A friend from All People Quilt has put together a great article called, “Getting Creative in the Time of Quarantine” on how the pandemic has affected us as quilters recently. It is very reassuring to see that many of us are experiencing the same feelings and issues. There are also many suggestions, and a chance to get a glimpse of each of the designers who were able to participate in this forum. I loved looking up their accounts and following each of them, that way I’ll be able to keep up with them in the future too! By chance, I was included, so you will just have to go to the article to see my smiling face! Thanks to Lindsay Mayland of Happy Hour Stitches for gathering all this info, and sending it out to the world!
Category: Publishing
It’s not too late! Quilts and More Still Available!
There’s still time to pick up your copy of Quilts and More, Summer 2018. My quilt, Block Party is on the cover, and it is full of fun projects, large and small. I plan to do some embroidery this summer inspired by this magazine!
Check out your local bookstore, I know Barnes and Noble has it, as well as quilt shops, craft stores, grocery stores, and if you’re in the PNW check good old BiMart!
One thing I love about this magazine is the alternate color-way version that is included, and for my quilt pattern, Joanna Burgarino, Editor, made a miniature wall hanging/table topper! Also, in the pull-out there are COLORING diagrams for each quilt included. It gives you so much confidence when you are choosing fabrics to know how the colors work together as a whole!
So, get your copy, it’s not too late, Quilts and More, Summer 2018 will be on display until July 17th!
New Release – Party Time!
Oh my gosh! Something fun arrived on my doorstep a couple days ago! I’ve been spending my evenings devouring every page. No, it wasn’t something to eat, but a wonderful (if I do say so myself) new machine quilting book, called The quilting MANUAL, from stashBOOKS, an imprint of C&T Publishing.
There are 16 great designers contributing to the book, with a wide variety and style of designs, along with all kinds of tips and ideas for using the tools and gadgets that are available to make your quilting easier, more efficient, comfortable and FABULOUS! Get your fix with new all-over designs, borders, blocks, wreaths, motifs, all suited for hand or any kind of machine quilting.
I’m jumping up and down for how well it’s put together, and proud to be included in the list of designers.
I’m linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts today for this exciting Friday finish!!!
Flowerpot Fancies, Make It Yourself!
What fun to be featured on the MIY blog today! I designed these fun flowerpot covers with my great friend Lisa Bee Wilson of Towerhouse Quilts, and they were published in a fun article in Make It Yourself Magazine last year. We used up-cycled sweaters in a variety of decorative and useful projects. Aside from these fun flowerpot covers, I am currently using the cozy neck warmer in this cold snap we are having! Thanks to Meredith Corporation for the fun reminder of this article!
Respecting copy write laws!
Some of you know I’ve been in this industry for many years, almost 2 decades now! I’ve always done my best to be inspired by other quilters and ideas, and to ensure that my designs were uniquely mine, mine alone, and that there was no possibility that I had copied someone else’s design, especially in publishing.
To my surprise I have been alerted to a copycat of my Color Wheel Pincushion Kit. What to do–what to do!? I certainly can’t allow this to ruin the business I have worked to develop over the years, and so looking into it is what I will do. I have contacted the other party, with no response. My next step is to contact the group where the copycat pattern is being marketed. Next, I need to make my distributors aware, maybe they have an avenue to help in this situation. I want to reassure my customers that I am doing everything I can to protect them and their investment of my kits for their shops. Hang in there with me, and we will get this figured out!
Added Bonus, the Next Generation!
I had a wonderful bonus earlier this week to invite my neighbor into my studio to work on a quilt. You might think that isn’t so unusual, until you find out that Shiawna is a senior——IN HIGH SCHOOL! She has made a few quilts, and quilted projects for one of her classes, and now has completed her first queen-size quilt! I suggested she might like to try my longarm, and the next thing I knew we were looking at our schedules to see when it could happen! She used a version of my Topographic design from my last book, “Get addicted to Free Motion Quilting” by C&T Publishing. The design complimented her fabric choice of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. With just a quick how-to demo, she was off to the races, and finished the whole quilt in about 90 minutes! I’m guessing she’ll get a “A” for this one!
Make It Yourself–For Real!
The latest issue of MIY or Make It Yourself magazine is available NOW! It is filled with fun projects from several great designers. A few of mine are included and I collaborated with my buddy Lisa Bee-Wilson to top it off! We always have a blast working together. This time we put together several coiled projects that you can finish in an afternoon or less!
One fun brainstorm lead to hand dyeing cotton cord with an ombre’ effect, and then coiling it into a little sunglass case. You’ll never loose them in your purse again!
Run out and pick up a copy! I love to relax with just this kind of magazine, and I try to always pick out a project or two to make as a gift, or maybe even for myself–think of that! LOL!
Just added a Craftsy Pattern!
Hey! It’s always fun to add a new pattern out there! I’ve just added a fun table runner to my Craftsy Pattern Store! Can’t wait to see your version of the Barber Pole Table Runner!
If you haven’t tried Craftsy yet, it’s a great location to check out some great classes–that’s what they’re known for best. But there are also TONS of designers who put their patterns out there! Most are at great prices, and all immediately downloadable. Some are free, and there is such variety, it’s just plain fun to see! Click over to see what’s new and happening!
See. Love. Gotta have it!
If you haven’t seen it yet, run out and get the latest issue, Winter 2014 of Quilts and More! Then turn to page 10 to find my Pincushion Kit featured in the HOT STUFF review. It includes a fun pic of some of my finished pincushions, and one of the components that are included in the kit. It will direct you RIGHT HERE to my site so you can find out more! These little guys are such a fast and fun project that you’ll soon have a list of people you want to make them for, or on second thought, maybe give the kit as a gift so the recipients can personalize it themselves! You can see my neice Beret made one with me when she was only seven!
Check my shop page to purchase one, or email me for multiple orders!
Upcycle/Recycle!
Well, it’s been rainy and windy for the last few days here in the Pacific Northwest! I thought I needed a pick-me-up, so I’m sharing a project that was featured in an article in the Fall/Winter issue of Make It Yourself.
These flower pot cover-ups are so cheerful and fun! I especially love having something to set my Christmas poinsettia into that will fit with the rest of my Holiday decor, and what better use is there for a worn out Christmas sweater!! Find out how to make them, and lots of other projects in the magazine, it’s available now at newstands. The article has several designs from Lisa of Towerhouse Quilts too, BONUS!
Check out Make It Yourself on facebook, they always have creative ideas to share!