Sunday, December 16, 2018

New Patterns and a few Out Takes

December has been a very low key month for me.  No travel, no retreats, no going out.  Just time at home to rest and recoup from a busy year.  Of course I caught a cold/flu/bronchitis because everyone knows that if you aren't busy you will get sick.  Could have been a gift from the grandkids, but I don't mind, really.  Love those little babies to bits.

I may not have been traveling but I was still working.  Just completed two new patterns for Northcott which will be coming out in a week or two, and one new pattern for Timeless Treasures

Here are two versions of a Quilts of Valor design featuring Northcott's Stonehenge Stars and Stripes VII collection.  Super simple rail fence pattern in 2 versions.

The first one is called Don't Fence Me in.


The second one is called Don't Fence in my Eagles.


These two will be going to the printer next week and will be up on my website in the next few days.

One of the interesting things about designing for fabric companies, is that I supply them with dozens of designs (The same as many other designers), from which they only select one or two to feature with their fabric line.  Totally understandable.  They want a design which makes the most of their fabric and will help sell the fabric to shops.  Knowing that, I design quilts which show off fabric, but they aren't always great designs, and they often do not pick my personal favorites among those sent in.  So here are a few of my Outtakes.

For example, for the Stars and Stripes collection I designed several versions which used the new Eagle and Flag panel.  Here are my favorites, which were not selected.  But I think they would make GREAT Quilts of Valor.  What do you think?

     

I love that they are a little off center and have different borders on two sides.  The asymmetrical design reveals how unstable our current political situation is, but offers hope that the values which have and continue to give us faith in our republic are stronger than the current unsettled times might suggest.  It was a subtle but positive statement filled with hope for our future and gratitude for our past.  I suspect that was more than you wanted to know about these two designs, but I wanted to share that there is always a story behind every design, some more obvious than others.

Another new pattern features Northcott fabric collection Atlantic Shore.  I love, love, love the prints in this collections and plan to do a few more designs with it.  It has lobsters and crabs!  What is not to love about that?  I grew up on the Great Lakes and have a natural love of all things coastal!  Especially love eating all those aforementioned shellfish!  After nearly 3 weeks of camping on the south Texas coast at Rockport, in November, I am on a first name basis with those tasty beasties.

This first one is called Atlantic Compass.  it is 51 x 51 and the compass blocks are paper pieced. I had to get the blue crabs in there.  It was a touch choice between the blue crabs or the red lobsters.


Northcott asked me to do a simpler version which featured one of the panels in this collection.  Aren't these sea critter blocks fabulous?  This second version is super simple and anyone who can use a rotary cutter and ruler can make this one in a day!  But it is still totally fun with this amazing fabric.  Yup, no piecing at all in this version.  The center is one piece of fabric.  Wow I love panels.


Yes, there were a few outtakes from this group of designs as well.  Some were a set of placemats which I thought were pretty fun.  These feature a cut from the panel in the middle and some of the great associated print featuring crabs, lobsters and lighthouses.  Notice how the side panels use background fabrics which start with sand on the bottom, then shells, then birds on the top.  Is that cool or what?



OK, I was feeling patriotic after working on all those Quilts of Valor designs so, just for fun, I designed a flag quilt featuring the red, white, and blue prints in this collection.  Not a great design, but it was fun and I think it looked cool.  I didn't figure they would choose this since they save all their patriotic designs for their Stars and Stripes series, but I just had to use the blue puffins somewhere!  Aren't they cute?


Now for something completely different.  I designed some sweet baby quilts for Timeless Treasures using their Forest Friends collection.  Gotta tell you, these are some adorable little critters.  This collection will be in the stores in March 2019.   My adorable niece Melissa just had twin baby girls, Molly and Nora, so I named the quilts after them, and when the fabric is shipped they will each get their namesake quilt.

Here is "Welcome Molly" with sweet little cake stand blocks.


These prints are so soft and delicate they look washed out next to these bold colors in the earlier quilts.  Here is a close up so you can see these adorable hedgehogs, bunnies and owls.


Here is "Welcome Nora"


I loved the kitty applique and had to do at least one of these playful quilts with a kitty for my new grand niece.  

And the last thing I am working on is a collection of quilt designs for the new Northcott Shimmer collection, which will be featured at Spring Market in Kansas City.  I can't show you the designs they chose, but here are a few of the outtakes.  I don't know if these will get patterned or not.  Depends on the feedback I get from all of you.

My total favorite is called Frog in the Pond.


Yes, they are all 4" tumbler blocks cut with the AccuQuilt tumbler die.  Here is another of the tumbler outtakes.


I love trying to take a single shape and make it do things that disguise it.  Not entirely disguised, but the fish make you look twice.  Hehe

Here are a few more designs featuring the new Shimmer collections.


Sparkle

Picnic on the Sand


Wait till you see the ones they picked!  I'll be making them as soon as the fabric ships, and they will hang in their booth at market.  All I can say is dust off your AccuQuilt cutter!!!!

Speaking of market, I just sent in my contract to have a booth at the Kansas City Spring Quilt Market in May 2019.  I hope you can come and take a look.  I will also be vending and teaching at the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival in June 2019 so definitely mark your calendar to come hang out at this amazing show.

Ok, after all this, I am ready for my  nap.

Oh, and did I forget?  I am working on a new block of the month for next year.  Whew!  I hope you will like it as well as the last few.  It is tough to keep coming up with good designs to give away each year.  But this is year 11, and as you know, I try to do something really different each year, and this next design is really different from what I have done in the past.  Curious???  Good.  Stay psyched for the big reveal January  February 1, 2019.

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Globe Trotter Blog Hop



Welcome the the Globetrotter Blog Hop sponsored by Island Batik and fabric designer Tamarinis.

 I had fun using the fabrics in this line to showcase the versatility and fun of this fabric line.  I did two designs in EQ8.



This first one is called World Tour and I wanted the big flying geese to go around the intertwined Globe in the center of the quilt.  And while we all may be in our own little corner of the world we are influenced by the rest of the world around us.  The fabrics really helped to convey this theme.

I ended up not making this design but worked instead on my second design called In the Pines.


This design used the greens and golds in the fabric line, with a bit of the blue blobs (that is what I called them anyway).  This was fun to make.




First I made all of these rotary cut and traditionally pieced flying geese blocks.  I love working with blocks which are the reverse of each other.  Confusing at times, but the look is so interesting.

Then I paper pieced the setting triangles.  These are a simple palm block set on point.  Super easy to do.



After getting all those flying geese blocks made I had fun putting rows together with sashing.  This pix shows all the blocks on my design wall waiting for their row to be next.



The pine tree blocks in the border are a variation of the flying geese block. 


It was a combination of paper piecing (geese) and traditional piecing (everything else).  At the last minute I changed the border design to add a bit more interest and I really like the movement created by the directional trees.


Wonderful quilting by Brenda Weien, machine quilter, added the final touch to the quilt.




And here is the label on the back.


Here are a few more designs I did for this fabric line that didn't make the cut, but you might like seeing some more ways to use this versatile batik.






Thanks for taking a look and don't forget to go to the other blog hop sites.  And be sure to enter the BIG DRAWING for a fabric collection.

Leave a comment on my blog to be entered to win a free pattern at the end of the blog hop.

Blog Hop Schedule

Monday, October 22
Tamarinis
Island Batik 
Tuesday, October 23
Quiltoni
Wednesday October 24
Seams Like a Dream
Friday, October 26
Patchwork Posse
Swam Amity
Saturday, October 27
Cranberry Pie Designs

Giveaway Details

What’s a blog hop without a little giveaway?! We have a yummy bundle of Globetrotter fabrics for one lucky winner! Enter to win via the link below.

 Globetrotter Blog Hop

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Quilters Meet and Greet

Want to see some great quilty eye candy and meet some great quilters?  Oh and win some prizes?



There is an amazing Grand Prize Give Away and you can enter on each blog you visit.

Here is my favorite quilt of 2018!


This is my Starburst Blossoms Block of the Month quilt for this year.  The pattern is available on my website.  In fact, the September block just got posted and it is free!

This quilt is inspired by a BOM I designs a few years ago, Vintage Sampler.  It was such a popular block of the month on my blog that I wanted to play with a few of the blocks and turn them into cute wreaths inside a pieced block.


I published a version of these blocks in a 30-block sampler that was featured in Keepsake Quilting Catalog and several big quilt shops around the country.  But there were 42 blocks in the original BOM and I wanted to use some of the ones that didn't get into the published pattern.

Next week I will share a few of my other favorite quilts.
Leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of the 
Vintage Sampler pattern.

THEN. . . . . 



The Great Grand Prize Includes...


4 pre-cut bundles from 4 Fabulous Fabric Companies!

 

Amazon Batiks (2½ inch strips.  40 strips.) from Blank Quilting Corporation.
Ask your local quilt shop for these beautiful batiks!

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Kaffe Fassett Collective Spring 2018 collection Design Roll Dark (2½ inch strips.  40 strips.) from Free Spirit Fabrics.
Ask your local quilt shop for these this colourful collection!
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Nana Mae II 1930's Collection (2½ inch strips.  40 strips.) from Henry Glass & Co., Inc.
Ask your local quilt shop for these sweet, lovely fabrics!
~~~
  

Brushstrokes by Pepper Cory (2½ inch strips, 40 pcs.) from Studioe Fabrics.
Ask your local quilt shop for Pepper Cory Fabrics!
~~~~~
3 Different Thread Sets from Superior Threads!



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Be sure to  sign up for Superior Threads great educational newsletter!
Subscribe on the footer of their home page here.

~~~~~
A Gift Box with 3 Scissors from Kai Scissors!
  

You can learn more about this wonderful set & Kai Scissors other wonderful products here.

~~~~~
*NEW* Non-expiring Quilt Pattern Membership from Victoriana Quilt Designs!


You can learn more  & sign up for the *NEW* Non-expiring Quilt Pattern Membership from Victoriana Quilt Designs anytime here.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

New Book, New Pattern, New BOM block

I am happy to announce that EQ has included one of my designs in their new book published this month.

My quilt is the blue one on the cover, and one of 8 from nationally recognized artists and designers.

I was thrilled when they told me my design would be included, and stunned when it appeared on the cover.  WOW


I am selling autographed copies of the book on my website.  They are not only on sale but will have free shipping until September 9.


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September is my BIG traveling month.  I'll be doing a lecture and 2 workshops next week in Rolla, MO and enjoying the beautiful Ozark scenery.

Then I trot off  to do a wonderful retreat in the Boston Mountains of eastern Oklahoma the following week.

Then back to Missouri to the Lake of the Ozarks to teach and EQ8 class, then on to Springfield, MO to vend at the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Show the end of the month.


I hope you can stop by my booth in Springfields and see a few of my new patterns and my new Fleur de Lis Laser cut Kit!


The blocks can be rotated a variety of ways to create a unique look all your own.  Each kit contains pre-fused and laser cut applique for four complete 12" blocks.


In addition to the instructions for the 4-block pattern you will get instructions for the two block runner or set of 2 placemats.


Wouldn't this make a pretty pair of placemats for your fall table?  You purple lovers are gonna love this new pattern and kit.


Turn the block on point and add corner triangles for a whole other look.  Those corners would be a great place for some pretty quilting.

Kits are now available on Morningglorydesigns.com

The September Block of the Month and Bonus Block are both ready on the 2018 BOM Tab and on my website.  If you are a newsletter subscriber, the newsletter went out today with your links to your free blocks.

September Block 9: Hollyhocks


September Bonus Block 9: Bride of Clam

As you can imagine, there is a story behind the name of this block.  The original block was one I saw on an old vintage quilt  It looked just like a clam.


I was using it in my vintage sampler block of the month back in 2010 and tried to find the origin of this block.  



 I found several quilts and blocks which used this block.


I thought that block was way cuter than the one I was using as a model, but wanted to make it a bit different so I made the outside frilly.


I thought it looked kinda sweet, like a bride, so I named it Bride of Clam.