Red Barns and Scrap Quilts

Red barns are timeless. Scrap quilts are too. They are traditional and modern all in the same breath. My sensibilities are definitely influenced by the modern movement as it has made its way into my heart and home. Yet, I will always have a constant love for traditional things....Classic design is always in style.  Good design is good design.  

On that long list of classic good design are red barns and scrappy quilts. Apparently, American Quilt Retailer thinks so too. My Strips and Selvages Quilt (C&T Publishing ) made their cover, and naturally I am thrilled.  This magazine is sold to the trade. It teaches shops how to be better at what they do. It's filled with lots of good information, like what is being released at upcoming quilt market, new techniques/product reviews plus they highlight shops and designers around the country. The editor, Heidi Kaisand knows her stuff and offers great content. They know that certain quilts like this are comforting, timeless and visually successful.

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Strips and Selvages Quilt evolved from my love of color of vintage California Pottery , the rhythm of strip piecing and the playful touch of raw selvages.  Using my own colorful prints, a few bright Robert Kaufman kona cottons, paired with a gray yarn dye border is a combo that excites me. I love what happens to the ends when piecing long narrow strips WOF of Kona solids, my prints and wovens together. Each fabric is not exactly the same width. Kona and yarn dyes are wider than prints. Varied edges evolve and highlighting this design detail on a grey woven ground looks terrific. 
In honor of scrap quilts, red barns and all the makers who are inspired by this look, I have pulled together 19 colorful prints, 5 solids and a grey yarn dye that will make this quilt. There are a few for sale in my shop if you want to make your own classic scrappy quilt. I hope you have a red barn in your area to drive or walk by to admire....It's very Americana and nourishes one's soul. 

Summer is coming to a close. I even wrapped an indigo scarf and colorful sweater around my shoulders tonight as the sun set and a chilly wind kicked up. I hope you are ready for fall and if you have young children, to send them off to school and have a little more time for yourself to start up a new project. 

Creatively yours,