Black and White Inspiration Volume II

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed my first volume of Black and White Inspiration. I have several more to do. It is definitely no secret that I love the combination of Black and White fabrics with a strong saturated color. I have tried various combinations and the next one is one of my favorites.

My favorite color, hands down, is hot pink or fuchsia. So, of course, I had to try it with my Black and White stash. Years ago while we were vacationing somewhere in the south, sorry I don't remember where, I saw the following quilt in a little quilt shop.

Funny I can still see the shop in my mind's eye and where this quilt was hanging. So I asked the owner if I could take a picture as I wanted to make it myself. No problem! I then proceeded to purchase some black and white fabric from her as well as the book for the pattern. Sorry I don't remember the book either, but I do remember it was a Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan book.

Anyway, this quilt just grabbed my attention and I had to make it. To tell you the truth, I made the top pretty much right after vacation. And guess what, this one still isn't quilted either. I really need to get it on my long arm! Another one hanging in the closet. Soon, I think, soon...

But don't you just love how the hot pink just pops on this one (don't you like it Jane?) I used a variety of Black and White prints for a scrappier version. Using a variety of fabrics tends to give a quilt more of a scrappy look and I like that. What do you think?

So in my next volume of Black and White Inspiration, which color do you think I will add?

In the meantime, you can now read my most current newsletter online by clicking here.

Until Next Time...

Black and White Inspiration Volume II

Oak Park

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever been to Oak Park, IL? I have, many years ago, and it is a wonderful place to visit. If you are visiting Chicago, you should definitely make a stop here. There are many things to do and see. The Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio, as well as the Hemingway Museum are top picks here.

But if you can get there maybe you can make a quilted tote bag with the same name. You might remember this post that I did a little while ago, a little sneak peek and a kitty. Well I would love to elaborate on what I was making that day.

Here is a close up of the fabrics. They are Sugar by Art Gallery and Essex/Cotton Linen Blend Medium Aqua by Robert Kaufman. They really went to together well. I highlighted them with straight line quilting with a subtle variegated teal thread.

Added a beautiful yellow vintage button. It just seemed like this was the one. I tried many other buttons, but this was the winner. Love how it is wispy, don't you?

This is the back. No button here, but pretty none the less.

Here you can see the whole bag! Now for the real details... this is another wonderful pattern by Stephanie of Loft Creations!! I tested it for her and it was a breeze to put together, fun too! Great job, Stephanie! You can purchase the pattern by visiting her Etsy Store.

Would you like to make one just like mine?? Well, say no more, you can get your own kit right in my online shop. Just click HERE. You will have two options, the medium aqua bag or one with hot pink Essex!! The pattern still needs to be purchased through Stephanie.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Until Next Time...

Oak Park

Crosses on Point

Hello Everyone,

This quilt that I made, was completed several years ago as a sample for a local LQS. It is consist of all Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Some of these are still available, some not. The quilt was fun to do but definitely requires you to use a design wall for placement purposes.

The pattern was from a magazine. I think it was in Quilt Magazine, although I am not sure what year it was. You can see in this photo the fan fabric. That was one of my favorites.

Many Kaffe florals. The border fabric Paisley Jungle is still available here. You can see in this photo that the block is just two rectangles set on point. But because you are sewing 2 different fabrics together, that will then later form the cross, you really need to lay it out for correct placement.

Other than laying it on the design wall, this was not a difficult pattern to piece. Quick, easy, and satisfying.

This photo really shows off the crosses. The quilt is all quilted and washed. Nice soft and cuddly, just the way I like them!

Check out the new Kaffe FQ and 1/2 yard bundles here.

Until Next Time...

Crosses on Point

Tuesday Fun!

Hello Everyone,

Tuesday was such a fun day here at my house!! I hosted a bunch of great quilting buddies for lunch. Even though it was hot, hot, hot outside, we were all cool inside enjoying each other's company.

You may recognize this little block below. It is an Asterisk block made by the one and only Karen Griska. You know the Selvage Quilter. You heard her recently on my Podcasts. Well she was one of my guests and I have to say she is just incredibly talented.

She is doing an Asterisk quilt along on her blog.

Look at this cute little Asterisk quilt top that she made. Bright, cheerful and cute!

And of course, her signature style, a cute little selvage house.

But here is the Asterisk quilt that began it all. It is so beautiful in person.

One of my other guests was none other than the fun Victoria from Bumble Beans, Inc. Here she is showing one of her BASICS quilt tops. The blocks were given to her from Shelly of Shelly Quilts. Really nice top! Victoria is so nice and it was good to finally meet her.

One of the reasons Victoria came to my little corner of the world was to pick up quilts that I quilted for BASICS! Yes, she went home with 20 quilts. 18 of them I quilted for her. It feels really good to be involved in such a wonderful project.

Here is a beautiful quilt top that she and Shelly are working on together as a round robin. All nice bright batiks.

Here is the whole crew from left to right...

Maria (donated a completed quilt to V), Pam (finished quilting 2 tops), Victoria, Me, and Karen.

Thank you all for coming to my home! I so enjoyed all your company an hope to do it again real soon.

Since Tuesday, I have been busy cutting new Fat Quarter Bundles for the shop. They will be online by the end of the week!! So don't forget to take a peek.

Until Next Time...

Tuesday Fun!

And The Winners Are...

Hello Everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! I did and now am enjoying the heat that we are having. They say it is record temperatures this week. The heat doesn't bother me, it is definitely the humidity. So glad we have air conditioning!!

Anyway, onto the good stuff! Thank you all for entering the giveaway. I hope you have enjoyed visiting Cherri's blog. She is truly a talented designer.

So there were 538 entries, but only 2 winners! And here they are...

Cyndi from Jan's Elves by Bee Tree Designs wins an autographed copy of Cherri's Book.

Peach Rainbow wins the Kona Hot Spicy Fat Quarter bundle.

Congratulations to you both!! I have sent an e-mail to you, just send me your snail mail address so that we can send your prizes to you!

Until Next Time...

And The Winners Are...

Black and White Inspiration Volume I

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to everyone who has partaken in my site wide 20% off sale!! I know you will enjoy your purchases. If you haven't done so, you can still get in on the sale by using the code freedom20, at checkout, through the end of today. Just click HERE to get started.

Also, you still have a chance to get in on the BIG giveaway!! It ends at the end of today as well, just click HERE to enter.

Okay, now down to the serious stuff, quilts!! For those of you who have been reading my blog a while, you know that I have an extensive stash of black and white fabrics. Because of that I set up the Black and White Quilt Challenge Project Blog. Go and check it out, I will wait right here.

Okay, weren't all those quilts that everyone has posted pretty inspirational. I think that I even posted this next one there too.

This quilt was all cut on my AccuQuilt Studio Cutter in a matter of about 30 minutes. Really fast, almost unbelievable. But I just love the punch of orange!

The pattern is called Free Wheeling and can be found here. It really is a take on the Kaleidoscope block. But with the addition of the orange and white triangles it makes it look like it is spinning!

You can really see the motion in this photo. Now once again, I really need to get this one quilted!! I will most likely sneak it onto my long arm in between customers.

I hope this post has inspired you to make a black and white quilt with a little bit of color, if not I have a few more volumes of this one coming up. So stay tuned!

Go enter the giveaway and shop the sale!! Happy 4th of July!

Until Next Time...

Black and White Inspiration Volume I

Happy 4th of July Weekend!

Hello Everyone!!

Just thought you might like to see some red and blue fabrics in honor of the 4th of July! But that is not all...

Canton Village Quilt Works would like to celebrate our independence by having a site wide 20% off sale!! Just use the code freedom20 at checkout to receive the discount. Books (already discounted 20%) and kits are not included in the sale. The sale is in effect through the 4th of July. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Just click here to start shopping...

Don't forget to enter the BIG giveaway by clicking here! There is still time!

Until Next Time...

Happy 4th of July Weekend!