My First Design Win!

I'm so excited to share that I won my first surface pattern design contest! The contest was sponsored by Texas Vinyl Dispensary and was for a custom vinyl design for print on demand vinyl. My daughter told me about the contest the day before the deadline, so I didn't have a lot of time to come up with a design. And this is my winning design....Pansy Parade.

Although I'm not that familiar with vinyl and things you can make with it, I know that the pattern design needed to be small so that after the vinyl was cut the pattern could still be identifiable. I wanted to fill the space with pattern so decided to make a floral design. I am inspired by vintage fabrics and I think this pattern design evokes a 60's retro feel. 

The prize for winning is a yard of custom printed vinyl with my design, a yard of custom printed heat set vinyl with my design, and a $50 gift certificate for more product. But really the prize for me is the satisfaction that someone liked my design! A little confidence booster that I may be headed in the right direction as far as my design aesthetic is concerned. It's also rewarding to know that two months ago I didn't even know how to design a pattern and now I've won a contest with my own pattern design. Thank you Texas Vinyl Dispensary for the opportunity and the prizes!

Did you notice my new logo I created for my surface pattern designing? I wanted a cleaner and simpler image and wanted to incorporate my name with the Thistle Thicket Studio name. The background color of the logo can be changed to coordinate with whatever pattern design it accompanies.

I know I haven't shared a lot of my surface pattern designs yet. I'm still working on designs and collections and I'm torn whether or not to share them before making a portfolio and submitting to any companies for licensing consideration. Right now I'm leaning on keeping things secret. But I have completed the Surface Pattern Design Immersion course and I can't say enough good things about it. Bonnie Christine is a fantastic instructor and I'm so happy that I decided to jump in and give this whole design thing a go.

~Sharla

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A Yarn Couched Throw

Finally, A Finish!!! I forced myself to sit down this week and sew the binding on my yarn couched throw - and it took me all week to do it. But I'm excited to have it done and ready to gift to someone very special.

Ever since the new Gammill changeable feet came out, I've been anxious to try my hand at yarn couching. So while we were snowbirding in Texas in February, I picked up some of the chenille yarn that I'd seen someone use on Instagram. By some, I mean a couple of skeins of three different colors. I have way too much because I didn't even use half of the first skein for this throw.

The couching was fun to do, but it wasn't without issues. About once a row, the yarn frayed and sometimes broke. I slowed my machine down, but I think I should have slowed it down even more. I'll do more experimenting next time.

Quilt Stats:

• Quilt Size: 72" x 82"
• Fabric: 108" wide backing fabric of Drawn by Angela Walters for Robert Kaufman. I used this fabric on both the front and back of the throw and the binding.
• Yarn: Bernat Big Ball Blanket Yarn in Moss
• Batting: Hobbs 80/20
• Quilting Pattern: Paisley Feathers B2B by Anne Bright (computerized pattern)
• Quilting Thread: Signature 100% Cotton in Parchment
• Longarm: Gammill Statler Stitcher 30-12

This throw will look beautiful in the neutral color scheme home of it's soon-to-be owner! Now that it's complete and today was the final day of my Surface Pattern Design Immersion course, maybe I can get back to some of my UFOs.

~Sharla

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A Pared Down List for Q2 Finish Along Goals

I'm in the planning stages of some secret sewing that I'll be working on this quarter for something fun that's going to happen this summer, so I've streamlined my second quarter goals for the Finish-A-Long. I can't share about the secret sewing yet but stay tuned because I think you'll want to join along come June!

But back to my Q2 Goals. Here they are in all their unfinished glory.....

1. Frivols Kindred Quilt: I haven't touched this one in months (as you can see by the date on the photo), so I'm still at the block making stage. 

2. Quilt Guild Row Quilt Challenge: I did get the railroad crossing and star rows completed during Mom's Sisters Sew Weekend back in January, but haven't touched it since. I still have 3 or 4 rows left to make before I can sew the top together.

3. Just The Atoms: Yep, haven't touched this one since last fall. Still in the block making stage for this one too. Maybe this quarter....

4. Modern Marks: When we went to Texas in February, I took my Babylock with me and had it serviced while there. I bought a charm pack of Christa Watson's Modern Marks to test my machine after it was serviced. This was going to be a quick child's quilt to donate to a local child advocacy group, but you guessed it - haven't touched it since returning from Texas.

Sorry this is so short and sweet. I've had some of these on my goal list for so long, I'm sure y'all are sick of seeing and hearing about them! I know I am! My recurring theme of 'haven't touched this' has the MC Hammer song "Can't Touch This" running through my head now!

I'll be linking this post up with the FAL Q2 Goals linky party. For more info on the Finish-A-Long, click here.

~Sharla

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Finish-A-Long Q1 Finish - Home Mini Quilts

Once again I only completed one of my goals for the first quarter of the Finish-A-Long, but I guess one is better than none! If you've followed my blog, or any number of other quilting bloggers, you probably have heard of the Finish-A-Long, but if not, you can check out the details here.

I just blogged about this finish in my last post here, but I see that has been a couple of weeks ago! As you can tell, not much sewing (or blogging) has been going on here since I returned home from our month-long vacay to Texas because I've been fully immersed in my surface pattern design class, but that's for another post.

As I said, I only finished one project from my posted goals, which you can see here, so without further adieu, here are my HOME mini quilts.....

This was a fun little project and I'm hoping to make more projects from the book, Spelling Bee by Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet. At least one will surely be on my Q2 goals!

I'm linking this post up with the Q1 FAL linky party. You can see all the entries at the link up here.

Are you participating in the FAL? What are some of your goals for the next quarter?

~Sharla

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