Archive for the ‘Gregory’s Garden’ Category

Pretty pretty!

Saturday, August 23rd, 2014

Sassaman Scarf 2014

It is a delightfully dark and dreary day… my favorite kind! A good way to wrap up a satisfying week of work. We stitched out some new machine embroidery designs (more about these in the next few weeks), I received my copy of 500 Traditional Quilts (believe it or not, I have a quilt included in it) and my two favorite magazines arrived on the same day (World of Interiors and Selvedge)! And if that wasn’t enough to make me happy, the new silk scarves were also delivered this week!

Sassaman Garden Scarf 1

This scarf is an original design exclusively for my friends at Dragon Threads, inspired by the Gregory’s Garden fabrics. They are 100% silk twill and 20″ X 70″ with a hand-rolled hem. I think they turned out beautifully and I even have the perfect blue and black raincoat to wear it with.

Sassaman Garden Scarf 2

I like to let my scarves hang long and comfortably over my shoulders for the free-flowing Isadora Duncan effect. But here you can see that there are many other ways to drape them. I really like the contrast of the stripes with the florals as they twist in and around each other.

Best of all, they are reasonably priced  and will fit anybody. So, perhaps this could be a wonderful way to get your holiday shopping done early this year!

Heading for All In Stitches in Zumbrota, MN tomorrow. Hope to see some of you there!

Posted in accessories, Dragon Threads, Gregory's Garden, Silk Scarves | No Comments »

New produce from Gregory’s Garden

Tuesday, August 12th, 2014

Sassaman Flowers

This week we have plucked some new produce from Gregory’s Garden! In Patchwork Sassaman Style I listed some principles for using “personality” prints and this graphic quilt exemplifies several of them:

Gregory's Garden Quilt

Keep it simple!

The bigger the print, the bigger the block.

Use simple fabrics as supporting players.

Contrast creates drama!

Symmetrical fabrics yearn to be fussy cut.

One print can be used in several colors.

Let the fabric do the work!

Gregory's Garden Color Diagram

As you can see this is a very easy quilt to construct, it’s the fabric that make it look sophisticated! In fact, this would be a very good quilt for beginners to learn the basics of sewing and quilt making. And it is large enough to be used as a family lap blanket. Feel free to print out the pattern and FreeSpirit fabric yardage, which is shown below.

GREG'S GARDEN YARDAGE

Posted in Dragon Threads, Gregory's Garden, Patchwork Sassaman Style, quilts | No Comments »

Cool Cases

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014

Sassaman Pillowcases

Hello, friends! It is finally heating up here! The first cicada and cricket started their seasonal serenades the other night. The tomatoes are basking in the sunshine, too.

So in honor of these iconic August days, we have whipped up some cool cotton cases for a luxurious summertime siesta. They are all made with fabric from the Gregory’s Garden collection and are all connected by the refreshing color combination of pink, white and blue.

Sassaman Willow Pillow

I’m really fond of this pussy willow design and I love it in these colors. And I like to add drama to all my creations with a little contrast, which the checks certainly supply here. A strip of the pink Dahlia fabric adds a little pizzazz, too.

Sassaman Blossoms & Berries Pillow

This breezy design is called Blossoms and Berries. It gets a hit of excitement with checkered piping and a Color Bars border. It goes pretty well with the seat cushions, too… Night Life from the Prairie Gothic line from several years back.

Sassaman Wasp Pillow

This pillowcase features the fuchsia colorway of the Wasp pattern, which we also used in blouse a few weeks ago in the yellow version. Wouldn’t it make a fabulous white summer nightie or PJs, too? We are hoping that this crisp and pretty ensemble will inspire some seasonal sewing at your house, too.

Posted in accessories, Gregory's Garden | 2 Comments »

crisp summer style

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

Stargazers 2

This week has been composed of perfect cool clear summer days and the flower garden is at its apex. In the studio I have completed my FreeSpirit fabric designs for next spring, which I am quite pleased with. Now I am attempting to translate those ideas into ribbon designs.

But soon my teaching schedule steps up for the rest on the year. I am looking forward to doing several 3-5 day workshops in some beautiful and charming locations… August 24 – 27 at All In Stitches in quaint Zumbrota, Mn, September 29- October 3 at the fabulous Madeline Island School of the Arts, November 2-7 at awesome Art Quilt Tahoe and the delightful and yummy Hudson River Valley Art Workshops, December 8-12. I will also be speaking at Quilt Expo in Madison, WI on September 5. I hope to see some of you there!

Sassaman Green Blouse 1

For this weeks blog we want to share another new garment made with fabrics from the Gregory’s Garden collection. This classy creation is McCall’s pattern M6564. I really like the asymmetry of this design and its elegant details.

Sassaman Green Blouse 2

 The zesty green Pussy Willow fabric fits right into the garden. The contrasting and adjustable belt make a flattering silhouette. Nicely fitted, this stylish blouse has a retro feel. Have you seen the wonderful noir movie, The Postman Always Rings Twice?

Sassaman Green Blouse 3

I think Lana Turner would look right at home in this outfit! Well… she would look fabulous in anything!

Posted in Gregory's Garden, Wearables, workshops | 1 Comment »

welcome quilting arts tv blog hoppers!

Thursday, July 24th, 2014

Sassaman Ribbon Rosette

Welcome, everyone! I am so pleased to be part of this blogging event for Quilting Arts TV! And even happier to be on the roster for their new 1400 Series of programs. One of my segments shows how to make the ribbon rosette which graces this weeks featured sewing project. This rosette uses my Renaissance Ribbon with some of my FreeSpirit fabrics, but it can be made with any combination you’d like. So once you see the process you can make them to your own preferences. Tune into QA TV or order your own DVD to learn more.

Sassaman Wasp Blouse

Today we are sharing a light-hearted blouse made from a fabric in my current FreeSpirit collection called Gregory’s Garden. This is Simplicity pattern 1590, an elegantly fitted design. The fabric, too, makes this a perfect summer costume, since it is sprinkled with a quintessential hot weather critter… a wasp!

I always find peplums very feminine and romantically old-fashioned. The peplum on this blouse is shorter in front and gracefully lengthens in the back.

Sassaman Wasp Blouse 2

The cap sleeves add to the striking hourglass silhouette.

Sassaman Wasp Blouse 4

Obviously, I love the color yellow, as it appears repeatedly in my work. But here it seems especially ideal for a light and lovely summer outfit. But the fabric also comes in two other gentle pastel colorations. I think they all would make fabulous nursery accessories. At my house they are destined to become hot weather pillowcases and new summery shower curtains.

Wasp Colors

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Please visit again next week to see our another project from Gregory’s Garden!

Posted in accessories, Gregory's Garden, Wearables | 6 Comments »

Gregory’s Garden arrives!

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

Greg Garden

This is a happy week because our current FreeSpirit fabric, Gregory’s Garden, hits the stores this week! We have been playing with it in the studio since Spring Market, so we are excited to finally show you some of the goodies that have been created with it.

The title is, of course, derived from my favorite gardener, my husband, Greg. Here is one of my favorite pictures of Greg in the early days of our country living adventure. Greg has nudged the landscape considerably since then.

Pink Sassaman Fabric Dress

We especially enjoy making wearables and accessories with Sassaman fabrics. Gregory’s Garden has some nice tone-on-tone designs which are perfectly suited to that task. Here is a super little sun dress, McCall’s M6739, made in the pink Dahlia fabric. I love the loose fit and the generous pockets. The square neckline and arm holes give the dress a very contemporary look.

Pink Sassaman Dress 3

Next we added a blue belt and scarf for a bit of pizzazz. They are made with the Willow fabric in the fuchsia colorway. I think the two fabrics play together wonderfully. This is an ideal summer frock… fresh, pretty and comfortable.

Pink Sassaman Dress 4

By the way, our mannikin is posing in Gregory’s Garden. I am quite pleased by the usefulness and practicality of these designs. Here are the other colors that they are available in. You will see them used in some other clothing patterns in the weeks to come.

Sassaman Willow & Dahlia

In the meantime, please check our vendors list to find Gregory’s Garden in your neighborhood.

Posted in accessories, Gregory's Garden, Wearables | No Comments »