WIP: A Collaboration With Andover Fabrics

WIP: A Collaboration With Andover Fabrics {an Art School Dropout's life}About a month ago the very kind folks over at Andover Fabrics sent me a sweet package filled with some precut bundles of brandnew and yet to be released fabrics for me to play with. They wanted to see what I would come up with.

I’ve been a huge mess lately preparing for BlytheCon (2 WEEKS LEFT TO PREP) and working on my Silhouette America projects so I can focus on that BlytheCon stuff, so I haven’t been able to play with all this fabric uninterrupted.

WIP: A Collaboration With Andover Fabrics {an Art School Dropout's life} work in progress potholders using the new 1Canoe2 fabric line from Andover fabrics #quilting #chevronI did attempt to make a pretty, kinda chevron looking pillow out of the new 1Canoe2 line. Halfway through though I realized I had cut a bunch of pieces wrong and now I am reassembling what I can into pot holders. Luckily the line has food related items in it, which actually makes it PERFECT for potholders. Why didn’t I think of potholders before? I’ll share the finished set soon!

WIP: A Collaboration With Andover Fabrics {an Art School Dropout's life} The new Chillingsworth line in hexie form #hexagon #quiltingI also attacked the Chillingsworth charm packs and made a couple huge piles of hexies. They have already been pieced together and are just in the queue waiting to be quilted. (I like to do all my quilting at once. I may be a weirdo like that) Just like the potholders, I hope to share  the finished piece soon.

I also have BIG plans for those fat quarter bundles shown in the background of the first photo. I’m just not ready to share yet.

So, on a slightly different note, this post is just a sweet reminder of the changes I’ve made in how I spend my days! I can now sit down and sew, draw, bake and more without all the stress involved with what I was previously doing. I feel like I’m actually making progress in my goals I talked about last month and I have learned so much in that time too. I’m happier and a bit less stressed (I’ll be even more stress free after BlytheCon).

So I’d like to say thank you to everyone who encouraged me and has been supportive along the way.

You are all awesome!!!

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Brushed X’s & A Rainbow of Wonky Wood Fabric

Brushed X's & A Rainbow of Wonky Wood Fabric by jesseesuem {an Art School Dropout's life} #spoonflowerA few weeks back, I had a flood of messages on Spoonflower asking about different colorways for my Wonky Woodgrain Fabrics. It seems like faux wood grain is the new thing for nurseries. How neat!?

I read each and every request and made up new colorways, or made some of the designs horizontal instead (for crib skirts and things like that I was told). I had to order a swatch for all of them so there was some waiting involved.

Today all of the swatches came in and I am in love with them all! A bunch were requests and then the tan, mustard and pink were my idea because I know I’d use them myself (baby quilt backs anyone?)

Brushed X's & A Rainbow of Wonky Wood Fabric by jesseesuem {an Art School Dropout's life} #spoonflowerI also had a few swatches made of my Brushed X’s fabric design. I designed this specifically to be used as quilt binding and backing. I have grand plans for this fabric! (I wish I had photographed them better though! Stupid cloudy days)

What are your thoughts on all of these? Should I make more colorways? Smaller designs? Larger designs? ETC ETC ETC? I NEED to know! haha.

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2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites

I talked a bit about my experience and such at the 2014 Spring International Quilt Market yesterday. Today I want to share my absolute favorites. The lines that I know I will buy every piece from and make loads of pretty stuff with.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}To start I have to share everyone’s favorite, the first line from Cotton & Steel. They have a great story and are all very talented, so you should read up on them more to see what i’m talking about.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life} 2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}Every single design from them is brilliant, and it all coordinates perfectly. So there loads of mixing and matching. It’s all very playful and vibrant and a few designs incorporate metallic colors which I’m loving right now.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}Though, I won’t lie, I’m most excited about their basics line. The dashes, cross hatches, lines and more are totally on my “must buy” list. I always prefer the basics, but they aren’t usually this perfect. I’ve already sketched out a quilt that would showcase these all perfectly.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}Next on my list of absolutely perfect was everything in Carolyn Friedlander’s booth. I was in love with her last line Architextures, and I’m even more in love with her newest line Botanics. I also had the pleasure of meeting her and chatting a bit. She’s even sweeter in person than she is online!

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}I left her booth with a few mini charm packs that showcased her line, plus some of Robert Kaufmans basics. I’ve already cut into them all and can’t wait to share the piece I’m making, it’s just taking me a bit to finish.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}I also was a fan of everything else Robert Kaufman put their name on! Their Kona Cottons are a staples in all my projects, plus I picked up a bunch of polka dotted fabrics which will probably be used a lot soon. Check out that diamond fabric garland in the Blueprint Basics booth! I so badly want to recreate it.

2014 Spring International Quilt Market: My Absolute Favorites {an Art School Dropout's life}The last of my ultimate favorites was the awesome American Made Fabrics solids. They were gorgeous and person and I’m always a sucker for pretty solids. Plus look at those ottomans!!! I know a very cute little girl who would love one of those.

Ok, so that’s a wrap on the Quilt Market photos. I still have more to say about some of the things I brought home with me, but I promise this is the last photos from the actual event.

Like I said yesterday, I was inspired so much by just walking around this event. Then add all the conversations I had and I am set. It really made me 100%, fully realize, how much I love sewing, quilting and everything involved. It’s how Art School Dropout started actually, I was hand painting SEWN bags! I came home realizing that I want to be a part of this industry MORE, and I have sat here all week trying to figure out how to balance all my goals with all the stuff I’m already doing. I haven’t figured it out yet, and I’m not sure when I will, but I do know change is coming and it makes me really happy!

2014 Spring International Quilt Market

qm_sp2014_001I mentioned the Spring International Quilt Market last week when I talked about the quilt I made for Silhouette America’s booth. Well, as thank you they made it possible for me to go to market!!! It was in Pittsburgh this year, and even taking back roads it only takes us 3 hours to get there. We had some hotel points and I had money put aside for BlytheCon that I could make up, so we figured “why not?”, and drove up last minute.

I figured it would be awesome just to see some online friends in person along with seeing all the new fabrics coming out. Little did I know just how much was there. Every type of tool of the trade was featured, from sewing machines to interfacing to thread and more! It was very inspiring and totally awesome. I left with so many ideas swirling around in my head, and a little anxiety trying to think of how I would make the time to try them all out. I’ll talk about all that at another time…

I didn’t bring my nice camera, but luckily there was a lot of natural light in the convention center. I took SO MANY photos, and decided I’d share a few (or a bunch, all depends on what you think a few is. haha) of my favorite fabrics coming out soon.

I’ll warn you now, theres so many, they take up two posts!!

qm_sp2014_002One of the first booths I saw walking around was the Irome Collection by Kokka. I absolutely love the large scalloped pattern!

qm_sp2014_005Actually, most of the stuff Kokka had was awesome! Check out that calendar/numbers print and ALL the Hello Kitty Prints! I wish I had looked at the proper names for the collections. I was just a bit overwhelmed! I so badly want to recreate that gray bag, so if you know what line this is, please tell me!!!

qm_sp2014_003 qm_sp2014_004Alexander Henry Fabrics is putting out more of their “the Ghastlies” line. It’s just as awesome as the last ones!

qm_sp2014_007Tula Pink has a new EPP hexagon kit coming out. I love the look of the warped hexies and I love how the box comes with everything you need. Also, as always her quilting is gorgeous.

qm_sp2014_008I have some pieces from the Riley Blake Geekly Chic line, and love them. The pieces from the new Geekly Chic 2 line are just as cool. I’m already picturing a dress out of the camera fabrics.

qm_sp2014_009I love the jewel tones featured in Katarina Roccella’s line Indelible for Art Gallery fabrics.

qm_sp2014_010 qm_sp2014_011Dear Stella‘s entire booth was super cute! Plus I’ve already had an eye on their Wee Gallery line ever since I discovered Nicole of Modern Handcraft (who made the adorable little dress up piece above). I had the pleasure of meeting her at the event! It’s awesome to meet someone with similar style who just happens to be super nice too.

qm_sp2014_006I also had the pleasure of meeting and briefly speaking to Thomas Knauer the author of Modern Quilt Perspectives. He was super energetic, nice and spoke freely when I asked him questions (rare these days). I absolutely loved the way he made his sign and I wish i could have taken all of his quilts home with me!

I also had the pleasure of meeting a few other friends and such while wandering around. Plus I was able to talk to a handful of industry experts and ask loads of questions and trade some business cards. It all makes me wish I could just play with fabric all day, every day!

Like I said before, I have more photos to share tomorrow. More specifically my four favorites. So if it doesn’t bore you, you should come back and check it out!

Clean Cut Fabric Petal Wreath for Silhouette America

Clean Cut Fabric Petal Wreath by Jessee Maloney for Silhouette America {an Art School Dropout's life}My first tutorial for the Silhouette America Blog went live yesterday! Check it out for step by step instructions on how I made the awesome wreath above.

Clean Cut Fabric Petal Wreath by Jessee Maloney for Silhouette America {an Art School Dropout's life}

As you can see loads of different, awesome, fabrics were used in this wreath! I wish I could take credit for picking them all out, however they were all from a fabric shop coordinated charm pack. A charm pack is usually 42 – 5″ fabric squares assembled together in a pack. They are very helpful with small projects and or if you need loads of different patterns but don’t want to buy yardage. This one was filled with a bunch of Shot Cottons, a few lines from Art Gallery Fabrics, a couple Anna Maria Horner prints, some Birch Fabric lines and more! I loved this mix so much I actually used it in another project I’ll be sharing soon.

The charm pack was courtesy of Finch Sewing Studio in Leesburg, VA. (the shop that put the pack together) It’s an awesome shop in downtown Leesburg that is filled with all of the most colorful fabrics. You can tell just from the charm pack used in this wreath what I mean. It’s about a 25 min ride from where I live, and we have made it a weekly stop now. The owner and everyone who works there has been super sweet too! Added bonus.

I usually only buy black, white, gray and teal fabrics, but theres something about this shop that makes me want to buy all the colors! ALL OF THEM! I even bought a charm pack that has green in it, something I’d normally shy away from. This is a big step for me, and I think I want to add more color to a lot more of my projects. So keep an eye out!!!!!!

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Buy One Fat Quarter, Get One Free

Spoonflower is having another one of their awesome sales! Until October 31st, you can buy one fat quarter (18″x21″) and get one fat quarter free. That’s a $11 saving! Just add both pieces to your cart to see the discount.

You can choose from thousands of different designs from many designers, OR you can pick out some fabric from my designs! Like the ones pictured above.

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