Back in November of 2015, I received an email from Northcott Fabrics. They were looking for designers who were interested in designing quilts for their booth at Quiltcon 2016. Northcott Fabrics was eager to have quilts featuring their newest ColorWorks Concepts lines found here and here. These new collections were made to coordinate with their fabulous ColorWorks Premium Solids that you can see here.
My initial design concepts can be seen below. Using my EQ7 quilt program, I first drew up the quilt using some mod birch trees and some neutrals for the colouring. Then I plugged in some of the new ColorWorks Concepts in place of the neutrals. Then I switched things up and tried some other choices from their new lines, giving it an entirely new feel. Lastly, just for fun, I also tried out some fabrics from designer Tim Holtz's Eclectic Elements collections.
The following shows a larger version of my submitted design.
Following some helpful feedback from both my friends on Facebook and Instagram, as well as some suggestions made by the Northcott group, I played around with the design a bit. Took out some of the trees to add more white background or negative space. And also brought that hiding squirrel out into the open, making him equal in prominence to the other squirrels.
Then the name came....
Rural Squirrel
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| Rural Squirrel 50" x 60" in Northcott Fabric's ColorWorks Concepts for QuiltCon2016 |
Finally, I set to work on writing up a pattern to follow. And now my Rural Squirrel is finished and on it's way to California. Unfortunately, I've been asked not to share full photos of the finished quilt until after QuiltCon, but I can share this sneak peek......
And I can announce the pattern release in case you would like to make your own version of the Rural Squirrel. This quilt is made using traditional methods and is not paper pieced. The pattern provides material requirements, cutting instructions and detailed step-by-step directions. You can find the Rural Squirrel pdf quilt pattern in my pattern shop here.
Here it is in a few more colour ways just to give you an idea of the versatility of this pattern. It could work in any combination!
Here it is in a few more colour ways just to give you an idea of the versatility of this pattern. It could work in any combination!
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| Rural Squirrel in Brown Neutrals |
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| Rural Squirrel in Highlands by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics |
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| Rural Squirrel in Highlands by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics |
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| Rural Squirrel in Pie Making Day by Brenda Ratliff for RJR Fabrics |
Are you heading to QuiltCon 2016?
The event takes place in Pasadena, California from February 18 – 21, 2016. I won't be able to be there. But if you are planning to attend, I would be so grateful for a chance to live vicariously through you! Please drop by the Northcott Fabrics Booth and get a photo for me. I would love to see it!
You can upload to your Instagram and tag me @sewfreshquilts
or send it to me in an email at sewfreshquilts (at) gmail (dot) com
Keep On Quilting On!
To follow Sew Fresh Quilts by email....
39 comments:
Congrats Lorna!! You've hit the big time with a super cool pattern!! Can't wait to see photos!
Lorna: congrats on such a great opportunity. I have had so much fun watching you grow and find your voice in the quilting world and can't wait to see what's around the corner for you. I know how much work it takes. Keep on going.
Robin Waggoner
Woodland Cottage Designs
Der Quilt ist wunderschön geworden, danke das du uns seinen Herstellungsprozess zeigst!
LG Steffi
Wonderful design and wonderful quilt. Congratulations
Congratulations! I love this pattern and I loved the hiding squirrel. Maybe you can release that as an option when making the quilt. I thought he was GREAT!
It's awesome Lorna. It may be my favourite pattern yet! What a great process to get feedback on your pattern on instagram and from Northcott.
Congratulations Lorna! What a great pattern! Modern, cute and fun! I can see some of these squirrels fitting in nicely in my house in the woods!
I really like how this turned out, especially seeing the whole squirrel in the lower right corner. Great job!!
How awesome is that - one of your quilts at QuiltCon! Congratulations Lorna!
Rural Squirrel is adorable.
Great fun design - I really like the Highlands colouring too!
I'll be there Lorna, wish you could be. I will try to remember to take a photo for you, too!
Congratulations Lorna!! This is exciting! You've captured the squirrel so well - beautiful quilt design!
I will definitely keep my eye out for your quilt, Lorna! :) How fun to have it on display there, although it is a poor substitute for getting to meet you.
So great that your quilt will be on display, just wish that you could be there with it.
That's so thrilling Lorna! Whoo hooo - Congratulations! You created a fabulous design! Thank you for showing us a bit of how it all evolved. I LOVE this pattern and you know where I'm headed next. I love Yvonne's comment too and am really glad she has you covered.
What a great design Lorna. Congrats! Such a fun quilt and a really great way to showcase fabrics. I love it.
Congrats Lorna. This will look great hanging at Quilt Con.
Congratulations Lorna! I'll have to live vicariously through everyone else too. One of these years I'll make it to Quilt Con.
Rural Squirrel is pretty adorable! Love the Highland in Violet colour ways.
Great job Lorna! Your animal designs are so fun and cool :) Congrats!
How awesome! I will totally be checking out their booth to see your Rural Squirrels!
Congratulations Lorna.I am extremely happy for you...such a deserving quilt. I have seen you grow over the years with lovely animal patterns and a quilt at Quilton is the ultimate. My super super best wishes for you for this one and all your other ventures :)
That's great that your quilt will be at QuiltCon. I'm not attending this year, but I plan to attend in 2017. Adorable squirrels.
this is wonderful. congratulations.
Love the design and all the different color ways. The rural squirrel looks great in any fabric! Sorry you can't be a QuiltCon, but glad your quilt is going! Wish I was going too!
The design looks great, perfect with those fabrics. Congratulations, Lorna!
-Soma
I'm so excited for you!
Fabulous Lorna! How exciting! I really love how it turned out in the sneak peak xx
Great news Lorna. I love your new pattern, so original.
Smiles
Kate
Congrats! Your pattern is super. I am with you on Quiltcon. I will be checking it out through everyone else's blog, due to it being in CA and that darn thing called work( it seems to get in the way of a lot of things)LOL!
Congrats on another great pattern and its show at QuiltCon. I wish I could be there to see it in person. Cannot wait to see the big reveal after the festivities are over.
congratulations, Lorna! I wish I was going to QuiltCon, but can't. Great pattern, and I can't wait until you're able to show off the full quilt!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
How cute is that! I think this is probably one of the cutest ways to show off fabric that I've seen in a while!
Wow Lorna! What an awesome opportunity! Congratulations!
Rural Squirrels is such a fun and clever design ! I love seeing the bright colors , with the black and white! Congratulations!!
That's fabulous! Congratulations, Lorna! Keep up the amazing work, you are so inspiring.
Great rural squirrels. I really like them in brown neutrals and pie making day. I won't be able to go way over there either, but I will enjoy seeing the pictures on blogs. Congratulations!
Congrats! It's so neat to see the evolution of your design.
Congratulations, Lorna! Another feather in your quilty cap. You deserve it! :)
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