Rockin' RoseCards

Friends and family are really rockin' with the RoseCard patterns.

Thursday was Community Service day at the Pine Tree Guild.  DeeDee showed me this fabulous MOJAVE quilt.   She had been given this Alexander Henry fabric and was just waiting for the right pattern.   MOJAVE was it.  DeeDee adapted it for her particular fabrics.  To best use the repeat, she cut 2 even sized slices of the Theme fabric and added a nice border top and bottom.  And for the pinwheels and pieced border, she used scraps--always a great look!

DeeDee was our hero for the day--she always bakes wonderful cookies and more importantly this day, she figured out how to make the air conditioning work.  And my personal hero was the helper who pressed for me, so I could concentrate on cutting kits.

Meanwhile, that evening in Texas, the remnants:fiber[culture] family was rocking with Anna Maria Horner's new Field Study collection.   MIDNIGHT BLUE express piecing to show this fab fabric, all while Tina Turner (the quilting machine) is rocking and rolling and quilting.

Missing Minnesota

Going through photos for blogging and web listing, I realize how much I miss my Minnesota family.

Our last day at the Mill Museum.  Water is always a magnet for kids.  Grandpa is a water engineer, so this gig was an easy sell.

Lego boy Austin and his biggest fan.

Boy..book..quilt.  Pretty standard issue in the Fryer house.  Great Grandma Pam's flannel quilt, of course.

Spreading Joy.  My design assistant working with Kate Spain's Charm Squares from Moda.

Card counting.  My shipping department will not be the same without 4 year old Emily Rose counting cards and printing invoices.

Sigh....

Bambi and Bambis

We're running a little nature preserve here at Villa Rosa.  Wil loves watching and encouraging (feeding) the wildlife that comes through here.  A young doe has been hanging around a lot, munching on the clover he has growing on 2 sides of the house.  Here is little Debbie just outside the workroom door.  And sometimes we see a mama and her little Bambi.  It is the first time we have seen a fawn in our 3 years here.

As it happens when we spotted our first Bambi, I was finishing this quilt for PTQG.  The Bambi fabric blocks are cut 12 1/2".   Then I took some MIDNIGHT BLUE blocks and cut them on 2 adjacent sides so they were also 12 1/2" and wonky.  With a 4" border, it finished 44"x 56", and cute to boot.  Joining the linky party at Quilts are for Giving.

Catching Up on Some Charity Quilting

I've been home long enough to catch up on some my charity quilting.  Found a drawer full of half finished kits from Pine Tree Quilt Guild's Community Service closet.  I cut kits from their donated fabric and my RoseCard patterns.  This one I pieced, quilted and bound, all within 24 hours.  This RED ROSE or MIDNIGHT BLUE block is a quick go-to for me.  The kits always get done fast for all who take them to do.  It uses 5" strips, is quick to cut, and nice for using up a stash.

In my late night blog hopping, I discovered Quilts are for Giving, and am joining their first linky party. 

Fryer Family Standard

This family picture from our visit to Minnesota last month just about sums it up.  Dad and Grandpa working in the kitchen (yes, we have trained them well).  Kids eating healthy lunch on the newly delivered family heirloom table.  And the Economist--family subscriptions are delivered to CA, MN and TX. 

Missing from the photo would be Mom and Auntie curled up on couches with their e-readers.  And Grandma designing quilts.

remnants:fiber[culture]

It's open!  Jessica opened her doors on March 1.  I am back visiting to set up my offices for the RoseCards.  Here we have a taste of some of her clever displays.  This shop is truly remnants of my old shop, her new finds, and soon new fabric.

So if you are in the Austin, TX area--10435 Burnet Rd. #106  75758   512-821-1511 or 888 TO QUILT   open 10-6  Tues-Sat, other days by chance.....

Colorful Quilting EUREKA

Looking for a quick six fat quarter pattern?--EUREKA!  I wanted to use the bundle I bought a few seasons ago in a shop in Pismo Beach CA.  The colors were unique enough from that time, that I did not want to add any other fabrics.  This little guy is just right--and fun and fast. 

3 down, 37 to go.

Colorful Quilting Project

I decided I wanted to do something fun for me, quilting wise (what else!).  I would like to see all of my RoseCards made up in Kaffe Fassett collective fabrics.  With what I have in stock, stash, Grandma Pam's (I might be assuming too much here, but isn't that what kids do?), and a little online and in-store shopping, I think I just might be able to do this.  What good is having a stash of fabric, if I don't start using it?  Plus it would make a killer trunk show.

40 quilts for the 40 patterns--nothing to it.  And I have a jump start--2 already are on covers, and I have the models.  I have bits of Kaffe's Collections stashed all over the workroom.  I have the feeling I will find more as I poke around and do some cleaning.  The first one is already picked out and started for LOVERS LANE--what fun!

To review what I already have done--

2 down...38 to go!

Market Highlights

We're barely back from the Houston marathon.  Wholesale Market was fabulous.  The Rosecards are well received and shops are sharing how they are using them.  We saw our favorite designers and their fabulous new fabric lines--and ordered, of course.

I was joined by daughters Leann and Jessica.  Leann for the first couple days, and Jessica for the whole 2 shows.  How great it was having them with me--my yin and yang girls.  Polar opposites in looks and nature, they are best friends.  Market goers will remember them.

Before Leann had to leave on Sunday, the two dashed around the show, checking exhibits and making friends. 

Here they are with Amy Butler--Amy and the Rosettes......

4 Shows, 10 RoseCards

4 Shows and 10 RoseCards since I last posted.  Fall is the best season, but busiest for us.

They have all gone to press by today, thanks to my editor and sample makers--the chief cook and bottle washer here at the Villa Rosa.  Now to cut and pack for Texas--Houston Market and Festival via Austin. 

Two Places at Once

Yes, it can be done--with a little help from my friends.  Last weekend it was shows in Los Banos and Sonora.  The ever-enthusiastic group in Los Banos found me booth coverage from Jeanette Lopes, longarm quilter supreme.  The members unloaded and loaded my goods and helped sell to each other.  Gotta love them.   This small but mighty group is producing a lovely show every year.  Fun for me to see fabrics I sold them last year in quilts this year.  My favorite, though many to chose from, is by Darla Fagundes.  She used a lot of fabric from my stock and chose contrast fabrics with some great advice from Judy West.

Florentine 3

Gorgeous golden fabric from Robert Kaufman designer Peggy Toole.  Three colorways to mix and match--neutral Pewter,  radiant Jewel, and rich Earth.  The yardage is listed and fat quarter bundles will be ready soon.  Now, what to make...something old or something new.  I am madly working on the Fall RoseCard releases, and these fabrics would make a glittering cover.

Nearly PERFECT MOMENT

I love to cut my complete lines of fabric into Sample Slices 5"x 9 1/2".  Rectangles are such a great shape and this size shows off so much more of the fabric than 5" charm squares. 

Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms is 33 pieces.  I figured that 2 sets should be good for one of the Slice and Spacer patterns--PRISTINE or PERFECT MOMENT--11 slices wide by 6 tall.  I liked the light spacers of PRISTINE with Amy's Midwest Modern, so I grabbed a light fabric.  Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane print was perfect.  I didn't want it to be too dominant or make the quilt too wide, so I cut the spacers down to 1 1/2".  The quilt needed to be longer, so I added the 2 1/2" row spacers of PERFECT MOMENT.  I loved a green stripe from Nicey Jane, so I blasted away and added it to half of the rows.  WRONG! [interject buzzer here].  Found a good show, and ripped it off.  Went back with the more of the light.  The airiness and modern look is what I was after--whew.  I really better get a design wall up.


The darker row sashing would probably have been fine if the spacers were also darker, as it all is on the cover of PERFECT MOMENT.

This may be a new card someday--it would work well with a Layer Cake.

Meanwhile, here are the specs for this one.  Fabric for the Spacers and Row Sashing--1 1/2 yd.  Cut the Spacers 1 1/2" wide.  To offset the blocks, cut 2 3/4" off the right end of the odd rows, 2 3/4" off the left end of the even rows.  Sashing is cut 2 1/2" just like the pattern.  The top finishes 58"x 63".

New Tribute Star

I am busy working on the next 10 RoseCards for Fall Market release.  One design is a larger version of SILVER STAR--the throw size we have been making for years with 8 Fat Quarters.

Naturally, I had to try it with the Tribute line from Pat Sloan.  It will make a perfect quilt for donating to your favorite Armed Forces group.  We have used it many times over for young people's gifts as well--great in any theme prints or colors...and flannel, too.

The kit is listed in the Quilts of Valor--pricing based on $6/yd.  A draft of the pattern will be included, as well.  It finishes 56"x 70", using 8 fat quarters, 1 1/4 yd background, 3/4 yd border, and 5/8 yd binding.

While working, I listen to a lot of NPR and books on tape.  Today there was in interview with a publisher of Smith Magazine.  They feature "Six Word Memoirs", soliciting contributions through their website.  Labor Day, today, ended a contest with Work themed phrases.  My favorite--"What Matters is What We Do".

Shop Hop on the Side

Can't visit the kids without a stop at a local shop.  Glad I caught this one--Millie P's on Main Street in Anoka MN.  What a great vibrant shop--loads of bright fabric, samples, ideas.  My photos here don't begin to do it justice.  Check them out online, and better yet--if you are in the neighborhood like me....

Minnesota via Texas

So we don't travel in a straight line.  And when you fly Southwest, it is even less so.  But we had to see Leann's play in Austin.  Then way overdue for a trip to see the grandkids, we flew up to Minneapolis to spend the week with Evan's family before school starts.  Leann is a wonderful as ever to watch, and the kids are cute and clever.  Sigh--a much needed group of hugs.

Moose and Squirrel

We watch wildlife all day at the Villa Rosa.  Now I also have Moose and Squirrel in the workroom--Rocky and Bullwinkle.  We boomers loved this goofy show, and some of our kids got in on it the second time around.  Something old, or something new--which RoseCard design to use?

Long Beach and Back

Quilt Festival in Long Beach was terrific.  Thanks to all who shopped my little corner here.  It was great to see old friends and meet new.  The coast weather and ocean breezes were perfect.  And I stayed with my favorite Aunt Rosie--what could be better?

Meanwhile, back at Villa Rosa, fabric arrived.  I have some listing to do.  Here is a little preview of some Tonga Batik yardage.  Two of the Treat Strips are in, too--Pomegranate and Gelato--yummy!!

Long Beach and Back

Quilt Festival in Long Beach was terrific.  Thanks to all who shopped my little corner here. 

Going to Long Beach with Amy

Long Beach Quilt Festival is this week, so it is cutting and packing time.  Just got in Soul Blossoms, so I will be taking Amy Butler with me.  I have the whole collection, and I'm cutting yards, fat quarters and Sample Slices 5"x 9 1/2".

Sample Slices are my answer to Charm Squares.  They are bigger, so easier to cut and you get more of the fabric to enjoy.  I have patterns that work with them--Eden Rose, Pristine, Happy Child, Gypsy.  There are at least 2 new ones in the works--Pam Cakes (the larger Eden Rose) and a frame block.  And it is a size that other folks use, too.  Check out Atkinson Designs' Texas Two Step--my kind a' quilt!