Quilts for the Modern Home

 I have long admired Camille Roskelley's 'look'.  Seriously, anyone with a red and white polka dot chair is my hero!  She's a beautiful young mom, who has been out in the front of the Modern Quilt movement.

Her pattern company is Thimble Blossoms.  Her mom is Bonnie Olaveson, from Cotton Way.  Together they design fabric for Moda, under the name Cotton Blossoms.

I have used their Bliss collection in several projects.  I love the colors, red, turquoise and pink.  The newest group is Ruby. OMG.  They have added gray to the colors and a wonderful green.  It won't be here for months.  That's ok, it gives me time to finish up my Bliss projects, before I dive in.

I was reading her blog today http://www.camilleroskelley.typepad.com/, and she has posted many pictures of her booth at Quilt Market.  Go take a peak.  It was so pretty, makes me miss market!

If you haven't looked through her book Quilts for the Modern Home, Simplify, you should. The photos are beautiful.  Camille actually did the photography.  She is one very talented young woman.  And, she is totally in love with her little boys, and her husband.  I love that about a person.  J

The Australian Designers at Market

I fell in love with several Australian designers at Quilt Market.  I believe this happened during fall market, also.  There is something fresh and original about their 'look'.  A little bit country, a little bit folk art, a little sweet.  I can't really put a finger on it, but I really, really loved it!

 This was the booth for Gail Pan Designs.  Jam packed with wonderfulness!!  The quilt hanging on the left of the booth is titled, Birds and Berries.  Applique and embroidery, and darling.  Joyce has already started a sample, using a fat quarter bundle of Flower Sugar, that I brought home from Market. (Hard to believe I let it go)  It is going to be  WONDERFUL!!

 This cute Christmas quilt was made by Lynette Anderson, using her new fabric collection from Lecien, Scandinavian Christmas.  Uber cute!

We spent quite a bit of time in Anni Downs booth.  She is the designer of Hatched and Patched designs.  OMG, the cute factor was unbelievable.  Wool, embroidery, patchwork, applique-she does it all!  We have had this book for a month or so, but seeing the quilt in person was so inspiring.  I just wanted to start stitching right there!  I ordered several of her books and patterns.  It was a painful process, because I wanted everything!

I don't have a photo of Sue Daley.  But, she is rocking the English Paper world!  And, she was funny.  And as my BFF Mary used to say, 'what are you if you're not funny.'  She has a book coming in December, so there will be lots of chatter about her.

A common thread with all of these talented ladies, were small take along projects.  Needle books, pincushions, little bags.  Stitched and embellished.  I had to remind myself to breath.  Australian Crush!! J

QUILT MARKET DAY ONE AND TWO

Quilt market is always jam packed with business and pleasure.  I always think there will be more time for 'pleasure' when I am at market.  The truth is, there is a lot of work that has to be done, however, having a moment for hugs and greetings is one of the reasons that market is the best place to 'see and be seen.'

Last night Noel and I had dinner with our good friend Laura.  She owns The Cotton Patch in Florida.  Great food, and great friends.  What a wonderful evening we had.

 We started out yesterday morning with Pam Kitty Morning.  OMG, her new fabric line is amazing.  The most wonderful color pallet.  True to Pam's design roots.  We were blown away with the entire collection.

We loved Valori Wells' new fabric line, Wrenly.  Having a bird on fabric makes us happy!

This is Violet Craft.  The perfect name for a very talented young Modern designer.  I met Violet in the airport last fall on my way to Houston.  It was very early in the morning, and we hauled all of our luggage on to a city bus, and rode into Houston with the rush hour traffic.  Her very first pattern was coming out with Indigo Junction.  It was very fun to listen to her excitement.  At this market, she not only has children's clothing patterns, but she has a great new fabric line called Peacock Lane,  with Michael Miller!  My head is spinning, and I can't remember when it will be in the shop.  But, I will keep you informed.  Check out her blog. http://blog.violetcraft.com/

More to come tomorrow.  J

SCHOOL HOUSE and SAMPLE SPREE

Yesterday was a long, fun filled day.  We started with a lecture at 8 am, had school house sessions from 10 until 6, and went to Sample Spree from 8 until 10.  I could hardly fall asleep last night, there were so many wonderful thoughts zipping around in my head.

I thought you would like to see a few of the treasures we bought at Sample Spree, or as my friend Melisa calls it 'Trample Spree'.

The lighting in the hotel room is not the best, but just use your imagination, and you will find it all wonderful.

Each year Moda designs bags that are just for Sample Spree.  This one has a vintage logo.  I love it!

Noel and I both bought these little lambs from Ann Sutton, of Bunny Hill.  We have patterns for Lollipop to ship home.  So, Sweet!

 This Birthday Cup Cake wool candle mat is so precious.  You could use it for years, on every one's special day.  The sprinkles are french knots. 

This little table topper uses a focus fabric in the center, and then 1 1/2" strips around.  One of my favorite fabric collections, Charlevoix. 

The market is packed with great ideas.  Lunch is over, we need to get back to 'work'.  J

SALTLAKE CITY, HERE WE COME

 Tomorrow, Noel and I are leaving for Quilt Market.  Where did the time go?  I just got back from Fall Market, right?

This year market is in Salt Lake City.  It is a beautiful city.  Snuggled right up to the Wasatch Mountains.  We were there a few years ago.  The day we arrived it was in the 80's, the next morning there was fresh snow in the mountains.  A breathtaking sight.

We will have a car this trip, so we can visit a few quilt shops and some old friends.  A customer, who was once my next door neighbor, and her husband have moved to a retirement home in Sandy, Utah.  We are looking forward to catching up with them on Wednesday.

I always look forward to catching up with my shop owner buddies from around the country.  Kelly Ann http://www.kellyannsquilting.com/, Roseann http://www.rosebuds-cottage.com/ Melisa http://www.sweethomequiltco.com/ Laura http://www.cottonpatchquiltshop.com/ Nancy http://www.quiltedkitty.com/ to name a few.  Then there are my designer friends, like Monica Snow http://www.thehappyzombie.com/blog/ and Cheryl Malkowski http://www.cherylmalkowski.com/.

There are many others that I can't wait to hug and chat with.  However, on Friday morning when the Market floor opens.  I am going to speed walk to the Lakehouse booth to order this!!

My heart skipped a beat when she revealed this on her blog last week! 

Now, we can all have a Pam Kitty Morning!

I will be checking in on a daily basis, introducing you to my friends, old and new.  And, showing you sneak peeks of the new treasures I have found.  J

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

If I was going to send each of you a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day, I think this would be it!  Beautiful flowers in a wonderful covered casserole.  What an amazing gift that would be!  And, yes, they would be pink.  I love pink.  I was just reading a blogpost by Rachel Ashwell http://www.rachelashwellshabbychic.com/
where she said 'I am taking pink to heaven with me.'  I now have an official girl crush.  Rachel is a new fabric designer for P&B.  I can't wait to see her line, shabby chic and pink. 

I hope you each have something wonderful planned to celebrate the day.

 When my boys were young, they would let me take as many pictures of them as I wanted on Mother's Day.  It is all I have ever wanted.  Just my boys, and the memory of their smiles.  Just look at those grins!  Now, every time they are together, they tease me about taking the 'Christmas Card picture'.  This was from 2 years ago.  All as tall as men, but still my boys.

This is my Mama.  She has been gone since 1998.  I still love and miss her everyday.  Hug your kids and your Mom's, it's the best of both worlds. J

BORDERS!

I watch people, everyday, select fabric for quilts.  Often people, myself included, will choose fabric according to their favorite fabric.  The one they plan to use for the border.  Most of the time this works out just fine.  But, if it doesn't, are you willing to change?

I had one of these moments this weekend.  I was making a little charm square quilt.  After sewing the blocks together, I cut the borders and stitched them on.  I didn't audition them.  (I was watching a Julia Child's rerun on PBS).  When I was finished, I stood back, prepared to be happy with the results.  But no, they were wimpy.  WIMPY!  I liked the fabric I selected, but it just didn't do it for me.

I took it to the shop, thinking maybe it would grow on me.  Nope, I was right.  It needed a different border.

 I didn't take a picture of the quilt before I started taking the border off.  But, I think you can get the idea.  It was a sweet plaid, with cherries.  I even matched the plaid!

 See how light it is, and the center is pretty bold.

 Okay, now it's off and I can audition other choices.

This afternoon I came home a little early and put my new choice on!  No More Wimpy Quilts!  Now, I am happy! 

This little beauty is just, layer, baste, quilt as desired and bind, away from hanging in the shop!

I hope this will give you the courage to follow your gut, when you are putting your quilt tops together.  If you feel you need to change-just do it.  You will be happy that you did.  J


BTW the pattern is Dora, by Me and My Sister.