Holly Toppers gone neutral

I had a lovely afternoon stitching an alternative color way for a dual purpose - Holly Toppers class sample and part of a Christmas present.  After this color way, I'm going to try Easter themed colours.  

Holly Toppers - my new pattern Done!

Excited to have completed this pattern. Holly Toppers is a scrap friendly table topper that can be made in three sizes.  Six strip sets will make the large table topper (27" x 63") or both the small table topper (27" x 45") and square topper (27").  

Raid your stash to complete these toppers in traditional Christmas colors or change it up for other seasons or decors.  

Thrilled, I have completed my goal to have my second pattern done by year end!  That is a first, a goal for a year completed prior to December 31st.  

Wonderful Invisifil Thread - Great quilting experience

Last night I was furiously quilting my class sample of my new pattern "Holly Toppers".  It is a 27 1/2" square table topper.  I wanted to cross hatch the topper with a relatively neutral thread so that I got the definition from the quilting without overpowering the topper.

Wow what a great result!  I used the resources on the Wonderfil site to select a 80 microtex needle.  

Now just the binding and hand quilting for the centre and I'm done!

A Peek at my new design...

Last week I finished the sample of my newest pattern - Holly Toppers.  Holly Toppers is a scrappy Christmas table topper in three sizes:

• a 27" x 63" table runner 
• a 27" x 45" table runner or
• a 27" square table topper.

I just picked up my runner from my long arm quilter.  I am just thrilled with the custom quilting done by Mary Dylke of No Rules Quilting. 

I will release the pattern the end of October, just in time for making a gift for that someone special.  Make it modern using low volume prints for the background or make it traditional using some of your older stash.  Stay tuned for the details on where you can purchase my pattern at your local quilt shop.

I am excited to be teaching the Holly Toppers square table runner November 21, 2015 at the Threaducation Centre here in Calgary.  www.threaducationcentre.com/#!machine/ctzx

If you need that perfect Christmas gift, don't hesitate to join me for this full day class.  

Making progress with your goals - enjoy the journey!

This past year, I have steadily taken small steps to reaching my goal of self publishing three patterns by year end.  At times the task has been quite daunting and at other times pure joy.

Daunting when I considered all of the things I wanted to get accomplished - envisioning a logo, designing a pattern template, taking better pictures of my quilts, writing the pattern and finally bringing it all together.  It had to be perfect!  And of course I wanted to get it all done in a couple of months.  How unrealistic! And worse yet, the personal deadline choked my creativity and enjoyment.

So, with the benefit of giving myself permission to have a realistic deadline, breaking down the tasks into smaller bites and getting the assistance of a great young graphic artist, I published my first pattern this August.  I has been fun!

I can't help but smile when I see the finished pattern cover.  Now with published pattern in hand, other doors have opened.  I taught a class my new pattern at the Wonderful Threaducation Centre this past weekend.  What fun!  Watching the students work through the pattern was very rewarding.

My creativity is flowing again and I am savouring every moment.  I am truly blessed.

Lesson Learned - It's all about Scale

I have discovered "made fabric" blocks.  Made Fabric was coined by Virginia Findlay Wolfe.  For me, made fabric is one modern interpretation of crazy quilts or crumb quilts.  The whole creative process is quite soothing and very creative.  I have become addicted to making 8 1/2 inch made fabric blocks.

Now, what should I do with them.  After deciding on a simple sashing with some solid color blocks, I simply assumed the sashing should be 2" finished.

Wrong!

When I looked at the three first rows of the quilt all I could see is thick solid sashing.  The sashing totally overpowered the made fabric blocks.  All my creativity seemed to be wasted!

A simple adjustment to a 1" finished sashing was all that was needed to scale the sashing for the blocks.  Take a look at the reduced sashing on the right side of the photo.

So, ... the lesson learned is audition one block for scale before I go ahead and assemble 1/3 of a quilt. I don't find ripping to be a very creative process.

The positive in this was the wasted blocks were an opportunity to cut and sew yet another design.  Another new project in the works.

Following through - Completed Take Four Placemats

Completed 1 Old Project - Take Four Placemats

Yeh!  I often wonder what motivates a person to procrastinate completing a project.  The satisfaction of completing an old project is wonderful!  The sense of accomplishment makes me wonder why I didn't dive in and just get it done!  

Note to self, "Just do it!".  

"Take Four" is a wonderful fat quarter friendly placemat pattern.  The pattern is from www.quiltwoman.com .  I have seen it in brights and traditional quilting fabrics.  My guild has embraced this pattern and have made several sets of four placemats.  It has almost been like Rabbits, if you know what I mean.

I had completed four placemats, but alas with the welcome addition of my sons' girlfriends at the dinner table I had to make more.  So, this is the second set of four for my family.  

A little about me.  I am from a family of four, my sister and my parents.  For years the females at the table dominated the scene.  It is miracle my father survived.  As Karma would have it, I am the proud Mom to two sons aged 23 and 19.  One with a serious girlfriend that I adore and the other son reminding me daily that when it becomes serious I will be introduced!  I think there is a message there.  

So,.. with a completed project in hand I can move on to a new project.