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Monday, April 27, 2015

Curiosities Fabric Inspiration

Curiosities by Jeni Baker
I always love hearing the story behind someone's work. There is usually some detail here or there that you might not expect. Sometimes the story even changes the way you feel about it. Today I want to tell the story behind my Curiosities fabric collection.

Curiosities Inspiration Curiosities Inspiration
We live on on the edge of campus here in Madison. It's not always glamorous, but it does include a fair amount of woods right in our backyard. Last Summer I had a plot in the community garden, and was spending a lot of time thinking about plants, and walking back and forth to my plot. There was so much to see on my walk, and in the gardens. The things that really caught my eye were the wildflowers and weeds. There is a little patch of grass along one of the paths that I spent a few afternoons laying in. If you lay down and just look up, it's hard to tell you're in the city. It felt far away, just for a little bit. It was really refreshing.

Pink Daylilies Curiosities Inspiration
I challenged myself from the beginning to hand draw more of the prints. After Geometric Bliss, which has primarily geometric prints, I wanted to stretch myself and rely less on shapes to create my prints. A few geometric prints had to creep in of course, but the emphasis is on hand drawn. What started as a collection of sketched wildflowers and plants slowly morphed into this other worldly garden with many curiosities. Curious bunnies (George of course!), snowflakes, butterflies, and whimsical plants. Daisies that are ripe for the petal plucking, and sugar sweet tulips.

George
George demanded to be included in this group of curiosities. After all, he is named after Curious George. It only seemed right. So far he hasn't let it go to his head, but it's only a matter of time! I cannot wait to take photos of him with the fabric. I'm pretty sure my head will explode!

The vintage twist comes through in the colors. I'm so excited to have finally used navy! For some reason, I really love navy prints, so it was fun to use it myself.

Curiosities by Jeni Baker
The collection is split into two colorways. First up is the Fresh Encounters colorway. This colorways is a calm and cool with red, blues, sage, turquoise, teal, yellow, pink, and navy.

Curiosities by Jeni Baker
The second colorway is Sweet Finds. This colorway is warm and friendly, with oranges, pinks, taupe, a muddy gray, sage, teal, and navy.

Curiosities by Jeni Baker
There are twenty quilting cotton prints, four knits, a voile, and new to the Art Gallery lineup, a canvas print. Woo! The collection will be here in June!

If you're a shop interested in carrying Curiosities, it can be ordered through Art Gallery Fabrics.  Find your sales rep here, call toll-free (888) 420-5399, or visit artgalleryfabrics.com.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Favorites

Favorites
1. Pointed Statement, 2. Magic Carpet, 3. P1100739, 4. Marsala Stacked, 5. All quilted and trimmed. I'm thinking some HR for the backing and a black and white Crosshatch to bind. Hope you like it partner!!, 6. Ducks in a Row, 7. First Wonky Log Cabin, 8. Wedding Quilt for Helena and Mat - Sparkle Punch Variation, 9. UK Mini Swap

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Patchwork Essentials: The Half-Square Triangle Book


Happy Thursday! I have some beans to spill today. EEEK! I've been busy stitching and writing away behind the scenes making nearly 4,000 half-square triangles for...


Patchwork Essentials: The Half-Square Triangle BOOK! I have been talking for years about writing a book, and I finally did it. I am excited to add "Author" to my list of trades. It sounds so grown up, haha! So, why write a book on HSTs? They are my very favorite block! I wanted to share my favorite tips, methods, and most importantly my love and enthusiasm for HSTs.

I look forward to sharing more about it in the next few months! It's been one of the biggest challenges I've ever tackled. I can honestly say it's made with blood, sweat, and tears. Plus a lot of fabric and thread! It will be here Fall 2015, and is being published by Lucky Spool! You can even pre-order it already if you'd like! (How crazy is that?!)

Okay, enough chit-chat for me today! Now I need a diet coke and some chocolate, revealing such a big secret is nerve-wracking! :)

Cover shot by Lauren Hunt.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Favorites

Favorites
1. Mixed Flock ~ Finished (at last), 2. Slow Dance, 3. Wing square quilt, 4. Elements #44, 5. AMH Butterfly quilt (wip), 6. Copper Boom! Mini Quilt Tutorial, 7. Courthouse Steps Quilt, 8. Your Story Begins at Home, 9. Rainbow Mini Quilt

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Catch-Up

Spring Flowers
Happy Wednesday! I'll try not to be too wordy on Wordless Wednesday!

Flowers from a leftover bouquet going strong. Love these colors.

Basting my Offset Quilt
Joined Michael in the lab this weekend to baste my Curiosities Offset quilt.

Geometric Bliss Triangularity Quilt
Picked up some older projects again, including my Triangularity quilt made from Geometric Bliss.

Dreamin' Vintage Double Wedding Ring
Trying to make some progress on my Dreamin' Vintage double wedding ring quilt. 16 arcs down, 152 to go!

Sweater Buttons
Found some buttons for my sweater! I've finished the body, just need to knit the sleeves.

Modernhandcraft Pincushion
Had to add this pincushion by Modernhandcraft to my collection!

Painting by Melissa Averinos
My George art collection continues to grow too. In love with this painting of George and I by Melissa Averinos!

Stitch Tsum Tsum Plush
I'm sort of obsessed with these Tsum Tsum plush from Disney. They're too much!

George
And of course, George the bun, looking all cute!

Have a great day!

Monday, April 13, 2015

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
Hi there! I've been meaning to post a tutorial for this for a while now, and time got away from me. I made this sweet bunting out of Geometric Bliss for my booth at Spring Quilt Market in Pittsburgh last year. It was one of those things that once I thought of it, I couldn't get it out of my head. It's a fun alternative shape for a bunting, and I think it turns out super cute!

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
I've written the instructions so that you can create any size bunting you'd like. Use step 6 to determine the size of your bunting. My bunting measures 250" from first flag to last flag, and 284" including the tails. I used 36 flags, and stretched my fabric by using a solid on the back of each flag. It fit very comfortably across a 12' wall. 

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
Sewing Level: Beginner

Materials:
- 7 1/2" x 3 1/2" pieces of print fabric (flags)
- Approx. 1/2 yard of solid fabric (tie)
- Coordinating thread

Instructions:
*Use a 1/4'' seam allowance unless otherwise noted*

1. Download the template here, and trace onto heavy card stock or template plastic.

2. Use the template to cut out twice your desired number of "flags". (Mine has 36 flags, so cut 72)

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
3. Place two half-hexagon pieces right sides together. On one wrong side, mark the seam allowance intersections in each corner. This makes it easier to get a nice sharp corner.

4. Sew around three sides, leaving the large top edge open.

5. Trim excess seam allowance at each corner. Turn and carefully poke out each corner. Press well.

Repeat steps 3-5 for remaining flags.

6. Determine your total desired length from first flag to last flag, then add 72" to that for the loose tails. Divide that number by 42 to determine how many 2" strips you should cut. Yardage required equals 2" multiplied by the number of strips. (Mine required 8 strips, so 1/2 yard)

7. Sew strips end to end into one long strip, pressing seams open.

8. Press each short end of strip under 1/4". Topstitch to secure.

9. Fold strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press. Unfold, and fold each raw edge into the crease you just created. Press. Fold in half again and press.

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
10. Find the center of the strip and mark it. Nestle the unfinished edge of the first flag into the fold of your strip, 3/8" from the center mark. Pin or clip in place.

11. Place a flag on the other side of the center mark. Continue to add flags approximately 3/4" apart.

12. Carefully topstitch along the open edge of the entire length of the strip, securing the flags in place.

Half-Hexagon Bunting Tutorial - In Color Order
Enjoy your new bunting! If you make something using this pattern, I hope you'll share it in the In Color Order Flickr Group or using the #jenibaker hashtag on Instagram!

If you're a shop interested in carrying Geometric Bliss, it can be ordered through Art Gallery Fabrics.  Find your sales rep here, call toll-free (888) 420-5399, or visit artgalleryfabrics.com.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

New Quilt Patterns

New Quilt Patterns
Happy Thursday! This is a busy week! New fabric yesterday, and new patterns today! It's funny how things stack up sometimes! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull anything together for this Spring, but here we are, and I have two new quilt patterns for you!

Available for wholesale as well, email me for details.

Gaggle of Geese Quilt
My newest full size pattern is Geese in Flight. This quilt may look familiar to you, it graced the cover of Issue 3 of Love Patchwork & Quilting about a year and a half ago! I love this quilt, and now that it's harder to find that issue, I've decided to release it as a stand alone pattern! Geese in Flight features traditional flying geese blocks, with no sashing or borders. Learn to make no-waste flying geese and show off your favorite fabrics. There are five sizes to choose from, so you have lots of options!

The original quilt is stitched up in Urban Mod by AGF In-House, with Pure Element Snow for the solid.

Geese in Flight Quilt Pattern
I'm currently stitching up a baby quilt with it using some Curiosities strikeoffs. It came together so fast. Now to decide how to quilt it!

Geese in Flight Quilt Pattern
Geese in Flight is available as a PDF and Printed Pattern.

Offset Quilt Pattern
My new postcard pattern is Offset. This pattern is a bit of a twist on a design I did for Quilty, nearly two years ago! You can see the original version here. I switched things up a bit, and the result is a quick and easy strip quilt! As with all my mini patterns, the quilts are very beginner friendly and don't use a ton of fabric. Offset finishes at 61” x 84”.

I'm stitching up Offset right now, in Curiosities. I finished my top a few days ago! I had to shrink mine a little bit to work with the fabric I had, which included a few pieced together blocks. If you have the correct amount of fabric you won't have those extra seams! ;)

Offset Quilt Pattern
Offset is available as a PDF and Printed Pattern.

If you're a shop interested in carrying Curiosities, it can be ordered through Art Gallery Fabrics.  Find your sales rep here, or call toll-free (888) 420-5399.

Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Curiosities Fabric Reveal


Happy Wednesday! Today is new fabric reveal day! I am so happy to share with you my new collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, Curiosities! It'll be in stores this June. I'll be back soon to talk more about it!

You can see a full preview of the collection in the lookbook, along with all the other new AGF collections!

I hope you like it! I'll be back to share my new quilt patterns tomorrow! :)

If you're a shop interested in carrying Curiosities, it can be ordered through Art Gallery Fabrics.  Find your sales rep here, call toll-free (888) 420-5399, or visit artgalleryfabrics.com.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Easter!


Happy Easter Bunday! From Jeni, Michael, & George Bunny!

Friday, April 3, 2015

Favorites

Favorites
1. Family Star - by The Cozy Pumpkin, 2. DSC_0473, 3. Fantasis Pillow/Cushion, 4. i finished all of the blocks for the kaleidoscope quilt and it looks insane, 5. Mein Pixelbunny ist fertig und hängt jetzt im Geschäft! Größe ca. 150x160 cm. Wer ihn anschauen mag, kommt einfach in die , 6. Catnap Castle Treasury Quilt, 7. Cloud Song, 8. Rainbow Geese: Front, 9. Born Under a Wandering Star

Every week I go through my favorite photos on Flickr, and choose nine sewing/quilting related projects to showcase here. These photos and projects are not my own, you can find the original images and creators by clicking the coordinating links! If for any reason you do not want your project featured here, please email me and I'll remove it!

Happy Weekend!