Fleur Vivant Patterns . . . Now Available!

Our *newest* pattern, called: Fleur Vivant . . . in yellow, and Fleur Vivant . . . in red, is available for purchase through our website, now. Simply click on the pattern cover's image and you will go directly to our secure site.

The pattern is easy and the fabrics (RJR's Harlequin line) are cheerful and bright! We are only selling patterns. If you wish to purchase a kit, please ask for it at your local quilt shop, or go to Keepsake Quilting where you can purchase a kit from their website.



Thanks so much! Please let us know how you like this design.

RJR Harlequin Patterns - Coming Soon!

Two new SGD patterns: Pretty, simple, easy designs. A quick project; your choice. Fleur Vivant in Yellow, and Fleur Vivant in Red . . . kits will be available in quilt shops, too! Look for them, soon . . .

Birds, birds everywhere . . .

Image taken from McCall's Quick Quilts website.

Have you noticed how popular birds have become lately? I see them in fabric design, used as embellishments, as well as images used on note cards and accessories for the home. They are everywhere and what a wonderful symbol for the new Spring season!

This month's McCall's Quick Quilts (April/May 2009 Issue - on newsstands now!) has a lovely display of items you can make using Susan Branch's In Love With Nature fabric line by RJR Fabrics. You can go to McCall's Quick Quilts' fabulous new website to download instructions on how to make my wall hanging/quilt design and the accessories (bird ornaments, a pillow, and tea towels - designed by other talented women). Simply click on the caption below the photo and it will take you directly to their site. Once there, click on the Web Bonus Get it Now button and you will receive a free PDF version on how to make my quilt design. The fabric is so cheerful, I designed two more wall hangings with some little bees that you can either machine or hand applique to the top before it is quilted. The wall hanging designs will be available soon through my website!

This Week: Playing Catch-up . . . with RJR

I designed two wall hangings a couple of months ago with the new Susan Branch's "In Love With Nature" fabric by RJR that I will be making into patterns. I got my fabric and measurements out today so I can start cutting & sewing them together. They both have the same applique on the tops (falling leaves and a few bumble bees!) but the patterns themselves are slightly different. One is called: "Picnic In The Glade" and the other is called: "Summer In The Forest". PITG is made using stronger tones from the line and SITF is made using more muted tones. I hope to have them finished soon and they will be available as patterns on my website, hopefully within the next few weeks. I'll post pictures, too.

Next on the agenda was to finish a design using the newest RJR's Everything But The Kitchen Sink fabrics (due in quilt shops this month). I finished it yesterday and made some minor tweaks today. I ordered the fabric and will begin that project, soon. That's another one that began a few months ago but, due to several deadlines, it had to be delayed. The name of this new design is called: Butterscotch Candy and it uses an array of fabrics from this line. I'm excited to get started on it, as I know the fabrics are going to go together quite well and will look so much better in person (I used my EQ6 software to place the fabrics into my design). It is always a bit challenging to design on EQ6 with the 1930's prints because the tones are lighter and aren't very true-to-life. And although this new pattern will have some traditional blocks, I hope the encouragement of using many different fabrics will peak quilter's interests to try it!

There are more things to come with RJR, but for now I can cross a few more things off of my list . . . :)

Nudges of Spring Market

Plans are forging ahead for Spring Market, 2009! I'm designing & making the last sample quilt in the series of "I Love Lucy" fabric by Quilting Treasures. The fabric line is called: "Hollywood At Last". I've also designed & will be making the quilt for their upcoming Norman Rockwell's "Christmas" line, as well. These quilts will be displayed in QT's booth in May.

In addition to the Block-of-the-Month I'm hosting through my website, I'm in the process of finishing the design for a BOM that will be distributed by Brewer (available to quilt shops everywhere). Quilts, Inc. has to put the final approval on it, but I've also been asked to do a "Schoolhouse" presentation promoting the Block-of-the-Month. I'm excited about it because the design is fresh and modern and I'm hoping to turn on some would-be appliquers into great lovers of this resurgent art form.

RJR is coming out with a new line called: Fifth Avenue. I'll be making a quilt from this fabric for Market, too.