stayed true to their flair for funky, bright, non-stereotypical prints from designers with a clear sense of their personal aesthetic.

Anna Maria Horner's booth was filled with three beautiful quilts in bold, saturated hues.

Safe Passage is an update on a similar Mod Corsage quilt Anna Maria made last spring. It is one of three patterns Anna Maria is releasing shortly.

 Cross Country (86" square) was made from Loominous 2.

Plot Twist was created with raw edge appliqué using a combination of Mod Corsage and Loominous 2 fabric.

 She also has lovely embroidery patterns.

Tula's new collection, Tabby Road, is all about the common house cat, in spite of her former claims that she would never, ever put a domestic pet to fabric. Never say never, right?

The beautiful Catnip quilt (70" x 70") is going to be available as a kit.

The Funky Friends Factory made a standing kitty softie pattern especially to showcase Tula's collection. I see this plush being a major hit.

This fantastic triangle quilt is Tabby Mountain, a free pattern from the lookbook.

The alternating solid fabrics create the perfect means of showcasing elaborate quilting.

Heather Bailey pulled inspiration from favorite Beatle's songs including "Octopus's Garden," "Norwegian Wood," "Twist and Shout," and "Blackbird," for her hello LOVE collection.

This New Glory quilt is by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios.

What do you think of these collections? Are there other Free Spirit Q4 collections on your wish list?

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Mystery Revealed

Update: @sarahbeth1964 is the random winner.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a few teasers about an orange triangular mystery object. I challenged my followers to guess its identity to win it in my first #mysteryobjectgiveaway. Well, I wouldn't want all of you here to miss out on your chance to join in on the fun. First, I'll catch you up on the hints.
Iron Man was working on his upper body strength. I first met this fellow when he surfaced in a box of garage sale-acquired Legos in the same manner as a cereal box prize. He became my personal property when my son was all too eager to dismember him. Not only was it morbid, but I could envision a younger sibling chocking on an Iron Man hand, which would lose me the Mother of the Year Award I've been working so hard to attain. Or not. Because I'd rather sew than clean house any day. Let's just say you are far less likely to be invited over if you favor dusting over piecing.

Then, Dino got a chew toy. This guy remind me of a greeting card at Target with a short-armed tyrannosaurus that says "I love you this much." Hilarious! (To me anyway.)

Well, this doesn't actually work. Thankfully, I wasn't really making dinner anyway. Just pretending. If I were actually making dinner, you'd smell microfiber towel melting to the stovetop. Not hilarious, because it's true.

If you think I'm exaggerating about melting stuff, here's my counter-argument.

Well, enough of this nonsense. Many of the clever folks on Instagram saw right through my deception. They recognized this gadget as the handy Sunflower Quilts Original Thread Cutter. I chain piece when sewing, like to leave my chain intact when pressing. Afterwards, I need to cut everything apart, and this is so much faster than scissors (and has no chance of slicing into my ironing board cover). It's short enough that it doesn't tip over, and you don't risk cutting yourself, as the blade isn't exposed.

To have your chance at winning this fantastic tool, either comment on my Instagram feed, or comment below telling me if you had heard about this awesome notion before. I'll pick a random winner Friday.

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