10-for-10 - Grand Finale!! Rita of Red Pepper Quilts

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Here we are - the grand finale.  I can't believe we are at 10 today.  All of the interviews have been so fun, and today's is no exception.  We're starting a little early, as it's already Thursday Down Under, where our next guest lives.  It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the amazingly talented, super inspiring, and wonderfully friendly Rita from Red Pepper Quilts.





Ok - time to be honest for a second - I'm still a little giddy over this one.  Rita is my idol, my hero, you know... that "holy crow, I can't believe she's talking to little ol' me" person.   She's who I want to be when I'm finally a grown-up quilter.  She's wonderfully talented and successful, but still willing to help out when people have questions.  I've enjoyed getting to know her more over the past few weeks.

I found Rita's blog very early this year - just when I was getting back into quilting after a bit of a inspiration funk.  I was instantly mesmerized and immediately became a follower.  Her work never ceases to amaze me and I watch for new posts almost like a stalker.  And, by the way, if you've not visited her site before, you should go there now.  Right now.  You can come back here later.  Go on....I'll wait.  :)

What first struck me about Rita's blog is the completely modern feel of her quilts.  Now, I'm not about to try and define "modern" in words - it's just something I feel when I see her quilts.  They are breathtaking!





I love her use of white (I'm hooked on white as a background, now) and her fabulous use of bright, fun colors.  And I love, love, love her simple, straight-line stitching.





In fact, when I was having trouble with my first go at straight-line quilting, she came to my rescue.   With her advice and encouragement, the quilt was finished and off to my grandmother in no time.  (Thanks again, Rita!!)  Her response to my questions, genuine interest in my situation, and friendly eagerness to help made me a fan for life.

Since then, I've purchased two of her patterns, Alice and Bricks-and-Stones, and nearly finished Alice.  Next on my list after these is the Flying Geese pattern.





This one still makes my jaw drop.  Simply fabulous. 

Oh, and did you know you can buy her quilts - yes, finished quilts.  Anyone want to go Christmas shopping??





So now, here she is, ready to talk to you!  I love the answers she gave to the interview questions, and I'm sure you will, too.  Enjoy!!

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If you won $3,000 today and had to spend it today, what would you buy? 
If I won $3000 today I would probably want to put it aside for a holiday. As a family we really enjoy traveling and have been fortunate to enjoy holidays in both the USA, Europe and England. We'd love to go again and are hoping to do so within the next 3 years. It's part of the long term plan.

What color scheme or fabric line are you loving right now? 
I am really still "stuck" on a fresh color scheme - anything with lots of contrasting white is a feast for my eyes. I have really enjoyed playing around with other colors - to the exclusion of white - but find that I end up coming back to a color scheme that includes white. It just has a classic and timeless feel about it for me.

What is one (sharable) thing from your "bucket list"? 
I would love to um ... bungee jump in New Zealand? No just joking! I am terrified of heights. But ... I would like to spend 2 to 3 months living in NYC, just to experience this amazing city as less of a tourist (a pretend local). Yes, that would be amazing!

Is there a sewing technique or quilt block that you would like to try? 
I'd love to make a Pickle Dish Quilt with loads of paper pieced arcs and curved piecing. I don't mind paper piecing, in fact I quite enjoy it as there is a rhythm to the process, but it is sewing together those arcs that really puts me off. I have pieced arcs/circles before and I can't say there was much joy in it for me!

What hot trends do you see coming our way? 
I see more quilts with only solid fabrics, and a continuation of traditional quilt designs being worked with modern and colorful fabrics. I would love to see more fabric collections with simple designs and each print featuring only 2 to 3 colors - much like Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt.

What kind of movies do you like and do you have an all-time favorite? 
I don't watch much TV and it is rare that I actually make time to go to the movies. Several weeks ago I watched the movie Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman on TV (although I'd missed the start of it). I really enjoyed it and ended up purchasing the DVD. My first Movie DVD! My other all time favorites: Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing.

When you’re faced with a lack of motivation, what do you do to get re-energized? 
When looking for inspiration I turn to magazines and books. But I find that the harder I try to find inspiration the less likely I am to succeed. Sometimes it's better to take a step back, go for a walk, take some time out from your normal routine and inspiration will find you.

What one piece of advice would you give a new quilter? 
I would tell a newbie quilter to have fun with it; don't sweat the small stuff, the uneven/unmatched seams, none of it matters. All you need is a rotary cutter/mat, a working sewing machine and a bundle of fabric and you are ready to go. As long as you are enjoying what you are doing you're doing it just right! Don't doubt yourself.

What is your favorite finished project to date?
This is a difficult question! I might have to go with the In A Spin Quilt - made with a combination of new and recycled fabrics: http://www.redpepperquilts.com/2010/10/in-spin.html

You have an unplanned evening alone with no responsibilities – what do you do? 
I am pretty boring in that I quite enjoy my own company and would be happy to stay home and potter around. I am home on my own most week days during school hours and thoroughly enjoy this quiet time.

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Thanks so much, Rita!  If you do end up back in the USA, I hope you'll let me know.  And, fair warning - if I ever make it to Australia, you'll have to hide your quilts from me!  :)

Now, it's on to the giveaway. Today's Heirloom bundle includes a fat eighth of Blockade Blossom, Opal Gold, Marquis Garnet, and Ornate Floral Garnet.  The fabrics were generously donated by Cathy at Wondrous Woven Fabrics, so please visit her store and say hello.  (Oh - and by the way, Cathy still has Heirloom on sale for $7.99 a yard!!)



Bundle 10


To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me which of Rita's finished projects is your favorite.

Followers of Rita's blog and/or followers of my blog get up to two optional bonus entries. So leave a separate comment for each blog you follow.

That's three entries per person...one for the giveaway itself, one for following Rita's blog, and one for following my blog.  Comments close at 9:00 am EST (USA) on Monday, October 3rd, and I will draw a random winner at that time.

I hope you've enjoyed this series - it's been a lot of fun gathering these questions and getting to know our bloggy friends a little better.  Thanks for playing along!!


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Comments

  1. I love her Zig Zag Rail Fence Quilt! The colors are just so great.

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  2. I follow Red Pepper Quilts via email and can't wait for new updates!

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  3. I am a follower of stitching by starlight.

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  4. I looove her Pooches and Pickups quilt. What a fun little boy quilt!

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  5. Really just one?! I think my favourite would be 'Of stripes and bunting' - it's so cute and all those stripes look amazing together!

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  6. I follow Red Pepper... a couple years now!

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  7. My favorite... all! I really ike Poseidon. :)

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  8. Oh, thank you for interviewing Rita! I love her Charming Triangles Quilt that you have featured above. But I think I love all of her quilts!

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  9. And I am a follower of Rita's blog. In fact I think it is the first blog I ever followed!

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  10. I think the Charming Triangles quilt is completely amazing. Really, all her quilts are, but I think that is my favorite!

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  11. I love the milk and cookies - it's kind of calming and restfull.

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  12. I'm a flower oops follower of your blog.

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  13. Love the little quilt with the Sarah Fielke fabrics!

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  14. I'm a follower of your blog - thankyou very much!

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  15. Also a Red Pepper Quilts fan and follower!

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  16. I think I'm in love with her Charming Triangles Quilt!

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  17. I follow Stitching by Starlight 0n FB!

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  18. I love that windmill doll quilt - ESPECIALLY the back! SO CUTE!

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  19. The Zig Zag rail fence has fabulour colours - such a happy quilt!

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  20. I am a follower of Rita, and have learned so much about use of colour from her quilts. She is pretty awesome!

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  21. I love the Birds of a Feather quilt!

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  22. I am a new follower of Stitching by Starlight (love the name!) via twitter.

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  23. I love all of Rita's quilts, but a favorite would have to be her recent it's a hoot quilt. She has a wonderful eye for color placement!

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  24. I gave followed red pepper quilts forever...it was one of my first quilting blog finds!

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  25. I gave followed red pepper quilts forever...it was one of my first quilting blog finds!

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  26. I like the 'A Colorstory Quilt'. :) It's simple lines make it beautiful!

    Mary
    iammaryburke @ gmail.com

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  27. I follow your blog

    Mary
    iammaryburke @ gmail.com

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  28. I follow Red Pepper Quilts :)

    Mary
    iammaryburke @ gmail.com

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  29. I love the Birds of a Feather quilt front and back it's just beautiful!!

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  30. I follow Rita of Red Pepper Quilts!!

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  31. I follow here!! Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  32. Rita sure has a great eye for color. I love Charming Triangles. The red and white is gorgeous.

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  33. I like her Pinwheels on Parade Quilt.

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  34. I am already a Red Pepper Quilts follower.

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  35. I am a Stitching by Starlight follower.

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  36. i am a follower of rpq. i just love her quilts! all of them. i do love lolouthi beach huts from 2011. she is in my hometown.

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  37. i am a follower of stitching by starlight, in fact both of your blogs are gadgets on my google home page, so i can see exactly when you have new posts. it's great.thanks for the chance.

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  38. Wow- great interview! Rita is one of my quilting idols too- So great to learn more about her and see a picture too. Off the rails zigzag quilt is my favorite.
    Hard to pick just one though!

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  39. I'm a happy SBS follower too! :) Great series Angie. So humbled to be included in this group!

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  40. I really like the Modern Flying Geese Quilt. :0

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  41. I follow Red Pepper Quilts by e-mail.

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  42. my favourite is Rita's children at play boys quilt. i used this fabric in a different colourway to make a quilt for my little boy.

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  43. i follow you angie, thanks for the chance!

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  44. I love all Rita's quilt but I have to admit I just gasped when I saw the orange and white hst quilt pictured above! Orange always makes me happy :)

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  45. I'm a big fan of all Rita's work. I'm particularly fond of her Zig Zag Rail Fence Quilt, her various Flying Geese, and the Stripes and Bunting Quilt.

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  46. I follow Stitching by Starlight, too!

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  47. Great interview! I love Rita's blog. I think my favorite finish of hers is the Birds of a Feather quilt.

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  48. I follow Red Pepper Quilts blog and also was attracted to Rita's modern quilt style using simple geometric shapes.

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  49. I love Rita's Sweet Daisy quilt...LOVE LOVE! Thanks for the chance!

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  50. I like both the HST quilt and the flying geese quilt at Rita's blog. Her header always has such lovely examples of her work. Thanks for the giveaway. I've enjoyed your 10-for-10 series.

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  51. Broken dishes is my favorite quilt. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  52. I follow Red Pepper Quilts blog.

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  53. I now follow Rita's blog via email.

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  54. My favorite quilt is called vintage style.

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  55. I like Rita's Birds of a Feather

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  56. Good golly, all of her finishes are beautiful. It was hard to choose... so I picked two and a half! I loved her zig zag rail fence quilt, her birds of a feather quilt, and the back of her windmill mini. :)

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  57. I follow your blog in my reader!

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  58. I'm a new follower of Red Pepper Quilts. I can't believe it's taken me so long to find her blog -- it's amazing!

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  59. I love her Pinwheels on Parade quilt and hope to make one like it one day~

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  60. I have been a follower of Red Pepper Quilts for about a year now and read her blog each day!

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  61. I am a follower of Stitching by Starlight and I love this blog! It's fun to read about all the quilting that's going on now!

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  62. I don't think I could ever pick a favorite :) It depends on the day- they are all incredible- I think the top photo you posted is one on the top of my list at the moment though (not sure what she calls this one)!

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  63. I'm a follower of Ritas blog. Thanks for the chance :)

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  64. I have always coveted the quilt you featured with the Prints Charming centre panel - it's just gorgeous!

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  65. I have been following Rita for awhile too. I love her quilts and no know her better thanks to you. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  66. She has wonderful quilts. I especially like the zig zag quilt and plan to buy the pattern soon. Because of her I too like HST quilts but can't come close to her quilting perfection. I even try to quilt in her fashion..She is wonderful! Thank you so much for this interview.

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  67. I am a new follower of yours. I'm looking forward to your blogs. Thank you for this giveaway.

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  68. Wow. Awesome quilts she's created. Just stunning. It really is very hard to choose just one favorite because from only those completed this year alone I have a list of five that I just love.

    The Children at Play is adorable and even moreso from that bottom border. Super cute!

    The two doll quilts: Down Under Quilt Swap 2 and the Windmill Doll Quilt are both just awesome. LOVE both of those.

    And the way she's done the Birds of a Feather with the multiple colors that way is such an original design. I've never seen that before and love how beautiful that is.

    And finally, The Charming Triangles is just amazing and gorgeous. Wonderful work. WOW!

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  69. I am now following Rita's blog via email subscription as well as google.

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  70. I am now subscribed to your blog via email subscription as well as Google friend connect. I just found your blog via the FavQuilts site and fell in love with your mug rugs and the tree block.

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  71. My favorite is the Zig Zag Rail Fence Quilt! The way she used the colors is awesome! :)

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  72. I am a new follower of Red Pepper Quilts via gfc!

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  73. I can't believe you want me to choose a favorite. I love the Zig Zag Rail Fence or Birds of a Feather or Charming Triangles or...

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  74. I'm a happy follower of Rita's blog.

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  75. i think i'd have to choose the charming triangles, so simple, but it could hold my attention for hours!

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  76. i'm a follower of rita's blog

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  77. Who could choose just one of Rita's quilts as a favorite? I also love her blog for it's inspiration. But if you're gonna make me choose...I'll go with her Modern Flying Geese, but tomorrow I might choose something else!

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  78. And I follow Rita, too. Funny, how many favorite bloggers we have in common. This was a fun series. Thanks, Angie!

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  79. I love her Bricks and Stones quilt -- but really I love all of her quilt designs that play with different ways to see squares!

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