Book Preview #1

I feel like the first thing I should do is announce the winners of last week's giveaway, so I'm going to do that super quick because I have a week's worth of previews to get to.
OK. The winners of the fabric bundles and free copies of my new Hex Pot Holder pattern are:
mcregan: I love all of your projects! Thanks for the giveaway!
mama: love it! those are beautiful... and what a great idea for gifts. i used to give people those ones made with loops on a loom when i was little, but this would show that i've come a long way in regards to crafts!
tropicslady: WOW, I've been eyeing the potholders since you first posted about them. I even asked if perhaps you had a tutorial for them! I gave them my best shot but mine didn't turn out too well. So glad to be able to get my hands on a pattern. Great holiday gifts, don't you think?
I have sent all of you emails letting you know you are the winners and asking for your mailing addresses. I hope you enjoy your goodies and thanks to everyone for playing along, especially those of you who kept up the food/cooking metaphor in your comments. They were delicious!

On to today's topic. I've decided to devote this week to previewing my new book, Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration because on Friday I'll be at the International Quilt Festival in Houston doing an Open Studios demo as part of the book launch.

 I got my advance copy last week and excited doesn't quite describe how thrilled I was to see it. I knew it was coming because the day before I got an email from Fed Ex telling me that Interweave Press had sent me a package. I'd already received the projects and a stack of lovely postcards to hand out to friends, family, and just about anyone who's palm might be in an upturned position, so I knew it was a copy of the book. I practically staked out the front door in anticipation and I'd like to take a moment to thank Interweave for sending it via Fed Ex rather than UPS. Don't get me wrong, both companies do a fine job of delivering to my neighborhood, but Fed Ex tends to deliver early in the day and the UPS guy never comes before 5:00 pm. I'm so glad I didn't have to wait all day with my nose pressed to the front window.
My plan in this space this week is to preview 4 of my favorite projects including pictures from the book as well as pictures I took myself before I sent the projects to Interweave last December.
I've decided to start with this quilt:

 It's called the Strips and Stripes quilt and it seemed a fitting first preview for a couple of reasons.

 First, it is not only one of my favorite projects in the book, it may be one of my favorite all time quilts I have made.

                                                                    (back view)
Second, I bought all the fabric for this quilt last year at Quilt Festival.

They're all Kaffe Fasset's shot cottons and the fact that they're all new fabrics, purchased specifically for this project and from the same designer is very unusual for me. I really love the simplicity and color focus of this quilt. Folks, this is such an easy, quick project to execute that you can really play with color. The element that unifies the vertical columns is the repetition of one color throughout that column. For instance, in the left-hand vertical column, the pale blue is repeated every other strip from top to bottom. You don't have to remake the quilt in these exact colors to tie the columns together, you just have to repeat your chosen color. You can adapt this quilt to your personal color palette and aesthetic.

Even the quilting is simple and simple to execute. It's just long lines stitched horizontally about 1/4" apart. I did mine free motion on a machine with a darning foot, but this could easily be done with a walking foot as well.
My version of the quilt measures 43 1/2" x 45". It would make a terrific baby quilt or lap quilt. But, because the elements of the quilt are so basic, enlarging the quilt to twin size or larger is easy.
Are you getting the point? It's simple to make, simple to use as a vehicle for your own creativity, and simple to enjoy. That's why it's one of my favorites.

For those of you who'll be in Houston this Friday, November 5, I'll be in the Open Studios booth form 3-5. I hope you'll stop by to say hello.