I have choosen a winner for the pattern bundle.

Kalynn's Creations said...

Love the booth, so much work, but totally worth the end result. Thanks for the chance to win.

Friday, May 31, 2013 at 3:35:00 PM MDT

So, Kalynn, send me your address so I can send these out to you.  Congrats!!
Thanks to everyone for your comments, and for reading along.  If you are a follower, please sign up to actually be a "follower" of my blog.  That way you can be entered to win prizes automatically.

So I am working on a new fabric line.  Actually, it is done, and I am working on a free pattern to go with it.  It is a bit new for me--my first children's line. ( I'm sure it doesn't have to be used just for children, but it does have a kid theme.  And, my previous lines I used many times for children's projects, so whatever.)

But anyway, this line is called "Twirl."  It is a ballet line with a bunch of cute little ballerinas and ballet terms, etc.  I can show you just a peek, since it isn't even out for sales yet.

This design started when my little Emmy wanted to color some ballerinas.  "Draw me a dancer, Grandma."  So I quickly drew up some stick-figure ballerinas.  Emmy colored them for hours.  Later that night I saw her pictures scattered around the sewing room.  "Hey, I thought, that would be cute on fabric!"  So, off I went.

I can't wait to show you the rest of it, but that would probably get me in trouble, so I will wait.  I am excited about some of the companion pieces that go with this line.  They are the start of a new basics line from Jillily Studio that will always be available.  Now that is a GOOD thing.  I can use them in applique and backgrounds and stop borders, etc.  Here is an example:

There are 5 patterns in the basics line so far--and they are colored to go with the "Twirl" line.  But they will be offered in other colors as more lines are released.  "Twirl" uses pink, gray, green, black and white, so that is the start of the basics collection.  It is called JAMS AND JELLIES.  These are great standard pieces you can go to over and over when you need just the right color or pattern in your project.  I think quilt shops will love that they can order them any time.  That really helps with kit cutting and planning for  classes, etc.

Both the "Twirl" and "Jams and Jellies" collections will be released to salesmen in July, so if you are interested in these collections, tell your local shop to look for them in a couple of weeks.

Remember, every month there is a fabric drawing over on the Henry Glass blog with my PDQ project. If you haven't entered yet, there is still plenty of time. Also, if you have sewn up the "Stuff Your Stuff Bag" from this month's free pattern, I want to see it!  Send me a photo!  

The Jillily Spring Booth

After we set up the HG booth, we went to work on the Jillily booth.   I had not thought too much about it, but I knew I wanted to feature my new fabric line, "Poppy Patio."  So when we were scouting up supplies for the other booth, we ran into some patio pavers that look just like my fabric.  Fun idea.  So we made a patio.

It started when the Home Depot guys were loading 460 pavers into my truck.  I watched the truck bed sink deeper and deeper.

"How much do those weigh?"  I asked.  (Calculators and figuring going on.)

"2130 pounds."  came the reply.

Gulp.  Yikes.  That is a ton of bricks.  Really.

But it did not deter us.  No, never.  We were on a mission!   (I say "we"--and it was a good thing I had some help!!)

The floor going in. . .

The herringbone pattern in the pavers is also seen in the fabrics--it comes in green and black and red.








The finished patio has a trellis entry and trellis ceiling from which we hung patio lights.  The lights were so cute, and they don't really show up in the pictures.

Some of the details around the booth--there is "Zig Zaggy Sundress" on a cute little garden dress form.  I love the flower cart that it is sitting in.  I have had it for years, and I have used it in my booth before.  The rest of the time, it sits on my front porch.

"California Dreamin" can be seen behind the cart.  I hung fewer quilts, and focused on the new patterns this time.

My new fabric collection is featured on this great plant stand.  It looks so perfect there, even if it is really just paper!  (No actual fabric until August.)  There was plenty of room to display my notions and literature and some other quilts on the shelves.

The view from inside my booth looking over toward the Henry Glass booth.  I spent most of the time sitting at my patio table, visiting with my guests.  What a fun relaxing way to do a show!

I'm not sure if I ever showed you the finished "Poppy Fields", but here it is in the booth.  Did you notice that calendar from Martingale--my quilt is on the cover!! I was delighted to find that out.  The calendar is for 2014 and comes out in August.

 Another new pattern is this runner, called "Lotsa Dots."  I love this piece.  It is one of my favorites.  I guess I just really love yo-yos, and this is covered with them.  I used the motifs in the damask print to place the yo-yos.  Very quick and simple.

Well, that about does it for the tour of my booth.  I hope you enjoyed seeing the new patterns, too.  They will be available in July on my website and in your local quilt shop.  

Oh, I also wanted to remind you that my May edition of the PDQ Club (free patterns) is up on the Henry Glass blog.  I love this little project.  It's called "Stuff Your Stuff Bag"  and it really is fun!

It's about time we have a prize give-away.   So if you want to be entered to win, leave a comment here, and ALSO leave one on the Henry Glass blog PDQ post.  That way you will also be entered to win over there, so it doubles you chances of winning!  They are giving away fabric, so I think I will give away a collection of patterns!

Thanks so much for following along with my quilting adventures.  I love to hear your comments and good advice!  Follow Jillily Studio on Facebook, too, for even more quilt-y comments!

Your Fabric Destination

Whew.  I am finally able to post something new!  Blogger must have forgotten who I am, because it wouldn't let me into my own blog!  But don't worry, Erin and Talia fixed it for me, so I am back!  (something about multiple accounts and merging them, etc)

 I have been excited to tell you all about Market.  We had a fun and busy time.  First of all, we drove to Portland.  13 hours of fun--pulling a trailer for the first time.  (My dear husband taught me how to hook it up and back up and park in a 15-minute session the night before we left!)  Talia and I drove and Andrea, my niece fly in from Arizona to meet us there.  I was so glad to have two young, energetic, and fun young ladies with me.

We set up the Henry Glass booth first.  I think I told you that I was in charge of the HG booth this time.  I thought we could improve our visibility and look as a company, so I volunteered to do the booth.  It came together great!  Everything worked out just like I planned, which is unusual.  We used a "travel" theme-- "HENRY GLASS -- YOUR FABRIC DESTINATION!"

Here's a view of the finished booth from the right side.

There were lots of little details that went with our theme--like the luggage tags on all the quilts, identifying the fabric line, and the fabric covered airplanes flying all over inside the booth.

We had a little "passport" contest going, with stickers at each designer's booth and at the demos.  Winners went home with suitcases full of fabric and designer gifts.  One of the best "details" was our stewardesses.  These girls just made the booth!  (Literally, since I put them to work setting up, too)  They looked so sharp in their costumes and brought a lot of visitors to the booth.

They handed out bags of pretzels and water bottles, and complimentary gold bags--a coveted item!  They took charge at the demos, handing out the freebies from designers and directing the travelers.

This 6' map of the World of Henry Glass was the centerpiece of the booth.  Every designer has a place in the Henry Glass world..   There's Jillily Studio up on that mountain!

A few more shots of the booth from various angles.  We had some bookcases on either side of the map with displays of fabric collections and projects.  The bench in front of the map was a nice place to sit and relax and have a picture taken.

The left corner of the booth was our demo area.  Every day at 10 and 2, three designers offered a demo with prizes and good info.  The customers travelers loved it, and we had crowds at each boarding.

 Notice those cute suitcases in front of the demo table.  They are covered with travel stickers from all our designers.

Some shop ownersfrom a shop near me, Quilts, Etc are visiting with Scott at Studio e, our sister company.  They are headed to the Henry Glass booth next.  It was good to see Pat and Dorothy.

Inside the booth, our salesmen are busy selling fabric--after all, that's why we're here!

Here's some of the team.  From the left:  Karen and Harriet, HG art designers, Larry, our President, me, and designer Linda Lum DeBono.  I know I took a picture of Robert (the owner of HG) with his pilots cap on, but I can't seem to find it.

 Me and the girls--a big shout out to Talia and Andrea for all their help!!!!

I'll tell you all about my booth tomorrow.  So check back, because I think I also promised you a prize of some kind just for following along.  

Pre-Market Rush

Spring Quilt Market is just 2 weeks away now.  I have been using every minute of every day to get things ready.  Of course I never will be.  It's like housework, you never are really done.  There is always more to do.  Eventually, it just comes anyway, ready or not.

I have some great surprises to share with you at Market.  I have been asked to design and execute (now there's a word) the booth for Henry Glass Fabrics.  I am so excited about this.  It is getting close enough that I can share a bit about it.

We are doing a travel theme for the HG booth:

HENRY GLASS FABRICS 

. . . .Your Fabric Destination!

Oh my, the things I have planned!  First of all the booth has a whole new look, and we will have demos going on, and prizes and games, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Free stuff, too.  

I know that most of you are not shop owners, so you will not be there, but I will still share all the fun with you, and we will have prizes here, too, so you can join in the fun.  Every day at Market I will post a few photos and we will give some stuff away.  

If you are a shop owner, please DO come visit the Henry Glass folks in booth # 931.  Just watch for the airplanes. . .

. . . more to come later about the Henry Glass Travel adventures!

In addition to doing the HG booth, my Jillily Studio booth is right across the way in booth #936!  It is going to be awesome, too!  We have some big plans.  I just hope I can get this all done.  

On top of this, I am still working on 3 more new projects and I have to write the patterns.  Which, as you know is my least favorite thing to do.  So of course, once again, I have put it off to the very last minute.  I wonder if I will ever learn?

I have been sewing on some appliqué today, in between running errands and computer work.  (There is always so much PRINTING that needs to be done before Market, and I tend to forget that.)  

I have had this quilt running around in my head ever since I first designed the Poppy Patio fabric line.  It's called California Dreamin' because of the sunny colors, and of course, the poppy--California's state flower.  I got the center and one corner basted on today, (Yay, Appli-Glue) with a little bit of stitching. (Yay, Aurifil thread!)  I need to finish this tomorrow.  (doubtful)  So it may just go to the quilter without the stitching done.  (sounds familiar.)

This one, however, is already quilted and just needs to be bound.  Now that is a record!  I don't think I have ever had a new project ready for Market a whole 2 WEEKS ahead!

 All of these new projects have used the strike-off fabrics--samples that I get before the fabric is printed.  It has been a challenge to work with such small pieces and still get a quilt done.  I have 6 new strike-off projects for Market this time.  I can't wait to show them to the shops.  I really hope they like them!

The Jillily booth plans are coming together.  If you are at Market, please come see me!

POPPY PATIO is out

Just a little reminder that my new line, POPPY PATIO is now available to order.

  It will not ship until August, but be sure to get your orders in now so you will be guaranteed delivery. This is for shops, of course.  If you are just a sewist, and not a shop, you will have to wait for it to show  up in stores--but you can encourage your local shop to order it!

I have been working like crazy to get all the new samples made up for Market.

As you can see, there is still plenty left to do, but new patterns will be coming out soon!  I am also working on a tote bag, another lap size quilt, pin cushions, and a couple of other projects.  Don't worry, it is still weeks away--and reality has not yet set in.   So I am optimistic.

Oh no.

I just realized that I also have to write all these patterns.  Not the best part.  I usually consider a project "done" when I make it.  Then I have to go back and remember how in the world I did it!!  I wish I had the discipline to write as soon as I sew.  But since it is much more fun to sew, and there are all these ideas flying around in my head, well, you get the idea.


So you can see all the pieces in the line, here are a few shots of the color card.  (My highly technical method of showing you--actually, you can view the whole collection at the Henry Glass site.)

 As usual, there is a free pattern with the line.  You will be able to download the pattern on my website or on the Henry Glass website.  Shops who order the whole line can get pattern sheets for free if they ask.

Whew.  I guess I better get sewing!  What fun things are you working on?

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

I just got home from a family quilt retreat this weekend.  This is our annual Family Pieces event that I have told you about before.   My sister Margaret and I along with our girls were in charge this year.  (This rotates around.)  We decided to use the theme of "Mission Impossible" for the retreat.

That really got our ideas pumping.  We came up with all kinds of "spy" stuff for our event.  First of all, the invitation.  It had to be covert, of course, and highly technical.  So we sent a "TOP SECRET" envelope to each "agent" in the family.  Inside the envelope was a thumb drive, and nothing else.

When the "agent" received the drive, she plugged it into her computer and this video came up:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

There was a downloadable registration form with all the special ops information on it.

Next, we prepared for the retreat.  We planned our quilt project--more about that later--and the food and the classes and all the little extras that make it fun.  When the agents arrived at the cabin, they checked the FPI (Family Pieces Intelligence) Bulletin to get a room assignment and table spot to set up.

Notice the picture of "M" on the left.  Mom was always so great to participate at quilt retreat.  We had to include her even if just "in spirit!"  (We also thought about making JoJo "Q" since he is into gadgets, but we didn't get around to it.)  Yes, I realize that we are mixing spy movies here, but hey, it's our party, so we can!

The training agents really put on a fun, but challenging retreat.  Let's just say we won't soon forget the 2013 retreat!

After everyone was checked in, we all met in the "briefing room" for an orientation.  We had 28 agents this year.  Some of them were working on special ops, so we only did 21 quilts.

Each agent was given a brief case filled with important spy stuff,  First, there's your passport so you can fulfill your missions.  Then you will need to know who is on your team--so you have an Agent Dossier for each member.  There were 5 teams.  Our agenda was written in code, and you will need a color evaluator to read it.  Then of course there were the spy sunglasses, to keep us incognito.  Top it off with a coupon for a quilt shop and some candy (I ate most of mine already).

Then we went to work.  We sewed and we sewed.  Our team had to make  2037 diamond blocks!  
Crazy.
I know.  Well, NOW I know.

 I didn't really think about how long it would take when we were planning it. (Note to self:  Maybe I should have considered that.)

We had 6 quilters on our team, and we DID IT!!  We did get some help from other teams when they finished.  Overall, we figured that we sewed a total of 24,004 pieces!  And we cut them, too!!   We had a bit of dissension in the ranks during the mission, but we were able to complete it anyway.  I believe this was one of our most ambitious projects.

We made all the blocks for 21 quilts.  We didn't have time to put them together (no, really?) but the majority of the work is done, so we can sew them up on our own.  We had two color-ways:  The fresh scrappy, (like mine) and a gray and white.  I think the gray and white will be stunning.  Can't wait to see it.

One of the first things I did when I got home Sunday night was to pin up some of my blocks on my design wall to see what it will look like.   I can't wait to get it sewn together!!  This is about a quarter of the quilt.  Storm at Sea has been on my bucket list for a while, and soon I will have it done!  (Just give me another 3 solid days of quilting with no interruptions.)

Every Bloomin' Thing

Have you seen it yet?   I haven't, but I can't wait!

I have a project in the new issue of McCalls Quilting magazine.  I almost forgot what it looks like!  I sent it off back in December and nearly forgot all about it.  Then I started getting calls about ordering kits, so I knew it was finally out.

I used my "Beyond the Gate" fabric collection for this fun little wall quilt.  Kits are available on my website until I run out.  (I better get cutting!)


 

They sent me the photos to share with you.  Here is what the cover of the magazine looks like.




You can find it on news stands April 2.  If you have a subscription, you should be getting it soon.

I think this project photo is darling.  Don't they do a great job?  McCall's is definitely one of my favorite quilting magazines.  Don't you agree?  I love that hat.  It makes me want to go out and pull some weeds or plant something!

Here is a link so you can see my project page on the McCall's website.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Every_Bloomin_Thing_Charming_Pieced_Appliqued_Wall_Quilt_Pattern

I just got back from the St. George show.  It was so nice to visit with my sisters and friends from that part of the state.  Two of my fellow Henry Glass designers live there, so we had a fun dinner together.  Thanks to Dana for hosting it!

Barbara Jones,  Me,  Dana Brooks,  Janet Platt,  Judy Torgerson

Do you have big plans for Easter?  Hope you have a happy one!