Hello and welcome to the Sweet Celebrations blog hop.
We are mother and daughter team Jo Kramer and Kelli Kramer and we are proud to say we have three projects in this book, “Sweet Celebrations”.
We took this picture a year ago to the date back when we were frantically trying to get a picture of ourselves as part of our submission to the Sweet Celebrations book. Â We wanted to take the picture with our beagles, Puppycat and Gracie. Â It was quite the day! Â They weren’t cooperating, and to be honest, we weren’t cooperating the best either. Â Just recently Gracie passed away and there is a new puppy on our horizon…I can promise you, it will be a beagle. Â In fact, we just picked out a new puppy.
We are casual country farm girls. Â Notice we didn’t even dress up to get our picture taken. Â The guys in our lives are farmers and work long hours. Â We sew to pass the time.
As part of the blog hop, we were given a list of questions to answer. Â We decided to split it up leaving some for Kelli to answer and some for Jo to answer. Â Here’s Kelli’s questions:
What is your favorite part of quilting–fabric selection, piecing, quilting, binding–and why? My favorite part of the quilting process is choosing the pattern, the fabric,and getting all of my fabrics ironed and cut. When I make a quilt, I am very picky about the process. I like doing all of the ironing at once, all of the cutting at once (and organizing all of my cut pieces into nice little piles), and all of the sewing at once for each step. I don’t like to sew three blocks to see how it will turn out and then continue on. Quilting is the part of the process that I like the least. Binding is a bit of a bittersweet process for me. I like knowing that I finished another quilt, but it’s a little bit sad because the quilt is finished.
Do your pets/kids/spouse help of hinder your creative process?   I really don’t have too many hinderances when it comes to sewing or my creative process. My beagle Puppycat usually sits in a chair in the corner of my sewing room carefully supervising. Sometimes she sits on my sewing bench with me, but sometimes she decides that she wants to play fetch and will grab a toy and sit at my feet whining until I throw it, as she knows I won’t say no. As my boyfriend farms, he usually doesn’t come home until 9 or 10 at night depending on the season. By then my back is usually a bit achy and I’m ready for a break. Overall, he’s pretty supportive as he has learned the hard way that sewing is my therapy. When we moved last summer, he even gave up a dining room so that I could have a sewing room downstairs. I think he’s a keeper!
If you and your dearest friend were going to dress as a horse, would you be the rear end so she could be the front? Tell us how you became friends. This is a quite interesting question. Me and my best friend/mom became quite close friends as she housed me for 9 months prior to making my appearance to the world and she’s been stuck with me ever since. There were a few years when we didn’t get along/I thought I knew everything. I swear though, the older she gets, the smarter she gets….or maybe the better I get at listening. In regards to the horse situation, I would definitely allow her to be the head. She’s better at presenting things in a more complete way and definitely thinks before she speaks. I tend to be a bit more stubborn and drag my heels a bit. I also have to be pushed, poked, and prodded to do things…like add borders to a quilt or finish a binding. Over all though, we work quite well together. Things that I don’t like doing are things that Mom enjoys and things that really bother her are things that I love doing!
What sewing accomplishment are you most proud of? My biggest sewing accomplishment to date is being featured as a Moda Bakeshop Chef. I had previously dabbled with designing, drawing, and coloring blocks here and there, but never really done anything serious. One day I sent a copy of a quilt I had been working on to Mom and after much proding and poking (I’m the horse’s rear end remember) she made me submit it to Bakeshop. When I found out that the quilt was accepted, I was so excited. It validated the hard work I had put into working on matching up seams, keeping a true quarter inch seam allowance, and the design work I had done on the quilt. When I finished the quilt and showed the Bakeshop readers what I had created, all of the kind comments and works of encouragement really made my day and I knew then that even though I was relatively new to quilting, it was something that I had done and done well.  Next on our horizon is a project that will be featured in a national quilting magazine.
Here are Jo’s question:
What have I gained from the online quilting/sewing world?
Wow..how do I answer that question quickly??!? I can’t.  I can say that I have gained the best batch of friends a gal can ask for.  Serious.  When I recently purchased my new APQS Millennium,  I asked fellow blogger Judy from Patchwork Times for some advice.  She was right there and answered right away.  I have made connections with so many companies in the quilting industry through my Try in on Tuesday’s posts where I try out new products and publications.  I’ve got great reader friends who understand the sorrow I’ve been going through when my beloved beagle Gracie died.  I have friends who send me fabric scraps so I can keep working on my pineapple blocks.  I’ve met amazing friends who are Bonnie Hunter groupies like I am.  I got connected with the gals from Country Threads and had an opportunity to go to quilt market in Cincinnati with them.  I’ve gotten real close to fellow Moda Bake Shop Chef, Michelle from Michelle’s Romantic Tangle.  I’ve been blessed by sweet Ila who always is sending us goodies.  The list goes on and on…..From the time I started blogging 3 1/2 years ago to now, my circle of friends has grown globally and I LOVE that.  In our small home town there aren’t a lot of people who are quilt crazy like I am so all of you help me feel “normal” and I thank you for that.
We were asked to share a recipe with you. Â We made our recipe quick and easy. Â We know all you would love a yummy treat to celebrate the Fourth of July…this one requires little prep time so you can quickly get back to sewing.
Here’s the recipe.
Are you are wondering what our project is….well we don’t want to reveal too much…but we can say, these quilts are our designs.
You can actually make both quilts at once. Â How neat is that?!?!
We also have another quilt in the book! Â We had so much fun working on projects for the book. Â Can you image? Â We made the three quilts in just over a month!
Now here comes the best fun!! Â All of you have an opportunity to win a Moda precut…we LOVE fat quarters packs (don’t you??) and your very own copy of the book, Sweet Celebrations. Â Just leave a comment here telling me what your favorite Moda precut is.
If you want more chances to win and some great recipes, hop over to see some of the other featured Moda Bake Shop Chefs.
October 1 – StashBooks and Moda Cutting Table
October 2 – Melissa Mortenson and Melissa Corry
October 3 – Mary Lane Brown and Natalia Bonner
October 4 – Lissa Alexander and Corey Yoder
October 5 – Jane Davidson and Angela Yosten
***October 6 – Jo & Kelli Kramer (THIS IS US) and Stefanie Roman
October 7 – Sherri McConnell and Megan Jimenz & Heather Andrus
October 8 – Angela Mitchell and Ellie Roberts
October 9 – Katie Blakesley and Aneela Hoey
October 10 – Amy Smart and Angela Pingel
October 11 – Vanessa Christenson and April Rosenthal
October 12 – Moda Bake Shop
October 14 – Readers have until midnight on the 14th to comment on all the blogs for the giveaways.
October 19 –Winners announced on all the blogs.
Thanks for stopping by.
I actually don’t have a favorite, I have just started quilting and have purchased one of each precut all in different collections so far, but haven’t finished all of the projects yet. So after I am done with them all I will probably decide. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Ruby charm pack
I’ve decided my favorites are fat quarter bundles. I feel like I have a lot more choices that way. My current favorite line is probably Oh Deer.
I really like jelly rolls, but can be tempted by other formats; charm squares have also found a home here several times.
I am definitely a fan of fat quarter bundles and my favorite Moda Fat quarter bundle right now is Eat Your Fruits n’ Veggies by Pat Sloan.
I love layer cakes…tag right now Kate Spain cuzno
All precuts are wonderful. Fat quarters are more versatile but if I just need to have some of a beautiful Moda fabric I buy a charm or 2. Lately I’m loving Laundry Basket Quilts, “Dancing in the Rain”. Thanks for the funny photos and letting us get to know you girls a little more. ;-> Toni Anne
That first photo of the two of you is just lovely! At the moment by favourite is Vintage Modern and I have a layer cake and a charm pack just waiting to be used! I also love fat quarters and jelly rolls.
What a wonderful story at your blog! I will come back and read it more often. Difficult to say which Moda precut is my favorite, but I think it’s the jelly roll.
My favourite Moda pre-cut is the Layer Cake – all those lovely pieces and versatile too. My absolute favourites are Minick and Simpson designs.
Regards from England (hence the weird spelling!)
I love fat quarter bundles. I am always amazed how far a fat quarter goes. I am most likely to buy a charm pack though, so I can have a little of everything! Love the quilts! I am looking forward to this book.
Hey there,
I love precuts but living in germany …its not easy to get some moda on hand….and shipping from the states makes them soooo expensive. I would love to win one!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I like fat quarter bundles the best. They give me more opportunities to use the fabrics in different projects.
I like fat quarter bundles best–like the versatility of them. Great quilts–can’t wait to see your third project in the book!
Great blog today ladies! I like the charm packs and the jelly rolls together in quilts. Such fun and so much faster with most of the cutting done!
Charm packs are fun but fat quarter bundles give you more lee way on what you want to make and how big. How exciting to be feature in a book. Thanks for the chance.
What a wonderful life with your mom….I love layer cakes…I can make so many things from them. It would be hard to pick just one right now…but I love all Moda. Thanks for being so generous.
I like fat quarters or charm packs. Any Moda fabric is great. Thanks.
My favorite pre-cut is a fat quarter bundle. You can make anything with those, sometimes several things with one bundle! The possibilities are endless! Love those quilts you designed!
Congratulations on having 3 projects in the book! I like fat quarter packs because of the versatility, but I also buy jelly rolls, layer cakes and charms packs!
Fat quarter bundles are the best, but I also love charm packs.
I also like fat quarter bundles the best. They’re so fun to play with.
I would have to say a jelly roll because it can be sewn together and te sub cut into interesting blocks.
Although I haven’t tried all of the precuts, I have to go with a jelly roll.
I love charm packs! My design preference varies with whatever project I am working on, though. :-).
I’d love to have the Sunrise Over the Rainbow Batik jelly roll by Laundry Basket Quilts!
My favorite precut is the fat quarter bundle – so versatile. But then I also love charm packs, jelly rolls & layer cakes. Thanks for the chance to win.
Jelly Rolls are my favorite precut because I use it for binding table runners, etc. I just love all the Moda precuts. :-) The new mini charms are just so stinking cute!! Also, super fun photos!
Love your blog! I read it every day. I also love that you and Kelli have such a close relationship….what a treasure that is in today’s world.
Thanks for the recipe and chance to win! My favorite Moda precut changes with the project I’m on. The first quilt I ever made was precut charm packs and after sewing 5″ square to 5″ square for days on end I HATED them. But now I’ve learned they’re versatile and am currently making a fall hexagon table runner with them and LOVE them!
I sure loved reading your post! My favorite moda precuts TODAY are the Flirt line by Sandy Gervais. What I love about Moda is every day is a new day with new fabric. I absolutely love fat quarter bundles (just a taste of so many different fabrics), but then jelly rolls are great (all cut out and rolled up), and the charms squares . . . yep, I really love them all;)
I’d have to say Jelly Rolls are my favorite, but I really like them all!
I love the jelly rolls! Thanks for the opportunity to win the Moda book. :)
I love all the pre-cuts, but find the fat quarters to be the most practical. They give me fabric to construct the blocks and then enough to make the borders.
I can’t wait to see Sweet Celebrations! I like all of the precuts but recently met Moda Candy – I love it! I seem to spend a lot of time doing small projects and the Candy is perfect sized.
my favorite Moda precuts are the layer cake and the jelly roll, because i can make so many different quilt blocks with that combination. Favorite new Moda line is Cinnamon Spice. YUM!
What a great relationship you and your daughter have–it’s beautiful to see. thanks for sharing those beautiful quilts–I’ll have to add those to my list of ‘wanna makes”.
Fat quarter bundles in bright colors of the rainbow.
Coquette Charm Pack is just one of my favs! I enjoyed your adventure to find a new puppy, Gracie will be proud! Thank you so much for such a wonderful opportunity and my husband is going to love your cake mix in the bag……..he is the sweet tooth in the family with such a weakness for cake!
I enjoy your blog so much and have been “lurking” here for months. Thanks so much for all your tips and tutorials. Im looking forward to “Sweet Celebrations”. I love fat quarter bundles!
Good morning to you :) I enjoyed reading all about both of you. I think living on a farm would be exiting but also hard work. My favorite Moda precuts are the fat quarters and jelly rolls. It’s so wonderful to see how close both of you are.
I really do enjoy your blog. So much fun and so many ideas to keep us busy and out of trouble, for a while. So, you have 3 projects in this book. WOW, you really have been doing a lot of quilting. Thanks for the recipe. It is another keeper and will definitely be part of Moda’s new book that one of us will win. I really enjoy working with jelly rolls, but any pre-cuts are just perfect and you can always find a quilt pattern that will work.
Sandi T.
sandit1@sbcglobal.net
Fat quarters when a lot of colors are needed – layer cakes are my new favorite as they are usually big enough for projects. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity. Judy C
My favorite pre-cut has to be charm squares. Just love ’em.
Fat quarter bundles when I can afford them are my favorite. I am also getting to be a BIG fat of fat 1/8 bundles. A sweet taste of my favorites!!! XXX
I just love fat quarters! You gals are a hoot! So much fun that as a mom/daughter team you work and have such fun together! Love your other pals too!
I am so torn between jelly rolls and charm packs. I love being able to have such a variety a fabrics all ready to sew with only a few cuts.
Your quilts are beautiful! Love pre-cuts can’t choose a favorite between fat quarters packs and layer cakes! Thanks for the chance to win!!
I like fat quarters best, but I do buy a charm pack of everything Kate Spain makes! Thanks for the recipe and giveaway.
Love those quilts. It was so fun reading about you both and your family. The new puppy is so cute. I am a dog lover. I have 2 Boston Terriers.
My favorite pre cut is the charm pack. But I love them all…
The book looks wonderful. Congratulations!
I love precuts for the wonderful variety you can get in one package. Layer cakes are probably my favorite because od their versatility.
I love them all! :) I’ve used fat quarters the most, so I guess you could say they are my favorites, but jelly rolls and charm packs come in a very close second!
Thanks for the great interview and the chance to win. So glad you have found a puppy, too!
I think I’m a collector of pre-cuts. I recently bought two (uhum) large containers… one for jelly rolls and one for charm squares. I think I love them equally. However, those two containers don’t negate my collection of layer cakes. I can’t wait for this book. I’m ready to start stitching those lovely pre-cuts into quilts.
I love fat quarters. I want to get my hands on a bundle of Kissing Booth by Basic Grey. Love your pictures! So sorry to hear you lost one of your “babies”. Beagles are so sweet.
I am a fan of the fat quarter bundles, although I have started to appreciate the versatility of layer cakes. Right now I’m smitten with Vanessa Christenson’s Simply Color. Beautiful!
I love charm packs – they’re easy to pick up, affordable to have multiples of and wonderful to try out patterns with. I love that you get a piece of everything in the fabric line.Of course, if I had my way, I’d have a fat quarter bundle of every line, but my husband would make me find a job to pay for the fabric and that would take away from quilting time.
My favorite precut would be a layer cake–I do a lot of applique, so I like the bigger pieces. Your projects are really pretty!
I love cake, chocolate cake, angel food cakes and love, love, love layer cakes. So many directions to go in with layer cakes.
Thanks for the give away and the quick cake recipe.
I love layer cakes. So many options with them! Thanks
Fat quarter bundles would have to be my favorite. I just love the variety and having lots of fabric to work with!
Thanks for the opportunity!!
Your recipe contribution is brilliant!!! Fave Moda pre-cut is fat qtr. pack, but I usually buy the charm packs of every line so I can see every piece there is and it’s affordable. When I can, I buy layer cakes on sale because you can get a couple of different projects out of them. Congrats on 3 projects, that’s pretty huge!
I love all fabric whether it’s in a bundle or in wee 2 1/2″ squares!! Bring it on!! Thanks for the chance to win some!! :o)
I LOVE those two quilts…my favourite fabric…Rouenneries by French General! Yum!
Paulette
My favorite Moda precut is Fat Quarter packs. You can do so much with them, and they look so pretty!
Wow!! I have never visited your blog before and really enjoyed part of my morning coffee/blog reading ritual reading through yours :) I just LOVE the pic of the quilts you shared that are in the book, the colors & designs are lovely. I typically enjoy working with charm packs as I tend to choose quick projects that I can get done quickly, and quilt myself.
My favoritres are charm packs because they’re cost-freindly and I love Carrie’s Schnibbles.
Thanks and greetings from germany, Hildy
I seem to gravitate towards jellyrolls. I have make 4 quilts so far using them. Congrats on being Chefs
I like fat quarters to make scrappy quilts. I love the two quilts you have made. I know you will enjoy your Milly as I purchased one a year ago and am loving it. Karen
Tooooddaaaaayyy……my favorite precut is Kasuri!!! It changes daily!!
I like the fat quarter bundles.
I enjoyed reading your write-up, don’t know why I haven’t come across you before, definitely a new follower now. I like fat quarters best.
Jelly Rolls are my favorite. No thinking about fabrics and oh so many pattern choices. Can’t wait to see your patterns in the book.
The Charm packs are to die for, but I would have to pick the fat quarter bundles since they are so versatile. Can’t wait to see the book and check out your patterns!
I like fat quarters the best – you get the most flexibility to cut your pieces any size. I love the Bella Solids bundles. Thanks for sharing with us – you two are very fun!
Charm packs and the mini charm packs (they are so cute!). That way i get a piece of each fabric in the line.
I love them all, but if push comes to shove, I’d have to chose the fat quarter bundles!
I love your quilts! I have a question about your little cakes – do we need to grease the cup or will that keep the batter from rising?
I love ALL the precuts!
I love fat quarters…but layer cakes are more budget friendly :)
I like all the precuts. They make quilting and piecing so much easier. And sometimes even the selection of the fabric gets a little bit easier, since the fabrics are all of one selection.
Thank you for your fun answers – I had quite the laugh.
Alex
I love all precuts! They are such a great way to make jumping into a new project.
I used to think Jelly Rolls were the best, but since then I use more Fat Quarter Bundles. Precuts were a great creation!
I love precuts. Right now it would be a toss up between charm packs and jelly rolls. I haven’t sewn with layer cakes yet, so when I do I’m sure I’ll fall in love with them as well.
I’m so sorry that you lost your dear Gracie. She looked like a real sweetheart. Good luck with the new puppy!!!
You and your daughter look like a lot of fun and I LOVE your blog!! I LOVE all things MODA, including all the pre-cuts, but I would probably say that FAT QUARTERS are the best – so many options!!
Congratulations on being in the book! Love all precuts, but fat quarters are my favorite. Enjoy reading your blog each day. It’s great you two share a love of quilting. Also love your quilts.
Fat quarter bundles would be my favourite, but my budget doesn’t stretch that far, fabric is so expensive over here. I love layer cakes, you get a bit of each print and big enough for some lovely patchwork.
Precuts are wonderful! My favorite is the fat quarter bundle ’cause there’s more fabric to work with. Love your quilts, can’t wait to see them in the book. Thankyou!
What a fun post. You’re so lucky to have the fun you both do.
Is there a link to a pdf of the recipe? That looks like one I need to try. Thank you.
My favorite are the fat quarter bundles, my checkbook disagrees so I generally buy the charm packs.
I love fat quarters, to have such an array of fabric, you can make a variety of coordinating
projects with some added background fabric, it is so much fun to see how many I can
come up with. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win.
I love fat quarter bundles. Since I seldom buy fabric with a specific project in mind having FQs gives me flexibility to do a variety of things. Right now, if I could own a FQ bundle of the new line Simply Color I would be over the moon.
I love charm pack as I love making small and doll quilts!
HELLO! LOVE ALL THE PRE CUTS! FAVOR THE FAT QUARTERS BECAUSE OF THEIR YARDAGE! REALLY LIKE “INDEPENDENCE TRAIL RIGHT NOW!
THANKS FOR SHARING!
I love using pre-cuts and have used charms squares and jelly rolls, but haven’t yet used any layer cakes! I particularly like the fabrics of Kansas Troubles, Fig Tree and Me & My Sister, but also enjoy others!
I love all precuts but I think the charm packs are my favorite. Your beagles are adorable!
I love using precuts!!! If I had to pick just one, I guess the layer cake would be my favorite.
Thanks for the chance to win. I can’t wait to get a copy of the book.
I love all precuts but I think that with a fat quarters pack you can make a big project and then you have plenty of leftovers do make some small ones… I wish I could make a quilt for my husband someday, so I’m thinking about Howard Marcus or Barbara Brackman collections…
Thank you for the giveaway!
Chiara
Hard to decide but right now Moda Everlasting by Sandy Gervais is on my to get list. I like pretty much all the pre-cuts but the mini charms look like fun.
Hope you get to enjoy that puppy soon. November will be here before we know it.
I love fat quarter bundles. I enjoyed reading your answers and getting to know you both a little better. Congratulations on being in the book. I can’t wait to get my own copy. Thanks for the chance towin.
I like the layer cut precut fabrics. If you don’t need the 10″ square, then you can cut it down to charm size. Thanks for the chance to win. Congrats on getting 3 patterns in the new book.
My favourite are fat quarter or fat eighth bundles, love to make bigger quilts. Love the quilts you made for the book.
I’ve used the charm packs, jelly rolls, and layer cakes, but have never purchased a fat
quarter bundle. Most of the time when I use a pre cut fabric it’s because that’s what the pattern calls for. They sure save a lot of time. Love your quilts.
My favorite precut is a fat quarter bundle too! I like having more fabric to work with and I can use it for multiple quilts if I want. :)