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. 

Blue Rhapsody

Happy May Day! Hope you are enjoying  the blog tour!  I promised a sneak peak of my patterns being introduced at Quilt Market in Kansas City in May......

The first one I want to show you is called "Blue Rhapsody" and it features Deb Strain’s new fabric line for Moda called “Spa”.  I just finished making it and it has gone to the top of my favorite patterns.  (I used the same fabric to make the blue color way for my block)

The applique pieces are all very large which makes the result very dramatic.  I believe it would also be very striking in a variety of colors.  The finished quilt is 66" x 80".  The retail price of this pattern is $11 and it includes a color fabric guide to help sort out all the different blue fabrics.

I have two more “Spa” patterns to show you but you are going to have to wait.  Deb’s fabric line will be in stores in August and my new patterns will be on line by May 15.

Welcome to my blog, this last day of April and the first day of the 100 Quilt Blocks blog tour!  April in Chilliwack, British Columbia, where I live, has been cool and wet which is perfect weather for quilting.  We have had just enough sun to make everything green and the gardens are full of daffodils and tulips. 

My block was inspired by the artwork of Kathy Schmitz featured in her “Full Circle” line of fabric.  Four coneflowers are placed around a simple wreath representing the annual cycle of the four seasons.

I love the dramatic contrast of the red and black on the beige background.  I have done up my block in 2 more color ways featuring fabrics by Deb Strain and 3 Sisters 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. 

If you would like to win a copy of 100 Quilt Blocks vol.5, please send me an email at barb@coachhousedesigns.com with your name and address and I will select a lucky winner.  I will also be drawing 4 extra names to win one of my new patterns being introduced at quilt market.  My new market patterns feature the fabrics of:  Deb Strain, Cosmo Cricket, Holly Taylor and French General.  Let me know which of the four designers is your favorite and if your name is chosen, I will send you a pattern from that group.   Check back on my blog in the next couple of weeks leading up to market to get a sneak preview of my new patterns!

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