This exciting quilt captures that breathtaking moment when the hatchlings emerge from their shells, dig up through the sand, and race to the water’s edge to start their aquatic life.
To make this 54″ x 65″ exclusive quilt design, you will start with the horizontal scenic 24″ x 44″ panel. Then cut up a second block panel to create the top and bottom sections, piecing together with a Sandy Beach blender print. Finish with a framing border of Seagulls in the sky, and an Ocean Blue swirling tonal binding.
Choose Ocean Conservancy as your 2% donation when you check out!
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Wow, that was quite a cold snap! This morning was -19 F and the weatherman says it will be a balmy 45 F tomorrow. We hope the storm has passed you by, without any frozen pipes or slips on the ice. Our 6 month old puppy is now 54 lbs and I have to be careful she doesn’t pull me off my feet when it snows. She just chewed up the carved clawfoot leg of my Victorian-repro couch in my office while I was upstairs brushing my teeth, and so is currently canine-non-grata. Good thing she is so cute….
Today was a day of beginnings and endings, balancing each other but still bittersweet. I was happy to learn that I’ve been accepted into the SAQA JAM program. (Juried Art Members) However we just received the very last issue of SAQA’s Art Quilt Quarterly which is deeply saddening to me. I have to thank Martha Sielman and Sandra Sider, and everyone else who has worked to publish this beautiful magazine. We have the current/final issue online now, plus a few back issues. If you are a SAQA member (Studio Art Quilt Associates) you will still receive the wonderful member publication.
These frigid months are a good time to stay indoors to sew, but many of us also take the start of the year to reorganize our work space. My studio has been in disarray for the last week, as I put together a flannel-covered 8′ x 8′ design wall. It is ready to be mounted on the wall tomorrow, after much reconfiguring and stash purging. As I went through boxes of fabrics, I found fabrics from the turn of the century (!) – back when we were all scrambling to get our hands on “2000” New Year collectible designs. Everything else in that box was a trip down memory lane. Wow, that last 24 years went by fast! In fact, our eQuilter 25 year anniversary is coming up in March. How did that happen?!?
During my years in the garment industry, when I lived in New York’s East Village and worked on Seventh Avenue, I visited some pretty amazing workspaces of designers who had been collecting fabrics for 50 years. They were cramped rooms with tall ceilings, and rolls of fabrics stacked up to the ceiling, under every table, and boxes of buttons and trims and every notion imaginable spilling out of drawers and cubby spaces. I loved to just go and sit quietly, soaking in the history and all the cutting/draping/stitching that took place in each of those rooms. I also soaked up that deep love of textiles in those design rooms, and I feel so lucky to have had a career where I can indulge in that passion, and share it with others.
Lately I’ve been viewing images of beautiful flowers and lush gardens, before I go to bed. That way when I close my eyes, I see those floral images…and I imagine walking along fragrant pathways as I fall asleep. The image above is a combination of a floral double border, and a lemon tree panel…with some solid yellow, blue and white…makes a lovely imaginary view of a garden through a picture window. Dream on!
Travel/Quilt Dates: Jan 26 – SAQA NOCO Tour at eQuilter Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor. March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” April 7-12 – Allegre Retreat
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This refreshing outdoor scene with beautiful Paint and Bay horses in a lush pasture, reminds us of Colorado horse country, but could be just about anywhere. Long grasses tickle the tummies of this happy herd…with wildflowers, shade trees and a lake in the distance.
To make this 63″ x 67″ quilt design, you will start with the 24″ x 44″ central panel with 5 large block vignettes. Extend the windowpane effect with Kona Black Solid sashing, and an allover galloping horse print. Then finish the border with a Southwest geometric stripe and a Hoffman Hand-Dye binding.
This would make a great wall hanging in a tack room or barn office, or a sweet gift for a horse vet. As a Nap/Lap quilt it is comforting to snuggle up with the herd, when you can’t be out in the saddle.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
While much of the country is locked in a snowy deep-freeze, people like you and me are happily stitching/quilting/making with a cuppa something hot, staying safe at home. They don’t call this the Sewing Season for nothing!
This weekend I am putting together a large design wall, covered with flannel backing. I am back in my studio, prepping for some larger works. This year I am challenging myself to work in bigger dimensions. So far I’ve been making 40″ x 60″ pieces with my Bernina Q20 and B790, but my imagination is expanding. I have a list of 4 quilts I am making for 4 projects/exhibits. You can follow me on my artist page and sign up for my blog at luanarubin.com if you are interested. Of course, I get all my supplies at eQuilter….except for the insulation board and Gorilla Tape…ha.
If you are just now getting back to your sewing machine, be sure to review the manual’s instructions for cleaning and oiling your machine’s inner workings. Some of you may have more than one machine that need an annual tuneup and cleaning from your local dealer. If your local dealer is backed up with machine repairs and you can’t afford to be without a machine for more than a week, sometimes you can find a local machine tech who makes house calls and can take care of all of your machines in one visit. Serious quilters usually have more than one machine, because Murphy’s Law is sure to spring into action if you only have one machine and you are on a deadline. I learned that lesson long ago! As your quilting progresses from intermediate to advanced, and you upgrade to a better machine, don’t trade in your previous machine if it is the only other machine in-house. Keep it as a backup. Trust me – you will thank me for this!
Our 6 month old puppy is now over 50 lbs, and early this morning was her first experience with sub-zero weather. It was not a good experience. I think we’ll have to get her some snow booties for her tender little paws.
sharing your love for fabric, Luana and Paul
Travel/Quilt Dates: Jan 26 – SAQA NOCO eQuilter Tour Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor. March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends” April 7-12 Allegre Retreat
Our exclusive Free Pattern tonight is some of the most gorgeous wildlife artwork we have ever seen – with evocative Owl portraits and luminous forest backdrops with a mysterious ambiance.
To make this large 79″ x 88″ bed quilt, you will start with the central 36″ x 44″ panel with 4 large Owl blocks. Use the second 35″ x 44″ panel with smaller blocks to create the inner border featuring Owl vignettes, using Kona Solid Black for sashing. Fussy cut the corner blocks, and piece the rest of the border with Kona Solid Black and the coordinating Owl Stripe.
Owls have always had a magical reputation, even before Harry Potter books and films. As a Medicine Animal, they represent Wisdom, Independence, Intelligence, Protection, and Patience. They have super clear vision in the dark, and urge us to trust our instincts. Sleeping under this Owl quilt may bring dreams that bestow their clear-eyed insight. Sweet Dreams!
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
For those of you who like to plan ahead, Mardi Gras is Tuesday Feb 13. Of course the celebration starts a week or two beforehand, depending on which country is hosting your choice of celebrations. I have only been to New Orleans off-season, and also in Venice during Carnivale. Both are a riot of color, fabric, costume, and posing for photos. The whole point is that it is a big long excuse for a party, for people who don’t seem to need an excuse. If you are a costume maker, it is the finish line for your busiest season.
In New Orleans I visited the Mardi Gras Museum which is where they store and also create the floats and characters for the annual festivities. It was fascinating to see how their artisans carved into gargantuan columns of styrofoam to create the stylized float figures, then painted them in brilliant hues. During the 2 weeks of Carnivale in Venezia, it is probably best to visit on the ‘off’ week so you are fighting moderate crowds rather than ridicuous crushing mobs of people, which can be scary. (Speaking of Venice, we have just received this luscious new “Murano” collection by Odile Bailloeul.)
I knew from a photographer friend who lived on Lido Island just off Venice, that people come from all over Europe, and the world, to dress in costume, promenade, and attend private costume balls with high-priced elusive tickets….held in in golden historic palazzos. As a photographer, it is an adventure. I wandered through mist-shrouded ancient alleyways, only to turn a corner to find a masked figure in 18th century garb swishing by in a rustle of satin, feathers and sequins. There is a lot of silk jacquard, lace and velvet involved. The elaborate bejeweled masks are often the highlight of the ensemble.
I did spend a month in Brazil in 1987, buying gemstones for my NYC jewelry store/gallery at the time. Sadly it was not during Carnival, but there were scintillating hints of the carnival costumes and samba music during my time in Rio.
This year we happen to have a great selection of Mardi Gras fabrics in stock. If you are a Carnival aficionado, or have fond memories of a New Orleans party, you might want to acquire some of these because they are seasonal collector items. Mardi Gras and Carnivale culminate on Fat Tuesday, from Vegas to Trinidad, and once you’ve experienced the costumes and music you will never forget that Samba Beat.
Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll)
Travel/Quilt Dates: Jan 26 – SAQA NOCO Tour at eQuilter Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor. March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends”
We are madly in love with the equine artwork in this collection, featuring the wild energy of galloping (gorgeous) horses front and center. If you are a Horse Person, you will appreciate that not all horse artwork accurately depicts these beautiful creatures, but this dynamic painting is the outstanding exception! Brava to the artist Elise for giving us such a compelling and spirited artwork for our sewing and quilting pleasure.
To make this 66″ x 73″ quilt design, you will start with the 40″ x 44″ panel, then piece the top and bottom sections with 2 Hoffman Hand-Dyes, and a stone texture print. Finish the border with the coordinating horse stripe.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Someone was recently asking me to speak to their group about Color Theory, confusing my background in Color Trend Forecasting. But actually what I am even more interested in sharing, is the concept of Color Intuition. You may be familiar with the concept of Color Psychology – the idea that each color has a psychological or emotional effect on us – and some also say that they have a physical effect on us too. (Look up Baker-Miller Pink, also known as Drunk Tank Pink.)
I encourage you to approach this concept from the other angle: the colors you are drawn to in your creative work, represent what you need in your life. Sometimes we are attracted to a particular palette of colors at a certain stage of our life, to soothe us, to bring focus, or to energize. Color can be healing, and inspirational.
If we live in a colorful landscape (with red rocks, or emerald green fields, or aqua water) that may well inspire us in our work as well. If we live in a gray landscape, we may feel comfortable with a subdued palette, or we may be drawn to an energetic palette of hot brights! Trending colors like Barbie Pink may push our buttons, as positive or negative.
The concept of Intuitive Color encourages you to trust your Inner Color Voice, and don’t second-guess yourself when you are drawn to color that you never would have used in the past. It is catching your attention for a reason! Sometimes the easiest way to embrace these color surprises is to start by using them as an accent color in your next few projects.
I encourage you to be courageous in 2024, and go on a Color Adventure. Try something that is out of your comfort zone perhaps? Or try something that keeps catching your eye, but you’ve been afraid to consider. It is calling to you for a reason.
sharing your love for fabric…and color, Luana and Paul
Travel/Quilt Dates: Jan 26 – SAQA NOCO eQuilter Tour Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor. March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends”
To make this 66″ x 79″ quilt design, you will start with the central 36″ x 44″ large block panel. Cut and piece the secondary 36″ x 44″ small block panel to create the top and bottom horizontal sections. Then use the coordinating Dragon Stripe and Kona Solid Black to construct the border.
This is better than a Dragon picture book because you don’t have to turn any pages – the dragons are all right there!
Hang it on the wall or use as a fully-engaged lap quilt while watching favorite Dragon Films: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire How to Train Your Dragon Eragon Hobbit – Desolation of Smaug Dragonheart (our favorite – Sean Connery is the dragon voice) The Never-Ending Story Dungeons & Dragons
The colorful detailed digital artwork is AWESOME – even better in person.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Marc Chagall Painting on the ceiling of Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris.
Do you remember the first time you saw Phantom of the Opera? Was it on Broadway, or a local/traveling production, or perhaps the movie? Have you had a chance to visit the Opera House in Paris that inspired the story? It is the Palais Garnier, and yes there really is a rooftop with winged statues, and a Box #5. When you visit the opera house, you are overwhelmed by the glittering Grand Foyer, the marble staircases, the opulent gilded ornaments, and embraced by the lush red velvet, but when you look up….
On the ceiling you see this monumental painting by Marc Chagall. I have toured this opera house twice – 10 and 20 years ago – and this photo popped up in my Facebook memories today. Chagall had assistants, but it is worth mentioning that he painted this at the age of 77, completing the project in 1964. Chagall’s surrealist painting celebrates Paris’ iconic architecture, with a timeline of notable composers throughout the centuries.
The first time I saw Phantom in Denver, I thought I was so lucky to get a seat in the center front! I must have been the only person who didn’t know that a chandelier would come flying over my head and crash onstage. (Relax folks – it’s all part of the show.) Did that really happen at the Palais Garnier? Yes! In 1896 the counterweight holding the chandelier detached and fell into the crowd. And is there really a lake under the opera house? Yes! But it was tamed and contained in a concrete water tank that is an emergency reservoir in case of fire.
And if you have not ever seen the Phantom of the Opera, sadly, the longest running show on Broadway, closed last Spring. But I urge you to watch the movie, and watch it with subtitles the first time! If you love costume films, this is a must see. There is a LOT of gorgeous fabric in this film!
