Fall Market & Pattern Release

I can’t believe I’ve been this “quiet” as far as my blog is concerned. The past few weeks I’ve wrapped up a busy travel season – speaking at guilds, teaching workshops, trying to keep my head above water …. Well, maybe not that dramatic but we have had our share of close calls with flood waters lapping at our door.  But enough about the weather….

Let’s Talk Quilts!

I have been so blessed to have a working relationship with Island Batik fabrics, previously as an Ambassador 2017-2018, continuing on as a Designer. Since Fall Market 2017 I have been involved with “secret sewing” which translates to designing and making quilts using their fabric collections introduced at either Spring or Fall Quilt Markets. The quilts get shipped to Island Batik almost six months before the big reveal for photographing to be included in their catalogs and then are displayed in the Island Batik booth at market. I’ve not made it yet to a Spring Market but do enjoy seeing the display here in my “backyard” when Fall Market comes to Houston.

The quilts then become part of a traveling trunk show not finding their way back home until a year after the particular market in which they were introduced. For example, these quilts, Fiesta Stars and the original Paradise Island have just returned home from their world tour (okay, I don’t think they left the USA, but it sounds fun doesn’t it? I’ve often wished they had a passport stamped with the shops they visited). It’s like welcoming home a kid from college (or something similar) when they do find their way back to my studio. 

The hardest part of designing and introducing patterns at Quilt Market is keeping quiet for so long. They don’t call me the rambler for nothing! Can you imagine! All that secret sewing and can’t do any showing! Well, now it’s time for a little showing!

Simply Celebrate – Fall Market 2019

Here’s some photos of the quilting process on Simply Celebrate while I was working on it back in May/June of this year. 

The pattern for Simply Celebrate is currently in the editing process and will be available as both a PDF download and print sometime mid to late November. Not only is it a quick finish using Studio 180 Design’s Tucker Trimmer ® I, which means you could have it made by your Christmas or Hanukah celebrations, but wouldn’t it be fun made in holiday or seasonal fabrics, anytime you need to Simply Celebrate!

Celestial Borealis Twilight

The original quilt is still touring as it was introduced this past Spring Market 2019. Yep, secret sewing from this time last year! My how time passes when you are having sew much fun!

Here’s some photos of my “secret sewing” last fall.

This design uses three tools from Studio 180 Design, V-block®, Square Squared®, and Corner Beam®.  Celestial Borealis Twilight will be released this week as a PDF and available in print mid-November. Watch the pattern page on the website and social media for the announcement!

Enchanted Stars

Again, the original quilt is still traveling as it too was introduced at Spring Market 2019. The fabric is Mermaid Cove by Island Batik, it too should be shipping in December. 

This design uses Studio 180 Design’s Rapid Fire® Lemoyne Star as well as the Tucker Trimmer® III to square up the blocks.

Here’s photos from this quilt’s humble beginnings.

The call for submissions (when we pitch our design idea to Island Batik) was summer of 2018, at which time we were “expecting” our first granddaughter ~ I remember thinking and praying for her as I designed the quilt, even thinking of calling it Stars for a Mermaid Princess but changed my mind. By the time it was pieced, quilted and ready to ship to Island Batik our sweet Reagan was almost a month old! Just this week we celebrated her first birthday! I can’t wait for this quilt to return home this summer to share with Reagan at the beach or on a picnic! What a fun photo that will be to see her growth while Enchanted Stars was on its world tour (grin).

Enchanted Stars was released this month as a PDF download and will be available in print mid-November.

What Else Has Been Happening?

Recently it’s been pattern writing mode and preparing a brochure to share with quilt shops in attendance at Fall Market. In the background working on things for my upcoming Onboard Quilting Excursion! ™ with next November’s Quilting with The Rambler & The Redneck – there are still spots available but don’t delay as The Redneck, aka Brian McCoy, is joining me this weekend at Fall Market as we will be handing out information on our cruise to attendees. We expect the cruise to fill up soon & would love to have your join us! We plan on creating a YouTube together during market, in the meantime here’s the one recorded yesterday with my travel agent, Patti. 

I’m also in the middle of “secret sewing” for Spring Market 2020 ~ oh I can’t wait to share this one! The fabric is fabulous, my colors for sure! I’m hoping you like the design; I have had the most fun with this one! It just makes me happy. I’ve enjoyed every inch of this – from the design concept, to the piecing, and recently the quilting. It just needs binding, hanging sleeve and a label before saying goodbye as it is shipped off to Island Batik. I would love it if this were “my year” to go to Spring Market – I could visit my quilt (grin).

I’ve also been spending time in the studio trying to unpack and organize items that have been in storage since Hurricane Harvey. While the floor is still a mess, the fabric stash has found a new home.

Oh, and let’s not forget the recent late nights watching the Astros as they were victorious in securing that spot in the World Series beginning tonight! Yep – it’s the busy time of year – thanks for allowing me to catch up with you! Hope to see some of you at Fall Quilt Market or Quilt Festival!

This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler 

asking what type of pattern/quilt design speaks your quilt love language ~ share those thoughts and ideas to help inspire me for future designs coming Fall Market 2020!