Congratulations! Contest Winners

Thank you all for entering my blog contest.  Congratulations to Michele, Julie, Kathy and Beth who will all be receiving a copy of vol. 6 of Quiltmaker's 100 Quilt Blocks.

 

For those of you who would like to make a quilt to give to family or friends this Christmas, please keep my Christmas patterns in mind.  The following patterns are my top sellers and are available on my website  www.coachhousedesigns.com.

 

CHD-0907  Merry Christmas! (table runner)

 

CHD-1103 Christmas in the Country (wall or throw quilt)

 

 

CHD-1102  Red Door (wall or throw quilt)

 

 

CHD-1126  Tree Bells (wall or throw quilt)

 

 

CHD-1127  Winter Friends  (table runner)

 

I was sent a copy of this picture of the Tree Bells sample on display in The Quiltmaker's Shoppe in Arlington, WA.  The quilting by Cindy Glancy of Dancing Thread is absolutely amazing!

 

 

 

I wish I could quilt like that!  Maybe one day.......  Barb

 

 



Day 4 - Vol. 6 Quiltmaker's 100 Quilt Blocks

Welcome to my blog, this 8th day of November and the fourth day of the 100 Quilt Blocks blog tour!  

 

My block, "Black-Eyed Blooms" was inspired by the artwork of Kathy Schmitz featured in her “Towne Square Quilts” line of fabric.  I also wanted to design a block that would work well with my block from vol. 5 of 100 Quilt Blocks which also features Kathy's fabrics.
 

These blocks were combined together to build the quilt  "Abloomin' Garden" which is included in the Fall '12 edition of Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

 

I have done up my block in 2 more color ways featuring fabrics by Urban Chiks ("Boho") and Kate Spain ("Honey Honey") to show you how easy it would be to incorporate this block into a variety of projects --- table runners, placemats, the feature block on a tote bag…..

The extra blocks were made using fusible web and the original block was made using hand applique. Please see my blog entry for March 31 which shows my favorite hand applique method. 

I just got back from Quilt Market in Houston where I introduced some new patterns featuring the two fabric lines used in my extra blocks and a new fabric line by Kathy Schmitz.  These fabrics will be coming to your local quilt shops in the next few months and the patterns will be available on my website shortly.

Lazy Summer ("Boho" by Urban Chiks")



 

 

Maids in a Row ("Boho" by Urban Chiks)

 

 

Meadow ("Honey Honey" by Kate Spain)

 

 

Abundance ("Round Robin" by Kathy Schmitz)

 

Beginnings ("Round Robin" by Kathy Schmitz)

Sunflowers ("Round Robin" by Kathy Schmitz)

If you would like to win a copy of 100 Quilt Blocks vol.6, please send me an email at barb@coachhousedesigns.com with your name and address and I will select 4 lucky winners.   If you are not one of the lucky winners, vols. 5 and 6 and the Fall '12 edition of Quilts from 100 Quilt Blocks are available for purchase on my web site.

Have a great blog tour and thanks for stopping by. Visit my website at www.coachhousedesigns.com.

Fall Quilt Market

Quilt Market was again in Houston, Texas this fall. My friend Marcie and I packed up my new quilts, drove to Seattle and then flew to Houston after a 4 hour flight delay. We got into our hotel in Houston just after the hotel restaurant closed but we were fortunately able to slip into the Lucky Strike bowling alley and lounge in downtown Houston 15 minutes before they closed the kitchen! They had the best fish tacos. Who knew?

 

On Friday, we set up my booth across the aisle from United Notions. 

 

 

Three of my quilts featuring Deb Strain's line "Seascapes" were hung in Deb's booth.

Three of my quilts featuring "Round Robin" by Kathy Schmitz were in Kathy's booth.

Friday night was sample spree where vendors are able to sell individual items to owners and their staff. Marcie and I picked up some fabric and some solid hand lotion that does not rub off on your fabric.

Saturday was the first day of market and it was great saying hello to old friends and customers and meeting new ones.

We also met Julie and Eric Comstock who designed the fabric line "2wenty Thr3e" which is featured in my new quilt design "Happy Birthday".

Saturday night was the Moda party at the Hilton which was tons of fun.  The theme this year was western with Texas barbeque for dinner, western music and line dancing and a mechanical bull.  Yes Marcie and I both rode the bull (and we both fell off!)

 

 

Come back on Thursday for my blog entry for Vol 6 of 100 Quilt Blocks.  There will be a contest with prizes to be won!  See you then.  Barb

Blogging and Book Club

I have been reading articles on blogging to help me, well blog.  I know how important it is in this age of technology to connect with your potential customers.  It is ironic that the very technology that took away the need for face to face interaction has fostered this much more personal form of communication.  The blogging articles tell you to find your voice, be genuine and stick to it.  So here is my plan:  a little bit about me, a little bit of promotion, a little bit about my family, a little bit about my designs, a little bit about quilting in general...hopefully you will enjoy it.  So here it goes....

Do you belong to a book club? I have been in the same book club for over 13 years now. I can't believe it has been that long. It was one of the best decisions that I made because it forced me to read books I would not have chosen myself and it forced me to get out with adult friends which is not always easy when you have kids. Case in point: between music and soccer this fall, we have kids activities every day of the week!

We meet once a month and the location of the meeting rotates among the members.  You all now will be virtual members of our club!

You must first meet the non-virtual members of our club:
Me, Wendi, Colleen, Jodi, Marcie, Jeanne, Trish, Debbie, Lorna, Yolanda, Miriam and Mary-Ann.  I planning on taking photos next meeting whether they like it or not!

We just finished reading  "The Dovekeepers" by Alice Hoffman.  It takes place over 2000 years ago and is the story of 4 Jewish women who end up in Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert.  Masada was one of the last hold outs agains the Romans and the four women's lives intersect as they care for the doves in the mountain stronghold.  Although the story is fictional, it is based on historical research.

As a group we would recommend this book as it was very well written but the general criticism was that it was too long.  The character development was excellent.  I will provide you with much more interesting commentary next time.  I was the host of this meeting and I was little pre-occupied with filling up coffee cups and serving desert...

Our next read is "The Shoemaker's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani and those of us who have already started it say it is excellent.  I'll let you know what the group thinks after our meeting next month.

Now I must go and try and write some patterns....Maybe I should have another cup of coffee first.

Magazine Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Mary Arline of Iowa who won a copy of Quilts from 100 Blocks! Thank you to all the contest entrants.  I will be participating in the Blog Hop in November for the release of vol. 6 of 100 Quilt Blocks.  Hope to see you back then. 

I just finished making this quilt which is called "Birds in the Garden".  It measures 55" x 61" and features the upcoming fabric line "Noteworthy" by Sweetwater for Moda.  The pattern will retail for $10 and it will be available at the end of September. 

It turned out really well and I love the spring colors.  This fabric line is just being shown to quilt shops now so if you like it, let your local quilt shop know!  The fabric will be in stores in January.

I was playing with it to see how it would look in completely different colors and this is what I came up with.

 
It is amazing to see how different fabrics can change the look of a quilt.

Thanks for stopping by..... Barb

Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

I am so excited that my quilt design was chosen for the Fall '12 edition of Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  It even made it onto the cover!  Mine is the one in the center.

My quilt designs features 2 main blocks.  The first block was included in vol. 5 of 100 Quilt Blocks and the second block will appear in vol. 6.  Both the blocks and my quilt feature fabric designed by Kathy Schmitz of Moda Fabrics.

 

 

I have been involved in the quilting industry for 10 years now.  I started with an online store and then opened a small shop which was only open a few days a week.  My kids were really young and it was a great way for me to get out and have some adult time with other women that shared my passion for fabric.  My fabric inventory was not large but when I saw Kathy's fabrics I knew I had to have them.  I met Kathy at Quilt Market in Portland and I was so thrilled to meet one of my favorite fabric designers.  I became even more committed to her designs and they have become like a comfort food to me - sort of like having a cinnamon bun and coffee while listening to James Taylor by the fire on a rainy night.

Years later when I sold my stores, my very first commercial patterns were designed with Kathy's fabrics.  Her support and encouragement allowed me to open the door to my new career as a pattern designer.   Hence the reason I jumped at the chance to work with her fabrics.  Visit her at:  http://www.kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com/, http://www.kathyschmitz.com/ and/or http://www.etsy.com/shop/KathySchmitz

I decided to use flowers in my block designs because they look great in all kinds of fabrics.  The flowers for both blocks are a folksy take on coneflowers and lend themselves to both small and large prints.  I have shown my vol. 5 blocks in alternate color ways.  Look for the vol. 6 blog tour in November to see alternate color ways for my vol. 6 block.

 

 

 

My quilt design uses only 4 colors: black, red, tan and green.  I love how the stark contrast between the black and the red is warmed by the tan background.  The green adds a punch of color to brighten up the darker colors. 

 

 



 



I am giving away a copy of the Fall '12 edition of Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  Click on this link and send me an email with your name and address by the end of the day on September 5 and I will randomly select a winner.  Quiltmaker is also giving away 20 more copies.  Click on this link for more chances to win:  http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/?p=13042

Thanks for visiting my site and I hope you visit often.  Barb

  

New Beginnings & Seascapes by Deb Strain

Today was bittersweet for me and my husband as we sent our oldest son off to university.  We are very proud that he was accepted into the Forestry program at the University of British Columbia where he will be living in residence.  We are going to miss him (and his driver's license as soccer season starts up tomorrow for our other 3 kids!)  Fortunately UBC is only an hour and a half away....

Of course I had to make him a quilt so here is a picture of my husband and me, our son and our oldest daughter in our son's teeny tiny dorm room.  His quilt is displayed on his bed.

 

His requirements were warm and cuddly so I used Maywood Studios Woolies Flannel designed by Bonnie Sullivan on the front and Moda's Fireside on the back.

 

"Seascapes" by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics is coming to stores this December.  I have designed 3 patterns featuring this fabric line.  The first is called Waves which measures 62" x 80".  The pattern retails for $10 and will be available for purchase on my website by the end of the week.

 

 

Here are some close ups of some of the beautiful fabrics designed by Deb in this line:

 



 

 

 

Stay tuned to the see my other 2 new patterns using this line.......

 

 



End of Summer

Summer is nearly over and I am sitting on a lanai in Maui.  We fly home today and soon we will be back into the swing of work and school.  Our oldest son is off to university which is making me sad and proud at the same time. 

I having been working hard designing and I have many new patterns to share with you (16 new designs since June!) 

The first design I would like to share is called Floral Fusion and features the "Over the Rainbow" batiks by Laundry Basket Quilts for Moda. 

 



I love the colors of batiks but have always been a bit intimidated to work with them.  The solution for me was to add the neutral background to the blocks which showcases the rich colors.

 

 

I used fusible applique for the floral wreaths.  Because of the size of the quilt (73" x 97"), the edges of the applique need to be finished with machine stitching. 

 

While at Quilt Market, I discovered Fusible Vinyl which can be ironed onto placemats to make them water repellant.  The floral blocks would make very pretty summer placemats!

 

Aloha! I must go and pack......



Versailles and Blog Tour Winners

It’s 10 days until I leave for Quilt Market and I am working 12 hours days getting ready.  I will take a break tonight to go see my daughter accept an award from the local soccer league for her role on her soccer team.  In July, her team will be competing in the Provincial Championships.  All 4 of our children play soccer, 2 at the rep level and 2 at the house level.  Even I have joined an over 30 ladies spring soccer league which is tons of fun.  I think I need to design a soccer quilt…..

The next new pattern I would like to share with you is called “Versailles” and features the group “Chateau Rouge” by French General.   The finished quilt is approximately 65” x 82” and the pattern retails for $10.  This pattern has a lot of little pieces but with a little perseverance it will be gorgeous when it is finished (at least that is what I keep telling my friend Marcie who is making it for me for Quilt Market!)  Like Fontainebleau, this quilt is named for a famous French Royal Chateau.  If you are ever in Paris, you must visit Versailles.  It will take your breath away.

Congratulations to the winners of the Blog Tour Draw:  Lee Ann won a copy of the 100 Quilt Blocks Vol. 5 and Robyn, Sandy and Patty won a free pattern.