Poppy Panache in Print!

Yesterday we showed you Sundance, Ann's newest collection. Today we're showing off Poppy Panache in two different looks from two different magazines. If you missed our feature on Poppy Panache, including a video interview with Ann, click here.

First, Carol Lampe created "Steppin' Stripes" for the winter 2014 issue of Easy Quilts magazine. The focal print of this simple-to-sew quilt is the signature stripe from Poppy Panache.

"Steppin' Stripes" by Carol Lampe; machine quilted by Ann Lauer;
featured in Fons & Porter's Easy Quilts winter 2014

Ann talks about the stripe:
The stripe was one of the highlights of that collection--it goes from narrow to wide, with poppy bouquets on it splashed over the entire thing. Depending on where you cut it, you either see a lot of the white part in there, or mostly stripe, narrow or wide. It gives the whole quilt nice variety from just cutting out one fabric.

Carol talks about the Steppin' Stripes quilt:

How did you come up with this design?
I wanted to use the stripe somewhere besides a border. It's so dramatic, with the wide and narrow bands, that even without fussy-cutting it, you et so much variety in the block just from one piece. Ann and I wanted to keep the block simple so the beautiful stripe would be the show. I started twisting the block in Electric Quilt, trying out different things. Using the darkest black coordinate in the block made the steps (and gave us the name for the quilt!).

What do you like about the fabric?

The whole line is so gorgeous—so much fun to work with. Ann is very talented, and such a nature lover that she sees details that some of the rest of us don't, and I feel that shows up in the fabric. When this stripe fabric arrived at my house, I couldn't sleep, I was so excited. I had to get started on it right away. It was so gorgeous, so much prettier in person. 

How did you choose the red for the border?

I auditioned some other prints and the minute I put the red on it, it was perfect. It brought out the red in those poppies. I wanted a wide enough border so you can really see that pop of red.

Click here to see the Poppy Panache collection.
Click here to learn more about Ann and find the kit for Steppin' Stripes.
Click here to find Easy Quilts.

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Ann designed this stunner, "Poppies in Bloom," for the December 2014 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. The wall hanging features fussy-cut poppy blocks with triangular "surrounds" that create a circular look.

"Poppies in Bloom" by Ann Lauer
NOTE:This pattern and material is used with the permission of APQ Magazine, December 2014, 
Meredith Corporation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Tell us about the design.

I've used a half rectangle tool to create the triangles to surround the poppy blocks, which has a circular effect from a distance. Putting the surround (the triangles) in a light print adds to the circular effect, and then the black around the blocks is so dramatic. The blocks show off the large poppy print. I also used the same triangle technique in the border.

And what about your fabric choices?

The poppy fussy cuts so well—there are opportunities to fussy cut one, two or three poppies. I just love the black tonal. It has a variety of gray circles in it—enough of a contrast to show off nicely without being too busy. I used red and green prints, but you could choose different coordinates for less of a Christmas feel.

What's your favorite thing about this quilt?

There's a lot of design packed into a small quilt. I really like the circular look created with the poppy impact in the middle.

Click here to see the Poppy Panache collection.
Click here to learn more about Ann and find the kit for Poppies in Bloom.
Click here to find American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

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