Christmas in July and More

Fellow Quilters,

This past week I have been particularly busy with several quilty things, including:

• Strike-offs for my batik fabric collection for Banyan Batiks. It was like Christmas in July!  I just about hugged the FedEx driver when he delivered my parcel.  This was my first look at my collection on fabric, and I was over-the-moon excited.  Some of the fabrics were fabulous – even better than I expected – while others will need some tweaking.  Overall, I am very pleased, and can hardly wait to get started making up projects with the collection.  I will be showing the collection at Spring Quilt Market 2019 in Kansas City, so I will have lots of time to make some great quilts and accessories.  Unfortunately, I cannot show you anything from the collection yet, however suffice to say that there are some unique fabrics in it.
• Designing patterns for 3 more fabric collections from Northcott’s September 2018 release. Here is an image from the contemporary floral group, likely shipping to stores late Spring 2019.
  

  upcoming Mod Trellis pattern

  I also played with this batik collection that has a large stamped print.

  

  upcoming Flower Boxes pattern

  Lastly, I had fun with a darling collection by Alaskan artist Barbara Lavallee – I find her artwork irresistible!

  

  upcoming Quilting with Mama pattern

  In total, I designed 7 patterns with fabrics from this release – that’s a lot of computer time.  One of my favorites is this design for the 10^th anniversary Stonehenge collection – it includes Celtic motifs.

  

  upcoming Stonehenge Solstice Star pattern

  I will be making this up for Northcott’s booth for Fall Quilt Market in November.

• Developing new classes for Mountain Quiltfest 2019 next March 20 – 23^rd in Pigeon Forge, TN. This is always a super event, with world-class teachers.  Next year’s instructors include Nancy Mahoney, Linda Hahn, Klaudeen Hansen, Cheryl Sleboda and Bonnie Hunter, the scrap queen!
• I drooled over the latest issue of McCall’s Quilting that arrived in my mailbox this week. The September/October issue has an abundance of Autumn color, including 9 Fall-themed projects or articles.  I was tempted to dig into my stash for some orange, gold, rust and moss green fabrics to try one or 2 of them.  This issue also has my Jaded Facets table runner/bed runner – Woop!  Woop!
  

  Jaded Facets bed-runner/table runner

  I made it with Stonehenge Gradations.  Here is a close-up of the quilting. This project is based on a block I designed for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Volume 13 back in 2016.  It looks so different in the current issue of McCall’s!  It is easier than it looks, like most of my designs.  If you don’t have a subscription to McCall’s, you can find this issue on newsstands for another month or so or order the e-zine here.

Last week, I posted about quilt patterns, and solicited your opinion.  I’ve had some great feedback – thank you!  There is still time to comment if you have not already done so.  I will randomly draw a winner from all responses posted by August 8, so please take a moment to send me your thoughts.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Patti