wise craft

echo star pdf pattern available

I have finally put the pattern for the  Echo Star quilt in my shop. This is a downloadable PDF pattern, as all my quilt patterns are. When you place and pay for the order, you can immediately download it.

This pattern also contains instructions to make a pillow version of the Echo Star.

Several of you have asked about this pattern, and I'm so sorry for the delay. Working with your husband can sometimes be, um, interesting (love you Peter!).

My original Echo Star quilt and other beautiful star quilts made by the members of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild will be on display at Island Quilter on Vashon Island as part of their June Artwalk, with an opening reception on the evening of June 7th. This is a wonderful Island, wonderful shop, and if this gorgeous weather holds out, a wonderful opportunity to walk around the island. I can wait to see all the star quilts hanging together!

 

 

flash sale!

I am feeling inspired and energized by having a little time off, and felt like celebrating with a sale in the shop! Just enter SPRINGBREAK for the coupon code at checkout to receive 15% off your entire order through Sunday 4/21/13.

Now go get to it!

 

xo,

Blair

 

friendship bracelet quilt revisited

I've been wanting to play with my Friendship Bracelet quilt pattern again. Someone once asked if this pattern could be done with pre-cut jelly rolls, and after the Jelly Roll Race quilt and the Echo Star, I decided to actually try it. I thought it should work, but wanted to sew one up to be sure. Plus, this quilt is so quick to sew up, I knew it would be a relatively fast project.

friday favorites: echo star quilt

Updated to add: The Echo Star quilt is now available as a PDF pattern here!

 

 

 

 

Sometimes making a quilt from my head is all about exploration of what looks right together, or what type of patterning might seem harmonious, really just playing with the possibilities, hoping I will like the outcome. (That was definitely the case with Sunshine Medallion.) But there are times when my mind's eye has a crystal clear vision from the very beginning of what I want the end result to be. That was the case with this quilt, Echo Star.

in my father in law's studio

There is lots of art created and given on Peter's side of the family during the holiday season, we've done this for years. So long, in fact, that I think we would all feel cheated without getting something handmade by each other. Plus what do we really need? What's fun about giving art in this family is that everyone gets excited, and there is a so much appreciation for every type of art and everyone's unique style, medium, and talent.

In my father-in-law's home art studio in their home in New Mexico, he has created a family art gallery space in one area. There are many stories in that corner.

There's work from Kurt's mother Marjorie (Peter's grandmother), who was a fashion illustrator and a wonderful watercolor artist (we have 2 of her illustrations in our own bathroom, above the tub, which you can see a bit of here).

- from Emma (this painting was done a few years ago). The painting you see underneath was done by Kurt himself.

 

from Peter (I really wish he would pick up a paintbrush again)

 

watercolors by Kurt

 

from my sister-in-law Jen, who is a printmaker and also does gorgeous bontanicals

 

even the ojo-de-dios I made as a housewarming gift for them over the summer

We've yet to get art from Ian up there, he insists he works only in 3D, Lego primarily.

 

For my in-laws this year, I made a new painting, a New Mexico quilt star, to celebrate their new home. I challenged myself to work with earthy colors and, even though I had my doubts the composition and color scheme I used was working early on (I used a page from an old Anthropologie catalog as inspiration for the colors). But I came around to like it a lot and think it really fits in their new home.

My father-in-law, and Jen are both doing the year-long daily sketching with me. I love how different our styles are. The daily sketches can sometimes take on a daily journaling aspect, which is kind of fun since we are scattered all over the country.

I have begun listing some of my original paintings in the shop. I went back and forth with creating a whole separate shop just for the paintings, but decided not to. I kind of like everything being housed in one place. I figure all of it represents what I do as a maker, so why not have it all together?

new patchwork patterns coming soon

Echo Star

Emerald Blocks

Plaid Windows

I heard from several of you that you were interested in patterns of these three original pillow designs and I wanted to say that they are happening! I am hoping to have them done very soon (and by posting this, it sort of holds me accountable, right?).

Meanwhile, the originals are available in the shop. I will update you on the patterns soon. Thanks for the interest.

 

black friday sale

The shop is restocked for Black Friday. New sets of inspiration postcards, quilted pillows, and my newest obsession, elbow patches!  

Use coupon code HAPPYHOLIDAY to receive 10% off your entire order thru Sunday.

Have a great weekend!

 

november inspiration

You didn't think I'd forgotten this month's inspiration image I hope. I have been down with a head cold all week, a functional but slower and more forgetful Blair does not get much done. Today I will take it slow, have lots of tea, and rest up. Its quite dreary outside, a really good day to sit with some handwork.

I have listened to the news all week long about the damage from Superstorm Sandy and I hope that everyone on the East Coast is getting all they need and are recovering.

I took a walk this morning to gather these leaves, I knew they would be my inspiration image this month and I wanted to grab them at their most colorful. As I reached out to tug at the leaves on my Japanese Maple in the back yard (the ones on the left), they came off with barely a touch. It seems my nature walk was not a minute too soon. What are you inspired by this month? There was a time I was not inspired in the least by Fall colors, but there's really something about how they glow here in the Northwest, against the rain and the mossy rocks. They are beautiful here... but they are beautiful everywhere.

Download your full size inspiration image here. See all of 2012 inspiration images here.

Couple of things to note:

- There will be some exciting new things added to the shop next week! Honestly I can't wait to share them! I think the sketchbook project sketches I've done spawned the idea of this new collection, in a way, but then again its something I've had in my head for a very long time. You can always sign up for my newsletter and get news of when the shop is stocked for the holidays.

- My quilt pieces are hanging up at Artstream for their small works show entitled "Home". There is a reception this evening and if you are local to them I do hope you'll stop by. I've said it many times by now, but I am honored to have had my paintings travel across the country to hang for this show. Thank you Susan!

- I am working on a new set of paintings that will be part of the Ballard Artwalk and hanging at Drygoods Design in December. I had a dream about what I wanted to do for this show the other night and got so excited I almost got up to start painting at 2am! More soon. (Does this mean I'm an artist??)

- I will be doing a craft workshop at Urban Craft Uprising this year. More details on that soon, but I can't wait. This show has lots of good energy, great place to holiday shop for some handmade unique gifts.

- I am still working on my book, it is very much alive and kicking. Writing a book is such a labor of love (I thought I had some idea, but who was I kidding). I am excited to share details with you as they emerge, but if I ever disappear for a few days from the blog and am NOT sick, I probably have my nose deep in book writing. Right now the publication date is set for Spring of 2014. That's a long ways away so I won't bore you with book talk anymore for a while.

I was going to leave you with a list of links, but I think I may go rest now.

Have a great weekend everyone! Stay safe!

 

shop update

When I was knee-deep in work on the book late last year, I said at least once a day "man if I ever finish this, I've got so many ideas I want to see through!".

Well, there's finally time. I've been working on that scribbly list I made back then and have added a slew of new items to my shop. There's restyled vintage, just plain awesome vintage that I didn't need to touch, handmade items (I'm kind of crazy about the oversized doilies, and there is one crochet granny square cushion left), baubles to wear, and of course, quilt patterns. I am adding new things daily, as quickly as I can get them ready, so check back.

I sent word out to those on my mailing list a couple of days ago, so they got a sneak peek. If you are interested, you can sign up for future newsletters here.

Thank you to those who have already purchased, or favorited, or tweeted about something they have seen in the shop. It means a lot.

See you tomorrow. Aaaand you know what tomorrow means- New granny square!

just a peek

at what's headed to the shop soon. Stay tuned.