Happy October!

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Luana
It has been a week since I flew home from Cuba, and I’ve made a big batch of Cuban Black Beans to get me through my backlog of emails. (If you’ve had authentic Cuban Black Beans, you know what I mean!)

Here in Boulder the leaves are turning, my tomatoes are turning red, and I am watching the weather report for freeze warnings, so I can harvest my prodigious forest of Basil at the last possible moment.

A few days ago I was in a coffee shop and I overheard someone saying that Christmas is less than 3 months away. I can’t think about the holidays yet, but I am looking forward to cooler weather for sure. I am working on a couple art quilts, and looking forward to seeing a couple of my quilts on display in Houston this year.

Tonight Sophie and I are going to a fundraiser dinner at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado. My quilt “Arches National Park – Bobcat” was based on a photo of one of their animals, and the quilt will ultimately be auctioned to raise money for the Sanctuary. I am presenting a copy of Donna Desoto’s catalog book “Inspired by the National Parks: Landscapes & Wildlife in Fabric Perspectives” to the sanctuary director Pat Craig. The book is now being featured at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, and the National Parks quilt exhibit is touring the country as part of the US Centennial Celebration of our National Parks. We are temporarily sold out of the book but it will be back in stock shortly so let us know if you want us to hold a copy for you.

I hope to see many of you next Thursday Oct 6 while I am visiting the Dairy Barn in Athens Ohio. Please join us for lunch and my power point lecture “International Quilt Trends”, and then a gallery tour of “Mastery: Sustaining Momentum” by Jane Forrest Redfern, the Executive Director. This is a *fundraiser* event for the arts center, which will host Quilt National again in 2017.

Details and Tickets are available here.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is a cause that is close to our hearts. My mom is a survivor, so was Paul’s mom, and it has affected so many loved ones over the years…I am sure you have a similar story. In addition to our Breast Cancer fundraiser fabrics, remember you can choose the National Breast Cancer Foundation as your charity of choice when you check out here at eQuilter. We have raised over 285K for breast cancer research, out of the almost 1.4 million that the eQuilter charity program has raised in total. We have some friends in the industry who are fighting this disease now …. sending hugs to you now…. you know who you are. XOXO.

Sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana
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Free Pattern – Morning Glory

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Luana

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Here is another *exclusive* eQuilter Free Pattern that is destined to be a smash hit!

Hummingbirds buzz and Bluebirds twitter around detailed Morning Glory vines, with gorgeous jeweltones and touches of gleaming gold metallic. Garden vignettes are set on point in the trellis-like border.

This 62″ x 74″ quilt can be a twin bed quilt or lap quilt. Add an extra border for a double bed, or just hang on the wall of a sunny room to bring the garden indoors!

… from the ‘Morning Glory’ collection by Chong-A Hwang for Timeless Treasures.

You may order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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Creative Nudge – Caribbean Sunset

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Luana

nudge

More than ever, I am inspired by the Colors of Cuba. As I spent the week as tour host and mother hen to our group, I also had my camera in hand to capture the combinations of colors that are so unique to this island nation.

This is my postcard from Varadero – a beach area that has been a favorite of South Americans and Europeans for decades. It is the closest Cuban land to the US, so I imagine a lot of dreams were launched from this coast. We were there for a short visit, and I had about an hour to walk on the beach at sunset, where I captured the Golden Hour’s liquid light shining on the wet sand, and the turquoise waters under a deep purple sky.

I’ve put together a collage of tropical island and beach-themed fabrics to go with this beach photo… and you may have noticed we actually have a digital printed beach scene panel that could be used for a quilt like this collage.

I love being the designated wildlife spotter, my eyes fine-tuned by years of spotting Colorado wildlife (usually at night when driving!), and in the last few years sharpened by my Polar Bear expeditions.

On the last day as we drove along the Cuban coast, I spotted a pod of dolphins just off the water’s edge. On my last visit to Cuba a dolphin had jumped out of the water right behind me, as I had lunch by the water! So this time I was determined to spot some dolphins …and sure enough, my wish was granted! Years of spotting turtles, whales and porpoises, has taught me what to look for in the ocean waters. When you are a visual person, wildlife spotting is just an extension of one’s natural abilities, in my experience!

I hope to see many of you while I am visiting the Dairy Barn in Athens Ohio on Oct 6. Please join us for lunch and my power point lecture “International Quilt Trends”, and then a gallery tour of “Mastery: Sustaining Momentum” by Jane Forrest Redfern, the Executive Director. This is a fundraiser event for the arts center, which will host Quilt National again in 2017.

Details and Tickets are available here.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana

********
2016 Travel Calendar:
Oct 6 – Dairy Barn – Athens OH – “Intl Quilt Trends” Lecture
Oct 29 – Nov 4 – Houston Quilt Market & Festival
Nov 11-13 – Color Marketing Group – Albuquerque
Nov 15-20 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Canada

 

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Free Pattern – Oceanic Sanctuary

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Luana

oceanic-sanctuary

This dreamy ocean-themed Free Quilt Pattern has a mystical quality, as if you are viewing the whales, octopus, dolphins, orcas, turtles and jellyfish from underwater.

The watercolor textures of the marine life illustrations give this a feeling of contemporary art, with calming colors that evoke a magical secret world under the waves.

Make this 43″ x 47″ quilt as a wallhanging for your favorite marine biologist, or maybe a baby quilt for a future Thalassophile. (Lover of the Sea)

… from the ‘Wilderness Expressions’ collection by Karla Morreira for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

You may order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

 

 

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Salsa Colors

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Luana

Tonight I am writing to you from Havana, as it is our tour group’s last night in Cuba. Every time I come here I learn so many new things. We’ve had a couple heads of state visit the hotel where we are staying in Havana, and we’ve had close encounters with artists and musicians all week long. The colors and rhythms of this island nation have become deeply rooted in my heart over my 3 trips here in the last year.

Our group of intrepid travelers come from the US, UK and New Zealand! They have been extraordinarily generous, so we’ve been able to donate guitar strings, sax and clarinet reeds, sewing supplies, pain relief and other medications, art supplies, soap and cosmetics, and other things that are not readily available here due to the embargo. Our tour guide would turn down country roads and find hidden lanes with the poorest of the poor, and there our donations were dispersed, to the exuberant surprise of the rural folk living in poverty.

So please note: If you are planning to go to Cuba in the near future, bring gifts and donations for those here who have so little! US citizens have to bring cash because Americans can’t use credit cards or ATM machines. Internet coverage is sparse and slow. We stayed in a bed and breakfast in a UNESCO Heritage town, and the building used to be the Spanish Consulate during the days of the sugar empire… Such interesting extremes of contrasts.

I will spend the day flying home Sunday, with salsa music dancing in my head. To those trying to reach me by email – give me a day or two to catch up! Adios!

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana

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Free Pattern – Irresistible Irises

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Luana

irresistible-irises

Your Free Exclusive pattern this week features our favorite irises in all their showy splendor. Iris blooms are set on point, surrounded by rich, summery coordinates.

This generous 72″ x 72″ quilt celebrates abundance with a mitered iris border filled with detailed, colorful blossoms and greenery.

Don’t miss out; order your Irresistible Iris quilt today and enjoy the color and warmth of these delicate irises all year round.

… from the ‘Irresistible Irises’ collection by Ann Lauer for Benartex.

You may order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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Creative Nudge – Hello from Cuba!

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Luana

cuba

I arrived in Havana Sunday for my 3rd trip to Cuba. I keep saying it is my last trip to Cuba (before the hordes of tourists arrive) but then something always happens to make me fall in love with this island nation again.

Quilting takes me to the most unlikely places, and gives me some of the most unusual experiences! While leading this tour, we met a music professor, which led to a conversation about saxophones…and today I found myself visiting the home of a world famous Cuban saxophone player who gave me a private little concert in his home while his little dog howled along with the Mark VI sax. What an experience!

Yesterday I came across some tile tables that looked like patchwork. I’ve made a collage with the tiles, and some other iconic images from Cuba.

I am inspired by the colors and the music of Cuba, and can’t wait to come home and get into my studio while playing some of my new Cuban Jazz CDs. These musicians are so incredibly passionate and expressive in their art, and it inspires me to find that same passion in my own creative work.

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana

********

2016 Travel Calendar:
Sept 18-25 – CUBA Arts Tour #2 – Havana, Trinidad & Varadaro
Oct 6 – Dairy Barn – Athens OH – “Intl Quilt Trends” Lecture
Oct 29 – Nov 4 – Houston Quilt Market & Festival
Nov 11-13 – Color Marketing Group – Albuquerque
Nov 15-20 – Luana’s Polar Bear Tour – Churchill Canada

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Free Pattern – Rosewater Sofa Size

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Luana

rosewater_sm

Rosewater is back by popular demand, and we’re re-introducing the Rosewater pattern in a new, Sofa size. This is one of the most gracious and lovely Free Quilt Patterns of the season…featuring the ‘Rosewater’ fabric collection.

The pastel rose garden has luscious painterly details, with blocks set on point, giving the impression of a garden trellis and a shimmering background, reminiscent of an English garden or grandmother’s Tea set.

Your 49″ x 71″ Sofa quilt makes a great project for holiday gift-giving for someone special, to keep the roses blooming all through the winter months.

from the ‘Rosewater’ collection by Nan for Quilting Treasures.

You may order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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Harvest Moon & Fall Equinox

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Luana

This weekend we can enjoy several nights of a Harvest Full Moon, (large red or orange moon rising around sunset) and then the Fall Equinox comes on Thursday Sept 22. The Equinox is the official start of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and here in Boulder we already have leaves starting to turn.

For many of us, it is an energizing time of year, with the kids back in school, and the heat of summer subsiding. It is a great time to clean out a studio, reorganize a stash, and update our color palette and supplies.

It is also a great time of year to plan for new projects, and think about setting goals for 2017. Is this the year you will learn a new technique? Enter a quilt in a contest? Upgrade your sewing machine? Go to a creative retreat?

I have my list of quilt projects tacked to the wall, along with deadlines. I am scheduling out my work, so I don’t freak out about getting it all done at once! Now is the time of year that we really get down to work on quilts for deadlines, and projects for the holidays.

While picking my tomatoes by the light of the Harvest Moon, I am thinking about using shades of red in my next project. The cycles of the seasons roll past us, creating harmony and motivation. Just spend a little time with your fabric stash, perhaps with the moonlight streaming in your window, and you’ll be dreaming of your next project too!

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana

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Free Pattern – Woodland Winter

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Luana

woodland

Brighten your Holiday spirits with this week’s Free eQuilter pattern.
The center woodland panel features heartwarming winter animals in a peaceful scene,
intricately detailed with digital printing.

These endearing woodland creatures are surrounded by delicate snowflake borders
and framed by an ornate, festive ribbon.

Your friends and family will simply love their 60″ x 65″ Woodland Winter quilt,
based upon Elaine Maier’s joyful holiday artwork.

… from the ‘Woodland Winter’ collection by Elaine Maier for Northcott Fabrics.

You may order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our over 20,000 fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.

This pattern was designed in EQ7, which is available here at eQuilter.

Click Here for a Video Tutorial of the Free Pattern Designer.
Download Instructions for the pattern at the bottom of the pattern designer page.

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