Welcome to the SHIMMER BLOG HOP. Being a California convert myself, it was appropriate that a west coast group kicks off the SHIMMER BLOG HOP. For the second week, starting on April 7 we have - Amanda Jean Nyberg- Crazy Mom Quilts, April 8- Lee Heinrich- Freshly Pieced  April 9- Cheryl Arkinson- Naptime Quilter April 10- Christina Cameli- A Few Scraps April 11- Elizabeth Hartman- Oh Fransson April 12- Faith Jones-Fresh Lemon Quilts April 13- Gemma Jackson- Pretty Bobbins We have a stellar list of 20 bloggers total (complete list below ), each with a SHIMMER prize to give away to their peeps. I hope you will follow along as I will be giving away a grand prize of the entire line of FQ SHIMMER on April 21!

A little background on the talent: 
Janice Ryan and Julie Herman are the darlings of the "Let's get it done!" Marketing Department at Robert Kaufman Co (RKC).  Last Fall, I went GA-GA over the noodlehead cargo bag Janice made and knew in an instant I  wanted to work with her. The cargo bag in the SHIMMER lookbook is her work and I think a tiny war may ensue about who's keeping it!  Check her out April 2nd.

Wrapping up the first week is my beloved peeps at C&T Publishing and Stash Books. Not sure if you know this, but it's a family affair. My mother and father-in-law started C&T 35 years ago. My husband, Todd Hensley and his brother Tony and their amazing team continue the tradition of creating the best how-to quilt and sewing books in the world!! Sunday's post includes a wonderful story! 


Finally a big thanks to Teresa Coates at Robert Kaufman for helping me launch my first blog hop and all the people who said YES! I am looking forward to what they create and share with us.

As the blog hop moves along, please leave comments on my blog (sign up on my mailing list if you haven't already in order to enter) and the bloggers who are presenting. We'd love to hear what your favorites are along the way and if you are inspired to make a project.

Go CREATE and SHIMMER!!

xo

Shimmer Collection is something I can FINALLY put out into the public quilt world as it's shipping to stores worldwide! Above are a few representations of the 25 piece collection and a few of the images that inspired me. I love traveling and collecting/gathering treasures for real. When I can't do that, surfing for inspiration works beautifully. 

This was a "color first" inspired group, so picking a palette was my initial step in designing SHIMMER.  After playing with swatches on left, I pared it down to a more muted, cool palette. Often, the simpler the design, the more accurate the designer needs to be.

As you can see, Sunburst  and Brocade are my most eye-catching prints. Hand drawn stripe, snake skin and driftwood are secondary, smaller prints. I spent most of my time fine-tuning hue and studying the value of SHIMMER. When I work with subtle hues, value shift it is extremely important and I must hit the shade perfectly so all prints work together. When a quilter uses these fabrics together, her results will be divine. This is why the group is successful and works together as an entire 25 piece collection. When a group is bright and colorful, the variety of range is more forgiving. It's the nuances of SHIMMER, like the shimmer we see in nature, light and people that I wanted to capture…A delicate balance that takes time to create and appreciate.  Until next time….
Create and SHIMMER, it's in our nature!

Jennifer
 
P.S.
And now switching to some green…..Thanks everyone for the clever entries and big laughs. If you love limericks, check them out on my last blog entry!  Some folks couldn't resist numerous entries :)! 

Whether or not you have a drop of IRISH blood in you is no matter. My son came home having to write a limerick for school and I caught the bug! My attempt is to the left because I could be her!

 I've got a stack of green (fabric that is!) here that will go to the most creative, hysterical limerick about sewing, quilting or crafting.  

Limerick Rules:
5 lines.  A, A, B, B, A. Rhythm pattern (google limerick if you need some ideas on how to write one!) It has to be about quilting or sewing. 


******Give it a go and win some GREEN!!***********************************************

Note: The sign up form was acting naughty so we had to fix that. So sorry for the inconvenience. Just follow the link above to enter. Thanks, Jennifer :-)

My boomerang has come  back and I sit here today writing you all a warm welcome to my very first website and blog. Boomerang you may ask? It’s the idea, calling, or passion that no matter how hard you throw it or how far it goes, it always comes back. Mine is textile design. 

I took a 7 year break from my design career to slow down and just be with my three little boys, watch them grow and nurture their sweet souls and hearts. Now they are older and much more independent. I have happily resumed my love of creating fabrics and with the ease of exciting, accessible social media I can share this process and my designs with you.

What’s your boomerang?  If you are reading this post,  I suspect we share the love of sewing and making. We are inspired by color, texture, pattern and the gratification of creating our own unique, functional craft that warms our bodies or brightens our homes.  I look forward to exotic travels, forging new connections, deepening old friendships and harnessing the power and beauty we own as creative women working together.  (GIrl in Chiang Mai- J. Sampou 2013)

Finally....Thank you to all who entered my latest giveaway of Studio Stash. I am thrilled with your response and comments. Congratulations to the four winners: Marilyn Weyman Kegg, Karen Potts, Diane Talbot and Carol Parish. Let me know what you make !! Thank you to my friends at Robert Kaufman and Stash Books/C&T Publishing for supporting me- You're the best!!