Sunday, December 11, 2011

Front Cover News

Many of my quilting and blogging friends have been receiving their February 2012 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine and noticed that my quilt is on the FRONT COVER. I was hoping to do this post before it hit the stands but heck, that's been my life of late. I seem to be several steps behind in a lot of things.

First, I want to tell you how much I appreciate the sweet notes I've been getting. It's like receiving a SWEET GIFT each time a little note pops up in my mailbox. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! It really brightens my day : )


Every time I look at the magazine I think. . . WOW!!! I really made that!! WOW!!!

It's been a hard secret to keep and I'm super excited to finally be able to talk about it.

It all started when I took a few quilts to Spring Market earlier this year and I had the opportunity to talk to a few Magazine Editors. I was really nervous but they were delightful and easy to talk to. It was fun sharing some of the things I'd been working on and they actually bought two of my quilts right then and there. Wow! Super exciting!! I could hardly believe it!

Anyway. . .

I love making scrappy quilts so I decided to design a quilt that would use a lot of the fabric I have in my stash of 30's reproduction fabrics. It's borderline hoarding, probably, maybe. . . but, don't quote me on that. I also love all of the new fabrics that are always coming out so, I decided that I would mix the OLD with the NEW and make a very SCRAPPY quilt.

If you look closely at the quilt in the magazine and the pictures of the fabrics I used you will see some pretty old fabric. I've been collecting Aunt Gracie fabrics and other reproduction prints for many years. You will also see a lot of newer fabrics from some of my favorite designers like. . . Sandy Klop from American Jane, Lori Holt from Bee in My Bonnet, Monica from Happy Zombie, Flower Sugar Fabrics by Lecien, Amanda Herring from Quilted Fish, Denise Schmidt's recent collections, and lots of other designer's too.

I really wanted to give the quilter the ability to use their stash but also allow them to go shopping. Who wouldn't want to have some of the newest cutest fabrics in their scrap quilt? It was VERY HARD for me to STOP buying fabric. I kept telling myself, “Ooooh! Wouldnʼt this be cute? I have to have a bit of this!” I actually used over 150+ fabrics in this quilt. I hope you have fun playing with your stash and adding the newest cutest fabrics to your quilt.

Here's a picture of some of the fabrics I used.


Here's a view of the multiple HST's I made for the quilt.

Just so you know I did make about (8) 15" x 15" design boards to layout and plan each and every quilt block for this quilt. I like to call it "Organized Chaos" because I wanted the quilt to look esthetically pleasing yet have a totally random look I laid out 8 blocks at a time and would then sew them together. I also wanted all of the colors to be represented in each block.

Go HERE for Lori Holt's tutorial on how to make your own Mini Design Boards. I do need to let you know that I changed a few things. . . First I made my boards bigger and instead of using hot glue to adhere the batting I used spray adhesive on the back of the batting to adhere it to the foam board and lastly, I didn't make any binding for the 15" x 15" boards since that would be 60" of binding for just one design board and at that point I really didn't want take the time to make that much binding. I loved using the smaller and portable design boards to construct these and other blocks that I've made and I know you'll love them too.

Little Flooding Update:
We spent the weekend moving stuff out of one bedroom to the next so that we could paint. Now we have to move things out of the last bedroom so it can be painted before Thursday. That's when the last of the carpet is being put in. Yeah! Then the Christmas decorating and clean up can begin. I'm hoping by the end of the week I can get the tree decorated, the bedrooms put back together, and the curtains hung. My daughter and her BF come on the 21st. We are excited for the festivities to begin.

39 comments:

onlymehere said...

I had no idea that was your quilt! I'm loving it. Love the bright colors. Congratulations! I've been thinking about you actually lately. I saved pictures of your sewing studio for inspiration for mine and I was wondering how it was coming along. I hope you share pictures when you're done. I've lost my sewing sanctuary (it truly was a sanctuary for me) for about six months until my daughter gets married bz my son is coming home from his mission Friday so I had to move my stuff out of his room. I don't mind though as I'd rather have my kids around than my own room any day! No sewing for awhile around here though since it's too hard to get it out and put it back up, especially with little grandbabies how visit all the time.

Congrats again on the magazine. I'm so happy for you!

Jenibelle said...

Kim, I am so so so excited for you! The quilt turned out beautiful and you have every right to crow about it! Can't wait to get a copy!

And you are not a hoarder, all your fabric and your sewing room are so organized, it is mindboggling how very organized you are! Love you and so proud I could burst!

Deb said...

Congrats on making the cover. It really is a pretty quilt. I love the gorgeous colour array of HSTs...so lovely.

Martha said...

Congratulations!! I love your quilt. Can't wait to get a copy.

Lynn B said...

Congratulations Kim your quilt looks wonderful! It is a wonderful feeling to be on the front cover, there is no feeling like it!
You really deserve this accolade as your work is always so beautiful.

Kind regards

Lynn B

Lucky-1 said...

Congrats Kim:) Your quilt looks lovely.

I wonder if that quilt is sold here in Australia??? Have to have a look see at the shops.

HUGGLES
Lucky

Simply Sandy said...

When I got my magazine and read about this quilt, I thought, I read this blog! So excited to see a quilt by one of my quilting friends. It is so beautiful. Congrats!

Candice said...

SEE?! You ARE famous!! And I am blessed enough to know you! WOW!! The quilt is amazing! I LOVE how it turned out- just happy and perfect! Have a wonderful holiday season, my sweet friend!

Gill said...

Congratulations! your quilt looks fabulous!!

Thimbleanna said...

It's beautiful Kim -- Congratulations again! Thanks for giving us a little peek at your fabrics and how you laid them out. Such a fun quilt! Now, on those design boards -- if you didn't bind them, did you do something else to the edges?

Jocelyn said...

I too have been hoarding some 30's fabrics for several years, just waiting for the right project. I may have found it. I love your quilt Kim. Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us :-)

Nancy said...

Congrats on being cover girl! The quilt is beautifully light and bright. Scrappy is so much fun, and the fabric photos are so appealing. Good for you!

Nedra said...

Congratulations Kim! Really cute quilt,and I'm so happy you made the front cover!

jackiero said...

Lovely cover :)
And I immediately smiled at your photos with your cut fabric all neatly lined up (in my brain I saw you with your quilters ruler measuring down to the quarter" between lines ;D
Congratulations!

Eileen said...

You are beyond amazing Kim. I love the quilt, all your creations are just beautiful!

Linda said...

Congratulations! It's a beautiful quilt! I'm not surprised they chose it for the cover!

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

Congratulations!!!! It's a beautiful quilt!

Josie said...

Wow! Did you really make that? ;)
It's drop dead gorgeous and I love it to bits. I'll be looking out for the mag hitting the shelves over here. It'll bring a bit of brightness to a very damp and dark Scotland. Can't wait.
Congratulations!!

em's scrapbag said...

Congrats! I'm so happy for you! Love your scrappy happy quilt!

my happy bluebird said...

Congratulations! Your quilt is gorgeous and definitely a "Cover Girl"! :-)

Rosa said...

Congratulations.Your quilt is awesome.

Jeanne said...

Congratulations, Kim! Your quilt is beautiful.

sandra said...

I got my copy last Friday in mail and I fell in love with the quilt not realizing whose it was at first. I made a 30's quilt about 15 years ago called Aunt Maggie's Quilt. It was my first quilt that i sold. I still have the scraps from it. Congratulations on getting into my favorite magazine

Shari said...

Congratulations Kim! It's a really beautiful quilt and it looks fresh and modern - I love the mix of fabrics.

Hope the next few days of painting etc. go well and that you are settled well before Christmas so you can enjoy time with family and friends.

jennifer w. said...

Congratulations! I got the magazine yesterday in the middle of a family muddle and only saw the cover quilt. I fell in love immediately, I have to make one! Good luck on getting the house back in order for the holidays.

Susanne Tyree said...

I am a lover of scrappy quilts too and congratulate you whole heartedly on your good fortune to make the cover of the patchwork magazine. What an honor and your hard work got you there, so give yourself a nice pat on the back. So nice that this issue made it on the stands before Christmas too, what a nice present for you around the holidays.
Susanne :)

Melissa {polkadot chair} said...

Congratulations!!! Your quilt is gorgeous!! I'm going to go have to get that issue!!
Melissa

busyascanbe said...

Oh my gosh I am so excited for you. Your Quilt is why I bought that magazine...I love it!

JoyLyn said...

Congrats Kim, it's nice to know you are still finding time to sew amidst all your water woes. I haven't seen you in forever.....Your awesome!

Michelle said...

Congratulations! I was over at my mom's last night using her design boards and we were making plans to try that pattern.

Kris said...

A HUGE congratulations is in order! You did such a beautiful job and that cover immediately grabbed my attention in the store the other day. You should be very proud! It's amazing and one I can't wait to make!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

I already told you but I'll tell you again, I LOVE YOUR QUILT. I am going to make that this year. I have to.
and those tiny little organized pieces are so pretty just like that.

Martha said...

Hi Kim: I bought a copy of the American Patchwook today. Your quilt is on the cover here in Baton Rouge. You are a "cover girl". WooHoo!! I am going to Bountiful next week. How is the weather up there?

Nanette Merrill said...

Congrats to you my sweet friend. I'm very happy with you. The cover! Wow. What an accomplishment. I see where those lovely 30s fabrics came from that we made our lanyards with. You smartie! I'm very excited to pick up a copy. It is something to treasure.

QUILTONLINE said...

MERRY CHRISTMANS AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Liz said...

Wahoo! Congratulations on making the cover - that's great!

Madame Parfait said...

Just picked up the magazine the other day, and already I have plans for this quilt! Lovely design and pattern, I can't wait to get started! I'm going to cut the two pieces a little bigger as the tip states, which can still fit on a layer cake......right? Congrats on the front cover!

Unknown said...

Those fabrics are just so happy! I just stumbled onto your blog by accident. Will be following for sure! I'd love it if you checked out my blog sometime, though mine is new. (www.3littlebrds.com - hope that's okay to post, just delete if not.)

Dianne said...

wow, stumbled upon your blog and was delighted to discover that you made the merry-go-round quilt! I am currently working on making it (all by hand) for my daughter's wedding in October. It is so pretty, but I'm not sure it will be finished in time...anyway, wanted to let you know your blog is a terrific inspiration! thank you!