A huge thank you to everyone who visited for The Reclaimed West Blog Tour.
I wanted to reply to everyone’s comments, thank you all so much for your kind and encouraging words! I drew the winner of my free pattern, and the lucky number is……#25! Beezus, who said “Congratulations Stacey”. Yay!
Welcome all to my day on the Reclaimed West Blog Tour. ( If you are here for the Blogathon Canada tour and giveaway, click here after reading all about this wonderful tour and entering this giveaway, and if not, check out both for some great fun!!) You can find all the tour dates and blogs here on the Timeless Treasures blog. They are a super group of very talented ladies, so check them out!
I cannot even begin to describe my feelings to you all, having a design chosen as part of The Reclaimed West Tour. So a little back story might be in order.
I own almost every Judy Niemeyer pattern there is. She is one of my biggest influences, and it shows constantly in my work. I have made her Amazon Star in three sizes, 18″, 40″, and the full 104″. My Sapphire Star quilt, made from her Glacier Star pattern, has been juried into multiple shows across North America and even took home a ribbon from the Canadian Quilters Association. I have a private running challenge with my Grandma over who is going to finish her Pepper Dish first, and I was even able to provide an extra copy of Birds of Paradise to someone after the call went out on Quiltworx Facebook page. I love Judy and Judels work, and will even get up extra super early on sale days just to get the latest patterns.
Being a part of the launch of her new fabric line, The Reclaimed West, is a huge deal for me. Understatement of the year maybe….
I could ramble on and on about how beautiful the fabric is, the richness of the colors, the striking prints (only Judy and Judel could romanticize cows to the point where I would willingly sew with them), and the soft silk feeling of rolling around in a pile of…I mean…sewing with the fabrics. Instead I will show you with the introduction of my new pattern:
Star of the West
When I saw that Timeless Treasures was looking for submissions for the line, I fell out of my chair and immediately got to work playing. I knew that I wanted to do something to show the influence Judy had early on when I first started quilting, but at the same time keep true to the aesthetic that has evolved into my own style. So I started playing with the layouts and negative space. And playing…and playing… and playing.
I realized I was over-thinking things, and settled on a simple feathered star block. Then I found a color layout that I loved, and added the geese border. I wanted to reclaim that old favorite of mine, the lone star and flying geese, by adding some negative space and drawing out a little modern in the overall design. I created something that I loved, and sent it off with hope in my heart.
After I picked myself off the floor a second time, when I got the email saying my design had been accepted, I got to work drafting and writing. In true Judy style the quilt is foundation pieced. I love foundation piecing, it makes pointy points! Then the big day arrived with a box of fabric on my front step. I crawled on up and opened it and immediately started sewing.
I finished in record time (for me) and then I was stumped. How to quilt it? The finished size is 64″x 64″, not unmanageable on my machine. But I was stuck. I simply could not decide. I definitely wanted to pay tribute to the beautiful quilting found on all of Judy’s quilts, but also wanted to keep within the modern traditional. Enter Ann Olson of Ann’s Quilt and Stuff. She took my top and turned it into a masterpiece. She delivered exactly what I was looking for, free motion triangle fillers, straight lines, and these amazing triangle feathers in a tribute to the gorgeous feather work found on an original Judy quilt. I cannot even begin to thank Ann enough.
From start to finish, this quilt has been an incredible journey for me. To be a part of the blog tour with all these amazing quilters (almost all of which are certified Quiltworx instructors or successful business owners, or both) has been a joy and a privilege.
Star of the West is available from my Craftsy shop. The pattern is a PDF download, full color diagrams and pictures. The foundations are included in the pattern, but require legal size paper (8 1/2″x 14″ paper) to print. I am also giving away one of my patterns to a lucky commenter today! Just leave a comment at the end of this post. I will draw the winner on Friday, November 21 at 8pm (the conclusion of the tour). Timeless Treasures is also giving away an awesome Reclaimed West prize package here! You get an entry a day. Just visit the blogs of the day and follow the link back to enter each day.
Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to share my quilt with you. Please visit again!
Happy Stitching,
Your quilt is amazing. Simple but powerful with the quilting details.
Such a beautiful quilt. I have always admired the lone stars but thought they would be difficult to make. I also shy away from any large areas of negative space because of the quilting. Yours is wonderful. Maybe some day I will try one.
I loved the story behind your gorgeous quilt!
silverthimble@shaw.ca
Stacey, you bring tears to my eyes !! what a beautiful quilt ,it glows as though it contains jewels . We are so proud of you , Gram
Very lovely!
Love the Quilting…a Diamond inspired feather. 🙂 Very nice!
I’m happy to learn that other pattern writers/designers are finding inspiration from Quiltworx patterns and their new Reclaimed West fabrics from Timeless Treasures. Your “Star of the West” quilt is beautiful! I plan to add your pattern to my paper piecing pattern library soon via Craftsy. Congratulations on the ribbon award for your “Sapphire Star” quilt, and I look forward to more of your pattern designs. (I am completely new to paper piecing and am very happy that I started to learn the process with a Quiltworx pattern. My learning experience came from the #1 Quiltworx expert – Judy Niemeyer! – at one of her Somers, MT retreats in September. Our class was also fortunate to have a wonderful CI working with us to assist Judy.) I am now happily infected with the paper piecing bug and look forward to watching your progress with patterns, too.
I love all that negative space. Beautiful quilt!
What an uplifting story. I love how this quilt turned out. The design I love. All the negative space makes all the fabrics pop. The quilting is perfect for your design. I can’t wait to make a heirloom quilt, I will keep this quilt in my mind.
I give you a ten.
That is an a wonderful story and I I love the quilting and the pattern.
Wow!! This is a beautiful quilt. Love the colors and the pattern you made. I would love to try to make this pattern. Hope I am the lucky one to win this pattern.
ThIs is my best image of a lone star. I love the negative space. I am a flying geese fan. The quilting is just icing. This is a job well executed.
I love the look of the lone star quilts but I’m afraid they are too complicated. Your negative space quilting is amazing. I especially like how you did the feather motif! I tried freemotion quilting feathers, was not pretty. It was difficult to sew back over a line nicely. I will have to try your example someday. Right now I’m into hand quilting or straight line quilting with a waling foot. I can do a very good stipple, loops and stars. Beyond that, not so great, but I do plan on learning how to do pebbles. Finding the time to practice and keep up my skills is difficult.
This is a beautiful pattern. I am just beginning to try some Judy N patterns and have fallen in love with this fabric line. You did a fabulous job incorporating the fabric, foundation piecing and your own style. Thanks for sharing the story of your quilt with us.
Stunning pattern and quilt! I just found your blog through the Blogathon Canada and looking forward to seeing some of your older posts.
I love Lone Star quilts! Your adaptation of the Lone Star is beautiful….and paper pieced too! Love it!
Love your quilt pattern. I seem to be drawn to stars, with the feathered star my most favorite!
Love the way you have put the colours together and use of negative space – gorgeous quilt!
you are fortunate to have such artistic ability. Your designs are wonderful.
Star of the West quilt is beautiful.
Very beautiful and an inviting quilt for the eyes to rest upon.
Your pattern is amazing. I got wrapped up in your enthusiasm for “all things Judy”. I too stay up on sale day, so can relate.
Congratulations on being chosen and knocking it out of the park!
I’ve just gotten back into quilting and it’s been fun to hop across the blogs and get inspired! Beautiful quilt. I love the quilting in the “negative space”.
OMG, this quilt is amazing, bravo !
Congratulations, Stacey!
Love your quilt. Thanks for the give away.
Your quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for a chance to win.
Love star quilts – and this one is a beauty!!!Congratulations!
Your quilt is fabulous! Great give away.
What a beautiful pattern! Thanks for sharing your story.
Beautiful quilt. When I think of the West, I think of native Americans and their work with stars on quilts so this is very appropriate for this line of fabric. kthurn@bektel.com
Star of the West is an awesome quilt. A wonderful design and congratulations on being selected for the tour. Thanks for offering a giveaway.
Your Star of the West is a beautiful pattern, and I love the quilting on it. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.
Loved this post, and your Star quilt pattern is beautiful!!! I sure hope i win!
Beautiful quilt, enjoying the blog hop and spending time viewing such beautiful quilts!
Love this fabric line
Stunning quilt – I love it!
I love the quilt and the fabric line. Great job.
Oh my goodness, your quilt is fabulous. I love how the FMQ gives the star motion. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing and inspiring
Your quilt is a work of art!
Your quilts are works of art!