Welcome to Day 3 of Quilters Newsletter’s Best Modern Quilts Blog Tour!!
Wow! As a self-proclaimed traditional quilter, I never thought I would be a part of a modern quilts blog tour! I love traditional quilt blocks — log cabin, Ohio star (or is it sawtooth star? I can never be sure), Irish chain, and flying geese — and my color preference typically runs to darker, more muted colors — reds, browns, navy blues, even blacks. But the times, they are a-changin’, and when QN offered me the opportunity to submit projects for their Best Modern Quilts special issue, I jumped at the chance.
And I’m so happy I did!! Stepping out of my comfort zone and re-imagining quilting was unbelievably inspiring. Once I started sketching on graph paper, the ideas came fast and furious. I found myself thinking about scale, contrast, and color in totally new ways. Even shopping for modern fabrics was a new experience. I felt like a first time quilter among the large, graphic prints and bold color — which is probably why I ended up using mostly solids!
In the end, and to my delight, QN chose three of my projects for their special issue. And what an issue it is! It’s full of beautiful, colorful, and easy projects that are sure to fill you with inspiration and may even change you as a quilter. If you don’t already have a copy of QN’s Best Modern Quilts 2014, it’s available now on news stands, in bookstores and quilt shops, or online through www.quiltandsewshop.com.
Let me tell you about my projects…
On page 66 you’ll find my Green Tea pillow.
I used machine appliqué for the first time when I made this pillow and it’s such a time saver that I may never go back! But I think it’s the quilting that really makes this pillow shine. I chose to make this block into a pillow, but wouldn’t it be great to sew three of these blocks together to make a table runner!?
Speaking of table runners, check out Metro on page 64.
My daughter named this quilt “Metro” because she thought it looked like the view of skyscrapers from above. This fun and easy pattern is the result of one of my graph paper sketches and the color palette was inspired by one of my favorite bags — a summer tote that I bought at Old Navy probably 10 years ago. You never know where you’ll find your inspiration!
And finally, check out page 41 for my Ebb & Flow lap quilt.
I have to say, I think this was my favorite project. The idea for this quilt literally popped into my head one morning in the shower (I do my best thinking in the shower!). This quilt is so easy to make. In fact, the hardest part was coming up with a name for it! I went back and forth about how to quilt this project, initially planning to simply echo the horizontal and vertical seams. But I remembered a sort of modern giant dahlia quilt I’d seen at the Vermont Quilt Festival that had different quilting patterns in each section. I thought the extra texture might work for this quilt and I couldn’t be happier with the result — Joyce Lundrigan did an amazing job!! And because I used a cross weave woven fabric (almost like a linen), the quilt feels soft and broken in, despite the volume of quilting. I think this quilt would also be great in pink and orange.
And now, patient reader, the moment you’ve been waiting for, the fabric/magazine giveaway!! If you’d like a chance to win a copy of Best Modern Quilts 2014 and a fat quarter bundle of Kate Spain’s Daydream fabric, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 pm MST tonight (1/15/2014) by clicking on the word “comments” in the blue box below. I will draw one name at random, so please make sure I have your email address.
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| Daydream by Kate Spain for Moda |
Good luck and happy modern quilting!
*****This contest is now closed. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments!!*****
Comments on this entry are closed.
Intrresting, thanks oddanend6@yahoo.com
Hi! I love how the Metro table runner was named.
I hadn't given the reason for its name much thought,
but looking at it again, it makes sense!
Beautiful work – thanks for joining the blog tour!
All the best,
Jessica (teamtroian@bell.net)
really like that pillow – nice design and color
Love, love, love all of these! I can't decide which one I like the most…fabulous first foray into modern quilts, I'd say.
Love the pillow case and your daughter was right about the table runner, it does look like the top of skyscrapers. Ebb and Flow is such a calming quilt and the name suits it perfectly.
Congrats! Three projects in the book and all wonderful. I love the quilting on the pillow..clean and simple.
What beautiful designs! I absolutely love the quilting in the Ebb and Flow quilt. It goes so well with the name! Thanks for sharing.
These are all great!! I think my favorite, though, is the green tea design because I really like the crispness of the quilting to bring out the leaves.
Lovely projects!! Pick me please!!
All three are stunning. I love the colors which work so well with contemporary designs. I must get a copy of the magazine. Love your blog!
I love the quilt named metro, your daughter named it well!
Just getting in to modern quilting. Thanks for the inspiration
Love what you do. Can't wait to get a copy of the magazine.
I really like your Metro quilt. It's modern and traditional looking at the same time.
Your projects are all wonderful!!
Love that Ebb and Flow! Thanks for the chance!
I love the cushion cover. Must see if I can adapt a similar design for myself 🙂 I'm new to quilting and love traditional designs, not so struck on modern designs (except for a few that use optical illusion techniques). Maybe they'll grow on me 🙂
Congratulations on having 3 projects in the magazine. My favorite would be the table runner with the pillow a close second. Thank you for the giveaway and for sharing.
Love the Metro table runner…boy do those colors just pop. Thanks
I like the cushion best – it does strange things to my eyes and I like that!
I am usually drawn to more traditional quilts. But I love the color and simpleness of your Ebb and Flow quilt.
Beautiful pillow & quilting.
I've been wanting this issue. Thanks for the great prize!
Wonderful quilts. I can't wait to see the book in my own hands.
Really like the teal blues and greens in your color choices for your patterns. Nice job.
Oh, Jen, I love your clean, modern designs. They make me happy! I've never been a fan of the old traditional blocks and always prefer to make my own patterns with simple designs. I think the colorplay is the most important aspect of a quilt! Also, I adore the tea leaf pillow. Thanks for your inspiration!
Jan Evancho
janevancho@comcast.net
Hi Jen, Your creations are so crisp and clean ! Love it !
Linda
artsit@mind.net
Great work! I love your color choices!
Great work! I love your color choices!
I love the pillow! These patterns are so clean and crisp looking.
I really like Machine applique too! It has spoiled me! Lovely pillow and quilts.
Love that simple blue green quilt. It must go on my short list. Cindy bluemoonstencils@yahoo.com
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Lovely projects using great colors.
I really like the tea leaf pillow-that design would probably be nice as a quilt also. Love the other modern designs too! Keep up the great work, you're an inspiration to all of us!
Msdevost@myfairpoint.net
Hi Jen, I love all three of your designs in the Modern Quilt issue! The Ebb and Flow quilt is really special because it allows so much creativity in the quilting and being a long arm quilter that really gets my juices going. Thanks for sharing these lovely projects!
Like the designs and colors schroeppelr at yahoo dot com
I love all three of these and the colors are wonderful. The tea leaf pillow is so lovely.
Hi Jen!
I love to have a model for jumping out your comfort zone!! Thanks for the great ideas – and I love love love the pillow. I agree, the quilting really makes it pop!
Thank you!
Sue Cleek
I'm very happy for you! Nice projects! 🙂
Milena
Beautiful!! I just love all of your designs! So much fun and great inspiration!
Trina
tgallop@mts.net
http://www.willcookforshoes.ca
I really like your able runner very pretty ty……happyness04431@yahoo.com anna brown
Nice projects!
Great naming process – love the colors! Truly an inspiration!
Without a doubt, the pillow is my favorite. I love everything about it: the colors, the quilting, the simplicity, and the fact that it is a pillow.
~ heymmrss@gmail.com
I really like the clean look of your designs. Very fresh.
mwilliams4@hotmail.com
Personally never made a modern quilt. I really like the ones here. I'm going to have it a try one day. Thank you for this chance to win.
Marlo
mamr51@aol.com
I think the pillow is really cool. Love the design and the pretty quilting.
Love your blog. Thanks for the giveaway!
I like them all but, Ebb and Flow is my favorite too.
All of these are awesome. I like Ebb and Flow, but would be super happy to have the patterns for all three.
I love the metro quilt! Beautiful! Thank you for some quilting inspiration!
Love the pillow. Would be an asset anywhere.
Carmoo9@aol.com
I LOVE the Ebb and Flow quilt. The colors are a perfect pick-me-up and the quilting looks great too. I Wish the quilt were being given away! Congratulations on a wonderful quilt.
s.g.ellison@att.net
Hi Jen, I love all three projects. The pillow is my favorite. You are so gifted and hard working. I am so proud to be your memere. Love you lots!
These are all so enticing; thank you for the inspiration. I'm very eager to have this issue!
Liz
boltonia55@yahoo.com
I love all three projects. However the bold colors on the 2nd project got me excited.
pampatchwork@aol.com
I love the pillow! And I would love to win this drawing. Thank you for the chance.
I really like your Green Tea pillow design.
thanks!
Thanks for the opportunity to view your blog. I love your tea leaf pillow!
wlinda_ca@yahoo.com
Wow, your projects are gorgeous! You may consider yourself new to modern quilting but clearly your basic talent shines through in whatever type of quilting you do.
Love your Ebb & Flow quilt. Thanks for the chance to win.
Like the green tea pillow.
Like the green tea pillow.
I really like the colors of your table runner! Bright and happy!
Congratulations on having 3 projects selected for the magazine, Jen! I've made your Charmed pillow from the Best Fat Quarter Quilts 2012 issue and have all the fabric needed for the In the Garden quilt featured in that same issue. I just love it! Thank you for sharing your pattern and for giving me the chance to win the pretty fat quarter bundle! neetsb@gmail.com
You are an inspiration to anyone who is fearful of experimenting with modern quilting. I just love your work and can't wait to read through the magazine.
Love the pillow!! Congrats and thank you for all the beautiful things! Diane L. at TieDi54@aol.com
I have just started quilting and hope I can reach this leave of excellence. Such an inspiration! Keep publishing and sharing your wonderful works of art!
I've just started to like modern quilts, love your pillow
I really like The Metro quilt, gender friendly.
I love leaf designs so your Green Tea pillow is one that I am simply going to have to make! 🙂
Your quilts are wonderful. The fabric looks great also. I love the leaf pillow. I too like machine applique.
Gorgeous projects – I especially love Ebb and Flow. I love thinking of how different versions could look with varying color/saturation combos. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win the wonderful giveaway!
I love the pillow, I love the colors and the applique work you did, and this just makes me happy when I see it. Thank you and GOD bless.
ppdoty@gmail.com
Very nice work!
I came to it about the same way. I love the traditional but everything we make now is modern, is it not?
I like Metro best but would make any of the 3. I'm always drawn to leafy designs, too.
I like Metro best but would make any of the 3. I'm always drawn to leafy designs, too.
Beautiful work!!
Geni Pickens
gpickens@wildblue.net
I too love the table runner. I would love to dive into my batik stash and have at it.
Love the colors in Ebb and Flow!
Really like the colors in your Ebb and Flow. Diane
mdjssi at g mail dot com
Your items are so beautiful. I really love the new patterns and fabric colors that are available now. The pillow is my favorite.
My favourite is Ebb and Flow. Gorgeous.
Ebb and Flow is my favorite. Great colors.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Great projects! Would love to try them! carolann427@aol.com
I love the colors in the Metro quilt!
I love the colors in the Metro quilt!
I really love all of the projects, but am especially drawn to Metro. I can picture that on the side table in my dining room.
Love the Ebb & Flow quilt! It would be gorgeous in just about any color combination. And the pillow is too cute!
Sandy A
Really like your designs and color choices ..great job
That leaf pillow is gorgeous!
I really love all your projects but that pillow really caught my eye. Thanks for sharing
Really nice table runner on your blog!
I like Metro, too.
Ebb n Flow is a perfect name for your quilt. Great color choice and quilting designs.
Can't decide if I like Green Tea or Metro better! Congrats on stepping out of your comfort zone and hitting a homerun!
I love, love the pillow and agree about the quilting!
I love all your contributions to the Best of Modern Quilts but I think Green Tea is my favorite. It is amazing what can happen when we step "outside our comfort zone". Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Love your Green Tea pillow! It's such a peaceful piece that I think I'll be making a pair for my livingroom to give it a focal point of harmony!
I really like the simplicity of the Green Tea pillow! I want to make one using lime green and black for my DIL!
I love the Ebb & Flow quilt with the vibrant colors!
nancylausc-coffee@yahoo.com
I just love the table runner with the blue/green colour scheme. It was the colour scheme of my first living room 44 years ago when I got married and those colours have given me joy ever since. Such an effective pattern to show it off. Thank you.
Beautiful work. I'm new to quilting and astonished at the creativity.
Suellen
I love the Ebb and Flow quilt. So simple, yet beautiful with the different quilting. Being from Maine I can appreciate the beautiful fall pictures you've taken also.
Denise
dilaverriere@yahoo.com
I love the Green Tee pillow – it is my favorite!
I'm admiring the colors in this fabric. I'm ashamed to say I have none of these in my stash and would be excited to add them if I'm the lucky winner.