Summer Sunset

What an adventure!  My first pattern is published!

The very first blocks that started the process.

 It all began with a pink and orange batik and a paper piecing class.  And now there is a lovely pattern and quilt that is traveling with SewBatik to shows across the country!  My decision to launch into the pattern business was dictated by this quilt.  While looking for the perfect fabrics to finish the different sections as I'd lay this out in a quilt shop to audition fabrics I'd be asked if it was a pattern.  After a number of inquires the answer was finally "why yes, it will be."   

These first pictures are from the original design process.  I start with an idea and work with it until I love the end result.  I have a number of orphan blocks as I keep working it until it's perfect!  

One of my pattern testers

Deciding to applique it onto the border rather than inset it.

a soft summer green field

a velvet night sky

Once I had decided to create the pattern my marketing brain went to work.  Making a pattern doesn't do any good if there are no customers!  And how do I get this quilt in front of as many quilters as possible, in the most efficient manner possible?  One idea was to connect with a fabric company and cross promote their fabrics and my pattern.  After contacting a few companies with no response whatsoever I received an immediate reply from Diane at SewBatik.  What a wonderful experience it has been working with both Diane and Bruce!  And what a blessing for both of us.  They had been looking for a new designer with a colorful flair when I approached them.  Perfect!

I connected with Diane at the Minnesota Quilt Show and again in Wisconsin at the MQ Today Show and chose a wonderful array of colorful batik fabrics that were almost too beautiful to cut into!








From there the planning and recording really began! I like to make a Fabric Swatch using a manila folder so I can keep track of exactly what fabrics I am using, and it is a great place to keep info filed.

Than began the fun portion, creating the blocks and playing with the fabrics to create gradations of color in both the highlights and backgrounds.  I know some people like to stay very organized and keep completed sections in bag, but I LOVE to see the blocks and to admire what is happening!  For me it is all about the process.  Each step is so exciting and I enjoy watching the quilt top come together step by step!

Comet Circle Section:
These next photos show making sure the color gradation flows from the tail of one comet into the next section.  Because the highlight fabrics and the background fabrics change from block to block around a circle I had to make sure I was placing each color in the correct location.

Thank you, thank you thank you to Patti Marrin who did all the graphic artwork and was invaluable in the writing, pattern designing and all round encouragement category   If you are thinking of creating a pattern definitely give her a call!  

We did two different pattern testing and was that ever a good idea!  Our goal was to write a pattern in a simple and clear manner so that anyone, no matter their learning style can understand it.  Plus, when you've read and reread wording too many times it is good to have a fresh set of eyes look at them.  Thank you to all the pattern testers!  Your help was so valuable!

Guess we made these ladies "stand on their head" for us.
I 'm not figuring out how to rotate these pictures but you needed recognition!
Also, thanks to Darla VanHeerde, my quilt Mother for helping test!

We had a lot of fun at the pattern testing and look how happy I am with the results!

 Before sewing the blocks together I decided to have some fun with the layout.  Who knows what might come next and it's good to think ahead! 

Time to quilt!

  

I love these pictures.  They were taken in the sunshine and they show some of the details of the quilting.  For quilting I included two layers of batting.  It starts with an 108" batik backing, an 80/20 cotton batting, layered with wool batting and then the quilt top.  The cotton batting adds stability, especially since this will be hung, and the wool creates a faux trapunto, and yet stipples really flat.   And can you see the bronze metallic thread against the burgundy background?   I'm thrilled with the result!

 So here is the finished quilt. 

Summer Sunset

80 x 80

  

And since it is all about marketing patterns are for sale!  Kits are also available from these exact SewBatik fabrics.  Contact me for more info.

Julie@Harstads.biz

www.SelbuStarDesigns.com

And in future posts you'll be seeing Naviagating by the Stars.  It will be the Raffle Quilt for the Women of the West Quilt Guild.  This second pattern is much easier as I was experimenting and learning the process with this first quilt, including remaking it to be sure what I did would work again!

What Went Wrong?

Have you ever had a time when you were working on something and all of a sudden everything becomes a challenge.  How is this possible when just a moment ago things were fine?

Quilting can be like that. For example, I was quilting rays of beautiful bronze metallic thread and fill against a burgundy background and everything was going smoothly.  Then the thread began to break.  And break.  And break again!  Now I know metallic thread can be a little finicky, but it was working fine a moment ago.  What happened?  So, I check all the obvious stress points.  Threaded correctly.  Tension is good.  Take out the bobbin and reset.  Check for dust and lodged threads. Change needles. Change needles again. Stop for the day.  Ok, I've gone too far to rip it all out and I'm not far enough to make it work without the thread breaking.  Start again the next day.  I worked on a different section for a bit with different thread and everything worked fine.  Back to the metallic and the thread was breaking again!  Go through most steps again but this time I put in a new bobbin.  Better, but not good.  I spooled off some of the bobbin thread and presto, it's PERFECT!  Whew!  It was the bobbin all along.  Anytime I've had thread breakage it has been an issue with the bobbin.  In this case the thread had not wound evenly near the bottom and was not spooling off smoothly, causing the bobbin thread to catch and break the weaker metallic thread.

Life can be like this.  When we run into challenges, often we go through our check list, starting with the easiest things first.  But when the issue isn't resolved we need to dig deeper to the root cause.  It can often be something at our core that isn't right.  And no matter what we change at the surface, if we don't address the core issue the challenge persists.  So if the "thread keeps breaking" in your life, it's good to check the core issue early.

Glorious Fabric

Fabrics from SewBatiks for Summer Sunset quilt 

I love fabric, and especially batiks.  No matter what quilt shop I'm in I gravitate to the batik section.  The luscious hues, and the textures create beautiful movement within a quilt.  And as you can see I enjoy the mix of bright colors that pop against dark backgrounds.  

These particular fabrics are from SewBatik, a great company with quality products and wonderful owners.  I picked these fabrics up at a quilt show in Wisconsin.  Diane was very patient with me as I had fat quarters and half yard cuts taking up a whole corner of her booth while deciding on over 25 different colors and combinations.  Afterwards I walked around the showroom floor with the fabrics is a clear bag (good marketing)!  I had many comments on the color combination, so I think I did good with my final choices. I love all the friendly quilters one meets.

When I am out and about at a show or quilt shop I enjoy observing others and the choices they make.  Everyone's personal style and preference is very intriguing to me.  While I like intricate, striking quilts, there are just as many women who love traditional, or bright simple quilts.  And the Modern Quilt movement is another  example of a style that is gaining strength with solid colors and elemental designs.  Isn't it wonderful that one "craft" can encompass so many different styles and still be appreciated by all?  Useful art.  I love it!  

Figuring This Out

Well, I've figured out how to get back into this blog to create a second post.  The length of time between posts has a lot to with kid using my laptop and creating their own blog and me not being able to figure out how to get it to log out of theirs and into my own.   As confusing as some of the computer details may be now I do remember the limitations of our first computer.  We spent $5,000 in 1991on a huge computer with MS Dos programming and a micro dot printer.  (Just imagine what one could get for $5,000 now.  I could tap into the Space Shuttle, or not since it isn't flying anymore.)  What hasn't changed is the fact that my teenager is better at telling how to run it than I am.

However, I have been busy creating during this time.  This is the best news.  I've been accepted as a semifinalist for the Create Your Own Style Art Quilt Design Contest sponsored by Swarovski Crystals.  My piece is titled "Red Hot Blues" and I have fun creating it.

I've also been working on a website, which is about to launch.  I've been working on pattern writing and testing for my first official quilt pattern.  Making class samples for a fall quilting class.  Thinking, drawing and testing a pattern for a whole cloth quilt.  And making some snazzy necklaces and a fun tote bag that will turn into a pattern.  My biggest challenge, if you haven't figured it out yet, is finishing what I've been working on.  I have so many ideas I jump from one to the next before it is 100% complete.  But look!  I did figure out how to get back into my blog and make a post!  Success!

Creative Juices

     Are you like me and have a multitude of ideas and images running through your head at any given time?  I could list at least three current projects I am working on, four serious concepts I need to create, and seven ideas that are marinating.  Of course the top idea on my list today is to start this blog, and here we are!


     But why start a blog?  Because I am inspired by what others have shared with me, and through their blogs I have been introduced to individuals across the country whom I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.  It is my desire to be able to provide inspiration to others, and a place to share tips and techniques I have learned that could help others too.


     Today I've decided to post one of my first quilts, the one that really got me started.  

"Someday"   

     Relying on my sewing background and my friends longarm quilting machine I created this quilt for my then nine year old daughter.  I was thrilled with the results and even won a second place ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair.  But most importantly, I was launched into the quilting world.  I was introduced to the amazing skill, concepts and artistry that has exploded in the quilt industry over the past thirty years!  

     I'm sure you too are thrilled with the breath and depth the quilt world encompasses.  Let's explore it together!