Tag: Quilt Patterns (Page 4 of 10)

Image of Remember Merle's Bouquet — Merle's Bouquet

Remember “Merle’s Bouquet” Quilt?

April 10, 2020 / The Bee

If you remember Merle’s Bouquet, you’ll see the difference a focus fabric can make!

To review, you might recall that Merle is my neighbor and owner of this vintage watering can. When Merle leaves town, this is the can I use to water her flowers.

I happen to love vintage watering cans, too. Therefore, when AQS requested a quilt design that used both beautiful sides of fabric, I instantly thought of arranging a bouquet in Merle’s vintage watering can.

Use both beautiful sides of one focus fabric.

As a result of the editor of AQS (American Quilter’s Society) requesting a new pattern for their magazine, I asked Merle if I could photograph and sketch her beautiful collection of vases and her vintage watering can.

As a result, the watering can made the cut!

Ultimately, Merle’s vintage watering can was the inspiration for this fun, easy art quilt. Learn about the quilt featured in AQ Magazine.

Similar to Little Susie, the mason jar or Noelle, the ice skates, and Kate (plus many more), this bouquet will be made with a modern broderie perse technique. The bouquet and binding are made from the RIGHT side of fabric, while the watering can is made with the REVERSE.

Notice the light value of the watering can (made from the reverse of the focus fabric) seem to reflect the bouquet made from the front. The flowers are cut from the fused fabric (broderie perse) and arranged as the quilter desires. Aside from auditioning and choosing fabrics for the background, this is the most satisfying part of the process! Quilters in classes really enjoy watching their bouquets “grow’. Each individual’s vision of their bouquet makes these quilts a little work of art.

Learn more about Broderie Perse.

New fabric, new look.

Remember Merle's Bouquet Quilt — Merle’s Bouquet

This vintage watering can quilt has a new, bold look, due mostly to the focus fabric. This RJR Digital floral has a bold motif of painted flowers and birds. Because the value of the focus fabric is strong, it can handle stronger background fabrics.

Auditioning both sides of fabric.

Each pattern describes how to audition both sides of fabric. It’s all about value. In fact, when you learn to audition both sides, you are honing a skill you can apply to all your future quilts! Using of both sides of fabric is like a study in the nuances of value. Learn more HERE.

Finally, remember Merle’s Bouquet is made from floral focus fabrics, but might find other fun motifs as well or ones with little extras, like butterflies, bees, or birds!

Shop more than 50 quilt patterns designed to use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric.

See the AQ Magazine Review here!

Image of Variable Star Quilt — "VariLovable Star"

VariLovable Star Digital Pattern

March 2, 2020 / The Bee

Use digital downloads for quilt patterns and start auditioning BOTH sides of your fabric TODAY!

You probably know that many of my first designs used full-size paper templates. With more and more requests for digital downloads (especially from friends overseas and in Canada), I’ve started adding digital versions of my patterns to my Etsy shop. You can still get the paper versions, even for those patterns sans large templates. Therefore, if you need to avoid high shipping fees, you now have more options available to #usebothsides!

If you are like me, copying and pasting small papers together to make a large template (24 x 36 inches) is not something you crave. That’s why I decided early on to provide full-size paper templates whenever possible. However, paper templates do limit distribution. I also strive to keep the prices as low as possible without losing value.

But, I have to say, it pains me to fill orders for quilters who pay more for shipping than the patterns themselves (sometimes even double). So, digital downloads are a great option. You might choose one if you want to immediately “shop” your fabrics or have deadlines for your quilt projects.

Image of digital downloads quilt patterns — Made with BOTH sides of only THREE fabrics, this bursting variable star quilt goes together fast!

VariLovable Star digital download is available HERE: My Etsy Shop.

Image of VariLovable Star Digital Download Quilt Pattern

As a result, I have five current digital downloads in my Etsy Shop and more on the way. Some in the future may require a small increase in the template size, but not more than you’d see in a magazine. One example of that will be for Aria (the singer).

Meet Pinky…The Baby Octopus

February 17, 2020 / The Bee

The Pinky Quilt Pattern is another fun way to use BOTH beautiful sides of your fabric!

As with most of my patterns, it all starts with the fabric – the focus fabric!

When I saw this darling fish-bone fabric by dear Stella, I immediately imagined a cute octopus – but first, I had to google: Do octopus eat fish? Well, deep water ones do and this little gal has enjoyed her fill!

Meet Pinky the Baby Octopus miniature quilt!

So, here is the Pinky Quilt Pattern! Keep in mind, if you find a great blue or purple fabric or even the blue/gray fish-bone by dear Stella, you can call her/him “Inky”!

There are lots of nautical or coastal motifs on the market that would work well for the Pinky quilt pattern!

In case you are new to this concept, these easy quilt patterns are designed to use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric to achieve an interesting balance of values. The patterns teach you how to audition BOTH sides of focus fabrics to choose just the right one AND how to audition BOTH sides of your focus fabric with your scrappy background fabrics. In the process, you learn the nuances of value – a great skill to apply to all quilt planning.

Learn more about auditioning both sides of fabric here: The Tricky Traits of Value

The top of Pinky’s body and the binding are made using the front side of the focus fabric and her under-side and bubbles are made using its reverse. Gather up some fun beachy and “water-y” background fabrics and accent strips for a delightful mix.

The Pinky Quilt Pattern comes with a full-size paper template and detailed instructions.

Pinky and all her friends are available at my Etsy Shop: Creative Bee Studios.

Want to learn more about using both sides? See information about classes, programs, and workshops HERE.

Next time you are shopping for fabric, at a LQS or in your own stash, turn it over and #usebothsides !

Red and White Quilt Day – Go Chiefs!

February 3, 2020 / The Bee

I’m declaring it a red and white quilt day! It was still a minute and a half to the end of the Superbowl and the fireworks were going and lasted a while!

The Kansas City Chiefs sport red and white. Apparently, the colorful fireworks after their big Superbowl win were pretty significant, too! Here they are shown on Bob Clubb’s (social media-rologist) weather radar:

You can find Bob on Facebook at Weather with Bob Clubbs. He’s a weather enthusiast, not a meteorologist, but his “One Gallon Freak-out” or “Two Gallon Freak-out” predictions are usually spot-on!

It’s a great day to wear red and white – and take a look at one beautiful red and white quilt pattern- which happens to remind me of fireworks.

This stunning quilt pattern is by Nancy Rink. Visit her website HERE. She has many beautiful patterns and quilt kits as well as notions, thread, rug hooking, and more.

This design uses Tri-Recs tools by EZ Quilting by Wrights, making this quilt easier to piece than you might think. I’ve used these tools for Bonnie Hunter mystery quilts before and they are fun to use.

Congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs!

Read Embracing the Journey for a little creative inspiration!

Show and Tell Quilts

January 27, 2020 / The Bee

Show and Tell is one of my favorite reasons for joining quilt guild.

Apparently, lots of guild members across our industry feel the same way! While visiting guilds to do presentations, I love to observe the personality and differences of each guild.

See More Quilt Guild Fun HERE

From participating in community projects, planning retreats, taming snarly budgets, or making group decisions, each guild has its own way of doing things. Even the interaction between members varies from guild to guild. Some are quite reserved, while others’ members are bursting with enthusiasm.

But one thing guilds have in common is Show and Tell.

As a new quilter and guild member, I couldn’t wait to see all the new quilts everyone had made. We used to hold that feature right after our guest speaker. However, some members started leaving our meeting directly after. Consequently, our board decided to move that anticipated time to the end of our meetings!

I recall from my earlier years at guild that very seasoned (perfect) quilters would show quilt after quilt after quilt that they had completed that month. I’m talking LARGE ones, too. And those same quilters would do this month after month. When did they eat? Or sleep?

But, alas, our guild grew and now there is a limit of two quilts at the end of our meetings. I’m sure those fantastic, prolific quilters are still churning out the quilts!

Below is a small Show and Tell segment.

Bootheel Quilters’ Guild of Sikeston, MO had a wonderful class turnout.

Enjoy these class works of art, finished and shared by area quilters at their Show and Tell.

Featured are three very different “Phoebee” bee quilts, “Kate”, the bouquet, and “Belle”, the butterfly, each using BOTH sides of fabric! Shout out to JoAnn, Betty, Chris, Darlene, and Debbie for sharing their quilts!

Notice the three Phoebee quilts that look nothing alike! Each quilter adds their own loving touches and personality through fabric choices and placement of the broderie perse elements.

Learn more about Broderie Perse HERE.

Also, shared above is Kate and Belle .

Finally, see the Prairie Point Hanging Method on display! Notice the sweet extra flowers? 🙂

Enjoy your quilting journey!

Introducing…Treasures

January 20, 2020 / The Bee

Use BOTH beautiful sides of THREE fabrics in a one block quilt pattern…

Image of One Block Quilt Pattern quilt — Treasures Quilt Patternwww.etsy.com/shop/CreativeBeeStudios

Rummage your stash to use three random fabrics OR choose a line of fabrics you love. Make the Contrary Wife blocks in this one block quilt pattern by using both sides of three fabrics on a soft white background! Learn to audition BOTH sides (I tell you how) and discover the nuances of value that’ll make your quilts sing!

I used a line of fabric featuring sea life, but you could make this quilt with Christmas, Americana, florals…any theme or colorway you like!

Toss in a sweet background fabric…

It can be solid…or NOT. As long as the values work together (I tell you how), you can choose a background you love!

Image of one block quilt pattern at beach — Treasures at the beach.

to make this ONE BLOCK quilt.

The Contrary Wife quilt block has been, well, around the block a few times! The key to the sparkling nature of this quilt is the use of the reverse sides in each block and the placement of the blocks.

“Treasures” was so named because I’m continually amazed by the effect of using both sides of fabric…it’s like the quiet moment of discovering a precious gem in packed antique store. While I love all kinds of quilts, the ones that really get my juices flowing are the ones I have to linger over a bit…that make me pause…ponder.

I hope you like the “Treasures” quilt pattern as much as I. If you like these fabrics, stay tuned to my Etsy shop for fabric kits coming soon!

You can SHOP HERE for all my patterns and focus fabric kits.

*Each pattern comes with the BONUS: Prairie Point Hanging Method.

*All applique patterns have full-size, paper templates.

#usebothsides patterns have been featured in AQ Magazine, Hancock’s of Paducah, Nancy’s Notions, Connecting Threads and quilt shops across America!

Nature’s Color Wheel

November 25, 2019 / The Bee

Choosing colors for quilts doesn’t have to be difficult. While it might not be simple, using Nature’s Color Wheel can help!

Being a quilter who likes to have more than one quilt idea going at a time, I like to use nature to help guide my color choices for a quilt.

If you are in a time crunch or have run across a line of fabrics you adore, choosing fabric and colors for your next quilt can be a simple, quick process. I find that every now and then I need to grab a kit and make it up, quick as possible.

Most often, though, I like to have a longer process for choosing my quilt colors and fabrics. It’s a process. A dance, actually. You know, it involves colors, value, hue, and tints. But also, this requires a careful consideration of how each fabric interacts with one another, based on its placement. And sometimes the fabrics and the project need to…age.

If you like to have more than one quilting iron in the fire, like me, maybe you cherish this process, too!

When choosing my own fabrics for a quilt, there are two concepts I often rely on: color in nature and value.

First, let’s look at color. Nature just doesn’t get it wrong. Start observing natural settings, plants, animals, bugs, everything around you. Take pictures, or pin ideas to an idea boards. This might be in the form of photos in an album on your phone.

There are many variations in the blooms above. These petals aren’t the truest red of the color wheel, but variations to the left and right. Shades of pinks and oranges grace these blooms. That’s why they look so beautiful with the very TRUE green!

Observe nature to choose colors and you can’t go wrong. I like to think of it as Nature’s Color Wheel.

The excitement in the photo above is partially from the vibrancy of the colors, but also the difference in value.

This beach sunset below may be dark, but even it has many colors in it, if you look carefully. Notice the purples, greens, pinks, coral, and blues? The values in this photo are more similar. Notice the calming effect?

Image of Beach and Sky — How many colors do you see here?

See more about value HERE.

Nature's Color Wheel — **VariLovable Star** Quilt Pattern

I challenge you to look around you today and collect some fabulous fabric ideas from the nature!

Most of all, enjoy your quilting journey.

Traditional Christmas Colors or NOT for Quilting

November 18, 2019 / The Bee

Christmas traditions abound. It is a season filled with activities we do over and over. Traditional Christmas colors are a big part of that tradition. It’s the things you do every year, without fail. Like rules, you don’t mess with tradition!

But families change. Kids grow up. Christmas traditions (including colors) do change.

What do traditional Christmas colors have to do with quilting?

I always took pride in our Christmas traditions from decorations to cookies. We listened to certain music and watched specific Christmas movies. We always baked the same cookie recipes. I actually used to think I had to use every decoration we owned each year.

Well, a few years back, aqua became the new Christmas color…wait, what? That’s not even one of the traditional Christmas colors!

It took me a moment…but only a moment, to embrace that idea. I threw that red and green tradition (rule) out the window!

(To be fair, aqua happens to be my favorite color.)

Therefore, I stopped using my quilts of traditional Christmas colors of red and green anymore. As quilters, you’ll understand, I had to make new ones with all the pretty blues!

I think a lot of people embraced the blue Christmas – for one or two seasons. However, for me it was a NEW tradition!

In other words, I found that my comforting traditions were holding me back. Similarly, the rules I’d embraced as a quilter were doing the same.

For example, last year I realized that the beloved tradition I’d started at our old house of making St. Lucia Bread, hadn’t risen properly one time at our new house – ten years in a row! (I’d tried all the yeast tricks, too.)

I made the original “JOY” quilt pattern using a vintage ornament fabric that was very classic Christmas colors. Therefore, in a need to show how a variety of fabrics could be used for this pattern, I stitched this new JOY – using both beautiful sides of a digital aqua Hoffman panel!

Image of JOY Quilt Hanging not using Christmas tradition colors — JOY Quilt Pattern

Fast forward to grown kids, job schedules, tight budgets, and limited time together. We changed Christmas traditions this year. We are brainstorming about how to make our time fun and meaningful. What’s interesting is that the more we talk about setting aside our old traditions (rules), the more creative we have become in our brainstorming. A weight was lifted.

Seriously, how is this post about quilting?

Now, when I first started quilting, I was all about the rules (traditions). I wanted to learn every single one of them. Some were paramount to good technique and skill-building and very important. Others were just plain silly. I heard a quilter say one day, “Rules are meant to be broken”.

It was then I realized I had ingested each one of those rules. I realized that some rules (traditions) were limiting my joy for quilting and my creativity for fear of breaking them.

Therefore, I’ve noticed now that I watch for the rule-breakers in quilting. Their work excites and inspires me, regardless if the technique is traditional or contemporary.

If you know me personally, you know I embrace tradition. If you are familiar with Lutherans, I am a “page 5 of the old, OLD hymnal” kind of gal!

So, don’t let your need for traditions RULE your world…whether it’s Christmas or quilting.

Image of Christmas Tradition JOY Quilt — Shop **JOY** Quilt Pattern

In conclusion: This 2020 Christmas Traditions update shows that I still love aqua – but now I include red! Here is the NEW pattern, JOYFUL! See how her borders sparkle? #usebothsides

Image of Joyful Quilt Pattern — www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeBeeStudios www.etsy.com/shop/creativebeestudios

See Merry, the red truck Christmas quilt, and more at Old Barns, Red Trucks, Mercantile and More.

Enjoy more Christmas cheer at Quilted JOYS of the Twelfth Day.

Introducing…Merry!

November 3, 2019 / The Bee

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like red truck Christmas quilt season!
Use BOTH sides of one red Christmas fabric on a snowy bed of winter fabrics to make this quilted wall hanging.
Have yourself a wonder-filled quilting journey!

It’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like red truck Christmas quilt season!

Merry is a red truck Christmas quilt that’s easy and fun to make! You can start your holiday decorating with a fun Christmas wall hanging OR make one for a favorite friend!

Use BOTH sides of one red Christmas fabric on a snowy bed of winter fabrics to make this quilted wall hanging.

This little red truck is dashing through a snowy lane. On a background of winter trees, various sizes of snowflake motifs, cardinals on lighted lines, and glitzy deer, this red truck Christmas quilt is made with both sides of one focus fabric. So toss a tree in the back, add the mirrors, tires, license plate, and reversed details to “trim out” your truck. Pull out your winter/Christmas stash and start auditioning your fabrics!

Shop the “Merry” quilt pattern in my Etsy shop: HERE

Below are the current Christmas quilt patterns available. For each you will use both sides of at least one fabric. With each #usebothsides pattern, you’ll discover the nuances of value as you learn to audition BOTH sides of fabric. I teach you HOW, like what to look for and how to use value to your advantage.

Look at each picture below and notice where the reverse side is used. Look carefully because you’ll see that the reverse is often used in the background as well. Chances are you have fabric in your stash that will work, with beautiful reverse sides. So pull out some stash and turn it over! Once you learn about what makes reverse sides work, you’ll never look at one side of fabric again! It’s almost like doubling your stash (without taking up any more room). Plus, it’s fun and makes choosing fabrics easy!

You can learn more about value HERE.

SHOP more Christmas quilt patterns in my Etsy Shop HERE.

Have yourself a wonder-filled quilting journey!

Step Inside the Yellow Door Quilt Store

October 10, 2019 / The Bee

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

In the heart of Indiana is a bright yellow door. Inside is a quilt store.

In the heart of Indiana is a bright yellow door. Inside is a quilt store.

Enter the Yellow Door Quilt Store to find a cute little quilt shop filled with fun, beautiful fabric (and some cool patterns)!

Image of front of Yellow Door Quilt Store

Take a peek inside the Yellow Door Quilt Store!

Located south of Indianapolis, in Nashville, IN, the Yellow Door Quilt Store carries unique and bright fabrics. They might have a modern flare, but there’s definitely something for everyone!

Initially, I met the owner, Mary Beth, when I popped in to her booth at the Paducah quilt show. I think she noticed I was looking at both sides of her fabrics. As usually happens when I’m auditioning both sides, a lively conversation ensued. I knew right away her fabrics would work beautifully with my patterns.

We hit it off and Mary Beth now offers a number of my designs in her booth and shop!

You’ll likely find bright, bold, and interesting fabrics at the Yellow Door Quilt Store which might include Kaffe Fassett Collective, Marcia Derse, Kathy Doughty, Jane Sasseman, and Alexander Henry. Regardless of your favorite quilting and fabric style, I’m certain everyone will enjoy a visit to the Yellow Door!

Additionally, it was Mary Beth’s who suggest I make a sugar skull pattern using both sides of one focus fabric.

It was certainly a milestone to send the first printing of the Flora Quilt Pattern (sugar skull) to Mary Beth, even though she already carried a number of my titles. It’s fun when a shop owner is excited about using both beautiful sides!

Basically, Flora is a fast, easy pattern made with fusible applique and broderie perse. First, trace and cut the skull shape from a full-size paper template. Next, press the fusible template onto the RIGHT side of the floral fabric. Finally, cut Flora’s flower garland from the floral motif itself, arranged on the quilt and fused. Learn more about broderie perse HERE.

Flora is made with BOTH beautiful sides of a floral fabric. Click HERE for link to Flora Focus Fabric Kit.

Image of jSugar Skull Quilt — ***Flora*** (flawr-uh) Quilt Pattern is made with both beautiful sides of one floral fabric!

Image of Mary Beth — Give Mary Beth a shout-out on her Facebook Live!

Furthermore, you simply MUST experience Mary Beth’s “Hootie Hoo” Facebook Live sessions!

Grab a hot cup of coffee and stay in your jammies to shop!

Visit Mary Beth online HERE or in her quilt store!

SHOP more than 50 unique quilt patterns that use both beautiful sides of fabric!

Read about The Quilt Shop in Chamberlain, South Dakota!

Creative Bee Studios #usebothsides