Quilt Market Tour Continues

Paula Barnes & Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline

In my last Quilt Market post, I told you Tara Darr was my booth neighbor on one side...and lucky me....these talented ladies were my neighbors on the other side!!  Having great booth neighbors makes market even better!!  Recently, fellow Marcus Brothers designer Paula Barnes, and her partner, Mary Ellen Robison changed their company name from Bonnie Blue to Red Crinoline Quilts.  I love their new name, don't you?  Their latest Block of the Month quilt, Freedom Rings, is right behind them.  Loving the vertical print featuring the eagles!!

So many glorious quilts to see in their booth!

I loved the big red monogram "R" pillow on the bed!!  Notice the green quilt and the green color card on the floor?  That's Paula's new fabric collection called "Tavern Greens".  YUM!

Continuing on with fellow Marcus designers is the oh-so-talented Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek.
You may also know Vicki from her fabulous new book, English Paper Piecing (Martingale).
Loved seeing the projects from that book in Vicki's booth.

I didn't have a whole lot of time to wander the aisles of market, but I made sure to stop at my fav's.  Here's a quick tour of my stop-n-go favorite designers.  This photo is of Kathy Cardiff.  Her company is The Cottage at Cardiff Farms.  As you can see, Kathy designs lovely folk art/country/prim plain yummy stuff!!  Click on the link above to check out all her designs, and look for her first book coming soon!

Leonie Bateman of the Quilted Crow Girls

A new and wonderful find for me are the Quilted Crow Girls from "down under".  Leonie Bateman and Dierdre Bond-Abel have a beautiful quilt shop in an old church in Tasmania (I saw pictures!).  Tara and I had the pleasure of meeting them right here in our home town because they came to teach a class at our favorite local quilt shop, The Quilt Merchant.  The girls hung out with us at our monthly Dear Jane meeting.  I'm so jazzed to say that they purchased the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club for their shop!  The Prairie Women are in Australia!!

Me, Lisa Bongen & Tara Lynn Darr

Quilt market would never be complete without a stop to see what's new at Lisa Bongean's booth, Primitive Gatherings.

You know how I found Lisa's booth?  Well, I was really hoofing-it down the main aisle, returning to my booth from a quick lunch, when I saw this blue and light quilt, and stopped dead in my tracks!  I mean dead in my tracks!  I looked up to see what booth I was at, and no surprise, it was Primitive Gatherings!  I instantly fell madly in love!!!  I came in for a closer look......

Lisa's quilt is called Colfax County and those tiny triangles are only 1 inch finished.  Be still my heart!  Honestly, the photos just don't do the quilt or the quilting justice.  It is breathtaking.  I already own the pattern and am trying to reserve time to start cutting!! 

This tiny wonder is called Primitive Star and features 1/2 inch finished triangles.  Love, love, love it!

Here are more gorgeous finds from Lisa's booth.

If you see any projects you must have (DUH), please click on the designer links, go forth, and happy shopping!  Blogger isn't allowing me to post any more photos for now, so my Quilt Market tour will continue with my next post.  I still have at least a dozen designers to show you! 

I hope you're enjoying this little tour of mine.  I wish I'd of had more time to visit and take in each booth.  Alas....time goes by so quickly!!  Hope you enjoy your weekend.  Our son, Ryan, will turn the big 21 tomorrow, so our family will be celebrating.  He has taken an interest in wine (he works at a restaurant & winery) so we'll be off to discover the world of fine wines!  Should be an interesting dinner! 

{{grin}}

Pam



(All Quilt Market photos taken with permission of the designer!)

A Bit of Prairie Women's Sewing Circle Business

Hello Dear Reader!

I'm sorry to interrupt our market review, but a bit of serious PWSC club business has been brought to my attention.  I really felt I needed to share this with all of you.

A Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club member contacted me because she was suspicious that the quilt shop where she goes for club meetings was photocopying her club patterns.  A very big NO-NO!  The pattern product she was receiving was very poor and she was quite upset about it.  She had purchased other patterns of mine and knew that they are much higher quality printing than what she was receiving at club meetings.

I have talked with the shop owner in question and a resolution was reached. 

If you are participating in a Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club, you should be receiving a full color, professionally printed cover with color all the way to the edges of the paper (no white borders).  The pattern pages you receive should be printed on one side only.  I have them printed at an office supply type store on high quality paper.  The shops must order the complete pattern set directly from me.  Photocopying of the pattern pages is not allowed. 

I take great pride in producing a high quality pattern.  I hire professional photographers for clear images, and have the color covers professionally printed as well.  I want to be sure you are receiving the pattern as I intended.  

If you feel you are not receiving legitimate patterns, please email me anytime.  You deserve the pattern you are paying for!

Thanks for your time!  Pam 

More Market Favorites!

Like everyone else, I have my favorite stops at market.  No surprise that my bestest, most favorite stops are to my best quilt designer friends booths.  Three guesses who's booth this is!  Haha. 

Yes, folks, it's Kansas Troubles Quilters by none other than my BFF, Lynne Hagmeier, accompanied by husband Robert.  I sat in a chair across from them, really meaning to chat, you see, however, my eyes couldn't help but ignore them to look around the booth at all of the quilts.  I think they'll forgive me....it was Quilt Market after all!!  The glorious quilt behind Lynne and Robert (and most around the booth) were made of Lynne's new yet-to-be-released fabric line called Harvest Moon.  Friends.....start saving your pennies because this collection is over-the-moon wonderful! 

Lynne's booth was jammed with new quilt patterns, Table Treats patterns, Stash Society goodies, and a sneak peek at some projects that will be in her new book coming out later this summer!  Love, love, love them!

I've been a huge fan of Kansas Troubles since the day I began piecing my first quilt.  Love those colors...they're everywhere in my home.  Notice something that just doesn't seem to belong?  Lynne used my new fabric, Heart of the Prairie, in her new Table Treats design called Spell It Out.  The pink one is made from some of my fabrics.  Did I worry you?  Nah...Lynne's not gonna go pink, that's for sure.  She just surprised me with that quilt.  I think the Spell It Out Table Treats are way cool and will be loads of fun to make for any special occasion or holiday!  Hey, Lynne....my birthday's coming up....hint, hint.  Teehee! 

Oh, and by the way, Lynne and I have been working closely with Bunny, our cruise and retreat planner, on our new 2013 Great Girlfriend Get-Aways!!  We've got two terrific destinations to offer you.  The news will be coming soon, so stay tuned!!

Next stop.....to the booth right next door to me.....and my dear, dear friend Tara Lynn Darr of Sew Unique Creations.  As you know from previous posts, Tara and I traveled to Kansas City together.  What a blast!  The fun lasted the entire week.  Well, enough about that....you wanna see her booth and quilts, don't ya! 

Tara out did herself, releasing 22 new patterns!  Oy, Vey!!  Tara, did you sleep?  Many of her new patterns featured wool applique, and are they stunning!  I told her she was born to create those quilts.  I wish I could draw appliques like this!! 

Did I lie?  Aren't they just awesome?

Isn't there something wonderful about the combination of the wool, the pieced blocks and borders, and then the addition of the quilting stitches.  The blending of textures is just glorious!

Well, Blogger is just taking forever.  It doesn't like it when I add so many pictures to one post, so I'll have to quit for now, but rest assured, I have lots and lots more photos of country, folk art, and primitive booths from my favorite designers. 

Next up will be the quilt that stopped me dead in my tracks!  Really!!

Thanks for visiting with me today!!

Pam

Market Set-Up

Upon arrival at Quilt Market, everyone starts with a bare-bones booth.  White drapes, steel poles, boxes and displays are what each of us are challenged with.  Our mission is to turn this drab plain canvas into something wonderful to best show off our newest designs.  How each person is given the same empty booth, and turns it into something different and wonderful, is just amazing!

Marcus Brothers Fabrics was just across the aisle from me, only their challenge was their booth was four times larger than mine!  After two days of work... arranging, hanging & pinning, it was ready for Friday's opening.

Here's how my booth looked Friday morning.  I was happy with the way it turned out.  It felt like me and hoped it displayed my new quilts in a warm, inviting setting.

Across the aisle at Marcus Bros, they displayed the freebie pattern that showcases my new fabric line,  Heart of the Prairie.

Everything looked great, don't ya think?  The black and colored solid quilt at the far end of the booth is called Amish with a Twist,  and was designed by Nancy Rink.  It's just stunning! 

Speaking of Nancy Rink (left), she and pal Mary (right) had a booth across the aisle from Marcus as well. Nancy's has a brand new book called The Mill Girls.  I did a story about the mill girls of Lowell, MA for the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club, and I can't wait to read a lot more in Nancy's new book.  The story is quite compelling!  The large quilt with the big red star features fabrics from The Mill Girls collection, designed by Judie Rothermel (Marcus) for Nancy's new BOM!!  Check out the details by clicking here.

More about the Kansas City market in my next post! 

Pam

Back From Market in Kansas City!!

I'm so sorry that it's been a long, long time since I've posted on my blog.  I had high hopes of being able to keep up while I was at market, but there was just no chance.  My good intentions hit a bump the first day out because of poor internet connections, and that, along with a very full schedule, busy market, and a fun three days with the staff of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine left nary a second to do any blogging. 

However.......I took loads and loads of photos to share with you once I returned home!  I'll bet you've been seeing lots of pictures of market from other designers, and I'm hoping that I have some that maybe you haven't seen.  It will take several posts to be able to show them all, so let's get started....from the very beginning.

My pal, Tara Lynn Darr (Sew Unique Creations) and I left early the Monday morning before market.  It felt soooo good to have the trailer packed and hit the open road. 

We drove to Columbia, MO where we stayed the night, and visited a terrific antique mall called Artichoke Annies.

BFF, Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters) always stops at Artichoke Annie's when she's passing through, so we knew we just had to stop to check it out.

You see....what made it so exciting with possibilities is that I never, ever get to go antiquing with a trailer hitched to the car.  And...there was some room in that trailer, too!  Alas....while Annie's was full of wonderful goodies, I didn't buy anything needing a trailer.  Bummer!  I did purchase a lovely stack of antique quilt blocks that held beautiful fabrics for my future lines!  A nice little treasure!

The next day, Tara and I met Lynne in Greenwood, MO, to shop at Old Glory Antiques.  ARGH!  It was closed.  I had been there a few years ago and was so jazzed to return there.  Another time, and another excuse to go back.  We had fun bumming around the rest of the day visiting other fun shops.  Our girlfriend fun days came to an end,

and we began gearing up to arrive at the convention center bright and early on

Wednesday morning for the start of set-up.

Set-up begins with my next post in a day or so.  Stay tuned!

Pam

  

The Yellow Brick Road to Kansas

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Early this morning, Tara Darr (Sew Unique Creations) and I set off on our trek to Kansas City. I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to load up that trailer and put the petal to the metal!! The day couldn't have been more perfect. Mild upper 70's, no wind or rain and best of all no traffic!! We made great time getting to our first destination.....




Homestead Hearth Quilt Shop in Mexico, Mo. They have tons of fabric - all different genres. Tara had never been, and since it was on our way, well we just had to go. Yes, we both found a few treasures to add to our stash.




Next stop was to a great antiques' mall just outside of Columbia, Mo, called Artichoke Annie's.



They sure have some great displays....don't ya think??









I found a huge pile of awesome quilt blocks that will be great inspirations for future fabric lines!

Wonderful first day as we make our way to KC. Feels so good to be out of the office. More tomorrow! So far blogging with my iPad is working pretty well.

Pam

Kansas City, Here I Come!

The boxes are packed, quilts completed, patterns stuffed, and the brochures are all done.  My very long To-Do list has been whittled down to just one page!  Crossing things off feels oh-so-good!!  Yesterday, I delivered almost all of the stuff for my booth to my traveling pal and fellow designer, Tara Darr's trailer.  We were both giddy that we're finally at this stage!  Pack and load.....has a different meaning for quilters....teehee!

I'm shutting my office down for two weeks!  I wanted to leave you with a few more new quilt photos.  They aren't up on the website just yet, but will be shortly after I return.

Introducing Heart of the Prairie! This is the name-sake pattern that accompanies my new 

fabric line.  It features most of the prints from the collection.  I was inspired by an antique quilt that my dear friend Docia owns (she's the owner of my favorite local shop The Quilt Merchant).  Docia  allowed me to replicate her quilt, and I think it turned out great!  Lovin' those Indigo blues, pinks and greens together.  It's everything I was hoping for when I designed the collection.

Stillwater Creek is another pattern featuring my Heart of the Prairie collection.  It was designed with easy piecing in mind.  For those of you who love large pieces, (I know....it's so unlike me!) this is the project for you!  The Flying Geese in the pieced border are 3 x 6 and the Ohio Star blocks are 18 inches!!  This quilt is a wonderful lap size quilt, and........for those of you joining Lynne and me on our 

Great Girlfriend Get-Away to Alaska 

this is the project we will be making!!  All kitted with fabrics from Heart of the Prairie!

That is why I was unable to show you my Alaskan cruise project until now!  I couldn't talk about it then!  Hope you forgive me!!

Last, but not least, is the lap size quilt for Journey Four of the

Prairie Women's Sewing Circle club!

You asked for a quilt featuring schoolhouse blocks and you got it!!  This quilt, called Ye Olde Schoolhouse, uses one background print and 6 Indigo blue prints from Heart of the Prairie.  The schoolhouse block is very easy to piece with no dreaded "Y" seams!  There will be a smaller version of this quilt offered to club members as well.

The remaining quilts and TWO bonus projects for Journey Four will all be revealed once

I return from market.  Hopefully, this will hold you over. 

I will have my iPad with me in hopes of blogging throughout market,

so you can come along, too!

Whether I'm successful or not depends on my Wi-Fi connections.  So, please stay tuned to my blog and Facebook page.  I hope to send you lots of news and images from Kansas City! 

To all of my blog readers around the world.....I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!!

Pam

Busy Work Contest Winners!!

Collecting American Country by Mary Ellisor Emmerling

My thanks to everyone who participated in my very first Pocket Patchwork Sew-along!  The response was overwhelmingly wonderful!  I know that many of you haven't been able to sew-along with us these past few weeks, but that's quite alright.  Read on for a reason to get started!

This book is one of my all time favorites.  I page thru it regularly and am inspired by the lovely things on its pages. One page in particular really caught my eye this spring, and was the catalyst for two of my most recent designs, with the Busy Work quilt being one of them. 

Lucy's Prairie Pockets pattern was inspired by the Prairie Pocket hanging on the wall.  I had been wanting to create a pocket for some time, and it just kept nudging me.  I'm so glad that I did because they are really great fun to make.  Doesn't it look awesome in this arrangement?  Pockets look great next to the reproduction quilts in my house, too.   Loving all those needle-keep cases and wonderful antique quilts.  Sigh.

There are many goodies on this page that I'd love to reproduce in some fashion or form.  You, too?  Well, Busy Work was inspired by the little black, brown, and cream colored two-block Sawtooth Star quilt to the lower right corner of the pocket.  Two blocks doesn't make for a long sew-along, so I played with ideas until I came up with what you now know is Busy Work. 

So, that's how Busy Work came to be!  What do you think? 

Now...on to the important stuff.  Choosing the winners!  Yes.... winners - plural.  I decided to choose two winners....so each will get a set of my newest 6 patterns.

The random number generator chose the winners and they are.........

Jan who said....It's been so much fun waiting for Friday to see the next piece of the quilt. I love the finished quilt. I did mine in the same color way as yours and I'm going to quilt it with an overall design using my embroidery machine. Thanks for a great project!!

Marcia who said.....This little quilt is adorable. I am just getting into mini quilts as I begin my retirement. Mine is not ready to send a photo yet, but I have the fabrics ready to go and have started cutting. The border really adds a great finishing touch.  You fabric line is lovely. I look forward to buying and using it - maybe with your patterns.

Please email me your snail mail addresses and I will get those patterns to you right away!  Thanks to everyone who commented all along.  Words don't fully express how I love reading them and that they mean so very much to me. 

I'm loving all of the colorways that you are all using.  I've seen quite a few and they're great.  Thanks for the photos and links!!  Now, I know everyone would enjoy seeing how your Busy Work quilts are turning out, so I'm going to propose another give-away!!!

Piece & photograph your Busy Work quilt by 

Saturday, July 7th.  

If you have it quilted and bound, why, we'll consider you an over-achiever!  Send me a photo of your quilt via email no later than July 7th to be eligible, and I will show them all in an upcoming blog post!  Your photo will count as your entry to the give-away. 

One winner will receive a Fat Eighth bundle of my new fabric collection,  

Heart of the Prairie!

So, ladies and gentlemen......start your sewing machines!  

I've got to get back to market preparations.  Enjoy your day and I'll be in touch very soon!

Pam

American Gothic is Ready!!

I'm very proud to announce that another new spring pattern,  American Gothic, is all done.

I can't tell you what a great time we had making this quilt.  If you love scrap quilts and think

"the more fabrics ~ the better", this is the quilt for you!

American Gothic features a very old, traditional block called the Cross X block.  It has long been a favorite of mine and I've been anxious to use it in a pattern.  I love the simplicity of the block design, and how it allows for a fun mix of fabrics, which then makes for a very striking quilt!

The pattern uses either Fat Eighths or Fat Quarters to create the colorful mix of Cross X Blocks.  I set the blocks with a wonderful old "Prairie Dirty" black shirting from my Heart of the Prairie fabric collection, (Marcus Brothers Fabrics) to complete the vintage look!

While the quilt looks to be scrappy all over, there is a hidden color theme in the quilt.  Notice that in the diagonal rows (photo above), there's a row of green blocks, red blocks, and blue blocks.  The triangles denote the color of the block.  Just a little surprise to catch your attention as you take in the quilt.

 Here's a close-up of my black "Prairie Dirty" shirting.  Love, love, love how it softens the quilt and gives it that luscious vintage look!! The Cross X blocks can be pieced traditionally,

or paper pieced, if you prefer. 

As for the name....we're all familiar with the  American Gothic painting, featuring the man (with his pitchfork) and the woman standing in front of the house with the gothic window.  A bit of fun history reveals why the painter chose to feature an 1800's American couple living in a midwest prairie state as the subject of his painting.  My pattern tells you more details about whom the man and woman were, and where the painting was created!

Click here to order my American Gothic pattern and create an American classic of your very own!  

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today!

                                  Pam



Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Magazine Contest Winners!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol 5 blog tour as much as I did.  What a tour of creativity and inspiration!  I thank all of you who took the time to comment on my blog, and as promised, I've chosen 3 winners from those comments.  They will all receive a free copy of the magazine.  They are.....

MaryJo from Goldfield, IA ~  Hi Pam! Love your block...and how you have shown it in different fabric options! The quilt using your block is stunning! I am most anxious to get the magazine and make up your block...you do so well with directions too! Sooooooooo glad you got your block in Quiltmaker:)

Bertiequilts ~ I absolutely love your fabrics... Heart of the Prairie. I know that when I see it in the stores, I will definitely be buying some for my projects.

Kathy  ~ Can't wait to see the new fabric in my local quilt shop! I just joined a Prairie Women's Sewing Circle and love, love, love it!

Congratulations!  Please email your addresses to me, so I can get your copies to you, and you can start stitching!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

  

I'm in the last week of market preparations.  Patterns are being printed, folded, and stuffed.  Brochures are being assembled.  Binding is being stitched and completed.    Today, I'm going to set up my booth in the basement and decide what goodies I want to take for decoration.  Then, it will be time to pack and load!  

Because of the help of my dear friends, I'm in good shape, and the stress level has been knocked down many notches!  Where would I be without my family and girlfriends?  Parish the thought!  My heartfelt thanks and undying gratitude to my family, especially my daughter Nicki, who helped starch tons of fabric, and has stuffed thousands of patterns.....and to my girlfriends Lynn M, Debbie Mc, Ronda, and Sherry..for their hours of skillful stitching help and great company!

This is an exciting time for all quilters.  Quilt Market brings the creative forces of our industry together under one roof for a mind-blowing show.  It's wonderful to see all of the new products, fabrics, and projects that will soon make their appearance at your local quilt shop.  I'm always so jazzed to be able to see all of the quilts in person ~ there's just nothing like Quilt Market. And...one of the best parts for me is that I get to see many quilting friends again!  It's our yearly reunion.  There's always the bonus of making new friends, too!

There are so many opportunities for you to come along to Quilt Market with us by following your favorite bloggers.  I will be doing my best to post from market, so...please stay tuned, and thank you for taking a few moments to visit with me today, too!

Pam

Pocket Patchwork ~ Busy Work ~ Part Six



Here is the sixth and final part of my very first Pocket Patchwork Sew-along!  I can hardly believe that we're almost done!  I have thoroughly enjoyed presenting this little project to you and have loved each and every comment.  Enough about that - betcha want to get sewin'!  Here's your cutting instructions.

Cutting Instructions:

*Cut (4) 1½" black print squares for border.

*Cut (4) 1½" brown print squares for cornerposts.

*Cut (24) 1½" x 2½" assorted light print rectangles for Flying Geese (FG)

*Cut (48) 1½" black print squares - cut in matching pairs - for FG Connector Corners (CC).

Let's make some Flying Geese for a pieced border!

Directions:

*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all (48) black print Flying Geese CC 1½" squares.

*Place a black print CC to the left side of a light print 1½" x 2½" rectangle.  Sew (scant) on the diagonal line; press and trim.  Repeat on the right side.  Make (24) FG that should measure 1½" x 2½" unfinished.

Quilt Assembly

*Arrange the units for the borders as shown.  Sew together; press seams open. 

*Sew side borders to the quilt center; press to the quilt center.  Sew top/bottom borders in the same manner.

Your Busy Work quilt should measure 15½" x 15½" unfinished.

 Busy Work ã 2012 Pam Buda/Heartspun Quilts, Inc.®

Ta Da!  What do you think?  I just love this little quilt and it was very easy to put together.  You know what we need next?  A Give-Away!  I'd love to hear what you thought about my first Pocket Patchwork Sew-Along.  If you're making a Busy Work quilt for yourself, I'd love to know the colors you chose to use.

Leave me a comment before midnight, May 6th, for a chance to win a set of my 6 new patterns! I'll also share where I got my inspiration for Busy Work. 

Thanks so much for sewing along with me.  I had such fun, we'll have to do it again soon.  Please spread the word among your quilting friends to become a follower of my blog and sign up for the posts to be delivered by email.  The more the merrier! 

Thanks for spending a few moments with me today!  I really appreciate it very much!

Pam