WOW: Hazel Taking Shape

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

 I've been busy! 

What do you think? I'm really in love with Hazel, and made up in Fassett's, it's bold and striking.This quilt is no shrinking violet - which is funny given that I originally envisioned it in soft, gentle colours. I'm loving seeing what fabrics you choose over in the Group too. The range of fabrics and schemes is great, with something from all styles on offer. I can't wait until Part 2 is released on February 15th and you all move onto your star rounds. I've had to finish my own Hazel early as I've been making 'samples' to photograph and show as block tutorials right here on the blog. This takes so much time - much longer than actually making the blocks, so I decided it was best to do it 'all at once' whilst I had the chance. 

Now I can see that the green really works and I'm happy with the balance of fabrics (I originally repeated the stripe fabric as the 8 Point Star background - but removed it because it changed the mood completely. Now I think it all zings! Today I'll be finishing up my blocks.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

LE? Oh Yes, You Can!

Every finished Love Entwined quilt (and the number of these is steadily growing) started with just one stitch. But I know, that for some of you, taking on the whole quilt has felt, well, a bit daunting.
But it doesn't have to be. Love Entwined is a 'once in a lifetime' quilt - beautiful, intriguing and perfectly accomplished. If you missed it the first time around as a free BOM, you can still start your own wonderful version, wherever you are in the world, and join us in reviving the spirit of the mysterious original.

Making LE in 2016 is easier than ever. How? Now, instead of having to consider the whole quilt all at once - you can tackle it block by block. It makes it easier to manage. Consider it a BOM 'on demand.' It starts when you do and arrives by email each month. And, once you're ready to make a start. there's a committed Love Entwined Group you can join to share your progress pics, share ideas and ask advice. Whatever step you're up to, someone's done it before you. Now is a great time to start your own Love Entwined.

Love Entwined: 1790 Marriage Coverlet 

SUBSCRIPTION - start any time

Pay $9.95 (USD) per month for 14 months 

and receive an installment each month, delivered to your email in-box

Go Ahead, Treat Yourself!

Well I just can't help myself. I'm getting all excited about Valentine's Day because it's the day my fun Mystery Quilt Along  Sweet 2016 launches. Oh yes, I'm ready for bite sized blocks of fun each month. Something gorgeous, something fabulous and something that makes each installment feel like a fabric party. I can't wait.

Have you joined the monthly mystery party yet? 

The time to join is now!

WOW: Hazel & Moving with the Times

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I was never into Facebook. I must admit the whole FB "revolution" passed me by and I was happy about it. But now I see that it can serve some purpose other than being an annoying intrusion. Moving over to Facebook is the best decision I have made regarding my BOM Group and if you haven't come over yet, I encourage you to do so. Yes, I know the resentment many feel towards FB which is why I offer my block downloads right here on my blog each month too. But let me tell you; the support, conversations and networking over in my BOM Group is really incredible. The amount of creativity and connecting and image sharing has taken the Group to a whole new level. One that I'm really enjoying.

This blog will always be my home, but over in my BOM Group, the conversation never stops. So if you'd like to link up with others creatively, it's the place to be. I suppose you could say I'm moving along with the times.,.and not a minute too soon.

This 8 Point Star block is my Hazel centre and this is where I'm up to right now. I'm loving the Fassetts and think I'm content enough to leave it as is. I'll see how I feel after having it up on the wall for a few days. Today I'm sewing and photographing stages of sample blocks to show members next month.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Hazel: Playing With Kaffee Colour

I know I said I wasn't going to make Hazel, but it looks like I've changed my mind.

I think it's the Fassett fabics that finally swayed me. That and making the samples - now that I'm making samples to show members how to make the blocks each month, it seems silly to stop. So, I've just been carrying on..

Do I have time for this? No I really don't. Have I found time to squeeze it in? Yes I have so far and now that I'm this far down, it looks like I will complete the top. I really didn't want to - I have other BOMs waiting in the wings that need my attention. But the Fassetts have been calling me and I couldn't resist. At least I'm using stash fabrics. And now the idea of having a Fassett around the house really appeals so I can't wait to finish!

What do you think of this blue? I thought it was a great zinger at first, but after having it on my wall for a few hours, changed my mind. It just clashed too much. I wanted a calm blue enthused quilt. I think the pattern really calls out for floaty fabrics and dreamy colours. But not my Hazel.
And the funny thing is, I didn't want a green quilt. I just didn't. And now it's happened and I love it. I really think it's gorgeous now. You can see these Fassett greens below just work so much better.

I'm still planning on using the stripes again for the corners. But you never know. Lately, I've changed my attitude about selecting quilt fabrics. I let the quilts decide up on my design wall. If it pleases my eye after a few hours (or days) on my wall, it stays. If it doesn't 'look right', then it has to go. This used to cause me so much anguish - especially after I painstakingly purchased so many specific fabrics with quilts in mind.

Still, I think this scheme is going to stick now and I can't wait for next month when I release the next block. I have loved Hazel from the moment I designed it, it just 'felt' right, but now I'm making it, I love it even more. I didn't think I'd be as keen about a pieced quilt, but I am and it's a really nice surprise.

This post is related to my current free BOMs 'Hazel' and 'Little Hazel'

To take part in my free BOMs, you simply need to be a member of my BOM Group

This 'Group' used to be on Yahoo, but last month I moved it to Facebook for technological reasons

My Facebook BOM Group is a huge improvement from the old Group format - uploading images and connecting with other members is easy now - it's really years ahead of the old platform.

If you were a member of the Yahoo BOM Group - you will need to move to my Facebook BOM Group in order to continue taking part in my BOMs. To do this, sign up to Facebook and then search for "Esther's Blog: Quilt BOM Group" OR simply click the image above.

For those of you who don't want to join Facebook, you will be able to download the monthly block installments right here on my blog.

                

Love Entwined: New Subscription Option

In response to requests from new members who have just found Love Entwined and my BOM Group and want a 'pay as you go' option, I have set up a 'Subscription' option for purchasing this pattern. This means you can start any time and will receive a pattern installment each month for just $9.95 per month. To take part, simply visit my online pattern shop, click here to go there now. So now anyone can take part in Love Entwined. What's stopping you?

Don't forget to join my BOM Group - it's where I share all my free patterns with enough variety to suit everyone. Remember, Love Entwined was free back in 2013 and each year I share a new, original pattern with existing members. Join today and you won't miss out on the next free BOM. 

Membership is and always will be free.

I believe that 'givers are receivers', so I always have a current free BOM available - and my version of free never means 'lesser'. All my free patterns have been beautiful, highly popular quilts, even years later. Once a BOM is finished, that's it - it won't be re-released. You can buy any missed blocks over on my website where I have an online pattern shop.

Once you're in my BOM Group, remember that some very popular quilts have split off into specific Groups to explore that individual quilt only. They're still part of the main BOM Group, but focus on single quilts. Right now, Lily Rose, Oma's Blues and Love Entwined have their own extra Groups, so if you're making any of these quilts, be sure to join up and share your work.

                       

LE: Still in Love

Sometimes you design a quilt and can have no way of knowing that it's going to take over your life. Love Entwined is that quilt. I always knew it was going to be epic - the work alone is so significant (if you take on the entire quilt) that it really is one of those 'once in a lifetime' projects that takes on it's own personality, style and aura. That might be a strange word to use when describing a quilt, but anyone who's started this project can tell you that 'the quilt' decides which fabrics, tones and colour schemes it wants. And I've heard that so many times now that I believe it to be true. Once you decide that this is a project you want to make - you become the maker, but it's the quilt that takes on it's own style. Again, a strange thing to say about a quilt pattern, but I like to think that the collective style elements that make up the whole have an effect on each of us who take it on, step by step.

This is where I am up to. I have the centre done as you can see in the image above. I also have a lot of the applique pieces for the borders completed and tucked away, numbered, in envelopes. When I'm in the right frame of mind and have enough time stretched out before me to tackle it without interruption, I will complete the borders 'quickly'. At least it will look that way after my creative pause when it all comes together. I can't wait for that time to arrive,

Am I still in love with Love Entwined? Absolutely. In fact, more than ever. It's a quilt that grows on you. And, even though time is passing since that first excited post right her on my blog announcing it as a BOM - I feel that it's gained in importance just because a community of quilters out there are making it and starting to show it off for all it's beauty in their own corners of the world.

Who made it? Who was she? Why did she do it? Who taught her the mathematical equations necessary to design certain precise motifs? Where did she source her hard to obtain Chintz from in Georgian England? If she was a well connected lady in society, why isn't there any evidence of design motifs being shared amongst textiles works from that same era?  And, if she wasn't well connected in society, how on earth did she afford the time and textiles to create this project in the first place?

These are just some of the questions this quilt raises and I hope, in years to come, when hundreds of LE's are out there, that we will learn more of the original quilter who's legacy has been passed down to us. And it's my hope that we will be able to honor her with a rightful place in textile history. This is why I say - even if you only take an element and create a project from it, you are part of the legacy.

Through revival comes interest and hopefully in time to come, that interest will lead to answers.

But for now, we create. And wait...

LIVE LINK: click to go to the LE Group

If you're making this quilt or a project based on any of it's motifs, be sure to join the Love Entwined Quilt BOM Group. I've moved the Yahoo Group over to Facebook because it's so much easier to connect, share images and keep track of each other over there. If you found the Yahoo Group too cumbersome, now is the time to join us in our Facebook Group. It's modern, easy to use and photo uploads are oh-so-easy. See you there!