Sweet Sophistication with a Touch of Whimsy
Hummm what kind of critter do you think I might have on my new Christmas quilt?
Could it be a possum with her babies?
Or how about a camel?
Or a tiger might be nice!
Truth is some of you have already guessed it! You’re so smart and you know who you are! Here’s a “little” hint just in case you haven’t gotten that email from me yet. Critter… what do you consider a critter?
Hope you enjoy these wonderful drawings from my Grand-daughter Michaela. She’s an artist in the making!
Back soon,
Anne
This was one of those houses that just made me swoon. If you visit the Cotswolds in England, and you drive the country roads you might find it. It has to be one of a kind and the story of the house will remain a mystery. I’m not sure I could find it again; too many country roads going in too many directions. I wanted so much to know the history. Who lives here and how many families have lived here before them? How old is the house? Has it always been the palest of yellows? What stories can it tell, this beauty of a house!
I spent Saturday with this house, but only in the studio. I drew it for applique only to find out I couldn’t capture it’s beauty in fabric! I tried for a full day, but the house remains elusive. A house this grand must want to remain in the Cotswolds. I love every detail of this house, so maybe I’ll try again someday when I have the palest of yellow fabrics.
Of course all of this leads to another clue.
Here’s the clues so far, with the new one in red:
1. Christmas with some pieced blocks
2. A little bit of snow
3. A tiny bit of pink in the quilt, 5″ x 5″ or smaller.
4. The fabric I’m using is” Le Petie Ecole” from Kaari, the French General!
5. I said in an earlier post that there’s a critter in the quilt that I like to draw almost as much as a bunny!
6. There’s a house in the quilt, and its set on snow.
I do have some good guessers. You know who you are!
Have a great Monday everyone!
Anne
It’s possible to have two families and be very, very happy! I have two families and I can’t stop smiling! When I saw this ad in “Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine” I started that “pinch me now” thing I have going. I’ll never get used to the excitement of joining the wonderful Moda family! I’m keeping the ad around so that when my “first” family gives me trouble I can hold it up and threaten to go live with my “second” family. There must be a little space in that huge Moda warehouse of fabric I could “room” in. Or, maybe I could live in the room of vintage textiles I’ve heard about. One can dream.
The picture for the ad was taken at Spring market by Camille Roskelley herself! She’s a wiz with her Nikon camera! Actually amazing is a better word. After a few trial shots, she set the camera on a timer and jumped in the photo. We were all laughing and having the best time. Then Eleanor Burns happened to walk by and made us all crack up! Can’t tell you what she said because, well, you’ll just to ask her, but it was funny! Being with Moda is so much fun!
And now I’m working on two fabric lines for Moda. I’m waiting for the strike offs for my Fall line to arrive any day. Here’s a little hint; if you loved “Lily & Will” you are going to love my next line too! I wish I could have all of you over when the strike offs come so you can see how exciting it is! I grab the UPS package, hug the driver and race up to the studio tearing the package open on the way. We have a “jump around the strike offs” moment, and for the rest of the day I’m in the BEST mood! I just can’t wait!
Chelsea, Bitsy and Mooch are anxiously waiting too because I have a tendency to give little treats when I’m in a really good mood!
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Hugs,
Anne
The journeys we take in life, always seem to bring unexpected pleasures. Those little things we never anticipate. Sweet surprises that can’t be predicted or even thought of when we start the journey. Amazing, is the word I use for these little pleasures.
When I started designing, I never anticipated the friendships I would find along the way. I was focused on my business, trying to get it up and running, worried that I might not be successful, have enough money to continue, afraid people wouldn’t like what I did, and well, you get the idea. Oh my, it was a lot to focus on! Now as I look back on my journey, I realize that one of the unexpected pleasures that I NEVER anticipated was the friendships I would form with other designers. These friendships have helped me through difficult times. Times when I needed advice or wanted to ask questions. Unexpected pleasures like no other!
Vicki Bellino, of Bloom Creek, is one of those designer friends. She’s been there for me time after time. We’ve laughed, cried, shopped, visited and had countless phone calls together. Imagine my surprise, when last October, this picture arrived in the mail. A gift from my friend Vicki! A Bunny Hill bunny surrounded by Bloom Creek blooms, pieced and appliqued in the perfect pinks. It made me cry, of course. Just to think of the hours she spent making this precious gift that symbolizes our friendship, I still can’t believe she did it. This picture now hangs in my studio.
Vicki and I decided we wanted to share this with all of you. So we took the Bunny Hill bunny and her Bloom Creek blooms, and a new quilt was born. We submitted this new version to “American Patchwork and Quilting” and they said yes! Coming in the April issue of “American Patchwork and Quilting” you’ll find our quilt!
“The Bunny Patch”
Applique by Anne Sutton
Pieced & Quilted by Vicki Bellino
Featured Fabric, “Aviary” by Three Sisters, from Moda Fabrics
If you subscribe to this magazine like I do, you’ll be receiving this issue in your mail box any day now. If you don’t subscribe (you should), you’ll find it on news stands February 2nd. ”American Patchwork and Quilting” is one of the few magazines that ships to subscribers before it hits the stands! I’ve included directions for the spray starch method of applique in this issue, along with other applique tips. Vicki gives you tips on how she’s quilted this quilt (it’s just amazing). If you’d like a kit you can find it here on my web site or here on Vicki’s web site. We have limited kits available so don’t wait. Our kit includes everything but the magazine and backing for $45.00! (No, it doesn’t include the sewing machine, the pins, the batting, the scissors, the thread or someone to make it for you tee hee!) Opps, I forgot, buttons and ribbon not included.
Look for more posts soon on my new Bunny Tales blog! Be sure and re- subscribe on this blog. Most of you aren’t having problems subscribing, but a few are. I’m working on it, so please try again in a few days. Maybe a miracle will happen.
And speaking of miracles, the true kind, be sure and bid on the wonderful auction quilts on The Fat Quarter Shops, Jolly Jabber blog. You’ll find a Bunny Hill quilt there, along with so many other wonderful items. Don’t miss this auction!
Be back soon! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Hugs,
Anne
