Kitsch and Whimsey

Jill......The scent of baked apples and cinnamon inspires me; my autumn nesting instincts click on as we move from the outside in.  I decorate seasonally, aiming for simple and sophisticated.  So along with changing area rugs, pillows and some art, there is a very large space in my open kitchen, above the cabinets, that sets the tone.  Spring sometimes melts into summer and I'm satisfied to let the space remain the same ( those gardening activites taking priority).  Last week I said "see ya later" to the spring quilt. I've published this one before.  It's one of my favorites for its simplicity.

When we moved here, we added lighting and painted the wall above the cabinets purple.  Mind you, its a very toned purple which has allowed me to continue loving it.  And although most of my paint colors are neutral, purple and green take precedence.  In October, ORANGE gets added in.  This quilt is nearly as old as the wall paint, made from a fun border print incorporating those colors.  Flying geese set the autumn scene.


As a beginning quilter, I didn't have the fabric stash I have now. A friend shared some of her greens with this dog printed in a patch. It's a memory of my dog Kara and the friend who so lovingly gave me the fabric!

On a trip, I discovered the witch.  She was just too perfect to pass up and actually large enough to make the statement:  kitsch and whimsey here we come.  Halloween is the perfect time to have some fun.

For a limited appearance!

Vignette to right side of  The Witch

......to the left

Dried stalks and grass were added for height. The entire space is too large for just one vignette so there are three areas, each a little story. One area relates to the other but the witch takes front and center.  I have to have restraint with all those pumpkins remembering that "less is more"!   It makes me happy and puts me in the mood...
Here in Ames it is time to grab your sweaters and hold onto your hats.....see you Tuesday.

Sample Remix and Final Pattern Winner!

Congratulations Char!  Thanks for commenting.  You are our winner.  We will email you with information.

If we are going to take this dog and pony show on the road we've discovered we need more samples.  We've been busy sewing again.

Here is another interpretation of Modern Pickle Relish.

Jill offers this advice.  When you find a great background fabric, buy at least three yards.  It will be perfect sometime.  Here it was perfect for a baby quilt with 5 primary fabrics.

This cute little stack of fat quarters, Habitat from Benartex, mixed with a warm Dimples from Andover, will be a throw size Leftovers soon.  Jill is keeping very busy.

This happy stack represents trimmings from a quilt project heading to Houston (we hope) with Cherrywood Fabrics.  More on that later.

Next week will be a cross training exercise--quilting and interior design combined.  Design lessons for quilting vignettes will be presented.

See you Tuesday,  leave a comment about a quilt display challenge you have encountered.

We're Launched, Take a Look

Wow!  It was a busy week.  We feel affirmed, excited and just a little tired.  Our AQS  launch with the Quilting Connection's help was successful by our standards...and even fun.  We are grateful to so many of our co-workers, friends and family for their support and enthusiasm.  We know our market is different and that is what we're aiming for:  modern quilters of the world, here we come.

Modern Quilt Relish's mission is to create simply sophisticated patterns for the contemporary quilter that are fun to execute.  The six patterns are understandable for both the verbal and visual learner and translate well to a classroom or retreat setting.   Patterns (retail) will be available via this site using PayPal or credit cards.  This service is a work in progress so stay tuned.  (Update!  We are fully operational and receiving orders.  In fact our first orders are heading to the post office now.  Such fun for us.)


The winner of this week's comment is Amy, going as a mom for Halloween!  The question for this next week (and the winner of MQR106) :  What is your favorite color combination?

Ordering patterns and update from AQS Quilt Show

We are just posting a reminder, especially for those picking up our flyer at the AQS show, that our patterns will not be for sale on this blog until Tuesday (if all goes as planned.) We are excited to share our patterns and quilts at that time.  

The show is so well organized and full of energy.  Do not miss it if you get the chance to attend.  See you Tuesday.

Launch Tomorrow @ AQS and Giveaway

Congratulations, Liz!  You are the winner of pattern #104.  We'll be sending it out soon.

We're as ready as we can be.  We met our deadlines and it's time to get going.  Many curves have been thrown upon us and we're still here.  Yesterday and today were setting up in Des Moines.

The unloading went very well.  The floor is set up just like quilt market with aisle numbers clearly marked.  The hunky men were so helpful getting us the right equiltment.  Our booth #s are 908 and 809 for Viking sewing machines.

This is Kelly and Janelle hard at work on a portion of the booth.

So, still a work in progress.  Please stop by and visit; let us know if you are blog followers.

Giveaway comment for pattern #105:  What are you going to be for Halloween?  Next week our patterns will be available to purchase on our blog.

Giveaway and More at the Door

Marny.....Fall has arrived on my doorstep.

The weather has turned crisp and clear (for the most part.)  Mums are dotting the entire town with their color.  The woods around my home are starting to turn.  I find myself taking routes across town that go by the best maples to check their progress.  Some will be so fantastic I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity of seeing them at their peak.

I have purchased pumpkins to celebrate the change of seasons.  The mums and the pumpkins outside the front door make me happy every time I drive up to the house.

But something even better is cause for celebration inside the door. 

Yep, our patterns arrived early from the printer.  They look just the way we had hoped.   We are so excited to introduce them to everyone at the AQS show in Des Moines, October 6-9.  Their premier will be at the Quilting Connection booth #908.  Our samples will be hanging and a limited number of original kits will be available to purchase.  Come visit with us!  We'd love to show them to you.

The winner of Modern Quilt Relish Pattern #103 is Jan.  Please email us at modernquiltrelish@gmail.com with your mailing address so that we can pop it in the mail after October 6th.   To enter the drawing for MQR #104 please place a comment at the end of the post about your favorite part of fall.  Mine is the crisp, clear air and the energy it ignites in me.
And that energy is being applied to getting ready for the big reveal next week.  There are brochure sheets to design, patterns to bag and kits to tie ribbons on.
See you next Tuesday.

Fall Leaf Completion

It's almost officially autumn and it's raining - again.  I guess its better than snow.  Congratulations to Deb at Aspen Hill for her contribution of her fun plaid quilt to our flikr site.  She's the winner of MQR#102 (to be sent after October 6th).

I put my nose to the grindstone and completed the contemporary fall leaf project.  The part about quilting it all by myself hurt the most - I love to hand them over to a professional quilter but I did my best and it actually lays pretty flat.

After the leaves were cut, I pieced them into their backgrounds using the very narrow seam allowance that we had described in previous projects.  Some were pouchy so I had to take a bigger allowance and make the curve shallower,  then press them to make them behave.  I added a center definiton in a color different from that leaf.  When all four were completed, I tried different layouts.

 I have done many vertical orientations so I decided to go with  the curvacious square.

Layering right sides together, I cut gentle curves from strips and sewed them, alternating sides and fabrics.

 This gave me more size and a good way to utilize the remaining fat quarters.  After arranging, I cut new curves from adjoining squares and sewed them together.

I layered the top, cotton batting and backing.  I outline quilted just outside the leaves, through the center definition and then meandered in the background.  The binding was made from the fatquarter scraps cut straight of grain.  (I wondered if this would work on the gentle curves.  It did.)

So our comment challenge for this next week ( and winner of MQR#103) is to let us know if you are going to the October AQS show in Des Moines  and what you are interested in seeing/ purchasing.  Looking forward to hearing from you!