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!

 

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.

 

Fashion Show

Last week, there was a surge of finishing projects (and mostly wearables) and the makers came to visit us at The Quilter’s Alley. The store is in the background in a lot of the shots.

 

Audrey

 

A Birthday Skirt

 

Barcelona Skirt

 

Lounge Pants

 

New Kaffe Fassett

I made this one. Sew easy!!!

 

And then the quilters…

 

Cheer Leader Extraordinaire!

 

Runner Extraordinaire!

 

So much to catch up on

So  much has been going on here that I realize  I have lots to report.

First the illustrations are complete and better, I have found my painting muse again, to the point that I am observing the world as subject matter.  After the last painting, I cleaned my palette which has been with me for many years.  I notice how rusted-ish it has gotten, but it is such a momento of past work and I will just keep refilling its little pockets with color.  I ordered myself a copy of Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Catalog which was my primary resource when I painted constantly.  So many of the tubes have dried up from years of dormancy and now I need to replenish some of my favorites.

Looks like gouache, but mostly watercolors.

With that, the season of dyed wool is upon us and I have cooked up my first batch.  I’m quite pleased.

Start sewing series  had a successful second session. The patchwork table runner was completed in one session, although it was a bit hectic.  Everyone agreed that they could handle finishing a project in two sessions if necessary.

Our fastest skirt making customer came by to get more fabric.  She’s really on a roll, but I also think she’s 
“hooked” as in “bitten by the sewing-your-own-clothes bug.”  (See Primary School)

Finally, I’ve made the decision to tediously restart my Lollypop Tree block, by pulling the first one apart. But now I can.

 

Progress

Behind the scenes, I’m almost obsessively working on completing the illustrations for Molly’s book.  This project is more than a year old, and it will be good to finish.  I had no idea that projects like this took so long, or were so much work for that matter.  But I guess anything worthwhile takes time.  So I have spent more time in my tiny craft closet with my old watercolors and the drawings than I have doing anything else lately.  Two more paintings are left to do and then I can continue on my lollypop trees among other pressing ideas.

 

Crazy

After my morning “off,” which amounted to two hours at my guild meeting, only because it was my turn to bring block exchange, it turned crazy when I got to the store. I haven’t been to a meeting with these gals since December or January, and my phone, which I thought was ringing in my head, rang the entire time in my coat pocket, hanging in the host’s mud room. It’s a good thing when the store is hopping, but I get no peace. The block exchange I offered is an modern hand applique called Lollypop Trees. All my fabrics are Kaffe Fassett – ish.  I packed precut templates and all the fabrics and pattern and my own instructions into four kits, hoping that at least four people would be able to handle the magnitude of the project.The blocks are 20″ each.  

There is no time pressure and we discussed having people share one block, maybe someone making the applique shapes and someone attaching them to the background. I know this group. They’ll work it out.  Of course my camera was in the car, but Heidi brought two spectacular quilts to show and tell. (among other projects)

So when I got back to the shop, there was the “why didn’t you answer your phone?” and it didn’t settle down all day.  There was one truly magnificent highlight, when the antique crazy quilt was opened onto our big table.  Everyone gathered in awe and even I stopped for a moment.  I keep thinking, there is definitely karma in quilts, silent calm, patience and beauty.