Coordinating my fabric colors.....finding the right range of tones.......

Good Morning,

This morning I was thinking about color coordinating fabrics for projects.   Personally, I love colors and can audition fabrics for projects til the cows come home, if I had cows.....  but I also appreciate the fact that there are many of you who often tell me that you need help when it comes to selecting colors for your quilts.

How many of us go shopping for fabrics, browsing colors, trying to find the right coordinates, etc.  Even if we have no project in mind, it's a given that we'll still find something that we want to purchase.   But how do we decide what to buy.

When I shop for fabrics, I'll always try to find at least a couple of coordinates so that when I decide to put it into a project, I will be a little bit ahead of the game in that I have already married 2 or 3 fabrics that I auditioned together at the shop; making a wonderful base for selecting new fabrics when I'm ready to put the project together.

Meanwhile, when I was shopping for paint at our local hardware store a couple of weeks ago,  I was looking at the new paint chips there and actually took the time while reviewing the paint chips to work on a new project for wool applique.  Yes, there I was, in the paint section - working on the colors for a new design for wool applique.  Who says that stitching can't begin in the hardware store.
I want to shop for a selection of wool colors and I found a paint chip card with the perfect color scheme that will work for this project.  The same idea appliqes to fabric.

It is so exciting because our wonderful paint companies have done all of the work for you when you coordinate your next quilting project. 

Even if you have only one fabric for your next quilt, and you want to coordinate a few others to make the family complete, take a  swatch of your fabric to the paint shop, and select a paint chip that matches your fabric.  Guess what happens???  In finding the right match for your fabric, you've also found a whole color scheme that will coordinate with that fabric.  Now take the paint chip to your favourite quilt shop and audition fabrics to math the color family on the paint chip.

Shopping for colors have never been easier.   With regards to the paint chips, not only do we have such a huge range of colors, but they are also divided into color stories that will work with different tastes.   e.g.  Modern, Vintage, Pastels, Brights.

How's that for making our quilting lives easier!!!! :-)
Here's wishing you a fun and creative day!    QUILTY HUGS!!!!!!!

Good Morning my friends....
I was just sitting here this morning and wonder how will I ever do all that I want to do in stitching where there's so much to do.
I am still awaiting orders from current book releases...and yet I'm longing for the release of COUNTRY ELEGANCE in September from MARTINGALE.  This one is sure to have some "to-do" projects for me.  Just wait til you see the delicious patchworks married to wool appliques..OH MY!!!!!   Do you think it would be possible to convince our printers to get this one out extra fast :-)
Certainly something very exciting to look forward to in September.
Have a fun and creative day!
Bill

"FELTED WOOL vs WOOL FELT"

 

WOW!!!  Where did that weekend go - it's already Monday a.m.   It's true that even though it went by rather quickly, there were so many things that I wanted to do that didn't get done...perhaps this will be a busier week than normal.  YIKES!!!!!

 

I did have a bit of a productive weekend...so pleased to have completed the pattern writing for "PENNY BLOSSOM"...there's a group of patterns that I am working on completing...and introducing you so some wonderful new products in the process.

 

I have a wonderful selection of delicious felted wools that are awaiting new designs, a special project to try out some new wool felt in order to sample a new products for customers...there are lots and lots of fun things going on at my STUDIO.

 

Since I do a lot of wool Applique, I thought I'd try to answer one of those questions this morning that has to do with FELTED WOOL vs WOOL FELT..because the 2 products, although both are used in wool applique, are very much different.   One thing is for certain, you can easily tell the difference between both products.   Also, in the same way that they look and feel different, there is also a big different in the price factor between the two.

 

Let's see if I can give a bit of a simple explanation during coffee time this morning :-)  

 

Wool is sheered, the fiber is washed and what we get when we do that is a product that is called wool roving, otherwise known as raw wool.  Once we have the wool roving, it is then spun into thread and the thread is used to weave wool fabric.  

 

When we purchase wool fabric from a bolt, it's not normally felted..so we wash it using HOT water, throw it in the dryer..and come up with this wonderful FELTED WOOL.

 

What happens during this process is that the wool shrinks, and the fibers mat together; at which point the wool will no longer unravel.  (I find that there are still some exceptions to this rule, depending on different yard-dyed wools.  e.g. plaids)

 

During the felting process, the wool will be come more soft, thicker.

 

Remember, that if you purchase wools that have been hand dyed, then the wool will all ready be FELTED WOOL... during the hand dying process, the wool will have already gong though the wash/dryer in order to complete the hand dying process.

 

Now comes the big question as to what is WOOL FELT??

 

Well, remember those felts that they sell in craft stores..the acrylic ones?  Many people think that those and Wool Felt are the same.  They are not.

 

Wool Felt is made with wool fibers, or a combination of fibers where there is at least some small percentage of wool. 

 

When making wool felt, the fibers are  tightly compress, mixing the fibers with moisture and heat and then compressing the fibers under pressure, making this wool felt.  It is will not be soft and pliable like felted wool; wool felt is a harder product.

 

Meanwhile, although we can get 100% Wool Felt, the more favourite product is a blend where rayon is added to the composition.  Adding the Rayon to the mix will make the wool felt softer.    Most wool felts that are used in wool applique projects will contain somewhere between 20-35% wool.  

 

Now, the big question, can wool felt be felted?  Yes it can.   After this process, we will end up with FELTED WOOL FELT....not FELTED WOOL.        Meanwhile, felted wool will indeed shrink a little when felted.   

 

I know a lot of designers that will use the WOOL FELT for many of their projects, especially wall hangings.    Others use only FELTED WOOLS.   Yes, there are others who use both.

However, I don't think that I would mix them and use both products in the same project.

 

Both of these products are wonderful....I'm actually working on 2 fun projects at the moment; and will reveal them when they are ready.  I brought back some new HAND DYED FELTED WOOLS from the International Quilt Market in Pittsburgh last month; along with a fun selection of WOOL FELT.  I am designing a project for each of these and looking forward to sharing them with you as soon as they are ready.

 

I hope that this has helped answer some of the questions with regards to the differences between FELTED WOOLS and WOOL FELT.   Please feel free to leave any comments and/or questions.

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

 

Bill

 

 

 

"NEW" from BILL LOCKE DESIGNS.....

 My new pattern, "PENNY BLOSSOMS - Summer's Song" is now in stock and ready to be mailed.....
Since, designing this table mat while vacationing in Cuba in February, it has been getting lots of great atte...ntion; thanks to those of you who have shown interested in the pattern.

"PENNY TREE BLOSSOMS - Summer's Song" Wool Applique Table Mat
(designed and created by Bill Locke)
Size: 8 1/2" x 20"
Pattern cost: $9.95

Although designed as a wool applique project, this design can be easily adapted to cotton prints.

My goal in designing this table mat was to develop a colorful mix that would lend itself to the beauty of Spring yet remain anchored in the soft hues of primitive textures and tints. Putting those applique pieces and colors together on an aged/textured cream ground allowed me to achieve what I had hoped for...and hence "PENNY TREE BLOSSOMS" has been born.

If you would like to purchase a copy, simply leave a message here or email me at billlockedesigns@hotmail.com. Patterns will also be available at my STUDIO.

Postage costs: Canada: $1.85, U.S.A.: $2.95, International: $5.90

Good Evening everyone....

I have become such a stranger with my blog...but I truly do need to get myself back into the blogging spirit and catch on a more regular basis.

As I am sitting here this evening I am thinking a little about the wonderful Quilt Market in Pittsburgh and the fun and excitement in the air as we all shared together there.

The time was extra special because of my extra special quilting angels, Shelley, Jeanne, Colleen and Wendy.....here we are having breakfast together at the Omni William Penn Restaurant before I left for the airport.

I haven't taken the time get to do a debriefing of sorts to fill you in on some of the activities of the market; but perhaps over the next couple of days, I can make an effort to at least add a couple of updates to share some of this event with all of you.

I could never relate that much excitement into words..but the least I can do is share a bit of what happened there....

There are a lot of wonderful new things that are going to be happening over the next weeks/months....I am so excited with some new things and events that have landed on my plate and I can't wait to share them with you as they develop...but can't let the cat out of the bag just yet....but I promise to share all my my wonderful news with you.

Wishing you a wonderful evening...

Quilty Hugs,

Bill

"Quilting Through The Season" by Sharon V. Rotz - "BOOK REVIEW"

I've had this book in my personal library for a couple of years and have always wanted to make some of the projects within it's pages.  I love the style of the book, the attractive cover and photos......and so, as we venture into another creative year, I thought that it would be fun to start featuring some of my favourite finds; thoughts on the book/projects, and share my findings with you.   This is a wonderful book that will help you "create home décor projects to reflect the changes outdoors while enjoying delicious recipes indoors".  That's right, in addition to the 12 projects in this book (suitable for all sewing levels), there are lots of photos to inspire, stories to warm your heart and lots of fun recipes...so perhaps I will get many, many hours of creative fun in my Studio as well as the kitchen.

The first project in this book is entitled JOY WALL QUILT...a beautiful wall hanging - 17 1/2 x 30".....I figured that it would be good to start with the first project and see how it goes....this project is regular piecing + applique so a really fun project...   I've made acrylic templates for the applique pieces,,,chose my fabrics...and now I'm already to start...

I followed Sharon's instructions and cut the background strips the sizes given however, I did make a couple of changes...when piecing the background, I felt that it was the perfect little project for quilt-as-you-go.  So, I chose my backing fabric, laid that out on my work table, then layered by batting; and then my first strips, (starting with the center of the wall hanging)...and sewed and quilted as I went....  For the 1" strips in the design, rather than fold in half as advised on Page 16, I simple sewed these as per the larger pieces.  

The pattern advised to applique the little panels before piecing the background; I opted to complete the background first.   When I hand applique, I like to anchor my stitches in the batting, I feel that it makes for a nicer appliqued top.   Now, on to the next steps...I'll keep you posted with my progress.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!!!!
Another beautiful day to be creative and have fun.   Just sitting here, enjoying my coffee, catching up on some internet things and thought I'd drop in and touch base with the blog world :-)

This has been a busy week....it's been a long time in the making but I've decided that a website/on-line shop is necessary and so we are busy working on that.  By this weekend, it may be possible that I can start uploading to a new website...I'll be sure to keep you all posted on that.  This is going to be a fun place to see what's new, event schedule, an on-line boutique for fun an fabulous things....books, fabrics, buttons, notions......just to make a few.

I have been busy working on new projects...and preparing the first newsletter for the big workshop coming up in September in Baie Verte, NL.  We are going to have a lot of fun.  

This week has also found me spending some time in the design work, working on some new projects for wool applique, I can't share these with you at that time - they are still nestled in my design pad...but, once they come to life in wools and fabrics, my on-line friends will be the first to see them.

I am really looking forward to introducing these new patterns in the near future. 

Meanwhile......
Just a reminder that I'll be placing my first order soon for the wonderful SEASONAL TOPPERS book.....this book doesn't come off the press til around July 26th....but I have been taking pre-orders so that we all get in on this first printing.  If you'd like to have your name added to that list, you can get your copy as well.  The book is only $14.94 and can be mailed to you once it comes in for the cost of actual postage.   Just drop me a line at billlockedesigns@hotmail.com if you are interested in a copy.

Well my friends, I think it's time I finish my coffee and get back to the quilting world.

I am thankful and blessed to be able to enjoy so much what I do every day.....and to be a part of this wonderful creative world.   

QUILTY HUGS!!!!!

Bill