Letters from Quiltcon

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Yesterday emails were sent, read, and either celebrated or commiserated over.

The wait is over, and Quiltcon has its show quilts. Regrettably, none of my quilts will be hanging in Austin this February. Nor am I the only one without an entry, many of my amazing, talented quilting friends did not get in. Instagram has a new hashtag: #quiltconreject

Here is where I have a problem: the word reject.

Reject can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, reject means “dismiss as inadequate, inappropriate, or not to one’s taste” As a noun, reject means “a person or thing dismissed as failing to meet standards or satisfy tastes”. Reject has the undertones of failure, inadequacy, of not being good enough. Its not a very happy word, and using it to describe ourselves and out work is detrimental and frankly insulting.

People, WE ARE NOT REJECTS.

We were not rejected, we were regretfully passed up. Not because our quilts weren’t good enough, but because they just didn’t fit with the vision the curators had for the show.

It is hard to get a letter saying that your work is not chosen. I understand all too well. But that does not mean you aren’t good enough.

Jess over at Quilty Habit spelled it out perfectly in her blog post Positive thoughts on Quiltcon Rejection. She gets to the heart of the matter in a great way. there were over 1300 entries to Quiltcon. The show coordinators have a vision of how they want Modern Quilting to be represented to the public, and the quilts they chose reflect that vision. There are so many interpretations of Modern Quilting, so many aesthetics and techniques and visions, that to narrow it down to one must have been agonizing. But they did, and then they had to flip through the thousand plus entries to find the quilts that reflect the chosen aesthetic. It is the same selection process used in museums and art galleries. You could submit a masterful landscape painting that accurately reflects the people, time, and techniques of the style, but if they want flowers in vases, the landscape isn’t going to make it, no matter how talented and perfect the landscape is.

From what I have seen from the quilts that did get in, this year Modern Quilting will be represented by bright, bold colors, simple quilting, color blocking, and graphic designs.

So lets change the hashtag. Lets rejoice in our shared love of quilting! Lets cheer for our friends in the show! Lets ooh and aah over the quilts that will be displayed, and see the show for what it is : a curated selection of quilts, selected from a pool of the best modern quilts in the world-our quilts!

#notaquiltconreject

*UPDATE* Latifah Saafir at The Quilt Engineer has an amazing, insightful post about the jury process. Go check it out, it helps to put things in perspective!

Happy Goes Mini

4Dec2014

Pantone Color of the Year 2015 is….Marsala?

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Yup. Marsala.

For a couple weeks now we have been anxiously awaiting the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year for 2015. Pantone is the leading authority and biggest influence on color in the garment, textile, and design industry. If you want an accurate color, you quote Pantone swatches. Every year Pantone introduces its color of the year, and this year they chose Marsala. MARSALA.

Obviously I have mixed emotions about this color.

My initial reaction was not complimentary. Nor were the words I used to describe it. I won’t repeat it here.

If I were a garment or interior designer, I would be very happy. There are a lot of possibilities with Marsala in interior design and the fashion world. My wallet, as it turnes out, is Marsala. A crocodile skin print in Marsala, with gold acents and a nice shine. its very nice. I can see a lot of riding boots, belts, purses, wallets, coats, accents on sweaters and home decor such as lamps, rugs, and trim. Even as an accent wall in the home, there are possibilites. The romatic little blurb about the color makes you want to like it and use it, and as makeup, oh goodness, my favorite eyeshadow just happens to be Marsala with a shimmer.

As a quilter and quilt designer however…..it is going to be a challenge to embrace this color.

Image from BrightsideFilms

7Nov2014

Introducing Bumblecomb!

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Bumblecomb Baby Quilt-Photo Courtesy of Freespirit Fabrics

A few months ago I had the opportunity to design a project using Tula Pink’s new line of baby prints, Bumble. Bumble is a dreamy, sweet collection featuring bumble bees, pollen, birchwood forests and a dreamy cloudy skyland, all in the classic Tula style. What makes the collection unique is the fabric itself- a super soft, high thread count peached poplin with a gentle texture that makes it perfect for everything from quilts to clothing. It was a dream to sew with, and pictures can’t quite capture the depth of the color-subtle and vibrant at the same time.

Free motion clouds

I decided to go with a baby quilt-super easy, appliqued hexagons (because, you know, bees!) and a two tone background. The hexagons are big enough to allow fussy cutting of the feature fabrics, and the edges are left raw, because babies love texture.

The pattern is available as a free download from from the Freespirit website, as are a number of other great projects.

I love how the project turned out, and I hope you do too. I would love to see your finished version of Bumblecomb! Tag me on instagram @staceyinstitches, or add it to the Stacey Day Quilts Flickr Group.

Happy Stitching!

20Oct2014

CQA Time For Colour Gallery

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

The gallery of the Time for Colour challenge quilts is up on the Canadian Quilters Association blog. There are some amazingly beautiful mini quilts from a whole lot of talented quilters. British Columbia made a food showing, and I am happy to say that the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild had three members participate.

You can see all the quilts by following the link below. I am a little disappointed that my quilt looks so dull. Its definitely bright and cheery in person. Each of the quilts will be sold with the proceeds going to the Children’s Wish Foundation. you can also get postcards of your favorites =)

http://www.cqacanadianquilting.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page.html?m=1

29Sep2014

Around the World Blog Hop

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

Welcome Back! Today I get to participate in the Around the World Blog hop. Its a fun kinda get to know ya session for bloggers from, you guessed it, Around the World. I was tagged by Amy @Badskirt last week. Thanks Amy! =)

So without further ado, here we go!

What are YOU doing?!

What am I working on?

What aren’t I working on?? Haha, between swaps, work, QDAD and my own personal library, I am always working on something. Thankfully I was able to complete and mail off a few things this week, which means the next week will be devoted to reading. Until the sewing bug hits me again and I commit to a dozen more projects! ( or so it feels like). I do have 3 book reviews in the works, so you have that to look forward to. I also have decided what my next pattern is going to be 😉 Oh, and don’t mention of the green wool serge military jacket that is currently kicking my butt, okay?

I finally finished this beauty of a memory quilt last night. It’s for a friends-sisters-grandma-in-law’s 80th birthday. What a wonderful, thoughtful thing! I loved looking at the pictures and watching the family grow from two to five to two dozen. These kinds of projects make me happy =)

I also mailed my mini quilt for the Canadian Quilter’s Association Travelling Quilt Show! This is a travelling trunk show of mini quilts made by past CQA show winners (my ribbon was for Sapphire Star), and the theme was “It’s Time for Colour”. What says colour better than a rainbow? I wanted my piece to be happy and playful, and a good mix of modern and traditional. These quilts will be hanging at the Quilt Canada 2015 show in Lethbridge, AB, are going to be sold at the end of the show, with all the proceeds going to The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada.

Spectrum

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Hmm, this seems to be the tough question of the five. My genre is quilting, so I guess my subspecies would be Modern-Traditional. I really can’t pinpoint where my work differs. Its….just mine…..I guess. I like bright colors, symmetry, negative space and paper piecing. Its an eclectic mix that is unique to me. Since joining Quilt Design a Day back in March, my style has morphed increasingly. You can see a really big difference in the designs =) Shout out to my QDAD peeps for their influence!

Then:

March 1- breakfast cereal

March 2- a courtyard tile

March 3- lilypads

Now:

Sept 6- flowers

Sept 21- pink leaf things

Sept 28-succulent

Why do I write/create what I do?

It is what I am meant to do. I love to quilt. LOVE. My grandma introduced me to quilting, my mom taught me to sew. There is color in my head and quilting in my heart. I dabble in other hobbies, but I always come back to quilting. Since joining QDAD the designing has become a much bigger part of my journey. I love being able to take an idea and make it come to life-first on screen, then in fabric, and then in a format that I can share, like a pattern or tutorial (Hint-visit my patterns and tutorials tabs) Lately a lot of my writing has been for things I am unable to share quite yet, but I am getting so close! Eeeeee!!!

How does my writing/creating process work?

My creative process is one part feeling, one part visual, and one part fun whimsy. I tend to focus on one aspect, whether its a feeling, the color balance, or movement in the design. I try to create new looks for classic blocks. The succulent quilt is a block that I have used numerous times, but my changing the arrangement of the colors and negative space it looks completely different. The flower design takes advantage of on-point layouts with negative space sashing and block corners to make the set in triangle appear to pop out of the quilt. I also like to play with rotation and clip and flip effects in my design program (EQ7) to make new and exciting blocks. Sometimes I just play until I am happy!

Far left-Original Block
from second left to far right- clip and flip effect

Hop along

Thanks for reading along! I am tagging Kim@iadorepattern and Lyn Marie@sewouttacontrol. I met Kim through QDAD and we became friends through patterns and designs. Lyn is my crazy friend from down the road who keeps me sane and sometimes helps me purge fabric (ie: take what you want!)

BESTIES!

Happy Stitching!

23Sep2014

Tidal Lace Giveaway Winner

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

It certainly was a fun week with the Tidal Lace Blog Tour.

I hope everyone got a chance to visit each blog and see what people were making with Kim’s gorgeous fabrics. And of course enter to win some of your own. There were 98 here at Stacey In Stitches! Wow!! Thank you all so much for participating and having fun. I truly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and thoughts on the collection, and learning a little bit about each one of you =).

Tidal Lace Wheel, borrowed from Kim with permission

And the winner is…..*DRUMROLL*

Number 5……Amy! Who said “Lovely quilt and pillows. Thanks for the tutorial-now I can give it a try. Never made pillows!
Fabrics are wonderful and would love to win these!”

Well Amy now you can!

Happy Stitching and Thanks for playing!

22Sep2014

Just a note to say…

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

…HI! *wave wave*

Its been a super busy week here at Stacey in Stitches, its been great reading all the wonderful and inspiring comments. It keeps me going, especially since the last week or so has been consumed with cutting, sewing, and squaring *mental math* 960 quarter square triangles!!! The project is going to be well worth it and I cannot wait to share it with everyone!

The Tidal Lace Blog Tour is also wrapping up. Tomorrow is the last stop, and the last day you can hop around to enter and win the bundle. You can find mine here. And the Full List of blogs Here. Everyone has been so creative with Kim’s awesome fabric!

I will be drawing my winner tomorrow, so hold your breath and check your email! I will announce it on the post =)

Happy Stitching,

Stacey

960 QSTS and the accompanying 1 1/2″ squares…

10Sep2014

Blogger Bundle Giveaway! Winner Drawn

Posted in Other by StaceyinStitches

A few months ago Megan from The Fat Quarter Shop approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a bundle for the Blogger’s Choice Fat Quarter Bundle Club. Of course I said yes! I love the blogger bundles!

For those who aren’t familiar, The Fat Quarter Shop is an online retailer based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2003 by Kimberly Jolly and joined shortly thereafter by her husband Kevin, The Fat Quarter Shop started out of her home on evening and weekends. Today they carry thousands of fabrics from the best manufacturers. Oodles and oodles! More than you could conceivably roll around in in a day! From solids to stripes, modern to traditional, you can find it at the Fat Quarter Shop. Not only that, they carry notions and exclusive Kits and Block of the Months, fabric clubs and patterns. The Blogger’s Choice bundles are a handpicked collection of coordinating fat quarters. You get 12 prints and three coordinating solid-that’s 15 fat quarters! Each month a new blogger is featured, and I was pleased to be given September. There were so many new fabrics to choose from, I had a hard time deciding!

Stacey Days Blogger’s Bundle-You can find it HERE!

Ultimately I went with the fun bright colors that I love, with a few neutrals thrown in for good measure. The colors are bright and summery, with the slightest hint- just a whisper, really-of winter to come. Forme, the month of September has always been bittersweet. Growing up, the first day back to school there would always be frost. It would go from summer to almost winter in a blink, and as kids we would try everything to keep the memory of summer alive as the leaves quickly turned. September was also the start of a new school year, and my favorite part of back to school was shopping for school supplies. Paper, pencil crayons, paints, markers, pretty colored binders that would just get doodled on. One year I even painted my binders with manga and anime characters. Art was the highlight of high school for me. These were the memories and feelings that were recreated for me when I picked my bundle, and I love it! I can’t wait to get started on a quilt that will help keep summer alive at my house through the rainy season, a colorful lap version of my Forest Paths Quilt!

Now for the best part! You have a chance to win my Blogger’s Choice Bundle for yourself!

Here’s how!

~~1. Leave a comment here in this post! (one entry)~~
~~2. Follow The Fat Quarter Shop on Facebook or on Instagram , and then leave a separate comment here to let me know that you do. (optional extra entry)~~
~~3. My followers get a third entry! Let me know that you do by making a separate comment here. (optional extra entry)~~
~~4. Help spread the word!! Share the giveaway by instagram, facebook, pin, blog, etc…and then let me know that you do by leaving a seperate comment here (optional extra entry)~~

~~There, that’s four possible entries! The giveaway will be open from now until 8PM PST on Friday, September 12. Winner will be picked using~~ ~~Random and I will announce the name HERE on Saturday, September 13.~~

This giveaway is open to everyone, so if you’re a “no reply” or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment!

And the Winner is…….drumroll

#39-Crystal! who said “Thank you for the giveaway =)”

Number 39-Crystal!

Thank you to everyone who played along! Stay tuned for some more great stuff coming next week! *hint, there’s more fabric involved!*

1Sep2014

241 Goodness

Posted in Finished Quilts, Other by StaceyinStitches

Welcome to the first day of September!!!

Last night I finally got the chance to sit down and make something for myself. I have been so busy lately I haven’t had time to even think of a personal project, let alone start. Somehow I found myself with about an hour of spare time around 10pm, and my wonderful husband told me if I wanted to sew all night he would get up with kiddo (who is a 6am waker!) So there I was with as many hours as I cared to have, and despite having 2 tops to baste and start quilting, I pulled out my 241 bag pattern from Noodlehead.

Now the 241 bag isn’t anything new. If anything it is becoming timeless. Many of the VMQGers have themselves a 241 bag or two (or ten if your Krista@Poppyprint) In fact it was Krista’s last 241 creation that inspired me to purchase the pattern. I LOVE that red feather print! But then the pattern just sat.

And sat……

And sat……..

Now I don’t feel so bad about the sitting, because I was able to do a little research into the small adjustments others have made, and why they made them. For example, I am quite tall, so I added an extra 3″ to the strap and it made just that little bit of difference of how it sits. If I had the hardware I would made an adjustable strap like Krista, but baby steps first!

I also enlarged the pieces 30%, because I like a large bag, and somehow it became a requirement for having a toddler. I went with the inside pocket as the only extra step, I will start adding exterior pockets when I find zippers and such. By crazy random happenstance the print lined up perfectly! Woot woot!!

Somehow I also ran out of interfacing, so there are 3 different types in here. The body is shape flex, the strap is a midweight non woven with some structure to it, and the side pockets are a sheerweight. Overall it worked well. The strap needs to be durable (again, toddler) and I wanted the side pockets to be flexible without bulk to make attaching them to the bag easier. It worked. They had just a little give, enough to ease them into the side panels perfectly. I like how the direction of the pocket print balances with the direction of the feathers =)

I used a Navy Sketch Basic from Timeless Treasures for the sides and strap, which perfectly complimented the Of a Feather print I have been hoarding from the Tsuru collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale. I have yards of it, and was going to use it for bindings, but the print cried out in happiness as I pulled it from my stash for this bag. That pretty coral scallop is a hard to find print from the Vintage Verona Collection by Emily Taylor Designs for Riley Blake. I used it for the lining as well, and the navy I used for the pocket lining. All about balance! Here are the runner up pulls for this bag. Some may still be made, i just need find more interfacing!

Nordika, Dots, and Sweet Serenade

Kona Bay meets PB&J

Lark and Linen

The bag has officially been christened: I found something that might have been yogurt on the top of the strap after I hung it on the back of the chair while I grabbed my camera. (10 seconds people, must be a new record!). In a few days I am sure it will start sprouting gummy snacks and little plastic airplanes, but for now I will enjoy having a bag all to myself!

Happy Stitching!!

14Aug2014

Featured!

Posted in Finished Quilts, Gallery, Other by StaceyinStitches

Alrighty! Enough Suspense for everyone =) A few months ago I was asked to make a quilt for a new fabric line, Tidal Lace by Kim Anderson of I Adore Pattern. Kim is a member of the QDAD group, and being asked to make a quilt for her was a thrill! I Had a lot of fun designing and playing with her fabrics. They are so soft, the colors are striking and rich, and the patterns are uniquely Kim. Today Kim and Tidal Lace were featured on Oliver+S blog. There is also a giveaway involved. My quilt, Down By The Sea, was featured in one of the images. It also happens to be the image used to feature the collection on the Windham Fabrics website AND in the email the company send out to retailer. How awesome is that?!

Down by the Sea

There is going to be a blog hop in September, where I will share a tutorial for a pillow and release the Down by the Sea pattern as the first for sale pattern for my new pattern company: Stacey Day Quilts. The quilt itself will have yardage and cutting included for multiple sizes, and the pillow will be a free tutorial utilizing the scraps from the quilt.

Tidal Lace will be available in stores in January, so keep your eyes peeled!

As always,
Happy Stitching!