WHAT INSPIRES YOU? This is a question you can ask yourself again and again. I do. As a designer for over 20 years, the answer varies a lot! Yet I do have an "ALWAYS" button: Like Great Works of Art...especially seen in person! Sometimes I just enjoy soaking up a museum show,  and skip away feeling energized and moved.  Other times I need to capture it in my own way, rattle it through my bones and brain then create a new print or quilt design. When you are inspired you feel alive and vibrant. This is my favorite zone to be in...
I saw Johannes Vermeer's painting at the DeYoung Museum last spring in San Francisco and WOW!!!  She IS the Mona Lisa of the Dutch Masters. And when I saw her in person....it took my breath away...Now I understand.

Vivika Hansen DeNegre editorial director of Modern Patchwork stopped by my Robert Kaufman/STUDIO STASH booth last spring at Portland Quilt Market and asked if I would do a project for her beautiful new magazine. I pointed to the wall of ideas over my desk to this  small 8.5x11 sketch of pasted scraps of fabric of a rough idea and said I was thinking of creating this into a mid size quilt.  I shared my story and was delighted she agreed I should begin this process! I've been waiting until Oct 2013  to share it with you all!!  Secrets are NOT FUN!!

Here's an unexpected pic, but regarding inspiration, I have a "PRETTY MUCH ALMOST ALWAYS" button too. (I love you mom!) includes my parents: Andre and Els Sampou. So the reason this is relevant is because I traveled to Cape Cod last summer and while my boys went camping in Only God Knows Where Upstate Maine (it was WAY off the grid) with their dad, uncles and cousins, I got to spend a whole uninterrupted week with just my mom and dad....it was heaven.  So naturally we sewed and made  "Girl with a Pearl Earring"  while my dad cooked up oysters, fish and clams that he harvested from the sea. (I love you dad!) Did I say they are the BEST COOKS??? Mother of three goes off the deep end and reverts to being a 7th grader again! Where in Maine did you say you were going?

Here is the close up of my 10 minute layout....I still do layouts with paper, pencil, colored markers or fabric scraps because I enjoy it and I am the tactile type. It's  always a process to go from this step to the next. What I find important is scale and relationship of shapes to one another.  When designing, It's important to have proportions right and then to scale it to the size you want. (Pattern available in Modern Patchwork Winter 2014 issue on sale NOW.) I also debated how much dark to put in as The Girl Painting has so much dark ground behind her and not as much white. Which leads me to express the importance of value relationship.  I ended up choosing to make the overall feel a bit lighter and varied the dark navy scroll with a deep Kona Solid Green played off by the lighter valued STUDIO STASH and creme/snow from Kona Cotton. 

My mom was the master pinner for quilting as we finalized the piecing and settled on the rhythm of  blue and lime  color placement of the spine. This design feature captures "The Girl's" cascading head scarf. I like the irregularity of color juxtapose against the even navy, moss and creme stripes of the main area. 

TA DAH!! It really is a simple quilt, which is my favorite way to design. Letting the beauty of the fabrics speak and the importance of good value and correct proportion please the eye. We were quite happy & sent it off to Vivika.

Now lets take this quilt off the FARM!  What a Nice Professional Modern Picture in the Magazine on P. 51!  

Here is the cover of the new issue which you can find at your local quilt shop or online.  It has lots of other beautiful projects and a terrific article on pro bloggers such as  Cheryl Arkinson, Alissa Haight Carlton, Amy Ellis, Janice Ryan and Angela Walters and more. Cheryl also has an awesome article on Low Volume Fabrics....Which is right on!! Great Read! Thanks Modern Patchwork!!!

I will be at Quilt Market as I have a new line that is premiering called DAISY LOVE FLANNEL which will  be my next entry. I look forward to seeing some of you there. Robert Kaufman is booth 144. 
Until next time....
Create and enjoy, 

Warmth, unity, creativity and fun are why I love this quilting community. I know many of you share the same feeling and it's what keeps you up sewing into the wee hours, or linger at a quilty friend's house a bit longer or choose to buy fabric over food....unless maybe that food happens to be salted dark chocolate caramels....

Time stops when you are in the groove. Everything else melts away when you are doing what you love. This is our gift we give to each other and to ourselves. I truly appreciate my quilter/artist friends I have known for many years and the excitement of making new friends who share the same passion for our craft. My very dear mother in law, Carolie Hensley just celebrated her 30th year of being in business as The Cotton Patch and she threw a casual open party that took place at the shop and filled up the parking lot with a big tent, lots of cake, funny stories and peals of laughter. For 30 years, she has been surrounded by great customers who have become friends, iconic quilters such as Alex Anderson, Laura Nownes, Diana McClun, Freddy Moran, Mary Mashuta and Roberta Horton who are also great friends...But most importantly, she has, as many shop owners do, create a place where we can meet, create and be. So whether your community is growing at your local shop, your online bee, or right in your neighborhood - I applaud you. Keep up the good work and enjoy.

In keeping with this theme, I wanted to thank Laura Nownes, one of the most kind and talented quilters in our industry who is committed to sharing her knowledge, expertise and design sense with any seasoned or aspiring quilter out there. In her joint blog with Jennifer Rounds, Darra Williamson and Pati Fried  at See How We Sew she has highlighted me this week and I am giving away another fat pack of Studio Stash to one of their lucky readers who also stop by to comment below about their favorite of the four color stories. Check out her best selling books and DVD at C&T Publishing   or  online class at Craftsy!  They are AWESOME!