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February 2010 Newsletter From Carol Doak
I actually love the month of February. Perhaps it is because of Valentines Day, which I have always loved because people take the time to say "I Love You" to family and friends. I used to love making Valentine cards as a kid in anticipation of bringing them into school and putting them in the brightly decorated "Mail Box". I can still smell that white school paste we would use to decorate the box and our cards. Maybe that is why I have designed so many paper-pieced heart blocks.
Or, living in New Hampshire, perhaps it is because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel of winter weather.
The block I selected to use for my February Newsletter was made by Sherie who is a member of the Carol Doak Yahoo Group. We have just begun a Yours Truly Round Robin and this is Sherie`s first and second round.
Trips:
Quilting Retreat in Vermont- April 23-25, 2010
I have just heard from the Strong House Inn that there are still some openings for this event. If you want to come and play with us, just click on the link above to read more about it or call Mary at 802-877-3337 to make your reservation.
The Web Store
There was such a wonderful response to my appearance on The Quilt Show and I was so pleased that TQS offered people who visited my web page to see the show for free last week. I received so many kind comments from people who told me that watching me just made it all click for them. Many others wrote to me that they picked up lots of new tips that will make their paper piecing easier and more efficient. That really pleases me because I want everyone to love to paper piece.
Sooooo....I decided to choose the Carol Doak Teaches You to Paper Piece DVD as the DVD of the Month. This DVD is jam packed full of information broken down into logical segments that you can watch all the way through or just the segment that pertains to your interest at the time. It is like a book about paper piecing that you watch rather than read. And being a video, it is so easy for me to show you lots of tips and tricks that will make your paper piecing efficient and fun! You can watch it via a DVD player on your TV or you can watch it on your laptop with a DVD viewer. It is on sale this month so take advantage of adding this to your DVD library.
While the supply lasts...The Royal Windsor Collection fabric is on sale. All fabric is now only $1.50 per quarter yard!!!! That is only $6 per yard. I need to make room.
Carol Doak Yahoo Group
We are now 5600 members strong. When we reached the milestone of 5500 members, I designed and uploaded the 5500 Member Celebration Block for our members to play with and create a block or project.
Our members embraced the block and made it their own. The block on the left was made by Karen from Idaho. Karen used graphic primary colors against black to make a very dramatic statement. She had just the right colorful and contemporary fabric to showcase in the center square.
Now here is a very different approach....
Merilyn from Australia took the same block and used a different approach to color and created a completely different design. Both blocks are fabulous and showcase just how important color and placement are. There are several dozen blocks uploaded by members, all showing a different approach and result using exactly the same design.
This is one of the wonderful learning experiences you can enjoy being a member of the Carol Doak Yahoo Group.
Members have also just begun the Yours Truly Round Robin. This is a round robin that you do yourself. I provide a set of criteria for the center block and each successive round. The members create their quilt step-by-step to the criteria. In developing the criteria, I am using my designing experience to create the format for a dramatic and wonderful result. I personally love seeing how each member interprets the same set of criteria. These quilts are going to be fabulous!
If you want to see what we are about, just click on the heading above and join the group.
Fan Page on Facebook
Stop by my Fan page and say hi! Right now we are having a wonderful show and tell.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carol-Doak/87623041713
On The Road Again
I am leaving this week to travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico to lecture and teach. I hope to meet some of you along the way.
All the best,
Carol