I’ve been waiting to tell you about a new project that I was going to start.  Now that it has started, I want to share.  Back in October, when I attended the Houston Quilt Market (trade show), a friend urged me to talk to the wonderful owners of Island Batik fabric company about designing a quilt for them.  I spoke with owners Adam and Moira, who were both very receptive to giving a new quilt designer an opportunity.  I showed Moira my portfolio and she invited me to look through the samples of the new fabric lines that were coming out.  All of the fabrics were beautiful, but I was particularly inspired by the “Sangria” line.  (You can see all of their fabrics by clicking on the link in the blogroll.)  In addition, I also liked the fabrics in the “Burgundy Forest” and “Olive Latte” lines.   She said that she would send me the sample headers and give me some time to come up with a design.  Once I had finalized a design and determined fabric requirements, she would send me the fabric so that I could create a quilt for their booth at the Pittsburgh Spring Market in May. 

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was!  It was like a dream come true!  I’m always so afraid that that something that good, isn’t really true – so I didn’t want to tell anyone until it was real!  Now it’s real!  I received the fabric last week and began to cut yesterday.    I have to tell you I was nervous to cut into that beautiful stuff!

I need to finish the quilt by the beginning of May in order to send it to them in California.  Once it is finished, the pattern will be available.  This time I’m going to write the pattern as I go along – so that both quilt and pattern are finished at the same time.  Won’t that be great! 

As I go along, I’m hoping to post photos to give you a glimpse of what it will look like when finished.  In the meantime – do be sure to check out their website and the fabric lines I am using.  You’ll find them under the tab – “Now Showing” New Cottons.

I’ve finally worked out all my software issues and I think I have begun to lay the foundation for future patterns.  I hope that once I have that part in place, pattern publishing will become easier.  The hardest part for me has been figuring out a format so that I can include all of the information, it is easy to follow,  and it doesn’t take up more space than is economically feasible to print.  I’m sure that I will keep revising as I go along and learn new stuff – but that’s part of the journey.  Hope you’re along for the ride!

And yes, I’m still trying to finish up the pattern for the Christmas Candy series!  I have to get that one done!

So, I better get to work – based on this week’s school calendar (aren’t those kids ever in school a full week?!?) and the predicted snow storm, it may be the only full day I get to work!!!!

Later!

Helle-May