Archive for the ‘Wild Child’ Category

Happy Colors on a Gray Day

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

Sassaman Wild Child Log Cabin Quilt 1

Today is a very still, cool and cloudy day; the kind that makes colors glow and pop. So we headed outside with the camera to take advantage of nature’s sublime lighting. All of this weeks projects share one of my favorite contrasting color schemes…red, yellow and blue. This is a combination that always makes me think of European folk art.

Hanging on the portal to our mysterious forest is a bright little lap quilt made with the red colorway of the Wild Child collection for FreeSpirit. This is a quilt that Little Red Riding Hood could use to make her spirits bright and keep wicked wolves at bay.

Sassaman Wild Child Log Cabin Quilt

It is made in a traditional log cabin technique, building from the center outward. The finished medallion in the center is 11 1/2″ (cut 12″ square). The yellow strips are 1″ finished (cut 1 1/2″) and the wide strips are 4″ finished (cut 4 1/2″). So the finished quit measures 53 1/2″ square.

The rows alternate dark and light with yellow sashing between. The quilting is simple wavy lines of top-stitching thread.

Sassaman Wild Child Quilt Back

The back is Amish Bars, one of the easy recipes in Patchwork Sassaman Style. I love the zip that the striped binding adds.

Sassaman Ribbon Blue Shoes

Little Red Riding Hood could tip toe through the daisies in style with these electric blue shoes decorated with bows of Wild Child ribbon. But in my garden they are used as sculptures, as my high heel days are at an end.

Sassaman Ribbon Shoes

These slippers are more my style… practical, pretty and straight from the Land of Oz. Click your heels together and repeat, “There’s no place like home….”

July Already!

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

Jane Sassaman Blue Tea Cozy

I can’t believe it’s July already! Lots of concentration has gone into studio work recently, where time passes quickly. Even though Mother Nature is my inspiration I tend to tunnel into my work with blinders on. So it’s nice to take an occasional break on the deck to get reconnected and give the gears a rest. This tea break takes advantage of some Wild Child fabrics to set the scene for this weeks holiday.

Jane Sassaman Red Tea Cozy

The simple table covering is the Gaillardia fabric in the Pink colorway. I can’t wait to make some pillowcases with it, too. The tea cozies are made with our English Tea Cozy pattern in the Wild Child Masquerade fabric in both red and blue. The ribbon accents are, of course, from the new Renaissance Ribbons collection. The ribbon is trimmed with rick-rack for a folk arty look.

Sassaman Blue Tea Cozy Ribbon

Notice that the diamond pattern has been fussy cut so the design matches at all the seams. On the blue cozy the diamonds are vertical and on the red one they are horizontal.

Sassaman Tea Cozy Ribbon

Both arrangements make a bold graphic statement. At the top the pattern creates a unique kaleidoscope.

Sassaman Tea Cozy Detail

The pretty little toppers are rosettes of ribbon and rick-rack and of course our favorite felt balls.

Sassaman Red Tea Cozy Detail

When you aren’t using the cozies to warm your teapot they make rather nice head warmers, too.

Also, the silk scarves have arrived and are very popular. You can find them here and at the Dragon Threads site.

They are 20″ X 70″ and a perfect partner for a little black dress or to jazz up a denim jacket.Sassaman-Scarf-Wild-Child

Wild Child is Coming your way!

Monday, June 24th, 2013

Jane Sassaman Fabric

It has been difficult to get back into the swing of things after my months hiatus. But I am finally getting back to the gym and attending to business. The routine is beginning to set in again… evidenced by this posting. The new fabric, Wild Child, will appear in your favorite stores in July… just a week away. So we want to get you excited about this collections potential. Above is a wonderful Folkwear pattern, the Tibetan Panel Coat made entirely with the blue colorway of Wild Child.

As you can see, there is a striking combination of floral motifs supported by some graphic geometrics. The ethnic coat is a perfect canvas to mix them all together. Both elegant and bold this wrap would be stunning with simple black knit leggings and shirt. It could go to the opera and steal the show. In fact, this coat reminds me of Carl Otto Czeschka’s illustrations for Die Nibelungen in 1909, which have long been favorites of mine.

Carl Otto Czeschka 1909

Folkwear Coat Jane Sassaman Fabric

The outer layers are quilted with heavy top-stitching thread so it has a nice weight for hanging straight and wrapping snuggly. The lining fabrics are lighter and brighter for a surprise slip of contrast underneath. Drama is what this coat is all about!

Back to Business

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

Sassaman-Purse-Umbrella

Dad is doing great with his new knee and Mom has her husband back home again! So I am back home again, too, and catching-up in the studio. Luckily it has been a rainy week, ideal for nesting and sorting indoors. The landscape has exploded with green over my month’s absence. As always, each year brings new strengths and struggles in the yard. This season the irises are putting on the best show ever and the ferns seem to be twice as big.

Sassaman-Early Birds-Umbrella

The rainy weather also made an ideal time to photograph our new Early Birds umbrella. It is made from the “Classic 28″ Umbrella” kit from Umbrella Joan. Joan provides the frame-work and the instructions and we supplied the laminated lemon Curlicues fabric from the Early Birds line. It is a real treat to see the fabric used in such an ideal project. Notice the kaleidoscope created by the fussy-cut wedges.

Sassaman-Early Birds-Umbrella

Since red and yellow are one of my favorite color combinations, we added a fine red edge of thread for a surprise finish.

Sassaman-Pocket-Purse-Pattern

Susan’s purse is made from our Pretty Perfect Pocket Purse Pattern. The front panel is one of the new Wild Child designs called Flower Fiesta, as is the Sassy Stripe at the top. The blue fabric is African and from my stash. I’ve always loved it for the fat threads woven through it and it goes wonderfully with denim, our “go-to” country wear.

Sassaman-Flower Fiesta-Fabric

All the new Wild Child designs come in three colorways Red, Blue and Pink. Here you can see the folk-art inspired Flower Fiesta pattern in its other versions. To see all the other Wild Child fabrics go to FreeSpirit. We have lots of projects to share as we roll out the new collection so stay tuned as we get back to business this month.

Wild Child

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

This has been an unusual month for me and my family. I have only been home about a total of 24 hours. Between a teaching visit to Kansas City and attending Spring Market in Portland I have been on parental duty after my Dad’s knee replacement at the beginning of May. I know many of you share similar responsibilities so perhaps you might forgive this lengthy absence from blogging.
But today I finally have wifi access so I’m sharing some fabulous news! I had two wonderful premieres at Spring Market last week. The introduction of my new FreeSpirit fabric collection coincided with my first line of ribbons for Renaissance Ribbons. Both are based on the new Wild Child designs, which are folk art inspired with a hint of “flower power”.

Renaissance Ribbon

Designing for Renaissance Ribbon is a dream come true! This classy company represents some of the best designers in the industry, many are fellow Westminster colleagues…. Kaffe Fassett, Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner and others. There are five Wild Child designs in several colorways, eleven ribbons altogether. They are wonderfully crafted, finely woven and delightfully detailed. Included is the cutest little reversible ribbons with my signature bugs and moths. We will be featuring them all on the Ideas Blog, so keep in touch.

Spring Market 2013

The Wild Child fabrics have already been whipped up into many quilts and wearables which we will share as soon as good photos have been taken. In the mean time, here is a sneak peek of my section of the Westminster booth last week.

More photos, projects and details to come soon. Both ribbon and fabric will be available in your favorite stores this July.

 

Spring is Bustin’ Out All Over!

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Bloodroot-Sassaman-garden

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.

Spring-Flower-Sassaman-Garden

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!

Sassaman-Scarf-Wild-Child 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.