Tag: Wildlife Quilts

Image of Buffalo Moon Quilt

And…quilt by the light of the moon.

April 15, 2019 /

It certainly is a wonderful life when you can dance by the light of the moon.

This bison quilt makes me want to dance by the light of the moon because I couldn’t help singing along with characters George and Mary from It’s a Wonderful Life with those very words!

Sharing a quilt pattern is ALWAYS wonderful! Learn about this unique way to use both sides of fabric and the story behind this design.

The quilt, Buffalo Moon, is made with both sides of a light focus fabric on a starry, night-time background!

Image of White Buffalo quilt.
Buffalo Moon Quilt Pattern

This Buffalo Moon quilt is a creation that has a lot of meaning for me – which is interesting since I have never lived “where buffalo roam”!

We enjoyed a visit to South Dakota for the first time the summer before I designed this quilt. Our youngest daughter was playing the role of Laurie in OKLAHOMA! at The Black Hills Playhouse in Custer, South Dakota. See South Dakota Quilts & More , OKLAHOMA! Backroads in South Dakota, and Quilting – Dakota Style.

Image of Bison
The bison were aplenty as we first entered the park!
Image of Final Show Scene
OKLAHOMA! at the Black Hills Playhouse

Buffalo Moon is made using BOTH sides of a fabulous focus fabric (say that three times fast!) on a scrappy, nighttime background. Spotting the bison roaming the Black Hills was an incredible experience. Having also learned about the Legend of the White Buffalo, saying YES to this focus fabric was easy! Unlike most of my other patterns, the difference in value between the front and reverse of the focus fabric are subtle, but still noticeable. This motif that reads as moon craters makes one want to dance by the light of the moon! Choosing dark background fabrics was a change of pace from my previous designs and a lot of fun!

Notice the ombre trees, the twinkling stars and the barbed wire fence fabrics?

Image of Black Hills Playhouse

We got a second round in bison country the following season, when Jacq played Annelle in Steel Magnolias and, one of her bucket list roles,…Sophie in Mamma Mia!

Needless to say, she was quite excited to be able to work again in such a beautiful place–but, even more, she was very happy to be able to work at what she loved to do.

Buffalo Moon Quilt Pattern

My husband and I watched both of our girls struggle to work at what is their passion – and wondered at times where they got such courage. Yes, I make jokes that we let them play too much dress up and not do enough science fair projects, but truly I am glad they had the will to give it a whirl…and, in this case, go where the buffalo roam.

Jacq as Violet Bick in It’s a Wonderful Life

Buffalo gals won’t you come out tonight…

Image of Turtle Quilt
Dakota Quilt Pattern
Image of Bison Skull Quilt
Tanka Quilt Pattern

Reach for the stars…lasso the moon, or

…maybe just dance by the light of the moon.

#usebothsides

Image of Turtle Quilt
Dakota

Quilting-Dakota Style

August 27, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

This little turtle quilt just made the trip to two of my favorite places in South Dakota!

Dakota is a Southwest style turtle quilt made with both beautiful sides of fabric!

Image of Turtle Quilt

Choose a focus fabric that’s beautiful on BOTH sides.

Every Creative Bee Studios pattern, including this turtle quilt, comes with a guide for auditioning both sides of fabrics. First, start with your focus fabric. See how legs, head and tail of this turtle quilt (made from the REVERSE) are a lighter value but just as interesting as the RIGHT side?

Learn how to “remove” color to see only value.

Black and white photos are a great tool for auditioning both sides of fabric.

Pick a variety of background fabrics.

Secondly, audition possible background fabrics for your turtle quilt with both sides of your focus fabric. You’ll discover the nuances of value as you learn to audition both sides of fabric.

Why South Dakota?

To summarize, our daughter was working shows at the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer, SD for the summer. Our treat was to watch her play the role of Laurie in OKLAHOMA!

Black Hills Playhouse & Dakota Dream

We made new friends, Kathy and Ernie, in Custer SD. They are owners Dakota Dream Bed & Breakfast & Horse Hotel.  We highly recommend a visit to the Black Hills in Custer State Park and a stay with Kathy and Ernie. Image of Dakota Dream

The Quilt Shop

On our trip we visited The Quilt Shop, Inc. in Chamberlain, SD.  Owner, Sonya Kroupa is holding Dakota and Tanka quilts below. Creative Bee Studios patterns have been featured in her very cool shop! In addition to rooms and rooms of interesting and different fabric, kits, and patterns, she has local artwork, jewelry, and beads. Visit The Quilt Shop website HERE.Image of The Quilt Shop, Inc.

Also, see this post which shows more fun things to see in Custer and the Dignity statue in Chamberlain HERE.

This turtle quilt pattern is petite design, finishing at 18 x 24 inches. It’s a great “afternoon quilt” – quick and easy. Even after making more than twenty #usebothsides quilts, I can’t decide which is more fun, choosing the focus fabric or the background fabrics. Both are vital to the charm of the quilts!

Think outside the box!

Imagine all the different “turtle “fabrics you could use!  Your turtle could be playful with children’s motifs, realistic with mottled dotty fabric, or wild with large florals or geometrics! In conclusion, anything will work as long as the reverse passes the audition!

Image of Bison Quilt Closeup

Read about Tanka quilt pattern HERE!

Enjoy YOUR quilting journey!

Image of Bison Skull Quilt

Wild West Quilts

August 20, 2018 /

Tanka is a bison skull quilt made with a rugged flare.

This bison skull quilt was inspired by a visit to South Dakota.

First, as a mid-westerner, the beauty of this state is like nothing I’d ever seen. Particularly in the Black Hills, there’s wildlife everywhere, incredible terrain, and bison strolling along the roadside. It’s not surprising that animal skulls are a popular item. When I found this fabulous feather fabric with white background, I knew a bison skull quilt would soon be born!

Image of Bison Skull Quilt
Tanka Quilt Pattern

Finding the focus fabric is the first step.

First, the fabric I chose, from The Quilt Shop in Chamberlain, SD, was a feather toss on a white background. Since the feathers are made using a fusible broderie perse technique, I knew the background around the feathers would be cut away, leaving only the colored feathers.

Turn the fabric over.

Second, choosing a great focus fabric means auditioning both sides! Turning this fabric, I saw that the feather motif showed just enough to give the skull interest. It didn’t overpower the feathers from the RIGHT side.

The skull is made from the REVERSE side of the focus fabric while the hanging feather decoration is cut from the RIGHT.

Mix it up with background fabrics.

The background fabrics for this quilt were really fun to play with! Don’t you just love that black and white fence row fabric at the bottom?

One of the fun parts of making these quilts is mixing up the background fabrics. This one has batik, southwest, gold circles on gray (but reversed), grunge and a fur look to really give interest to the quilt. It’s all about VALUE.

Tanka, in Lakota, means “big, great”.

Image of Bison Quilt Closeup

Read about our trip to the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park, statues, monuments and, of course, quilt shops in “South Dakota Quilts & More” (click here) !

It’s so much fun to #usebothsides of fabrics.

In conclusion, using both sides of fabric is a great way to learn about the nuances of value. You won’t look at fabric the same way again!

Shop HERE more than 50 patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides!

Image of Deer Quilt
JACK Quilt Pattern
Deer Quilt Pattern

Meet Jack-the Deer Quilt

July 30, 2018 /

It’s a boy! Jack is a deer quilt made with BOTH camouflage sides!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

JACK (buck) is deer quilt wall hanging that’s made with both sides of one camouflage fabric on a scrappy background.

The focus fabric for this deer quilt is camouflage.

I found this Mossy Oak fabric at my local quilt shop. I tested the value of both sides, auditioning the fabric right there in the shop.

First, I made sure RIGHT side was plenty dark, so the deer head shape would be crisp. Next, I checked that the REVERSE was light enough to use as antlers and highlights for the ears, eyes, nose, and throat.

Deer Quilt Pattern
JACK (buck) Quilt Pattern

Fortunately, camouflage fabrics seem to be a staple in the fabric market every year.

Some camouflage fabrics aren’t the normal quilting quality. It’s okay for this type of quilt hanging. I thought this one was a stiff when I pulled it off the bolt, but after a quick wash and dry, it was great to work with! (I normally don’t laundry the fabric for a wall hanging.)

The backgrounds are scrappy.

Additionally, having a wide variety of background fabrics is key. This helps draw the eye through the quilt. Also, it adds an element of interest. This deer quilt sports a variety of fabric types including beige batik leaves, grassy geometric, beige stone, white on white floral, sandy batik, and painted grass.

Image of deer quilt
Hunter Orange spots JACK (buck)!

The deer quilt comes to life.

When quilting this deer quilt, I added “scribble” quilting with black thread to the eye areas. However, even before that, the features of his face just appeared, almost magically. VALUE is key for using BOTH sides of fabric, especially for JACK (buck)!

deer quilt in mountains
JACK in the Rocky Mountain National Park

See The Marine Behind the Quilts.

The Jack quilt pattern comes with:

  • Complete, detailed instructions.
  • Full-size paper template.
  • Guide for auditioning focus and background fabrics.
  • BONUS: Prairie Point Hanging Method.

SHOP JACK and more than 50 patterns that use BOTH sides!

Image of Sea Turtle Quilt

Meet Sandy, the Sea Turtle Quilt

July 16, 2018 /

Sandy, the sea turtle quilt, is super fun to make!

Table of contents

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

This sea turtle pattern is for those who love summer and salty air, the sound of sea gulls and crashing waves. And, of course, sea turtles!  

Sandy the sea turtle quilt is made with BOTH beautiful sides of fabric.

Image of sea turtle quilt
Sandy the Sea Turtle Quilt Pattern

The first reason Sandy is so fun and easy to make is the focus fabric! You only need to pick ONE. The RIGHT sides makes her shell and the binding. The REVERSE makes her legs, tail and head.

Add a fun, scrappy background.

Secondly, the background fabrics can be bold and fun. A variety of background fabrics can make this quilt sparkle with interest!

Audition BOTH sides of fabric.

image of turtle quilt
Sandy Sea Turtle Quilt Pattern

Furthermore, you learn HOW to audition BOTH side so fabric. You’ll start with your focus fabric. Next you’ll audition your background fabrics with BOTH sides of your focus fabric. The guide in the pattern tells you what to look for and how to use value to make your choices. See How to Use Both Sides.

About Sea Turtles

Did you know? Cooler sand temperatures produce more male and warmer sand produces more female sea turtles.

The sea turtle eggs hatch almost simultaneously, making the sandy nest look like boiling water. Instinctively, the babies find their way to the water with the help of the slope of the beach and the moon and star reflections on the water.

The large number of turtles hatching and moving to the sea all together helps protect them from predators. That’s why its a good idea to remove chairs and umbrellas and fill all holes at night during hatching season so they have a better chance at making it to sea safely.

Image of Seahorse Quilt Closeup
Learn about the Sally Quilt Pattern.

Shop for Sandy on www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeBeeStudios

Enjoy YOUR quilting journey.

Introducing…Bubbles & Bonus Tips

June 18, 2018 /

Choose background fabrics that add sparkle to your quilts!

To take a look at background fabrics, first let me introduce you to (drum roll): The Bubbles Quilt Pattern!

Image of Bubbles with scrappy background fabrics
Bubbles

Notice the varied background fabrics in this quilt. The baby whale is made using both beautiful sides of Kaffe Fassett’s Paint Pots fabrics!

You might think that once you’ve chosen a good focus fabric, your work at auditioning fabric is done. But really, you’ve just begun to have fun!

Secondly, it’s important to know that background fabrics for #usebothsides quilts are what make the quilts really sparkle! When you attend one of my classes, you learn that there is a certain “feel” you are trying to achieve in the relationship between your focus and background fabrics.

First pick focus fabrics. Then background fabrics.

It DOES truly begin with your focus fabric choice – you have to pick that first and foremost. (I’ll discuss focus fabric auditioning in another post. Tips for choosing focus fabric are included in each pattern.) Once your focus fabric has been chosen, you want to achieve a balance between your focus fabric and your backgrounds.  I encourage using a mix of fabric styles and to use this quilt as an opportunity try something new. I figure, it is a fun quilt– so use fun fabrics  which may not be appropriate in your more “serious” quilt work. I’m going to use two quilts as examples. Below are Phoebee and Bubbles:

Image of Bee Quilt
Phoebee Quilt Pattern

Phoebee really makes a statement.

Notice that the bee is made from very bold fabric. She’s not one bit shy. The background fabrics can be bolder for her because her focus fabric and her character allow it. Some of the background fabrics are darker in value than I would use with my other patterns, depending not just on the focus fabric, but also the subject matter and what I want you to feel when you look at the quilt.

Image of Bubbles with background fabrics
Bubbles Quilt Pattern

Now looking at Bubbles.

I hope you see a sweet, endearing “fellow”…youthful, happy, maybe adventuresome… maybe up to something. This baby whale can be a boy or a girl and you can change his or her attitude just by choosing a different focus fabric! What I am hoping you have noticed by now is that the background fabrics also have a different feel. In fact, most of the accent strips I used  are reversed to keep them from overpowering this sweet whale friend.

Once you’ve chosen your focus fabric, lay the fabric out, loosely shaped for the pattern you’re making– but with a twist. Literally, twist the fabric so that half of the fabric shows the reverse side. Audition BOTH sides of the focus fabric with your background possibilities. Each #usebothsides pattern gives detailed instructions for how to audition fabrics.

My husband and “silent” business partner just happened to name the two above quilts.

Next, compare the focus and background fabrics of these two quilts:

  • cauldron quilt
    Something’s Brewing
  • image of red truck quilt
    Merry

In conclusion, don’t want to get too serious about your fabric auditioning, because these patterns are designed to be fun, fast, and easy quilts. Plus, they make great quick gifts.

For more fabric auditioning fun, book a class or program for you next group event! Click here for more information.

SHOP more than 45 patterns HERE.

 

Image of Seahorse Quilt Closeup
Click for link to Sally Quilt Kit.

Meet Sally…a Sassy Seahorse

January 15, 2018 /

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Table of contents

Here is Sally, the seahorse quilt.

This seahorse quilt is extra special because she’s made with BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

Why is Sally the seahorse quilt special?

Fabrics for this seahorse quilt are easy to choose!

Firstly, Sally is made with both beautiful sides of fabric! This makes noticeable contrast in value which adds interest to your quilt! Notice here that the seahorse and binding are made with the RIGHT side of one focus fabric. The “seashell coral” and floating bubbles are made with the REVERSE.

Discover the nuances of value as you learn to audition BOTH sides of fabric! The pattern teaches you how. Learn more about How To Audition Both Sides here.

The Templates and Broderie Perse

Secondly, your make the seahorse for this quilt from all one piece of fabric. She’s cut from a large, full-size paper template. The seashell coral are cut from the fabric motif. There are several template drawings in case your focus fabric doesn’t have sea shells. Finally, Sally needs lots of bubbles. They are easy to cut by hand. Even better, use a cutting machine, like a Cricut or Accuquilt to make your circles!

Image of Seahorse Quilt
Sally Quilt Pattern

The Background Fabrics for the Seahorse Quilt

Of course, your focus fabric is the focal point of this quilt. However, the background behind this seahorse quilt, which includes a wide variety of fabrics, is also important. Find ombre, beach words, batiks, white on white, blue sea shells, batik bubbles and more! Ultimately, it’s the variety of fabrics behind Sally that really make this quilt sparkle with interest!

Kaffe Fassett Collective Fabrics

Finally, there’s something magical about using both beautiful sides of Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics. They are especially fun for the coastal quilt patterns, like Sally, and floral bouquet quilts.

Sally the seahorse quilt is shown here made with Philip Jacob’s Seashell Bouquet fabric on a scrappy background.

Image of Seahorse Quilt

Image of sea turtle quilt
Learn about the Sandy quilt pattern.

Additionally, see more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric HERE .

Warning – Controversial Topic Ahead

February 28, 2017 /

Caution, controversial weather ahead.

Fair warning, the photo you are about to see is likely to produce a strong reaction. The controversial topic of which I speak is…snow. I’m not exactly sure why, but where I live, this topic is a love/hate one!

It’s sure to be a hot topic soon!

Image of Merry in Snow
MERRY

Learn more about MERRY HERE

Image of Controversial Snow

Now, I’ll give you my take on it. It’s not a controversial topic at all. I think snow is magical and lovely. When you look up into the falling snow, it’s as though the sky is alive. I can’t help myself from twirling in it, watching it floating down from heaven.

Image of Water Colours Quilt in the snow.
Water Colours – This background fabric is one of my all-time favorites. It’s how the bottom of a pool looks when you’re swimming laps! I love the contrast of winter and summer shown in this photo.

Where I live, snow isn’t a given. Oftentimes, we get ice or sleet while every county around use gets the snow. That said, the weather forecasters must make a huge to-do about incoming snow at LEAST three times before we actually get any real amounts!

Note, that it doesn’t count as real snow unless the ground is completely covered. It is BEST for Photographing Quilts! (<See my Pinterest board.)

Therefore, shout it out with a “Let it snow” sign! Super fast and easy, this is made using a Brother Scan N Cut on a pre-made plaque from Michael’s . The shadow your see in the bottom corner is the top of my Singer treadle. The treadle faces out north window. When it snows, I sit at the treadle and piece together a scrappy tumbler quilt. Therefore, this might take a decade or more to complete at this rate!

There’s another window I’d like to share with you:

Image of Bear Quilt
Black Bear Jam pattern by McKenna Ryan

This is a McKenna Ryan design/kit I just had to have to commemorate the black bear visit we had in our yard last summer. Click on “It’s a Bear Out There” to see the scratches and markings we found (and bear paw quilt blocks). McKenna’s bear was lighter in color, so I darkened him with a piece of Stonehenge fabric so he’d look more like our buddy. He sported a santa hat by design which I changed out to my favorite color and edged it with the ribbed edge of a wool sweater I  inherited in my late mother-in-law’s fabric stash. I call it Black Bear Jam because we believe he was marking the area next to our crabapple tree. Consequently, I made my bear-enthusiast neighbors a jar of Black Bear Jam for Christmas out of those crabapples.

Sew… BEAR with me (too many puns?): Let It SNOW!

Thank you for taking your time to read this. Please share it with your friends, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!

See more Winter Quilts fun! For a fun winter activity, read Walking in a Winter Wonderland and Quilt Author Meets Hallmark Christmas Movies.

Image of Sewing Machine

One Sweet Retreat

September 5, 2016 /

Take a look at our sweet quilt retreat in the woods.

This sweet retreat includes summer breezes, floating skies, lazy days…butterflies.

This is a retreat – by the numbers!

Image of Creek at the Sweet Retreat
One Sweet Retreat

First, we have one hunting cabin. Add twelve ladies. Next, throw in three feather-weight, one Brother, two Janome, and one New Home sewing machines. Furthermore, we had three Scan N Cut machines working away.

In addition, some gals brought handwork to stitch. There is fabric everywhere along with thread, pins, needles, fusible, vinyl and food!

What more could a quilter want?

Perhaps a few deer out the window.

Deer on the bluffs.

While some gals worked on their sewing machines and some day-trippers brought handwork, many of us worked on final details for the local quilt. Our River Heritage Quilt Guild quilt show was less than a month away. Definitely, there were bindings and labels being stitched. Surprisingly, some quilts were just getting started!

Rosie’s stocking.
The End of the Road

What seemed to a few like a road to nowhere turned into a swell time for us all!

Nearly everyone got some kind of monogram as we were testing our wits against our new Brother Scan N Cut machines. and realizing the possibilities.

A is for Anne with an E

Simply put, we were busy from dawn unto late in the night.

Nancy’s “Tea” Quilt

Of course, a sweet retreat must involve food.

In addition to the laughter, sharing, and world problems being solved at this sweet retreat, there was a fair amount of food involved. And one sweet treat involved a practical joke.

With a recent experience regarding a visit from a bear, one quilter planted this “bear scat” near my car.

I thought I’d bring some bear scar to scare; instead it was really bear scat to share.

Lynnore

See It’s a Bear Out There!

Image of sweet bear droppings (candy) at the retreat.
Fresh Bear Scat

Bear Droppings

  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 Tbsp shortening
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • In double boiler over simmering water, melt the chocolate chips and shortening until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in raisins and almonds. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Chill until ready to serve.

My answer to the bear trickery was a bear paw quilt made with Kaffe and Moda Grunge. See It’s a Bear Out There for the full bear tale.

My Bear Likes Kaffe

This little getaway was a fun and beautiful way to transition from the heat of the summer to the cooler temps ahead.

Sweet Friends

It was a sweet retreat.

The Infamous Low Water Bridge

Enjoy your quilting journey!

It’s a Bear Out There!

August 8, 2016 /

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Table of contents

Bear paw prints, claw marks and scat!

How does this bear paw experience turn into stitchery? Read on to see the quilt block and punch needle embroidery inspired by our visitor

That is a bear out there.

Have you ever seen a certain quilt or pattern and you think, “No, I’m not going to make that.” Then, all of a sudden, something happens and you’re thinking, “I’ve got to make that quilt.”?

Our neighborhood has suddenly become a flurry of excitement. We don’t live in the country, really. We certainly don’t live in bear country! I didn’t think so, anyway. But after pondering a these odd markings on our cedar play set, we aren’t so sure anymore.

Bear markings?

This takes a bit of bear paw sleuthing.

At first, we thought it was anything but a bear.

But soon the neighbors and I are sharing our experiences and findings daily.

We visit each other’s yards to look at “evidence”. Next, we learned the lingo (scat).

Collecting evidence in the neighborhood.

This was actually a bonding time for some of our neighbors! We got to know each other a little better through the clues left by our new guest.

Calling in the bear paw experts.

Furthermore, we sent photos of the clues to the local experts. While they hesitate to say for certain it’s a black bear, but they did say it’s either a black bear or a large dog. Following that, they said they wouldn’t know why a dog would make these markings.

Game Cam time.

Finally, my husband was convinced enough to commandeer a Game Cam from deer camp. The waiting game began. The markings on our playset are near our crabapple tree so the neighborhood “experts” are waiting for the fruit to ripen and our bear to be caught–well, red-pawed?

More scratches!

Quilt time.

Pertaining to the bear, this brings to my first point, about a quilt block I never intended to make. Bear Paw. Suddenly, this block appeals to me on a very personal level. Plus, it’d be a great barn quilt to mark the area, kinda like our mysterious friend did.

Its a Kevin Bacon thing.

So here is my first partial block. Of course, my bear likes Kaffe!

Image of partial bear paw quilt block
Bear Paw by the Pool

Never to stop at one, I might as well make a little punch needle bear paw.

image of bear paw punch needle
Bear Paw Mini Punch Needle

It’s going to take me a bit longer to make that barn quilt—maybe we should get a picture of the guy to make sure he’s not a giant raccoon or something!

You know it makes sense, really. Creative Bee…quilting bee…bees make honey…in a Kevin Bacon kind of way, we really should have a bear living here!

Image of bear paw quilt block
Bear Paw Quilt Top

Visit my shop on Etsy for more than 50 quilt patterns that use BOTH beautiful sides of fabric!

Want a great treat recipe called Bear Droppings? Find it here:  One Sweet Retreat

Read about prepping for retreats at Quilt Retreat Checklists and Quilt Retreat Take-alongs.

Karla’s Design Story

 

 

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