New Patterns

I am getting ready to launch several new patterns. I always have trouble coming up with fun and interesting names for my quilts and my patterns. So I thought I would run a contest and the winner will receive a copy of my new patterns hot off the presses when they are printed. Here are the two new fused patterns. One is three versions of Blue and Green Jack-in-the-Pulpits, and the other is two versions in Purple/Pink of Jack-in-the-Pulpits.

I can’t wait to see all the great names!! Thanks

Working hard

This is my middle son Lars and his buddy helper Wrigley. Apparently this is how they work most evenings. Lars typing on his computer and Wrigley spell checking.

And of course the real girls relax time.

My new “daughter” Megan and Wrigley checking out the latest fashion trends. Truly,dogs are mans/woman’s best friend.

Book Trailer - Fabric to Dye For

In my studio check it out.

ToteTuesday

ToteTuesday, a Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, will be offering themed totes throughout February.  It’s a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society AND a showcase for everything that is fun and creative about the fiber arts. Please review this Checklist for all the information you need to bid.
Our goal is to raise $12,000 for the American Cancer Society with ToteTuesday.  Our current total is $9004.
The big finale on February 23 will feature a twist plus some bonuses to add a little excitement to the last ToteTuesday.
The generous sponsors/donors (complete list here) have gone all out to make each tote unique, beautiful and inspiring.

My contribution is the following, and will be available this Tuesday, February 23, 2010.

You will be bidding on a copy of my newest book – Fabric to Dye for ; my first book Fun, Fast Fusies, the pattern Petite Sunflowers along with the fabric kit to make it out of my hand dyed fabric and an extra yard of my Blackened multi strip rainbow fabric. You can see it all in the above picture. Sorry you will NOT be getting the Petite SunFlower quilt pictured, I just wanted you to see what it looks like :)

February March Special - Self Threading needles

February and March are the months to finish up new projects.What are you working on this month? Maybe you need a little splash of color to jazz up that special project. My newest product can add that little something extra to make your project sizzle.

The newest product at FrieStyle is a package of 48 x 5" precut hand dyed squares. The 48 x 5" squares equal one yard of fabric, only you get so many more color choices! Perfect for those of you who do lots of applique. Choose from seven different color combinations: yellows/oranges, oranges/reds, red/purples, blues, greens, rainbow multi-stripe, and blackened rainbow multi-stripe. (blackened multi-stripe is the rainbow colors with black added to enrich to a the deeper color)
With every order this month over $25, I will also send you my favorite self-threading needles. They come in a package of five needles and are a $5.00 value. What are you waiting for? Finish - or start - those projects with a little zippidy do da today.!

Happy Be-lated Valentine's from me to you.


Frieda Anderson

FrieStyle Fabrics and Notions

To use self threading needles. I pull all my threads to the front  of my quilt project and  make a regular square knot. Once I have them all tied off -

I hook them over the top of a self threading needle, pulling both threads through the top where there is a slit.

 I then bury them back in to the body of my quilt. It is slick and easy and no little knots on the back of my work.

Sew Worth It in Sarasota

I recently taught at a great quilt store in Sarasota FL called Sew Worth IT. She has a fabulous selection of fabrics and sewing machine as well as a really great class room. In the class room the electrical outlets hang down from the ceiling and there are plenty of them. She also has two large screen tv's hooked up for a camera and for laptops. It was just so easy teaching there. Too bad not all set ups are this easy. If you live in the area and have not gone over to the shop treat yourself one afternoon and stop in.

The class was SunDance and every one did such a great job. There was one woman who had hardly ever sewn before and she just did terrific. We use two different decorative blades to cut out the design elements for this class and some of the gals really got into putting their own twist on the design, I love that.

 

My version. 

It is great to be home and the temperature has warmed up a bit. It is beginning to feel like spring outside, YA.

Lark Quilt IT contest

My friend Judy Coates Perez has won grand prize in the Lark  Quilt It! Contest. The entries were inspiring, and the judges were faced with some difficult choices.

Grand Prize: Take These Broken Wings by Judy Coates Perez

Judy does some amazing things with ink, paint and metal. Congratulations JUDY! You go girl.

Rust Tex Exhibit

 

I have a wonderful new series going. It is all about Jack in the Pulpits. The center background of this quilt is made with Lois Jarvis's rust tex fabric that I over dyed. The border is my hand dyed cotton satin and the jack it self is all my hand dyed silk.

This is my entry that was accepted in to the Rust Tex Exhibit that will be premiering at the;

Spring International Quilt Festival in Chicago April 16-18, 2010 

and will travel to
the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England August 20-23, 2010.

I will have a booth at both of these shows so I hope you will stop by and see me in the booth at BOTH shows.

Machine quilting with silk thread

Valerie wrote me and asked -

Hi Frieda: I am reading your article about free motion quilting in Quilting Arts....two questions I have is if you are maching quilting silk.....what thread would you use...and are there any other recommendations you would have for quilting silk vs. cotton. Thank you in advance for your help. Valerie  from NY

Hi Valerie,
Thank you for contacting me.
I like to use silk thread when I am working on silk, I use YLI silks and have been very happy with them. I use either the same YLI in the bobbin or often use Aurafil cotton 50 wt thread in the bobbin. I like all the colors they both have and the quality of the threads. I use a 70 micro tex sharp needle when I use the silk and I sew a little bit slower. The silk can break if you sew too fast.
I will post on my blog today a close up of silk on silk and you can see how fabulous it looks.
Good luck and have fun.
Fondly
Frieda
Here are a few close ups of using silk thread on silk fabric when machine quilting.

Post card size Jack in the Pulpit.

 

Jack in the Pulpit 

close up of leaves and hood of plant in silk

Jack in the Pulpit

close up of the back ground and leaf - from my new book 

Fabric to Dye For

Springs Greeting

close up of silk flowers and silk background

Teaching in Florida

Yesterday my class in Tampa Florida made "Small Autumn Mums". I was a little apprehensive about teaching my "raw edged fused technique" to this group as they are traditional applique people, but they took to it like a duck to water. They loved the process and had a great time cutting free form and using all fused fabrics. Several woman told me they had been "afraid" to use fusible web and were delighted to have this opportunity in a save environment to "play" with fusibles. EVERYONE made a beautiful small quilt top. I was so happy for them. We had a great day working while it rained outside. Sunny Florida is currently not living up to it's reputation!!

Tomorrow I will be down in Sarasota and teaching SunDance.

In this class we use two different decorative blades to create our Fun in the Sun SunDance quilt. If you live in the area sure to stop by the shop, "Sew Worth It", and say hello. You can always stick your head in the class room and see what we are making.

It is only suppose to reach 45 degrees on Friday in Sarasota. But at home they are getting snow and had an earthquake. I guess they needed a little shaking up.

Going on the road again

I am headed out tomorrow to teach in FL. I have been happy at home working away in my studio, but now it is time to stop playing and get back to work.  I will be at the Feather Princesses, Tampa Chapter of The Appliqué Society in Tampa FL on Feb 9-10. I will be teaching my Small Autumn Mums Class and doing my lecture Fun Fast Fusies. You can see where they met on their web site.

I will then be going to Sarasota and teaching at the Sew Worth It shop at 5507 Palmer Crossing Circle. I will be teaching my Sun Dance class and doing my Walks in the Woods lecture.

I am also looking forward to a little warmer weather. If you are in the area be sure and stop in and say hello.

Sunset Pines

One of the tips Designer Bruce Mau gives in his design manifesto is

“If you like it do it again, if you don’t like it do it again.”

I find this very good advice and enjoy the process of “doing it again”

 

and finally

These are all versions of my “SunSet Pines” The top three are fused and the bottom one is pieced.

My new book

If you have bought my new book I would appreciate a review. You can go to AMAZON and leave a review right under the big title is a little sign that says “customer reviews”, click there and leave your comments. Thanks so much for helping me with this.

Frieda