Tag: Windham Fabrics

Paper Obsessed and I’m working on those return letters!

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I finally have all of my ducks in a row and am ready to start addressing envelopes to my friends who sent me #PaperObsessed mail about fourteen weeks ago.  Yikes.  I’ve got a long ride to Pasadena, CA.  Let’s cross our fingers my markers don’t run out.  Although, truthfully, I kinda love the marker that is on the edge of drying out.  Those scratchy marks are kinda fun.  See you at QuiltCon?! Look for me and Crimson Tate in booth 504.

 

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Paper Obsessed by Heather Givans for Windham Fabrics

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Paper Obsessed has seventeen different pieces, all paper inspired.

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Aerodynamics quilt designed and pieced by Heather Givans; quilted by Karen McTavish

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Succulent Garden quilt designed and pieced by Heather Givans; quilted by Benji Benjiman

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The cutest little Dash.  Air Traffic Control quilt designed and pieced by Heather Givans; quilted by Quilting by the Stitch

All photography by my super talented and cool friend Eric Lubrick.

 

See you in Cali in just a few weeks! Or is it less? HOLY HOLY.  😉

xo Heather

Lotta Jansdotter is my best friend* + GIVEAWAY

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*not really.  I’m just kidding.

 

In another life I worked at a local boss gift shop Silver in the City where I discovered amazing stationery and soft good designers such as Angela Adams, Lotta Jansdotter, and Juila Rothman.  Fast forward ten years later and am in disbelief that I design fabric along side two of these women I’ve admired for so long.  Windham Fabrics, I love you and thank you.  My gratitude is endless.  I can remember all the times we all huddled around the Lotta Jansdotter goods and awed over the choice of fabric (mostly linen) and that quintessential Swedish design.  In my arsenal of items from that era still exists, I have more leather handled Lotta totebags then I’d care to admit.

 

I’m honored to present and let you peek in on Lotta Jansdotter’s new book for STC Craft, an imprint of Abrams publishing, Everyday Style.

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I took some time over the past few weeks to thumb through the book and I have to tell you, the images are inspiring.  Jenny Hallengren is the photographer who you might remember took the photographs in Heather Jones’s book Quilt Local.  Same photographer.  Lotta’s style combined with Jenny’s know-how is a powerful combination. Then add pattern designer Alexia Abegg to the mix, and it becomes spectacular.  I am particularly impressed with the hand drawn elements included.  Look at how sweet this is.

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The book is filled with simple skirts, dresses, bags, and more with a modern Scandinavian elegance.  I made a couple of projects from the book starting with the Wilma Bag.  It is ginormous.  Let’s play Who Wore It Better??  Here’s Lotta with her bag:

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Here I am with my Wilma Bag:

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Ok.  You don’t have to comment on who wore it better but I did wear every striped piece of clothing I could find that coordinated.  I used an organic canvas ticking fabric and am glad I did.  It has a great heft and the size of this bag can easily accommodate a sewing machine or more.

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I call this photograph “If Lotta Jansdotter, Amy Butler, Heather Ross, and Heather Givans went into a bar…”  Actually, that might have happened once.  I can’t be sure.  I stuffed this bag full of Indiana shaped pillows made from fabrics of some of these lovely ladies.  I also created a CUUUUTE hat with simple pompom instructions found in Lotta’s book.  It gave me an excuse to shop at Mass Ave Knits in Downtown Indianapolis.  It is a yarn lover’s oasis.  IMG_0853

I created this big ol’ pompom from a hand-dyed yarn.  I know.  I’ve probably offended yarn lovers with such a simple use of a beautiful yarn BUT I COULDN’T HELP IT.  I was a moth to flame.

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The pattern for this cute hat is by the crazy talented Crafty Gemini.  I used Echino jacquard knit instead of fleece and bam.  It worked beautifully. The pompom instructions are found in Lotta’s book.

Thanks for reading along.  I’m impressed with the visual inspiration found in Everyday Style.  I’m certain to create more projects from the book.  If you’d like to win a copy of your own, STC Craft, Tattly Tattoos, and Windham Fabrics are offering a prize package to include a copy of the book, a fat quarter bundle of Lotta’s fabric from Windham, Lotta temporary tattoos, and Lotta washi tape.  So make sure you follow along on all of the blogs in the series, leaving comments along the way to be entered to win and being inspired.  A winner will be chosen at each stop along the tour.

Dec 1 – Lotta

Dec 2 – STC Craft

Dec 3 – Windham 

Dec 4 –  Noodlehead

Dec 7 – Modern Handcraft

Dec 8 – Sew Scatterbrained

Dec 9 – Crimson Tate [you are here]

Dec 11 – Groovy Baby & Mama

Dec 14 – City Stitching with Christine Haynes

Dec 15 – Craft Sanity

Dec 16 – Aesthetic Nest

Dec 17 – Sew Mama Sew

Dec 18 – Lish Dorset

Dec 19 – Fancy Tiger Crafts

Dec 21 – Generation Q

Dec 22 – Carolyn Friedlander

Dec 23 – Crafty Planner

Winner on my blog will be chosen on December 26.  So you’ll have time until then to make comments about your everyday style,  Who Wore It Better, or just in general about your love of Lotta Jansdotter.  I’ll randomly choose.

#PaperObsessed – I need mail for Quilt Market!

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I’m gearing up for the announcement of my new collection of fabric for Windham Fabrics at the Fall International Quilt Market in Houston, TX.  I.  Need.  Your.  Help.  I have a plan to adorn my booth with fanciful envelopes that are littered in stamps.  Will you consider sending me an envelope? You should know that I’m a bit of paper hoarder.  I love making envelopes from handmade papers; I love writing mail.  I ABSOLUTELY love addressing envelopes.  One summer I was paid by my mail carrier to address all of her wedding invitations.  She paid me real money and I dreamed of a job where that’s what I’d do all day. Let’s be pen-pals!  Ok.  So maybe I won’t be able to write a full on letter, but in exchange of you sending me a fancy envelope, I would love to send you a little something in return.  And why not make it a give-away?! I mean, that’s fun, right?!

Each envelope that is received before October 15, 2015 will be reciprocated with a response envelope (hand written by me) and an instructional sewing pattern that you know will be PAPER themed.  I’m trying to woo you, here.  All of those envelopes will travel with me to quilt market and appear in my booth!  So far so fun, right?!  And of all of the envelopes received I will choose three winners who will get a big fat bonus package in the mail – a fat quarter bundle of my new fabric Paper Obsessed. How do you win?!

  • One person will be supremely lucky as one giveaway will be completely random.
  • One person will win by creating my favorite envelope – think high creativity and decoration!!
  • One person will win because they live someplace that sounds amazing, absurd, or unrecognizable.  International friends are encouraged to play!

FAQ to Heather Givans

I mean, these are just questions I would ask myself so I thought I’d try to get down to the nitty gritty.

Hey, Heather Givans, I don’t want my address blasted all over the universe.  How can you insure that my private information will be shielded from the paparazzi? 

Dear Reasonable Friend,

I would suggest that you put your return address on the back of the envelope!  Along with your return address, I’d also put your Instagram handle if you’d like to be tagged on the Instagram. When these items are at the quilt market, they will be facing address-side-out — so don’t put your best work on the backside.  If you are super super super private, you can always put your return address inside the envelope and no one will know it was you!

Hey, Heather Givans, do I have to write you a letter?  I mean, I don’t really have much to say.

Dear Friend of Few Words,

You don’t have to write me a letter.  I mean, if you want to take it as an opportunity to tell me something, great.  But you don’t have to.  Truth is, I always beg to address the envelope and sometimes fall short on the correspondence.  That’s totally ok.  Address that envelope and let’s play!

Hey, Heather Givans, can I send you more than one envelope?  Can I send you an envelope everyday until the contest ends?

Dear Chance Maximizer,

YES! You and I were meant to be friends.  Send me a letter everyday.  It could sway the vote.  I can’t be sure but it certainly couldn’t hurt unless you send me smelly cheese inside the envelope or something.

Hey, Heather Givans, I’m just going to send you a post card.  Is that ok? Does it REALLY need to be an envelope?  Post cards are cheaper, you know.

Dear Post Card Lover (and Lover of Less Postage),

I really do want envelopes, so post cards might be taken to market but they won’t be included in the drawings.

Hey, Heather Givans, does this have to be made of fabric?  Or do you legit want paper?

Dear Fabric and Paper Lover,

I mean, the collection is called Paper Obsessed, so you best make it paper for now.  Fabric posts will come later.

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*Include your Instagram handle on the back of the envelope so that I can tag you in a post! You’ll find me at @crimsontate – I’m probably not going to open the envelopes until after quilt market so don’t put time sensitive material inside! 😉

Also, it would be real real cool if you could share this with your friends! It would be a great display with lots of envelopes and stamps!!! Tell a friend!  Now is the time for all good people to write letters to their family and friends!

March 27 Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio is a PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVER

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That Heather Jones is a wonder.  I crazy love that kid and am honored to have her in my world.  I can’t speak highly enough of her accomplishments and friendship.  Head over to her blog today as she discusses using Succulents.  Featured below is a lil’ quilt Heather made that was shown at QuiltCon 2015.  It faced the Crimson Tate booth and it made me so happy to look at it everyday.  So good, Heather.

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Photo from Heather Jones Studio blog

Two more days to enter to win!  Be sure to head over and leave Heather, and the rest of the gang, a comment on their posts to be one of the winners of fourteen bundles of Succulents from those friendly folks at Windham.

March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate

March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography

March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts

March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare

March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio

March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate

March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn

March 22: Brooke Starnes of Crimson Tate

March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts

March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids

March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools

March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts

March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio

March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate

See you back here tomorrow as I wrap up the tour.

xoxox

Heather

March 26 :: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts :: IT’S HERE!!! SUCCULENT SHELF PATTERN IS HERE!!

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Total hearts in my eyes for Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts.  She is total happiness and incredibly creative. I can’t wait for you to see all of the variations of Succulent Shelf, a paper pieced pattern that she has created!  I’m thinking I’m going to make a bed sized version of all of these cute little potted plants. Heather4112Photo by Eric Lubrick

Head over to her blog and see what she’s been up to and make sure to find her pattern.  It’s a keeper!!  You’ll find her at https://materialgirlquilts.wordpress.com

Let her know what you think and don’t forget, we only have two days left of the blog tour.  So join in.  Get inspired.  Leave comments on each of the blogs for fourteen chances to win!! Thank you Windham Fabrics for giving away fourteen complete fat quarter bundles of Succulents.  Tomorrow we meet Heather Jones.  Love that kid!

March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts }
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
xoxo
Heather

March 25 Amy Garro of 13 spools :: Tutorial + Giveaway

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Local girl Amy Garro of 13 spools is top drawer.  She recently published a book titled Paper Pieced Modern through C+T Publishing.  It was a pleasure watching Amy work and choose fabrics for the book and then to see it come to life!  Outstanding.

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Head over to Amy Garro’s blog 13 spools and see what she created using Succulents and don’t forget, we’ve only got a few days left to be entered into the  fat quarter bundle drawing (fourteen bundles!!!) courtesy of Windham Fabrics.  So head to all of the blogs, check out how this creative community is using the fabric.Heather4154

Photo by Eric Lubrick

March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts }
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools HEAD HERE TODAY!!
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
xoxxo
Heather

March 24 Sam Howard of Bobaloo! Kids + {GIVEAWAY}

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So, Samantha Howard a total keeper.  Married with two lovely kids, an entrepreneur who is the chief creator and mastermind behind Bobaloo! Kids, but on top of all of that, she is a ROLLER GIRL!  Seriuosly.  You don’t get much cooler than Sam.  Here’s what she has to say about using Succulents. Here she is pictured with her daughter.

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photo credit: Eric Lubrick

Take it away Sam:

When my lovely friend Heather Givans asked if I would sew something up with her gorgeous new fabric line Succulents, I jumped on board in a flash!  We decided a dress for my daughter would be a great way to show off Succulent Parade in Blue, the gorgeous light blue border print. After considering many worthy pattern contenders, we landed on the darling Library Dress from Oliver + S. It’s the perfect mix of classic and modern while still appealing to a little girl with pretty strong clothing opinions. 

The Library Dress and Succulents turned out to be a match made in heaven! The skirt only has a few pleats, which minimizes folds at the hem and really shows off those succulent drawings. The border fabric is also used in the bodice. How darling is that collar? I have always loved sewing Oliver + S patterns and this one is no exception.

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photo credit: Eric Lubrick

I love mixing prints and Succulents offers a ton of great mix-and-match options. I wanted to balance the tiny repeating motif on the bodice with a larger print for the sash.  The yellow Greenhouse in Avocado was perfect, adding a pop of color while still mirroring the blue of the dress.

If you look closely you can see Moveable Type in Green peeking out as piping around the sash.  Man oh man, do I love a text print!  It adds such a great border to the sash.

 

Despite years and years of sewing, I still tend to chicken out on buttons and replace them with a different closure.  However, this time I put my big girl pants on and committed to the long row of buttonholes. I’m so glad I did because those yellow buttons are one of my very favorite parts of the dress.

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photo credit: Eric Lubrick

It was such a delight to sew with Succulents knowing the love and care that Heather put into every part of the design. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

The lovely folks at Windham are giving away fat quarter bundles at all FOURTEEN stops of the blog hop, including this very post. Make sure to follow along and comment at each stop to up your chances of getting your hands on some!

 
March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts }
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids (YOU’RE HERE!)
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate

Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts Blogging about Succulents + {GIVEAWAY}

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IMG_5403QuiltCon 2015 was INCREDIBLE.  I can’t emphasize enough that if you haven’t been, you need to make room in your schedule, if possible, to attend the Modern Quilt Guild Convention.  Did I ever tell you about the time that Denyse Schmidt tried to throw me under the bus?  It’s a good story.  You should ask her about it.  Here we are after sitting on a panel together with Jacqueline Sava of Soak and Mary Fons, formerly of Quilty Magazine.

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While in Austin, I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Wheeler of Kapa Quilts and in no time, this kid created the cutest set of baskets using Succulents.  I wanted you to see his creations so we reserved this date for him.  Head over to his blog and look at what he’s whipping up.

Don’t forget, your comment on each blog will be entered into a drawing of fourteen fat quarter bundles of Succulents!!  Here’s the line-up.  We’ll see you back here tomorrow to hear what Sam Howard has to say about using Succulents.

March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography and Oar to Oar
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio, blogging at Crimson Tate 
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes of Crimson Tate
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts (today’s stop)
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids,blogging at Crimson Tate
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate

March 21 National Quilting Day + Meghan Eschbaugh + {GIVEAWAYS}

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Heather4379Image by Eric Lubrick

Happy National Quilting Day!!  No better way to celebrate the day but by quilting and looking around at the amazing things this community of sewers is creating! Before heading over to the talented Meghan Eschbaugh’s conversation on how she has used Succulents, I wanted to be sure to highlight Annie Unrein of By Annie’s who created this amazing Catch-All Caddy.  Annie is a LOVER of succulent plants, just like me.  I was floored when she asked if she could use my fabric to construct this beauty.  What a dear.  You should know her.  She’s the real deal.

On with the tour!!

Meghan Eschbaugh is a quilter THROUGH AND THROUGH.  This girl, all sciencey and techy in her day job treats quilting like her second full time gig. Meghan is often found dropping by Crimson Tate on a Saturday and by Monday, her project is complete.  I was honored when she agreed to help sew for Succulents.  See what she has to say about her involvement on her blog Calvin and Carolyn.  Meghan and I can also get along quite well talking about northern climates.  She’s a good kid.

Don’t forget, you can win one of FOURTEEN fat quarter bundles courtesy of Windham Fabrics.  Bam! Drop by the blogs celebrating Succulents and leave a message.  Fourteen winners will be drawn at the end of the tour, so don’t stress if you’re late to the game.  Just be sure to check out all of the goodness.

March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes of Indianapolis (and my dear friend)
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate

March 18 : Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare

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This cat Lindsay Lefevere is creative through and through.  From engineering these awesomely cute pin cushion cuffs to designing a quilt specifically for Succulents, I love Lindsay’s style and unexpected perspectives.  Her use of color every time surprises me and gets me simultaneously.  Head over to ellesquare to see what she’s been up to and how she interpreted Succulents.  Don’t forget to leave a message for her and be entered to win one of FOURTEEN fat quarter bundles from Windham Fabrics.  Duh-dang!

See y’all tomorrow right back here where Karen McTavish will be chatting about her involvement with Succulents.  Yahooo!

xo Heather