Back and Forth at the Same Time #1

I love this time of the year, reading all the best-of lists that are published or listening to the best-of radio shows. It's fun to look back on the past year and to think about the possibilities for the year to come. It's really a strange dichotomy of recalling the past and anticipating the future all at the same time. Frankly it should make me a little schizoid, but instead it makes me smile.
This week I thought I'd share some of my highlights from the past year as well as plans or maybe just hopes for the year to come.
I wanted to start off with a mosaic of some of the projects from my book, Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration.

I'm featuring the book as my first look back because I'm going to have a book signing this Sunday at 5:00pm at Stitch Lab,1000 South First Street.  If you've never been to Stitch Lab you are in for a real treat. The place defines the word eye candy. It's located in a refurbished old house on and not only is it fun and funky and colorful, but they sell the best, most contemporary, perfect for quilting, crafting, any-which-way-kind-of-sewing fabrics there. I'll be there along with copies of the book and the original projects from the book. Want to see the Honeycomb Hexagon or Nate's Quilt up close? Come to Stitch Lab this Sunday at 5:00. Also, I'm going to be teaching some classes this Spring at Stitch Lab and though I plan to post about that here later in January, all the class info will be available at the book event. I hope to see you there!

Cathy's Ocean Revisited

Today's post is brought to you by kismet or fate or karma or one of those forces in the universe. The other day a friend and devoted customer emailed to say hello and ask a question. She then mentioned that she'd seen my write-up in American Craft and saw that one of the quilts featured was a quilt I'd made for her. I replied that the editors had asked for a high resolution image of that quilt and unfortunately all I had was a pretty crappy photo I'd probably taken with a point and shoot. Being the kind and generous person she is, my friend offered to drop the quilt off for a few days so I could properly document it.
So here it is:

Its an improvisational take on the traditional Ocean Waves pattern and if you've ever looked at my flickr photostream you've seen it in my quilt set. What the original photo doesn't reveal and frankly neither does this one is how much embroidery I added to the quilt top before I basted and machine quilted it.
That's why I took these closeups.

 

 I had so much fun adding the embroidery to this piece. I remember telling my friend at the time I was working on the quilt that I found the embroidery work to be so calming. I just couldn't seem to stop myself. Also, I used wool embroidery thread which I feel is the perfect compliment to a lot of the hand dyed fabrics. The wool has such an amazing richness of color it really suits the color saturation of the fabrics.
For those who might be interested in some of the mundane details, the quilt measures about 30" x 40" and features both hand dyed and commercial cottons.

Fresh Quilting Across the USA :: Day 7

Whew! I made it all the way across the USA and boy...wait I already used that. I'm actually not tired; I'm thrilled. I've really enjoyed reading the comments and seeing some of the interpretations of the Fresh Quilting projects. Today's the last stop on the tour and it's a great place to visit. Kathy Mack is a designer and owner of a fabulous online store, Pink Chalk Fabrics. I can personally attest to how terrific her space is because not only do I buy a lot of fabric from her I also sell my downloadable patterns there. On her blog today she's posted her review of Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration including a book giveaway.
Throughout the blog tour I've featured photos that I took of the projects before I sent them off to the publisher last winter. Since this is the last day, I've decided to focus on two of the wearable projects I designed for the book. In the book these items are modeled by professionals, but my photos feature two lovely girls, my eldest and her friend. Being teenagers they insisted I not include their faces, but take my word for it they are as cute above the neck as they appear below the neck.  

 Peppermint Neck Warmer

Mix-it-up Patchwork Scarf

Fresh Quilting Across the USA :: Day 6

We're rolling into Day 6, but week 2 of the Fresh Quilting Across the USA tour. I think I like the idea that we could have an incongruous number of days to weeks. If  I could figure out how to do that in the reverse, I could probably go back in time and imagine what an amazing book and subsequent blog tour that would lead to.

Annie's Picnic Quilt from Fresh Quilting

But, back to reality and the blog tour at hand. Today's stop is at Blair's always beautiful and well-designed space. Remember, each stop includes a book giveaway, so be sure to check it out for your chance to win.

Fresh Quilting Across the USA :: Day 5

 Honeycomb Hexagon quilt from Fresh Quilting

I'm virtually flying my way across the USA and boy are my arms tired! :) I was going to wait until the last stop on the Fresh Quilting tour to make that silly comment, but ever time I thought about it I'd giggle, so I couldn't help myself. I guess I"ll have to spend the weekend coming up with something else.
Today's stop is at Jacquie's incredibly popular and informative blog. This woman has so much energy and enthusiasm and it shows in the beautiful quilts that she makes. A little birdie told me that Jacquie has a book in the works too, so I'm definitely looking forward to that.
The tour takes the weekend off for refueling, but begins again on Monday at Wise Craft.
As with all the previous stops, today's blog is offering a free copy of Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, and Inspiration. So head on over there and check it out.

Fresh Quilting Across the USA :: Day 4

My photo of the Whirlygig quilt from Fresh Quilting

Day 4 of Fresh Quilting Across the USA is at Erin's space, House on Hill Road. I've been reading Erin's blog for a long time and I'm a huge fan of her designs, her wonderful approach to life, and the wallpaper in her bathroom.

Be sure to check out her interpretation of the Whirlygig pattern, read her review of Fresh Quilting, and put your name in the hat for the giveaway.

Fresh Quilting Across the USA :: Day 3

 My shot of the kitchen curtain from Fresh Quilting

Today's stop is at JCasa *handmade and I'm totally loving what Jennifer created from the book. In fact it's my dream for what folks might do with the projects in Fresh Quilting. She took the patchwork pattern from the sewing machine cover and adapted it for a studio curtain. Brilliant!
I've long been a fan of Jennifer's and am lucky enough to have visited with her online and in person. She sews, she knits, she writes books, she's got two incredibly cute girls...grab a cup of tea and enjoy your time in her space.