June 28, 2011

Houston Quilt Festival Breaking News ...  My class catalog just arrived, and registration will be available online on July 6.  I get to teach 4 classes - 2 hands on classes!!!  Obviously, there are limited openings - so if you're interested in making a jacket with me, or learning my embellishment techniques, get registered quickly!  I've posted their descriptions and my additional information HERE. Catalogs were mailed bulk mail June 27.  Go to www.quilts.com for more information.  :)   

 

Lazy Summer Day Creativity Suggestion... sit and create Yo-Yo's!  I know - I know...but when I saw these absolutely ADORABLE hangings with yo-yo's used in SUCH a creative way - even I think I'll get busy and make some yo-yo's.  These adorable patterns are by Marcia Layton from Florida.  I have them all for sale right now at my website - and will be taking orders from now through July 2 for a Special Order  I will place with Marcia.  Normally $12, the price through July 2 is just $11.00.

"One of the challenges I set for myself once I started the series of yo-yo houses was to make the borders different on each of the quilts. “Patriot’s Corner” has jumbo circle yo-yos sewn into the outside edge of the quilt with smaller yo-yos sewn on top. It was a fun way to get the look of the red, white and blue bunting that makes me think of the 4th of July.

I wasn’t always obsessed with yo-yos. I started my quilting career back in the late 1990s by making little quilts with children’s hand prints. I was a preschool teacher at the time and had plenty of little handprints to play with. I started experimenting and dreaming about all the different things I could make from the shape of a hand and incorporating them into quilts to auction off for the school. I can honestly say I became totally obsessed with handprints!

About five years ago I started working in a quilt shop where I was surrounded by beautiful fabric every day and introduced to all sorts of new quilting tools. One tool that piqued my interest was the Clover Quick Yo-Yo Makers, especially the heart-shaped one. I thought the little hearts would be cute on clothing so I made a few. They were fun to make, so I made a few more.

Then I started to play with the circle-shaped yo-yo makers and quickly became addicted to yo-yo making.  Soon I had a sizeable collection of yo-yos with no real purpose in mind. They were fun to sort and look at but I really didn’t know what I was going to do with them. Then I had an idea. I had made some yo-yos that were really bright and all the colors of the rainbow … they looked like candy. I decided then that I would make a little gingerbread house scene and cover it with yo-yo candies. “Lollipop Lane” was my first yo-yo quilt and became my first pattern. The yo-yo circle shapes just seem to add a whole new dimension to the look of traditional appliqué and I was totally enamored of them.

  So many people have yo-yo stories to tell.  For some, making yo-yo's the traditional way was their first experience with sewing, fondly remembered.  For others, it was a chore they don't care to repeat.  I like to think the new yo-yo makers and my little quilts will create some pleasant memories for a new generation of quilters just as they have for me! " 

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One of several recent exciting 'happenings' in my 'professional career in the sewing business' lately was an invitation to be a guest designer on this new show!  Sew......back in March, I flew off to Cleveland where I had a very interesting experience of taping a creative segment for this great new sewing show!  What a treat to have your makeup done by an EXPERT!  AND - 'Suede' from the5th season of Project Runway was one of the participants!  Check out my BLOG HERE for more photos and stories! Details about the show - and how YOU CAN HELP in getting it to show on YOUR local PBS station can be found HERE.

 Style Arc even has a copy of that amazingly attractive dress of Pippa's for sister Kate's Royal Wedding!