A Designer's Dilemma

Yesterday I had one of those experiences which I consider to be one of a designer's worst nightmares. I spent the day finishing the top for my Games We Play toddler/small lap quilt (Calypso fabric designed by Ro Gregg) and pushed hard to get it done. The quilt top is bright and cheerful and I thought it would be really cute and/or very cool. However, when I finished the last stitch and put it back on my design wall I was not sure I liked it! I was really disappointed. Somehow my vision and my finished top did not add up to the awesome quilt I expected.

Oh, what to do??? Such a bummer!

On top of that, I had assumed I would bind the quilt in blue to bring out the blue in the body of the quilt, but when I put up my blue samples I just did not "feel" them! Plus I did not have enough of any one fabric. I was pretty depressed last night!

Fortunately, I have learned over the years that when you feel stuck, or something is just not working for you, the best thing to do is walk away.

This morning I started working on another project - doing the pre-cutting of the Marblehead fabrics in preparation for starting work on my Wreath For All Seasons quilt this weekend. (Pattern available on my website, www.somethingsewfine.com or from www.quiltwoman.com) I spent most of the day working on that and got a lot accomplished. That was a satisfying feeling after yesterdays disappointment.

I got a thought about the binding of the Games We Play quilt top during the afternoon and decided to try it. The green accent borders have been bothering me but I decided to see what green binding would look like, and, by golly, it seems to work! I am liking the quilt top again and feel SO much better.

Most of the time Creativity is a blessing but sometimes not so much.

What do you think?

I finally received the fabrics I need from Ro Gregg! They are gorgeous! Above are some photos of the Marblehead fabrics that I will be using to make my Wreath For All Seasons lap quilt (scroll down a little ways to see the "photo" of the "virtual" quilt). As you can see, these fabrics really have the feel of real marble, granite or sandstone. I almost thought they would be hard to the touch, like stone, instead of really soft. Yummy! I can't wait to get started! (The entire Marblehad line contains more than 20 different colors and textures - a really wonderful range for any project. To purchase these fabrics check with you local quilt shop or search on-line - they should be available very soon.)

I also received several pieces of the Calypso that I need to finish the top of my toddler quilt. I just have borders to do now (there are three). I have to get it done and off my design wall so I can get it to my long arm quilter and THEN I can start working on the Wreath For All Seasons.

Never a dull moment!

P.S. If you have not already heard - www.quiltwoman.com, my publisher/distributor, is offering FREE shipping on any orders for the remainder of this weekend (ends Sunday pm). Please take advantage of this generous offer to gift yourself or a quilting friend with one or more quilt patterns or books out of hundreds of great choices (including mine, of course!)

Thank You! Thank You!

For all my friends, those I have known for many years and those I have met more recently through my quilt guilds, my business, networking at several International Quilt Markets and vending at quilt shows, I give my sincerest THANKS for being part of my life. I don't want to get too sentimental here but I do want you all to know that your friendship and support mean the world to me.

Special thanks to my DH and my closest friends for being there with me over the long haul and through thick and thin. You are the BEST!

Special thanks also to my publisher/distributor Nancy Dill (www.quiltwoman.com) for "discovering" me and helping me make my quilt pattern business a success, and fabric designer Ro Gregg, my newest partner in my creative ventures for her support and enthusiasm for my designs.

Many, many thanks also to the wonderful designers (and good friends) of the New England Quilt Designers' Cooperative: Beth Helfter, Barbara Chojnacki, Judi Damon, Kristi Parker and Terri Sontra. You guys ROCK!

I finished the backing for my "Games We Play" toddler quilt yesterday and have most of the top finished today.  Still waiting for some of the fabric I need for the top to arrive.  But I did get the checkerboard border completed.  The quilt top is starting to look like what I have been envisioning!  I love this part of the design process!

The back has been completed "lasagna style" in strips of the fabrics.  There are 28 different fabrics in this line (Calypso, by Ro Gregg for Paintbrush Studio).  I used the lighter ones on the front and the darker, more vibrant fabrics on the back.. Above are photos of the backing - I will post some photos of the front in a couple of days.

It is exciting to see a design that has been only on paper finally come alive in fabric!.

I got a really nice e-mail this morning from Ro Gregg - the Marblehead fabrics will be shipped to me shortly! I will be making my Wreath For All Seasons lap quilt with these luminous fabrics - can't wait to get started! I will post photos of the fabrics themselves as soon as I receive them.

The pattern for this quilt is available from www.quiltwoman.com. It includes detailed instructions and diagrams for both a lap and King size quilt.

New fabrics for Ro Gregg (Paintbrush Studio)

I am working on some "virtual" quilt designs for Ro Gregg that will be used on the covers of her fabric line samples and also be available as free downloadable patterns. Yesterday I recieved jpegs of 12 new metallic fabrics in Christmas colors as well as two coordinating Christmas panels. They are gorgeous! You will have to wait to see what I am going to do with them. You will even have to wait to see the fabrics. Nothing like being a tease! (Circumstances beyond my control.)

In the meantime, I am almost finished piecing the top of the crib size "Games We Play" using the fat quarters shown earlier. It is quite a challenge to use only FQ's for things like the borders, but I think I am going to be able to do it! AND - I am going to piece the back of the quilt with strips of all the fabrics I did not use on the front. My plan is for this quilt to showcase all 28 fabrics from the Calypso line. I am really having fun with this!

Stay tuned for photos.