Patterning Ups and Downs

The other day I was having dinner with some friends and one of them suggested that we all name a highlight from the previous week. Though this may sound a bit awkward and forced, I think a lot about issues relating to gratitude and being present and possibly so do the folks I gravitate towards, so we thought this was a great idea.
We then took turns naming a single event that brightened our week. Several pointed to a particular work achievement and one or two mentioned something relating to relationships or friendship as their personal highlight.
I focused on creating. I'm hot and heavy at work on my next collection for Moda and I've struggled a bit with it. It seemed like lately that just as I'd I test a pattern I'd reject it for some reason. That is until last Thursday.
I can't pretend to say that I know what changed and I realize that that would probably be a good idea, but, in the course of one day, I went from having 3 "for sure" patterns to 7 definites and 2 probablies.
That was a very good day.

This shot of my design wall doesn't even represent all the possibilities, both accepted and rejected.

It makes me feel excited to have all the pattern possibilities because now I can play with the palette. That part I do have nailed down.

As for the patterns and/or color ways that don't make the final cut:

Look for these to be quilted, crafted into pillow covers, and added to my store.

The Boyfriend Gets Quilted

First off, I'd like to thank the folks who picked up the scrap and charm bundles I had in my shop. I'll be adding more in the days and weeks to come and am also planning on adding new patterns in new color ways, but exclusively as fat quarters. I'll chat about that more in Monday's post, but the idea came to me the other day while I was dyeing some fabric and I'm pretty jazzed about it.
Today's post is all about this:

and this:

Isn't that beautiful?
I sent this quilt top out to a local long armer and she did an amazing job. I knew I wanted it quilted very closely and I was just blown away by the texture that the closely spaced, straight line quilting created.
I'm currently in the midst of binding it and writing instructions for the pattern, so look for that, the pattern, by the end of the month.
I can say that with confidence because it's set to be gifted by then and I'm about to start working on the second in my 12 x 12 series( remember? 12 quilts and patterns in 12 months)
Have a most wonderful weekend!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

That title is kind of growing on me. Especially because I have a lot in the works lately.
I'm picking up my quilted Boyfriend Quilt from the long armer today, so look for finished photos of that possibly as soon as Friday and am furiously working on my next collection for Moda Fabrics.
It's that work, dyeing and designing new patterns that has led to these:

New a stitch in dye fabric bundles for sale in my shop.
And these:

Quarter pound scrap bundles are also available.
Both these items are on super limited quantity as right now I'm focused on my new collection, my 12 in 12 quilt project (12 quilt patterns in 12 months, yikes!), and my soon-to-be-released and totally awesome new website (folks, wait until you all see this...so cool).
But, I am excited to be working on new fabric patterns for the shop. It has been a long time since I introduced some new fabrics and new colorways of much beloved patterns.
So, if you're interested, go ahead and grab yourself a bundle or stay tuned to see what's new and next.

More Supersizing, More Grandmas

Just in case you thought I was done with re-interpreting the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern, I present this:

 Truth be told, I don't know when I'll tire of re-imagining this pattern. It's possible that this is true of every traditional block or pattern, but I feel that there are so many possible variations with this one. Maybe because it can be broken down either in hexagons or triangles, maybe because it can feel simultaneously simple and complicated. I don't honestly know, but I have yet to feel that I'm done laying with these shapes.
As for details, this version is a baby quilt measuring about 36" square and crafted out of a variety of solids and a couple of prints including a black and white print to accent the intense colors.
I love rounded corners and have used this little gimmick a lot lately, but I think it softens a quilt and makes it feel just wee bit more playful. Seems appropriate fro a quilt meant for a little one.
As with many of my supersize projects, this can be one of several blocks in a larger quilt or a stand alone baby quilt...like this one.

Laurel Love

If you happen to follow my Pinterest board Sew Worth Making, then you've seen a lot of shift-like dresses pinned there.
My absolute favorite though is Laurel by Colette Patterns.
Check out this version:

And this pin that isn't exactly an example of this pattern, but something like this could definitely be made using Laurel.

Though I bought the pattern in a frenzy when it first came out, I didn't make any of the possible 4 versions featured in the pattern until recently. I thought about making them. I planned to make them. I even imagined myself wearing the as-yet-unmade Laurels, but I didn't cut or sew anything until this:

and this:

I made the top pretty true to the pattern out of one of the prints in my Simple Marks Autumn collection. The dress is crafted in denim, also inspired by loads of beautiful denim shift dresses I've been seeing online.
I did alter the dress a bit, adding darts in front because I needed a little more waist definition and I shortening the overall length because, hey, I'm not exactly tall.
And I'm not done yet. I'm about 80% finished with another version of this dress and could definitely see making spring/summer versions of this pattern in linen and maybe a lovely Liberty print.

What I'm Working on Wednesday

Thank goodness the words "what" and Wednesday" both start with a W. Makes coming up with a cute title so much easier. Of course things are really streamlined because I'm actually going to post about what I'm currently working on, but having a snappy title doesn't hurt.
This is what's on my wall lately:

Actually, it's already off my wall, completely pieced, and in the process of being quilted, but that's beside the point.
I'm calling this The Boyfriend Quilt. Guess why? He doesn't read my blog, so no need to worry.
Anyway, it's for him...and you.
I should backtrack a little here.
I love setting up challenges for myself. For instance, my New Year's Resolutions this year included at least two challenges: 12 books in 12 months (not really all that challenging for many, but I sometimes find it hard to make time to read) and 13 half-marathon races in 13 months (13 because a half-marathon is 13.1 miles. BTW- February will mark #4 because I started this challenge last November).
Anyway, you get the picture. Challenges+ Me = Love.
What does this have to do with this quilt? Well, one of my challenges this year was to design 12 quilts in...any guesses? Yep, 12 months. And, I'm not just supposed to be designing these guys, but writing up the patterns.
So far, so good, but this is just pattern #1. I'm thinking it will be ready for release at the end of the month.
That's when things will really start heating up as, according to my little challenge, I should have another ready to release within a month of that.
Oy, why do I come up with these things?!

My Grandma Just Got Bigger

That's my Grandmother's Flower Garden variation block, not my actual grandma.

I crafted these blocks out of my From Outside In stripey prints and a cream colored solid.

Initially, I designed this quilt to be pieced as a series of hexagons, but then I started thinking about ease of construction.

And I realized that, though they'd always "read" as hexagons, the pieces could be put together as triangles. Way easier, people.

And then the rows could make blocks and so on.

Add a little straight line machine quilting and...

My Grandma just got supersized super easy!