The Iznik Collection from Snow Leopard Designs

The Iznik Collection is inspired by the decorative pottery and tiles that were produced in the town of Iznik in Anatolia, Turkey, between the 15th and 17th century. Iznik pottery is known throughout the world for its vivid cobalt and turquoise blue glazes and simple swirling patterns inspired by natural forms. The pottery was originally inspired by the Chinese blue and white Ming dynasty porcelain that was being brought along the Silk Road during the 15th century and had such a profound influence on the Ottoman court at that time.  The collection itself has been developed from a select group of glazed tiles and plates. As well as simple floral and geometric motifs, it includes such elements as the tree of life. This new collection from Snow Leopard continues to give a contemporary form to these great artistic traditions from the past, while allowing them to be enjoyed in our homes today.

Visit the Discover section of www.makeitcoats.com to find projects and information 

about the Iznik Collection

Dena Designs and Pretty Little Things!

Editor's Note: Dena Designs recently introduced a new FreeSpirit Collection called Pretty Little Things (24 SKUs, 100% cotton, available June). Fun and whimsical, this collection features a combination of hand-painted florals with fresh geometric prints in aqua, pink, yellow and orange. Inspired by sweet hand-made projects, these are perfect patterns for creating pretty little things. Enjoy this post from Dena!

I have a small stash of inexpensive photo albums and scrapbooks that I bought years ago. They make really special customizable gifts for close friends and family. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy and fast it is to cover one of these books in your favorite fabric.

Gather:
• An inexpensive scrapbook or album
• Enough fabric to cover it, plus 1” extra all around

• Patterned paper for the interior front and back cover

• Scissors

• Small decorative frame to attach to the album cover

• Photo for the frame

• Paper or fabric tag

• Ribbon

• Hot Glue

• Spray Adhesive

• Sizzix Die Cutting Machine and Dies (optional)
Create:
1. To cover your album with fabric, you can often disassemble the albums to separate the front and back cover, but we think that takes too long! This is the easy-breezy way to get the job done. Begin by cutting your fabric that you will use to cover your album.

2. I like to use spray adhesive to cover my album – just make sure you spray outside! Lay both your fabric and album open face down on a clean surface. Spray the back of the fabric and the front and back of the open album. Then, pick up your album and lay the sticky side down centered onto the flat fabric. Apply pressure all around the edges to adhere. Close the album. Smooth out any wrinkles – if there are big ones you have a few seconds to reposition your fabric before the glue dries.

3. Open the album again, and cut the corners of the fabric ¼” away from the corners of the album on the diagonal. This will make neater folds when you’re wrapping the fabric around to the inside of the album. Also cut two slits along the edge of your fabric the same width as the spine of your album. This is so you can fold this flap of fabric into the spine of your album for a neat edge.

4. Spray more adhesive along the interior edge of your open album cover, and begin to fold the extra fabric up, so it’s neatly wrapping from the outside to the inside of your book. Do this for all the edges on the front and back cover, as well as the little tabs on the spine.

5. Now take some patterned paper and use that to make neat end pages for the front and back covers of your album. This will cover the frayed edges of the wrapping fabric. Simply cut it about ¼” to ½” away from the interior edges, spray adhesive the back, and stick it down. Do this for both the front and back.

6. Now, to embellish the front cover, I had a little gold frame that I found at the flea market, and I printed a photo to fit perfectly inside it. You can use a frame like this, or a die cut paper frame for your photo – whatever you have on hand! Hot glue this to the center of your cover.

7. Die cut a tag in white fabric with a Sizzix die cutting machine, or with scissors. Make holes or slits in either end and string a thin ribbon through. Hot glue one end of the ribbon under the front cover, and the other end of the ribbon around to the back of the album.

8. Take a marker and write the name of the person that your album is for. Now you have a totally unique album or scrapbook!

I love using this fabric covering method for all kinds of projects. Try it on journals, address books, boxes, and more!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour stops here today! Ideas a plenty for your quilting pleasure!

With all the digitalness of our world today, there are times when flipping through a good magazine goes a long way to inspire your creativity. Page after page fills you with ideas for your dream file, for using your stash or to convince you to buy new fabric (not that you need a reason!).  Volume 5 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks allows you this "Quilty Pleasure" with, well, 100 fun-to-make, quilt blocks just itching to become something grander . . . like a quilt.

Perennial Posies Featuring FreeSpirit Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey



For instance, six different blocks, with repeats of two, were used by Joanna Simpson in her Perennial Posies sampler which was quilted by Tamra Rene'. FreeSpirit Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey comes together nicely in block #463 Split Chain, designed by Cindy Erickson; block #467 Scrappy Summer by Allison Harris, cathedral square block #468 by Lee Heinrich, block #414 Bittersweet Basket by Martha Walker and Starfire #465 designed by Kay Gentry.

Material Girl featuring Rowan's Lark by Amy Butler



You might like the Broderie Perse, appliquéd words and flower blocks surround Cheryl Willis’ Material Girl. Our sister brand, Rowan Lark by Amy Butler, helps these designers say it all, "for me, design is like choosing what I want to wear for the day . . ." Truer words were never spoken, or appliqued in this case.  This features block #436 My Summer Sandal by Barbara Jones and block #401 Abloom designed by Barbara Cherniwchan. 

FreeSpirit Good Folks Anna Maria Horner
#457 Beautiful Math by Elizabeth Dackson



FreeSpirit Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt
#480 On The Path by Konda Luckau



Here's the best part.  All of these blocks and more (like another 90 plus) can all be found in Volume 5 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  Comment below by midnight Tuesday, May 1 for a chance to win a FREE copy of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 5,  the perfect way to touch, feel and flip through all those pages of block inspiration! And, visit the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks site to join the blog tour and find more chances to win.

FreeSpirit  Taza by Dena Designs
#469 Cathedral Square by Lee Heinrich

Cocoon by Valori Wells, for your pleasure!

Editor's Note: It's April! Welcome FreeSpirit Artist Valori Wells and her newest collection Cocoon!

 

Hello……Happy Spring!!! I am excited to be a guest blogger for FreeSpirit Fabrics and really excited to tell you about my newest collection Cocoon (26 Cotton SKUs, 7 Voile SKUs, 7 Linen Cotton SKUs).



My Butterfly Vi



My Butterfly Olivia

Cocoon…..it has so many meanings for me. I have spent numerous summers trying to capture the unique beauty of the butterfly with my camera. My love of flowers and butterflies has passed down to my girls! Since my oldest was two she has asked for her summer birthday to be “butterflies”….she is six now and still loves to run through our wild flowers looking for them. As her younger sister follows her every move she has taken a liking to the beauties also. We spend so much time in our garden, loving the flowers, eating the vegetables and watching the friendly flyers visit. It was a given at some point that I would create a fabric with butterflies. For myself as an artist I feel like I am coming out of a cocoon. Finding my path and my balance with my work, my family and myself. This collection is part of my growth as an artist. 

Cocoon Cotton

At Spring Quilt Market (trade show), I am going to be introducing Simply Made Summer, a weekly blog (stitchinpostinsisters.typepad.com) with free patterns, project ideas and other yummy things for the summer. Simply Made Summer will begin the first week of June and last for 12 weeks. I love summer, it is so short here in Central Oregon. Plus, with the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Quilters Affair Classes my time is even more limited so we take full advantage of the long sunny days. I thought it would be fun to have something new every week to entice your creativity and show you a bit of my life and love.

Make April Little Tote by Valori Wells

 

My studio is a buzz with Cocoon projects…..I thought I would share a few with you. I hope to hear from you this summer!!!!

 

Cocoon Linen Cotton

Cocoon Voile



Week 3; Heather Bailey Fresh Cut

Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey,  Laminate OCHB005Brown

As promised, each month we will feature a designer post, project tutorial and a giveaway. Last week we celebrated all things Spring. This week, we return to Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey, a relaunch of her original FreeSpirit fabric with new colorations; a real breath of fresh air.  To continue our March "Madness," and I don't mean basketball, we want to share the wealth.  We want you to experience our Flannel and Laminate substrates by offering three randomly selected commentators a chance to win six, one yard cuts of Fresh Cut Flannel and another three randomly selected commenators a chance to win six, one yard cuts of Fresh Cut Laminates. That is six total winners!

So comment away.  You have between now and Thursday, March 29.  Winners will be announced here on Friday.

Thanks for Playing Along in our 4 Days of Spring has Sprung Celebration!



FreeSpirit Classica Sateen by Annette Tatum



Phew, what a week. So many beautiful new collections, it is hard to decide where to begin creating.  We hope you enjoyed our 4 days of Spring has Sprung giveaway.  More importantly we hope you enjoyed getting a sneak peak of some our artist's new collections and that you have tons of new projects in mind for each one.



Rowan Gypsy Caravan by Amy Butler Stash



The winner of the six, one yard cuts of Farmington by Martha Negley is Jan from Southern California.  She lives in a town called Murrieta, surrounded by light and nature. Wonderful for creativity, according to Jan.



Rowan Farmington by Martha Negley



Come back next week when we get back to our Designer postings.  We will finish our FreeSpirit Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey trilogy.  Next month, we will hear from Valorie Wells herself.  Happy sewing!

FreeSpirit Cocoon by Valori Wells

Story Telling is part of David Walker's Fabric; Get Together in stores in December

If the whimsical, ingenuous art of David Walker speaks to you, it is probably because David intends for it to tell a story. His light-hearted take on life translates into fun, juvenile prints perfect for any sewing, quilting or crafting aficionado. His youthful drawings are born from his past when he was the art director for Hallmark Cards.

“I had always assumed my art would take a more ‘serious’ direction, but after working so closely with the wildly talented artists at Hallmark, I realized I enjoyed the freedom that comes with a more whimsical style,” said David.

David found his fun, youthful style leading his career down a “let it go where it goes” career path of greeting cards, gift wrap, calendars, scrapbooking and now illustrating children’s books. Inspiration for his joyful designs comes from everywhere.

“From product packaging to the two large slightly annoying dogs who share my office, if your mind is open, you can find inspiration just about anywhere. If it catches my eye, captures my attention, it is worth a second look,” said David.



Get Together Corduroy



This includes his new line from FreeSpirit, Get Together (26 cotton and 9 corduroy SKUs, available December 2011). Adorable squirrels, fun-loving bears and cuter then cute pigs. This collection was inspired by a cut paper design; fold over the paper, cut the design, unfold the paper and voila, a large, connected pattern. According to David, the idea was simpler with paper and scissors but he is certain the animals scattered across the fabric will craft into charming children’s clothes, dog beds, homedécor items and everything in between.

So what’s next for this artist who confesses to have moved from St. Louis, MO to ChapelHill, NC after only a two day visit? “Ihave several new children’s book releasingthis Fall and Winter that will be available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, but the big news is I’m planning to sell some of my original art for the first time ever starting in Spring 2012”. Watch for more information on davidwalkerstudios.com.

Back to School Party with Taza by Dena Designs

The kids are back in school and now it is time to focus on what you love; quilting of course. Quiltmaker magazine is hosting a Back To School Party, offering a free pattern in bite-sized morsels and then guiding you with a sew along to create a throw-size quilt called Dozens of Daisies.

Each weekday from Sept. 8 to 16, join Quiltmaker's blog, Quilty Pleasures, for tips and techniques and giveaways galore!

Taza, the newest fabric collection from Dena Designs, will be featured Friday, September 9.

Take pictures of your creation along the way or comment here on the FreeSpirit blog about the fun you're having. We are joining the party too. If you comment between now and September 16, you may be chosen as one of four winners to receive fat quarter bundles of Taza. So, join the party and let us know if you are creating with Quilty Pleasures!

All those beautiful fabrics, just click!

Now you can page through the Spring 2011 Westminster Lifestyle Fabric's catalog online. Simply click here to view our full-color 240 page book full of beautiful Rowan and FreeSpirit fabrics. Once you're done feasting your eyes on the likes of Amy Butler's Organic Soul, Tula Pink's Prince Charming and Heather Bailey's Garden District, check out the Designer's own brochures as well as project ideas. There's so much to see, you can spend hours flipping through, dreaming and becoming inspired!

Meet Mark Cesarik and make his Calypso Swing Flower Arrangement

A surface designer and fine artist, Mark Cesarik started designing fabrics to satisfy his wife Cara's desire for "just the right fabric." Together, they started Sew Bettie, a collection of kitchy designs printed by Spoonflower. Plenty of great exposure later, such as mentions in the New York Times and the popular site Design Sponge, FreeSpirit enlisted Mark to join its ranks with his first colleciton Calypso Swing, delivered January 2011.

Mark and Cara recently attended their first Quilt Market. Cara, a true "sewist" and a up and coming resident at a hospital in New York City, made samples for their booth. Being resourceful, and a very "with it" couple, they enlisted Etsy.com sewers to get creative with Calypso Swing. The results were specatcular including this incredible dress made from MC08 Gray.

Even more specatular was the great center piece on Mark's table, designed and sewn by Cara. This floral arrangment, made entirely from Mark's fabric would be a great centerpiece at a wedding, bridal shower, baby shower or just gracing your dining room table. Make the Calypso Swing centerpiece by clicking here.

While you are there, click around. You'll be surprised at what you can find.

Watch for Mark's next collection Morning Tides due out in August.

Pernilla's Journey by Tina Givens

If you haven't already taken a look at Pernilla's Journey by Tina Givens, here's your chance. This collection is inspired by one of Tina's favorite childhood books about a young girl who lived in a Parrot Jungle. Through Pernilla's journey she encounters exotic animals, brilliant gardens and fountain pools. This whimsical collection emulate's Tina's light and hopeful style with elephant's lightly parading across the width of the fabric and seahorses dancing in the middle of medalions. Pernilla's Journey is available in 100% cotton and a linen cotton in three colorways; licorice cloud, cotton candy and sweet treats. It is easy to see Tina's imaginative, artistic memories of Pernilla's journey.

Citrus Star

Here's a solids story that will brighten your day or your room. Quiltmaker's July/August issue features a cheerful, really beautiful quilt made from our FreeSpirit Designer Essentials. It's amazing how combining bright, vibrant, solid hues can make such an uplifting statement. Imagine this quilt in a warm solid or cool solid palette. Color can be the single most influential element in changing the look of your quilt and a room.

To Market, To Market

Phew! Another Spring International Quilt Market has come and gone and we are certain you are going to love, love, love the fabrics we have created with our Designer's. This market found some of your favorite designers introducing new substrates, new designs, new Lifestyle products plus new patterns and books. So much newness, you will be overwhelmingly inspired to sew, quilt, organize and hand stitch everything you own.

For instance, Anna Maria Horner introduced her LouLouthi line. Greek for the name flower, LouLouthi includes cottons, voiles, laminates and her special new needlework (printed cross stitch) fabric. To go along with these gorgeous fabrics whose colorways are named after her daughters, are her four collections of hand-picked colors of size 8 Anchor Pearl Cottons and six-strand Anchor embroidery flosses as well as fabric covered sewing and lifestyle covered craft boxes. Edging all of this, were spools of LouLouthi single-fold bias binding in 1 1/8" and 2 1/4" widths, perfect for easily binding a quilt or edging any sewing project. All these new products deserved a celebration . . . cupcakes iced in the perfect LouLouthi colors, of course.







Leaping into our hearts, and almost certain yours is Tula Pink's Prince Charming. Now you don't have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your true Prince Charming,Tula has done that for you. Do, though, look for Tula's signature hidden surprises in her new collection. By the way, Tula's booth won an award for best decorated single booth.

Verna Mosquera's Tea Cakes created the perfect tea party atmosphere. Complete with cupcake pin cushions and appliqued candy canes and sweet treats, Tea Cakes will give you that feminine touch.

Valori Wells once again wows us with her Wrenly Collection. Showing these cottons, sateens and voiles in a comfy suite-like setting, you'll love the clean bold prints and all over florals. Wrenly is also great for combining with Val's linen collection Jenaveve.

New FreeSpirit designer Mark Cesarik enlisted Etsy sewers to create a special occassion dress as well as children's clothing, purses, tote bags and more to display in Calypso Swing fabricated booth. Mark also introduced a second collection Morning Tides due out in July.

Rowan designer Amy Butler brought new popular Soul Blossom collection to market in some gorgeous new substrates; rayon, corduroy, voile and organic cotton. Each of these new substrates are incredibly soft, including the corduroy, perfect for clothing or a summer quilt.

Joel and Laurie Dewberry were on hand to introduce Joel's new Heirloom collection, available in cotton, sateen, laminate and voile. Laurie designed fashionable patterns to accompany this beautiful collection which is Joel's take on his mother's, famous crafter Donna Dewberry, signature flower, the cabbage rose.

Also on hand to promote their fabrics where Jennifer Paganelli who also launched her new book A Girl's world; Erin McMorris with her colorful Summersault fabrics and Jenenean Morrison's retro-looking Silent Cinema.

Pernilla's Journey from Tina Givens was introduced. Featuing whimsical sea horses and child like elephants, Tina's new cotton and linen collection was inspired by a story book she used to read over and over when she was a child.

Heather Bailey introduced a new substrate, canvas, in her Garden District collection. The canvas is a nice weight suitable for home dec projects. Also in sateen, Garden District will be available in August.

But that's not all. George Mendoza's Color of the Wind, Nel Whatmore's Sleeping Beauty, Jazz City from Art of Possibilities, Dena Fishbein's Taza, Donna Dewberry's Glorious Garden plus two Holiday collections; Kathy Davis Ambrosia and Dena Fishbein's Kumari Holiday were some of the other collections seen on fabric for the first time at Market.

Rounding out these awesome collections were a plethora of finished products including Designer Essential fabric bundles and Ty Pennington Impressions fabric kits, panels and lifestyle fabric covered boxes.

It was a hetic but very exciting three days and we wish all of you could have been there to meet our designers, shop the show and just have plain old quilting fun!