Good rainy morning to everyone! I think we’ve had enough rain this month (in NH) already!

What is new this week? Poorhouse Quilt Designs is coming out with a new pattern for Leaf Bowls!  Here are some pictures:

 The pattern will include a palm leaf, a maple leaf and a birch leaf! We are featuring InnSpire by Innovative Craft Products – it is a heat set moldable non-woven stablilzer! This is what creates these wonderful bowls!

Finally – leaves I don’t have to rake!

If you have an idea for the name of the pattern, comment and you’ll get a free pattern!

Look for this pattern soon! -Kris

Good Morning!

It’s a crisp clear morning here in NH and it really smells like fall . . . but, as a pattern designer . . we must think spring this time of year! Quilt Market is coming so we are busy coming up with patterns that will appeal to quilters and sewing enthusiasts next year!

New from Poorhouse Quilt Designs? We are busy testing the Everyday Bag . . . and here is a sneak preview! We’ve got you covered with pockets for:

• Cell Phone? Check
• Sunglasses? Check
• Keys? Check
• Credit Cards? Check
• Change/Bills? Check

I had a tough time giving up this bag… it’s so convenient! I took it to the Mancuso Quilt Festival in Manchester two weeks ago and intended to use it that day only for a quick road test! Well, five days later, I reluctantly removed my “stuff” from the bag so that it can become my cover sample… I miss it! Looks like I’ll have to make a few more . . . I promise to share! This little bag received rave reviews at the show.. people just loved the strawberries! They are available right now from Timeless Treasures – designed by the fabulous Hoodie- a line called Fruit a la Carte!  Hoodie posted our bag on her blog here!

This bag holds it’s shape with the help of Inn Control and Rigid Weave from Innovative Crafts Products - these products give your creations that professional look! You will amaze yourself!

Look for this bag after November 1st!

Happy sewing! -Kris

OK – so I missed the fact that it was Wednesday yesterday! But…good things come to those who wait!

If you are a fan of the Tea Leaves, we have a trick for you! Instead of basting around the “leaves”, we are now using Lapel Stick Temporary Adhesive! So .. how does the process work? We simply apply Lapel Stick to the 3 corners of the Leaf triangle, stick it to your square base, repeat for the reamining leaf and you have a nicely basted Tea Leaf!

Your Tea Leaf is now ready to use and this is much less bulky than basting! It washes out and leaves no trace. Our testers just loved it!

I hope you try Lapel Stick for your next Tea Leaf Project! Let me know what you think!

-Kris

…Revealed! Sounds like a great title for a book!

I recently worked with Seacoast Sewing Center in Portsmouth, NH on a Summer Mini Mystery Quilt – what fun! The premise of the mystery was:

• Quilters use their scraps or a pallette of their own choosing and SSC provides weekly backgrounds and instruction kits;
• Simple weekly blocks - shorten length of time between new tasks and allow brand new quilters to participate;
• Five weeks (thus the “mini” title)  to build a quilt top to keep quilters interested!

I think this was a winning concept for Seacoast Sewing Center! We had loads of fun last Saturday admiring all of the results!

As you can see we had scrappy and planned quilts, quilts with borders and quilts without, quilted quilts - check out that gorgeous closeup!! We had blue quilts, pink quilts, black quilts…we even had a first-time quilter – and you won’t be able to guess which one it is….

We experienced a few bumps in the road and after those, smooth sailing on the Seacoast! Many thanks to Jeanne, Cheryl and Jill for logistics, patience and attention to detail! What a great experience!

If your quilting group is interested in a Mini Mystery, contact me here!

-Kris

Hello all!

What’s on the sewing machine this week? I am just sending off some new goodies made in fun prints to Exclusively Quilters and thought I’d share with you!

Check out the gallery of photos below.   I  made up a Friday bag in Sweet Flirtations - this collection is so upbeat! I then used Sweet Flirtations to make up a Saturday Sleepover – perfect for little girls! I made up a reversible Friday Bag in Pin Up Girls! I have shown both sides of the bag (bound in red shoes) – I think the curvy bag really complements the curvy ladies! And last but certainly not least, we have a view of the Seashell Tote - another free pattern that will be out there soon!   Take a look below!! Have a great Wednesday!  -Kris

I am so pleased to tell you that I have a new project featured in the latest issue of Asian Fabric magazine! The project is called the Taipei Tech Tote and it is pictured at right! This picture shows some of the other projects in the magazine – they all look great!

Taipei Tech Tote features an adjustable shoulder strap as well as handles insuring that you always have a good hold on your laptop!Soft and Stable gives your laptop the padded protection that it needs and the top zipper ensures that your equipment is secure!

I used beautiful Kona Bay Fabrics, which have a wonderful hand. I used the Burgundy from the Orimono Collection II and Sand from the Nobu Fujiyama Cherish Collection – all of the scrap rectangles were also from the Cherish Collection.

A side note – New Hampshire is well represented in this magazine! Cary Flanagan of Something Sew Fine  has a quilt in the magazine called Dreaming of Lilies!

So, if you are interested in a new laptop bag (an you don’t mind making it yourself), please comment below and you might just win yourself a copy of  Asian Fabric!!

Hello all! What’s new at Poorhouse Quilt Designs? We have a new pattern in the works… here’s a sneak peak!  (Think pretty pillow..) More Tea Leaves for you! With a twist… here we show Tea Leaves with Red Work! This Red Work is from the Flowers of Hope pattern by Candlelite Designs, featuring a N0-Hoop Technique!

This design, featuring a quick method for producing modified cathedral windows, will be released at Quilt Market at the end of October! Stop by for more sneak peaks in the following weeks!

In the meantime – let’s visit Candlelite Quilts, where I found this Red Work pattern! You can find this cute shop in Chelmsford Square in Chelmsford, MA! I am teaching the Tea Leaves there on Saturday, September 17th from 10:30 to 2:30 and we will be using a great product (Lapel Stick) that will speed the Tea Leaf process up and leave you with time to make matching placemats…. The sample at Candlelite Quilts is shown below (see square at the left). Isn’t this a great display? Hope you can stop by to see Cathy and her wonderful shop!

-Kris 

It’s Giveaway time!!

I have 5 fat quarters from Blank Quilting’s Yolanda Fundora. These FQs are in goregeous tones of magenta, red, turquoise, purple and bright green! They are from a “blender” line called Tessuto! I used some Tessuto in my coffee break placemats.

Blenders – they are the workhorse of your fabric collection. They make fast friends of fabric that might not normally get along well together. They can stretch your stash! They can add pizzazz or add calm.

OK – how do you get your free FQs? Just comment and we’ll pick a winner on Friday August 5th! Good luck!

-Kris

I think it’s time for a coffee break – and here is how I’ll set the table…with Blank Quilting’s Coffee Shop fabric #6121! And for the curvy piecing (left side of placemat), I used the new blender line from Blank Quilting’s Yolanda Fundora, called Tessuto! I used the Red and the Black – always a winning combo in my book! This is a placemat from my pattern called Tea Leaf Tabletop - you can make these up quickly and use up some stash also!

These placemats are very struday and come out of the wash looking great! Why? I used Innovative Craft Products’ Inn Control! Its a foam that holds it’s shape through the wash. Ask for it at your local quilt shop! (You’ll need a one yard package for 4 placemats)!!

Happy sipping and sewing!  -Kris

Do camping and quilting go together? They certainly do! Bear’s Pine Woods Campground in scenic Moultonborough, NH is hosting a Quilter’s Camping Weekend  – June 24, 25, and 26! And… it’s a bargain at $99.00 for the weekend!

Get your camper and your sewing machine ready!

Think of it: situated on beautiful Lake Winnepesaukee, nestled in the trees, 4 miles from Keepsake Quilting!! Your hosts, Rebecca and Barry are setting up their beautiful lodge as your “quilting central”! I will be there to lend a hand and give 2 classes on Saturday! I can’t wait!

Highlights:  Friday Night – open sew and get to know your fellow quilters; Saturday morning, we will head off to Keepsake to talk about Color, Color, and more Color! Then we’ll head back to the lodge to work on Monday Messenger Bags! (See example at the right!)

For more details, click here! If you have any questions, please contact Bear’s Pine Woods Campground for camping questions or email me for quilting questions!

Keep on sewing!  -Kris