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.
