Do you want to make this Elephant and I Quilt but not sure how? Have you seen it on my feed, a friend's work table, at your local guild or on Pinterest and wonder how to make it? 

Or maybe you've already made this... and ready to make another? Especially if you're comfortable with paper piecing and a die hard elephant lover, (like me!) This popular pattern is super fun to make, and easy, once you understand how. 
That is why C&T and I put together  three YouTube videos to give you more information and expand upon the instructions in the Elephant and I pattern. Videos are super helpful, I love coming up with the lessons of things I can't explain in writing and strive to do a thorough job of showing the process. Our goal is to help you learn something new to keep your creative fire burning. There will be more videos coming about my expanded ideas on color, patterns, and favorite techniques. Below is the #1 Video and you can click on #2 and #3. ​I cover choosing color, simple to advance paper piecing and professional looking machine appliqué, plus my favorite GO TO products. 

Fun fact: The same techniques in Elephant and I are applied to image below: Whale and I in OMBRE QUILTS book (Oct 2019). ! Subscribe to my channel to stay informed with what's being recorded in the studio! 

The fourth video covers how to place the twigs if you are making my Cardinal Shimmer Quilt. So check that out if your are into the tiniest animal of the grouping!

If you like any of these videos and subscribe to my channel, get 15% off patterns by typing in YOUTUBE for coupon code at check out!  

Until next time.... (As I wait like a race horse at the Kentucky Derby for OMBRE QUILTS Book to come in!!)
Stay Creative!!
​xo,

Ombrés and Octagons is what I am teaching at Craft Napa January 18-19, 2020 as well as My Color Wheel . Sign up is in 7 hours. June 1, 7am. So yes, I am burning the midnight hour to get this post out to you! Sign up, and learn more about how to use ombré fabrics, work with value, hue and how to make the most of my SKY Collection as well as other ombre style fabrics. This quilt above is called Sunset Lake, featured in OMBRE QUILTS BOOK. We're going to have a ball and a great way to kickstart your creative new year, and it's all in gorgeous Napa Valley, just 45 minutes from our Golden Gate Bridge! It's 5th edition of Craft Napa and there are so many great classes to take! It would be a treat to see you there! 

All SKY fabrics will be shipping in October, see the entire collection here.  Above shows variations of MY COLORWHEEL class at Craft Napa, January 16, 2020. 
1. Winter Shimmer is shipping or has shipped to your favorite store. See the collection here! 
2. I have KITS in the shop for Cardinal Shimmer Kit and Winter Shimmer Table Runner Kit
2. If you want just the patterns that are made up in Winter Shimmer, check out my new Cardinal Shimmer and Winter Shimmer Table Runner,  which  are both based on the same Octagon Shimmer Template.
3. Contact me jennifersampou@gmail.com if you want to order patterns wholesale for your store. Minimums apply. 
4. Craft Napa sign ups open June 1, 7am Pacific Standard Time. Get while the getting's good! 
​

Above is some of the Winter Shimmer fabrics and the pieced then appliquéd Cardinal Shimmer. Below is the Tree Shimmer Table Runner, No Hats in The House Ode to Trees paper pieced pattern and Better off Thread Star Quilt. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for reading my blog, making beautiful things with my fabric and telling me about it! See you on Instagram! 

xx
Stay Creative. 
Jennifer

HUGE NEWS! If you follow me on Instagram, where I gush all the time about the cool stuff happening in my studio, At Robert Kaufman and C&T Publishing, you know by now I am in the final stages of my book, OMBRÉ QUILTS and have printed designer samples of SKY COLLECTION (see all 30 here) which I used to make every quilt (and then some!) for the book. The perfect storm of getting fabric and book to market AT THE SAME TIME was a robust undertaking, one that took the whole team at both C&T and RKC, plus some super talented sewists to help me get it done and for that I am grateful. I’m thrilled and you all get to benefit too!

Here are the hard fast details and NEED TO KNOW:
Book & Fabric shipping to QUILTERS Worldwide OCT 2019. Sharpen your blades and rev up your machines!

•SKY COLLECTION premiering now, MAY 16-19 at Kansas City International Quilt Market at KC Convention Center. Robert Kaufman Booth #925 Open to Wholesale Trade Only. We’ll be moving and shaking!! SO much exciting stuff premieres at these markets and this is our time to show it all off! This is where your store sees fabric, projects and orders all new products for Fall 2019.
•OMBRÉ QUILTS Book is also available for preorder at C&T Publishing Booth #324.
•SCHOOLHOUSE Presentation, like I am going to show all the projects In Real Life! Thursday RM. 2205 at 12:45 PM. Giving samples out free!
•OPEN TO PUBLIC - FABRIC CHIC!! SEE ABOVE ^ all quilts to show... rolled up in a Meet in Greet and talk(cause is just more fun that way) Wednesday 6-8pm. WINE TOO! 170 English Landing Dr. Parkville MO (10 min drive from KC Convention Center) Door Prizes! YOU’RE INVITED-
​ PLEASE COME IF YOU CAN!

These gorgeous pastels are what I used (Thanks to my dear friend and pastel teacher, Amanda Houston) to create the SKY design which is a celebration of all the glorious skies we witness overhead, 30 pieces to commemorate my 30 years of being a professional textile designer, and they are digitally printed which gives us limitless color options and a more green/sustainable approach to printed fabric which makes me very happy.

OMBRE QUILTS book highlights 6 gorgeous projects, talks about what is an ombre, which ones to buy, how to use them, cut them, and why you’ll fall in love with these versatile prints (if you already haven’t) so not only is it a HOW TO book, but also a process book as I discuss color, value, placement and design. You’ll learn a lot. I will show you all the projects in a later post and talks in more detail. For now, know that above is what the cover looks like!

Can you tell how happy I am?? I love all colors, I love all moods and textures of fabrics. It’s been a while since I have done this kind of intense color and it feels so good to be immersed and to get such “never before possible” colors digitally printed on one yard of fabric. You have to see it to believe it. It’s so yummy. More to come later. Please comment below if you have any questions, observations etc....These Ombres styles are trending up now and it’s time we dig in and have some more fun. Until next time, Keep creating, it does your soul good
xo
​Jennifer

Take a look at what my students did in the barn. I am so proud of them. Lots of natural light and room for creative work! 
​

 Pokey Bolton is the founder of Craft Napa, her latest endeavor and it's a retreat that I highly recommend. With an impressive resume to boast, Pokey is the founder of two quilt magazines, hosted PBS Quilting Arts TV,  was Chief Creative Officer at Quilts Inc and now that she has moved to Napa, built an AMAZING Art Barn and sharing her dreams with us!
 I believe she is just ramping up! 

I was lucky to be invited to teach and be the keynote speaker at The Creativity Luncheon. The event was a true, fill your cup kind of artist & sisterhood pow-wow. I got to preach my favorite belief  "we are all creative". We just need to support our creativity....

                           Harness it.                      Nourish it.                   Run with it.
​

Sunrise walk behind barn. Mist, light, shadows and tucked in that valley is Pokey's Art Barn....Magical.