Spring 2013 Quilt Market

Aren't you enjoying reading all the Market recaps that are out there in Blog World?  It was great being there but it is still fun to look at the pictures because you can't possibly take everything in while there!   I'm working on getting a post ready to show new patterns, etc. but I thought I might give you a sneak peek ahead of time of some of my work by showing pictures of my booth, right across form Blend Fabrics/Anna Griffin.  (Please excuse the picture quality - I'm realizing that the camera on my phone has seen better days.)

This Market I had lots of product to display in a tiny space so I decided to use color to unify the look of the booth... aqua and green were the order of the day.

I debuted my book Modern Holiday... you can see the cover quilt on the back wall and some of the smaller projects on the shelves.  I also debuted two fabric lines with Blend Fabrics - "Bonjour, Mon Ami" and "Holiday Bouquet".  And five new patterns including three quilts, one zippered bag, and one set of a table runner with placemats! Four of my five new patterns were sewn in "Bonjour, Mon Ami" and Kona cotton.  The fifth was sewn in Bella with a few Vanessa Christenson and Kona cottons thrown in.  I'll be working on sewing some of my Modern Holiday projects in Holiday Bouquet this summer and will show some of that here - can't wait!

My fabric lines were also displayed across the way in the Blend Fabrics/Anna Griffin booth.  Thanks to all the people at Blend for doing such a fantastic display.

"Bonjour, Mon Ami"
(The bargello quilt is a free project on the Blend Fabrics website!)

"Holiday Bouquet" sandwiched between
"Spooktacular" by Madue Ashbury
and  "Hip Holiday" by Josephine Kimberling.
The complimentary pattern is on the right - it has Christmas trees
on the bottom and is really cute, so check it out.

Blend Fabrics even made accessories in "Bonjour, Mon Ami" to match!

Because I was also debuting an embroidery collection with Brewer Sewing called Modern Blossoms, all of my project incorporate spaces for just a bit of optional embroidery - nothing heavy.  Of course, you can also use feature prints if you don't have an embroidery machine.

"Soda Pop" in "Bonjour, Mon Ami" featuring my Modern Blossoms embroidery collection.

Soda Pop is a Brewer exclusive quilt that was also displayed in the Brewer Booth specifically designed to showcase the Modern Blossoms embroidery collection.  They showed it in solids and I sewed it in prints - and it was great to have both so that people could see the different possibilities.

Brewer even made up a special tin to house the threads used in the embroidery collection!

I'll be back later in the week to show more detailed pictures of projects and patterns, but I couldn't wait to share.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

And the winner of my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway is...

KristyLou, who said...
Hard to choose. But I think #1 is my fav. I am already a follower for yours. Thanks.

Thanks to everyone who participated!  Hope you get lots of sewing in this weekend!

Amanda

Modern Holiday!

It was so exciting, when earlier this week, an advance copy of Modern Holiday arrived in the mail from C&T Publishing.

"Trimming the Tree" and 3D trees sitting on top of my "Bloom" quilt
in Kate Spain's Joy fabrics for Moda

I'm so pleased with the way it turned out and I hope you all really like it.   Special thanks to my family and everyone at C&T Publishing - they did a fabulous job!  They really understood my vision for the book and helped bring it to life.  And special thanks also to my long arm quilter Deborah Norris, who added lovely detail to the quilts in the book.

There are 9 quilts in the book.  Here is a sampling...

 

"Holiday Wreaths" in various neutrals by Robert Kaufman

"Bloom" in Joy by Kate Spain for Moda

"Crossroads" in Red and Aqua by Michael Miller

"Christmas Gifts" in Christmas Candy by Doodlebug Design for Riley Blake 

"Modern Madness" in Flurry by Kate Spain for Moda

"Trimming the Tree" in neutrals by Patrick Lose and Pink Light Design
for Robert Kaufman

There are also 9 smaller projects, like a runner, pillows, and an advent calendar.

3D Trees in "Alpine Wonderland" by SherriMcCulley for Riley Blake

"Countdown to Christmas" in Ready, Set Snow by Me and My Sister for Moda

"Modern Ornament Runner" in Funky Christmas and other fabrics by Michael Miller

"Ornament Pillows" in Christmas Candy by Doodlebug Design for Riley Blake

"Snowflake Pillows" in Blitzen by BasicGrey for Moda

Stockings in "Santa's Workshop" by Doodlebug Design for Riley Blake

"Garland Tree Skirt" in Christmas Candy by Doodlebug Design for Riley Blake

Next to each project I made sure to list the name of the fabric collection, designer and manufacturer so, if those particular fabrics are no longer available, you can purchase something similar from that designer's current collections.  I also put a lot of effort into making really clear, graphic diagrams - very similar in style to those in my pattern line.

So... which project do you like best?  Do any grab your eye?

If any of you will be at Market please stop by my schoolhouse with C&T Publishing on Thursday at 11:35 in room B115 where I'll be talking in more detail about the book.

When I get back from Market I will work on finishing a retail portion of my site where you can get copies when they ship in June.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Spring 2013

It is the Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day and I'll be giving away some fat quarters of Bella and all four of my patterns that debuted at Fall Market: Palace Doors, Sunflower Row, Harlequin, and Fizz.

To enter, just leave a comment telling me which Holiday Bouquet print shown below is your favorite #1-5.  (I just realized the ornament print isn't in this picture but I'll show you all that later!)  You don't have to be a follower but I'd love it if you would consider becoming one if you aren't already.  Please be sure you leave me a way to contact you should you win!  Deadline is May 10th at 5 pm and this giveaway is open internationally.

And be sure to check out the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog for other great giveaways.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Modern Blossoms

Today my Modern Blossoms collection is debuting on Bernina's We All Sew blog!

Modern Blossoms was inspired by my Bella line for Blend Fabrics, but these pictures show it embroidered on Bonjour, Mon Ami, which ships this month, and I think that they work really well together.  The designs were digitized by OESD and are being marketed exclusively by Brewer Sewing. I'll have 5 new patterns debuting at Market and all will have the option to incorporate a feature print or embroidery - should be fun!

Hope you like Modern Blossoms!
Amanda

P.S.  The winner of the Michael Miller red and aqua bundle that I used for Crossroads in Modern Holiday was Rita in Alaska.  Congratulations Rita!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 7

Today it is time to share my block on the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 7 Blog Tour!  (Check out their blog too because there are more giveaways there, in addition to the one below.)

Here is a sneak peek of  my block, "Lollipop, Lollipop!"  I pieced it in Bella right after receiving yardage this past fall from Blend Fabrics.

Lollipop, Lollipop in Bella

But now I think it might be fun to sew up a block in Holiday Bouquet...

Lollipop, Lollipop in Holiday Bouquet

Or maybe Bonjour, Mon Ami?

Lollipop, Lollipop in Bonjour, Mon Ami

Quiltmaker's 100 blocks Volume 7 will be on newsstands on May 7th, and Quiltmaker is allowing me to giveaway an issue!  I'm also going to throw in a beautiful fat quarter bundle of Michael Miller Red and Aqua fabrics. I used these fabrics in a quilt in Modern Holiday called Crossroads that recently put in an appearance at Quilt Con with C&T Publishing.  I've been cutting up and assembling bundles for giveaways at my two Schoolhouses at market and I have an extra!

(If you are at Market I'll be doing an 11:35 Schoolhouse on Thursday with C&T Publishing to talk about Modern Holiday and another at 3:10 for Brewer Sewing to talk about Modern Quilting.  Please come visit!)

To enter leave a comment telling me which of the above versions of  "Lollipop, Lollipop" you like best.  One entry per person please and make sure to leave me a way to contact you should you win.  The deadline will be this Sunday the 5th at midnight.  Note: This giveaway is now closed.

Happy sewing!
Amanda

Blossoms... in Cuddle fabric!

Recently I sewed up a baby-sized version of my Blossoms pattern using soft Cuddle fabric for the blossoms and backing and using the Buttercream color story of my Bella line for Blend Fabrics for the blocks.  I adjusted my pattern a bit to make it easier to applique on Cuddle and allow you to add borders while quilting in the ditch in just one step.  Oh - and this quilt top fits within the 60'' width of the Cuddle so you don't need to piece the backing.

You can find the pdf of this pattern in my Craftsy shop.

Happy quilting!
Amanda