Now that I have had my new fabric line “And Sew It Goes” for Blank Quilting on hand for a few days, I’ve been working on three quilts using the fabric.  I’ve had the designs in my head for a while, so when the fabric came I was ready to start cutting and sewing.

I took the three quilt designs I stitched up over to Betty’s Quilting etc., my home quilt shop, and showed them off.  My web goddess grabbed a camera and shot these pictures.  It was suddenly mini-trunk show time!

Here’s the first quilt.  I just knew I had to pull the sewing theme into at least one of my quilt designs.  Spools seemed the obvious choice!  Click on any of the images to see it bigger!

And Sew It Goes #1

Here’s #2.  I just love the way the pseudo-log-cabin-blocks really POP with this fabric.

And Sew It Goes #2

And here is #3.  Can you tell I am really enjoying myself?

And Sew It Goes #3

In all the quilts, I used the 4 designs from my “And Sew It Goes” fabric line (see the fabrics up close in this blog post) and supplemented them with Fusion Illusion, also from Blank Quilting.

Here’s quilt #1 again…you can get a better of idea of what the fabric looks like “up close and personal.”

And Sew It Goes #1 up close

All these designs are now with the Graphics Art department at QuiltWoman.com being turned into patterns as we speak.  I’m trying to refrain from bugging them everyday, but I can hardly wait!!!  “Holler” to Judy and Sarah!

I hope you enjoyed this little trunk show as much as I enjoyed presenting it!  You can just bet I’ll let you all know when the fabric starts hitting the quilt shops and the patterns are available!  Yippee!!!

My second fabric line, “And Sew It Goes” for Blank Quilting, should be hitting your favorite quilt shop soon.  Being the fabric’s designer, I get the fabric a tad sooner than the rest of the world.

Would you like to see what it looks like?  Here we go.  Drum roll please.  Introducing “And Sew It Goes”….

Do you get it?  “And SEW it goes”??  Yes, the pun WAS intended.

I’d love to know what you think about my fabric  (hint, hint…there’s a comment section down below).

I’ve got three quilts in the works using these fabrics.  I’m supplementing the 4 motifs with Fusion Illusion also by Blank Quilting.  When I have them done, I’ll show you. Of course, there will be patterns to accompany these quilts published by QuiltWoman.com.

My 2010 wild ride continues!  Who knew that my passion for color and quilting would turn into a terrific career!  I am SO grateful!

My group of quilting buddies, The Ya Ya  Sisters (as we call ourselves) get together once a month.  At our February gathering, we picked a charity to contribute to for the year and decided upon the battered women’s shelters in the greater Rochester, New York area.  Our intent is to make a large quantity of pillowcases and come this Fall, give them to the shelters along with toiletries. This effort ties in nicely with the American Patchwork & Quilting’s  (APQ) 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge.

At our March meeting, I demonstrated how to make a tube pillow case.  We all made a few during the meeting and will continue to make more at home.  If you don’t have a a pillowcase pattern, there are many sources for them on the Internet.  Start with the plethora of patterns available at the APQ website!

These are some of the pillowcases we have made so far.

Toiletries

Often people put the toiletries inside the pillow case, but our group decided to purchase some shoe box size plastic bins to give the residents for personal storage.  That way they can use their pillow cases for a pillow!

The Ya Ya’s are going to spend the summer collecting these toiletry items.  Every time we go shopping, we will pick up a few toiletries.  Doing it piecemeal will help to spread the cost out.  We also decided it might be nice to pick an age bracket and throw in some items that would delight someone in that age bracket.  Women’s Shelters house more than women.  The children that sometimes end up in the shelters would certainly enjoy a coloring book and crayons, a stuffed animal or something similar.

Storage Bins like this will be used for the toiletries.

I’ll let you know in September the results of our efforts.  As a group, the Ya Ya’s have years of sewing experience.  Using our talents to make someone’s life a little better is the least we can do.

If you are looking for a service project for YOUR guild, group, quilt shop, Girl Scout troop, I would highly recommend  a service project such as this.  Pay it forward!

I have designed another pattern for my fabric line, The Ibiza Collection for Blank Quilting.  This one is a table topper.  Take a look see.

Ibiza Table Topper

The pattern is available from QuiltWoman.com.  A huge thanks to the staff there for getting this one done so quickly!

I’m not stopping there.  I am cooking up an apron (pun intended) that I will be wearing at May’s International Quilt Market being held in Minneapolis May 20 – 23.  Look for me at either the QuiltWoman.com booth (#2717) or the Blank Quilting booth.  I’ll be around!  You won’t be able to miss me when I wear my Ibiza apron!

“Where’s Barb?”  That’s a question my husband Grant often asks.  Hey Grant, get your calendar out and make note of this schedule!  We have places to go, people to see and thing do!

Seriously, I have a lot of fun events coming up.  I’ve been busy getting ready for it all and thought I would share with you where I’ll be and my preparations with you.

On May 11th at 6:30, I’ll be doing a trunk show for the Canal Country Quilters in my home stomping grounds of Spencerport, New York.  I did a trunk show for a Quilt Guild in Batavia, New York last August and it was well received.  I hope this one goes just as well.  The picture below is from that event.

Trunk Show

On May 14 & 15 I will be a vendor at the Morgan Manning House Quilt Show in Brockport, New York.  I’ll have yardage from my fabric line The Ibiza Collection, kits for my Batik Diamonds pattern, the Ibiza Table Topper (brand spanking new) and the Butterfly Pincushion.  A LOT of kits!!!

Batik Diamonds

All my Batik Diamonds Kits

I made a "few" Butterfly Pincushion kits...just a few

I will also have  notecards featuring my quilts published by QuiltWoman.com, my QuiltWoman.com patterns, and scrubbies (my Mom’s contribution).  If you are in the area, stop by and say “Hi.”

Then, the biggie, I will be at the Spring International Quilt Market.  It’s being held in Minneapolis this year from May 21 to May 23.  I’ll be in the QuiltWoman.com and the Blank Quilting booths when I’m not schmoozing with all my quilting heroes!  Can I name drop and say this picture is of Alex Anderson and myself at the Fall 2009 International Quilt Market?  I can!  Thanks.  Name dropping….”Alex Anderson”

Alex Anderson of "The Quilt Show" and moi!

After Market, I know it’s going to take me a few days (or weeks) to recover.  A  bit of a rest and some gardening will be in order.  But then comes June 22 I have another trunk show a quilt guild in Clarence, New York.

Then I get the summer off!  Yippee!  Right, as if!?!  I don’t have any shows scheduled, but will be plenty busy! getting ready for the Fall International Quilt Market in October.  Come September 18, I am teaching my Batik Diamonds pattern at the Amherst Museum Quilt Seminar (being held September 15 – 18).  If you are in the Western New York area, come and join in the fun.

And as a finale (start humming the theme to “The Love Boat” here), I will be an instructor on the First Annual QuiltWoman.com Cruise to the Western Caribbean in January 15 – 20, 2011.  We’ll be sailing the Western Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  There’s room for everyone!  We’ll have some on board quilting classes and spend time in the Grand Caymans and Cozumel, Mexico.  Can you think of a better way to spend January?  If you want to join us, the full details are here.

Let's go sailing!!!!

So, again to my husband, clear these dates with your boss, especially the dates for the January cruise.  We are going sailing!

If you recall, earlier this month I decided to “keep the party going” by doing an Ibiza Collection Give Away.  The bundle included a Fat Quarter collection, YOUR favorite pattern featuring my fabric, plus a package of note cards.

The Ibiza Collection Give Away

I had my honey randomly pick the winner.  And that winner is (drum roll please)…

Shellee Williams-Allen of Western New York

I’ve already contacted Shellee to arrange delivery.  Her comment upon hearing she won?  “Really? I never win anything!! That’s awesome!!” Congratulations Shellee!

Look for my next give away, sometime in May, to celebrate my next fabric line for Blank Quilting.  It’s called  “And Sew It Goes.” Want to guess what it features?  Look in one of your  sewing drawer for clues and add on a little love.

Look in one of your sewing drawers...

The great people at Blank Quilting are providing a couple of free patterns for my new fabric line, The Ibiza Collection (I know I am starting to sound like a broken record saying “The Ibiza Collection” all the time, but I’m just so thrilled with it and how everything is going, I can’t resist!).

The links to the patterns didn’t come through in the previous blog post, so here they are.

The first pattern is for a set of placemats and napkins designed by Cate Tallman-Evans. You can get the pattern here.

The second free pattern is a quilt also designed by Cate.  You can get this free pattern here.

Of course, I have to mention that I have 3 more patterns (designed by moi!) for The Ibiza Collection over at QuiltWoman.com.  You can see details on those here.

Summer Magic

Spice in the Tropics

Picture Collection

I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again, “Someone pinch me!”

I was the featured designer in the latest issue of The Inspiration Patch. Oh My!!! This is the Blank Quilting “Newsletter for fabric lovers.” That would be us, wouldn’t it? Enjoy! I certainly did.

(Sorry about the newsletter tromping on the right side of my blog here. Not much I can do about it!)

The newsletter for fabric lovers

Designer Barb Sackel Brings Fresh Inspiration to Blank. Barb approaches her artistry by combining elements of imagery, design, texture, color-blending and method. She describes her finished quilting projects as usable and comfortable art. Her pattern designs cross over into different styles and she constantly challenges herself to incorporate different and new elements into her work. Learn More about Barb Featured Collection from Barb. Barb Sackel’s New Ibiza Collection makes traditional country a classic with a “fresh from the garden” feel that brings spring rejuvenation to your latest inspired quilt project. See the complete collection. Featured Project with Barb’s Collection. Create the Ibiza Quilt, a colorful counterpoint of intricate composition and impressionistic style bordering. The pattern is Free. Club Stashabilities Continues to Reward Its Members! Congrats to Club Stashabilities Member Jean Garn. She won last month’s Blank Quilting Scavenger Hunt. You can win too! Join Club Stashabilities! join… Blank Quilting Wants Your Opinion… The Blank Quilting 2010 Eye for Design Open Enrollment. Blank Quilting needs new participants to review the upcoming Blank Quilting fabric collections for 2010. Here’s a chance to give your opinion on the latest design offerings from Blank not yet on the market. Receive coupons and free gifts! Let your taste, expertise and eye for design help bring the best designs to quilt shops across the country! If you have already joined, you don’t need to join again. But feel free to forward this link to a friend. New Participants Join Today Quick Links Blank Quilting Newest Collections Fabric Gallery Free Patterns Store Locator Tell a Friend About the Fabric Patch What’s the Buzz This Spring? The new Blank Buzz is the the place to to “bee” for quilters! Visit blankquilting.com to see the latest Blank Quilting opportunities and promotions, socialize with other quilters, and get involved with the quilting community online! There’s More Than Just Quilting at Blank…See What’s Going on Outside the Block. Discover easy new projects from Blank designers that go beyond quilting, including aprons and totes, table decor and pillow projects…see what inspires you outside the block! Try this project using fun, new collections from Yolanda Fundora. When you’re not quilting, make Twinkle Fiesta Ware Spring’s the Time To…Strut Your Stuff! Show Off Your Quilting Skills…a favorite block, technique, a special trick… Check out this beautiful Fantasy Garden quilt featuring Cutie Pie by Hoodie’s Collection designed by Ginnie Isaacson. This quilt was featured in the March 2010 issue of The Quilter. Now that’s struttin’ your stuff! What can you do? Post photos of your pet projects and share them with the quilting community! Join the Whispers of Hope Online Auction beginning March 8th. Raise Money for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Blank Quilting continues its efforts to raise money for the NOCC. The Whispers of Hope auction has assembled donated projects made from the Blank Quilting Inspiration Collections, created by quilters and quilt shops devoted to the cause. You can bid on items made with the Blank Quilting Inspiration Collections donated by participating quilters and shops. You can also contribute by making projects with the new Inspiration Collection IV. The historic Inspiration Guild quilts are also waiting to be purchased, made by quilters around the nation to raise money for ovarian cancer awareness. Make your bid for a good cause. One of the featured auction items: a teal tote created by quilt shop Threads of Time in Danville, IL. One of the many contributions to raise money for the NOCC. . Join the Auction Today All money raised by the Whispers of Hope auction benefits the NOCC, helping to build awareness of ovarian cancer in our lives. You can sign up early, and start bidding on March 8th. Blank Quilting and the NOCC appreciate your participation. Love to socialize with fellow quilters online? Want to hear about the latest happenings at Blank Quilting? then Join the Buzz… Chat with Blank Quilting and other quilting fans and friends through Facebook and Twitter. Become a part of the noisiest quilting community online… Get Buzzin’ now Check out our New Ads in Your Favorite Quilting Magazines…

To celebrate the debut of my fabric line, The Ibiza Collection for Blank Quilting, I am giving away a goody bundle!

The Ibiza Collection Give Away

So, what’s in the bundle?

• The Ibiza Collection Fat Quarter Pack including the panel (the whole collection was developed from my hand paintings).
• Your favorite pattern featuring The Ibiza Collection published by QuiltWoman.com.
• A package of 8 note cards featuring the Picture Collection Quilt made from The Ibiza Collection fabric.  The note cards are also from QuiltWoman.com.

To enter, e-mail me and tell me what your favorite Ibiza Pattern is:

	Spice in the Tropics
	Summer Magic
	Picture Collection

Don’t delay!  Make sure you include in the e-mail, along with the name of your favorite pattern, your contact information (e-mail address or phone number).  The winner will be randomly selected and announced on March 21, 2010.  My e-mail address is barb@barbsackel.com.

Good Luck to everyone!

P.S.  While you are here, take a look on the right under the list of recent posts.  There is a box there where you can sign up to receive my blog postings via e-mail.  I’d be honored if you did!

I received a call from my home quilt shop (shout out to Betty’s Quilting etc.) yesterday and they told me my very first fabric line, The Ibiza Collection for Blank Quilting (I love saying that) is in!!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  I snagged my husband, piled into the car, and went to check it out.

My web goddess was there with her video camera and shot this video of me seeing it in person in a shop for the first time.

I had brought with me the three quilts that I made from the sample fabrics Blank Quilting had sent me, so we laid those out, along with my three patterns (published by QuiltWoman.com) and all the lovely bolts of fabric.  Like a proud Mom, I had to have my picture taken with them.

The Ibiza Collection - complete!

It was such a exciting day, my husband and I celebrated with sushi.  I know it’s not for everyone, but it works for us.

I’ve got two more fabric lines I’m working on.  Stay tuned!