Shades of Teal in Quiltmaker

Just confirmed that a new version of my "Shades of Grey" quilt will be in the March/April issue of Quiltmaker due out 2/4/14. Here's the original and you can tell from the title it will have a monochromatic teal background with bright circles appliqued onto each block. Had a fun time with the quilting although the deadline was a tight one. I'll keep you posted.

My monthly EQ groups have been working with shades, tints, and tones of color so this teal gradation was right in keeping with what they've been working with. Much more fun to see in the fabric than just on a computer screen!

Find Quilting Teachers

When I was program co-chair for Narragansett Bay Quilters, we often had trouble finding out who was available and where they were from. We tried coordinating with other local or regional guilds but always found this frustrating and rarely successful. While cruising the 'net last night, I found this site and listed my info on it. It's a great resource for guilds, letting them know who is out there and when they'll be in the area.

Here's the link: http://www.quilters-calendar.com/share/

Check it out - lots of familiar faces there!
 

Pattern(s) available at Etsy

Opened a very small, a this point, shop on Etsy so that my quilt patterns are more easily available at a PDF download. The one pattern that's for sale there at this point is my bright, contemporary "Twist and Shout" pictured below. The quilt is a basic 9-patch with 5 of the blocks cut and sewn to visually spin in one direction, and 4 to spin in the opposite direction. There is a partial seam in the center around the black and white pinwheel, but an easy sewing technique to do.

My Etsy shop is: PatHarrisonQuilts. Hope to see you there!

Ninigret Quilters Show

Think I'm finally recovered from the show. All went very well and the show's success is such a tribute to the many friendly, hard working guild members who were there throughout the show. The most exciting news of the show was that a quilt I quilted for Tina Craig won Best of Show and a plethora of other ribbons, including Exemplary Machine Quilting - Track Mounted for my quilting of it.

Tina did an amazing job selecting the fabrics and colors, not to mention how well she pieced this difficult design. She added applique to the design as well and a beautifully done scalloped border. Quite the Masterpiece!

My quilt will be in "Showcase 500 Traditional Quilts"

Just heard from Lark Publishing, that my quilt" Pineapple Patience" will be included in their forthcoming book, with quilts selected by Karey Bresnahan of Houston International Quilt Festival fame! Very exciting!!! So now it needs professional photography so will be shipped out to fellow NQA Certified Judge Kathy Lichtendahl for images. Kathy just finished taking pictures of all 700+ quilts at the NQA show last week in Columbus, OH - no small job! Can't wait to see my quilt in the book - very cool!

NQA Show - Columbus, OH

Just back from the National Quilting Association Show in Columbus, OH and as always, an amazing show. This year I was honored to be selected as one of three NQA Certified Judges to judge the 412 judged quilts. They were amazing! Here's a picture of my two Judge's Recognition selections.

The quilt's title is "Baskets of Blessings", the creator is Gail H. Smith. Love the subtle toile used in the background, the sharp contrast of the outer border edge and the transparency Gail achieved in the inner border triangles.

The quilting was beautiful too and we especially liked how she created a separation of the block areas with a linear arrangement of quilting designs.

My second selection was Mt. Ruffmore by Paulene Salzman. The presidential dogs: Bo, Buddy, Barney, and Heidi look very regal on their mountain. Each of them has a bit of attitude as they survey their surroundings and a twinkle in their eyes. A bit like they're getting ready to dash off the mountain and run around to greet their visitors - a wonderfully whimsical piece.

Spinneret Block in Sue Beevers Mulberry Lane

Working away on a quilt of my "Spinneret" from "100 Blocks, Vol. 7" block for an upcoming issue of Quiltmaker "Quilts from 100 Blocks". The fabrics are Northcott's Mulberry Lane collection, designed by Sue Beevers, very pretty, feminine fabrics.

Coming out beautifully and I'm appreciating the fact that Quiltmaker published my block as paper piecing. Even though it's a simple block, paper piecing it is making those points come out more accurately.

 

Spinneret Block Sausalito Fabrics

I'm giving away two chubby fat quarter packs of the Sausalito fabric line by Quilting Treasures so be sure to leave a comment to be in the running for a pack.  The line contains some wonderful prints as well as coordinates to enhance the designs.

As I love the look of fussy cut fabrics in a quilt, the stripes especially can be rotated and cut at various angles for different effects and even more connection between the blocks.

Spinneret Block

Here's the block itself. I designed it in EQ7 as a 12 inch block, simply drawing the lines of the piecing  on the Easy Draw worktable. I like to have the blocks I design connect to an adjoining block and by giving this one "open arms", it connects very well from block to block providing lots of movement and design possibilities.

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks - Blog Tour Today

Good morning everyone!

Welcome to my blog. Today I'll be posting about how I design my blocks and quilts. I'll also be giving away a copy of the 100 Blocks magazine and 2 chubby fat quarter packs of the Quilting Treasures "Sausalito" fabric which I used in my block. Here's a picture of the block used in a virtual quilt - designed in EQ7. En

joy!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

I'll be on the Blog Tour on Thursday, May 2nd so be sure to stop by for a visit. I'll be giving away a copy of the magazine and some fat quarter packs of the fabric used in my block, Sausalito by Quilting Treasures. I'll also be describing my design process for blocks and some quilts setting ideas for the blocks. Hope to see you there!

Getting back up to speed

Just back from a wonderful river cruise vacation in Holland visiting Amsterdam, Brugges,  the historic windmills, and an incredible visit to Keukenhof. Although the tulips were about a month behind schedule in the fields, the greenhouses and their incredible displays were out in full force. I've never seen so many varieties of tulips and they say there are more every year - truly amazing!

Serena's Quilt - 3rd place at Dallas Show!

Finally coming out of the mad dash to get customer quilts out the door and off to the shows they're entered into. Spent January puttering along on this amazing red and white of friend Serena. Her fabric choices and intricate piecing on this beauty are truly amazing. Such fortitude to finish a quilt of this magnitude. I'll post other picture are she sends them

Shades of Gray

Just finished my newest workshop sample, so here it is. The workshop technique is learning how to piece in circles easily using the freezer paper, starch, heat set, glue, heat set, stitch method. Works very well for a crisp finish.

Back to work on customer quilts, DH gave the longarm its annual spa treatment today - it's a happy camper.