WIP Wednesday

I've kept busy with some project deadlines the last couple of weeks and have decided I make better progress when I have an external deadline. Anyone else out there like that. My own self imposed deadlines for my personal projects just don't seem to work. Too easy to get an extension . . .   : )

Last day of the month and I finally got my April bee blocks done for Carla at Grace and Favour. I found the basics of this sweet little block in the book 501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks by Judy Hopkins. I used scraps to make three 6" blocks. It was such a fun block to make that I'm dreaming up what I could do with more of them. They'd make a great table runner or Valentines wall hanging. Maybe a personalized baby quilt.

Also just wanted to remind all of you that May 1 is the last day for 10% off my patterns at Pattern Spot. Use coupon code TEMP10. The sale is happening in their contemporary category.

Posting for a WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced by Lee. Hop over and check out some of the other linkies to see what everyone has been up to and be inspired.

Shop News

It's been rather quiet around here on the blog front . . . but not behind the scenes. I've been taking care of a bit of business by putting up a new blog banner that I think better reflects me, my style, and the fabrics I love.

I've also expanded the SpringLeaf Studios online presence by opening two new shops to sell my patterns. Now you can to buy from Etsy,  Craftsy, and Pattern Spot. 
Since this writing 2 of the 3 platforms have been discontinued. 

My newest pattern should be out sometime next month and I've got lots of other ideas in the works. Stay tuned and enjoy all the spring leaves and flowers beginning to emerge.

Modern Patchwork

I'm quite excited to share the Spring 2013 edition of Modern Patchwork with you. This issue is full of all kinds of modern quilty goodness. If you haven't seen this specialty magazine yet, you really need to check it out. It's published by the great folks at Interweave Press who also publish Quilting Arts.

Here's what they have to say about this issue:
"Featuring contemporary projects of every type, Modern Patchwork is chock-full of fabulous gift ideas, a variety of quilt designs, exciting home-décor projects, items to enhance your cooking and dining experiences, plus totes and bags of all sorts! The quilts range from beginner to intermediate level, and include all types of piecing and patchwork. Clear step-by step instructions are provided for each project, with clear illustrations and step-by-step photography."

For me, the really exciting part was to see the cover today and find out that my project made the cover! See those circles in the background? That's my quilted room divider made from Kona solids with a touch of Amy Butler. I love the color scheme they went with for the cover. It seems very fresh and clean.

This project is a fabric version of a room divider I first made for my daughter's room a few years ago. At that time, the first thing you saw at the top of our stairs was the side of her desk. No privacy for one thing, but also a messy desktop. Don't we all have messy desks?

The solution then was a circle divider that matched the circles of her comforter. It was made from plastic plates in bright colors that matched her room. Quick and easy to do and a fun splash of color for her room. This is the only picture I could find.

Fast forward a few years, and I made one from fabric to match her DIY fantastic black and white chair. The pic on the left shows one side. Don't think I'd use such busy fabric again. The pic on the right shows the reverse side. Solid black and a black/white stripe. Much better.

I proposed the idea to Modern Patchwork in a different set of colors that match my daughter's newest color scheme of aquas and greens.

This is the type of project that has a variety of uses. While the original was made to screen a messy desk, it can also be used next to your favorite comfy chair to create a reading nook or in the bathroom as a privacy screen next to your tub. You could even change the dimensions, pair it with a shower curtain and dress up your bathroom. I took this shot just to see how it would look.

I can't wait to see the issue in person. Getting a project published will always be a thrill for me. If you've never submitted anything, I really urge you to give it a try. Lots of publications seek submissions from ordinary folks like me.  : )

Look for Modern Patchwork Spring 2013 on newsstands in late April. Better yet, go here to learn more about Modern Patchwork and pre-order your own copy.

WIP Wednesday/Bee Block

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for another WIP Wednesday.

Here it is the end of the month and about time I get my Mid Century Modern Bee block done for Debbie at A Quilter's Table. She asked for a low volume block based on the tutorial over at Little Miss Shabby's blog. It was a fairly simple block to make but I'm not sure about the best way to press. The seams where the gray strips meet seem a little bulky.

I really like many of the low volume/light value quilts that are showing up online. I've even been playing around with an idea of my own but it hasn't made it past the designing stage yet. When Debbie requested this type of fabric I was excited to give it a try and to see what everyone else came up with too.

Pulling fabric from my stash made me realize I don't have a big selection of low volume or light value fabrics. Like many quilters, I have tons of mid values and few true lights and darks. Here is where I started. Several colored dots on white, a handful of leafy and bird related prints, and miscellaneous other prints. I can definitely see an excuse for fabric shopping . . . hehe. Just don't tell my husband.

It was hard to decide what to use for Debbie's block but I eventually settled on mostly grays with some blues and greens thrown in. It turned out a bit darker than I thought it would but hopefully it will work with the rest of the blocks she gets. After all, you need a lot of variety with scrappy quilts right?

The last couple of weeks have seen plenty of behind-the-scene sewing too. Just not things that have shown up on my blog. My new pattern is coming along nicely and I hope to publish next month. Check back often to get the first peek.  I've also submitted a couple of things to magazines and thus can't share.

These cuties are the biggest adjustment I've had going on in my studio. I never realized how easy it really was with our sweet old lady Shadow. She would drive me crazy at times but just as often was content to sleep in the chair while I sewed. No need to worry about her eating threads off the floor, eating pins off the design wall, running with scissors and generally tearing things to pieces . Hmmm . . . life with kittens is interesting, fun and challenging . . . just like human toddlers in the house.

But they are adorable. Opal and Leo (formerly LuLu until she turned out to be a he)
Head back over to Freshly Pieced for more quilty goodness and have a great week of stitching.

We Have 2 Winners!

The Quilter's Blog Party was my very first time participating in a giveaway and I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I had lots of fun visiting the other participating blogs as well as the blogs of people who commented on my giveaway. I found some wonderful new blogs to follow and hope you did too. All this online inspiration is simply amazing. 

Thanks to all of you who became a new follower of mine and to those of you faithful followers who came to visit. I had a winner from both camps, one new, one faithful. Love that!

Now, on to the winners .  .  .

First up is Amy from (Amy's) Crafty Shenanigans who said:
"New follower and looking forward to seeing more :) I absolutely LOVE cascade - and the colors that it has been done in - true inspiration thanks!!!"

And the second winner is Carla from Lollyquiltz who said:
"Anne, your patterns are all so great and I'm excited at the chance of winning one! If you pick my name, I'd choose the Cascade. Thanks a bunch!"


Seems Cascade was the pattern of choice for most of you.

Although there were many votes for Facets too.

For those of you who commented and didn't win you can purchase my patterns through my Etsy shop. I hope you will come back and visit often. I have a new pattern in the works right now with more to come this year. 

Happy quilting, Anne

Giveaway

I'd like to welcome you to my blog if you are hopping over to visit from the Quilting Gallery as part of the Quilter's Blog Hop Party. Give a shout out to Michele for hosting this great event!  There are some awesome posts and giveaways happening and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky winners. 

While you're visiting please do wander around a little and get a feel for my style. I sometimes go modern and sometimes more traditional, but the one thing you can always count on is lots of color and strong design elements. 

2 lucky readers will win their choice of one of my patterns featured below. The pattern will be emailed in a PDF format.

Both patterns include:

• 2 different versions of the quilt as seen on the cover.
• Size options.
• Additional ideas on how to use the pattern to make different variations.
• Coloring page to envision your own color scheme.
• A bonus pillow project made from the scraps.

Great design is first and foremost in all my patterns. In addition to directions for making the cover quilt, I include a Design Lesson and a Design Exploration page so you can envision optional ways to use the pattern. My hope is that these ideas will inspire you to try your own version based on the basic pattern. A coloring page is also included so you can try out your choice of colors and fabrics.


First up is Cascade. This is a great pattern for large scale prints but is equally at home with solids. It works well with fat quarters and layer cakes. Below are some examples of ways  I have used this pattern. As you can see, there are many possibilities.

This is the Design Explorations page included in the Cascade pattern. 

This bold zigzag baby quilt plus the bonus doll quilt were both made from the Cascade pattern. 

Cascade was also used to make a bright summery tablecloth and matching table runner form the Tradewinds fabric line by Moda

Next up is Facets. This quilt also works well with large scale prints and is the perfect quilt for using up scraps, charm squares or your favorite fabric bundle.

This is the Design Explorations page included in the Facets pattern. 

This is the alternative quilt as seen on the Facets pattern cover.

These two pillows were made as part of the bonus project included in the Facets pattern.

To win your choice of one of these patterns (to be emailed to you in PDF format):

• Become a follower or let me know if you already are.
• Tell me which pattern you like best and why. 
• Please be sure that your comment links to your email. No email = no win. 
• Comments are open through March 15th (MST). Winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Good luck !

Thanks for visiting. Enjoy the rest of the hop.

Emeralds

Welcome to anyone visiting from Lee's WIP Wednesday.

My WIP for March is my emerald green quilt. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago I was seeking emerald greens. Not sure I have all the right colors yet but I'm getting there. Do you ever feel like there are just too many color choices and yet when it gets down to finding the ones you have in mind it's not so easy?  It was certainly fun to look at all the green paint chips though.

I've started with the greens I'm pretty sure I'll use and have begun to make half square triangles. Lots of HSTs. I find the repetition of sewing the same block over and over rather satisfying. Makes me feel like I'm getting something accomplished when I end up with a nice long string of chain pieced squares. Here's a few HSTs. I think they look like the paint chips don't you?

I've got big plans for this quilt. It's slated to become my 3rd pattern. The pattern design didn't start out as an Emerald green quilt but once Pantone announced Emerald as the color of the year and I reviewed the design I realized they were destined to be together. As usual, I'll have several other color options to show too. I just can't stop designing once I get started.  : )

Hope you're having a productive sewing month too.