Looking Back . . . Looking Forward

It's that time of year  . . .
Time when many of us make plans and resolutions for the New Year. With my husband, my daughter and myself all exploring various creative businesses, we have been meeting and talking about our goals for 2014. It's been fun to share and support one another. Part of the plan is to hold each other accountable throughout the new year so we stay on track. I really can't wait to see what each of us accomplishes and creates this year.  : )

Looking back . . .
I started 2013 with the goal of publishing more patterns, exploring submission possibilities and posting more regularly here on my blog. I can say 2013 turned out to be the year of submissions. It was fun and flattering to find success by having some of my projects published. You can read a few submission tips here. I also managed to write more posts and make a few other changes to my blog. The downside was that my pattern publishing just didn't happen. Lots and lots of ideas and designs. Lots of quilts in various stages of completion. But no new patterns.  : (

But even though the patterns didn't happen, there were lots of other good things that took me in new directions. Things I couldn't even have imagined at the beginning of the year. Things like winning an award at QuiltCon and going to Quilt Market for the very first time!   : )

Westminster Fibers booth . . . one of my favorites.

Another positive step for me in 2013 was meeting other quilters and stepping out of my little isolated world. I became involved in the early stages of the Boulder Modern Quilt Guild and designed the logo.

And I joined my first online quilting bee, the Mid Century Modern Bee. Plus an online art quilt group, Four-in-Art. All these experiences have been so rewarding. It's easy to get into a rut when you're in your studio alone and don't realize how isolated you are. I'm a loner when it comes to working most of the time but I still need interaction and connections. If you don't have a group, I highly recommend joining at least one online group or real life guild that will teach, challenge and inspire you. It's definitely worth the commitment.  : )

Looking forward . . .
In 2014 I plan to refocus on pattern development and make it the year of patterns. I also want to expand my blog content to include tutorials as well as some type of design exploration lessons. The design process is what I truly love. Additional design options are a big part of what I include in my patterns. Now I'd like to share more of these design explorations with you here on my blog.

One other thing I need to do in 2014 is use my stash!  I probably have enough fabric to keep me sewing for years and yet much of it is not where my fabric tastes reside these days. What to do about that? Perhaps I'll open an Etsy shop just to destash. Perhaps I'll explore how this older fabric can be made into something more modern. Maybe it will even become part of a new blog series . . . traditional with a modern twist.

Here's a peak at some of the newer fabrics I plan to make good use of. I'm looking forward to stirring up some wonderful new things with some of these beauties.

Hope you'll join me and see where the new year takes SpringLeaf Studios.

What are your quilty goals for 2014?

I'll leave you with this quote seen recently on another blog. 

Apologies to which blog because I can't find the source.

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

The Submission Process and A Modern Holiday Table Runner

Do you ever have an idea tucked away that you just never get around to trying?
I have!  Lots . . . can I say LOTS of ideas. Probably more ideas than I'll ever have time to make.

This table runner is the result of playing with one of those ideas. I have always wanted to make a quilt using a drunkard's block arranged into full circles where the main color is in the background rather than the circles.

A small table runner seemed the perfect choice when Stitch Magazine put out a call for submissions to their 2014 Gifts issue. Something bright and cheery without being overly Christmas. Something that emphasized the circle theme.

For those of you who haven't tried submitting to a magazine, I though I'd share what my typical submission is like. If it's not a project that has already been made, then I usually start with some design ideas and fabric choices. In the case of Stitch, they have a color palette and theme for each issue so this is obviously taken into consideration.

I use Adobe Illustrator for most of my design work. I'm not an expert by any means and am pretty sure I do most things the hard way, but I get by without getting myself into too many binds. In this case, I designed using solid colors and then took a photo of proposed fabrics to include in the submission. Here's what my submission looked like.

You can see that I included a brief description of the project, along with the basic techniques and materials needed. Another thing you might notice is that I included a photo comp of the table runner in use.  I had the benefit of my husband's graphic design capabilities. He "placed" my runner onto a table and added some candles. And he did a great job if I do say so myself. But please don't be intimidated by this because it's not something I usually include in a submission. Couldn't do it myself if I had to. It just seemed like a nice touch so we went for it. Don't forget you're trying to sell your idea after all.

Once the project was accepted, I worked with the editor to make final fabric selections. When fabrics were finalized, the piece was made, directions written, process photos taken along the way and then sent off to meet the deadline.

If you'd like to learn more about my runner along with lots of other great gift ideas, pick up a copy of Stitch Gifts 2014. These owl and fox stockings on the cover are just so cute. I have 2 or 3 projects tagged that I would like to make.

It's always a thrill for me to see a project published. And it's always a bit of surprise to see what the publisher does with your project in terms of photography. This one was even included as part of the table of contents page . . . an extra little thrill!

If you are thinking about submitting, do your homework first. Check with the publication to see if they want finished projects or whether proposed projects are acceptable. Sometimes they like to work with you on final fabrics so it's the most current and fitting for their theme. Other times they want to see the finished work including close-ups of any quilting or details.

Also check into your rights. Some magazines return the rights to a project to you after a set period of time so you can republish the idea yourself. Others don't. Be clear on this going in if you think you'd like to create a pattern for sale later.

Most importantly:

• Be patient . . . it can take awhile to hear back.
• Be persistent . . . it can take awhile to be accepted.
• Be timely . . . once you're accepted, by all means carry through and meet their deadlines.

This year has been one of submissions for me and I have been fortunate to have found success with some projects. There have been rejections too. It's all part of the process so just keep trying. If you've been thinking about submitting check out the following submission deadlines.

Submissions for Modern Patchwork Summer 2014 are due this Friday Dec 20th. Go here to learn more.
Submissions for the Stitch Fall 2014 issue are due January 10th. Go here to learn more.
Why not make 2014 the year you give it a try?

WIP Wednesday

It's been awhile since I've posted for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced but it doesn't mean I haven't been doing any sewing.

I've been trying out a new machine-quilting style for one of the projects I decided to tackle as part of the Finish-A-Long with Leanne. I chose just 2 projects to finish for this quarter that have been sitting around FOREVER and thought it about time I made a dent in the UFO's. Of course I plan to work on far more than just these 2 quilts but this will at least get me finishing those projects that get set aside and sometimes forgotten.

The current quilt under progress right now is one of the smaller samples I made as part of my first pattern "Facets". I've really admired the circular quilting done so beautifully by people like Karen at Blooming Poppies and have always wanted to give it a try. (Check out her tutorial for circular quilting here.) This quilt seemed like a good choice to try the circular quilting on because it's always reminded me of ripples of color expanding outward just like the ripples of quilting expanding out from the center. I'm so glad it's small because I don't know if I could handle a larger quilt with the small arm space on my machine. Not a lot of progress yet but I plan to work on it more this week.

In an effort to get more involved this year, I'm taking part in my very first quilting bee. The Mid Century Modern Bee put together by Cindy at Live A Colorful Life. You can read more about the bee and see my first block here.

I'm also joining the newly formed Boulder Modern Quilt Guild which will have their first meeting in March. I've been a bit isolated here in my studio and look forward to getting out and making new quilty friends in person. If you live in the Boulder CO area and are interested check out the Facebook page.

My new year also started off with a project I was asked to do for a magazine. All I can show for now is this sneak peek.

One last note, I'm curious as to what you think about fusible batting. Has anyone used it for lap size quilts and does it stay fused while you work without shifting from all the manhandling? What brand do you use?
Connecting Threads has batting on sale through mid February and I thought I might give it a try.

Hope you are having fun stitching away into the new year.

WIP Wednesday

My biggest WIP continues to be the Tetris QAL quilt. We're on to block 5 this week with just one more to go so the end is in sight. 

Tetris quilt in progress with 5 blocks done

My Tradewinds quilt and runner are finished up so one less WIP on my plate. Will be posting the finished photos as soon as I take them. 

Tradewinds quilt straight line quilting

My other WIP is now a high priority. I got a project accepted to Stitch magazine and need to get it done ASAP. This will be my first ever published project so very exciting. Won't be published until spring 2013 so have a while before I see it in print for real. Here's sneak peek of the fabrics.

I'm always amazed at just how many things the rest of your are working on and getting done. Very impressive to say the least. Hop on over to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and see what everyone else is working on. Keep on stitching . . . 

Fingers Crossed

I've got my fingers crossed. This week I submitted two different projects/ideas to two different magazines. It's my first time submitting and I don't know all the ropes but just wanted to jump in and give it a try. Obviously can't share what they are but here's a sneak peak of what fabrics might be involved.

Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler and Kona Solids. I've had this print for awhile and this project just seemed like the perfect choice. Plus I'll still have enough left over for a quilt!

Summer and Submissions

Summer is here and I'm re-adjusting to a full house after our first year of the empty nest. Lots of chaos, piles and moving, but two young adults are mostly settled in for the summer and I'm finally getting back to the studio.

I'm in the midst of a home decor project for my daughter. Black and white fabrics to go with her fabulous black and white striped chair and create a little added flare to her room.

I'm thinking of submitting my idea for this project to a magazine (thus not many pics to share right now) and am wondering if anyone has experience with the submission process? It's a home decor project that is quilted and very modern in design. I've never submitted before so don't know the ins and outs. Do they want things that have never been published before including on a blog? Do you submit to one magazine at a time? How long does it take? etc etc etc. I have looked into online submission info on websites. Seems some sites don't readily share submission info. Perhaps they don't want unsolicited items. Right now I'm considering Stitch magazine. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.