Exciting reveal, #1

March. ​A.K.A March Madness here in the PDX eastside fabric shops. Bolt Fabric Boutique and Cool Cottons have teamed up for a little customer appreciation and crossover fun. Gina and Marie have been looking for a way to honor the other's amazing store and our combined fabulous customers, and this month they are doing it big. Spend just $25 at either of these great shops and receive a coupon for 15% off your next purchase at the other one. All Month.

And lucky me, I get to have my work featured in the prime ​"over the mantle" real estate at Cool Cottons this month!

I've been leaving hints and teasers for well over a month about a "super-secret" wall hanging project. Well, here it is! Marie first approached me just before the start of the new year with an idea to feature some of the less-exposed, abundant talent of our local patrons and kindly asked if I'd make something for one of the months. I got out my sketchbook before the conversation was even over!​

Now, of course part of the goal is to showcase some of her awesome fabric used in a new project. This gave me a great excuse to design something around a print I have been incredibly drawn to but had not yet found its way into my stash. The Jay McCarroll  "Midtown" from his Center City collection - Denver. 

This guy has a truly unique style and always comes up with vibrant, dynamic designs. I love it!

So the next step was to find a few more prints to really highlight this treasure...​

​From left to right: Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in Scarlet, FolkHeart by Sara Trail for Fabri-Quilt, Lucky Penny by Alison Glass for Andover, Center City by Jay McCarroll for Free Spirit, Field Study-Mind's Eye by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit and Soul Blossom by Amy Butler for Rowan. Oh, and the background is Kona Bay Black.

I am currently working on drafting an actual pattern for this puppy, but my technical writing skills could use a lot of work, not to mention my complete lack of InDesign skills. But I'm trying and will hopefully have something available either in print form or PDF soon.​ But in the mean time, here are a couple of close-ups of this little guy.

​Have I mentioned how much I LOVE how the Shot Cottons show off quilting??

Now, the choice to have my quilt hanging in March is related to another big reveal that I can't quite announce just yet, but hope to be able to spill the beans very very soon. I can say that it has something to do with my Lock 'n' Bolt quilt that I made last summer for the PMQG exhibit at Sisters, which did a little traveling during the fall before coming back to me to now hang in my studio. Please stay tuned...

My Last Completed Quilt of 2012...

or am I selling myself short? 

I gathered these flannels some time in the middle of the summer, of all things! I had just spent too much time drooling over the absolutely gorgeous Westminster/Rowan/FreeSpirit flannels that Marie carries over at good ol' Cool Cottons. At the time I was feeling purely selfish and had no particular design or goal in mind besides a comfy, cozy throw quilt that in no way will match any of my current decor! But I just don't care! This one's not for company, but for my own enjoyment!

Though I got it pieced not TOO long after finding all of the fabrics, I wasn't feeling terribly rushed to quilt and finish this puppy up back in September. But now that we are most definitely into our winter season here and I have successfully gotten most of my Christmas gifts off to their proper recipients, I felt I could take some time on a personal project. Plus, it was a good project to get reacquainted with free-motion quilting.

It has been a while since I have played around with some FMQ (free-motion quilting), and I think that definitely shows, but when better to get some practice in than while working on a little project for oneself?? I'm looking at this as a warm-up for the baby quilt that is next in the queue and will hopefully be hitting my Etsy shop at the beginning of the year.

That being said, I actually do have 2 more quilts basted and partially quilted, but not going to pressure myself to finish in the next day and a half (though I won't put aside the possibility of surprising myself!).

All in all it's been a productive year, I think. Still working on building bonds and growing the business side of this venture, but I can confidently say that's moving forward. I just have to learn how to be a better office manager!