New Quilt Pattern KARMA My Gift to you

 

You should see a couple new pages on my blog.

One is a tab/page for my virtual programs.  

I am hoping to connect with many of you 'virtually' next year.  Please take a look.  I have several programs and will be adding more.  I can work with a group and also plan to do some independent programs.

The other new page is for my free pattern, 'Karma'.

I walk you through the quilt in detail.  This one is all about color placement.

I also provide a count of the hexagons needed.

If you read all the way through you will see a little surprise about the fabrics.  You will be 'charmed' I'm sure!

Enjoy!

Dawn

LINK TO PAGE:  http://collectorwithaneedle.blogspot.com/p/karma-quilt-free-pattern-layout.html

Houston 2020 Virtual Exhibit

The year 2020 has thrown us many curve balls!  We have to look for the opportunity in the changes.

Our Noah and Matilda Exhibit changed from a live exhibit to a virtual exhibit - giving many more people the opportunity to see it.  They were able to take our exhibit proposal photos and turn them into a virtual exhibit.  With full quilt photos, and detailed closeups; you can see 

Now, wherever you are in the world for a $10 USD ticket you can attend the entire show!

Click HERE:  Link To Tickets and Details

We hope you join us!!

Regards,

Dawn

Click HERE:  Additional Noah and Matilda Information

Interview on You Tube

When I first announced my book - I said I would eventually do a post about what the process was like!

This interview is the start of that process.

Gary Parr of Fiber Talk invited me to his show for an interview.

He asked many questions about me, my stitching, collections and the book.

You can listen to the audio, or listen to the audio with a slide show of photos NOT from the book but related.  Floss Tube is a channel (free) on You Tube with all kinds of stitching related content - Fiber Talk is one of the best.

https://wetalkfiber.com/2020/08/01/fiber-talk-with-dawn-cook-ronningen/
Also available with photos on FlossTube at https://youtu.be/QuK3ldZCRBw

From the Fiber Talk website - you also have access to three years of content!

https://wetalkfiber.com

I subscribe (free) to both the podcast and YOuTube/FlossTube video channel.  

I usually play the programs while I stitch.

I hope you enjoy the interview!

If you have questions - let me know.

Happy Stitching,

Dawn

Link to signed copies of my book:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/cwaneedleorder

Summertime Stitching

We've been keeping busy at home.

Gardening includes hatching some praying mantis, keeping track of a little tree frog living on the porch and enjoying bumble bees.

Simple things are often best.

We added a large new shade garden and have a few vegetables and herbs.  We are sharing them with the deer and rabbits.  

Hoping we have enough for all!

I have been doing lots of stitching - quilting and embroidery.

I am enjoying our Facebook stitch along for our new pattern, Fig Leaf and Flowers.   I hope you join us if you haven't already!

It is fun to see the color ways - underway.

Dargate Jellies, red/green, gray/cream, fussy cutting - it is inspiring!

I have a few cross stitch finishes and starts.

I completed this band sampler - chart is a pdf from 

iStitch.  Technically I don't think it's finished as I have to do something with the tip!

I used an old mill spool to roll all 40" of stitching up!

I stitched part 1, 2 and the bonus.

It was fun to stitch;  easy to pickup and put down in short found moments of stitching time. 

I also stitched and finished this La D Da Workbook.

I purchased the kit from Stitchville USA.

It folds open with interior pockets for scissors, thread and needles.  Lovely thread loops and a wool needle page.

I chose a favorite quilters cotton for the lining.

I've been taking some online classes.  

Next week a friend and I start Mabel Tuke with Sassy Jacks.

I chose the 40 count linen in silk.

Looking forward to this class project!

I was thrilled (and a little surprised) to see my little mending bag project on the Fall cover of Piecework magazine.   

It was another fun project - based on a box of vintage fabric pieces I found while antique shopping.

I also wrote a post for their blog that tells a bit more about the project and textiles.  You can subscribe to their blog and have a wonderful hand made themed post in your inbox weekly!

Great fun!!

"Mend and Make Do"

We also learned the bitter sweet news about our Noah and Matilda Exhibit.

It was/is selected to be a special exhibit at Quilt Festival 2020 - That's all up in the air as I write this post.    13 Quilts!

Stay tuned for more on this in a future post!

*Just as I released this - got the cancellation notice*

**stay tuned for virtual option updates**

I am working on finding new homes for a collection of thimbles.

This was a private collector and her sister.

The grandson doesn't want them - but he also wants them to go to good new homes.

Same with the lace - I will be adding to our Etsy shop over the next few weeks!

Happy Stitching!

I hope you are making the best of July!

Dawn

Link to Fig Leaf and Flowers Fig Leaf

Esty Shop Our Shop

NEW PATTERN Fig Leaf and Flowers

Pattern Cover

We are pleased to announce our new appliqué quilt pattern, Fig Leaf and Flowers.

The pattern is a reproduction of a 19th century quilt quilt in our collection.   The quilt finishes at 80" square.  The original quilt is not perfectly aligned by today's standards - but the pattern is!  The outer edge has a bit of a wave - the pattern does not.

For now, it is a digital download only, available on the pattern page here and on our Etsy shop.  It is designed to print on your home printer - no enlargements needed.  The full size pattern includes registration lines, full sized pattern and cutting instructions.

My center with some of the medallion vine in process

Since I can enjoy the original red and green quilt I decided to make mine with deep indigo vines and a multitude of reproduction fabrics.  There's a nod to the original with red tulips and green leaves.

I was amazed at how quickly the center appliqué went - each petal is simple with no point or inside curve to work with.

Charm Selection

To start, I cut 200 2.5" reproduction fabric squares.  It gave me a colorful pallet to contrast with the indigo I used for the curving vines.

There are no repeats in the center petal fabrics.
It was fun to work with so many of my favorites fabrics.  Something like a box of chocolates...which square will I pick up next?

In case you are wondering - about 750 total petals combining the center and four borders.

In Process Border

I back baste, then needle turn appliqué.
I basted the center not duplicating any of the fabrics, setting the remainder of each charm square aside for use in the borders.

I basted the border strips with the rest of the charm fabric pieces.  In most cases I got three petals from each charm square.  That's about 500-600 petals from 200 charm squares.  In some cases I just had to selective cut - and I certainly have more fabrics to work into the border - SO FUN!  Going back into the stash is an opportunity to cut more charms.

The Indigo vine in the center and outer border ties all of the variety together.

BTW:  I've had the entire quilt basted together to test all the measurements and markings.  You'll be able to get to stitching right away.

Dargate Jellies from Reproduction Fabrics

I had considered other colorways that I think are equally lovely.

I think the Dargate Jellies would be great - maybe with the blue for all of the petals?


I also think several of the new Moda's would be gorgeous.  Maybe an aqua or sea foam?

I think the outer appliqué border could be traded for a wonderful patterned fabric.

Oh, the possibilities!

I did some research on Fig Trees and discovered there are several varieties that grow across many planting zones.

The maker is unknown, as is her inspiration and motivation to make the quilt.  We can only speculate.

 I am captivated by her layout and composition; using the fanciful and real shapes.

Our antique quilt

I made a few changes based on personal preference.

I changed colors in several places.  (The pattern includes the original color labels),  I left off the tops of a few center stems, and balanced the use of green in all four corners.

Happy Stitching!!

Dawn





LINKS:
Etsy Pattern HERE
Charm Sets HERE
Blog Pattern Download HERE