NEW PROJECTS PUBLISHED

OK, I need answer a few questions.  I mentioned in the last post a video demo about applique on my website. But you are right, my site is having some problems showing you the video, so be patient, and I will get that fixed as usual, as soon as I can find a small child to help me.  Wow, that was a great sentence wasn't it! (I hope April is not reading this.) My mom was an English teacher, and apparently it is not genetic.  Aside:  I could fix it, but it is more entertaining this way.

My new fabric line, "Meet Me in the Meadow" by Henry Glass will be in stores in late August or September.  I will let you know when I have a firmer date.  Supposedly I will have a few yards to play with in the upcoming weeks, so I can have some fun projects made up for you to see.

Points of Interest:  Two new projects of mine have been published this month.  In the August issue of "Quilt" magazine you will find a pillow, "Rosy Roll," made and quilted by me.  Also, the new 2010 Calendar by American Patchwork and Quilting is starting to ship.  I designed the quilt "Woodland Walk" for the month of April, They really do a nice job with that project.  The calendar comes with a separate instruction book with all the patterns and they are all great.  I hope you get to see both of these projects.   

Have a great week!  Maybe we will finally get some sun!

Salad, anyone?

I wanted to show you the finished quilt I was working on.  I gave you a sneak preview of  a few blocks several months ago, and now here is the finished "Citrus Salad."  I just love how it turned out, and the quilting is wonderful.  I sold these patterns at Spring Market, so they will be showing up in your local shops soon.  The patterns have been delayed a bit, but they should be ready this week. 

I have had a lot of interest in this quilt, I think it is because of the colors--they are so fresh and crisp.  

The applique on this quilt was really fun to do.  All the different fabrics and the curvy pieces made it interesting.  I was afraid it would take me forever to stitch, but it was actually quite fast.  If you are still unsure about trying applique, check out the (lame) video demonstration on my website. This method really makes applique easy for anyone, and I do mean anyone, even I can do it!

Prep a few blocks and take them with you on your summer outings.  Applique outdoors is especially fun!

QUILTING TOGETHER

Good Morning Quilters!

It is June, and summer is here.  Isn't it great to see all the beautiful flowers and people out working in their yards..the neighborhood seems to become a community again.  Yesterday I went to my quilt guild meeting.  I haven't been for a few months because of show/presentation conflicts, so it was good to see everyone again.  I am so inspired by all the great work they do-- both in humanitarian service and in the wonderful quilting.  You can get so many ideas just by going to "Show and Tell."

So many times I get stuck in my sewing room, working away day after day, and I just need to visit a shop or a quilting friend for a little inspiration.  If nothing else, it just makes you happy, and happy is good!

Are you in a quilt guild?  Or do you like to quilt with a friend?  How does it help you in your quilting?  Post your comments, I would love to hear from you!

Wow, I can't wait to tell you all about our trip to Market.  It was in Pittsburgh at the Convention Center.  I took my daughter, Talia, and my niece, Andrea along with my sister, Margaret.  We had a great time and created a lot of business.  Here is a photo journal of our trip, starting with some of our luggage.  (You need several people to go with you so you can get everything there!)

Here is our first view of the city, just coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel and across the Alegheny River.  the Convention Center is the sloping white building on the left.  It sits right on the river.  

Oh look, I found a nice tree we could use in our booth!  Someone help me here.

The booth is coming together.  I decided to make my booth a "Fruit Stand" because I have so many fruit quilts this time.  (Notice my new "Summer Slices" quilt with the watermelons all over it, and the "Citrus Salad" quilt Talia and I are standing in front of.)  You will also see my Cherries Jubilee, and Cherry Orchard along with Trellis and all the rest.  Talia and Andrea built a ladder to climb up our "TREE" to pick the fruit.  (Just go with me on this.)

Putting a booth together is a lot of fun and work.  But after building our trellised ceiling, it began to go a little faster.  

Here we are with an array of important people.

There's Mark Lipinski, editor of Quilter's Home standing in my booth with Andrea and Talia, and Margaret and I look pretty happy. Must be the sleep deprivation.

There is John, a buyer from EE Schenck who happens to love Appli-Glue.  (Who doesn't?!)

Karen Junquet, my designer from Henry Glass Fabrics joins me in my booth.  She brought me the strike-offs of the new fabrics in my line.  It was very exciting.   "Meet Me in the Meadow" is officially for sale!

Talia took some pictures of the whole hall, with all the booths.  The first photo shows half of the hall, and there were special exhibits in the center, and the next photo shows the other half.  You can bearly see our booth on the right with the tree sticking out of our trellis roof.

All those people in that line, (which by the way continues around the corner and out the door of the Convention Center) are waiting to get in to Sample Spree. That is a fun event the night before Market opens when you can buy all kinds of great stuff, and new fabric cuts, etc, etc.  We had a table selling patterns and glue, and we were swamped all night.

I am having so much trouble trying to label these photos.  The words are not going in the right places, and I can't seem to move my photos. Oh well, you still get the idea.   At the very top of this post you can see Talia and Andrea with Amy Butler and with Eleanor Burns.  Talk about star power!   

We had a great time which also included a river boat dinner cruise from Moda, a major league baseball game at the Pirates, and a visit to Amish country in Ohio.  How can you top that? Well to top it off,  I made a lot of business contacts, and I have some great things in the works to look forward to from Jillily Studio.   I better go fill some orders!

TO MARKET TO MARKET....

I'm heading to Pittsburgh to the Spring Quilt Market.  It is a wholesale trade show, held every six months.  Of course I will be introducing new patterns,  and my new fabric line.  When I get back I will have lots of photos and stories to share with you of famous quilters (if I dare approach them) and fabulous finds.  I would give you a peek of the new patterns, but I don't have a photo yet, I am binding one right now, and one is still at the quilter's (Bless her heart!) to be bound on the plane.

  

I would love to write more, so much to tell you, but I have to go get ready!  If I can find time and a computer, I will post from Market so you can be in on the action.

Stay tuned....

Quilt Skits

Okay, I hope you are in a silly mood.  I decided to post a video for your enjoyment.  Every year my family has a quilt retreat and my kids (mostly grown up, mind you) make a few skits to make fun of us and our obsession with quilting. So this year they were hurrying the night before retreat to get a few done, so there are no titles or explanation, but I will guide you through it.  

The first one is a spoof on "The Princess Bride."  Then we go right in to "Jurassic Park," followed by a scene from "Ben Hur."  (The "ramming scene," make note here that "Brockbank speed" is the ultimate in our family because my sister and nieces can sew up a quilt in no time, while I'm still visiting or deciding on colors.)

There will be no Academy awards here, but it is fun.

There are bloopers at the end.  Another note, I have a handicapped son, Jordan, and they were trying to get him to be a Q.U.S. and bite his brother.  Or at least pretend to bite him.  Instead, you will see him try to 'kiss it better.'  He is the star of the show. 

Click on this link to view the skits:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jg1PQyxQQQ 

"Meet Me in the Meadow"

Well, it is finally time.  I can show you a snippet of the fabrics I have been designing for Henry Glass & Co.  They will not be available in your local quilt shop, yet, but I will be at market in May, selling them to all the quilt shop owners.  So ask your shop to look for the Jillily Studio line, "Meet Me in the Meadow."

The line features tonal prints in greens, reds, yellows, and blues, along with the multi-colored main fabric in red, yellow and black. There is also a great stripe and some background fabrics.  I think you will like it.  I hope so!

Also, don't forget to get yourself a copy of American Patchwork and Quilting, the June 2009 issue.  I have a quilt featured in this issue, which is on newsstands for the next two months.  It is called "Summertime Blues," and judging by the kit orders I have received, it is a hit.  Blue, as you know is not really my color, but I love this quilt.  I have only one room in my home done in blue, and this quilt will be a topper on my bed.  It is such a calming hue.  (The rest of my home reflects the chaos of my real life, done in reds and greens, and yellows, and black, and teaming with saturated color.)  It makes me want to dance.  Which I do a lot, mostly in private, because my kids laugh a lot.