SIMPLY SOPHISTICATED DESIGN WITH A TASTE OF THE UNEXPECTED.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Spring Beauties




jill here... We recently had an article published in the May issue of Online Quilt Magazine, (an Australian publication).  Here's the link:  www.OnlineQuiltMagazine.com . You will be able to view the article and then access further information for a bargain fee.   The premium issue includes a quilt pattern for the modern baby quilt you'll see pictured.  We will share the pattern with you in just a few weeks.  You may recognize it!  

Spring has sprung and the out of doors called this past weekend. Besides suffering blisters and a  backache purging buckthorn, this green fuzzy stage of life is wonderful.  Check out the wildflowers!


Can you name this one?

This is the same as the one above in the bright sunlight.

My neighbor calls this Spring Beauty.  The book names it Bloodroot!

??????

Such a gift to see the green after the long winter!
Virginia Bluebells getting ready to open.
Enjoy a walk in the woods.
Next Tuesday we'll introduce our newest pattern!  'Until Tuesday.....

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Modern Quilt Relish kits for sale.

Remember our Quiltcon retail experience in February?  And now we have 'leftovers' really!  Kit Shop will be appearing in the tabs above our blog.  It will contain just kits for now.  Check it out please.  We ask that you email us your requests and we will invoice you once we have communicated with you.  It will be fun to meet you!

Kits that are available on first come first serve basis:

Leftovers in Benartex,Googlies by Michele D'Amore and solids SOLD OUT

Nibbles in Benartex, Googlies by Michele D'Amore and solids

Cheddar No Crackers in Benartex, Googlies by Michele D'Amore and solids

Recipe Cards in Organic, Monaluna by Jennifer Moore fabrics.

Brioche and Baguette in Organic, Monaluna by Jennifer Moore fabrics
Another version of the above Brioche and Baguette kitted.  So cute!


Leftovers in Robert Kaufman Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander.
We've been working on a new pattern made from a brand new Benartex fabric line.  Hope to get to share it soon.  

Till Tuesday...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Juxtaposition of the Positive/Negative

jill here...Hope you've had a chance to check out REPEATED and the fabric designing that has been taking place!  The designs are creative, inspiring and it's fun to read the feedback from the judges.  I appreciate the comments and find it interesting on what appeals to them.

 Wholesale quilt market is just a month away.  We have some new designs in preparation.  And sometimes its the fabric that does the talking.....Many of the new designs are the same print, presented in different values or colors.  Many of them will work perfectly for this pattern.

 You know we love the graphic blacks and whites as shown on the bolts below.

"Alligator Tales" from Red Rooster Fabrics

Strips of the black juxtaposed on the same white print.
Some of the little circles appear to cross over.
It's that fool the eye happenstance.

Value testing for just that right amount of color.....

Intersecting lines....you know we love transparency.
The perfect non directional background:
"Night and Day" by Skipping Stones Studio for Clothworks Fabrics.

Stay tuned for the reveal before market.  'Till next Tuesday....

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Hooray, it's REPEAT(ed) again time!

Marny here...our incoming email has become even more interesting recently!  
Ellen Rushman and Madeleine Roberg have their fabric design contest REPEATED(ed) underway and we've signed up to receive all the posts.    

If you are interested in the process of fabric design, or for that matter, the process of design period, take a look and sign up for yourself!  It is amazing to see how each competitor responds to each challenge.    

Maybe you remember our mentioning The Printed Bolt (an Ellen and Madeleine web site) and their first fabric designing contest, REPEAT.  The winner of that contest, Michele Rosenboom, is a judge for this year's contest.  We were fortunate to meet Michele and to have a couple of quilts made from her fabric (pieced and quilted by Ellen) displayed in our booth at Quilt Market last year. 
Recipe Cards in Michele's fabric.  Ellen Rushman holding the quilt.

Taffy Twists in Michele's fabric.  


Carolyn Friedlander is judging too.  We just got to spend time at Quiltcon with Carolyn.  We carried her patterns in our booth and are in love her Architextures fabric for Robert Kaufman!!!  Carolyn is wonderful; a great designer and an interesting and sweet person to talk to.  

(Secret heads up here...we'll be having a limited number of Leftovers throw kits coming soon.  We sold out the first day at Quiltcon.  Email us for details.)

A third judge we have a connection to is Greta Songe.  We met her through Quilt Market too.  She is a talented designer and a delight to spend time with!  Here is Greta's website.  She is one busy lady, teaching and designing.  Her blog is inspirational.  Greta has two fabric collections with Marcus.  (I couldn't get the links to Greta to work on the Printed Bolt site so I thought putting them here would make it easier for readers.)

So sit back, relax and watch the designers hard at work!  You actually get to be part of the elimination process by voting for your favorites.  Check it out!

Till Tuesday...

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Picnic Block Explored: Condiments

jill here...Is it spring yet?  It's slow coming and I'm anxious!  But then my time is even more divided with the yard calling.  I do love those elements of green.

Marny and I are following up our Picnic with tutorials that will be helpful, just in case you run into a snag.  A couple of issues  have arisen with the Condiments block so I'll fast forward (and then we'll return in order of appearance).  These are issues that I did not incur while designing or testing so trying to recreate the challenge is challenging.

It would be good to run a test of this section of the block before proceeding with the entire block. Seam allowances, cutting and pressing practices could make a difference in how these intersections match up.

Cut and layout three box portions as illustrated.

When cutting the angles and sizes, pay close attention to the measurements.  I found that when I established my angle and added the second ruler to the left side (to allow cutting from the right) , I added a very small amount to that measurement.  The reverse could also occur with subtracting just a fraction of an inch.  Just be aware.

I've arranged the "cuts" according to the directions, keeping in mind that these come from two different strip set widths.   Follow the measurements carefully using the appropriate techniques illustrated in the book.  This is just a section of the total block.  The issue of matching comes into play when the blocks are staggered.
 It's the staggered edge ( here in the center) that is the challenge.  Once these fit together, the other sides will sew into place as the match will be  more obvious ( triangle to triangle, lid to lid, box to box). You will only need to sew these two strips to test out the fit.

Sew these pieces together  as described in the directions,
maintaining the points and pressing open.
Once the two strips are completed, place them ride sides together  to determine the intersection match.

The pin on the right lines up directly under the matched intersection.
The pin on the left is short of the goal so we are going to punt.





The intersections don't align correctly so the adjustment is to decrease the larger "box" measurement.  In this case, there appears to be about a 1/4" difference so we will trim off 1/4" of the "box"...remembering that it will have to done to all the same sized pieces.  Disconnect the pieces very gently as they are bias edges, press and trim down.
Trim the piece the determined measurement (in this case, 1/4" ).
Resew the pieces together, press gently and place right sides together to check for alignment.
The bottom strip is below to show the match.
Align the edges, match the points, sew and press open.


So the fit of this staggered strip set is much better.  If the measurements on the test run are closer, they may be "eased" to fit but obviously, a 1/4" is to much to ease and it will be necessary to trim the piece size.

Hope this helps if you run into this challenge.  Thanks to Susie and Beth for bringing it to my attention. Please, please, let us know if you have issues as we want to make the process a fun one....we all need our hair!

Here's to spring!