Posts filed under 'Designer Profile'
January 22nd, 2010
Caron Carlson of Valley Quilt Studio offers quilt patterns with multiple settings and multiple sizes. Color layouts are provided to help you with construction. Patterns for the “confident beginner” are easy enough to make and yet still provide design opportunities and interest for a more experienced quilter. Are you a beginner but not confident? You can be! Just a step at a time gets it done!
One Block Wonder is made with four fabrics, only one block and endless settings. You’ll be amazed at all the different looks you can achieve. Instructions are included for two sizes… 80″ x 100″ and 53″ x 73″. You’ll also get fabric selection tips and full color layout charts.
Shooting Starz is easier than it looks. That complicated looking border is really part of the blocks. Easy piecy as they say in quilt land. You will need to be organized with this one but, still, easy! All these lovely stars will finish the quilt at 69″ x 87″.
Stars Over The Prairie is the perfect patterns to showcase a favorite fabric that you don’t want to cut too small. Use it for the large square alternating blocks, and repeat it in the border if you like! Pull the colors from that fabric for your stars. A nice solid - or tone on tone that reads solid – for the “block surrounds” will give a sense of motion. Instructions are included for both a Twin size (58″ x 81″) Queen (82″ x 106″).
So choose one (or more!) and build a quilt along with some confidence! Happy quilting!
November 17th, 2009
Sue Pritt has designed a couple series of unique wallhangings that can also be combined to make larger quilts.   The Painted Lady series includes four different shops housed in Victorian style buildings. The detailed architecture and beautiful colors make for eye-catching wallhangings.Â
The Boutique is one of four in the Painted Lady series. You can almost imagine standing in the shade of the tree as you window shop. And before you move along to the next shop you admire the overflowing flowerpots.
Next stop, The Quilt Shop. Another tree, more flowers, a cute sign and a flying geese banner blowing in the wind. Makes you want to head inside, doesn’t it?
All four of the Painted Lady patterns finish at 16″ x 34″ with borders. Or make all four with out the borders, put them together for a bit of Main Street.
The Shop Lady patterns finish at 10″ x 22″ with borders, or 6″ x 18″ without borders.  Each patterns includes a store front with a striped awning and an upstairs window. Flowers are blooming and the tree is ready to shade the shoppers.
The Sweet Pea Toy Shop has a rocking horse, a teddy bear and a sand castle. As with the other patterns, paper piecing, traditional piecing and fusible applique are used to make this wall hanging.
How much is that doggie in the window?  How convenient – a fire hydrant for doggie’s first walk!  Animal Krakers Pet Shop also has a cat and a parrot looking for a new home.Â
There are several more shops so check out all the patterns that Sweet Season Quilts has to offer.
September 26th, 2009
Whether it’s an embroidery design, a quilt, or a purse, you can be sure it will be colorful if it’s a Black Cat Creation.
Chicken For Dinner has easy applique that can be done by hand or machine. With cute chickens, eggs and red checkered borders, this quilt would certainly brighten a kitchen or dining room.
Charmed is charmingly simple! Grab your bright colorful scraps and you’ll put this fun 48″ X 64″ quilt together lickety-split.
2 Fat Quarter Clutch Bag is one of those patterns that you’ll use over and over. Just 2 Fat Quarters and you’ll have a really cute clutch bag. Make one for every season and one for every friend! Dress it up or make it whimsical.Â
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These little Sittin’ Pretty placemats are perfect for using charm packs. Show off your favorite newest fabric line.
I fell in love with Periwinkle Lane and had to start this project. Block are colored with ordinary crayons, heat set, and then embroidered. The houses are so colorful and cheery.Â
Purchase a block at a time or go for the complete set at once – your choice – and sharpen those crayons! Quilting is always a mood lifter but these blocks will work overtime cheering you up. How can you not feel good looking at, or working on, these blocks?!
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And if you get hooked on coloring blocks you could try Plaid Cats which is, believe it or not, more colorful!
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Browse through the rest of Black Cat Creations. And while you are there, check out the rest of the quilt patterns.
September 13th, 2009
Currently at Quilters Warehouse the designs of The Wooden Bear are being featured. The talent behind the company is Kelly Mueller, who comes from a long line of artistic, creative folks. Her patterns are fun and easy. Kelly has several themed patterns that can be made and displayed as a group. The newest is the Woodland Group . . . Moose, Bear & Mallards.
These are all table toppers that measure 24″ x 24″ when finished. Each includes instructions for a matching pillow and for a small project. Make each table topper and put one on each of the end or occassional tables in your family room. Make each of the pillows and scatter them on the couch and chairs. Make the mini-hangings and group together on a wall. And you have a “Woodland” makeover!
Country Santa is part of the “Country” group that also includes a Country Angel and a Country Snowman.  Each of these patterns includes instructions for a 20″ x 25″ wall hanging, a 14″ x 20″ pillow, and a decorative towel. Kelly also gives you tips on how to give these projects an extra touch of country.
The Hanging Witch has a few friends . . . a Hanging Scarecrow, Santa, Snowman, and Bunny.  These all finish at 22″ x 30″ and would look great just hanging around your house.
The Patriotic group has several critters each surrounded by stars and waving a flag.
And, of course, we can’t forget the Straddling series of patterns . . . several different characters each holding a little something. These are all adorable wall hangings.
The Wooden Bear Patternlets all give you a basic pattern and an idea for a quick and easy project. Then you can take that basic pattern and let your imagination take you where it will from there! A lot of the patternlets are seasonal and they are all cute.
Wow, that was a lot and it’s not even everything that the Wooden Bear has to offer! Check out the rest and if you have any time left browse other quilt patterns too.
June 9th, 2009
Raggedy Ruth Designs is new to Quilters Warehouse but Ruth Grihalva is certainly not new to quilting and designing. Ruth has been sewing since she was a girl. Her grandmother taught her quilting and when Ruth’s son was born she really got hooked on quilting. Since then there has been no stopping her. So with Raggedy Ruth Designs debut at Quilters Warehouse there are 32 patterns that run the gamut from simple, cute placemats to king size quilts.  The patterns are cleary written so a careful beginner should be able to complete any of the quilts.Â
These placemats are as easy to make as they are cute.  Perfect for picnics. Load the Take A Bite Out Of Summer placemats with napkins and plastic cutlery, then roll them up and pack them in the picnic basket. These would make a great shower gift.
Do you have a Snips & Pin Catcher? These things are sooooo handy. Mine has taken up residence just to the right of my sewing machine and I don’t know what I’d do without it!
Pathway to the Stars is one of those quilts that looks more complicated than it is. And with Ruth’s clear instructions and illustrations it should go together without a hitch.
This is Bear’s Paw Sampler. Isn’t it pretty. The colors in the example are really pretty, but wouldn’t it look good with blues & greys & greens? Made this way the quilt finishes at 60″ X 48″ – perfect for a throw. There are also instructions for adding log cabin blocks around the entire quilt and then it will finish at 84″ X 72″.
These are just a few of the patterns by Raggedy Ruth Designs. Check out the rest of them. While you are there browse some other quilt patterns. So many to see.
February 20th, 2009
Award winning quilt artist Nancy Rink has designed several quilt patterns using a variety of techniques. Her patterns include piecing, applique and paper piecing. From table runners to king sized quilts you’ll find beautiful designs, both traditional and contemporary.Â
Today, Nancy Rink tells us how she got her start . . .
“As a young girl, my first attempts at sewing involved making clothing for my Barbies. My grandmother did a great deal of sewing and I would take her discarded scraps home with me and fashion them into what were in all likelihood horribly constructed doll outfits. But in my child’s mind they were beautiful and they were made with my own hands. Later as a teen, I learned to sew and sewed most of my own clothes. I was an avid seamstress until I completely fell in love with quilting. However, I did not fall in love as some do – head over heels. My love of quilting came on gradually as sewing clothes becase less of a focus and quiltmaking took over my time and ignited my creative passion. “What was the event that triggered it?” is a question I’ve been asked many times. It’s hard to pinpoint one specific event as the trigger. I think it was more like a confluence of events that came together and illuminated some things about quilting and about myself that I had not previously known. One of those events was the Hoffman Challenge.  The fabric shop near my house closed down and I “discovered” a quilt shop across town. A quilt shop? Would they have dressmaking fabric? When I walked in I was overwhelmed. A display caught my eve. It had the Hoffman Challenge fabric draped gracefully across a shelf and there with it were the entry forms. The fabric reallly caught my eye – it was burgundy, green, and had shimmering gold streaks. how would somone use that in a quilt? I wondered. Up to that point I had used very traditional calicos, plaids, and solids that were characteristic of the early ’80s. and had used them to make ordinary everyday use quilts from simple patterns.
But that Hoffman Challenge fabric called to me. I bought two yards. I also bought a book about mariner’s compasses by Judy Mathieson that day. I took that book home and must have read it cover to cover at least ten times. Transfixed by the mariner’s compass, I was certain that that was what I would do with the Hoffman Challenge fabric. And because I was on my own, learning by myself with Judy to guide me, I did not know that a mariner’s compass was a hard thing to make. And so I made the mariner’s compass. It was beautiful. The gold streaks in the fabric shimmered. But there needed to be more. The compass was not enough. It needed a border. I drew several ideas out on graph paper and finally settle on one. And that is when I became a designer. I worked doggedly to finish the quilt – or wallhanging, actually, and my first one at that. I filled out my paperwork and sent everything off.
Several weeks later, after I’d moved on to another project, I received a phone call. It was from someone at Hoffman Challenge who wanted to congratulate me on winning first place! For the life of me, I cannot recall my reaction. I actually don’t think it registered. Moreover, I know I did not understand the magnitude of the award. I’d never seen any Hoffman Challenge quilts, and I’d never seen a quilt show other than the quilt exhibit at our county fair. At that point I had absolutely no idea that a whole world of quilting existed beyond my doorstep. But what I did know is that at that point quilting changed for me. I realized that quilting could be art, that I could design my own quilts, and that there was fabulous fabric, books, tools, etc. waiting for me to put them to use.
Now, I’ve been to, and exhibited in, numerous quilt shows. I proudly display my award ribbons on a wall in my “studio”. But when it comes down to it, I’m just a quilter. I decide on a quilt pattern.  I pick out fabric. I cut, I sew, I quilt (these days on a APQS longarm). And like many quilters, I enjoy trying out new gadgets, new tools, new techniques, new materials, new books, and new fabric. When I get in a slump I look through some of my favorite quilting books for inspiration. Judy Mathieson’s Mariner’s Compass book is still one of my favorites and I have designed many quilts using it, and her subsequent mariner’s compass books, as guides. Or I get out that gadget I’ve yet to try and put it through its paces . And now, thanks to the internet, I can browse websites, read blogs, and look at quilt photos on Webshots and Flickr. Sometimes I am actually daunted by the wealth of materials and wonder how I am ever going to try all of those new tools and techniques, how am I going to finish all of my planned projects, and how am I ever going to use up my stash . . . especially when it seems that more goes in than comes out!
Thanks, Nancy, for sharing your story!
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