Front Porch Panel Pattern!

We're back with another idea for using Cherry's Front Porch panel! 

The Summer 2018 issue of Quilts and More features this Color Option project for a table topper. It's based on Stephanie Sheridan's Treasured Friendship quilt design. 

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.

 ©2018 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Summer Stars Table Topper was created by quilt tester Jan Ragaller using fussy-cut sections of the Front Porch panel in Friendship Star blocks. You can download the pattern for this version here.

Click here to find the pattern for this table topper. 
Click here to see the entire Front Porch collection by Cherry Guidry.
Click here to find Quilts and More magazine. 

Need other ideas for Cherry's panel? 
Click here to read Debby Kratovil's Technique Tuesday post.
Don't miss our interview with Cherry about Front Porch! 

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Rainbow Friday

Happy Friday! We're bringing a little rainbow action to celebrate the end of the week! The beauty below, Staggered Strips, is a gorgeous and easy-to-piece quilt by Melanie Greseth and Joanie Holton, and it was recently featured in Quilts and More magazine. 

 "Designed by Melanie Greseth and Joanie Holton. 

Used with permission from Quilts and More® magazine.

©2017 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved.” 

 We asked Joanie to tell us about the Staggered Strips quilt. 

Tell us about working with the Zentastic fabrics.

The colors appealed to us, definitely. They’re not your typical colors—it’s a very contemporary palette, so it was a challenge to make them work together without a focal print to tie them together. We viewed the whole line as the focus and worked to put them together.  

How did you develop the design?

We wanted to keep it simple—a beginner quilt, but with a contemporary feel. As we started working with the prints, it became more about getting a cool design without a lot of piecing. We created that with the color wave concept that moves from side to side.

As the design was coming together, we decided there needed to be something to break up the rows. My son Zack, sat down with me and together we started moving colors for the horizontal bands. It was his first quilt designing experience! The bars in the center rows create a visual break.

How does the quilting enhance your design?

Our quilter, Naomi Polzin, quilted each color grouping differently. She followed the curve of the colors, changing the design in each band, which helped enhance the purposefulness of the design.

What do you like best about the quilt?

I like the way it all came together. And that it’s got a very contemporary feel to it.

Tell us about the skinny blue rectangle on the left.

It really adds a pop of color that works in the design! We originally tried the gray-blue over there (which would have continued the ordered pattern), but it just mushed—it didn’t work. The blue really pops against the greens.

p.s. Wouldn't this quilt be fabulous in some of the Bali collections we've featured on the blog this week?!?!

Click here to see the Zentastic collection.

Click here to visit Melanie and Joanie's website.

Click here to find the Summer 2017 issue of Quilts and More.

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All that Glitters...

If you've been a quilter (or quilt admirer) for any length of time, chances are someone has asked you if quilting is really an art form or just a crafty hobby. While we have our opinions on that subject, we're not jumping into that debate. Instead, we're sharing a quilt--three panels really--that is clearly art. We suspect that this design will drop a few jaws...it's certainly not the stereotypical Sunbonnet Sue bed quilt that Grandma made!

Introducing: Special Effects by Joanie Holton and Melanie Greseth of Tailormade by Design

"Special Effects" by Joanie Holton and Melanie Greseth;
featured in Quilts & More Winter 2013

These sisters created this outside-the-box design for the Winter issue of Quilts & More magazine using Kanvas' rich, metallic Touch of Luxe collection. We asked them to share a bit about their design process, and you can read their responses below.

How did you come up with the idea for this piece?

Touch of Luxe is such a contemporary, cool line, and when we first saw it, one of the things we talked about was that it could make a really cool art display type of piece, so that's where we started from.

As far as designing, it was one of those projects that Melanie literally threw the fabric on the floor and started cutting shapes. It was all visual, and all done on the floor.

How else is this design different from others you've done?

We wanted some texture in there, so we used Texture Magic in a couple of the squares. It creates a crinkled effect. When we were working, we decided that it needed something else and we came up with the gold string to finish it off. You want to create the illusion that the string is going across all three panels, so it's laid across each and tacked in place.

Tell us about Touch of Luxe.

This was a really fun line to work with—contemporary but with that added gold metallic, which made it kind of rich looking and added a different effect to it. The fabrics do such a nice job of blending, and with some of the designs, it's almost like a tonal with the appearance of an oil water slick. It's just a really nice touch on this line.

What's your favorite thing about this striking design?

I really like that it's an art wall hanging. Three panels is a neat out-of-the-box way to think about doing a quilt project.

You can see the entire Touch of Luxe collection here.

Find Melanie and Joanie here.

Find Quilts & More here.

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5 Summer Sewing Ideas

Where do you find summer sewing inspiration? When warm, sunny days are calling your name, it can be hard to make time for a little soul-soothing stitching. We've got inspiration and ideas to get you started!

1. Everyone needs a tote bag
Between trips to the beach, farmer's markets, or even just running errands around town, nothing puts a spring in your step like a new bag. Plus, even if the bag is quilted, it's so much smaller than a quilt--you can finish it quickly without spending those sunshine-y days hidden away in your sewing room. 

Try a nautical-themed tote using our beachy Cabana collection from Kanvas. The tote is designed by Joanie Holton and Melanie Greseth of Tailormade by Design and the pattern is featured in the Summer 2013 Quilts and More issue. 

Photo courtesy Quilts and More magazine

Find the magazine here.
Find the kit and learn more about Tailormade by Design here.
See the entire Cabana collection here.

2. Nothing says "summer" like themed prints!

Melons? We have 'em! Mad for Melons

Cocktails? Complete with plastic flamingo drink stirrers! Happy Hour II

Headed for the beach? Ocean Avenue

Take me out to the ballgame... Who's on First

3. Can you say "panel quilt?" 
Nothing goes together faster--Add pieced borders for added interest--but the majority of the work is done for you. Little effort, big results! 

Kimberly Bourne's "Circus Circus" panel quilt, featuring her Under the Big Top fabric collection, is featured in the summer issue of 2013. Easy pinwheel blocks and a fussy-cut parade border enhance the main big top scene. Quick to sew, perfect for a little one. 

Photo courtesy of Quilts and More magazine

Find the magazine here.

Find the kit here.

See the entire Under the Big Top fabric collection here.

4. Hit your summer reading list
Have a Kindle, Nook, or other e-reader? A handmade case will keep it safe as you tackle that summer reading list, whether it's relaxing chick lit, inspiring biographies, or a murder mystery. 
You can find Ebony Love's e-reader tutorial here on our blog. 

5. Pick a "Christmas in July" project
You'll be so glad to have it done when busy December rolls around. And, since the deadline is far off, even 15 minutes of sewing a day will get you there. 
Starting next week, we'll be introducing our 2013 holiday fabric lines here on the blog and on Facebook, and our July blog hop will feature tutorials using these fabrics as well. Stay tuned!

Ho, Ho, Ho Let It Snow by Nancy Halvorsen

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