Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden

It’s a sure sign that Spring is almost here when the annual Orchid Show comes to the The New York Botanical Garden. When you walk into the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, you are immediately transported from a late winter day in the Bronx to a lush tropical rainforest.

This is the 11^th annual exhibition and as usual, the orchids are stunning and are artfully arranged. This event is equally enjoyable for the orchid enthusiast as well as the casual observer. Strolling through the tropical rainforest, you are surrounded by over 7,000 orchids representing 3,075 different types. More details and photos are available at the New York Botanical Garden’s website.

An Afternoon at the Bookstore

Winter in New York is a great time to visit the local bookstore. On a recent afternoon, while perusing the quilting magazines, I found a number of quilt projects featuring Cold Spring Dreams fabrics, some of which are available as kits.

The April/May issue of Quilt magazine includes the pattern, Twist and Shout by quilt designer and quiltmaker, Diane Nagle. I love the way Diane combined the prints and solids to create a fresh, modern look. The fabrics are available as a kit, online at fernhill.net.

Another fun quilt by Diane Nagle, Jacks for Jill is featured the March/April issue of McCall’s Quilting. McCall’s says “Girls of all ages will love the cool fabrics and creative piecing in this cheerful lap quilt.”  A kit of fabrics for the quilt top and binding is available at the McCalls website.

Generation Q’s Spring 2013 issue, includes a quilt pattern named Stranded by Christine Stainbrook. The article describes the quilt as giving “the illusion of squares hanging in space”, but when I look at it, I imagine a cool, colorful beaded curtain. Take a look and see what it brings to mind for you.

"Beyond the Bed, The American Quilt Evolution"

A fantastic quilt show has just opened at the Katonah Museum of Art, located in Westchester County, NY. The exhibit is appropriately named, Beyond the Bed, The American Quilt Evolution, as it spans two hundred years of American quilt making. I was lucky enough to show up in time for an awesome tour with Nikki Alexander who walked us through the highlights of the exhibit. The show is divided into two parts: examples of historical quilts on one side of the museum and modern art quilts on the other.

Some of the traditional quilts include: a detailed crazy quilted coffin cover (upper right), a meticulous Baltimore album quilt, an intricately quilted Amish quilt, and a Hawaiian flag quilt.

The art quilt portion of the show features works by some of today’s finest art quilters, many of which are included in the collection, “One of the Top 100 Quilts of the Twentieth Century”.

There was a beautiful kaleidoscope quilt (upper right) by one of my favorite quilt artists, Paula Nadelstern.  Her amazing geometry is enhanced by pieces of silk that shimmer and make her quilt look like glass.

 Nancy Crow’s quilt is a brilliant interpretation of a traditional double wedding ring design.

One of the most unique “quilts” was an enchanting, three dimensional, free standing installation (upper right) by Dominique Ehrmann. The piece is constructed of four quilted layers and is like an illustrated, tunnel book.

These are just a few of the many incredible quilts in the show. If you live anywhere near Katonah, NY, I recommend that you stop by and enjoy the exhibit.

ORBIT Quilt Along

Lindsey Rhodes of LR Stitched is hosting a Quit Along starting this week.  Lindsey has designed a lovely quilt named Orbit and will be sewing along using Cold Spring Dreams fabrics. 

The free pattern is now available for download at her website. Detailed weekly instructions will be posted through the end of March. You can submit your finished quilts or tops, and on April 1st a winner will be randomly selected to win a fat quarter bundle of Cold Spring Dreams. Details are available at lrstitched.com/orbit-quilt-along.

Quilted Valentines

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, so it’s time I gather my pink and red fabrics, collect my beads & ribbons and create quilted valentines. I keep them uncomplicated, in fact they are a bit crude but my main objective is to keep them simple, make them fast and have fun in the process.

Each valentine is made using a couple of techniques such as, appliqué, embroidery, beading, rouching, whatever it takes. I write a message on the back and include the date, which makes them nice if your valentine intends to collect them.

If you are interested in making one yourself, I have put together a free downloadable PDF file, which includes a heart template and easy instructions to get you started. Just remember, keep it simple and enjoy the process.

The Bella Clutch

Clover and Violet have just made their Bella clutch pattern available as a free download! The Bella clutch is a companion to their Anne handbag. I love the way both bags show off my Cold Spring Dreams fabrics.

If you make the Anne handbag, you can use the leftover fabric to make the Bella clutch. I decided to make my Bella clutch using the yellow and lavender, Cold Spring Dreams color palette.

You can download the free Bella pattern at Clover and Violet or RJR Fabrics.

Thanks Jennie and Clara!

Just the Right Angle

Fons & Porter's just came out with their Easy Quilts spring 2013 issue. Included in the 17 colorful spring quilt projects is a table runner, which I designed. The runner, Just the Right Angle is created from a selection of fabrics in my Cold Spring Dreams collection, along with solids from RJR fabric’s Supreme Solids line of cottons.

It is an easy project that will give a sophisticated, modern look to any space. The runner is also available as a kit at the Fons & Porter shop. Easy Quilts is available at bookstores or craft shops. So go out and get yourself a copy and start sewing those spring projects now!