Scrappy

I spotted some modern, geometric quilts on Pinterest last year and after pinning a handful, decided to make one. I just finished up the last of the binding this past week and managed a few photos in the 35 minutes of the day when there’s actually sunlight. Ah, January…

For fabric, I used a mix of my own designs and remnants from other sewing projects. A handful of the blocks are Spoonflower test swatches (my designs Russian Alphabet, Zakopane and Penhallow Street). I’ve also used prints from my 2018 fabric collection Eloise’s Garden. Because I had some on hand, I used polar fleece in lieu of batting. It doesn’t have the same satisfying squish factor as batting, but in a pinch, worked. And since the idea of making mountains of bias binding had me losing the will to live, I opted to do a self-binding (here’s a tutorial). I quilted everything by hand with basic squares all over, some following the outlines of the blocks and others overlapping. I love hand quilting. It’s a slow, slow process, but if you add a binge-able podcast and cocoa to the mix, it’s delightful.

And I am looking forward to curling up with this quilt and a book at the soonest possible opportunity.

Verity Jane

Something I’ve been working on for the latest Spoonflower design challenge. I’ve needed a bit of a kick in the pants to get back into pattern making and these prompts help nicely.

UPPERCASE Surface Pattern Design Guide

I'm thrilled to be included in the new UPPERCASE Magazine Surface Pattern Design Guide! A part of the most recent issue, it's packed full of delightful print and pattern and well-worth the read.

Twenty Seventeen

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were splendid.

I've been mulling over the new year, making plans and resolutions, albeit slowly and with a heavy dose of realism. Professionally, I'd like to:

* Continue to explore embroidery and surface design.

* Make some sort of a zine (or if I'm really ambitious, a book) that would consist of sketchbook faces and accompanying stories.

* Get back to making comics, however sporadically that happens.

Aside from that, I'm working on final art for a 2018 picture book right now, then will shift gears to a project that I can't wait to share more about. And in the fall, Fort Building Time by Megan Wagner Lloyd comes out!

Personally?

* I want to make more of my clothes, mostly because as a grown woman it's impossible to find a shirt covered in cephalopods. But also for reasons of sustainability, I'd like to knit and sew more of my wardrobe, even if it's only a handful of items.

* Reading is on my list of resolutions, but I'm not setting a number of books this year. The Brothers Karamazov and Little Dorrit have been sitting on the shelf forever. Owing to their size, I'm planning to read a couple hefty books this year, rather than a lot of shorter volumes.

And beyond all that, I think I'll just stay the course. I'm sure there'll be trips to see family, vintage shenanigans and hopefully some more camping once the weather accomodates.

And you?

Home is Here

Playing around with a greeting card idea, aided by some ink and paint sketchbook odds and ends.

* Speaking of greeting cards, I just got a box of holiday cards from the printer. I'll have those up in the shop after Thanksgiving.

* My niece loaned me her copy of Who Could That Be at This Hour?. Halfway through, I can safely say niece has pretty terrific taste in literature.

* And Finding Wild is included over on the Nerdy Book Club in their "Top Ten Books That Encourage Us To Get Outside and Explore" list, alongside some other swell reads.

Speakeasy Swing

When Spoonflower announced a

Prohibition Cocktails

themed challenge a few weeks back, I knew I had to give the subject matter a go. Phonographs! G&T's! The Charleston! So here's my take on the subject matter. And for giggles, what the above pictured dame and dandy would look like covering an armchair, as seen below.

River Flowers

I took the dog for a walk by the river and came back with a bouquet of Lady's Thumb, Goldenrod, Beach Pea and Fireweed. Here's a pattern with those last bits of summer.

And I've forgotten to mention, on the sidebar I've added a sign up for my monthly newsletter. If that's your jam, I'll be sending out shop updates, new work, local event information and subscriber downloads.

Happy Weekend!