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.

Kathy Schmitz and Serenity

The blog tour is almost over.  Hope you are having fun.  Before I share my next new pattern with you, I want to tell you about a great blog written by my friend Kathy Schmitz.  Kathy is a fabric designer for Moda (and the designer of the fabric used in my block) plus an artist extraordinaire.  I was first introduced to Kathy’s fabric when I opened my first quilt shop 10 years ago.  I became an immediate fan, anxiously awaiting her next fabric line.  Over the years and many quilt markets later, I am honored to say that Kathy has become my friend.  It is because of her support that I am designing patterns today.  Kathy’s blog is found at www.kathyschmitzstudio.blogspot.com.  Her artwork and amazing embroidery and quilting patterns can be found at www.Etsy.com/shop/KathySchmitz and www.kathyschmitz.com.  I hope you love her work as much as I do.

The next new pattern I would like to share is called “Serenity” and features Holly Taylor’s new fabric line called “Trail’s End”.  This line includes balis and prints and I have used both to create this 36” wall hanging or table topper.  This pattern retails for $10.

Paper Chain

What reminds you more of being a kid than paper dolls.  The next pattern I would like to show you is called “Paper Chain” and features the new fabric line “Odds & Ends” by Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket.

The finished size of the quilt is 48” square and features mostly piecing with applique only in the border.  This quilt would make a cute play mat for a little girl, a fun table topper for spring or summer or a cute wall hanging for a little girl’s room.  The retail price for this patten is $10.

Check out this cute fabric which is featured in the center of some of the blocks.

Fontainebleau

Thank you to everyone who has visited my blog and entered the contest.  I will draw the names of the lucky winners on the morning of May 5, after the blog tour has completed.  It is so much fun for me to see where you all are from.  How different our world would be without computers!

Here is the next pattern I would like to share with you.  It features both piecing and applique and uses French General’s upcoming line called “Chateau Rouge”. 

This pattern is called "Fontainebleau" and is named after the beautiful royal chateau south of Paris, France that we were fortunate enough to visit a few years ago.

These are pictures of Marie Antoinette's bedroom and the Throne Room at Fontainebleau.

My finished quilt measures 61” x 75” and the pattern retails for $10.00.