Trendy Color Palette

I like the following project for it's color palette. It is fun to take a project, put it in Illustrator, and use the eyedropper to establish it's color palette. I don't know what other software programs can display the palette but Illustrator does a great job! Love these colors. Turquoise is trending strongly right now!!

Runner on my bed in my new bedroom. The room is accented with turquoise ribbon of color. I also use black accents like the pillows, smaller sofa, some furniture, and picture frames. The basic neutral palette of the room makes changing the colors very easy to do if I want to!

Sewing from point to point!

It can be challenging sewing a straight line from a particular point to another particular point without some for of reference except the ending points. The Manhattan Bag below has seams sewn on the folds of the bag and represent the technique I am addressing:

 When you have the purse panel flat, you sew from point 1 to point 2 to point 3, and to finish at point 4. There are no guide lines. I put pins at all points and simply sight from pin to pin and sew for it!!!!. 

Sometimes, I press crease marks from point to point, then sew on the crease lines.  This works pretty well.

A third method would be to use seam tape or some kind of 1/4" masking tape. The following picture shows what we mean:

I tried to put tape on all three seams but this particular tape started to fall off before I could finish the seams. Though I love this tape, a different tape might work better for this technique. I sewed right next to one side of the tape.

A Simple Way of Threading Buttons for Fabric Caddies

Some of the caddy versions have buttons (maybe as many as five) on the top trim for embellishment. Looks cute, right!?! But sewing on the buttons, each one by hand, especially if making several caddies, is a nightmare. 

Well, I don't! I pre-thread them and hot glue them on -- so much easier. 

I had one suggestion to use your machine button attach option. Sew each button to a spare piece of fabric, cut the buttons off the fabric, and hot glue them then. But the little swatch of fabric on the back of the button in this process gets in the way of hot gluing the button thoroughly. 

So below are pics of my process:  

Really cute to have buttons on the top -- but it would be a nightmare sewing them all on by hand!

Make a group of threads, maybe ten strands thick and thread your first button.

Tie a knot on the back as shown. The end of the thread is only 2" long or less -- don't waste your thread here.

Cut off the thread right at the knot. You can use your ten-strand thread thing to knot several buttons. The whole process goes pretty fast. Then hot glue the buttons to the trim of each caddy.

 

More projects for the Sisters Quilt Show!

Two more projects made up for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show! -- showing a the Stitchin' Post! Wish I were going this year!

Here's the description of the Quilt Show from their website:

"Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show™ (SOQS) is internationally recognized as the world's largest outdoor quilt show and quilt sale displaying more than 1300 quilts representing fiber artists from around the world.
More than 10,000 visitors from all 50 states and 27 foreign countries flock to Sisters on the second Saturday in July. Master quilt makers teach classes and workshops during Quilt Week and exhibit their quilts at our annual Quilt Show. In addition, hundreds of quilts are displayed in our "show-and-tell" exhibits - first time quilters, youth, quilts made by men - throughout the town of Sisters. Quilt exhibitors range in age from 10-92."

Here's the last two projects I sent to the Stitchin' Post.Thanks to Jean Wells for letting me participate in a small way!

Manhattan Bag! P220! Love her fabric choices!

Ergo Oven Mitt! P217! The weird-shaped oven mitt!

Valerie Wells fabric -- projects for Sisters Quilt Show!

Jean Wells asked if I would make some samples for the Sisters Quilt Show! Sure! The following pics show the Boho Four Corners and Fabric Caddies using Valerie Wells new fabric. I just love her new fabric.

Boho Four Corners P216 using Valerie Wells' new block print fabrics.

Fabric Caddies P221 using Valerie Wells' new block print fabrics.

More Quilt Market pics!

Some more  pictures from Quilt Market:

The day before the show starts!

Vanilla House: Boho 4 Corners and Manhattan Bag!

Vanilla House: The Place Setting, Ergo Mitts, and Fabric Caddies!

Interesting display!

Nice Booth!

Cute way to display fabrics!

Loved this booth by Riley Blake!

Huge favorite of many!

One of our favorites

Pretty quilts - cute way to do the floor!

Tula Pink - a favorite of many!

Love these quilts!

Special exhibits - amazing quilt!

Another amazing quilt in Timeless Treasures!

Interesting display of Moda designers!

Bonnie's (of 'Bonnie and Camille') display in Moda!

My favorite booth - think it is the trees!

Favorite baby quilts - the one with monsters and the one with elephants!

Favorite art quilt - it's the Oregon mushroom thing!

SLC Quilt Market Drawing Winners!

I haven't told the recipients yet but here are the winners for our two SLC Quilt Market drawings!

The first drawing was open to everyone who put a card in the jar! They would win a sample packet of our six new patterns. I want to send a few other patterns too. I love giving away patterns! 

Our winner is:

Spinning Spools of New Ulm, Minnesota

Our  second drawing was for any shop who put in a minimum order! They win a a sample packet of our six new patterns and a model of their choice. They picked "The Place Setting" P215, which actually came out last fall.

The winner is:

The Quilt Asylum of McKinney, Texas

"The Place Setting" P215.

Pretty soon, they will see their gifts show up in their shops. 

Congratulations to Spinning Spools and The Quilt Asylum!

Spring Quilt Market Review Begins!

We're home from Spring 2016 Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. We are going to share lots   -- but first, we must get our orders out! So maybe tomorrow, I will get the pics of Market posted. For now, here's our booth.

We had a good show! Lots of visitors to our booth -- lots of interest. Orders were average though! Shops need to know to order direct from us at Market and not the distributors. We love our distributors, but at the Show, we need shops to order direct to make it worth the reason we are there! Thanks to all the shops that did order from us at the show! Thank you, thank you!

And though we had lots of interest, I think attendance was half what it should be. Many vendors were pretty disappointed there wasn't more traffic. I don't quite know what Quilts, Inc should do but they need to get more traffic at their shows! 

For the shops point of view, I think they loved the show. Displays, booths, vendors, etc. went all out and gave a good offering. Lots of beautiful things to look at and buy. Congrats to all vendors  -- we did FABULOUS!

So here's our booth:

Vanilla House Designs, Booth 1232 at Quilt Market (Spring 2016) in Salt Lake City, Utah!
 

PS. Market Drawing Winners will be announced in a few days! Stay tuned!

Boo is in on the photo shoot!

Nabou (or Boo) is getting in on the photo shoot! She is now about 15 (human) years old. Though pretty, she is scruffy   -- cause she won't let me brush her anymore without nipping me! 

Nabou (Boo)! with Manhattan Bag (P220)

Also showing at Spring Quilt Market!

We are also showing these beauties at Spring Quilt Market!

"The Place Setting" P215 Place mats, napkins with napkin rings, and bread basket!

"Basket Liners" P213 Customize any square or rectangle basket with the  Basket Liner formula!

"Sew ImPressed" P209 Pressing boards with a pocket to hold and carry your grid rulers!

Other Market releases!

So here's the other three patterns we are releasing at Spring Quilt Market!

"Wall Buckets" P218

Comes in two sizes: one that fits a sheet of paper and another #10 envelopes. A dozen appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.

Simple way to turn the double-folded trim at the corners!

"Manhattan Bag" P220

Love the vertical zipper! Size is 13" deep by 12" x 5".

"Fabric Caddies" P221

Use segments of 4" diameter PVC pipe to create these fabric covered caddies. 3", 4", 5", and 6" tall. Six appliques included.

It's Time! For Quilt Market!

Okay everyone! It's time for Quilt Market! Booth 1232! Are we ReaDy? -- I don't think you are ever completely ready but I feel unusually unworried this time! It is about our 25th Quilt Market so we should have this down. Of course, on our 24th Quilt Market, I didn't get copies of our order form. You would think after 23 Markets, I wouldn't forget something like that on the 24th Market. So wonder what I am forgetting this time!!?
Anyway, you haven't heard from me much lately because ---- pre-show, for weeks, I concentrate completely on the patterns. But here are a few of the new releases (more later) ---- TA DA:

"Boho 4 Corners" ----- P216.

A Bohemian version of Vanilla House's signature Four Corners Apron. Scooped neckline, big pockets, lined, one size fits all!

"Ergo Mitt! oven mitt!" ---- P217

Weird-shaped oven mitt ergonomically designed to fit your hand so your thumb does not dip into that hot dish! Two sizes included! Right and left option! Loop or no loop!!!!

"Zip Folios" ---- P219

Sophisticated zipper pouch for your important office papers. Lined, inner pockets. Size 13" x 15". Three appliques included and nine more appliques available to download with the address found inside the pattern.


Okay, all for now. I will add the other three patterns tomorrow! And eventually post all the pics of fabric options! There's tons to come!