Friday, July 25, 2014

Another Log Cabin interpretation and a FABRIC GIVE AWAY!

Recently I shared a Log Cabin quilt that used a traditional quilt block as the setting design.  I thought you might enjoy seeing another version using the same concept.  A friend/student, Laura, gave this quilt top to me a few years ago.  Isn't it great?  She made this 4-patch basket with a very special group of fabrics and when she was clearing out some of her UFQ's, the sly fox gave it to me.  (Yes, it's on my UFQ list of unquilted tops). 
 Here's a closer look at the six color ways of this lovely floral print from King's Road Imports that
was released in the late 1990's. 
I carried all six of them in my shop for a very particular reason.
That's my name!! 
 And it's not referring to one of the other 57 Mary Huey's in the USA -- it's me!!
The blue and yellow color way was my favorite and the best seller overall.

This cheerful color way matches the original painting of the design which the printer used to set up the production.  I have the painting framed and hanging in my studio.
I chose the design from King's Road's library of designs which they buy from independent artists who specialize in textile design.  I might have been ahead of my time with this aqua?
Then I spent a stressful week figuring out six different color schemes with a Pantone fan of every color available for printing fabric.  Each color way used seventeen different chips between the colors and their shades and tints.
It was my first and last foray into "fabric" on that level.  It was exciting and I'm glad I did it, but the pressure of coming up with something that would sell well convinced me to stay with selling fabric in my shop a while longer! 

This was the bomb of the group -- during the couple years after the print was released, this was the one that was on my clearance table as well as some other shops I visited.  I still have a hunk of it and think it would work great with the current variety of grays on the market.
This is the sixth color way -- it didn't do very well either but it's the one that I have in a finished quilt.  I must have been trying to convince quilters to invest in it.
The master plan of the day was to make six small quilts out of the six color ways and keep them to give to my six grandchildren.  See how far I got . . . . . .
. . . . . a stack of 5 quilt tops on my UFQ "ready-to-quilt" shelf.   Since I have two grandchildren,  there isn't much pressure.  Maybe I'll quilt them this fall?

There is also a jacket made using the orange/green color way and an assortment of prints from that season's line. 
It's no ordinary jacket!!  I created the "fabric" by tearing strips, weaving them together, and stitching them to a base with miles of thread.  The fabric was then washed and dried and sent off to an amazing designer/dressmaker who specialized in wedding dresses. 
He created the fitted jacket design with a scalloped hemline and it was executed by his staff -- those handmade roses are made from one of the cottons I used and "cover" the large snaps down the front and embellish the sleeves and the pockets.   
It's too small for me, so it hangs in my closet and I get it out and gaze (sadly) at it every now and then.  It's for sale -- seems a crime to have such a beautiful jacket living in a closet.  If it catches your fancy, contact me at maryhueyquilts@hotmail.com and we'll talk! 

Well, that was a fun reminiscence!  

Thanks for visiting today!!

Mary Huey














20 comments:

  1. Mary -- what a wonderful post! Congratulations that you designed and published a beautiful fabric line -- I think it's lovely. The Log Cabin quilt is just beautiful -- as well as the jacket (If I lose 40 lbs I might be able to fit into it ;) I enjoy your blog because of the creativity that flows from it.... Also that you mix things up with a little bit of stitching and a little bit of "other". I especially like your positive nature ;) Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Thanks for your encouraging comments, Karen!

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  2. Hi Mary - that little log cabin basket quilt is so pretty and it deserves to be quilted! Your fabrics and the colourways you chose are so pretty. How exciting it must be to see your name on a selvage! I follow you on bloglovin and I enjoy reading your informative posts. I think what I get most excited about is seeing your blocks on your design wall. It is so much fun to see the different arrangements and watch the quilt develop!

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    1. Thanks for the feedback, Karen. I enjoy your blog a great deal and it's a compliment to have you among my followers!

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  3. It wasn't me Mary, I wish it had been. Lovely piece. I loved your fabric line.

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    1. Forgot about that little gem...it was mine! Loved the fabric line too! I have a queen size triple irish chain out of one of the color ways.

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    2. Hmm, how did I get the idea it was Kathy? You are always passing stuff off, Laura!

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    3. It's so easy to confuse Laura with me. It's our cheery dispositions. Glad the mystery was solved because I figured I had a TIA I had forgotten about.

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  4. I read your blog via email. Thanks for the tips and tricks you give us. Also, your design wall is always an inspiration.

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    1. Thanks for the feedback, Donna -- it helps to know what aspects of my blog are the most helpful to my followers!

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  5. Follow by email and always enjoy reading your blog

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    1. Thanks for being a regular follower, Barbara -- can't do it without support from other quilters!!

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  6. I always look forward to reading your blog in my email. I believe I found your website through Marti Michell's website somehow recently and am so happy I did. I love Marti's templates too and think I have collected nearly every set and really appreciate seeing your tips and tricks for using them. Your fabric is beautiful and would look great in a project I am working on. I enjoy all the extras on your blog too, and look forward to the butterfly updates!

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    1. Hi, Jill -- thanks for visiting my blog regularly! You are the winner of the stack of quarter yards -- e-mail me with you mailing address at maryhueyquilts@hotmail.com

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  7. I just found your blog because you left me a comment on mine Mary! I love the fabric you are giving away. I am following you on Google Friends. I love all the wonderful pic's I am seeing on your blog.

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    1. Thanks for discovering me, Vicki -- hope you will continue to visit and leave feedback for me!

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  8. It would be so much fun to win fabric that I can say, "I know the designer!" And I might even share some with Erin and Suzanne. ;-)

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    1. Thanks for your support of my blog, Kathy!! It's fun to see comments from familiar faces!

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  9. Thanks to everyone who shared a comment -- the winner is Jill Klein!!

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