Super "Patchwork Sassaman Style" Blog Tour!

It has been years since our hollyhocks have performed so nicely! These blossoms have just a blush of pink. They are such an old fashioned flower and always remind me of  Kate Greenaway illustrations.
Today they are announcing our July Super Blog Tour to celebrate my new book, Patchwork Sassaman Style!! The publisher Dragon Threads has organized a three week blog tour beginning July 2.

Each day one of my talented friends will be giving away a copy of the book or other goodies to a lucky reader. This is a wonderful way to share the wealth in this crafty and creativity community. The schedule is posted here. Be sure to print it out and mark your calendars so you don't miss anything!

date name blog

2 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/

3 Jessica Sloan   http://remnantsfiberculture.blogspot.com/

4

5 Judy CoatesPerez http://judyperez.blogspot.com/

6 Jane Sassaman http://sassaman.blogspot.com/

7 Linda Teufel http://dragonthreadsopenbook.blogspot.com/

8 Gloria Hansen http://www.gloriahansen.com/weblog/

9 Melissa Peda http://100billionstars.com/blog/

10 Susan B Knapp http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/

11 Jacquie Gering http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/

12 Weeks Ringle http://craftnectar.com/

13 SewCalGal http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

14 Jessica Kovach http://twinfibers.blogspot.com/

15 Pam Matthews www.delrayfabrics.com/blog

16 Frieda Anderson http://www.friestyle.com/my-blog.html

17 Pat Sloan http://blog.patsloan.com/

18 Jan Krentz http://www.jankrentz.com/weblog/

19 Anita Grossman Solomon http://makeitsimpler.blogspot.com/

20 Lyric Kinard http://lyrickinard.blogspot.com/

21 The Quilt Show http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php

22 Jane La Fazio http://janeville.blogspot.com/

23 Free Spirit http://www.freespiritfabric.blogspot.com/

24 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/

Last week I taught at the Minnesota Quilt Show in Rochester. The quality of the quilts on display were extra ordinary. Quilters have become very sophisticated and skillful over the years. All the classes went well, of course, my students were the best! But every instructor said the same thing!!

Here are two examples, in progresss, from the broderie perse class, Bountiful Bouquets. This student used the Strawberry Serenade fabric for her project. The characters are big so it was easy to cut them out for rearranging. Since the background of the print is black the shapes blended perfectly on the black  fabric behind them. I love the bird perched on the bleeding hearts.

This composition successfully combines some vintage Sassaman fabric with some of Amy Butlers new
line, Lark. It really makes me happy when my designs play so nicely with others!

Summertime Threads

One of the annual beauties! I've often thought it would be interesting to plant a black garden...
these dark purple iris would almost qualify.

We have a wonderful farmer's market in our town square twice a week. One of the most popular stands is always Jaci's Cookies... she is the "cookie queen" of McHenry County! This week her booth was sporting new table covers made with Early Birds fabric. Jaci, too, is modeling a matching market bag.
Perfect summertime threads!

New Arrivals

I have been hibernating in the studio this week! Still feels like I am catching up with my "business" and creative life after the Australian adventure. But progress is being made. The silk scarves have been delivered and boxes of the new book will arrive this week. They were both added to my webstore this week.

The other exciting news is that Kaffe Fassett will be hosting a "meet the designers" event at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England (August 16-19) and Tula Pink, wild and wonderful fellow FreeSpirit designer, and I will be part of the activities! I will also be giving a talk about designing fabric on the afternoon of the 18th with lots of quilts to show. PLUS the Early Birds fabric will be available during the show. Pass the word to all your European buddies!!! I will post more details soon.

There has also been progress in the quilting department, as I'm working hard to finish quilting the Illinois Album quilt. Lots of threads to bury! But, oh, it's great to get back to the sewing machine!

Early Summer Bounty

Summer is rushing forward! Greg has been cleaning, clearing, trimming and planting. This is the first time he has planted radishes. Aren't they gorgeous? The tomatoes are in the ground and the basil is waiting its turn.

These lovely pansies were a party favour for the May birthday celebration for the Chicago School of Fusing. I love these gatherings! So much talent and friendship in one place!

Look at all these happy "women of the cloth"! Judy Coates Perez, Emily Parson, Ann Fahl, Anne Lullie, Laura Wasilowski, Barb Vlack and Frieda Anderson all sit around Laura's table to swap stories and ideas.

Back at home, the early summer bouquets holds pride of place against a vibrant green background. This week anticipates some new fabric designs inspired by this colorful bounty.

Guess Where I've Been

Banksia in bloom.

Beautiful Gumnuts.

Canberra Pears at the National Gallery.

Ballarat boarding school for FibreArts@Ballarat.

Extraordinary tree in Ballarat's waterside park.

Helen Godden's award winning quilt at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne.

Painted windows in the artists old house at Heide Museum of Modern Art.

The fabulous trunk of a Floss Silk Tree in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Timeless Textiles in Newcastle is a new jewel for fiber loves around the planet.

The grounds surrounding the Museum of Old and New Art, one of the most surprising and quirkiest museums I've ever EXPERIENCED.

This plant says, "Which way did she go?" The correct answer is AUSTRALIA! The entire month of April was spent teaching and touring in Australia... Canberra, Ballarat, Melbourne, Newcastle and Hobart, Tasmania. Quilters are gracious and generous all over the world, but especially in OZ. As always, these big journeys create space to view your life from a new perspective. Perfectly timed after the intensity of writing the new book and on the verge of some fresh work, I came home inspired and excited to begin the next phase.

This week I will be attending Spring Quilt Market for the first time. I will have some books to sign and a nice new scarf to wear. Hope to see some of you there!

Time to Order

Dragon Threads is taking pre-orders for Patchwork Sassaman Style and for the beautiful Spiderweb Kaleidoscope silk scarf! Got to Dragon Threads for all the details!

British Isles Tour and on to the Festival of Quilts

This year I have an opportunity to do something I've always wanted to do! Patt Blair, another nature loving quilter, and I have been invited to teach on a cruise of the British Isles. This tour was specially designed with fabric lovers in mind. We will have a chance to see the Bayeux tapestry and visit the Paisley Museum in Glasgow.

Then there will also be a post tour to
the city of Bath to visit the American Museum which has the largest collection of American quilts outside the US. Then on to Europe's (many say the worlds) greatest quilting event, The Festival of Quilts.

I am so excited about this trip and am hoping that I will be able to share the experience with some of you! Since we are limited to handwork on the ship, I am teaching a pattern design class and a new class called "Not your Grandmother's Flower Garden", based on a quilt from my new book Patchwork Sassaman Style. I will be making 5" hexagon kits with Sassaman fabrics that we can play with and arrange into a unique composition and eventually hand stitch the pieces together.

Please visit the Cruise site for the complete itinerary. I think you will be as excited as we are! Hope to see you there!