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Winter Light

Monday, December 30th, 2013

We had a quiet cozy Christmas day at our house this year. No kids for the first time ever! We will have our Christmas together next week. But the company of my lovely mother-in-law and witty brother-in-law made the day a delight. Plus the landscape was perfectly “Currier and Ives”.

Greg took these beautiful shots during his daily explorations. Notice the icing on the trees!

I have been attempting to stick with my plan of concentrating more of my schedule to making art quilts again. I snagged some holiday time to work on this new piece. It’s a simple totem, 26″ X 62″, composed of basic shapes as a nice surface for playing with stitches. It was inspired by some ancient alchemist illustrations.

The top is all raw edged applique finished with satin stitch. But I plan to get very adventurous with fancier stitching in the quilting. I am also imagining some gold metallic threads to add to the esoteric spirit of the piece.

Here it is on the work table during the basting phase. So now it is ready to be quilted whenever I can grab a few quality hours at the sewing machine, as designing the autumn fabric line begins in earnest on the first day of the new year. So far I’m thinking of a Weeds and Seeds theme, but initial ideas often transform as the collection evolves. We shall see!

But as an artist with tunnel vision will I be able to work on two projects at once? But it is a nice dilemma to have, since I love doing BOTH!

Happy and Healthy New Year, my friends!!

Posted in Art Quilts, Christmas, Studio | 5 Comments »

Christmas Stitching

Friday, December 20th, 2013

After several exciting days at the BERNINA Ambassadors Reunion last week, where we stitched and learned some new machine skills, I was all fired up to keep stitching when I got home. So I have been whipping up some Christmas gifts to keep the sewing going.

We have several newlyweds and new homes to celebrate this year so I’m doing pillowcases to match their personalities and style. I have the luxury of having a wall of Sassaman fabrics from many years of designing for FreeSpirit, so for this project I can freely mix and match between collections.

These cases are for a serious couple with scientific interests and contemporary style. The green circle fabric is from the new Sweet Lady Jane line which will be in stores this January. The blue and green dots are from the current Wild Child collection.

These are rather reserved and cater to a botanical bent and a quieter conservative nature. The cases on the left are mainly from the Sunshine and Shadow line. The ones on the right combine some Wild Child Petunias and Sweet Lady Jane circles, again.

These are for an adventurous and fun-loving couple who have decorated their new apartment in red and orange. My kind of people! Early Birds on the left and red Wild Child Petunias on the right.

This pretty pink and blue set is made entirely with Sweet Lady Jane fabrics… classically pretty. The red pair, I must admit, is a gift to myself. I love the folk art feeling of this combination. The checks are from Sweet Lady Jane and the flowered fabric is my current favorite from Wild Child.

My 830 BERNINA has a wonderful new dual feed feature which made stitching these projects a joy! The dual feed is similar to a walking foot, in that it keeps the layers of fabric moving through the machine at an even rate.

These towels are for a couple whose new apartment has a mid-century modern VERY pink bathroom… tiles, sink and all! They cleverly updated the look by painting the remaining walls with blackboard paint. It looks fabulous! So I’ve tricked out these black and gray towels with the new black and pink Wild Child ribbons for Renaissance Ribbon.

Ice and snow is predicted for the next few days. A perfect time to be in the studio… even if I have to crawl there on my hands and knees! The tree gets decorated tonight.

Stay safe, keep cozy and have a fabulous holiday, my friends!

Posted in accessories, Christmas, Early Birds, Renaissance Ribbon, Studio, Sweet Lady Jane, Wild Child | 1 Comment »

Skirting through Autumn

Monday, November 18th, 2013

Last week they finally harvested the corn field next door. We look forward to this event every year as it’s always at night and so very dramatic. In the black void of night the light beams from the machines brush over a haunting landscape. But Sunday was wet and wild. We had tornado warnings so we kept alert and unplugged the electronics. But it was, of course, a divine day to hang out in the studio. I am trying a new routine of four days devoted to FreeSpirit Fabric work followed by three days of art quilting, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So yesterday I was at the work wall tweaking a new quilt project. Very satisfying!

Today it’s back to FreeSpirit business. So I’m going to preview one of our latest Autumn outfits featuring the Wild Child Gaillardia fabric in the red colorway. I love a classic gathered skirt with big pockets… comfortable and smart. This fabric has a touch of summer enthusiasm, but with the yellow blouse and deep pumpkin sweater it leans more toward Autumn.

I, personally, need to have pockets at all times, if only to hold my hanky. Pockets are very comforting. Big pockets are even more so.

We have even made a matching fabric brooch by mounting a fussy cut flower on felt and hand stitching some fancy details.

Stay tuned… next post we will tackle some Thanksgiving table settings for your inner Wild Child!

Posted in accessories, Studio, Wearables, Wild Child | No Comments »

Weather Rules the Week

Monday, February 11th, 2013

It was an exciting weather week! Ice, rain sleet and SNOW! Our plowing service dug us out four times. This is when I’m so happy to be home and able to enjoy it all. I was prepared with a nice stack of “books on tape” for studio listening… I’m revisiting some of my favorite vintage English mysteries.

We have a small heart collection in our house all year round. But they look especially grand against this snowy landscape and very appropriate for Valentines Day. You can spy the studio in the background.

One of the other exciting events was the arrival of my next fabric line For FreeSpirit. These are always memorable days. After becoming so familiar with the designs on paper, there is always a period of adjustment as you get to know them on fabric, as well. But there are already some FABULOUS projects in the works. I wish I could show them to you now!!!! But they are top-secret until Spring Quilt Market. I will tell you it is called Wild Child and that the designs and colors may take you back in time.

The other landmark event is the finalizing of my collection for autumn!! The designs (very feminine) have been decided and the colorways (very pretty) chosen. Now I must come up with an appropriate title for the line and names for each individual pattern, then label and print all the artwork. Just in the nick of time!

PS… are you working on your Patchwork Sassaman Style Challenge? This is a short month, so you’d better get busy! To see the rules and the fabric prize visit the Dragon Thread Blog.

Posted in Dragon Threads, Patchwork Sassaman Style, Studio | 1 Comment »

A Week of Contrasts

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Wednesday I returned from a wonderful teaching trip to Florida. I had workshops in Sarasota, Naples and Lakeland. As always, the hospitality and camaraderie was amazing. One afternoon I got to visit the Naples Botanical Garden and this little display of Air Plants was fascinating!

They were simply suspended on weighted fish lines. Each one had a personality of its own. They looked like weird and wonderful pieces of jewelry.

Needless to say, I was drawn to all the curlicues and spirals… some of my favorite shapes.

Look at the movement in this one! It looks like a wild green whirlwind.

I just wanted to wear them all. There are definitely some quilt ideas brewing from this dramatic display. The sun was shining everyday in Florida, but when I got back home the skies were leaden and grey. What a contrast! But I like contrast, so it was fine with me. It’s always nice to be home.

So back in the studio there is lots to do, as the book deadline is coming soon. Plenty of writing and finishing of quilts will occupy my time this month. Here is a new Early Birds top that needs quilting. But look as this great view from my studio window. What a better place to work and play?

You may enjoy the special Valentines blog at Quilt Inspiration featuring hearts “Sassaman Style”. Guess I’d better start thinking about some new Valentine ideas for 2012.

Posted in Early Birds, quilts, Studio | 5 Comments »

A Week of Contrasts

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

They were simply suspended on weighted fish lines. Each one had a personality of its own. They looked like weird and wonderful pieces of jewelry.

Needless to say, I was drawn to all the curlicues and spirals… some of my favorite shapes.

Look at the movement in this one! It looks like a wild green whirlwind.

You may enjoy the special Valentines blog at Quilt Inspiration featuring hearts “Sassaman Style”. Guess I’d better start thinking about some new Valentine ideas for 2012.

Posted in Early Birds, quilts, Studio | 5 Comments »

The Glorious Mess Begins!

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

These have been sublime autumn days. It is still warm, but we have had to turn on the heat a few times already. The vegetables are pretty much at an end except for the pumpkins and gourds. The flowers are still glowing, especially the hardy dahlias and mums. The zinnias seem determined to out shine them all!

But in the studio the GLORIOUS MESS has begun, as production for Houston Market is in full swing.
We have started cutting into the new Early Birds fabric for quilts, aprons, tea cozies, purses and pillows.
A big part of the fun is making fabric combinations for each project.

Luckily, I have some helpers to give these ideas life. Since the fabric arrived so late we are really having to hustle. We are setting up a moch booth in the corner of the studio to test out our plans. I am even sewing in my sleep, it seems! I’m not complaining, though, since this is the best part of designing fabric… seeing it come to life as fun and usable objects. But time is short!!

All thoughts of the new book have been temporarily set aside. But now is a good time to let you know it is underway and due out this spring. I am so pleased to have Dragon Threads as my publisher for this new venture. We are calling it “Patchwork Sassaman Style” and it is all about using big, bold and beautiful prints. And we will be featuring lots of pieces made with my FreeSpirit fabrics, including Early Birds. I will keep you up to date, as we have lots of ideas to share as the book comes to life. Check out editor, Linda Teufel’s latest blog and she will give you some more backgound on our project, including our sunny quilting cruise!

Posted in Book, Dragon Threads, Early Birds, Studio | 6 Comments »

The Glorious Mess Begins!

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Posted in Book, Dragon Threads, Early Birds, Studio | 6 Comments »

Communication Breakdown

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

I feel like I have just returned from the Twilight Zone. After the big power outage we have been hit with storm after storm. I love storms, but it seems that it can’t just “rain” anymore. Lightning hit our Internet tower and we were without a connection for over two weeks… not amusing when you are getting ready for a teaching trip. I really felt disconnected and discombobulated. Boo hoo! This is my apology for being absence for so long. The Internet was down again yesterday, too! So I rushed to get this posted today before something else happens.

It was also 100 degrees and humid during the communication breakdown and we had to begin taking photographs for the new book (more on that later). At this point, I have at least 50 quilts made with my fabrics that need recording and more on their way. So we soldiered on and prepared the studio for a photo shoot.

Greg set up a clever rigging for the lights and I was his assistant. Technology has changed since our last big shoot, so it was a bit nerve racking, especially since I couldn’t go on line to get any tips. All went well, however, and we have another batch to do this week. But the weather is cool and lovely, so the studio will be more comfortable and the routine is established.

Here is a stack of quilts awaiting their turn in the limelight. It has really been fun to dig through all these past projects and revisit some of my favorite fabric designs. The book will be a nice record of the past eleven years of designing for FreeSpirit.

I am also making some new pieces for this venture and this is the latest. I am a minimalist at heart, even though some of my quilts are over-the-top with pattern. I quite like the simplicity and starkness of this design. The quilting should be just as clean and clear as the top.

I appliqued the quarter circles to 12″ whole blocks and attached then with topstitching. The Willow Wands fabric is from the current Garden Divas collection and the rest of the fabrics are from various previous lines. This is a good design for mixing and matching from your stash. In this case, I used blues, green and pinks for a comforting and cool feeling. It also has huge graphic impact but is easy to put together… perfect for a dorm or baby quilt.

Here are some pillow cases that would be welcome in the dorm room, too. School started here this week and there were scrubbed and bright little kids and their parents on almost every corner waiting for the school bus… such memories.