Quilt Market Spring 2013
Portland, OR
Part Deux

Mothers are never supposed to pick favorites. They love all their children equally. I can see value in many fabrics and it’d be super fun to make stuff out of most all of it. There were a couple booths, however, that stood out to me personally as products with which I can’t wait to play!

1. Birch Organic Fabrics. The outfit above first grabbed my attention. The next day I went to chat with pattern designer (Olive Ann Designs) and she told me that it was from Cynthia’s fabric company (Birch). Their booth was hopping! And I can see why! I was taken with so many of their fabrics. I’m ready to buy right now! (Some are available now, others are coming over the coming year. Check out their website for dates.)

2. By Annie’s Soft and Stable We met Annie waiting for the elevator after Sample Spree. We talked about quilting onto the soft and stable, and she quickly showed us a sample of the cutest backpack.  For those of you not aware, it’s a product that you use in place of batting or other stabilizers in purses, bags, totes, home dec items, and more.  It has been recommended to me by various designers, but I’ve had a hard time finding it.  After seeing all her samples in person, I’m convinced it’s a product that is worth ordering online if you can’t find it locally.  I love the travel bag shown here.  And have a few other bags from Annie that I plan to make.

As I browse my pictures I find myself saying “oh yeah, I really loved that.” “Oh that was wonderful.”  And so on and so forth. There wasn’t much that was unexpected. Many designers are using the same colors you’re used to seeing. There are obvious shapes that are trends (triangles and hexagons).  But I feel like that mood at market was upbeat overall.  More from me later!

Share and Enjoy

Quilt Market Spring 2013
Portland, OR

Portland is the Quilt Market everyone dreams of attending.  It is such a cool city.  Cristy and I drove to Portland with her booth in tow.  We set up her booth, sold at sample spree and ate tons of really really fantabulous food (it’s so fantastic and fabulous I couldn’t pick just one word), and (obviously) were surrounding by delicious fabric and sweet people for the entire week. 

This was my first time attending since selling my website.  It was such an interesting experience for me.  Not only was I there as an exhibitor (though I technically am not, I was part of Cristy’s company last week), but I also was interacting with people that are in the long arm business as well as the competitive quilting world.  In years past my experience was primarily with fabric designers/manufacturers as a retail merchant wanting to sell their goods, trying to figure out what will sell, how to best spend my budget, must haves, etc.  Anyway, I may delve into this later on but it is fascinating how with-in the quilting world you have these little pockets of knowledge and ideas that all exist under one roof but often are completely unaware of the others even in the same industry.  And that only magnifies when you look at the textile world in general.  Fascinating.

Since I’m not selling you anything, I’m trying to decide how to best share all these pictures that I took.  I’ll start by saying, go look at my flickr or facebook albums.  Just leave a comment if you see any pics where you want more details.  I think that I’ll blog a few times- maybe about changes, a few favorites and obvious trends that I’m seeing.  But for today, I just wanted to say hi (and then go back to sleep. hahaha)

I slept for 14 hours upon returning.  Anyone who has attended Quilt Market before knows how much it takes out of you.  It’s inspiring and exhausting all at once.  I think that it’s especially draining for introverts like myself, but maybe I’m just extra special in that way. 

(You’ve probably seen me mention Cristy before, but just in case…. Cristy‘s mom is the amazing world-renowned quilter, Sharon Schamber. Sharon is one of only 25 Master Quilters. Cristy has seriously mad skillz and can help you with anything quilting related. At the show, she was selling digitized Long Arm designs and Embroidery designs.)

Is there anything you’re dying to hear about? Let me know!

Share and Enjoy

Let’s get this party started!

Haley was beyond excited when I told her that I was going to make new clothes with Bari J.‘s new line – Bijoux - to replace a few well loved and well worn pieces in her closet. We delighted in picking combinations of these wonderful fabrics for a few dresses, a skirt and a new Beverly Belle top.

She has worn the top every week since I made it. (Actually one of her friends requested that I sew her a top just like Haley’s new Bijoux Beverly Belle. ) It is such a fun, girly top, who can blame them for loving it? And ALL the girls love it! The combination of fabrics that Haley picked is just perfect, though any from this collection would be wonderful. I love the stitch and butterfly fabrics. They really show off this flowy pattern. (Pattern is from my dear friends over at Izzy & Ivy Designs.) We’ve also completed a lovely dress with the Dancing Harvest Guava fabric.

Yesterday when I told Haley we needed a few pictures, she ran to get her cowgirl boots. I think she and Bijoux would get along splendidly. (You can ready Bari’s story behind the line here.) Haley is also a free spirit and an artist. The only difference may be dancing barefoot in the desert….because Haley is not too fond on the desert bugs that may be crawling about!

It has been too fun playing with this fabric – for clothing, quilts, bags and more. It’s so lovely! I mean – seriously! Check out this quilt that Bari made! She’s going to have to watch me closely because I’m tempted to have this beauty come home with me. I also have a small quilt top that I’ve made – but I really want it to be quilted before sharing pictures. So you’ll just have to keep an eye here for that finished project (and on instagram for those work in progress pictures).

You have the chance to play with Bijoux also! Bari is giving one lucky person 10 fat quarters. It’s a super quick drawing – so I’ll randomly pick a winner on Thursday morning. And then you can go onto the next party house to enjoy all these lovely projects! Simply comment and tell me what you’d like to make if you win!

Comment and tell me what you’d like to make if you win! Check back Thursday for the winner!

Comments are now closed!  The winner is #24! I’ll be in touch!

Hilary says:

  And don’t forget to visit the other blogs to see more fabulous projects and win more fabulous fabric!

Share and Enjoy

Bless those of you that visit me regularly! My instinct is to jump in and apologize for not posting, but the truth is that my life is finally regaining a balance that it desperately needed. I may rework my website in the coming months to accommodate for a few changes anyway – and the blog will still be a part of that, but it may not be front and center.  Anyway, today I want to share some works in progress with you because I am working on many many things. Some are still secrets but some I can share with you!

As you know, my best friend is having a little girl in a couple months – so I’ve been working on a quilt for her. The adorable fabric is from the talented Natalie over at Cinderberry Stitches. She may be one of my favorite fabric people.

The next fun work in progess is a pattern from Beth and Liz over at LizzieB Cre8ive. It is happy and scrappy! (And so so fast!) Thanks to Instagram, I sourced a missing charm pack and need to quickly finish this one up!  The fabric is Terrain from the lovely Kate Spain. It’s one that I hid in my stash when I sold the store.

I am heading to quilt market next week. I will be posting pictures on Instagram and uploading a set to facebook each night. So join me there! (And join me here again tomorrow because I have fabric to give away!!!!)

Share and Enjoy

Remember back in December when my tutorial was featured on Moda Bake Shop?  Well let’s revisit the herringbone quilt because I finally took time to attach the binding. 

The quilt top is made with Bonnie & Camille‘s Ruby collection for Moda.  I use charm packs and a layer cake plus Bella #98 for the sashing and outer border. (Also did you see the Camille now has a Craftsy Class? Pre-Cut Piecing Made Simple Class  I totally should take that!)

An aside, I typically find that with their fabrics specifically, the white of Bella #97 is usually a better match because it’s not as bright of a white.  But I had a jelly roll of color #98, plus an entire bolt. (I have a bolt of 97 too….so I totally could have cut strips. Eh.  I had a deadline!) For myself, I find that I almost always end up choosing #98 for my white – I like to look on the bright side.   Isn’t it amazing how many “whites” there are?!?!?

 Anyway, it has 12 blocks from my tutorial.  Sashing is all 2.5 inch strips.  And then a border is cut from a layer cake. pieces measure 3.5x 6.5 (cut that size.)  Since I used part of the layer cake to make some of the blocks, I used what was left.  The outer border is 6.5 inches wide.  And the finished quilt is about 54×66.

Joanna did an amazing job on the quilting. She quilted each block and then she got all fancy with the border.  She split it and did fans sort on each side of where it’s divided.  Of course, in my usual fashion, I backed the herringbone quilt with minky.  And as per usual, it is so fun to see the quilting on the back!  That’s one of my favorite parts (besides the coziness of minky! I love that too.)

I’m glad to have another comfy cozy quilt in my finished pile.  This herringbone quilt has special meaning to me (they all do, really) because it came from my own little head and another person thought it was cool enough to publish the tutorial.  Plus I think it’s cool how you can use any quilt block for so many different items.  I have many a book full of other original quilt ideas that I really need to get cracking on!

In theory, this herringbone quilt will be on the back porch off the master bedroom. Most likely, it will end up being moved around the house to be used. Just as it should. And maybe someday we will live in a climate that minky makes sense year round. It’s already getting too hot here to sit outside (unless in the middle of the night) with a minky quilt.  Oh well!  I now have a nice stash of voile, and I have a deadline for a presentation on quilting with voile.  Voile seems perfect for Tucson quilts!

If you have made the herringbone quilt (or hot pads as shown in the tutorial) I would LOVE to see them!  Please be sure to leave me a comment or drop a line.

Share and Enjoy

Almost seven year olds and eight year olds are good for many things! Helping me video tape a tutorial for making the Steal Your Heart – Raccoon Applique – Shirt is not one of them.   Luckily I am tricky like a raccoon and still have an applique tutorial video for you!  I warn you, I like to say now, next and then.  BUT at least I finally stopped coughing so I’m not redoing it again!

This is raw edge applique without the use of heat-n-bond lite or other fusible web.  I love that it gives a soft, flexible design that moves with the clothing when you’re finished.

PDF Pattern pieces here.

Video Here

One last note – never iron the shiny side of the freezer paper. Put the shiny side onto your fabric and iron the dull side.  I am a little confusing about that in the video.

Supplies:

• Usual sewing items
• Shirt (or bag or blanket, etc)
• Fabric for applique (Scraps! Largest needs to be 6×8)
• Freezer Paper
• Spray Starch
• Glue Stick
• Matching Threads
• Needle for hand sewing

Optional:

• Tricot
• Washaway Stabilizer

Knit tricot is sold by the yard at Joann’s and I’m sure other places like Hobby Lobby, Hancocks, etc.  I iron it on the back of the applique design to protect stitches and the baby’s skin. It is totally optional and I happen to have it on hand, but you can do the project with out!

Sulky Fabri-Solvy is a washaway stabilizer that acts like an extra thickness of fabric and adds stability but then washes away so leaves your t-shirt soft and flexible.  I used it on one shirt I made and not on the other.  If you’re getting puckering or ‘bubbling’ then a little piece to go behind the raccoon body or specific area should help.  This is my own advice – I should ask Cristy what she recommends. 

I do have to thank my friend Cristy for showing me this method with glue.  Once again, if you haven’t experienced her genius yet, please go visit her site!  Glue is awesome!

Share and Enjoy

Fact: Babies steal your heart.

One of my dearest and longest friends is having her first baby this summer. This little girl has already stolen everyone’s heart and she’s not even arrived yet!

Mom & Dad √

Grandma & Grandma √

Aunts and Uncles √

And we all know that once you’ve given your heart to a sweet little baby girl, there is no way you’re getting it back. 

That inspired the little applique shirt that I made for her.

I actually knew how I wanted the applique shirt to look before I found a shirt to applique. I found it at Carters (removed a flower they had on it. I love my seam ripper!) I just couldn’t bring myself to use a plain white onsie.   I was even willing to look at boys items if needed. But lucky for me, I found this and the little pink touches are just perfect. I used a small zig zag stitch to attach the applique. I contemplated putting some 12 weight pink stitching on the cute little raccoon. I’m still tempted…but my friend doesn’t sew and I’m not sure if the hand stitched finish is main stream enough.  I really need to leave the house more. 

My friend, Cristy, showed me some applique tricks.  She is so awesome!  (This applique shirt is a raw edge method.)  It has made me want to applique everything.    And guess what?  I used glue.  No heat and bond or other fusible.  I love glue!  And I love that it washes out leaving the final product soft and not all hard and stiff.  Also, I ironed tricot on the inside of the shirt after I had finished with my applique.  I figure it protects the skin and the design.  Do you put anything on the back of an applique shirt? (Or other clothing.)

I will be making many many items for her. (And maybe a thing or two for her mom as well ) Quilts, hooded towels, appliqued onsies, pajamas, bibs, burp cloths….. what else would you put on a “make for baby” list?

Share and Enjoy