Jane Sassaman Ideas Blog

Spring is Bustin’ Out All Over!

April 30th, 2013

Fasten your seat belts, here comes Spring! This week has brought many changes to our landscape. The birds are singing, the wild flowers are beginning to bloom and jackets are being shed. The cats are spending the whole day outside and farmers are dusting off their tractors.

On the Woodstock Square folks are taking their coffee outdoors and sunning themselves on the park benches. The whole world seems to be waking up again. Hibernation time is finally over. In the studio we have been sewing in preparation for Spring Quilt Market. So far I have finished 5 quilts tops and backs. Now it is time to baste and quilt!

It is also time for your first peek at my new fabric collection for Westminster!!! The collection is called Wild Child. For you “Flower Children” some of the color combinations may bring back memories. To celebrate the arrival of these new designs, Dragon Threads is having this stunning silk scarf printed. It measures 20″ X 70″, perfect for neck wear or even as a belt. You can pre-order your exclusive Sassaman scarf at the Dragon Threads Store. Stay tuned for more premier peeks in the coming weeks.

Posted in accessories, Dragon Threads, flowers, Silk Scarves, Wild Child | No Comments »

Picking Up Speed

April 22nd, 2013

Activities are gaining momentum as the season progresses. I had a lovely visit with the Jewel Box Quilters in Grinnell, Iowa last week. The guild gets its name for a stunning little bank designed by Louis Sullivan, noted architect and mentor of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Merchants National Bank is indeed a “jewel box”situated in the modest business district . It is a small square building ornamented with Sullivan’s distinctive designs.

You can see that I would love Sullivan ornamentation. We both are inspired by prairie plants and have an affinity for similar shapes and symmetrical design.

The building combines strength in its structure and ethereal elegance in its ornament.

Sullivan’s language of pattern is eccentric, mysterious and totally unique. Visiting this little “Gem” was the icing on the cake for this quilting journey. Thanks to the Jewel Box guild for a friendly and productive visit!

This week will be occupied preparing for Spring Market in May. I have completed six medium sized quilt tops so far and can’t wait for the day I can post them for you… just a few more weeks.

Posted in workshops | 2 Comments »

Quilters’ Connection Creations

April 10th, 2013

All heads were in the stratosphere this weekend for the Suns and Moons workshops hosted by the Quilters’ Connection guild in the Boston area. Here you get a glance of the “glorious mess” of creativity!

Even though everyone was using the same motifs each project was quite unique.

The choices of color, pattern, fabric and proportions each created a different atmosphere. This is just a sampling of nearly 60 quilt tops that came to life over threes days. Some folks got to stitching and other opted to keep perfecting their compositions. As always, I look forward to seeing these projects completed and posted in my inbox someday SOON!

Posted in quilts, workshops | 1 Comment »

Easter Surprise!

March 30th, 2013

Look what the Easter Bunny left at our house!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Contest Winners & New Scarf

March 19th, 2013

It’s 19 degrees and tomorrow is the first day of spring! It snowed all day yesterday and the wind howled all night, so we still need our winter wear. So here is a pretty new scarf design from the Sassaman studio. It is made with Early Birds fabric and is reversible, of course.

Susan. my right-hand girl, stitched up this practical but very feminine design. It is created by tucking folds as you stitch. This creates a natural contour that frames the face and sits nicely on your shoulders.

Here is the reverse side. Since the scarf is made with cotton fabric it is not itchy but still offers protection from the elements. The edges have been finished with a serger. This is my new favorite scarf!

Today is also the day I get to announce the final winners for the Dragon Thread’s Patchwork Sassaman Style Contest. Yes, I couldn’t pick just one! I have decided to pick 2 winners. #C from the 1+4 Patch and #1 from Ocean Waves.
It was a tough decision, as each quilt entered had a unique personality. But these two quilts
are wonderful examples of “listening” to the fabric. Fussy cutting was used very effectively.
The mix of solids added some nice contrast and drama. They have both made a very simple pattern
into exceptionally elegant quilts.

Ocean Waves by Eunice Merritt

This is the One + Four Patch winner. However, due to a new computer snafu we can’t find the maker’s name. So please let us know who you are. I will be sending both winners a set of Simple Silhouette Patterns.

Congratulations!

Posted in accessories, Dragon Threads, Early Birds, Wearables | No Comments »

St. Patrick’s Project

March 12th, 2013

It is warming up here. The fog is dense and the rivers are overflowing with melting snow and recent rain. It is a world of gray, white and black. But in the studio things are just the opposite. This week we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so you the know the color green has to play a starring role.

Hey! What’s in the basket? It’s our St. Patrick’s project… a pretty little bread warmer. This holiday is celebrated with many traditional treats, like corned beef and cabbage, dark beer and of course, Irish Soda bread.

Isn’t that a perfect symbol for cozy comfort ! Similar to a scone this soda bread is sweet and filled with raisins. Laying on a blanket lined with green Curlicue fabric from the Early Birds line.

This reversible bread warmer has a lovely shape, like a big X made of graceful curves. It is about 17″ square

and has a basic “pillow” construction.

The details add some extra character. A green pearl cotton running stitch accents the silhouette and also attach the magenta wool balls which help to hold the blanket more tightly around the bread. Now that these photos have been posted, guess what I’m having with my tea this afternoon!

Posted in accessories, Early Birds | 1 Comment »

Snow Day!

March 5th, 2013

What a marvelous day! The snow began about 7:00 this morning and there are predictions of 10 inches of new snow. So we are looking forward to being stranded in the studio for at least two days, Yippee!! So I am a happy camper and dedicating my time to some serious quilting. In anticipation I started a new small piece yesterday and continue to quilt my abstract sampler.

But before I get down to stitching I wanted to share some spring colors and Easter finery.

Easter is early this year so now is the time to brighten up the wardrobe. It is so nice that men aren’t afraid of pretty colors these days. I love to see guys in pink and purple. In fact, this pink shirt is directly from my husbands closet. The ties are all made with purple fabrics from the Early Birds fabric collection for FreeSpirit.

I like this simple tie pattern… just tie, no bow. Very dapper!

This is the same pattern with a different finish. It was centered on the large checked fabric so the two halves are symmetrical.

This bow tie is for a man with confidence and a good sense of humor!

This version is very pleasing. I know my Greg will be sporting one of these in the Easter Parade.

OK, back to stitching and dreaming.

Posted in accessories, Early Birds, Wearables | No Comments »

And the winner is…

March 1st, 2013

Quilt # 5 by Rhonda Pearce of Oregon is the winner of the Ocean Waves Contest! She lives 50 miles from the nearest quilt store so she leaned into her fabric stash for this happy quilt top. Congratulations, Rhonda! Your vintage Sassaman fabric bundle will arrive soon.

I am very pleased with each and every entry. They each have their own charm and character. Remember that all the entries will be eligible for the final grand prize.

This week in the studio I was so tired of all the intense computer work that I took a break to work on a little abstract project that has been waiting in the wings. It felt SOOOOOO good to sit down at the sewing machine. The choice of colors may surprise you. But this rich color combination has been nagging at me. The fabrics are mostly luscious hand dyes. It’s nice, too, to work on a piece that actually fits on my ironing table.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Ocean Waves Contest

February 26th, 2013

Here are the February entries for the Ocean Waves Challenge! Thank you all for taking the time to stitch up a top to share. Your vote is cast by leaving a comment below. We will announce to winner here this Friday, March 1. I, personally, am delighted with the varied personalities of these projects.

Quilt #1 by Eunice Merritt, above

Quilt #2 by Fran Douglas, above

Quilt #3 by Patti Baymiller, above

Quilt #4 by Rebecca Finch, above

Quilt #5 by Rhonda Pearce, above

Quilt #6 by Sara Roche, above

Quilt #7 by Sue Turner, above

Quilt #8 by Suzanne Walcott, above

Good luck, everyone!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 25 Comments »

President’s Day

February 18th, 2013

Happy President’s Day! To celebrate this holiday we are revisiting the most patriotic project I’ve ever done… the Folk Art Flag. I usually shy away from such overt patriotism, but I just couldn’t resist once I realized that the Early Birds collection contained such an obvious combination of colors and graphics.

It’s nice to see all that greenery! It is the opposite to how it looks on this gray winter day. But it’s encouraging to know this opulence is a few months down the road. If you are feeling a twinge of patriotism you can order a kit for the quilt and the pillowcases in our online store.

This has been a week of making final decisions and tying loose ends for the autumn fabric line. Now the designs are all labeled, printed and packaged and ready to mail to Westminster. Phew!

But the nicest surprise this week was the announcement of SewCalGal’s nominations for the Golden Quilter’s Awards. It is an honor to be named among this prestigious group of the quilt worlds finest designers, stitchers and writers. Many of the nominees are personal friends and nicely represent the talent, devotion and enthusiasm in our industry.

Any one can vote, so to add your voice just go to the SewCalGal blog. The voting deadline is Feb. 28.

PS… The Patchwork Sassaman Style quilt top contest is Feb. 25. Go to the Dragon Threads Open Book blog for details.

Posted in Dragon Threads, Early Birds, Patchwork Sassaman Style, quilts | No Comments »

Jane Sassaman quilt artist, fabric designer, author and teacher

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