I promised

new fabric, but first a few new fabric projects,  Sometimes, I get on a roll and it seems that the binding bug has taken a big bite this week.  It feels good, with so many projects coming and going, to finally finish some of my own.  This is the shower gift I made mostly from stash material.  And I had one good idea when I checked the registry to inspire the color scheme.

with new quilting design: Almost Paisley

Did you know it takes two years to plan a statewide shop hop?  Well besides deciding to participate, all I have to do is sell passports and make the shop quilt.  I actually made a lot of progress at quilt camp and got some quilting done this week.  The best part  is getting the binding on (binding 1)

I’ve had a sample of a simple Daiwabo Taupe throw folded cleverly  so you wouldn’t notice the edges.  It was being hand quilted and that slows things down a bit, but I finally chose a binding and it  feels good. (binding 2)

Finally a won-auction vintage quilt top, from two summers ago, quilted one summer ago by the amazing Wilma, and the vintage binding was hiding among my vintage fabrics for sale at the shop.  It’s good to re-merchandise now and then.  And the pretty blue and orange flowers match the scrappy color scheme perfectly. (binding 3)

Okay, I also took a poll and the majority of folks voted for fabric and a pattern giveaway.  So comment by July 3rd and be entered into the drawing for exactly that.  Here are some of the possibilities.  New fabrics in the shop:

Jennifer Paganelli's Dance With Me Collection

Flourish Collection

Heavier weight for stuff like tote bags...

Bird Print and Coordinating Texture Print

Alexander Henry Halloween 2009

How cute are these witches?

 

I shall return…

The week we spent in Israel was too quick, of course, but most fabulous! Views, tastes, people, sounds and some of the most torrential rains of Israeli Winter. And don’t forget inspiration. Often, what we gain most from travel is a change of viewpoint, or at least an easing of it.   The days ahead will reveal that of course, but a brief look at the recent gorgeous past.

Rosh Pinah balcony: Looking toward the Sea of Galilee

A quilt, maybe?

New fabric from Westminster, Free Spirit arrived on Monday.  Stay tuned!

 

A breather

from catching up after the holidays.  I wish I didn’t have to sleep  sometimes, because I have so much to do.  And with all of it going on, the Quilter’s Alley  parallel universe sustains.  

The decorations are down, finally,
the showroom has been reinvented,
January stock has started to arrive,
samples for new lines are in the works,
very pink super hero visits the  store,
the long arm machine is rarely idle,
the final editing of On The Grid continues,
new drawings for Molly’s Quilt must be done (to complement the book)
Classes have started and new classes are filling up 
Super Bowl Sunday sewing event is planned
Show stock is being prepared: March Empire Quilters
The Quilter’s Alley website is updated, again…
whew!
Pictures? Who has time, but…

 

On the Grid

 

I’ve designed another quilt, written another pattern and finally completed the quilt top after much deliberation.  Jennifer Paganelli gave me a stack of fabrics that she designed for her latest collection – coming January 2009 – and I puzzled them into what finally looks like a great cover for the pattern.
These are just a few of them.

 

 

One seam to go

I am using the Flower Power prints in aquas, peach, pink and green.  There is a perfect shot of animal print all around.  We’re so happy that Westminster is bringing back the brown and white, black and white zebra prints that sold out the door last time.  They add a punch of kitsch to anything they touch.  I will now be using the rest of the scraps to come up with fabulous garments and accessories.

Flower Embellishment in process

  Nose to needle again…

 

 

 More at the store…

 

Jill made twin gifts from Wee Wonderfuls Pattern

Strawberry Fields

 

Make-up Class

A tutorial for this easy bag was requested and will be uploaded to our website.

A patchwork headpiece

A cartoon headpiece

A holiday neck-piece

Amy Butler, Simplicity and Proud Mama

My littlest sewists

 

Diana's Apron

Mimi's Apron

 

 

                                                                                                   

 

Nancy finishes in time!

Eileen's naturally dyed fabrics are amazing!

So much in only a couple of weeks.  Whew!

 

It’s so cute…

If I say so myself.  Returning from Quilt Market with tons of ideas and a 150-bolt order has made me focus on my two month time frame for their delivery.   Kaffe, Brandon, Phillip,  Jennifer, Anna Maria, Amy, Minny Miu, Art Gallery all in view through my “magic mirror.”  (remember  Romper Room? I’ve been inspired by childhood lately.)  I’ve also begun to reorganize the shop a bit with an area (as Stu says:) that looks like a puppet show will be starting.  My other amazing collection of props: a child-size wooden ironing board, bright red toy iron and a battery-operated pink sewing machine.   

A corner of kid inspiration

 

 

Minny Miu Fabrics

 

 

 

I have loads of sample garments and quilts to make, with a priority being the new pattern for Jennifer Paganelli’s unreleased line of fabric.  I have half-yards of the whole collection, thanks to my favorite courier, Nancy, who is also working on a pattern for JP.

But I just had to interrupt that project to make a tiny (size 3) dress. It shouldn’t take too long.

Art Gallery Fabrics are a great choice for kids!

 

 

 

Back from Houston Quilt Market

It seems like we’ve spent a lot of travel time in Texas this year with Husqvarna Viking Convention and all.  But, going to Market transports me to the Land of Ideas.  I’ve returned with order slips for over 150 new bolts of fabric from Westminster, Alexander Henry, Lecien, Kokka, Art Gallery Fabrics.  These will make their debut after the New Year.  Sample spree yielded little gems of Lecien, Kokka and Art Gallery Fabrics that will be tied into precious bundles of color and available for sale immediately.
I’ll take some tempting photos this week.

Still Construction but a Beautiful new park this year

 

 

The Brains & Brawn of Art Gallery Fabrics

We were focused this year on bright color, not that I don’t love it all the time.  Our goal was to cheer the economic recession into submission.  We went to the Quilt Exhibit, but I only partially covered the vast hall because of an issue with sore feet.  I took names, so I could check them out online, but only one or two had websites.  Boo Hoo

We spotted Eleanor Burns, Kaffe and Liza, Jay McCarroll, (Project Runway winner), (missed a Marie Osmond sighting),  Amy Butler, Trish & Davis from Attic Heirlooms.

Spoke to Liesl, from Oliver + S. We’ve been buying more and more of her classically adorable children’s patterns as our business turns toward the young crafty mom.  Liesl is so beautiful and real- a Brooklyn girl. Also on the real track is Anna Maria Horner, who we had met in San Antonio in June.  She and I spent quite a while chatting about being creative and business in general.  We plan to stay in touch.  We caught her doing her own photos of her gorgeous booth. So down to earth.  And we may have her coming to the Quilter’s Alley for a book signing in the Spring.  That would be so amazing!

Meanwhile at the Shop:

I promised to bring you the heirloom being quilted by hand.  Go Cindy and Erin!

 

The T-Shirt quilts are done.  Here are photos:

Molly’s Book is in its final revision, I think.  It looks great!  Thanks, Terrie.

All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation.

 

Give Away winner announced:  Sherrym2 will receive the Jennifer Paganelli Fat Quarters and the Times Square Pattern by the Quilter’s Alley

Good News!  There are several more art quilt pattern designs in the works from The Quilter’s Alley, now being prepared for publication.

 

Give Away

Okay, so I talk about all the projects and events that happen around here all the time, but I decided to stir things up with a give-away of a Jennifer Paganelli four-fat quarter pack and a Times Square Pattern.  She had her own drawing which gave me the idea since her mention of my pattern, Times Square , made with her fabrics.  So leave a comment about how much you love her fabric or my pattern (which is one of a growing collection) and you will be entered into the drawing this week.  Comments will be tallied on the 30th of Oct. and names thrown into the hat for drawing.  Five names will win sets of fat quarters from her collections.  I spoke to Jennifer today and we will be offering precut fat quarters and kits with her fabrics and my patterns at her home show which is coming up in Wilton, CT.  Check back for dates. And don’t forget to leave a comment here to enter the drawing.

Thanks Nancy for making the sample that Jennifer saw. Here is an image of the quilt I made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

 

 

Next:  We’re headed to Houston for Quilt Market

 

Talking Dresses

I’ve dredged up a old icon to spend time with lately. It goes back several years, and, as I mentioned in my last post, sometimes I revisit the sketchbook storehouse to get myself back into inspired mode.  So I decided to cut some templates and print the silhouette on plain fabric.  Then I dyed and painted more stuff.  I used my favorite green fabric paint color, with my favorite brown color and made some murky images. Then I took brighter fabric and traced the silhouette with bleach pen.  Then I dyed over some of the cheerier color and I got some murky thing again.  Some of the dresses are cut out and sewn back onto other fabric.  Some are just squares of fabric. All in all, I’ve tried to brighten them by surrounding them with more color, whether with fabric or stitching and I like what I’ve got. So far I’ve made four…and counting, I’m still not done.  These gals have become simple bags which may end up on (that labyrinth called) Etsy.