Just A Hint of Life

Over the last several months I have been noticeably quiet. My absence in blogging has not been due to any illness, depression, secret projects, or lack of desire or motivation, but quite simply... lack of time. When your daily schedule has been so completely turned upside down (like I suppose the rest of the world) one is forced to prioritize, re-think and re-structure how those very few, but precious moments are spent. Tasks and goals become question of "what is an absolute necessity, and what things can stay on the backburner?"

My re-emergence post will be notably absent of promises of doing better, posting more often, or anything that sounds remotely close to a New's Resolution, peppered with good intentions... BUT, with things moving in the direction of "normal", I wanted to revisit this space. 

Since pattern writing has become the epitome of a challenge with homeschooling, and has been shoved into the long-term parking garage, I wanted to have something that I could work on where I could simply sit down and sew without thinking, planning, proofreading, editing, and the such.

I was thrilled to stumble onto a block-of-the-month project from @ruthdevosart at just the right time. I have been a long-time admirer of her work - really a true artist! Since I am smitten with the colors that she already used, it was simply just picking the right shades of Basic Grey grunge.

Ruth has a very interesting technique where she uses a light interfacing on the individual fabric pieces, and as she explains, puts it all back together like a puzzle. I've enjoyed diving into this new technique, and it really has my brain ticking.

Since the BOM is a 12-month program, there are some months where we sew two blocks in a month. The first month she started us out one of her eucalyptus flowers, and then for the second moved onto stitching two different leaf blocks.

To say that there is a good bit of pinning involved is quite the understatement, but I have to admit that the end result is SO worth the effort!

The only challenge with a block of the month program, is being patient enough to wait for the next month....

If you want some real inspiration, be sure to check out Ruth's website... her childhood art is absolutely awe-inspiring!

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Bye, Bye, Butterfly Pattern Release + 20% SALE

Just this week I was sharing with my youngest son why spring is my favorite time of year. It’s always been thrilling for me to discover those first bulbs, bursting up through the dormant soil…the perfect shade of spring green that adorns foliage with the promise of new life – tender and delicate…the much-craved light and warmth from a sun that now lingers longer than in the previous winter months. More than anything, I think my love of spring has more to do with the feeling that it ushers in… a feeling of hopefulness that hovers thick. Winter is coming to an end.

With this in mind, it feels like it is perfect timing for the release of my latest pattern, “Bye, Bye Butterfly”. A butterfly is symbolic of change and transformation, and I hope that it invokes feelings of renewal, hope, and courage.

Starting today, save 20% off my latest quilt pattern, Bye, Bye Butterfly, as well as all my patterns in my entire shop! Just  enter the Sale Code: byebye. Sale ends Monday, March 8th, 2021!
 

"Bye, Bye Butterfly" is for the intermediate quilter, and combines applique, XXL applique, and reverse applique with simple paper piecing techniques. The oversized shapes are a good starting point, even for the experienced quilter who wants to try their hand at applique. 

Reverse applique is a fantastic way to eliminate bulk in an applique project, plus it's a fun way to incorporate accent fabrics.

... and with so many of my patterns, circle accents add just the right touch, don't you think? With the help of my video, "how to make the perfect circle using the starch applique technique", you'll be making circles like a pro in no time.

I love combining piecing techniques with applique, and a fun little row of flying geese, adds to the organic applique shapes.

The PDF pattern includes the full size templates, and a coloring page. There are plenty of illustrations, and even a brief explnaion of the starch applique method. Find all my patterns in my shop and get started on your "Bye, Bye Butterfly" quilt today!

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Partridge In A Pear Tree - Today's Quilter Magazine

Are you looking for an applique project to warm up those cold winter months? Then my "Partridge In A Pear Tree" applique found in the latest issue of Today's Quilter magazine might be just what you're looking for - such a soft and subtle palette is perfect for almost any season!

Combining applique and reverse applique can be a satisfying way to highlight focal point design elements. Showcase them for holiday artwork or make a pillow ready to adorn any sofa.

Soft orange and salmon colored berries add just a hint of warmth to any wintery project.

Simple leaf details add interest to this soft-winged snow bird.

The "Perfect Pears & Branches" blocks can be used either by themselves, or in a larger project. Three layout options are included to turn these blocks into a whole quilt!

Find my Partridge in A Pear Tree project in issue 69 of Today's Quilter Magazine, out now!

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Cool or Warm color palette?

My grandmother loved blue. She had piercing blue eyes and found beauty in surrounding herself with that cool and calm shade... every room, and even a large percentage of her wardrobe. Because my mother grew up with so much blue around her, she attributes that as one of the reasons why there was an extreme absence of blue in the house. Like my mother, blue is also noticeably missing in my home, but in spite of all of that... somehow blue seems to follows me.

If you were to look at my most recent projects, you might get the impression that an ocean-inspired palette is what make my heart sing. Hmmm... there's Purdy Bird, then my second Fly High Dragonfly, my reverse applique quilt, and now my most recent project, a second Circle Around pillow.

When I am working on a project, I usually have a pretty specific color palette in my head. Even though finding blue in my house would be a little like a "where's Waldo" search, I very much enjoy working with a cool palette in my quilting projects.

And, as I've discovered about myself... I can sometimes get stuck on a color combo, camp out on it for a while before moving on. There are actually several examples to mention: my purple phase, my jewel-tone phase, a green phase (which is totally to be expected since it is my favorite color), a warm color phase...

Sometimes a specific purpose for the project influences my color decisions... why am I making the project? Is is for me to use? Is it a sample for a teaching class? Am I making it for a pattern? Will it be gifted to someone special? 

 .. and this particular project, I did have someone special in mind - a confirmation present for our goddaughter, who just happens to loves shades of blues and turquoises. I have to admit, that I love the way this warm and cool color palette work together, that I might just have to make this again.

What about you... are you are you drawn to a cool and calm color palette? or does a warm and fiery color palette hold your affections?

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Purdy Bird QAL Prep Week: Color Inspiration!

It's the first day of the Purdy Bird QAL, and I'm thrilled to finally get started quilting with you! This week is prep week, and it's simply about getting started, gathering needed supplies, and fabric selection planning. So, perhaps the best place for us to start out is talking about one of my favorite topics - COLOR! Since choosing fabrics might be an area where some quilters struggle, I thought that it might be useful to have a little inspiration to help you with fabric selection for the QAL.

 

First, let's look at a couple options with the original Basic Grey grunge color as listed in the pattern, but with changes to the background color. When I am making quilts, I often tend towards bold and highly saturated fabrics. What really makes those colors pop, are when they are combined with white.

Recently, I made a second version of my Fly High, Dragonfly quilt, using similar colors. I decided on a soft grey for the background, and it was amazing to me how much it changed the overall feel of the quilt - the colors were reigned in and more subtle. Remember, the further two colors are away from each other, the higher the conrast you will have when you combine them.

A pale aqua background gives the quilt a friendly and cheery feel, while still remaining soft. Compared with navy, the quilt has a more dramatic and moodier feel. Pay attention that you don't "loose" fabrics because there is not enough difference in contrast.

If you would like to stick with the original color palette, remember there are two shops carrying fabric kits for the Purdy Bird QAL:

In the US: Pink Door Fabrics is offering a Basic Grey grunge + background fabric kit.

In Germany: Grit's Life is offering a Basic Grey grunge fabric kit, and offers my Purdy Bird pattern in print.

 

I've already shared a second version of the Purdy Bird quilt in greys, aquas, and chartreuse. This quilt top has a totally different look to the original, and I will reference both of these quilts during the QAL. In the this week's newsletter, I reference the fabrics that I used for this colorway. Again, I played around with different backgrounds to achieve different looks. All of these fabrics are in cool colors, yet are different than the cool colors I used in the original quilt.

Even though I love working with cool and warm color palette, I find that most people usually tend to gravitate towards one in particular. You might like both, one might make your heart beat a little faster than the other. Interestingly enough, even though I find myself working more with cool colors in my quiltig projects, my living room is a pure warm palette... and these Alison Glass batiks are a scrumptous array of warm colors.

As much as I love bold colors and high contrasts, I am quite smitten with a color combination that is soft, subdued, and subtle. Simply by using colors that are a little more decent and controlled, Purdy Bird takes on a whole other look. These muddy colors from Art Gallery fabrics new Terra Kotta line, give a more delicate and romantic feel.

The last color palette is one that has been brewing in my head for a while, and will most likely be the next Purdy Bird quilt that I make. I couldn't very well move on without sharing a color palette using one of my favorite designer's fabrics, now could I?  Playing around with colors on the computer can give me an idea if the general direction that I am going is right, but ultimately, I find that I end up adjusting a lot once I have the actual fabrics in my hands. Should I keep you in suspense which background fabric I will use?

Let's wrap things up now with color, shift gears and address the issue of SIZE... it does matter, you know? Depending on where or how you choose to use your quilt, making a larger quilt might be floating around in your head. So, here are a few ideas for adding to the Purdy Bird quilt:

A simple addition of a few flying geese from the right and left sides could help add length to the quilt.

 

Alternatively, the flying geese could be running from top to bottom on the sides as well.

By repeating the diamond blocks already included in the pattern, an alternating pattern could add extra length to the quilt.

... and if you are really keen on applique, one of my favorite things to do, is adding applique circle accents.

So, are ready to get started? Then link up your Purdy Bird QAL "Prep Week" progress on Instagram and be sure to use the #purdybirdqal hashtag to qualify for the giveaway.

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Purdy Bird Quilt-A-Long!

I'm really excited to announce my very first Quilt-A-Long starting August 31st - October 24th, with my most recent quilt pattern, Purdy Bird! I've had it in the back of my head for a long time to do a QAL with this pattern, but with the release date falling shortly before summer, I decided an early fall date would be the best fit for the QAL... but it's not too early to mark your calendar!

The QAL will run over Instagram, and will go out as a weekly newsletter. You can still recieve the QAL newsletters even if you are not on Instagram, but to qualify for prizes and join in the link-ups, you do need to have an Instagram account. Also, if you are planning to join in, then you will need to sign up for the Purdy Bird QAL newsletter emails. (subscribe below) I decided to keep the regular newsletter seperate for those who would like to still recieve the newsletter, but are not joining in on the QAL.

Each week, we will work on a different section of the pattern, and I get to share all my tips, tricks, and extras that just don't fit into a pattern. During the applique week, I go especially deep into the starch applique method, but I suppose it's to be expected, right? ... and now for the QAL line up:

If you've not gotten yours already, then you can find my Purdy Bird pattern in my new online shop! Hope to see you in August!

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