Friday, July 29, 2016

Desire to Inspire August Challenge - Quilt Camp by Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup



This is where retro moods meets camping fun meets trendy glamour, it's all here in simple checks dots and campers! Inspired by this camp load of fun? 
Sign up for our August Desire to Inspire Challenge. August challenger will be selected on August 1. Here are the simple rules: 

1. YOU sign up below with your email or blog name to this post.


2. WE pick a winner. 


3. YOU send us your address.


4. WE send you the "Quilt Camp" fabrics shown above.


5. YOU make something AWESOME within 3 weeks, with pictures and your story.


6. WE post it. 


7. YOU keep it. 


* We would like to have challengers show us they can do it. So while you don't need a blog, a profile with some quilt pictures helps. Enter by commenting with something you have done before. We will not post your emails, or links or anything on the site, it will remain private. We just want to get a flavor of how inspiration strikes you!  




Thursday, July 28, 2016

Desire to Inspire July Challenge - Joanne Hubbard with Holiday Traditions by Jan Shade Beach

This is our Desire to Inspire Challenger for July. We are so absolutely impressed with all the talent of our Henry Glass blog participants. This body of work is so AMAZING!  Joanne even found a red truck like the one that is used in the imagery to use in the photography of her projects. Joanne did a splendid job with the collection: Holiday Traditions by Jan Shade Beach.


Hello I am Joanne Hubbard. I live in Milan, Ohio, which is located almost exactly in between Cleveland and Toledo. Milan is best known as the birthplace of Thomas Edison, who I thank daily for his invention of the incandescent lightbulb, without which I could not be spending my nights happily sewing into the wee hours of the morning. My husband Jack and I live in a rural area located 15 minutes from the south shore of Lake Erie and the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World” – Cedar Point. As the second oldest operating amusement park in the United States, Cedar Points boast 365 acres of fun and has 71 rides, including 17 roller coasters. Because of that, our area is inundated with tourists May – September.


I was born about 3 ½ hours south of Milan, near Dayton and many of my 11 siblings still live in that area. As the ninth child out of twelve, I had a typical childhood and enjoyed all of the benefits of living in the country. We played outdoors year-round but also knew how to have a good time indoors without television or electronic devices. I remember sewing as a youngster and making much of my wardrobe during Junior and Senior High School. My mother sewed, mostly out of necessity, but I don’t remember her quilting. My grandmother, Mom’s mom, was a seamstress and quilter. I have fond memories of spending time at Grandma’s house, sleeping under homemade quilts. I am fortunate to have one of those quilts, as well as her quilting frame.


I did not make quilts when I was younger. I enjoyed them, but did not make them. When my children were young, I made them clothing and they sewed along with me; but it wasn’t until around 1997 that I decided I wanted to make my own quilts. I wanted my children to experience the same feelings that I had when I slept under a quilt made by someone who loved me. I wanted to provide them with the same “fabric hug” that I remember and cherish today. Little did I know where this journey would lead me!

I enjoy making quilts for my family, including my grandchildren who affectionately call me “Quilting Grandma.” I am fortunate to have children, step children, grandchildren, and siblings who tolerate (and even encourage) my quilting obsession. I am thrilled to say that both of my children, all of my sisters, my step-daughters, and one of my brothers have jumped on the quilt band wagon, and I couldn’t be more proud. With all of this quilting going on, it didn’t take long before I had made quilts for all of my family so I started making quilts for donations. As my blog title indicates, I truly do believe the Everyone Deserves a Quilt.

I absolutely love everything about quilting! I enjoy all types of quilting from intricate paper piecing Judy Niemeyer quilts to trying my hand at improv modern quilts. One of my favorite ways to spend a day is to be fondling fabric, trying to decide what color combinations and fabrics to pick for my next quilt. And the thrill I get from that first cut is simply exhilarating! I love the soft humming sound of my sewing machine, a Bernina 180 which was given to me in 1998 as an early wedding gift from my husband. I find that sound to be very peaceful and calming.

I love it when I’ve completed blocks and can put them up on the design wall Jack built while I was away on a quilting retreat a few years ago. (What a wonderful surprise to see upon my return home!) The excitement of watching quilts come together is so much fun! I am truly blessed that my husband enjoys this process as well. He often helps me with arranging blocks, giving ideas of color combinations and is my official “quilt namer” and “best binding fabric” decision-maker. He had a hand in the makings of all of the projects for this challenge, especially the art quilt which has yet to be named. We can’t decide between “Quest for the Perfect Tree” or “Nature’s Gift.”

Speaking of binding, I really enjoy that stage of quilt-making. It still amazes me that a ¼” strip of fabric can make such an impact on the overall look of a quilt. Because of that, binding is my favorite quilting class to teach. I am a teacher by trade (I now substitute teach for long-term assignments such as maternity or other medical leaves for Junior and High School.), and the move to becoming a quilt teacher was a pretty natural one for me.  I don’t remember exactly, but I think I taught my first quilting class in 2005. I remember the excitement I felt at introducing others to this wonderful world of fabric and quilting. Today, I still have that feeling and often tell students that I feel like a drug pusher, with my drug of choice being 100% cotton fabric. I enjoy teaching new quilters and love that “ah ha” moment they have when they figure out how to achieve that illusive ¼” seam allowance or how to press fabric so the seams nest and aren’t so darn bulky. I tell these new quilters, who often apologize for their lack of knowledge, that I like new quilters because they haven’t learned any bad habit that I have to beat out of them. I also tell them that we don’t make mistakes, we make design changes. It’s all about perspective!

I am fortunate to have a couple of wonderful shops nearby that have opened their classrooms to me and have given me free-reign on which classes I want to teach – including how to make your very own designer umbrella. I’ve taught classes based on commercial patterns as well as a number of patterns that I’ve written. I teach a variety of classes (usually more traditional style quilts) at Country Fabrics, a Mennonite shop located in Shiloh which is about 45 minutes from my home and well worth the trip. I also teach at M&E Quilt Shoppe in Sandusky, which has a great mixture of traditional and modern quilts. Although M&E has only been in business since February of 2014, they are really going places! They are featured in the latest Quilt Sampler Magazine and Mabel and Ethel, the owners, graciously asked me to design and write the quilt pattern for the magazine. It is a wonderfully colorful quilt called “Burst of Color” that perfectly reflects the mood of that shop – FUN and EXCITING.

Speaking of fun and exciting, thank you Henry Glass & Co. for this wonderful opportunity. This challenge has truly been an amazing experience and I am proud of the projects I created using such beautiful fabric. Thank you Jan Shade Beach for designing such wonderful Christmas fabric and making this 90° July feel so much cooler.











Joanne had one last picture of all the scraps for this quilt top: 

And one last shout out from Joanne to M & E Quit Shoppe in Sandusky which has this fabric line in stock and will be having classes inspired by Joanne's projects! 



Please take a moment to comment on the blog with your congratulations to Joanne Hubbard for doing such a great job with the Desire to Inspire July Challenge...

TOMORROW we post the August Challenge!!!  Are you game? 










Monday, July 25, 2016

Let's Get Quilting - 2016 Christmas Elegance by Jane Shasky of Jane's Garden


It's July! The giveaway this week is a Christmas bundle called Christmas Elegance by Jane Shasky of Jane's Garden. Jane had another (equally adorable) collection just released with us in May called Pretty as a Pansy

Please visit our website to see the new latest releases of ALL NEW COLLECTIONS. Check them out and vote for your favorite in the comments of today's blog while you enter to win today's giveaway.  


Monday, July 18, 2016

Let's Get Quilting 2016 - Quilt Camp from Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup




Kids still at camp? Then it is the perfect time for you to indulge in a little something just for you...QUILT CAMP! Enter below for your chance to win this bundle. Or step on over to the website for some Quilt Camp projects ideas and a glance at the lovely fabrics. Shipping into quilt shops in August.



Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Designer Spotlight - Meet Debi Hron




Meet Debi Hron, a fabric designer for Henry Glass and a commercial artist extraordinaire. 

There is a quote I was reminded of when I interviewed Debi Hron for this month’s Designer Spotlight. It’s from a book by Erwin McManus called “The Artisan Soul”, and the premise of the book is that we humans are called to be creative and the general theme is to “craft your life into a work of art.”

Debi Hron has done just that. In spades. (Which to a much younger audience or someone who doesn’t play cards means… ‘in abundance’). Yes, Debi Hron is an artist. And she has crafted a life that is truly a work of art in itself. She chose her current life from a Floridian upbringing, where the sun always shines and it’s at least 75 degrees, to living in Burlington, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. Yes, it snows there. Also, in spades. 


And this is a glimpse into the life she has crafted: yoga, hiking, biking, Aikido, gardening, bees, llamas and other animals cross her path, and also she works as a successful full time artist. And did I mention she has also taken a turn at being a chicken farmer? Look here at their beautiful coop!


Debi is known in her town for her brightly painted house. It is eye-catching, beautiful and definitely signals that an artist lives here.




Right down to the back door...





And if the house wasn't enough that a creative spirit is behind the doors, then the gardens certainly do. Debi has all manner of love for the outdoors, and it shows in the garden. 




Debi gathers inspiration for some of her artwork here, and everywhere she goes. There is no end to creative images along the shores of Lake Champlain...considered by many to be one of the more beautiful parts of the country. 




And now about Debi, the artist. She has a picture of her drawing with a clipboard and pencil when she was just two years old, following closely in her father's footsteps who was also a commercial artist. She really got serious about being an artist as a career when her son was four years old, and she wanted to illustrate a children's book. At that time Debi was inspired by the work of Michael Hague, an accomplished illustrator of many children's books. 

Debi's first big break was when her high school art teacher, who was working in a gallery part-time, said the gallery needed Florida paintings. She happened to have some paintings in her truck, and got her first professional break into the business. 

She did art shows, made prints, and did the artist circuit. One day she was approached by a licensing agent, and did a few years under the agent getting work and building her portfolio. After those years, and with a large body of work, she sent designs to Lang, Renaissance and Hallmark. She amazingly got offers of work from all three. 

In 1990, she did her first calendar for Lang, and has been doing a Lang calendar every year since then. She counts the calendars as the basis of her work each year, finding trends, icons and colors that fill in a whole year. 

She knew she had to learn Photoshop, but did resist it at first. It was her dad's prompting that finally made her turn the corner and get on board. Again, following in his footsteps, she learned to love Photoshop and the control of colors and layers that she now has using the program. 

Debi began designing fabric with Henry Glass in 2010. Her current Henry Glass collection is Coffee House which ships in October.  Please be sure to check it out at your local quilt shop. 




Debi Hron is truly one of the designers of Henry Glass that has crafted her life into a work of art. You can follow Debi and her life and works on her blog at: http://debihronstudio.blogspot.com/





Monday, July 11, 2016

Let's Get Quilting 2016 - 6 pc Bundle of Holiday Frost Flannel by Jan Shade Beach



In the middle of July, and the hottest days of the year...keep cool, and dream of the winter holiday season! Sign in for your chance to win this 6 pc bundle of Holiday Frost - a collection by Jan Shade Beach.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Desire to Inspire July Challenge - Meet Joanne Hubbard



We have selected the Challenger for the July Desire to Inspire Challenge. Meet Joanne Hubbard from Milan, Ohio. She has been sent her fabric, and we get to see what she does with Holiday Traditions by Jan Shade Beach at the end of July. Wish her luck!

Thank you EVERYONE who signed up to be in the challenge. Please check back at the end of July to see what we come up with next. 


Tuesday, July 5, 2016


Leanne Anderson and daughter Kaytlyn Anderson teamed up to create this adorable collection "I Love You This Much" which is filled with a sweet little bunch of dinosaurs who love everybody! It is shipping into quilt shops in August.  
You can win a sneak peek bundle this week on the blog! 


Friday, July 1, 2016

Desire to Inspire - July Challenge - Holiday Traditions by Jan Shade Beach


July is the perfect time to start thinking of the holidays! Remember our interview with Jan Shade Beach? She loves Christmas all year long! This month's Challenge will get you in the Christmas spirit too! 
So here is what we are hoping to find: a challenger who is ready to dive into the holiday spirit and create some Christmas wonder for the July challenge. Please enter by the end of the day on July 4, and we will send the fabrics right out to you.  You will need to have your project(s) completed by July 28. 

The Rules are simple: 

1. YOU sign up below with your email or blog name to this post.


2. WE pick a random winner. 


3. YOU send us your address.


4. WE send you 6 yards of the "Holiday Traditions" fabrics.


5. YOU make something AWESOME within 3 weeks, with pictures and your story.


6. WE post it. 


7. YOU keep it. 


* We would like to have challengers who can show us they can do it. So while you don't need a blog, a profile with some quilt pictures helps. Enter by showing us something you have done before. We will not post your emails, or links or anything on the site, it will remain private.