It's Party Time!!

Today's the DAY!!! The Quilting Galleries Blog Hop Party with Giveaways!!

I love Parties and I love Giveaways so I was so happy to have this chance to participate.  Did you check out that huge list of participants!! That should keep you all busy for a few hours :) I know it will me.

I would first like to introduce Gerri Richards, a pattern designer and quilting teacher from Rothesay, New Brunswick. Gerri markets her patterns under the name Cool Cat Creations. I first met Gerri last February when she was a guest at a quilting retreat I attended.  We seemed to click and I loved her humour, her patterns and the fact that she has 4 cats!  Over the summer, on days that we needed a break from cancer, we would pop into Town and Country Quilts, in Rothesay, where Gerri currently gives classes; and, we would have some good chats and receive lots of hugs and support.  It really meant a lot to us.  One of the giveaways for this hop comes from Gerri's line of patterns and she graciously allowed me to interview her so you all could get to know her better!

Gerri has loved to draw and paint since she was a little girl and this talent was greatly encouraged.  After studying tailoring and pattern drafting, she started her own line of children's clothing under the brand name of Miss Scarlett.  In the meantime, she was always interested in quilts and ended up taking a quilting course from her local guild.

This lead to several years of volunteering with kids and quilts which eventually lead to teaching at Town and Country quilts. Gerri loves teaching, loves the people who take her classes and loves how thrilled they are when they finish their quilt!

The first seed of thought to designing her own quilting patterns came about one summer when everyone at a local market wanted to buy her wallhanging with 3 Cool Cats on it.

Several years later, she stopped in at Keepsake Quilting in New Hampshire carrying a bag she had designed.  They encouraged her to  come up with a written pattern for it.  Two and half years later, Keepsake Quilting catalog was featuring her patterns.  Gerri says, "it's "Very Hard" breaking into the quilting industry as there are many, many designers!" I am glad she persisted!

Gerri tells me the most interesting part of designing for her is the actual making of the samples.  "I just love playing with the colors, love fabrics, love the feel of fabrics!"  Sounds like the rest of us quilters too!

When I asked Gerri about designing fabric, she told me she'd love to have a line of fabric; and, in actuality, has already started designing one.  I can't wait to see what you come out with Gerri!

You can find Gerri and her patterns in the following places:

www.coolcatsandquilts.blogspot.com

www.etsy.com/shop/coolcatsandquilts

and on Facebook at Cool Cat Creations.

I am offering two items for my giveaway.  The first is Achy Breaky Hearts by Cool Cat Creations!  I fell in love with this pattern this summer!  All Gerri's students were having a lot of fun making them hearts!

 Looks good in country colors too! And, the hearts are made with a Jelly Roll...how easy is that!

 Second giveaway, a new copy of Cutting Corners by Joan Hanson.

 Wouldn't you love to make this??

 Or this!! They're in this book!

To be entered, leave me a comment.  If you don't follow me, I'd love to have you join! I will be using a random number generator to pick the winners on Dec. 17th.  Make sure I can reach you by email because if I can't, I pick someone else.  I will mail Canada and United States.

And most, of all, don't forget to check out all the other participants in the Quilting Galleries Blog Hop with Giveaways! Happy hopping, good luck to everyone and God Bless!