Sunday, March 25, 2012

Patterns For Sale

My patterns are currently being revised to be offered in my Etsy shop. I think that will make it more convenient for everyone. I'll keep you updated on the progress. Thanks for your patience!

As always, if you make a quilt from one of my patterns, send me the photo with your complete name, and I'd love to post it on my blog!
Happy Quilting!
Jean MaDan
Brickworks 

Throw, Queen and King sizes included.
Vibrant Charms 


Arizona Arrowheads 

Do your strings straight or angled, all colors or controlled. Use what you HAVE and what you LIKE!
String Rings 





Scrappy or controlled, you'll have fun with this one!
Certainly Stars! 

(Bear's Paw using bonus HSTs)
Bonus Bears

Jean's Choice


Scrappy Sensation



Tumbling Blocks Scrappy
Made WITHOUT "Y" seams!!

 Scrappy Carpenter's Star 

Ribbon Star Scrappy

Woven Fat Quarter Strips

Friday, March 23, 2012

Fabric Choices

I freely admit I'm persnickity and I have a stubborn streak. So.. I had this pattern layout floating in my tiny brain that SHOULD have turned out good. It didn't! And it wasn't the pattern that was the problem, but my fabric choices. Don't ask me why I didn't see that it was going wrong while I was constructing it... it really showed up at it's worst when the flimsie was all finished. It looks muddy and chaotic, which is a real issue for me. So this first version is a tutorial on what NOT to do!
First of all, on this scrappy, you really need to use a really light or a really dark background. This in-between collection of scraps that I had of various white-on-cream fabrics was a disaster for this pattern. It cost me all the definition I was shooting for. Also, on the blades of the ribbon star blocks, I found that if I used any lighter colored fabrics on the blades, the blade disappeared and left an ill-defined star.
On the checkerboard sashings, using the scrappy backgrounds was a mistake because it blended too much with the colored squares and again cost me definition.
Don't get me wrong... it's not a totally ugly flimsy... just could be SO much BETTER!

So, being stubborn, as I stated earlier, I did the whole thing over, using WOW as the background and being careful not to use any scraps of color that were too light. Look at the difference! Same exact pattern I designed for the first one, and mostly the same colored fabrics... but I like this one lots better!




I'll probably end up ripping the first one apart, but NOT TODAY! I think I'll go play around with some new ideas instead.

Happy Quilting!
Jean MaDan

Friday, March 16, 2012

Hole In The Wall

Hole In The Wall
This is my latest design. I wanted to modify a traditional log cabin block with some more modern fabrics and to also give it a twist of my own. This is what I came up with:


I really liked the effect of the white around the centers. I think the secondary pattern makes you look twice before you say "OH! Log Cabin!" I'll probably use this one again with other colors!

Happy Quilting!
Jean MaDan

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Quilt Finishes

I got caught up on my love quilts this past week. (I try to get one per week done.) One of the patterns I do a lot of variations on is the eight inch star. On this one, I bordered them with black and with white and used a chain setting. This one will go to a friend of mine, but I did several more similar ones that went to local organizations. I don't do photos of those. *smile*


"Baltimore Bliss"
This was a BOM pattern from "Fat Cats", and I couldn't resist it, though I don't do a lot of applique. It's pinker than I hoped it would be. I may have to find a home for this one with a family member, and make myself one in blue or greens.


I'm finally feeling well enough to sew again, so I'm getting lots done! Right now I'm working on a scrappy ribbon star quilt, and I just finished quilting a log cabin variation that I'm putting the binding on now. Photos soon!

Happy quilting!
Jean