Stitchin’ Heaven Howdy

Ruth B. McDowell is one of the most sought after instructors of the art of quilting and will be teaching at Stitchin’ Heaven in February, 2008. I thought you might enjoy knowing a little bit about her.

After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1967 with a B.S. in Art and Design, Ruth spent several years working as an illustrator, while simultaneously expanding her interests in fibers and nature. She began her quilting career in 1972.

Since that time, she has become a full-time professional quilt artist, with over 350 quilts to her credit. Her wall quilts have been exhibited nationally and internationally in many galleries and museums, as well as in juried, invitational and several solo shows. They are also represented in many public, private and corporate art collections worldwide.

Ruth’s very active career includes teaching design workshops and lecturing about her work throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

Book Ruth’s most recent books, Ruth B. McDowell’s Piecing Workshop (C&T 2007) and Ruth B. McDowell’s Design Workshop (C&T Fall 2007) replace and update her well-loved Piecing: Expanding the Basics. They contain excellent instruction for quilt makers to explore Ruth’s methods for designing original pieced quilts. A Fabric Journey: An Inside Look at the quilts of Ruth B. McDowell (C&T 2005) discusses in detail the creation of 18 of her newest art quilts. Pieced Vegetables (C&T 2000) and When Quilters Gather (C&T 2002) are pattern books and visual feasts of great pieced quilt ideas.

For additional information on Ruth’s visit to Stitchin’ Heaven, please visit our website.

Over the years you meet really neat people while owning a quilt shop. One of my favorite quilting friends is Joan Hawley’s, owner and creator of “Lazy Girl Designs”,. Her approach to quilting and sewing is fun and casual. “If it’s not fun, don’t do it!” is her slogan. She offers a full line of purse patterns, bag bottoms, books and rulers. And her product line keeps expanding. Joan is a truly nice individual and one that I would love for you to get to know.

Here is Joan to tell us a bit about herself and her company:

I began sewing at a young age and focused on making my own clothes and home decorating furnishings. A friend introduced me to the world of quilting years later and took me to my first quilt shop. I didn’t know shops dedicated to quilting even existed until then! I took a part-time job at a local quilt shop and I started Lazy Girl Designs in 1997 in response to the customer comments I heard at that quilt shop — those customers were looking for quick and easy projects. (See Joan’s pattern and notions collection created for those “quick and easy” projects here.

I’ve been sewing for close to 30 years now (Oh My Goodness!!!) and some time ago I realized it was important to me that the project is fun to make as well as finish-able and useable. This former, urban planner-turned quilting and sewing designer, designs by “feel’ and is influenced y color trends.

“I design first and foremost by feel. There is usually an essence or personality of a bag that guides the designing process. I watch bag trends. I read a lot on the internet. I determine what I want in a bag. Sometimes when a new need pops up, like the cell phone lifestyle, of course we want to incorporate that into our purses/totes.” I am strongly influenced by color trends. Colors have a definite feel and personality.

Lazy Girl Designs is best known for our bag and tote patterns which make up a bit more than half of our product line. We function primarily in the quilt world and what makes our designs different from other similar offerings in that industry is our classic-styled designs with no patchwork, no binding, and details that make our designs look less ‘quilty’. Our look is clean and sleek with strong design lines.

Designing from her home studio in Ohio

Joan designs from home with her hubby and dog helping to oversee the operations. “I run the company from my home rather than having an office out of the house. My husband and I are the only employees and we hire contract staff when needed. I don’t want the company to overrun the house.

My house is my home first and foremost. I designed my own studio in the basement with tons of storage, counters and custom sewing/work spaces. You can take a tour here: It includes a storage room for samples, luggage, show props, etc. and product overflow. I design with a pad of paper and a pencil. I can’t design while sitting at my desk. I like to sketch and work out the engineering before I start to play with fabric.

I started the Lazy Girl forum because I am regularly contacted by customers with questions, comments or photos of projects to share. I love that my customers take the time to tell me how much they enjoy my designs, or share their thoughts. I started the forum so I could offer a place to address questions all at once and where members, or Lazies as we call ourselves, can share all of this good stuff with each other. We host challenges throughout the year as well. We’ve grown to close to 3,000 members in just under two years.

She just finished a new book for Leisure Arts, called “Bold Bags”. The book features patterns made with faux leather and mock croc purse products. The book has easy to intermediate projects and is available at Stitchin’ Heaven now.

She also has a new handbag pattern called the Noriko Handbag that will appear in the next issue of “Asian Fabric magazine”. “I took my inspiration for Noriko from a football, a pumpkin and a tear drop,” said Joan.

Next on my plate

In December, I will tape seven segments for the 40^th season of Kaye’s Quilting Friends television show. Six of the segments will be 5 minute ‘tips’ and the other will be a complete program dedicated to one of our designs. Then in January, I start work on our next pattern.

The most fun for my business

I love talking with people and hearing their stories. The quilt industry is very social compared to other areas of the craft world. Joan has even taught a couple of times at a major craft show in Japan which attracted over 100,000 attendees.

Ultimate Goals

My ultimate goal is to continue to offer products my customers enjoy. I realize that might not sound glamorous in the ‘goal’ department, but I love my work. I love to challenge myself to find better or more ways to support my customers’ needs or find new niches in the industry.

Blogging and Magazines

Lazy Girl Designs was featured in the August and October issues of “Sew News” and in the Aug/Sept issue of “Threads” magazines. Joan recently started a blog as well. Now you can keep up to date on all the happenings of this “Lazy Girl”!

Look for your favorite “Lazy Girl” patterns and Joan’s new book at Stitchin’ Heaven. If there is something you don’t see that you want, just let us know so we can order it for you! Then, you too can be a “Lazy Girl”!

Until we meet again may your days be “pieceful”!

deb

You’re Invited to a Party! Patchwork Party 2007 – Spring Edition officially begins today, February 14 (Valentine’s Day). Many of you have been very patient since our last event and now you can attend the Patchwork Party again!

The idea with the Patchwork Party concept is that each shop is responsible for a single block in a 12-block quilt project. This Patchwork Party project will use the just-released and drop-dead gorgeous fabric line ‘Sanctuary’ by 3 Sisters at Moda.

In addition to a very beautiful fabric choice, each shop will design a different finishing option for the 12 blocks. When you visit the on-line shop to purchase the block you can also view the shop’s finishing design and purchase a fabric kit for the project of the one you like the best.

I have added a few improvements since our last party:

First, I added a Quilt Gallery because so many of you wrote to me and wanted to be able to see each quilt side by side. With this Gallery page you can easily view all of the quilts. Be sure and still visit each site, however so you are sure to get all the details on the offer for the different finishing kits.

Second, I added a Planning Guide so that you would have easy access to the entire list of shops, their URL’s, and their phone numbers. On this page you can also download a Patchwork Party Planner in PDF format for you to print and have by your computer to use to make notes on while you hop from shop to shop.

All of the quilts in this years Party are pretty wonderful. The fabric from Moda is just right for this time of year. I would love it if you would choose the Stitchin’ Heaven quilt (shown here) because I believe it is the most beautiful of all – biased of course! I do want you to know that if you choose our design and purchase a Patchwork Party Pack that you might just end up with our quilt. I will be selecting one name from all who purchase Party Packs from us and that person will get the quilt. It’s our way of saying “Thank you”!

So let the Party begin and be sure to send feedback with your comments from our Patchwork Party 2007 page! Also, let me tell you that none of the shops will have the “full kit” option once the Party is over this time so you need to visit each shop in order to get your block and finishing kit.

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This soup is really the best!  My friend Dana and I often get together at my house and sew.  And, being the focused individuals that we are, we don’t want to leave the sewing room to cook.  Dana discovered this recipe in the “Fix It and Forget It Cookbook” – a cookbook of crock pot recipes.  We added a couple of ingredients but basically here is how it goes:

4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts

2 cans black beans (I use Bush’s)

2 cans Rotel tomatoes (My friends, Karen and Brenda Lou from the west coast wanted to know what Rotel is…what??????)

1 small can chopped green chili’s (don’t use chipolte…Dana and I did this one time and had to give the whole pot to the fellows we had working in the yard that day.  TOO HOT!)

1 small can tomato sauce

Throw it all in a crock pot, set it to cook 4 – 6 hours or long enough for your chicken to fall apart (whichever comes first).  Add 1 can shoepeg corn and 1 small can sliced olives about 30 minutes before you serve it. 

This stuff is just yummy.  You can serve it with garlic bread, flour tortillas, or even cornbread.  Warmed over it is even better!  I have heard that this cookbook has been discontinued and I noticed we took it off our site.  I do believe, however that I might have an extra copy or two of it.  If you want one of them please email me and I’ll see what I can do.  Serve this at your next quilt retreat – you’ll make your friends smile! 

Ciao!

This quilt pattern combines two loves, quilting and playing games. There’s nothing hard about the sewing of all those curves or squares. It’s easy to sew and play. This quilt is all done through the magic of Quiltsmart printed interfacing. It is almost like cheating!

Our Quilt Divas are a wonderful group of ladies who meet to have lots of fun! Each month they meet, sew, eat, and laugh together. Some work on the Diva’s Special Project, and some bring their own. Come join in on the adventure.

This is a different style, same technique as regular chenille but a different look. Make a sweet quilt for a new baby, a gift, or a throw for yourself. Use designed fabrics-large flowers, geometric, or pictorial or baby panels for the little one. You will have fun with this one and you can finish it in two days at the most. Makes a great gift!

Do you want to learn to quilt but you’re not quite sure where to begin? This class is for you! We all need to start at the beginning with quilting because you want to learn what to do the right way to avoid frustration and extra expense. Dotti will guide you step-by-step through the process of making a quilt from fabric selection to binding techniques. You will learn:

• The importance of color and fabric selection
• The tools you need and how to properly use them
• How to achieve and maintain a quarter-inch seam
• Pressing tips and tricks
• All about batting and how to put your quilt together
• A demonstration of machine quilting
• How to properly apply the binding and more!

2 sessions

Would you like to be able to create those beautiful appliqué quilts without all the handwork? Come learn the basic techniques…satin, button/blanket, zig zag, and faux hand appliqué stitches. It not hard!