Tag Archives: Quilting Treasures & V.I.P

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Spring International Quilt Market in Minneapolis

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I recently attended the Spring International Quilt Market in Minneapolis. As most of you probably know, it’s the largest trade show for anything related to quilting – fabrics, patterns, notions, threads and more and is a kaleidoscope of colors. I took so many photos so am dividing my Quilt Market review into two posts – check back for all the beautiful quilts on display.

Quilt Market Minneapolis show floor

Quilt Market started off with gloomy, rainy and very cool weather, but it turned warm and sunny for two days before it turned ugly and stormy again. Minneapolis is a great location for Quilt Market when weather doesn’t cooperate as city has a system of skywalks going from building to building so that you don’t have to go outside.  The Minneapolis convention center is pretty and in looking at this photo, looks like the inside of a space ship with the large domes.

American Flag Quilt

I always enjoy seeing an American Flag Quilt and especially so at this show since Memorial Day was the following weekend.  This large quilt was displayed in a booth but I, unfortunately, did not get the name of the booth.

Gutterman A&E Thread booth Quilt Market

Gutterman Thread Quilt Market

I was in the A&E and Gutermann thread booth during the show.  I love, love their threads.

Colorful Gutermann Threads

With these beautiful threads and colors behind me, you can see why I enjoyed working in this booth. Yummy!!!

I also spent time in the Quilting Treasures Booth, the fabric company that my fabrics are with.

J Wecker Frisch Letter Stitch Fabrics

One of my amazing friends, J. Wecker Frish, has a new fabric collection “Letter Stitch”  with Quilting Treasures and were displayed beautifully in the booth.  Janet always adds such detail and antiques in her displays.

Quilting Treasures Owl in the family

I also loved the new fabrics “Owl in the Family” by Desiree’s Designs.

Quilting Treasures Minion fabric

And for kids, Quilting Treasures has the fabrics for the 1 in a Minion from “Despicable Me”. What kid wouldn’t want a quilt with this fabric!

Pink Sand Beach Downton Abbey

I’m a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and always get a smile with anything associated with the spunky Dowager Countess.  Pink Sand Beach has an exclusive for the Downton Abbey patterns and fabric kits.

June Tailor Quilt Market Booth

June Tailor is another favorite booth of mine – it’s always so beautiful, colorful and always has some wonderful new quilt tools and notions.

June Tailor booth Quilt Market

A new item by June Tailor is “Quilt As You Go Pre-Printed Batting”  that comes as a complete quilt and four block designs” that are a piece by number construction.

June Tailor Bobbin and Thread pegs

I also love the Thread Mate Spool and Bobbin Pegs from June Tailor, a really great item to let you keep your spool of thread and bobbin together.  No more searching for the right threaded bobbin as you get ready to sew.  It’s the little things like this that makes sewing and quilting easier.

Quilt Market pals

Quilt Market is not all walking the aisles.  There is always the time for fun with friends. Taking selfies by friends in the News Room for dinner –  Jackie Frisch McClenning, Janet Wecker Frisch, Loralie and Ann Regal.

Quilting Treasures group

And I enjoyed spending some time with the people from Quilting Treasures. That really tall paper mache in the back is Freida.

Minneapolis convention center dome ceiling

This is a different view of one of the domes over the convention center.  While looking at it from a distance, it might look like a space ship, but looking straight up, it looks like a quilt pattern, which made it perfect for Quilt Market.

Please check back, as I’ve already started writing another post about Quilt Market to show you some really amazing and gorgeous quilts that were displayed.

Happy Quilting,

Phyllis

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Kitty Cats and Yoga – Fun Purring with Free Patterns!

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My latest fabric collection, Purr-fect Balance with Quilting Treasures, featuring kitties in cute yoga poses, is now in fabric stores. I want to share some free quilt and sewing patterns that I designed with this collection, a quilt, tote bag, and a yoga mat bag.  You can view the fabrics in my prior post for Purr-fect Balance fabrics. 

Purr-fect Balance Kitty Yoga Quilt free pattern

This quilt is 44″ x 55 ¼” in size, which is a good size for a throw quilt or wall hanging.  You can even lay it on the floor for your yoga workout. The skill level for the quilt is advanced beginner.

Kitty yoga bag patterns

These bags are for a roomy tote to carry your yoga clothes or for shopping. The other bag is to hold your rolled up yoga mat. Maybe these fabrics can entice your cat to help you with yoga, although he or she will be trying to help the minute you get down on the floor.

I hope you have fun with these patterns and fabrics. I love cats, needless to say, (and dogs too), and designed the fabrics in happy and bright colors.

All patterns are available for free download from the Quilting Treasures website. Click on the link below the quilt and it will give you the links to the individual patterns.

Happy sewing and quilting,

Phyllis

 

 

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Say “Merry Christmas” with a Christmas Stockings Quilt.

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One of the traditional and fun activities of Christmas is hanging the stockings to be filled by Santa. I have a collection of stockings that I have made over the years or received as gifts, all in a variety of techniques including sewing, quilting, applique, embellishment, embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint.  With stockings on my mind, I designed this “Christmas Stockings” quilt pattern.

Christmas Stockings Quilt

This quilt pattern was created for the Quilt Dash, a fun way to visit online quilt shops.  It starts Monday, December 15, 2014  and runs through December 28. This fun Christmas quilt pattern is available for purchase through Phyllis’ Etsy WhimsyColor store.

This pieced patchwork quilt, sized 46 ¾” x 58″, with 12 blocks. It’s easy to adjust if you want to make it larger or smaller.  I designed it to be a scrappy quilt so that you can use a multitude of fabrics or the scraps you  have on hand.

I hope you join the Quilt Dash and use this pattern  to make your Christmas stockings by creating a heirloom quilt.

Merry Christmas and happy quilting!

Phyllis

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Kitty Workout Quilt – Work Those Kitties with Yoga and “Purr-fect Balance”

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I just finished a new quilt pattern, Kitty Workout, using my new kitty yoga “Purr-fect Balance” fabrics featuring fun and whimsy kitties in yoga poses. This pattern was designed for the Quilt Dash August 15 – 29, 2014 and is now available through the WhimsyColor online shop.

Kitty Workout Quilt

It’s free to complete the Quilt Dash, where you visit online quilt stores to obtain pieces of the patterns.  While in the stores,  you are sure to find some fabrics or other items that you need for your sewing/quilting habit! For Quilt Shops, there is still time to sign up to get lots of new visitors to your stores.

This “Kitty Workout” quilt is 52″ x 60 1/4″ and is a good size to use for yoga or a lap quilt. It’s easy for an advanced beginner to intermediate quilter.  The “Purr-fect Balance” fabrics are from Quilting Treasures and will be great for sewing or quilting a gift for both someone who loves cats or yoga or both.

Happy Quilting and Meow to you!

Phyllis

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Kitties and Yoga Combine for New Fabrics!

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I always get excited with a new fabric collection and am extremely so with my next collection Purr-fect Balance. Created in bold colors, Purr-fect Balance has 16 cats in yoga poses along with some snarky names of yoga poses created in kitty lingo.

Purr-fect Balance Kitty Yoga fabrics

I designed this collection for Quilting Treasures. Since it’s still in printing, Quilting Treasures is taking pre-orders from quilt and fabric stores for shipping in November 2014. If you have a favorite fabric store, you can check with them on ordering this collection.

Cat Yoga quilt

A couple of months ago, I received small sample pieces of each fabric to review for approval. Not to let any scrap go to waste, I designed and created a small quilt to show at Quilt Market.  I don’t have a pattern available for this one, but will work up one soon. In addition, I will let you know about free quilt and sewing patterns to go with these fabrics.

My kitty was the inspiration behind these fabrics although his poses were mostly curling up in sleep. But he did have some great sleep poses and funny positions. RIP Kitty Kat.

I hope that you will add some furry love to your quilting and sewing!

Phyllis

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Quilts Display at International Quilt Market – Pittsburgh

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I wanted to post, finally, some of my pictures from the Spring International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I know you will enjoy seeing some of the spectacular, fun, colorful and whimsy quilts that were displayed. It’s hard to believe that Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh was almost 2 months ago. It seems like only a few days since I was walked off the plane to return home.

Gutermann both spring quilt market

First, I want to show you the booth that I was working in during Quilt Market – Gutermann of America. I helped with the decorating of the booth with my quilts (made with my fabrics for Quilting Treasures and sewn with Gutermann thread). For a sneak peek of my next fabric collection due out this fall (Purr-fect Balance), check out the small turquoise and red quilt shown on the left side. I had received small pieces of the fabric for approval the week before Quilt Market, so I whipped out a small quilt with the pieces.  Please check back as I will post more about this fabric shortly.

You are what you eat Kathy York Quilt

“You are What You Eat” by Kathy York of Austin Texas. Kathy was inspired to create this quilt because of the deers in her neighborhood and that they must be made of flowers because they eat all of hers. The techniques used include hand-drawn batiks, bleach discharged, overdyed, machine pieced, fused appliqué, machine and hand quilting.

Tutti Frutti Main Street Susan Bleiweiss

“Tutti Frutti Main Street” by Susan Bleiweiss of Upton, Ma is part of her ongoing series of art quilts celebrating the use of vibrant color and whimsical imagery.  Sue’s techniques include raw-edge fused appliqué and machine quilted.

Its a Crazy Life Gail Thomas

“It’s a Crazy Life” by Gail Thomas, of Vernon, BC, Canada. She created this quilt with the techniques of hand-pieced, hand-appliqued, painted, machine quilted and hand-embroidered.  Gail worked on this quilt during and after treatment. As her world started healing, she decided the name “Its a Crazy Life” fit with all her stories and the “wow” moments in her life.

House in the Valley #5 Larua Wasilowski

“House in the Valley #5” by Laura Wasilowski is a view of her house by a busy body bird.  The techniques used were fused appliqué, hand-embroidered and free-motion quilted.  This quilt is available for purchase.

A Bright Sun-shiny Day Terri Stegmiler

“A Bright Sun-Shiny Day” by Terri Stegmiller of Manadan, ND is her original design of whimsy, girls, cats and birds. She thinks of this as a self-portrait as she is outside on sunny days watching birds with her cats. Her techniques include hand painted, whole cloth, and free-motion quilted. This quilt is available for purchase.

Roses in the Window Carol Morrissey

 

“Roses in the Window” by Carol Morrissey of Double Oak, TX.  Carol’s techniques fused applique and machine quilted.  She was inspired for this quilt design by a photo she took of some roses that were sitting in her kitchen window. This quilt is available for purchase.

I have many faces Natalie Carlton

Nancy Carlton of Stuart Florida created “I have Many Faces”  and it is available for purchase.  The technique used by Nancy is fused appliqué. She posterized the photos, printed them out and used them for her pattern for fusible appliqué. Available for purchase.

Aren’t these quilts wonderful!  But I’m not finished! I’m working on another post to include more of these wonderful quilts. So check back Monday.

I indicated which of these quilts were for sale, but have no way of knowing if they are still available. They are all so wonderful!  I also provided links to the websites of these quilters. I hope that you check them out – these are some pretty amazing women.

So have a nice weekend and check back Monday for more beauties!

Phyllis

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Ducks A Waddling Quilt – Ready for Spring

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Spring is a great time to watch ducks waddling and splashing in the puddles left by April showers. My newest quilt pattern for the Quilt Dash, Ducks A Waddling, is inspired by the spring ducks.

Ducks a Waddling Quilt Pattern

 

This quilt consists of 12 pieced duck blocks  separated by sashing strips. The finished size of this quilt is 54 1/2″ x 69″. This pattern is available through the WhimsyColor shop.

Shops, sign up to participate and have avid quilters visit your online store.

Please check out and like our new FB QuiltDash page. We will be offering prizes from this page.

In designing this quilt, I used the fabric from my latest fabric collection from Quilting Treasures, Wild Flower.

We have a lot of ducks and geese in our area and I never get tired of watching them. Its not uncommon, when driving, to stop and wait for a parade of feathered friends and family to finish their march across the road.

I hope you are having a wonderful and colorful spring.  Its very welcome after the long, long winter!

Phyllis

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Say Merry Christmas with a Christmas Tree Quilt!

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If you are like me, you are wondering how Christmas got here so quickly.  The weather turns cold and for some of you, snow arrives, then the seasonal colors of red and green appear everywhere. Its also a perfect time for sewing and quilting while you stay snuggled inside to stay warm.  My newest quilt for the Quilt Dash online game is “Christmas Delight – Christmas Trees”, designed with a flurry of red and green with the yellow of candle light or fire flames.  This pattern was designed for the Quilt Dash.

Christmas Tree Quilt Pattern

This pattern is now available through the WhimsyColor online store.

The Quilt Dash starts on December 13 and runs for two weeks to give you plenty of time to complete the dash. The online shops participating will have a great selection of quilt supplies and notions so you may find something for your Christmas stocking!

This quilt is approximately 55 1/2″ square and is appropriate for beginners to advanced quilters. I used the red, yellow and green fabrics from my “Celebrate” fabric collection from Quilting Treasures.

So, stay warm, enjoy the holiday festivities and try a little quilting!

Phyllis

 

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Giving Thanks Blog Hop Give-a-way – Gutermann Thread

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The busy holiday season is approaching with all the holiday festivites, get-togethers with family and friends, good food, shopping, and a rush to finish gifts that you are making. This is a good time to pause and take a hop through blogs to enter for  give-aways for nifty items to add to your quilt or sewing stash of supplies.

Gutermann thread pack Phyllis Dobbs

I’m giving away a colorful packet of Gutermann thread. The wonderful folks at Gutermann of America created this pack of 5 spools of 100% cotton thread based on the colors of my new “Wild Flower” fabric collection with Quilting Treasures. You can see that they are the gorgeous bold colors of yellow, orange, green, fuchsia pink and black. You can see my “Wild Flower” collection to see the great fabric colors that I love to work with.

In addition, the prize will include a fat quarter bundle of one of my fabric collections, all in bright colors too!

To enter, leave a comment on whether or not you do any sewing or quilting for holidays or gifts – and what you make if you do. The prize will be selected by a random drawing of those leaving a comment (and those who sign up for my newsletter) through November 26. I will announce the winner on November 27.

In addition, I invite you to sign up for my newsletter, if you haven’t signed up already (this is not mandatory to enter the contest). Signing up for my newsletter will give you an additional chance to win.  You can sign up in the first column to the right. I don’t send them out often but send them to announce new fabrics, patterns and more.

Click on the Blog Hop image below to find other blogs to hop to – all with great give-aways. You may get lucky and win some prizes to fill your own Christmas stocking!

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways
I was at both the International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival held in Houston, TX  a little over two weeks ago. I’m still going through the large amount of pictures I took and will be posting soon with some of the fabulous quilts on display.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to reading all your comments!

Phyllis

The winner was drawn on November 27 – see who won the Give Thanks Blog Hop!

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Quilt Pattern made with “Wild Flower” for Dashing!

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For autumn splendor I naturally think of the rich colors of yellow and orange. To design a quilt on this theme, I used my new fabric collection “Wild Flower” from Quilting Treasures to create the quilt “Autumn Splendor” for the Quilt Dash October 2013.  This colorful pattern is now available through the WhimsyColor Shop.

Wild Flower quilt pattern autumn splendor

Each person joining the dash will also receive a free 4 month quilt magazine subscription and you will also be entered to win a prize from each quilt shop participating. You will find a lot of great fabric and notions as you dash that  you will love as an addition to your quilting supplies.

The Quilt Dash is going on now through the end of October and is free to enter.

So fall is finally here and cooler weather is approaching with, I hope, low humidity. To all of you, I wish you a “happy fall, y’all” from my southern studio!

Phyllis