June 22nd, 2024

I feel privileged to have been asked to use my name with this lovely batik collection of beautiful colors and designs.  This collection was designed by the very talented Kathy Engle for Island Batik.  The luscious greens with the blues make this collection a standout!  In fact, it takes me back home to Finland.  The pine trees and pinecones that are many of the design elements in this collection are something that were plentiful in a small town of Eno, which I used to call home and where I still visit every chance I get to go back to Finland.

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​The picture to the left was taken last year during my visit to my hometown.  You can see the river that flows on one side of town, with a bunch of pine trees on the other side of the river.  

​I love that even our graveyard is filled with these beautiful trees.  The picture to the right was taken during my last visit to my hometown.  It was the first time that I saw my mom's name on the gravestone.  My dad, however, has already been gone for over 40 years.

But let's get back to these delicious fabrics.  Above you see a very interesting looking fellow (I think it might be a chameleon).  The inspiration for the colors for this collection came from its interesting and rather striking coloration.  I'm at awe of these brilliant colors!

Anyhow, I was totally smitten with these fabrics and couldn't wait to start designing quilts with them!  On this first post I will share the first three quilts that I made using this collection.  My final post on the 28th will reveal the rest of the quilts.  And in between this post and my last post you will see some of the amazing work that many of my fellow artists have produced!  You don't want to miss any of them!
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Anna Dorothea
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Anna Dorothea is named after my 8th Great Grandmother from my dad's side.  I often run into trouble coming up with names for my quilts, so when that happens, I have started to look into my genealogy to see if I can pick up a name for my pattern there.  I also think that it is a fun way to reach out to the past and honor those that came before us.

Now, back to this quilt.  I used Corner Pop II tool by Studio 180 Design to make the half rectangle units (required to make the quilt).  It allows these units to come out perfect with ease and speed!  I also used Stripology XL by Creative Grids to cut the strips that make up the imaginary nine patch units.  I find it speeds up the process of cutting strips into units by a great deal.  You just need to make sure to line up your strip sets accurately (I have a great way of doing this, and if you ever have a chance to take a class from me, I would be happy to show you how to do so).

This fun quilt pattern comes in three sizes: Baby, Lap, and Twin.  And below you can see how it looks with a light background!  I think they both are adorable!  If you are interested in getting this pattern, it is available on my website.  I will also be getting the collection fabric in soon, so if you are interested in a kit for this, please send me an email and mention the size and the name of the pattern (Anna Dorothea) in your email.

Bavaro
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Bavaro was super fun to make.  In this quilt I got to use most of the fabrics from the collection!  You can see how well the colors look together!  This design also blends itself to do awesome custom quilting.  I, however, chose a tightly quilted edge to edge design by One Song Needle Art that I have used many times on my quilts simply because I love it so much!  And, to be honest, I wouldn't have had the time to custom quilt it due to deadlines.  But, if you don't have a deadline and have time, this quilt would lend a hand for you to create some amazing custom quilting! 

So, how did I make the blocks on this quilt?  Again, I turned into the tools by Studio 180 Design!  I used their Corner Beam, V Block, and Corner Pop tools to make sure I got the points looking awesome!

The pattern comes in three sizes: Table Runner, Lap, and Twin, and the pattern can be purchased here.  If you are interested in getting fabrics for this quilt, just email me!  I also have tools available and can make you a custom package to suit your needs!

Below are EQ8 renditions of the Table Runner and the Lap size quilts.

Spiral Love

Last but not least for this blog post is Spiral Love.  I love the movement that this design creates, as if you had dropped something into the water and the ripples start forming and travelling away from it!

This quilt was fun to make - I got to play with many of the fabrics, and playing with the block placements until I was totally happy with the final version!  I don't know many other jobs there are where you can play for living! 

I decided to use eight of the collection fabrics to be the stars of this quilt, along with a dark background.  When making the blocks, I used Corner Pop tool by Studio 180 Design.  Below is an EQ8 rendition with the light background fabric.

If you like what you see, you can order the pattern from here.  Again, the fabrics will be arriving shortly.  If you would like to preorder a kit or the tool, send me an email before they are all gone!

Next up:

If you like what you see, you can use a coupon code THEGROVE10 to take 10% off on the patterns that have the cover made from The Grove collection.  But hurry, this offer ends at the end of 6/28/24!

Also, please leave comments on each blog - it makes the bloggers feel appreciated. 

Here is the schedule for this Blog Hop.  Make sure to visit each blog as they each offer some amazing eye candy and more!

Sunday, 6/23/24: Quilters' Treasure Chest
Monday, 6/24/24: Wiggle Creek Designs 
Tuesday, 6/25/24: Needle in a Hayes Stack
Wednesday, 6/26/24: The Busy Bee Quilter
Thursday, 6/27/24: PiecedPerfection
Friday, 6/28/24: Quilters' Treasure Chest

Also, I just started a new Facebook page dedicated to Blog Hops for Quilters.  Make sure you check it out and like/follow the page, and while at it, please spread the word so everyone will get to enjoy it!

Have a wonderful Blog Hop and be inspired with The Grove Collection and the various beautiful creations you are about to see!