Quilt Market – Michael Miller (Part 1)

I don’t know how I should organize the posts.  So it might be mishmash craziness that will span over a couple days.

Here we go!

First – the Michael Miller booths!

Camp Michael Miller pretty much sets the tone.  The prints I love are fun and playful, just like their booth.

The Michael Miller girls – Patty Young, Sandi Henderson, Paula Prass and Pillow & Maxfield.  It’s hard for me to point out every little detail.  These women have made sure every little detail is perfect.  It is amazing!  Hopefully you’ll be able to see a little bit of that in the pictures. (Check out my quilt market flickr album to see even more pictures!)  

In addition to new fabric lines, they all have new patterns too!  I have Patty’s newest patterns in the store now.  Sandi is expecting hers to be ready in November and Paula says around the new year. Also Valerie Pillow and Anne Maxfield said their website, blog and such should be up before too long!

I have some goodies for you guys… you’ll definately want to check back. But right now I am falling alseep on my computer desk – so it’s time for me to get some much needed sleep!

See you again soon with more quilt market fun!

Andalucia

You read my blog.  I’m going to guess that the likelihood that you know of Patty Young is pretty high….but just incase…..

In relation to this business of mine, Patty is a fabric designer and pattern writer extraordinaire.  Michael Miller Fabrics prints her lovely designs.  And her company, ModKid, handles her patterns.    Her first line was Andalucia.  

This summer she released Mezzanine.

And now on her blog she has revealed her third collection.  Flora and Fauna.

So I need to make room for her newest collection….which means that ALL of Andalucia is now on sale.  (I  need to go get Haley something made with the Mod Bloom corduroy.  It’s too cute and perfect for fall.  Maybe I’ll do that tonight……)

In fact, the whole Sale Section has been updated.  What is left of Sandi Henderson‘s Ginger Blossom is also marked WAY WAY down.  And as a super extra added bonus – this week all the Sales items get bonus points!  More cash back for your future purchases!!!!  (Read up on the Reward Points here.)  Only 2 weeks until Quilt Market!!!!

25 Things to do with Charm Packs

I have said before that I love charm packs.  They are packs of 5 inch squares made from the entire collection of a particular line of fabric.  The packs usually contain around 40 squares.  The cost is generally about $8 and gives you a nice sampling of the line of fabric.  Obviously, you can also use the charm packs, but a lot of people are at a loss as to what the heck they are supposed to do with these little squares of heaven.  Here are a few ideas:

• Arrange and rearrange all the pretty squares of fabric (just for entertainment)
• Camera Strap Cover (just blogged about that)
• Cards (visit Craft Apple‘s blog)
• Little Girl Skirts
• Little Girl Pants
• Little Girl Pinafore Top
• Dish Towels (jazz up plain ol’ towels)
• Quilts  (TONS of patterns out there using charms & combos of precuts)
• Apron (pieced diagonally – seriously cute!)
• Tote Bag
• Pincushions
• Patchwork Memo Board (Just saw this on Moda Bake Shop!)
• Yo-yos
• Notebook Covers
• Patchwork Pillow cases
• Applique Bibs
• Applique or patchwork burp cloths
• Applique Onesies
• Applique T-shirts
• Applique Pants
• Patch holes in Pants
• Patchwork placemat
• Decoupage furniture
• Decoupage picture frame
• Decoupage mirror frame
• Patchwork Scarf
• Patchwork anything and everything you could possibly think of sewing.

So that last one is totally cheating – but basically true.     Also be sure to check out Moda Bake Shop.   They have tons and tons of ideas for precut fabrics (not just charms).

Go Ahead, Try It

Have you tried free-motion quilting yet?  Is fear holding you back?  Go ahead and try it!  You really can’t mess it up!  As I was moving the fabric to and fro, that is what occurred to me with this last quilt.  It is not prim and proper !  It’s all over the place.  Running here and there.  Twisting, turning, changing it’s direction.  And that is pretty much exactly me.  A perfect fit!

Ah -but let’s say that you are a person who doesn’t like mess or chaos.  You want things just so.  Precise and perfect.  Yep, I know a handful of you too.  Well, I still believe you should try this technique as an exercise in character.    

 It’s not perfect. I know that. There are imperfections.  But I am not entering it into any huge quilting contests. It’s for my little boy. Who loves it a lot. And his Mama made it for him – which makes it even more special to him.  And besides, aren’t the imperfections one of the things that make handmade so much more meaningful than manufactured?

 

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You’ll see this quilt again in Taylor’s room when I finish it. 
(It’s soooo close!  I have to find time this week to get it done!)
A quilt should be worth more than one blog anyway.    
And just to re-empahsize, dear husband, free-motion quilting is NOT cheating.

Fabric: Amy Schimler’s Animal Party and Forest Fun
Pattern: FREE download from Robert Kaufman

 

By the way, I also know some of you that are stuck at making your first quilt top.  Pick out a simple design for your first quilt. (Pre-cuts really simplify things.)  Then send it off to to be quilted.  My point is try to overcome the hurdle that is blocking your way.  Figure out a way to jump over it and take off running.  Even if that hurdle has nothing to do with sewing.    

And now I must go hang shelves!  Until next time…..

Weekend Plans

What are your plans this weekend?

I will be sewing backpacks and pillows.
Haley needs them for kindergarten.
The pillow is going to be made out of Lila Tueller’s newest line

Santornini

She always has such fun designs!
I keep thinking I’ll decorate Haley’s room with one of Lila’s lines.

But first is Taylor’s room.
His Animal Party Quilt is finished.

I love it.
I wanted to show you pictures of it IN his completed room
That is why I haven’t shared it yet.

I decided I should also sew something for myself again.
Maybe this weekend, maybe not.
I’m thinking of a skirt from one of the new Spellbound prints.

Spellbound

I especially love the Chalky Silhouettes print.
It would make a lovely skirt.
And a bag.
I probably need a new bag.
I’m getting bored with my current selection.

 

So what are your plans this weekend?

Birds Birds Everywhere

In Pittsburgh I had set appointments with my regular companies weeks in advance. My first appointment was at 10 am on Friday morning. I was late. Thankfully I wasn’t too late – so my Timeless Treasures rep was still able to meet with me.  

Timeless Treasures has an adorable line out called Apple.  It is filled with goodness….yummy yummy retro goodness. Cute little owls, yummy apples, trees, swirls, flowers and leaves.

 

The fabric is cute enough on it’s own – but then they had it displayed using the most adorable pattern, Birdie Big Blocks.  Instantly I knew that I had to get this quilt pattern! And I knew I needed to make it available as a kit for you!  I think it can work with so many fabrics out there!  And of course, it’s available as yardage in my store as well.  :-)

I also thought this would be adorable in the new Just Dreamy fabric….and boy was I right! I will share that with you tomorrow – now I need to go spend some quality time with my family – Hope your weekend is going great!

Christmas Patchwork Quilt

Do you remember the Christmas Patchwork Quilt I made?  A picture to jog your memory?

My friend, Carly, wrote up this pattern for her Etsy shop. It uses one layer cake (pre-cut 10 inch squares) and one charm pack (pre-cut 5 inch squares). It is a GREAT quilt for beginners!  The top goes together quickly since you’re using pre-cut fabric. 

So guess what?!?!?  Carly is letting me sell her patterns in my store.  And I’ve made this exact quilt available as a kit!  So  you can make one too! Even better?  This particular kit includes the backing!  You can find it here.  

Speaking of Christmas….we are about HALF WAY through this year!  WOW!  So even though it’s nice and warm outside – it’s not too early to start your Christmas sewing!   Did you join in the Advent Calendar Sew Along?  I guess I did since I have the button on my blog….but I haven’t made anything yet.  In fact, we have never even used an Advent Calendar in my house.  Oh well.  If you’re looking for Holiday fabrics for the sew along…or for any project,  I have added a few new things to the Seasonal Fabric section of my website.

Okay so you’ve stuck with me this long….why not have a little give away?!?!?  I would love to send ONE person the kit and pattern for this super fun Christmas Quilt.  Just leave me a comment telling me what are some of the gifts you would like to make for the holidays this year.  I like to leave these up for about a week but we’ll be leaving town next week.  So I’m guessing that I’ll need to wrap this up after the weekend.  So comment away!  And if you don’t win…well you know where to find them!

I’m short

Fall Quilt Market 2008 was a ton of fun (and the reason I have not been posting).  I didn’t get back until late late late last night.  Today I’m playing catch up on business, emails, laundry, food, moving and more but honestly what I really want to be doing is sewing.  So much creativity!  So much inspiration!  I will post more about it later, I promise. For now, I leave you with this one picture to give you an idea of how the last several days of my life was spent….meandering my short self through over 2400 booths in Houston.