Domestic Goddesses & Fair Weather Fashions

This has been an unusual spring in the Midwest. There has been cool weather and lots of rain. Most gardens are a month behind and many of the vegetables (and their tenders) are depressed from the lack of sunshine. It was pouring rain on the Fourth of July, only to clear up in time for the fireworks. But we have managed to take some pictures to share with you between cloud bursts.

First Willow and Claire model two aprons based on classic vintage patterns. We have combined several lines of Sassaman fabric to create a comforting old-fashioned style. Both designs are very practical with their roomy pockets and ties at the waist make for an easy fit.

The bias edges and the checkered lining in the pockets really add up to a delightful garment!

You may have some of this fabric in your stash... it is from my first FreeSpirit collection, Jane's

Exotic Garden. It is very satisfying to to see all the collections playing so nicely together.

This apron makes me think of the "ideal" housewives of the 1950's and black and white movies like Mildred Pierce and The Egg and I! I can just see Claudette Colbert and Joan Crawford reaching to tie the strings in the back. The gingham check is from the current Prairie Gothic line and the floral print is from last seasons, Hothouse Garden.

But, of course, it is the rick rack that really adds the vintage kitchen flavor. So even if you spend more time quilting than cooking and cleaning, this apron will make you look like a domestic goddess!

Next we have several summery blouses to show-off. The pink button-up is a ready made garment which we jazzed up with a simple ruffle of pink Queen Anne's Lace. All the other peasant style shirts are made from Simplicity 2706 and an ancient pattern, McCall's 5116, from high school days. This black blouse is one of my favorites because it has a retro look, too. The black gingham mixes nicely with the floral yoke and ruffled cap sleeves. 

I dug through my stash to find quaint fabrics to mix with my prints for this project... fabrics that reminded me of childhood like dotted Swiss and seersucker. Claire and Willie look cool and comfortable in these pastel frock tops. Again, the rick rack trim on the neckline and sunflower pocket add to the mood of innocence.

I chose both patterns as a way to feature a large print without overwhelming the entire garment or the person wearing it. These two feminine blouses illustrate the idea nicely. 

Finally the sun peeks between the clouds and the girls take advantage of the welcoming warmth, just what these blouses are designed for... airy, cotton comfy, and colorful on a hot summer day. I quite like the refreshing fabric combinations here. Both tops show off fabrics from the Hothouse collection.

Focusing in on the details, the cap sleeves are like little umbrellas to protect those white shoulders from the sun rays. The ruffles add a girlish tickle in the front shirt, while the square yoke and sleeve, in back, have a crisper, more contemporary look.

Finally, Claire wears a quiet and comfortable variation which uses a creamy soft waffle knit bodice with the subtle dusky Teasel and Lace print from the Prairie Gothic collection. I love the

architectural sleeve. Below, see the lovely detail on the back.

I hope these photos inspire you to do some mixing and matching in your summer sewing! And I hope I can figure out why this text is suddenly underlined!!!!

Project Potpourri

There has been lots of activity here that has not been reflected on the blog lately. Sorry about that! Confidentially, I have been scheming on a new book and much energy has been devoted to that purpose. I have also reviewed and approved the strike-offs for the next fabric line which is called Sunshine and Shadow, so my mind is racing with possibilities for using the new designs and colors.

In the mean time, Prairie Gothic continues to inspire us to create more fun projects. One of my favorites has been these delightful tea cozies. Everyone who sees them in the studio immediately puts them on their head, myself included. So perhaps we will have to make some smaller versions for human ornamentation. The cozies are made of four panels with a finishing band at the bottom. But best of all is the fancy topper made with a yo-yo and two ArtGirlz felt beads.

This vintage Sassaman fabric works wonderfully with a hydrangea featured in each panel. The purple band at the bottom grounds the design and adds a little extra weight to keep out the cold air. The topper is especially fun in these lively colors! Thanks to Super Susan, my assistant for perfecting this delightful pattern!

I have also done some teaching this summer.  At the Genesee Valley Quilt Show in Rochester, New York, I was lucky to reconnect with one of my former students, Martha Lorshbaugh. She got extra points in class for wearing a skirt made from this seasons Sunflower fabric!!!!!! 

I am susceptible to "buttering-up". Thank you, Martha, you made my day!

Another friend, Pam Matthews of Pam Matthews Designs sent me this photo of a fresh new bag idea using the Coneflower fabric on the outside and lined in pink Bird's Eye. The bright lining makes everything easier to find in a deep bag.

Next we have two new quilts which exploit the kaleidoscopic potential of the symmetrical Prairie Gothic fabrics. Melissa Peda calls this piece, Midnight Queen. It is a glowing combination of color and graphics. I like the way the composition radiates from the complex center to a quieter border.

Melissa has also created this refined kaleidoscope wall hanging, below, Dusky Mandala. The Teasel fabric in the center actually seems to blend into the surrounding dots. She has used the sprinkling of white in the two outer borders to great advantage, too. Look closely because she has also appliqued some critters here and there!

Thanks to all my buddies for applying their energy and skill to these Sassaman fabrics. I am a lucky girl to have so many talented friends!!

Graduation Day

I have been on "spring break" for the month of May. In this pleasant recess from travel I have been able to revel in the fresh breezes of a new season which has been prolonged by coolness and rain. The shade plants are having a robust celebration... the iris, hosta, trillium and columbine are proudly presenting themselves. Between rain drops, Greg has finally prepared the vegetable garden and planted the tomatoes, peppers, squash and other delights. Greg's helper, Pumpkin, takes time out to be the Queen of the Green, above.

This Columbine plays host every year and greets all our visitors at the front door. She is especially happy this season. She looks like a marvelous floral chandelier with all those dangling blossoms. And she shows nicely next to the newly painted house.

In the midst of all this merry making, we have a few other things to celebrate, too! We have a niece graduating from high school and a nephew graduating from 8th grade. One of my favorite high school graduation gifts was a set of sheets and towels (of my very own!) to take off to college. It was a symbol of my independence and potential... a "new beginning" present. 

So, I am doing the same for my niece, who is will begin college in Florida this fall. But, of course, this gift has to be personalized and I know Maddie loves the color orange, so ORANGE it is! I started by making her two coordinating pillows, both with a little turquoise for balance.

Then we purchased a set of very orange towels to decorate with appliqued ribbons in one of the same pillow fabrics. I used turquoise top stitching thread on both edges to jazz it up. The fabric is from last season's Hothouse line for FreeSpirit.

Since we know she will be spending lots of time at the beach, poor thing, we threw in a beach towel and I appliqued a butterfly in one corner. Here a froggy friend enjoys a sun bath before it all gets wrapped up in ribbon and tissue. I hope that she enjoys using them as much as I enjoyed making them!

What about the nephew, you ask? He already has an Aunt Jane pillowcase, but I may make him another with an iTunes coupon attached.

My teaching schedule sabbatical ends tomorrow, so today I will absorb as much spring as possible! It looks as if the sun will be shining and the breezes cool. A perfect spring day!

Glorious Green

Our house sits on the top of a knoll and is surrounded by trees. It is like perching in a tree house as I sit at the kitchen table; surrounded on all sides by fresh florescent spring green. This morning the birds are especially vocal and their songs seem to mirror our feelings of overwhelming well being. This has been a perfect week... cool, refreshing and optimistic. We have been able to dwell in a green dream of "all possibilities".

Despite all the sighing and revelry,  a little progress was made, too. Thanks to Greg, I was finally able to get my childhood kitchen chairs recovered. It was a hard decision, but the Sweet Potato Vine upholstery fabric was the finalist, as our decor leans toward primary colors. I also think this design enhances the Scandinavian Modern look, which I love.

Some of my Prairie Gothic scraps inspired me to stitch up a couple new reversible pillows, too. I think they are in keeping with the "green" theme, especially with the happy ball fringe.  

The reverse sides are simply single squares of fabric, but the quilting spices them up nicely. In fact, they look so cool and comfortable in the garden, that now I'm thinking of covering the porch furniture in a similar fashion.

As I have written this entry the green outside seems to have intensified and the sky is darkening! Ah!! A perfect day to be buried among books and fabric... heavenly! And perhaps the ideal evening to watch The Wizard of OZ. "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"

May Day

The Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar was wonderful, as always! One of the things I enjoy most about Empty Spools is their respect for all quilts, traditional or modern. No matter where you are in the quilting world, there is inspiration in every classroom.  And my students amazed me with their patience and determination, once again. 

The weather was warmer than usual and the beach was buzzing with surfers and sun worshippers. Each dawn I joined a group of friends for a brisk walk, in an effort to get back into an exercise routine, as the otters casually ignored our efforts.

Another nice aspect of this seminar is seeing so many old friends and familiar faces. And it is even nicer when a friend comes dressed in my fabric! Here is Bobbie Moon modeling her version of the Saf-T-Pockets pattern called Getting to the Point. This jacket is not only stylish, but very practical, as there are pockets hidden throughout. Bobbie is co-owner of New Moon Textiles in Pasadena, California and an old friend of Empty Spools.

Downtown Pacific Grove is within walking distance from the conference center, so on my free afternoon I like to check in with my favorite shops. My first destination is always Back Porch Fabrics, a fresh, colorful and progressive quilt shop. And then I head around the corner to one of the most funky and fun shops ever, Tessuti Zoo! They specialize in multi-colored home accessories and things that make you smile. They also make and sell lots of bright and unique projects like stuffed creatures and furnishings. I was delighted to see lots of my fabric put to such creative use, like this chair covered in the Ruffles fabric from the Hothouse line.

But the details make all the difference! Note the little fish (one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish)

perched at the top, the lime green piping and the painted dots! A magical seat, indeed.

In spite of my travels, spring settled in at home. Tulips, blood root, marsh poppies, May apples,

trillium, daffodils, bluebell and more are now in their glory! But so are the dandelions and the mustard garlic! So we are looking for recipes for dandelion wine and mustard garlic salad.

Easter Parade

I was anxious to attend our family Easter celebration for several reasons this year. Of course, it would be wonderful to catch up with all the folks I haven't seen for a while, but I also knew that I would have some lovely models for these new Prairie Gothic projects. 

Willow models the first in a series of everyday "Go" bags... just big enough for your phone, a wallet and the car keys. It folds almost like a little grocery bag, except the base is round and covered with the same striped fabric as the strap. The grommets and tie (notice the button finish) make the contents easily accessible. But the coneflower is definitely the star of the show.

My beautiful mother-in-law, Ellen, was wearing daffodil yellow, a perfect match for this petite shoulder bag with a yo-yo flower accent. The design features the border print from the Night Life fabric.

Gorgeous Gretchen makes the scene in this dramatic fitted vest (McCalls #5186) with "double spiders". The large design makes dramatic symmetry in the front and the back. 

The back of the vest has a contrasting tie for a shapely fit and to emphasize the dancing teasels. 

Olivia models my favorite bag, in fact, it is the bag I use everyday. It has a convenient front scoop pocket lined with rick-rack and inside pockets for my cell phone and a lipstick. But my favorite detail is the row of felt "dingle ball" beads, from the Art Girlz. I'm putting those dingle balls on everything these days!!!

Next we have two versions of The X Bag pattern by Four Corners Design, made by my friend, Linda Teufel, editor of Dragon Threads. This sturdy design creates outer pockets by overlapping double panels of coordinating fabrics. Here she has combined the Teasel and Lace fabric with an older Sassaman favorite and finished with a bias ribbon in the Midnight Stripe.

Next she combines the Midnight Sunflower fabric with the purple Dots and the Dusky Stripe as the matching trim. This pattern provides a nice opportunity to rummage in your stash for some of those sublime and unexpected fabric partners.

Last of all, this cute Strawberry Teasel shoulder bag with a deep flap and yo-yo ornament will brighten any day. I can imagine it with a 50's summer party dress... full skirt and boat neckline!

A Cushy Life

This week we introduced a few new cushioning elements into our house. First project is this nice big lounging pillow made from four large fan blocks featuring Prairie Gothic's Teasel and Lace and surrounded by some coordinating Dots. Poor Pumpkin doesn't know what to think of it yet!

As usual, I have used 12 weight thread and a nice long stitch for the quilting and it shows up sharply in the light of this lovely spring evening.

But it didn't take long for the next pillow to be discovered and put into use. Burnt Toast was the first to test it out. Greg made the crafty stick bed several years ago for our little feline family.

Finally relaxed, she looks like a queen on the little cushion covered with critters from the Dusky Night Life home dec fabric and trimmed with contrasting Dots for pizazz.

I'm off to teach at Asilomar on Saturday for a wonderful week of inspiration, conversation and ocean views!