Getting Ready

Reminder for you:  I will be choosing a winner for my basket of goodies soon!  Winner will be posted on October 1, so if you haven't entered, be sure to leave a comment on this post.

I am so busy getting things done for Market and Festival.  I have only been to Festival once before, and I am so looking forward to being there this year.  I will be in booth #426--so PLEASE come see me!  Make your plans now to be in Houston on Oct. 29 - Nov 1.  Wouldn't that be a fun girls trip????

I need to start thinking of booth plans and get everything ready.  I feel like I am out of practice, and can't quite remember what needs to be done!

I have some new designs that I will be showing with patterns and kits, and fabric and all the good stuff.  We will have demos in the booth, so you can stop by and learn something, too.

I just hope I can get everything done!

The Mystery of the Paper Quilts

How's the Blog Hop going for you? Are you getting inspired?  I certainly am!  There are so many fun projects, and all so different from the same fabric bundle.  I hope you have entered to win.  You can put a comment on my last post to enter for my prizes, and also for the big Jaftex prizes.

I have been starting to realize that I better hurry up if I want to be ready for Market and Festival!! Why is it that it always just sneaks up on me?  In the summer it seems so far away. . . .

Time to finish up a few projects so I can get some patterns written.  (As you know, my favorite part.)

 This one needs a name.  I am open to suggestions--I was thinking "It's Tarling." (yah.  Say it fast.)  Or It's Darling, or Starling--oh never mind.  I can't figure that out.


I am still stitching on this one, because I ran out of fabric, set it aside, and now I found more and I'm finally back to it.    I want to get this one finished and written before Festival.


I also have to admit that I did a really stupid thing.  (Not the first time.)  I went to Spring Market in May to present my new fabric (Bicycles and Blooms) for release to sales.

I did a Schoolhouse presentation on it, and made all these beautiful quilts--using paper (since I didn't have fabric yet).  It was a great way to show off the collection and they were a LOT of work.

Dana Brooks and I shared a Schoolhouse session--we rocked it!

Well.

Then I just left them there, and I guess they were thrown away.

I didn't think I would need them again.

But here comes Market again, and I won't have any fabric until December.  So I really should have saved those paper quilts!  Now I have nothing to display in my booth.  I have a few small strike-offs of the prints that I can make into small projects, but nothing that will really display the fabric.  WHAT WAS I THINKING????

not.  I guess.

So.  I will have to dream up something.  There was a really cute basket quilt and a table runner and a large lap quilt.  sigh.

If you see any Bicycles and Blooms paper quilts hanging around, let me know.

MY TURN at the JAFTEX PARTY

Hello Blog Hoppers!  Today is my day to celebrate the Jaftex 85th Birthday!

If you are new to Jillily Studio, welcome!!

 Hi, I'm Jill Finley.  I love fabrics!

I have been designing collections for Henry Glass (a Jaftex company) for over six years now, and it has been a delight.  Such great people to work with and such a fun project!  In the last post (see below) I showed you my newest collection, Bicycles and Blooms, which will be coming to shops in December.


I know by now that you have been reading all about this wonderful company, so I won't repeat all of that.  Let's get to the celebration!

Henry Glass (and the other Jaftex companies) sent each of their designers a packet of fabric and said, "Make something with this."
And so we did.

My fabric bundle was a fun bunch of brights from the Folio Basics group.

I waited until the last moment to get my project going (of course).  So I quickly pieced together some cute flowers, and then I just HAD to add a bit of appliqué to make it an official "Jillily" project.

It was done in a flash, and turned out better than expected!  (Sometimes it works like that. and sometimes I have to throw it away and start over--does that ever happen to you?)  It helps that it is a small project--only 36" square--perfect for a table topper.

I'm calling this one "BLACK-EYED SUSAN."  

Maika did a quick and beautiful job of quilting it for me in a matter of a few hours.  (I should have just waited for it, rather than driving home after dropping it off--like waiting for your kid at a dentist appointment.)

Here is another view of it.  I am planning to release the pattern at Fall Market  (or sooner if I get ambitious.)  Watch my website for it to arrive.  I will also have a few kits available.

Now, I know you want to win prizes, so be sure to enter.  I will post the entry wizard again to show you all the ways you can enter.  Any comment you leave on this post from now until Sept 30 will enter you.  And there are 13 other ways to enter.  Plus you can enter each day on each designer's post!  Wow.  Now that is generous.  The prizes are amazing--thousands of dollars in fabric, sewing machines, threads, needles, etc.

I also want to award a prize to one of MY followers.  So leave me a comment, follow my blog, (and like Jillily Studio on Facebook) and you could win a bundle of fabric, and a bunch of Jillily stuff!

                           A couple of patterns, an Applique Kit, and fabric.  That's a fun prize!


Here are the Jaftex prizes and how to enter:
85th Anniversary Giveaway

Gotta run now.  I need to go get some birthday cake!

Bicycles and Blooms are coming. . .

We are just hopping' along!  Today the blog hop is at Linda's place.  Visit her here at:
www.lindalumdebono.com

Linda is my dear friend and fellow designer at Henry Glass Fabrics.  We have had some crazy times together in working on the HG Market booths.  She is charge of this awesome blog hop, so be sure to thank her for all her work!!!!  (I've never seen a hop this BIG!)

Have you been entering to win the prizes?  In addition to the big prizes offered by the Blog Hop, each designer may also have a give-away.  I am planning mine right now.  It will be my turn in a few days, so be sure to check back.

Today I thought I would share with you my up-coming fabric collection.  This group does not ship until December, but if you love it, tell your shop so they can order it now!  It is such a fun collection.  If you are anything like me, this group will just make you happy.

It's called BICYCLES AND BLOOMS:

This group also includes a fun panel for quick projects.  I don't have any fabric yet, so these are just photos of my color card, but you can get the idea.

I designed the panel to mimic my appliqué style for those times when we want the look without all the work.  I bet you could think of a ton of ways to use this panel.  Here's one idea. . . . 

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Here's an idea to use one of the prints in the collection as a "fussy-cut" hexie project.

As you can see, this collection can be very versatile.  Make sure you ask for it at your local shop.  I'll let you know when I get fabric and can start working on real projects!

A Layout Question For You

Good Morning!!   Did you visit all the bloggers this last week? Did you know that everyday you can enter to win AGAIN on the blog post for that day? So like this week we had Kim Diehl, Pepper Cory, Anjeanette Klinder, and today (Saturday) it is Mark Lipinski's turn to post. The full list is on my post from Sept 1, so you can check there for links directly to each blog.

Isn't this exciting?!  The prizes are great, and it is so fun to see all the projects made by the designers.  Today be sure to visit my friend, Mark @ Mark Lipinski's Blog.  Here is a great pic I took at Spring Market.  I am sure Mark will be delighted with the quality of this photo.  Hey--its all about the photographer--some people have talent, and some (obviously) do not.

(Hey Mark, at least I am sending readers your way!)

I recently went to Dallas to take part in the United Notions Open House.  They are one of my distributors of my patterns, Poke-A-Dots and Appli-Glue.  So I went and did some demos and sales for their customers.  It was so fun to be out in the quilty world again.  I have led a rather sheltered life this past year, and am anxious to get going full steam again.

My travel partner was Janet Platt of Quick Points Rulers.  She is a dear friend, and so much fun to be with.  Here we are with Pat Sloan, who's table was right by mine.  (see what I mean about the photography?)

We had a great time managing the empty Aurifil table between us.  It seems that the east coast had an FAA radar glitch, and some travelers did not make it--including Kim, who was going to man the Aurifil booth.  So it was left up to Pat and I.  

I did some appliqué stitching while demoing in my booth.  This is a bunch of blocks that I have not yet decided what to do with.  I need your help.

 Should I use all of them together to make a bed-size quilt like this?

Or should I just use a few and make a table runner, like this??  (I could make several!)

I know you will have some good suggestions.  Any ideas?

Now get on over to the blog hop and enter to win prizes!

Prizes

Here are the prize details for the Jaftex 85th Anniversay: (Enter to WIN!!!) 85th Anniversary Giveaway

85 YEARS YOUNG

Hello Quilters!!!
It's about time I get back to work, don't you think?  (I really have been working, but on a bit of a limited basis!)  You'd be surprised at how much work is going on around here behind the scenes.  Just to make a few patterns and a few fabrics takes me a lot of work!

Today I have been editing and proof-reading a pattern that will come out in a book next spring.

More about that later.

The big news of the day is that the Jaftex Blog Hop has begun!!  Jaftex is the parent company for Henry Glass Fabrics.  Their group also includes other fabric companies like Blank Quilting and Studio E.  We are all celebrating all month long because they have been in business for 85 years!

 Here is the schedule for the HOP.  Visit each blog on the day the designer posts.  Then you can enter each day to win.  There are terrific prizes--of course fabric, and even a sewing machine!  The link by each designer in the list is active, so just use this list as a guide each day to the blog you need to see.

September 1 - Kim Diehl guest posting @ American Patchwork & Quilting

September 2 - Pepper @ Pepper at the Quilt Studio

September 3 - Anjeanette @ Anjeanette Klinder 

September 4 - Leanne @ The Whole Country Caboodle   

September 5 - Mark @ Mark Lipinski's Blog

September 6 - Heather @ Heather Kojan Quilts  

September 7 - Heather @ Trends and Traditions  

September 7 - Martha @ Wagons West Designs  

September 8 - Linda @ Linda Lum DeBono 

September 9 - Heidi @ Red Letter Quilts 

September 10 - Jill @ Jillily Studios  

September 10 - Dana @ My Lazy Daisy  

September 11 - Penny @ Sew Simple Designs  

September 12 - Ida @ Cowtown Quilts 

September 13 - Liz and Beth @ Lizzie B Cre8ive  

September 14 - Melissa @ Sew Bitter Sweet Designs

September 15 - Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl    

September 16 - Amy @ Kati Cupcake 

September 16 - Barbara @ QuiltSoup2 

September 17 - Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting 

September 18 - Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure 

September 19 - Margot @ The Pattern Basket  

September 20 - Sylvia @ Flying Parrot Quilts   

September 21 - Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts  

September 22 - Kim @ Aurifil Threads  

September 23 - Rebekah @ Don't Call Me Becky   

September 24 - Julie @ The Crafty Quilter 

September 25 - Mary Ellen @ Little Quilts  

September 25 - Mary Jane @ Holly Hill Designs 

September 26 - Daisy @ Ants to Sugar

September 27 - Melissa @ Happy Quilting

September 28 - Janet @ One S1ster

September 29 - Jenny @ Martingale& Co.

September 30 - Teresa @ Third Floor Quilts

Wow.  That's quite a list.  With lots and lots of quilty fun and prizes to be won.  You can also visit the HG Blog with even more details about the prizes, etc.  Head on over to read about Kim Deihl today and tomorrow we'll be meeting with Pepper Cory.  How's that for star power to start us off?!