Author Archives: Phyllis

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Quilt Market and Meow Meow Cat Fabrics – Free Patterns for Quilt and Table Runner

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For the debut of the Meow Meow cat fabric collection that I designed for Quilting Treasures, I also designed a table runner and a quilt for their booth at the International Quilt Market trade show.  The table runner is shown in the photo with a cat pet carrier.   Meow Meow cat fabric

 

The Meow Meow quilt was displayed on the wall in the Quilting Treasures booth.   Meow Meow cat fabric quilt 

 

Both the Quilt and Table Runner patterns are available on the Quilting Treasures website for downloading.  While looking at these patterns, note the other patterns available.  I designed some of these as well – the Sophia quilt pattern and the Flintstones Nap Mat as well as the art and instructions for the Blanc et Noir quilt by Marie Osmond.  In addition, there is a free quilt pattern for the Sweetheart Ballerina fabric collection that I designed. 

Please enjoy using these free patterns – there are so many great patterns available for you to choose from.

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Quilt Market – catching up with friends, a perk in addition to the beautiful colors of fabrics

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As I walk the International Quilt Market, I am always in heaven seeing all the beautiful colors of fabrics and quilts displayed throughout the whole show.  Another thing that I really enjoy about the show is catching up with friends, which I did last month at the Spring Quilt Market in Portland.

I think all of my friends are interesting and unique.  I remembered to take out the camera a few times, but not often enough, to capture some of these moments.

Phyllis Dobbs, Julie Stephani and Carol ZentgrafJulie Stephani is sitting in the center and Carol Zentgraf is sitting on the right side.    Julie is the editor of Today’s Creative Home Arts magazine.  Carol is a very talented designer specializing in sewing projects.  Its always a delight to be with these two as our conversations are always filled with many, many laughs.

I have to admit that I don’t know the 4th person behind us. She surreptitiously joined our photo session. We were in the Home Arts booth and didn’t realize until later that we were posed in front of a photo in the booth background – she fit in just like she belonged! Also note my tote bag – made with my new Meow Meow cat fabric from Quilting Treasures.

Threaded Pear booth at Quilt Market I’m afraid that I interrupted Gina Halladay’s lunch in the booth of her and Stephanie Goudzwaard’s pattern company, Threaded Pear (introducing several new patterns).  Gina is such a cut-up, plus she looked simply fabulous.  I just loved the booth sign using red long johns – what a great idea and easy to spot!  Gina is also a blogger extraordinaire with her hit blog, Quilters’ Buzz.

Phyllis Dobbs and Desiree OvertvietAnother friend, Desiree Overtviet, travels a great distance to attend Quilt Market.  She is from Holland where she owns a very successful online fabric and quilt shop, Desiree’s Lappeteknikk.  Desiree is fun as well as very interesting.  I enjoy hearing about her life in Holland, which she tells with a humorous slant.  And Desiree is definitely a shoe lover, traveling with many pairs of gorgeous and stylish shoes including some Jimmy Choo’s.

Proof reading this post reminds me of two quotes.  “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people” (Victor Borge).  Plus “A good snapshot stops a moment from running away”. (Eduora Welty).  Note to self – remember to pull the camera out more often!

 


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Bernina Fashions at Spring Quilt Market

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Bernina of America sponsored a Bernina Fashion Show at the Spring Internatonal Quilt Market.  I took photographs of 3 of the gorgeous entries, although they were all spectacular.

The Many, Many Tears I\'ve Shed

This entry. titled The Many, Many Tears I’ve Shed, was created by Virgie Fisher of Yukon, OK.

 

Silk Road Caravanserai

 

Audrey Durnan of Claremont, CA, created the blue Silk Road Caravanserai which has a coordinating  hooded cloak.

 

 

 

 

The Warrio goddess..Guardian of Lost Treasure

This fashion, The Warrior Goddess…Guardian of Lost Treasure, was created by Janet Brooks of Rio Rancho, NM.

It was a busy show, so unfortunately, I did not get back to take additional pictures of the gorgeous fashions. 

Please check back for more from Quilt Market.  And one more piece of eye candy, a close up (although a little out of focus) of one of the beautiful rhododendron blooms that were outside the convention center.

Rhododendron bloom

 

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Quilt Market in Portland with Meow Meow Cat Fabric Debut

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International Quilt Market is always a beautiful trade show, full of eye candy with all the beautiful colors of quilts and fabrics.  It was an exciting event for me as Meow, Meow, my new cat fabric collection debuted with Quilting Treasures.

I also created several projects for Quilting Treasures’ booth using Meow Meow.  I’m in the center with Donna (left) and Jodi (right) from Quilting Treasures.  The two quilted projects shown in front are a Meow Meow Cat Carrier (with a fluffy white “stuffed” cat), and a Meow Meow Table Runner.  Free instructions for making the table runner as well as a quilt will be on the Quilting Treasures website for downloading soon.  I will post a link when it it up.

Meow Meow Cat Fabric debut

 

Two other quilted projects that I designed with Meow Meow cat fabrics are a Chair Back Cover and a Tote Bag.

Meow Meow Cat Fabric Projects

Quilt Market was held in Portland, OR in mid-May, during an unexpected heatwave with temperatures in the 90’s.  Since I live in the South with high temperatures, I was looking forward to the cooler days in Portland.  Oh well, at least it didn’t rain.

Portland was really beautiful with all the flowers blooming.  Even though Portland is known for roses, I think it should be noted for rhododendrons as they were huge and blooming everywhere.  They were gorgeous and gave additional eye candy for Quilt Market.

Rhododendren at Quilt Market in Portland

After Quilt Market as I took a vacation to Seattle and an Alaskan cruise.  Please check back for lots more from Quilt Market as well as some photos of unbelievable scenic views from Alaska and Mt Ranier.

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Project Designs for Quilt Market with “Meow, Meow” – my new cat fabric

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I’ve worked up a couple of projects with my new “Meow Meow” cat fabric that I designed for for Quilting Treasures.Meow Meow Tote Bag I will carry these with me to Quilt Market to use during the show to show how the fabrics work up in sewing and quilting projects. 

Meow Meow show badge holderThe badge holder and tote bag will also be quite useful as well to keep up with my “stuff” during the show. 

I will be in Quiiting Treasures’ booth Saturday afternoon 2-4 pm to meet attendees.  There will also be other quilt and sewing models in their booth featuring “Meow Meow”.  So for those of you attending Quilt Market (open to the trade only), please stop in.  I would love to meet you.

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Today’s Creative Home Arts Magazine has 4 sewing and quilt projects by me!

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Today\'s Creative Home ArtsI just received the latest issue of Today’s Creative Home Arts magazine.  I have 4 designs created with the Sweetheart Ballerina fabrics in this issue.

The sewing and quilt projects are designed for a child’s room with dimensional dragonflies.  The projects include a quilt, window valance, lamp shade and fabric framed bulletin board.Dragonfly Quilt  The Fabric Framed Bulletin Board is on Today’s Creative Home Arts website so that you can follow the easy instructions to create this project. Dragonfly Valance in Today\'s Creative Home ArtsThis magazine is available by subscription only and is not on the newstand.  It was fun to design these projects and I hope some of you enjoy sewing them as well.

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Here Kitty, Kitty! My Meow Meow cat fabric is here!

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Meow Meow Fabrics

I have received some advance pieces of my new Meow Meow fabric collection.  They are piled here on my cutting table so that I can start sewing with them.

I am so excited about  this fabric collection – cats, cats and more cats, all completely inspired by my Kitty Kat’s attitudes.  Meow, Meow will debut from Quilting Treasures at the International Quilt Market in a couple of weeks. The collection turned out just as I envisioned it when I first started designing it – I could not be more pleased!

I think you will be enchanted by designs and colors of these whimsical cats and find a favorite cat “tude”.

Check back as I will show more of these fabrics very soon and some of the projects I’m creating with them.

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Mother Earth and Her Children – both a book and a quilt – and a true fairy tale!

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I have been wanting to write about this absolutely, unbelievablely fabulous quilt, based on a translation of an old German Fairy Tale, and the interesting woman who designed and made the quilt. The story is like a fairy tale come true along with the quilted fairy tale.

Mother Earth Childrens Book

But onto the story of this quilt and the woman who created it – Sieglinde Schoen Smith.  I had attended the International Quilt Market trade show in October 2006.  After the show, I was sitting in the lobby of my hotel waiting on the airport shuttle bus and had dozed off.  I was awakened by a woman, Sieglinde, who had started taking to me.  She had just arrived for the International Quilt Festival, this huge consumer show that follows Quilt Market.  She was so excited – she had entered a quilt and hoped that she would win a prize.  Sieglinde showed me a picture of her quilt, and my mouth dropped open – it was the most fantastic quilt.  I thought to myself that if she didn’t win, the judges were blind.

Mother Earth Quilt

Sieglinde grew up in Germany during the war and had the children’s book Mother Earth and her Children read to her.  She had remained fascinated by this book and created her quilt based on this story. The quilt is really “mind boggling”, a work of art that is so detailed with both the quilting and embroidery.

As we sat and talked, Sieglinde told me of her childhood and family and the horrors of growing up during the war.  She was completely fascinating and had me thoroughly captivated.  Unfortunately, the shuttle bus came too soon and ended our conversation.  I could have sat hours listening to her.

Although I had her card, I was busy working and did not follow up with her, but often wondered how her quilt placed at the show.

The next spring, I attended the Spring Quilt Market.  As I walked the show, I saw a quilt hanging in a prominant spot and immediately recognized it.  The booth was a publisher, Breckling Press.  I asked about the quilt and learned that it had been awarded “Best in Show”.  I also learned that the quilt was being used  to illustrate Mother Earth and Her Children in a new children’s book.

When the Fall Quilt Market arrived in October 2007, Seiglinde was in Breckling Press’ booth, busily autographing copies of the book. She has another book coming soon, Mother Earth’s ABC,  using the alphabet on the quilt. Congratulations to Sieglinde, who is living a true fairy tale, and a huge thanks for sharing her talent!

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Tagged by a friend – read fun facts about your favorite bloggers.

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I’ve been tagged by my friend Sue Zipkin.  She is an artist with a wonderful delightful style of art and color.  Her art appears on many products.  I actually bought several items with her images on them long before I met her.  Read about her tag facts on her blog.

Tagging is a different and fun way to read little know things about your favorite bloggers.  The tag rules are:

1. Link to the tagger.

2. Share 7 random or weird facts about yourself.

3. Tag 7 people, post their names and links to their blogs on your blog.

4. Tell the 7 people you tagged by posting “Tag you’re it” on their blogs in their comments box and explain the rules to them. Nobody is obligated! Just have fun.

My random facts:

1. I was not given a middle name when I was born, just the initial of my father’s given name. It was the same with my brothers. My father was Greek and we were told it was a Greek tradition. Later, I realized that my father had a middle name.

2. My secret dream is to write a novel. It will be a thriller – bodies and twists and turns, just no blood.

3. I’m a travel junkie. I try to learn as much history about the places I visit. And I love see as much as I can and will take off exploring, following streets on a whelm (as long as the area is safe).

4. I brought a little black kitten home 3 years ago against the wishes of my husband. The kitten was rescued by my sister-in-law and won my heart immediately. We’ve always had dogs and Danny didn’t like cats. Now, he just loves and adores our Kitty Kat as much as I do and is a converted cat lover. 

5. I collect quotes. Since I’ve had Kitty Kat, my favorite quote has become “You can’t outstubborn a cat” (Robert A. Heinlein).

6. I love nature, especially flowers and trees. Although its hazardous, while driving I look at trees and their shapes as well as watch for wildflowers.

7. I love color and buy things simply because of the color (usually small ticket items).  I love office products in exciting colors. I also buy fabric because of the gorgeous colors and as a result, I have a really huge stash of fabrics.

The friends that I am tagging are Brenda Pinnick, Anna Maria Horner, Gina Halladay (Quilters Buzz), Claudine Hellmuth, Audrey Jeanne Roberts, and Joan Elliott. You can check on their links at the right in my blogroll to read their fabulous blogs and their “tag” facts.

And here are a couple of pictures of Kitty Kat – he likes flowers as much as I do. Its amazing how a ball of fluff can warm your heart, whether it is a cat, dog or any other animal.Phyllis Dobbs’ cat 1Kitty Kat Phyllis Dobbs Cat

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CHA – what a show! and celebrities including Jane Seymour

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Its been a few days since I returned from a whirlwind several days to the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show in Anaheim, CA where I exhibited in the License and Design section. It took a day or two just to recover from taking the red eye and unpacking.

The show was fabulous, loaded with new products and a real inspiration for the designers attending the show. In addition, its fun catching up with old friends as well as making new ones. And on top of that, the weather was perfect, warm and sunny.

I took three seminars while at the show – How to Create a Strategic Licensing Plan and How to Forecast Trends, both by Joanne Fink (pictured below) of Lakeside Design. Joanne Fink at CHAIn addition, I took the seminar Liensing Your Creative Content on All Kinds of Products by Cheryl Phelps. All 3 seminars were excellent and really loaded with top notch information. This is Cheryl (long hair) with me in my booth. Any time either of these Cheryl Phelps at CHAwomen give a talk, its definitely worth attending.

I didn’t take many photos at the show since I was in my booth most of the time.  However, I did take a break to see Jane Seymour at a booksigning of her book at the show. She’s just as beautiful in person as she is on TV. Jane Seymour at CHA BooksigningJane Seymour at CHANow its time to get my feet back on the ground from the show high and dive back into work. I have been getting updates on the progress of my next fabric collection and its coming along fabulously. I can’t wait to tell you more about it.