February RED

February 15th, 2008

“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.”
                                                       E. E. Cummings
This is the deepest part of winter. For many midwesterners the holiday celebrations are a distant memory and the once charming snow has become an annoying inconvenience. Some folks are just tired of being cold.
Just when everything seems gray, St. Valentine’s Day comes to save the day with a radical splash of RED! It is a brilliantly timed holiday to remind us that spring will, indeed, come again! So this week we celebrate the symbols of the life force and the glorious color red.

Red is one of my favorite colors! It is a color that I could not do without. It is the color of energy; the pulse of life. The heart, too, is a symbol of life, love and regeneration, plus a wonderful graphic reminder of our mortality.
I have used the stylized heart in several fabric and quilt designs. Here are two beds made up for Valentines. The one on the left has appliqued flaming hearts made with Jane’s Hothouse Garden fabric. It is an homage to Mexican folk art, which I love.
The other bed has a more flirty feminine feeling. This quilt is made from the Jane’s Paradise Garden line, which may be in your fabric stash. Both quilt patterns are available for free down loading:

And now for your enlightenment, the Smiling Red Buddha! He is a symbol of happiness, prosperity and contentment and his statues are used to attract these positive attributes. Love that smile! I also have a glow-in-the-dark Virgin Mary protecting my computer… just covering all my bases.
We found these inexpensive red frames at Ikea. Right away, I thought of putting fabric in them. By joining three frames together they become a small screen or triptych. The perfect background to keep Buddha happy. The fabric is Hothouse, again.
Please note there are three new free patterns available this week:
Glowing Crosses, Meditation and Zen Garden. Links are noted below the quilts in the right hand column.

Afternoon in February

The day is ending,
The night descending;
The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
Through clouds like ashes
The red sun flashes
On village windows
That glimmer red.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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February RED

February 15th, 2008

“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.”
                                 E. E. Cummings
This is the deepest part of winter. For many midwesterners the holiday celebrations are a distant memory and the once charming snow has become an annoying inconvenience. Some folks are just tired of being cold!
Just when everything seems gray, St. Valentine’s Day comes to save the day with a radical splash of RED! It is a brilliantly timed holiday to remind us that Spring will, indeed, come again. So this week we celebrate the symbols of the life force and the wonderful color red.

Red is one of my favorite colors! It is a color that I could not do without. It is the color of energy: the pulse of life. The heart, too, is a symbol of life, love and regeneration, plus a wonderful graphic reminder of our mortality.
I have used the stylized heart in several fabric and quilt designs. Here are two beds made up for Valentines. The one on the left has appliqued flaming hearts made with Jane’s Hothouse Garden fabric. It is an homage to Mexican folk art, which I love.
The other bed has a more flirty feminine feeling. It is made from the Jane’s Paradise Garden line, which may be in your fabric stash. Both quilt patterns are available for free downloading:

And now for your enlightenment, the Smiling Red Buddha. He is a symbol of happiness, prosperity and contentment and his statues are used to attract these positive attributes. Love that smile! I also have the Virgin Mary sitting on my computer… just covering all my bases.
We found these inexpensive red frames at Ikea. Right away, I thought of putting fabric in them. By joining three frames together they become a screen or triptych. The perfect background to keep Buddha happy. The fabric is Hothouse, again.
Please note there are three new free patterns available this week: Glowing Crosses, Meditation and Zen Garden. Links are noted below the quilts in the right hand column.

Afternoon in February

The day is ending,
The night descending;
The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
Through clouds like ashes
The red sun flashes
On village windows
That glimmer red.
                                 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

February RED

February 15th, 2008

“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.”
                                 E. E. Cummings
This is the deepest part of winter. For many midwesterners the holiday celebrations are a distant memory and the once charming snow has become an annoying inconvenience. Some folks are just tired of being cold!
Just when everything seems gray, St. Valentine’s Day comes to save the day with a radical splash of RED! It is a brilliantly timed holiday to remind us that Spring will, indeed, come again. So this week we celebrate the symbols of the life force and the wonderful color red.

Red is one of my favorite colors! It is a color that I could not do without. It is the color of energy: the pulse of life. The heart, too, is a symbol of life, love and regeneration, plus a wonderful graphic reminder of our mortality.
I have used the stylized heart in several fabric and quilt designs. Here are two beds made up for Valentines. The one on the left has appliqued flaming hearts made with Jane’s Hothouse Garden fabric. It is an homage to Mexican folk art, which I love.
The other bed has a more flirty feminine feeling. It is made from the Jane’s Paradise Garden line, which may be in your fabric stash. Both quilt patterns are available for free downloading:

And now for your enlightenment, the Smiling Red Buddha. He is a symbol of happiness, prosperity and contentment and his statues are used to attract these positive attributes. Love that smile! I also have the Virgin Mary sitting on my computer… just covering all my bases.
We found these inexpensive red frames at Ikea. Right away, I thought of putting fabric in them. By joining three frames together they become a screen or triptych. The perfect background to keep Buddha happy. The fabric is Hothouse, again.
Please note there are three new free patterns available this week: Glowing Crosses, Meditation and Zen Garden. Links are noted below the quilts in the right hand column.

Afternoon in February

The day is ending,
The night descending;
The marsh is frozen,
The river dead.
Through clouds like ashes
The red sun flashes
On village windows
That glimmer red.
                                 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Wonderful Winter Wearables

February 8th, 2008
Welcome to my Idea Book. This is the place to find the freshest recipes for using my latest FreeSpirit fabrics and your classic Sassaman stash. With the help of some friends, we will be going beyond quilting to explore wearables, home decorating and whatever comes to mind.

This week was “all about weather” in northern Illinois. It started with a snowstorm followed by two days of rain and slush up to your knees. Gradually the rain became sleet before it evolved into a 24 hour blizzard with howling winds whipping at 12″ of snow. It was glorious!!!!!
So this week we are celebrating our wonderful windfall with some warm winter gear. Like they say, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.” You must be dressed right to appreciate this dramatic gift and it is a bonus if you can make a fashion statement at the same time.

First, Fair Claire models our snappy little “thinking cap”; like a dollop of raspberry sherbet and lively mint. It was made from Vogue V7981. Just the thing for shopping and short dashes outside.

Next we have a classic 1950’s model update for practical modern girls. We call it “The Full Fudd” because Elmer would have loved these! The first Fudd is made with quilted cotton (Jane’s Exotic Garden) and lined with Faux fur. Flaps up or flaps down, it’s a fully functional Fudd.

Fudd #2 uses the Turquoise Water Lily fabric from the current group, Jane’s Hot House Garden and is lined with polar fleece. Note that the fabric has been fussy cut so the design is symmetrical around the head and creates a nice color rhythm. A very fashionable Fudd! They were also made from Vogue V7981.

Finally, Fair Claire wears a headpiece for serious snow shoveling. This is an original pattern inspired by historic costume. The outer layer is quilted and filled with wool batting and lined with coordinating fabric from the Hot House line. The side gussets create a flair to follow the shape of the shoulders and keep the snow from falling down your neck. Yuk!

Cold weather is no excuse to be boring! Turn your winter “blahs” into “Ahhhhs” by putting some bright colors to practical use. You can find a list of stores that carry Jane’s Hot House Garden at http://www.janesassaman.com . Keep cozy and creative! See you next week!

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

Wonderful Winter Wearables

February 8th, 2008
Welcome to my Idea Book. This is the place to find the freshest recipes for using my latest FreeSpirit fabrics and your classic Sassaman stash. With the help of some friends, we will be going beyond quilting to explore wearables, home decorating and whatever comes to mind.

This week was “all about weather” in northern Illinois. It started with a snowstorm followed by two days of rain and slush up to your knees. Gradually the rain became sleet before it evolved into a 24 hour blizzard with howling winds whipping at 12″ of snow. It was glorious!!!!!
So this week we are celebrating our wonderful windfall with some warm winter gear. Like they say, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.” You must be dressed right to appreciate this dramatic gift and it is a bonus if you can make a fashion statement at the same time.

First, Fair Claire models our snappy little “thinking cap”; like a dollop of raspberry sherbet and lively mint. It was made from Vogue V7981. Just the thing for shopping and short dashes outside.

Next we have a classic 1950’s model update for practical modern girls. We call it “The Full Fudd” because Elmer would have loved these! The first Fudd is made with quilted cotton (Jane’s Exotic Garden) and lined with Faux fur. Flaps up or flaps down, it’s a fully functional Fudd.

Fudd #2 uses the Turquoise Water Lily fabric from the current group, Jane’s Hot House Garden and is lined with polar fleece. Note that the fabric has been fussy cut so the design is symmetrical around the head and creates a nice color rhythm. A very fashionable Fudd! They were also made from Vogue V7981.

Finally, Fair Claire wears a headpiece for serious snow shoveling. This is an original pattern inspired by historic costume. The outer layer is quilted and filled with wool batting and lined with coordinating fabric from the Hot House line. The side gussets create a flair to follow the shape of the shoulders and keep the snow from falling down your neck. Yuk!

Cold weather is no excuse to be boring! Turn your winter “blahs” into “Ahhhhs” by putting some bright colors to practical use. You can find a list of stores that carry Jane’s Hot House Garden at http://www.janesassaman.com . Keep cozy and creative! See you next week!

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

Welcome to my new Idea Book Blog!

January 11th, 2008

This year everyone got pillowcases for Christmas. It was a good excuse to play with pattern combinations and spend some quiet time fondling fabric in the studio. It was also a great way to share my vast stash of Sassaman designs. 
Part of the fun was choosing the perfect combinations of color and design to match each personality.
I love the ones for my niece, Maddie.
She is 16 and her bedroom is orange.
These should be perfect!

Pastel pillows for Mom.

The simple black and white is my favorite.

Girly pillows.

Pillows for the architect.

 

Our home is our laboratory for using the fabric, so it shows up everywhere. Even the Christmas tree gets into the act.


Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »

Welcome to my new Idea Book Blog!

January 11th, 2008

This year everyone got pillowcases for Christmas. It was a good excuse to play with pattern combinations and spend some quiet time fondling fabric in the studio. It was also a great way to share my vast stash of Sassaman designs. 
Part of the fun was choosing the perfect combinations of color and design to match each personality.
I love the ones for my niece, Maddie.
She is 16 and her bedroom is orange.
These should be perfect!

Pastel pillows for Mom.

The simple black and white is my favorite.

Girly pillows.

Pillows for the architect.

 

Our home is our laboratory for using the fabric, so it shows up everywhere. Even the Christmas tree gets into the act.


Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »

My New Pattern

January 3rd, 2008


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My New Pattern

January 3rd, 2008


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Jane’s Hothouse Garden Fabric

January 3rd, 2008

Just like Mother Nature, I’m attached to a contrast in design because contrast creates DRAMA! Look around and you will notice contrast in color, shape and attitude in many natural compositions…a dangerous thorn protecting a voluptuous blossom, the delightful color of a poisonous berry. Very often, it is the extreme contrasts in a plant that make it seem so exotic.

But as a midwestern girl, many of my encounters with these special plants are, by necessity, in hothouse collections and nursery greenhouses. Every visit transports and restores my imagination; each step brings another miracle of design. Hothouses are jewel boxes for incubating inspiration.

This year’s line for FreeSpirit celebrates the divinely decadent designs of nature. As in my previous lines of fabric, I continue to challenge myself with more expressive motifs and colors. Now I challenge you to check your timidity at the door and embrace the possibilities of these wild and expressive fabrics.

The Hothouse Garden patterns and colors were designed to work together seamlessly. Pick a colorway and play with 3 or 4 of the patterns. . . you really can’t make a mistake! They’re also terrific for fussy cutting motifs for use in applique projects. Any of the prints excel as accent fabrics and can add a splash of color, contrast and excitement to your more sedate projects.

This year, the Willow Leaves pattern is back; a favorite of mine and a very popular print from four seasons ago. New Dots, Stars & Spirals and Wild Grass patterns should be in every adventurous quilter’s stash . . . they’re versatile, expressive and terrific for inspiring your imagination when you find yourself in a conservative funk. Embrace, explore and have fun!

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