My Best of 2015

If you haven't seen it yet, Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a Best of 2015 Linky Party for everyone to share their 5 best blog posts of 2015.

The criteria is up to you. Most views, most comments, best finishes, best tutorials or simply your favorites. I decided to go with the posts that marked an accomplishment for me in one way or another. So here they are in no specific order . . . my best posts of 2015.

1.  I started and ended my year with this quilt.
A new Christmas quilt as part of the Drunkard's Path QAL.

It's the end result of hosting my first ever quilt along. You can find links to all the posts here plus you can do it anytime. It doesn't have to be for Christmas either.

A more accurate description might be a block a month plan because, from January through September, I made one block each month. Then I moved on to borders and finishing in October and November. Thanks to the commitment of monthly blog posts I was able to keep up and finish up.
A new Christmas quilt on my wall for 2015. WaHoo!!!

2.  Next up in 2015 came QuiltCon. I can't even express how rewarding it was to attend, meet online quilty friends in person for the first time, meet even more brand new people and make new online connections . . . and last but not least get to see two of my quilts hanging in the show. The first was Matrix Blooming, a quilt from my Matrix pattern made specifically to enter into the show.

The second was our guild charity quilt based on my design and put together by the Boulder Modern Quilt Guild. Great job ladies!

3 and 4.  Next up on my list are these two posts in July, Matrix and Offset. Each marked the release of a new pattern. Designs that were a long time in the making and big accomplishment to finally wrap up.

 


5.  The final post on my list is not really a single post but a series of posts on Color Inspiration.

So far I've done six individual colors plus analogous and complementary color schemes. I will be continuing these posts in 2016 as well as adding some other design topics so stay tuned. You can get to all the color links from here.

January 2nd is the last day to link up so don't wait a moment longer. Show us your best posts of 2015?

Happy New Year.
Here's to a fabulous and productive 2016!

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We Have Two Giveaway Winners!!

Thanks to all of you who commented on my new patterns, Matrix and Offset.
Thanks also to those of you who purchased a pattern. I really appreciate your support.

And now for the winners . . .
Congratulations to Kathy E and Nancy. You have each won PDF copies of Matrix and Offset.

Kathy said:

Kathy E.July 9, 2015 at 7:17 PM

"What an explosion of color in both quilt designs! Personally, I like Offset better. It makes me stop and look for a pattern, so my eye just follows all along the quilt. Each example of this quilt is just stunning and one I'd love to try."

Nancy said:

NancyJuly 10, 2015 at 8:01 AM

"Your patterns and posts are very comprehensive for both quilts. I like the idea of the coloring diagram and reliance on "familiar" 2 1/2" strips and fat quarters. Of the two, I prefer the Matrix design. The way the eye moves over the design is smooth, with lots of resting places which adds to the appeal. I also like the complex look without complicated construction. It's new and fresh. Plus your description also said it- it's a bold design."

I love that both of you were very thoughtful in your comments. Even though I asked you to choose your favorite, I've decided to send each of you both patterns. I'll be emailing you shortly. I hope you'll make your very own versions of them. Have fun and remember to play.    : )

Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave me comments. I appreciate them and I really do want to see what you make using Matrix and Offset. Please send me photos or post them to Instagram using #springleafstudios.

Happy quilting Enjoy!

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Offset; Another New Pattern and a Giveaway!

I'm celebrating!

Today, I'm releasing two . . .  yes, I said two . . .  new patterns!!

They've both been a long time (too long) in the works, so I'm thrilled to finally have them published in PDF format for online sales. As a thanks for your patience, I'm putting both new patterns on sale for 20% off. The sale starts today, July 9th and ends Sunday, July 12th 2015 at midnight Eastern Daylight Saving Time in the USA. They are available on Craftsy and in my Etsy shop. No coupon or code needed.

There's also a giveaway – so please read to the end.
Note: Sale and giveaway are now closed.

This post features Offset. My other post for today features Matrix. I hope you'll read them both.

I'd love to know which pattern is your favorite and why.

So, without further delay, allow me to introduce Offset . . . 

The Offset design came about through play. I took a concept and played with the idea using the computer. Then I made some test blocks and eventually a couple of test quilts. Then I played some more. Can you tell I like to design?

As I worked back and forth between sewing and designing, a whole new idea emerged. While the original impetus for the design was garden trellises, that idea eventually morphed into something entirely different. Overlapping, broken boxes and crosses that are offset from each another. Look at the four blocks in the lower left hand corner below. Can you see how the green forms the outline of a box and the gray forms a double cross? The elements don't quite line up . . . they are offset.

This design evolution also led to a name change. The early test quilts were called Tumbler. You may recall this if you read here regularly. I think the new name, Offset, better reflects the visual concept.

As I said in the Matrix post, I truly believe a great quilt doesn't have to be complicated to be stunning and beautiful. I also believe every quilter should find a way to make it their own even when they are using a pattern. That's why I include these three bonus features in my patterns.

• A Design Lesson that explains the block, the quilt layout and how it works, and some tips on fabric selection.
• Design Explorations so you can see how versatile the pattern really is. These include several alternative ways to use the pattern and showcase a variety of looks that can be achieved.
• A Coloring Page so you can try out your own color scheme.

The Offset Design Explorations start with simple variations like those below which illustrate how a different color emphasis can change the look of the boxes and crosses.

Additional Design Explorations show examples that are far different from the cover quilt. Different ways to use color and different ways to emphasize elements of the design. There are also three options for making a more modern quilt from the pattern. Use of negative space plays a big part in those ideas.

Offset is a great pattern for 2 1/2" strips or fat quarters. Yardage is given for both as well as cut yardage so you can choose what's best for you. It's a good way to use up leftover 2 1/2" strips or do some stash busting. The design would look wonderful in all solids or colorful batiks. Even some large scale prints work well. 

The pattern includes yardage for a 60" x 80" throw sized quilt.  As you can see from the test quilts photos below, the size can be adjusted by making more or less blocks as needed. Keep in mind you will need an even number of blocks across and down for the primary box/cross design but that doesn't mean you can't make it another way. That's what the Design Explorations are for.

It's your quilt . . . I want you to make it your way.

Here are the early test quilts. The first one was this bold colored scrappy quilt. Using my stash of warm colored dots was a great way to play with an idea and work things out.

Next came this one using a jelly roll. This quilt was recently gifted to my sister-in-law
and blogged about here.

Even some large scale prints work well if the colorway reads predominately as one color. Here's a small baby quilt using Kaffe prints.

Offset is available on Craftsy and in my Etsy shop. And as I mentioned earlier, both new patterns are on sale for 20% off through the weekend. No coupon or code needed. The sale ends Sunday,
July 12th, 2015 at midnight Eastern Daylight Saving Time in the USA.

I'm also having a giveaway! Leave me a comment telling me which pattern, Offset or Matrix, 

is your favorite and why for a chance to win a PDF copy of your choice. Of course I'd love it if you'd become a blog follower too.   : )   You can also follow me on Instagram @springleafstudios. 

I'll announce a winner in about a week.

Thanks for reading. I hope you feel inspired.

Post is being edited. Giveaway and sale are now over.

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Matrix; A New Pattern and Giveaway!

I'm celebrating!

Today, I'm releasing two . . .  yes, I said two . . .  new patterns!!

They've both been a long time (too long) in the works, so I'm thrilled to finally have them published in PDF format for online sales. As a thanks for your patience, I'm putting both new patterns on sale for 20% off. The sale starts today, July 9th and ends Sunday, July 12th at midnight Eastern Daylight Saving Time in the USA. They are available on Craftsy and in my Etsy shop. No coupon or code needed.
There's also a giveaway – so please read to the end.
Note: Sale and giveaway are now closed.

This post features Matrix. My other post for today features Offset. I hope you'll read them both.
I'd love to know which pattern is your favorite and why.

So, without further delay, allow me to introduce Matrix . . . 

Like all my designs, Matrix was born from playing with ideas on the computer. I was intrigued with woven designs but didn't want a straight forward weave. The more I played, the more fun I had. I finally narrowed the concept down to interrupted, intersecting lines that create a layered structure much like a matrix. I really like the sense of depth the layering adds to the overall design.

As is the case with much of my work, I find it hard to settle on just one version. The blocks for the
first version of Matrix were made by my Mid Century Modern Bee a good year and a half ago. I asked them to test the block for me using a bright pastels in small prints. While the blocks I received were wonderful and the end result made for a lovely scrappy quilt, it just wasn't quite what I had in mind. Over time, a clearer vision took hold that better fit the image I had. A Matrix filled with every color of the rainbow. Perhaps it was inspiration from the colored vases in my studios.

Matrix is a very bold design that looks far more complicated than it really is. One block.
Specific color combinations. A distinct block arrangement. I explain it all in detail with lots of illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions.

I truly believe a great quilt doesn't have to be complicated to be stunning and beautiful.
I also believe every quilter should find a way to make it their own even if they're using a pattern.
That's why I always include these three bonus features in my patterns.

• A Design Lesson that explains the block, the quilt layout and how it works, and some tips on fabric selection.
• Design Explorations so you can see how versatile the pattern is. These include several alternative ways to use the pattern and showcase a variety of looks that can be achieved. You'll be amazed at how many different looks each pattern provides.
• A Coloring Page so you can try out your own color scheme and design your own.

Here's an example of just one of the Design Explorations pages included in the pattern. 

There are 4 pages of explorations total.

The pattern also includes yardage for four different sizes; baby, lap, twin, and queen so you can make a Matrix to fit your quilting needs. It's a great pattern for 2 1/2" strips or fat quarters. Yardage is given for both as well as cut yardage so you can choose what's best for you. Twelve fat quarters covering the full spectrum of the color wheel plus yardage for grays and the background will make the throw sized quilt on the cover.  I used the tone-on-tone prints shown below, but would be just as striking in all solids, colorful batiks, or modern prints. I want you to make it your way.

If you're just not into rainbows, it's totally ok to use a different color scheme. Tone it down with nice cool blues and greens or make it even simpler by using identical blocks with the same fabric throughout the whole quilt. Really. They all look great!

Below are three versions of Matrix that create completely different looks. The first example uses identical blocks made from three striped fabrics and a color background. With all the blues and stripes
I think this is a great guy quilt. Perhaps for a new baby boy.

This next one is where the idea all started . . . the original bee quilt. The scrappiness is delightful and refreshing. I think the fabrics my bee mates chose lend a nice vintage feel that I just love. I'm thinking I'll make a few more blocks so it will become a nice cozy throw size.

.

Last, but not least . . . my modern version of Matrix. I wanted to explore the use of negative space and limited color using large scale prints. It was made specifically to enter into QuiltCon 2015 and I am happy to report it was accepted into the show. Perhaps you saw it if you were in Austin.
You can read more about it here.

Matrix is available on Craftsy and in my Etsy shop. And as I mentioned earlier, both new patterns are on sale for 20% off through the weekend. No coupon or code needed. The sale ends Sunday, July 12th, 2015 at midnight Eastern Daylight Saving Time in the USA.
Note: Sale and giveaway are now closed.

I'm also having a giveaway! Leave me a comment telling me which pattern, Matrix or Offset, 

is your favorite and why for a chance to win a PDF copy of your choice. Of course I'd love it if you'd become a blog follower too.   : )   You can also follow me on Instagram @springleafstudios. 

I'll announce a winner in about a week.

Thanks for reading. I hope you feel inspired.

Post is being edited. Giveaway and sale are now over.

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Head's Up . . . Two New Patterns Coming!

Several of you have asked about these quilts and now I'm happy to report that the waiting is over.
I'll be releasing two new PDF patterns at the end of the week.

They will be available in my Etsy shop.
Plus, there'll be a giveaway and a sale on my patterns through the weekend.

Please come back Thursday and see what it's all about.    : )

 

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Blogger's Quilt Festival: Modern Entry

Time for the spring edition of the Spring 2015 Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. It's a virtual quilt show featuring loads of beautiful quilts and everyone is invited to hang a quilt (or two) in the show. Do join in the fun.

I'm entering Matrix Blooming into the Modern Quilt category as my second entry for the Festival.

I've never really dedicated a post to this quilt. It's a modern variation on my original design called Matrix. I wanted to explore the use of minimal color while still using the block design as a supporting structure for the composition. The same block was used throughout the entire quilt with the only changes being in the use of color. Low volume fabrics were used to create a ghosting effect in the background. Even the few blocks that are all white were still constructed so the seam lines maintained the basic design elements. Finally, bold print fabrics were stratigically placed in only certain blocks creating a flow of color arcing through the composition. I was very excited to have Matrix Blooming shown in the negative space category at QuiltCon 2015.

Please stop by and visit my other entry, Tumble, in the Original Design category here. Of course I would certainly appreciate a vote for both my quilts in their respective categories. Be sure to visit the quilt show too. You will definitely be inspired.  : )

Ready or Not . . . Here I Come QuiltCon 2015

It's finally here. I leave for Austin in the morning.

Months ago when Cindy of Live A Colorful Life asked me to be her roomie I was thrilled. If it wasn't for her I probably would have procrastinated about committing and wouldn't be packing now. Thank you Cindy. Can't wait to meet you and the other MCM ladies.

QuiltCon seemed so far into the future at that time. I had thoughts of making all kinds of things. Gifts, new bags, maybe some clothes. Haha . . . very little got done. My biggest accomplishment was finishing a quilt entry and having it accepted. I'm looking forward to seeing Matrix Blooming hanging in the show. I'll share more about it after I get back.

I've also got a few buttons to swap. Would love to meet you and trade pins.

If you're going, I hope we get to meet.  If you're not, I'll be reporting once I get back.
Time for me to finish packing.  : )

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Thanks to everyone who voted for my entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I won!!!!

I'm thrilled and honored to have won in the Original Design category. As many of you know, designing quilts is what I love to do, so to be recognized for this is very encouraging. Plus receiving notice of my win made a difficult week a whole lot better.

And thanks to Amy for yet another amazing festival too. It's so much fun to see all the fabulous quilts being made. I'm so glad she sponsors this event so we can have a chance to glimpse just a little of the talent out there in blogland. Best festival yet as far as I'm concerned. Loved the new categories too. If you've never participated, why not give it a try. The next festival will be in the fall.

You can read more about my entry here. I'll be getting back to finalizing the pattern in the next couple of weeks, so if you're interested hang in there. It's coming. I promise.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival and all the quilty goodness it implies. Twice a year, Amy of Amy's Creative Side puts on this wonderful linky event so we can all share our quilts and see the work of lots of other talented quilter's in blogland. Grab your favorite beverage and start browsing. You're sure to be inspired. I know I always am.

My entry is called Matrix and I'm entering it in the Original Design Quilts category.

Matrix came to be when it was my turn to request blocks from my fellow Mid Century Modern q-bies. I was inspired by the idea of woven looking quilts and started playing with some ideas in Illustrator. If you've read my blog before you know I simply LOVE to design. So much so that I get quite caught up in all the design possibilities and sometimes find it hard to tear myself away and actually make the quilt. Once I do start sewing, many times I find myself making more than one quilt because I love all the possibilities a design offers. Matrix was no different. And I'm happy to say that it will soon be a pdf pattern so stay tuned to my blog.

My first edition of the design was a scrappy version in bright pastels made with blocks from my bee members. We work from our own stash and it was quite fun to see the blocks come in. Very few fabric repeats and there are lots of fun colors and fabrics. Most of the fabrics were not ones in my own stash so that was good. Try as I might, the colors here don't do the fabric justice but I love the scrappy look!

While I waited for the scrappy bee blocks to arrive, I played a bit more with the design and discovered lots of other options. That's when the full spectrum version of Matrix was born. The fabrics cover the entire color wheel. I just love the strength and liveliness the pure bright colors bring to the design. Don't you think the colored vases from my studio look great next to it?

I also went on to try another version in a smaller scale with a simpler color scheme. I was amazed how fast this one came together. It's a baby size and the stripes worked out so well. I like the colored background too.

I'd love to know which one of the versions is your favorite. It's hard for me to decide because I love each one as I make it. There are a couple more versions I like to try. One uses different background colors for the blocks and the effect is really fun and unique. I may also expand the scrappy one into a larger size. It's the type of quilt that just begs to be larger. Maybe this summer.

Please hop over to the Festival and consider voting for my quilt in the Original Design Quilts category. The entries show up randomly this year without names or numbers so just scroll through the category to find mine.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy the show.