On the Road Again….

We just returned from vending at the 2017 Glendale Quilt Guild show and for us, it was a first of many things:

1. …the first time vending in California;
2. ….the first time vending as Colourwerx and not Linderella’s;
3. …and the first time Carl and I vended together as a team without one of us being in the booth and the other in the shop.

All in all, it was fun time and the Glendale Quilt Guild put on a marvelous show with hundreds of quilts on display and several nice exhibits and boutiques.  It was held at the Pasadena Convention Center – a somewhat familiar setting for us as this was our home turf some 15 years ago.

Our small, but cozy 10 x 10 booth was an experiment of sorts – seeing whether we could survive with each other in such a small space for longer than 3 hours – I’m happy to report that we did!  Here’s a little tour of our booth – a major plus was the nicely patterned carpet at the convention center and tons of natural light!

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We brought our inventory of Colourwerx patterns and also added the popular Mini ModDog fabric kits (a hit!), fabric packs for Spikey & ModTV,  as well as our new colouricious Kona Cotton bundles (yummmmm!)  –  a special, curated blend of  luscious colours to inpire you.  The MOD TV fabric kit was the runaway hit followed closely by the Mini Mod Dog fabric kits!  I’m happy to report, as you might have guessed, that these items are also now available in our shop!

Of course, there were many beautiful quilts on display!  A few of my favorite quilts from the show were these below – find the title and credit to the quiltmaker when you click on the picture.

The Fear of Fire by Anna Koelewyn

I Don’t Follow Rules by Anna Koelewyn

Wild Eagle by Bonnie Marshall-Creel

Mermaid by (my apologies as I did not write down the artists’ name)

All in all I think the weekend went very well – we met many new faces, met up with some old friends and had a great time.

Next stop on our road tour?  You’ll find us here:
•  October 2017 – Quilt Market (Houston, TX)
•  January 2018 – Road to California (Ontario, CA)
•  February 2018 – Quilt Con – Modern Quilt Guild (Pasadena, CA)

Hope to see you there!  Until you next colour fix~
Linda & Carl

Slash ‘n Sew – Say what?!??

The other day it occurred to me that when we label a project “easy – slash ‘n sew” that many of you might just say “Huh – ……what the heck does that really mean…”??  Hence this blog post….

“Slash ‘n Sew” is a term that I adopted in the 90’s when I learned about liberated quilting – a non exact, non precise way of piecing a block – no templates, no set patterns and best of all, no exact 1/4″ seams!  Many of today’s modern quilters have also adapted this method but refer to it as “improv quilting”. 

The inventor and queen of modern, liberated quilting is Gwen Marston, who I was fortunate enough to take a class from way back when (circa 1999).  I credit her (and later  – Australian artist, Jan Mullen) for opening my eyes to this type of unconventional piecing – both of their influences can be seen in many of my early Linderella quilts that have slash ‘n sew techniques such as “Happy Hauntings” pictured below – Check out the outer borders...(And if you like this pattern, you can purchase it and a few more oldies but goodies at our Linderella Craftsy site as a PDF download)…

 

Back to slash ‘n sew – Gwen Marston’s books, “Liberated Quiltmaking I and II” are both excellent reads and staples in my reference library.  Almost any block that can be conventionally pieced,  can be “slash ‘n sew” pieced.  It’s a wonky, free wheeling, liberating, stress free, non exact, wildly innovative way of piecing.  The key is to let go, relax and enjoy the creative process.

To get you started – perhaps the simpliest block to slash ‘n sew would be the liberated 4-patch.  You’ll need:
• (2) 4-1/2″ squares of 2 different fabrics,
•  a rotary cutter with a sharp blade, and a square ruler.

1. Stack the (2) squares RIGHT side up and even.   With your rotary cutter and straight ruler, slash straight through the stack vertically. This slash should not be perfectly centered – skew the slash from top to bottom. Without moving or disturbing the stack, slash again through the stack but this time horizontally.

2.  You should now have (4) piles of misshapen squares – the same fabric should be on top of each stack.

3. Before sewing you’ll need to “shuffle” each pile.  Leave Stacks #1 & #4 alone. With Stacks #2 & #3, take the bottom fabric and place it on top. The two opposing stacks should now have a different fabric on top like the photo.

4. Begin assembly of the 4-patch square by stitching the top fabrics from Stacks #1 & #2 together – an exact 1/4″ seam is not necessary.    Press the seams open.     Repeat this step with the top fabrics from Stacks #3 & #4.     Again press the seams open.   

5.  Finally, matching the center seams (or not matching – it’s your choice and that’s the great thing about liberated quiltmaking!) , stitch these two pieces together to create the slash ‘n sew 4-patch square. Press all seams apart and outward. With your square ruler, center and trim the square to 3-1/2” X 3-1/2”.  Voila – a liberated , stress free, fun slash ‘n sew 4-Patch.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

These squares can be made any size you want – just allow yourself enough room for squaring down after stitching.  A good rule of thumb would be if you want the Slash ‘n Sew 4-Patches to finish at 3-1/2″, then add a full 1″ when cutting the squares out – hence cut them out at 4-1/2″ (or whatever size you want them to be).

So what can you do with this little gem?  Check out these 2 pillows I made –  both are 12″ x 12″ – so that would be a total of (16) 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ squares.  Easy – peasy!  (Full disclosure: I did do a little pre-planning and on how the colors would gradiate out on the multi colored pillow before stitching).

And how about using the liberated 4-patch for an outer border – check out our Pattern Colourstruck – I think the wonky border really makes the quilt dynamic!  There are over (80) Slash ‘n Sew 4-Patches there.

For a more challenging slash ‘n sew project – try our Mod TV pattern – this design was very inspired by Jan Mullen and of course, our love for everything retro!

So go forth, be liberated and slash ‘n sew your way to stress free quiltinq!  Give it a try – Until your next colour fix~  Linda & Carl

 

Welcome 2017!

2016 was indeed ‘a year of real change’…and in so many ways, right?   Presidential elections, celebrities found and lost, international intrigue and domestic scandals, and personally for us – a colourful and most welcome change of pace: a new business, new projects started, older ones completed, lots and lots of UFO’s still languishing from previous years, all the while creating a new bucket list of new projects that will take me some 3000 years to complete (but hey-who’s counting right?) and many, many more ideas and projects  percolating and in the works….

As hard as it was, the end of 2016 was time for Carl and I to say goodbye to our beloved quilt shop Linderella’s Quilt Works located in Southern Pines, NC.   Although we were sad to give up the daily routine of running the shop and familiar interactions with customers and long time friends (check out the montage photo to the right – you might see someone you know 🙂 ), it was definitely and personally time for a change up…..  Eight plus years and then some, is a long time in one job but it was time for us to reboot our creative juices and return to our first passion of designing quilt patterns and making colourful quilts….

However looking back on 2016, we are mighty proud of what we accomplished, keeping two full time business running at full speed and with no employees I might add.  We designed two new patterns now available for purchase : “Mod Dog” & “Splendor”…

In addition to that, we designed a few dozen or so new patterns for some pretty well known fabric companies, such as Free Spirit Fabrics – one of which is now available in kit form at Hancock’s at Paducah entitled, “Flower Show”….

Completed over two dozen or so various quilts or samples for Colourwerx and/or Linderella’s, including our popular “Rainbow Row” for the Row by Row Experience (pictured below on the right); and in addition, taught a full roster of classes  using many of our new designs as well as other projects at the shop or at other quilt shops in the area, in addition to prepping and hosting over a dozen demos and/or events throughout the year.

Needless to say, we are super excited to see what 2017 brings and look forward to once again, just as we did in 2008 with Linderella’s , fostering our new business from the ground up.  We have so many fun colourful, things planned for you this year:  new patterns, new products and kits, free tutorials, giveaways and of course, a few surprises. 

We also have a full roster of new classes and lectures available to local quilt shops, guilds and national shows – you can check it all out here.  If you think your local shop or guild might be interested in hosting us, we’d appreciate your referrals…

So here’s to 2017!!  We hope you’ll continue to follow us on all your favorite social media sites and tell your friends to do the same….and just in case you didn’t know where to find us, here are some links:
“Got Colour” Newsletter
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

And refer your friends to follow along on this blog as well….

We are so grateful for all of your support this last year and thank you so much for allowing us to share our colourful, quilty journey with you!  We hope to see you all very soon!

Until your next colour fix~
Linda & Carl

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Recap of Houston Quilt Market – It’s About Time

I’m just getting back to blogging and writing a quick recap of our splendid time at the October Houston Quilt Market.   Truth be told – we’ve been just a tad busy around here lately….having spent the last month closing down our brick and mortar store, Linderella’s Quilt Works, and wrapping up a few odd ends here and there,  Colourwerx blogging had to take a back seat to everything else  (and yes, – I realize I am a year between blog posts, but hey-who’s counting, right?)

Anyway, back to Houston….We had a single booth space just a few spots away from one of our favorite fabric companies, Free Spirit Fabrics.  It was a great spot and so much fun to be just “down the block” from some of our favorite people like Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink and Heather Bailey.

As usual, Carl did a great job designing the booth.  Like our previous booth at Houston (which I blogged about in “Colourwerx & Quilt Market”), Carl redesigned the 3-tiered truss system from a lightweight, metal EMT (electrical) conduit piping so that we could hang our quilts on drapery rings staggered apart for optimum viewing.  The big advantage we had this year was driving to Houston, which meant we could take the entirety of the booth – piping, rugs, decor, displays and tables all in the car and all ready for set up in a day without having to leave the convention center.  It was great! and a big relief to know that we had everything we needed packed and ready to go when we got there.  The car was a bit cramped though and due to the 10 foot pipe extending from the front window shield to the back, I was resigned to the back seat for the ride-check out the photo to the right for my view for 16 hours there and back again!  It was spacious but still in the back.

Carl also designed this nifty display table which was the talk of market…the table was a glass topped-metal bookcase purchased from Ikea -he added a cheap  metal curtain rod with metal tie backs (bought at Walmart) and created a hanging rod on the front,  perfect for displaying a quilt – what a genius!. Then our friend Nancy at Shutterbug Graphix installed the Colourwerx vinyl letters on the glass top which Carl highlighted with a row of bright LED lights…it was all very theatrical looking and splendid. 

We debuted two new designs – “Mod Dog” and “Splendor” – both patterns are now available for purchase at your local quilt shops or on our website.  “Mod Dog” was a huge success and was clearly the favorite of of all of our designs by the shop owners.   We’ll also be blogging about these new designs and others soon – so stay tuned!

An additional thrill was to have one have one of our commissioned designs featured in the Free Spirit Fabrics Quilt Gallery.  This was such an honor as this was a special exhibit set up by Free Spirit Fabrics to showcase new fabric collections with accompanying quilts (which will be offered as free patterns when the fabric collection is released.)
We were asked to design and make a quilt for Nel Whatmore’s new collection “Rosealea.  “Rosealea” is a beautiful fabric collection chocked full of vintage cottage roses reminiscent of English countrysides. To the left is our design titled “Roundabout”.   Carl designed this in the software program called, Electric Quilt 7 – I paper pieced it and Teresa from Quilting is my Bliss, did a magnificent job free motion machine quilting it!  If you’d like a copy of the pattern you can download it for free on the Coats Crafts website.

There were a dozen or so other quilts featured in the Free Spirit Gallery too – some of our other favorite designs  were Laura Heine’s The Dress, Tula Pink’s Designer Essential Solid,  Kaffe Fassett’s Artisan and Anna Marie Horner’s Loominous.

 

 

 

 

 

And of course while we were away our trusty office manager kept a keen eye on all the activities at home.   All in all, quilt market is always so much fun and we are now looking ahead to Spring Market in St. Louie!

Until your next colour fix~
Linda & Carl

 

 

 

 

 

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Our shop, Linderella’s Will be Closing….

Have you heard the saying “Some of the best things in life happen when you least expect them…?” Well, something has happened and it’s of course, when we least expected it….The Linderella Brick & Mortar shop will be closing…..

As many of you know – this past year we’ve had lots of pots percolating – operating two full time businesses – Linderella’s Quilt Works, the shop & Colourwerx, the design business. We knew at some point we would have to make a choice between the two – well, we’re excited to announce that one “colourful” pot – Colourwerx Designs – has recently boiled over with loads of exciting opportunities that we intend to pursue. Unfortunately that means just one thing…the Linderella brick & mortar store will need to close.

We are “Movin’ On Up” to something new and we hope you’ll join us to say goodbye to Linderella’s Quilt Works in grand “sale-abratory” fashion!!  In order to prepare for this – the shop will be closed Mon-Wed., November 7th-9th! But…

Starting Thursday, November 10th at 10am-
Our “Movin’ On Up” sale-a-bration to celebrate over 8 years in business will begin, and all Linderella assets will be liquidated! This will be fast, folks – so don’t delay!  You snooze, you lose!

*  Storewide – All Merchandise Discounted at 25% to 35%!!
(Online shoppers – stay tuned! What doesn’t sell in the shop will be made available online at substantial discounts in a few very short weeks – Yippee!)

* Beautiful designer quilting cottons discounted –
No moldy-oldies here. It is definitely worth the drive!

* All books, patterns & kits on sale – current titles!

* All notions substantially reduced! Blades, cutting mats, needles & thread – oh my!

* Fixtures, furniture & all equipment for sale –
sewing machines, sewing tables, irons, classroom tools & notions, custom fabric shelves, racks, decor, displays –
all first come, first serve basis!
**Note: Shop owners also welcome – by appointment – please call!
**All fixtures, furniture & equipment must be paid for in full at the time of purchase and picked up from the shop at your expense and muscle prior to the closing date – Failure to do so, will result in you forfeiting your monies and that item and it will be
sold to the next person!

So grab your friends and come on down to our Linderella”Sale-A-Bration” to close out our shop!
Starting Thursday, November 10th at 10am!

Just a little note from Linda & Carl ~
We appreciate each and every one of you, and will always cherish the memories we made with you these last 8 years. Please know that while we are sad to be closing our brick and mortar shop, we are also equally excited about our next adventures with Colourwerx and hope that you will continue to be part of our colourful quilting journey!

Thank you as always for your continued support! It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we hope to see you in the shop for our Sale-A-Bration on or after November 10th  – Happy & bright quilting always!