Freedom

Freedom is simply the 6 Fat Quarter version of the Kings Ransom that uses 12 Fat Quarters.  I did these big 4 Patch blocks to show off the big prints. Unlike random 8" squares, the 4 Patch actually tames some of the busy action of our big prints.

It uses the fabric efficiently, like most of my designs.  The leftover pieces make the quilt a little wider, a little nicer size.  It still fits on a one-width back.



A couple weeks ago, I cut up loads of fabric from the Community Service closet into 9" strips for this quilt.  Regular Quarter yards also work--just cut the strip in half to mix with half strips.  Just by matching colors, I have some great quilts cut and read to sew.  They take little more than an hour to piece once they are cut.

A little trick I use when pairing up the strip sets--- Divide the 6 fabrics into two groups of 3 that you like together.   Then when sewing the strip sets, you have just 3 different pairs possible with each group.  There is no thinking once you split them into 3's.  No brainers are my kind of design choices.

Freedom Super Sized

At Dorothy's beach house, she has one room with 2 twins.  What to do with those Hawaiian prints?  8 inch Four Patches--also known as Freedom or Kings Ransom.  The 8 inch size is big enough to show off the prints.  The Four Patch helps tame the busy nature of these prints.

Dorothy's twin spreads are made 5 blocks by 6 long.  It is easy to figure yardage if you change the size of your quilt with this pattern.  One fat quarter (or regular quarter) equals one 15" block--with some pieces left for the border.

This trip was the first time I had seen them on the beds in this room.  Sounds silly, but they took my breath away when I opened the door and saw them.  They are just great in this room.

New Model

On one of the Tahoe sew evenings, I made a fresh new sample for Easy Does It, which uses 6 fat quarters.  This is the Full Bloom collection by Bari J for Windham fabrics.  You can't go wrong with polka dot for spacers.  The spacers keep the fabrics from mushing together--the very reason I designed this pattern.

I should note that on this pattern, I like to choose an order for the 6 fabrics.  With so few it is hard to lay them out randomly.  If you look closely, you can see that the top row is 1234561234, the second row is 5612345612, and so on.  Rows 123 are the same as 456.  It is hard to tell, since they are jogged differently.  The end result is a random look, but with a plan, to make it easy.  

New Additions

Yesterday's rush was getting 4 new RoseCards to press.  The first here uses 3 One yard pieces.  It will make up 48"x48"--in a jiffy. 

I chose the Painted Moon rose, because the color matched the quilt.  And the star shares the sky with the moon.  The rose names all have a story.  Just some are better than others.

Showtime

A week ago I took the RoseCards out to my own first retail show--the Quilting and Sewing Expo in Reno.  They did very well, and it was exciting to see people handle them, check them out, and buy.  I used the tried and true retail ploy of placing them in a display on the checkout counter.  It was perfect for browsing while I rang up a sale.  Also, it allowed me to talk about them and answer any questions.  The display is a desk organizer from Home Goods.