Tag Archives: Fabrics

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Interview by BluPenny for Sketchbook Story

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One of the best things about traveling to trade shows and events is meeting people who I’ve talked with via social media and forums.  At the Surtex show last year, I met Cindy Ann Ganaden in person. She is a fellow artist and author of the BluPenny blog. She publishes a Sketchbook Story series in which she interviews artists on their inspiration, how they use it to create sketches and finalize into art.  The art is then licensed for various products.BluPenny Blog
Cindy Ann just interviewed me and posted the interview for the Sketchbook Story in which I show my inspiration and results. I used my cat for inspiration to create an art collection which was then turned into a fabric collection for Quilting Treasures. Everyone has different techniques and ways they use to create their art.  I hope you will check out mine.

The apron shown in the interview can be downloaded – free half apron pattern.

I’m off to Houston for Quilt Market.  Please check back as I will post pictures of Market next week.

Phyllis

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Free Quilt Pattern Designed with Mary Engelbreit Fabrics

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“A Friend is a Gift” is the basis of Mary Engelbreit’s newest fabric collection for Quilting Treasures in their VIP Exclusive fabric line.  I designed this quilt and instructions for Quilting Treasures for their website. The quilt is designed around a central panel of “A Friend is a Gift to Give Yourself” tea party. Applique teapots are stitched in top and bottom borders to go with the tea party theme. The quilt size is 51″ x 57″, a perfect size for a wall hanging or to use for a throw with the cool weather arrives. (I’m down south, so the cool weather is not here yet.) To find this pattern, scroll down the selection of free quilt patterns. You may also be tempted to try some of the numerous other free patterns as there is large selection.

Mary Engelbreit Free Quilt Pattern from Quilting Treasures

I designed another quilt pattern based on Mary’s Sleeping Beauty fabrics that is also available for a free download from VIP Exclusive. Read about it in my prior blog post. With this great selection of patterns, you should be busy quilting!

Phyllis

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Free Quilt Pattern for Mary Engelbreit Sleeping Beauty Fabrics

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Ah, the romance of fairy tales!  I have always loved them and especially Sleeping Beauty.  Mary Engelbreit’s newest fabrics for Quilting Treasures feature her wonderful illustrations of this favorite classic for her Sleeping Beauty fabric collection.

I enjoyed working with these beautiful fabrics to create this quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures.  Sized to fit a twin size bed, it will make any  girl feel like a princess! I think the colors are wonderful and very feminine.

The quilt is composed of two quilt blocks, both simple so that you can easily complete your quilt.

Mary Engelbreit's Sleeping Beauty fabrics free quilt pattern

Have a beautiful fairy tale of a day!

Phyllis

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Free Pattern for a fun summer quilt – Sunshine Resort fabrics by Loralie!

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I just love these  fabrics! Sunshine Resort fabrics by Loralie for Quilting Treasures are just adorable with Loralie’s ladies at the beach.  The colors and motifs of ice cream, sun and surf all make for fun summer memories. And flip flops are definitely a summer wardrobe staple although in the south, we wear them for a while longer.

I designed this fun quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures website . It’s available for free download from their site with just a quick click – Loralie Sunshine Resort Quilt.  The pattern is very easy and can be sewn quickly.

Free quilt pattern for Quilting Treasures Sunshine Resort fabrics

So check it out and create a fun quilt to enjoy for years to come!

Here’s to a great summer and fun quilting!

Phyllis

 

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Free Patterns for Aprons and Quilts

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Please note that this apron pattern is no longer available through Quilting Treasures website.  However due to the demand for it, I have recreated another pattern similar to this. It can be found on the Etsy Whimsicolor.  

Note also – The Rails quilt pattern below is also no longer available through Quilting treasures and has been redesigned.  It can also be found on the Etsy WhimsyColor.

I love sewing and quilting with beautiful fabrics, so its fun to design projects for Quilting Treasure’s website with some of their newest fabrics. I have finished several quilt and sewing designs for Quilting Treasures that can be downloaded free from their website and wanted to share them with you. Using the red, white and blue fabrics from Studio 8’s collection Monaco, these aprons can be made in a blue or red color combination. The aprons are sassy with two layers for the skirt to include a little overskirt. The top band of the bodice is ruched for extra detail.

Aprons in red or blue colors

This quilt is easy to sew and is made with the red colors of the collection. The blocks have a random arrangement of fabrics.

Free quilt pattern designed by Phyllis Dobbs for Quilting Treasures

Happy sewing!

Phyllis

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Staying Cool During these Hot, Hot Days!

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The heat is bad enough, but when you add lots of humidity, its time to stay inside and remain cool and refreshed.  This is also the time for iced tea or lemonade, both of which I have been guzzling!  Adding lots of cool fruits and salads completes my daily menu  (plus a little chocolate of course).

What better timing for completing my quilt book. The heat makes it much easier to be focused and content to stay inside, especially since I have been buried working on instructions and graphics. All the quilts are finished and the book is almost finished as well.  It will be out the door in a week.  I will be giving details very soon as well as photos from the photography session in absolutely the most wonderful and charming studio.

cutting quilt border

Stay cool and enjoy some iced tea, ice cream or anything iced!

Phyllis

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New Quilt Book!

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I have been buried under piles of fabrics the past few months!  I have been working on a new quilt book to be published this fall in time for the fall International Quilt Market in Houston.  Stack of fabrics for Quilt bookI’m really excited about this book and just love all the quilts.

I took pictures of the fabrics when I first got them in before I started cutting away.  It was a heavenly delight with all the wonderful array of colors. Fabric pile for quilt book

Fabric stash for quilt bookI can’t say too much about the book now, but I will tell the focus of the book and lots more about it soon.  Like most of my designs, it will have some whimsy. And again, I’m so excited about this book!

Have a day filled with inspiration and creativity!

Phyllis

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Atlanta Gift Market – An inspiration for good things to come!

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Starting a new year off is exciting but it always seems like the first of the year is very hectic, in part due to a partial slow down in work due to holidays combined with preparation for the January shows. I’ve been working hard on new art for my agent to present at the Atlanta Gift Market held last week. In addition, I finished a book proposal for a new Quilt book that has been accepted and is on my agenda to complete in the next few months. Also on schedule this year are new fabric collections – I can’t wait until I can show you these!

Getting to Atlanta this year was pretty much a nightmare for everyone due to the ice on the roads and airports closing and delaying flights.  I had to drive on very icy roads between Birmingham and Atlanta, and really scary roads in downtown Atlanta. But everyone made it in and the market was extremely busy with buyers – a great sign.

There were tons of artists signings during the show, including one by Mary Engelbreit. Here’s a picture of us with her signing one of her beautiful ornaments by Ne ‘Qwa Art. Mary’s fabrics are with Cranston Printworks (VIP, VIP Exclusive, Quilting Treasures)  the same fabric company that my fabrics are with. I’ve been working with her fabrics designing quilts for free project sheets for the company website. I will let you know when the project sheets are published to the site. (Thanks Amy for taking the picture!)

You know what they say about all work and no play!  A bunch of artists met up after the end of a long day to socialize and network. Shown on the front row (L to R) Debbie Cole, myself, Robin Davis, and Aaron Christensen. Back row – Terri Conrad, Jane Maday, Karen Embry, Beth Logan, Tammy Browning-Smith, Sue Zipkin, Chad Barrett, Beth Yarbrough, Paula Joeling, Robin Pickens (behind Aaron), Lynn, Brenda Pinnick and Suzanne Whitaker. A very delightful and dynamic group!

Thanks Jane Maday for loaning me the photo since I left my camera in the room (dumb move on my part!). Also to Sue Zipkin for sending me a photo.

I am now back in my studio working away and excited about lots of new things on the horizon.

Stay warm!

Phyllis

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Quilt Market – full of spectacular colors, quilts and more

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I just returned from the International Quilt Market in Houston and am so excited about all I saw. There was so much to see and I want to share some of my favorite things as well as some of the fabulous quilts on display.

Friday night before Market began, I went to the Fabric 2.0 Meet and Great event, which was packed with people networking and just plain ol’ having a great time.  To my surprise, my name was called for the first door prize (so I now I have to stop saying I never win anything)!

Door prize - ribbons from JCaroline CreativeI won a half gallon jar of beautiful woven ribbons from JCaroline Creative and a book from Stash Books.  I am thrilled with my prize and can’t wait to use the ribbons. Thanks Caroline!!

The next morning I took a fun class on surface design using Amazing Angelina, paint sticks and foils from Embellishment Village. I made this leaf design using the Amazing Angelina and a rubber stamp. I look forward to using all of these techniques from class for new projects.

Design made with Amazing Angeling fibers.

One of the booths that captivated me was Woolylady. I have always loved hooking rugs and love the designs and wool that was in their booth as well as their colors.

Woolylady booth at the International Quilt Market

Another booth that I just adored was Handbehg Felts with so many wonderful felted items.  The colors made the booth pop and I loved the decorated dress form centerpiece made with packaging.  The skirt was made with bags of felt balls and the tubes from paper towels.  My picture doesn’t do it justice.

Handbehg felts

Handbehg Felt booth

There were several book signings with so many new books out.  I was delighted to see Kathy Davis who was signing her book Scatterjoy in the Free Spirit Fabric booth. Her new fabric line is behind us and is really gorgeous.

Kathy Davis booksigning

And here are some of the fabulous quilts from the quilt exhibits – all works of art.

Caddy and Cakes Quilt by Janet Fogg of Lake Oswego, OR.

Caddy and Cakes quilt

Circle of Life: Hibiscus Christmas by Heidi Lund of Bremerton, WA

Circle of Life: Hibiscus Christmas

Crocus by Maggie Weiss of Evanston, IL

Crocus Quilt

I love this one because I have a black cat – Look Out for Scout by Penny Sander of Arlington, MA

Black Cat Quilt

Spring is Just Around the Corner by Saradean Hallman of West Columbia, SC.

Spring is Just Around the Corner Quilt

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my pictures.  I will post more tomorrow for Part 2 with more booths and quilts. So please check back!

Phyllis

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Great place for quilt, sewing, needlework & craft lovers

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If you love reading about crafts with plenty of tutorials, free patterns, information, projects that are being created, and much more on various blogs, then Creating the Hive is for you.  This is a website started for the craft world which includes sewing, quilting and needlework.

You join (free of course), then set up your profile for the type of crafts that interest you.  Also, you can join groups for your favorite crafts, such as Love of Sewing, Fabric Lovers, and Aprons if  you love sewing and quilting.  There are other groups for the many various crafts, such as scrapbooking, Christmas crafts, color, dolls, general crafts and many, many more.

People post their blogs to these groups so that you can have a condensed place to read great blogs, find out about new products, as well as free patterns, and more.  You can post your blogs and if you don’t have a blog, you can write a blog right on this site and have it go to the groups you choose.

Creating the Hive is new, slightly over a month old, but growing rapidly.  You will find your favorite blogs there.

Check creating the hive out and if you join, let me know by following me and I will follow and see what’s going on with you.

Have a great week of sewing, quilting or crafting!

Phyllis