Pattern Sale

Just a quick note that Pattern Spot is running a sale on all quilts in the Scrappy category. This includes my Facets pattern.

If you don't know about Pattern Spot it's an online pattern shop developed by C&T Publishing to sell downloadable sewing and quilting patterns. Shoppers have instant 24-hour online access to browsing and buying patterns from a wide variety of designers, project types and styles.

Hop over with this link and use coupon code SCRAP10 (all caps no spaces) to receive 10% off your purchase of my pattern or any other in the Scrappy category now through June 5th.

I'll be back soon with some fresh new blog posts. Trip to Portland (not for Market), a new Modern Quilt Guild, Generation Q magazine giveaway plus other quilty things. Till then enjoy the summer.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2013

It's that time of year again. Time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival sponsored by Amy's Creative Side. For those of us who don't get to attend Quilt Market, this is such a wonderful way to see all the amazing quilting going on out there. Be sure to hop over to Amy's site and browse through all the linkys.

I had the hardest time deciding what to enter. Lots of things are in the works but not many finished projects. Looking back over this past year I realized one of my favorites was the quilt I made from a layer cake of Moda's Tradewinds fabric line. A very summery quilt that I'm looking forward to using again this summer.

I had never used a precut bundle of fabric before but this line just spoke to me. Fresh, eclectic, a touch of the exotic. I just love the little tea cups. Makes the perfect print for a backyard garden tea party. I bought more tea cup fabric to make napkins. Just need to sew them up.

I used my Cascade pattern for the quilt and made a table runner with the leftovers. The pattern tells you how to use your scraps as you piece the top so the extra blocks are done at the same time. Love the runner just as much as the quilt itself. Very scrappy, yet coordinates well with the quilt. And it looks perfect with my strawberry dishes don't you think?

Designed, made and quilted by me.
Categories:  throw and scrappy.

Grab a cup of tea, sit back and enjoy visiting all the other links. You'll definitely be inspired.  : )

Pattern Sale

Just a heads up about a pattern sale going on over at PatternSpot.
You can take 10% off all Modern Quilt Patterns now through May 22nd, 2013.
Use coupon code MOD10

Cascade and Facets are in this category so it's a great time to go ahead and give them a try.

I'm also quite curious as to which type of pattern you prefer; pdf downloadable or traditional printed paper pattern? Leave me a comment letting me know your preference.

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.