Winter Wrap-Up

I had hoped to post this blog more than a week ago. But as you can see, I have been busy. In fact, I have been half way around the world and back! Last week I was teaching at the celebrated Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was a first visit for both Velda Newman and myself and we had to keep pinching ourselves to make sure we weren't dreaming.

This is the beautifully restored Expo Center where the event was held. The vendors were housed on the expansive main floor and the classrooms overlooked from above. The Australian quilters welcomed us with enthusiasm and their unique sense of humor and friendliness. Although the trip was brief, we had an excellent adventure and I look forward to my next visit in July 2010.

Although it was summer in Australia, it's still winter here at home! So this week we will be showing some new winter wraps to keep you cozy and looking good until spring. First, Willow models a coordinating hat and scarf featuring the Dusky Sweet Potato Vine fabric from the Prairie Gothic line. The hat is knit of bulky wool yarn and sprinkled with yoyo flowers. The scarf is lined with matching green polar fleece and trimmed with harmonizing striped ruffles which add femininity and fun.

Here we added a quilted purse to the ensemble. All very rich and extremely wearable.

This outfit predicts the arrival of spring! The saucy cap and scarf use pink polar fleece to guarantee this gear is energy efficient. The fabrics are from the Strawberry colorway of Prairie Gothic from FreeSpirit.

This cowl scarf is another new design from the studio. It can be buttoned or unbuttoned depending on the weather and the look that you want. Like Willow, I prefer to keep the bottom corners loose to form a collar or dickey effect. This wrap is lined with butterscotch colored fleece to match the coordinating buttons.

We used the Midnight Teasel and Lace fabric with a checkered band for this variation. I think it has a nice combination of comfort and "attitude"... my favorite fashion statement.

Finally, we have a coordinating "Full Fud" topper with a cowl wrap. Even though the colors are neutral, there is a subversive sense of humor at play! This could work well with a formal camels hair coat or a shearling jacket. If you have to keep warm, you may as well have fun and look good doing it!

Thanks to Susan Tempin and Melissa Peda for their excellent sewing skills and attention to details, as always!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Valentine's Greeting

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Here is a little quilt made especially for you! Thanks to all of you who take a few minutes from your busy week to check into the Idea Book.

Today there is a pristine dusting of snow... absolutely perfect for this day of celebration! Take the time to count your blessings today. Thanks again for your enthusiasm and support!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

New and Improved Website!

The biggest news this week is the long awaited completion of my new updated website! Hopefully, it will be easier for this computer novice to make changes and announcements more easily and quickly. There are some nice new features, for example, if you click on the fabric photos you will be linked to a swatch page that also includes a nifty little slide show of all the Prairie Gothic fabrics. Plus my 2009 teaching schedule is listed and the quilt gallery is finally up to date. Thanks to Minh and Dan for all your hard work and patience! This is real progress!

Check it out!

I had a quick and delightful teaching job in charming Mt. Dora, Florida last week. Ironically, it was about the same temperature there as it was back home in Illinois! And it has been warm here all week. Yesterday it was bright and clear and almost 60 degrees! The snow has all but disappeared and today it is gray and raining. But it's just the second week of February, so we know Mother Nature is just teasing us.

I am busy in the studio working on the new line. It has been hard getting in the groove, as there is always secretarial work to catch up on and teaching obligations to fulfill. But I believe the "theme" has finally surfaced, but time will tell.

This weeks project for Show and Tell is the Reversible Wrap Around Pillow, above. The pillow is first fitted in a simple gingham case with an overlapping closure. Then two coordinating fabrics are quilted and sewn into a tube which fits around the pillow. Ties keep the wrap in place and add a nice detail to the overall design. For a quick change of mood, the wrap can be turned inside-out to reveal the complementary fabric on the other side.

I thought you might enjoy this photo of my Mod Podged bowls basking the winter sun, too. It is almost 3 dimensional with the deep shadows and strong highlights. We have many new ideas just waiting for their pictures are taken, so please check in next week for new Prairie Gothic projects and inspiration.

PS... Many of you are interested in making the Spiderweb star quilt featured in the last posting. It was made using Jan Krentz's Fussy Cutter Ruler Set: 45 degree Diamond Guide plus a 9 " square. You can order Jan's template and books with Star patterns and instructions at Jan's website or at your local quilt store.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Quilted Garden Revived!

I am thrilled to announce that C & T Publishers has reissued my book The Quilted Garden as

an e-book!!!!!!!!! This means that you can now download the book in the convenience of your own home. Recently, the book has been selling for up to $300 on ebay and Amazon and I have had hundreds of inquiries during workshops. It is very exciting, too, that the book will be available to the new creative generation of sewers and crafters.

I recommend that you first purchase a notebook with a clear pocket cover and a pack of clear sheet protectors to file the pages safely away after downloading. The link for purchasing the book is at the webstore, as well as in the right hand corner of this blog. Pass the word!!!!!!

Last week I put together these star quilts and I'm in love! These were made with Jan Krentz's Diamond Template plus a 9" square and half square. You may remember the Cosmic Star quilt pieced from last years Hothouse fabric. The dark quilt is made with Prairie Gothic fabrics in the Midnight colorway. I'm very pleased how all the the designs work together to create a giant Spidersweb. Hince the title... Midnight Web.

Because the Midnight quilt was such a success, I could not resist another try, so here is the Strawberry Web. Still to do is the Dusky version, but I'm hoping one of you will take on that project and send me a picture!