HG Designer Kim Diehl Blogs for US!

Where is the summer going? It seems like only yesterday I was brushing the snow off of my newly sprouting garden, and all of a sudden, my flowers are bursting with color and its ninety degrees!

Even with all of my dead-heading and weeding, a new book in the works, and preparing artwork for a new fabric line for Henry Glass called “Along the Fence”, I’ve managed to find a little time to play. July is the month that I traditionally reserve for vacation with my family, and we spent several beautiful days on the Oregon coast earlier this month. Enjoying the sunsets, smelling the sea air, and trying not to be tackled by your children while wiggling your toes in the surf is extremely therapeutic, and I highly recommend a trip to this beautiful part of the country if you’re ever able. As you can see by the picture, I was only semi-successful in the “not being tackled” plan.
After returning home, I was invited to be the guest of honor at a quilting social hosted by a local quilt guild here in Idaho called “Behind the Scenes”. What better way to spend a summer morning than sharing the company of fellow quilters and looking at vintage quilts hanging in the sunshine? The nicest surprise, though, was seeing a hand-quilted version of my Country Haven quilt hanging alongside the antique quilts that were on display.

Members of this guild worked together to piece, appliqué, and hand-quilt this project made entirely from my Country Haven line of fabrics, and for every hour of time spent on its construction, each member received a ticket for a chance to win it in a drawing. I was given the honor of scooping up the winning ticket, and one lucky member went home very happy!

A second and equally nice surprise was seeing the “thank you” quilt made up in my Country Haven collection that was stitched by guild members and gifted to the hostess of the social – there is simply not a nicer, more generous group of people than quilters, and I feel so fortunate to spend so much of my time in their company.

Here’s hoping that even in the midst of this busy time of year, you find a few moments to make a quilt of your own and spend a little time in the company of good friends.

Kim ~

For more information on the designer check out her website: http://www.kimdiehl.com/

Designer Barbara Jones of Quilt Soup Blogs for US

I have not fallen off the planet for those who are wondering...

Remember when I was telling you about our new quilt book? I was going to keep you updated as we went through the process. The book is called Cradle to Cradle and this is what the cover looks like. The book features quilts designed to commemorate the moments in a girl's life from her baby quilt through her wedding quilt and ends with a baby quilt for her first born child.

When I left off last time, the quilts were getting their beauty shots taken by the photographer. Well today the whole thing has gone to the printer! I don't know how that happened. We will give you all the details in our July newsletter.

The good folks at Henry Glass have agreed to reprint Bubblegum Basics one more time so we will all have enough fabric to make the quilts in the book! What a company! Two of the quilts in the book are made from Bubblegum Basics.

We also have a new mystery block of the month quilt made from Bubblegum Basics in the works. We will be offering it on our website and I think it is pretty cute if I do say so myself! The reason I say that is because I am doing exactly what I want and will keep this quilt for one of my grandaughters. It has been really fun to work on. Sometimes you gotta do exactly what you want, don'tcha think? Until Next time.... Barbara

For more info on Barbara Jones and her designs please check out her website http://quiltsoup.com/

Hg Designer Kim Diehl Blogs for US!

I recently returned home from a WAY fun teaching trip to a quilt shop in Victor, New York, called “Ivy Thimble Quilt and Gift Shop” (www.ivythimble.com), where I was given the opportunity to share my quilts and my new Molly’s Meadow collection of fabrics for Henry Glass. We also offered workshops for several projects featuring my invisible machine appliqué method (and here’s where I have to admit to all of you that I’m always thrilled to be able to turn people on to the joys of appliqué). What a blast!

With every workshop, I see students arrive for class with enough sewing paraphernalia to require at least three trips to the car to haul it all inside – looking at all the rolling travel cases and mounds of “stuff” you’d think that they were moving in, but we all know if they left one single thing at home, that would be the one thing they needed and didn’t have!

One of our workshops focused on the quilt design from the Molly’s Meadow line of fabrics, and I can’t tell you how rewarding it was for me to see people embrace the scrappy look of this collection, especially when they saw how the prints work together to completely take the guesswork out of choosing fabrics for scrap quilts.

Am I a lucky girl to be able to spend my days with other quilters who share this passion for cutting up perfectly good fabric and then sewing it all back together? Sometimes I almost have to pinch myself! Next stop is California…who wants to stay home when you can be out sharing the joy of making quilts?

Happy stitching,
Kim ~

New HG designer Brenda Pinnick Blogs for US

Are you inspired to create coordinated projects for table settings or just everyday living? Use my new fabric line Opulence to make yourself this very handy and stylish market bag and then design your own wine labels to match. Wouldn't it be lovely to show up at an outdoor concert with this set-up?

Here in Atlanta, we have Chastain Park, offering outdoor concerts all summer long and believe me, there is a bit of a competition with regards to food and presentation!
I chose to use a natural colored canvas as the accent for the top and bottom of t his large tote. And yes, I did indeed spray it with several coats of fabric guard! You'll notice I used ribbons as accents rather than fabric as the pattern shows. I also doubled the width of the handles so they would be very comfortable and sturdy.

I used a McCalls Pattern, number M5897 from Designer Karina Hittle, her line is called Artful Offerings. My coordinating paper line is available through QVC.com and is called the Iris Collection by Brenda Pinnick.

For More information on Brenda Pinnick- check out her website and blog:

Website: http://www.brendapinnick.com/

Blog: http://www.brendapinnick.com/blog/

Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup Blogs for HG

QuiltSoup News-April 2009

What's New? Free Patterns, Quilt Kits and Curried Pear Soup! http://www.quiltsoup.com/new.html

Our Mall Doll and Bubblegum Fun quilt kits are ready to go. Yay!!!!!!!! The quilts are made from our Bubblegum Basics fabric collection for Henry Glass & Co. Our cute hankie panel is featured in Mall Doll which finishes at 57 1/2” x 66 1/2”. The pattern is free to you and is included in the kit. Mall Doll kits are available for $70.00. http://www.quiltsoup.com/patterns.html

Bubblegum Fun is also a free pattern for you and we have cut the kits. This quilt features simple squares set on point in between a few fusible web appliquéd flowers. This is a quilt for confident beginners. Kit is sized for a twin bed and finishes at 67” x 77 1/2”. Bubblegum Fun kits are available for $95.00.

Quilt backings for both of these quilts are available. Just pick your favorite fabric from the collection and email me with your selection. The backing for Mall Doll is $31.50. The backing for Bubblegum Fun is $36.00. http://www.quiltsoup.com/patterns.html

We are vending at the Home Machine Quilting Show (HMQS) in Salt Lake City, May 7-9 2009. We will have many of our patterns and kits available so stop by and say hello!

The soup recipe this time is for Curried Pear Soup. It is interesting and can be served hot or cold. I like a little less sesame oil in mine but you will have to be the judge! http://www.quiltsoup.com/soup_to_nuts.html

We are working furiously on our “Cradle to Cradle” book for release in July 2009 by Kansas City Star Publications.

You can follow our progress on the QuiltSoup blog, http://www.quiltsoupblog.com/ You just never know, there might be another give-away on the blog!

Until next time,
Barbara

Bev Proulx Blogs for HG!

APRIL BLOG ENTRY:

Spring has arrived, with the annual national quilt shows beginning next weekend in Chicago. These shows are what all fabric lovers wait for each year. I will be at the AQS show in Paducah the week of April 20th. I look forward to seeing people from all over the world enjoying fabrics, notions, and, most of all, QUILTS. If you see me there, be sure to say Hello. My "Posies Galore" 1930s reproduction line is ready for Quilt Market in May. What a great way to begin the summer, when our leisure time can also include designing and sewing quilts. I love stitching on binding while seated on my deck!

My accompanying picture (see above) this month is the first of two 41 1/2" x 49"quilts I recently made. The design is based on a star quilt top I have from c.1940 and a quilt from 1937 in the book "101 Fabulous Rotary Cut Quilts" by Judy Hopkins and Nancy J. Martin. I wanted two quilts I could use in my Color seminars and lectures that contained examples of my first two 1930s repro lines. Quilters are often surprised that the same quilt pattern looks very different when color choices vary in each quilt. Also, when not using them for marketing purposes, they will look marvelous on the two hangers in our family room when I am displaying 1900-1950 quilts from my collection around the room. Please enjoy the quilt. I will show the second quilt next time. Until next month, Bev

Pillow made with Bubblegum Basics Fabric

Check out the Pillow Made with Bubblegum Basics panel print
by Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup.

For more information on Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup or

to purchase a kit to make this pillow

Click here http://www.quiltsoup.com/