Desire to Inspire Challenge is underway with Sherry Stevens!

Sherry Stevens from Washington has accepted this month's challenge to use "Harvest Blessings" by Janet Nesbitt. We can't wait to see what she does! She was so happy because it's also her birthday!

Here is a special video shout-out for Sherry from the Henry Glass designer, Janet Nesbitt.

Desire to Inspire Challenge - Interview with Katie Wyatt

The February Desire to Inspire Challenge was accepted by Katie Wyatt. She had just a little less than a month after getting her fabric from the Dana Brooks "Little Red Hen" collection to do something fabulous.

And fabulous was what she did!!!

Below is our interview with her, and pictures of her projects...

HG: Where do you live, and what is it like there?

I live in the historical town of St. Michaels located on the eastern shore of Maryland.  My husband and I have been here for 18 years - prior to that we lived in Bethesda, Maryland.  St. Michaels is know as the ‘Town that Fooled the British’ in the war of 1812.  St. Michaels has quaint shops, great restaurants, The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the lovely Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond hotel, and all the blue crabs you can eat.

(HG NOTE: I couldn't help myself and grabbed a picture of the Inn at Parry Cabin by Belmond from their website - WOW!)

HG: Share a little about your family and what you like to do together?
Wilson [my husband] and our two adorable Westies [Julep and Derby] enjoy walking around the town of St. Michaels.  We have the harbor area on the Miles River and plenty of historical homes scattered around town.  A favorite vacation spot [although we live in a vacation spot] is Duck [on the Outer Banks] of North Carolina.  Here we rent a pet-friendly home.  Since this is a ‘driving’ vacation I pack my sewing machine and a nice stack of fabric.  We are also photographers and enjoy taking pictures of nature as well.   

One of the Westies - Derby - inspects the quilt in progress

Julep gives seal of approval for snowball quilt

HG:  Share about your quilting journey... how long have you been quilting, what is your favorite technique or type of quilt, and who taught you?

I started to sew in the early 70’s when Home Economics was taught in school. My aunt was my inspiration then ... watching her sew Barbie clothes.  Taking a long break from sewing I started again with inspiration from my sister.  When she found out how much I paid for a simple dog bandanna she told me she could make them so much cheaper.  The next thing I knew I was buying a sewing machine to make dog bandanna’s.  I lost count but I made approximately 1,000 reversible dog bandanna’s which I donated to Westie rescue groups [in the US & Canada].  The rescues used the bandanna's for fund raising or to put on a dog when it was ready to go to to their forever home.  This step turned into making American Girl doll clothing - another sewing project inspired by my sister.  My quilting journey started when I met a lady at our local fabric store with a stack of quilting books.  We started talking and she invited me to the next quilt guild meeting.  From that point I was hooked.  Now I make quilts to donate to Westie rescue auctions on Facebook.  It’s my way of helping get a Westie get the medical attention it needs.  I have donated American Girl clothing to rescue auctions as well, but for most part I give all these away.  It makes me happy to see the look on a little girls face when she opens up a box of custom made doll clothing. 

The following pictures are clothing for American Girl dolls that Katie makes and gives away. 

HG:   Want to give a shout-out to your guild?  

I’m a member of the Bayside Quilters guild of the Eastern Shore [baysidequilters.com].  Our guild is very active with monthly meetings including guest speakers, classes, and various Bee’s.  The Community Outreach portion of the Guild meets monthly as well.  One program I’m particularly fond of is the Outreach donation of over 400+ Christmas stockings in various sizes to the Marine Mom’s in Bethesda.  These are then filled with goodies and are sent overseas to the troops.  Outreach also donates many many quilts to various groups and individuals - it’s too many to list here.   

HG: And anything else?

I have a love affair with fabric [don’t tell my husband or the Westies!]. I’m inspired by the creation of others as I hope others are inspired by my creations.  I do a lot of sewing and in order to keep track of what I made I started a blog just for the photo's [www.katiesews4fun.blogspot.com].  My other blog [www.westiejulep.blogspot.com] is my everyday life blog. Feel free to visit anytime.

In closing, I would like to thank Henry Glass Fabrics and the ‘Desire to Inspire’ contest for choosing me as the February winner.  Working with the Little Red Hen Collection of fabrics by Dana Brooks was a pleasure.

 

Used the Panel for Pillowcases! 

Tablerunner # 1 

Tablerunner # 2

Lap Quilt #1 Close up

Lap Quilt # 1

Lap Quilt #2

A big thank you to Katie Wyatt for doing such an AMAZING job with the Desire to Inspire Challenge. Here she is - Katie Wyatt.  Enjoying herself at the beautiful Inn at Perry Cabin. 

The next Desire to Inspire challenge will be posted TOMORROW. What will you do? Are you ready to accept the challenge? 


(NOTE: Katie has offered to GIVEAWAY one of the Table Runners and the set of Pillowcases to one lucky winner. Enter below.)

Desire to Inspire Challenge Giveaway Prize from Katie Wyatt

Our Desire to Inspire Challenger is Truly Inspired!

CHALLENGER UPDATE!

We certainly love it when we can make someone's day! The Desire to Inspire Challenge was accepted by Henry Glass fan and blogger, Katie Wyatt, and when her "Little Red Hen" fabrics arrived both she and her darling Westie, "Derby", fell in love.

Who doesn't love a picture of great fabric and a darling Westie that wants some love? 

No time for belly rubs Derby, Katie has some sewing to do! Check back on February 29th to see how this Challenger met the Desire to Inspire Challenge! 

For more photos, check out Katie's blog: http://bit.ly/1SgwfrK  

More Here Fishy Fishy Challenge Blocks

There were so many lovely blocks from the Here Fishy Fishy Challenge. It was great getting a comment from Janet Monahan in the first posting of these blocks. We love to see how each line is used in sewing and quilting projects and it has be extra fun because Here Fishy Fishy by Heather Mulder Peterson is such a whimsical line. To see so many different blocks made from the same fabric is an extra treat for us. We can't wait to see the finished quilts!

"Thank YOU, Henry Glass for posting the photos! The Jackson Hole Quilt Guild had a great time with this fabric. We are putting the blocks together this Sunday to make 3-4 quilts for our local charities that need quilts for kids and families." 

Janet Monahan Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Adorable! Remember to enter to win a bundle of fabric. Today is the last day. Deadline is at 4 p.m.! Good luck and have a great weekend.

-hg

Here Fishy Fishy Challenge

At the end of last year, Scott Fortunoff, President of our sister company Studio e Fabrics was invited to speak at the Jackson Hole Quilt Festival. Henry Glass Fabrics had sponsored their Here Fishy Fishy Challenge and he was there to see the winning blocks and all of the other 32 entries.

Here Fishy Fishy is a line that was designed by Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures. The prints featured fish, of course, waves, dots, chevrons, houndstooth and bubbles.

The folks back home in the NYC offices of Henry Glass were so excited to see the blocks in person. We are going to feature them over the next while here on the blog. Let's give the quilters some love! The top two and the one below were the winners of the challenge.

Here is a close up photograph of the cute worm on the hook. The quilter used the gray plaid print and added stitches to give the image some depth. Very cute.

These first blocks are wonderful. Thanks to all who participated.

-hg