Introducing "Meadow Friends!"

"Meadow Friends" Boys' Coordinates

Hello Friends,

Just wanted to give you a "sneak peak" at my newest fabric line that will be in stores this July!!! I love it!
"Meadow Friends" is a fun childrens group with coordinates for boys and coordinates for girls.  It is filled with bright colors and whimsical characters you might encounter in a meadow or along a stream.

"Meadow Friends" Girls' Coordinates

When my children were young, they spent many summer days playing in the creek, near our home.  My daughters were amazed by the flowers, butterflies, ladybugs and hummingbirds that they saw.  My son, however, leaned towards (and sometimes brought home..) frogs, turtles, salamanders and bugs.

"Meadow Friends" brings all of these "critters" to life in bright, cheerful, colors.  I've used bugs, birds and other creatures from nature, that children are drawn to, in the patterns of this group.  Many of the designs are available in flannel too!

Be sure to look for "Meadow Friends" in your favorite Quilt Shop this summer!

Of course....I needed two models to "show-off" the new group.  So I grabbed my little grandsons and tried to wrap them up in the fabric.   Graham, didn't want anything to do with Grandma's little fashion show....

Finnigan, took to the whole idea and flashed one of his sweet smiles!  (Graham has a wonderful smile too!)

I would love to see any pictures that you have of your cherished little ones in anything with my fabric!

What fun!  Will share them here, if that is OK. 

Hope that you like "Meadow Friends".  I certainly had fun working on it.  When the originals return, I'll share them here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Always,

Deb

And the Winners Are.....

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments that you left on my blog!  It was like Christmas morning, reading them all day as they came in.  What kind things you had to say and of course, as a Grandma, I loved hearing how cute you think my grandsons are!

I used the website random.org to select my drawing winners.  Congratulations to you all!
I've sent you an e-mail notifying you and asking for your mailing address.

Please be sure and stop by tomorrow, when I will give you a sneak peak of my juvenile line that will be coming to your favorite Quilt Shop this spring.  It is called "Meadow Friends" and I will have two Very sweet models "wrapped up" in the group.

1st prize winner:  Deborah (posted at 6:06 am, Feb.18th)

2nd prize winner:  Karenfae (posted at 12:09 pm. Feb. 18th)

3rd prize winner:  Linda (posted at 2:49 pm, Feb. 18th)

4th prize winner:  Vicki@DottyJane (posted at 4:33am, Feb. 18th)

Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone for visiting.

Drawing at end of day!

Hello Friends!
Just wanted to let you know that I will be drawing the winners for the four prizes offered in my Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop at 8:00pm est tonight.

In the mean time, stop by Burgundy Buttons to see (and join!) a wonderful challenge using my JAVA fabric.  Leah, an extremely (and very helpful) new friend, has invited you creative folks to design a "Mug Rug" using JAVA fabric... Wow!  The ones she is showing so far are incredible!

Looking forward to the drawing!
Always,
Deb

Pillow Talk Blog Day!

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.  I'm  new to this blogging adventure and I must say, I LOVE it!!  The first thing that I do each morning is wake up and look at my comments.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to leave a little message!

As you know, if you have been following the Blog Hop, Lissa from Moda (a genius to be sure...and very kind too!) asked the Moda designers to create a pillow that told a little about our journey as a designer.  We shared it in a schoolhouse session at Market and now are sharing it here.

I decided to draw most of my design since I don't design quilts or patterns (not without the help of Moda anyway!).
   The images are all favorites from some of my past fabric collections.  There is an urn from "Harvest Bouquet", a bird from "Cherish Nature", a shock of wheat from Fabulous Fall, a dragonfly from  "Summer Fun", a flower from "Fresh Flowers" and a butterfly from "Daydreams." Can you find them all?  I also added the word "Create" because that is a very special word to me.  I try to "create" something every day.  It might be a painting, a fabric pattern, a special memory or just a mess in the kitchen!  But somehow, I try to be creative each day.
   The fabric used on the pillow is from "Cherish Nature."  I love the gentle feel of the patterns and the colors.  One of my favorite groups!
   I've been a Moda fabric designer  since 1996 (15 years!) and have always felt so fortunate to be with such a wonderful company. Previously, I was an art teacher for 9 years and  in 1995, my husband and I started a small greeting card company, Saltbox Illustrations.  After attending a trade show in Charlotte, I was approached by Moda to design fabric.  What an incredible relationship it has been!
   We have three wonderful children and two very dear grandsons (twins) that light up our lives.    

Now for the questions that Lissa asked us to answer....(I've learned so much about the other designers from these questions.  What amazing, talented people to work with!)

What is a little known fact about yourself?  I hand paint all of my fabric, every colorway, every coordinate! These are some of the more challenging ones from "Pumpkin and Spice."

I haven't had to use a magnifying glass yet...but may in the future!

How do you relax?  I really enjoy a good book.  I'm also an old movie buff..... love to watch old movies when I paint!

What do you sleep in?  Warm, soft pj pants, an old t-shirt and 2-3 pair of socks depending on the season. (Not too glamorous is it?)

What kind of pillow do you like?  I can sleep anywhere, on anything!  It is a gift.  Once, during a very busy time in our lives, I fell asleep in my supper.  You can ask my husband, it is the truth!

When you were young did you sleep with a stuffed animal?  I can't remember sleeping with a special stuffed animal, but always had the family cat next to me when I went to sleep.

Do you sew in bed? Read? Watch TV? Eat?  Sometimes read or watch the news, but usually fall asleep as soon as I hit the bed.

Have you or your spouse spent nights on the couch?  Only when our grandsons spend the night!

Nighttime toddy?  Does hot chocolate count?

Early to bed or all-nighter?  I used to stay up really late or even all night. Now, I work so much better in the morning.  I think it is an age thing!

Who would you most like to have a pillow fight with?  My two grandsons when they are a little older!

   

Thanks again for visiting my blog!  Please be sure to stop by next week when I show my newest line of fabric.  My samples just arrived!

Now for the give-a-way!

Since I am new to blogging, I would really like to know what you would like to hear about in my blog:  inspiration, family, new projects, etc?  Just leave a comment letting me know and on Feb. 23rd, I'll be giving away these 4 gifts.

Collection of Figurines, Stationery Products and 5x5" fabric squares from
"Cherish Nature"

Jelly Roll from "Fresh Flowers"

10 Fat Quarters of Valentine's Fabric
(Because it IS February!)

2 Scripture Quilts and a Fat Quarter Package

Be sure to visit Sandy Klop from American Jane tomorrow to see her amazing pillow! She always creates the most wonderful....everything!

Thanks again for visiting,

Always,

Deb  

Be sure to visit Barbara Brackman today!

Hello Friends,

If you are keeping up with the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop, I'm sure that you enjoyed Sweetwater's pillow and questions yesterday.  What a talented, kind family!  Be sure to visit Barbara Brackman today.  She has some interesting facts about pillows and a wonderful pillow herself!  We are getting ready for our big day tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 18th!  Hope to see you then!
Always,
Deb

Spring is in the Air!

Hello Dear Friends!

Have you been keeping up with the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Hop?  It has been so much fun to learn more about Moda's designers and see the incredible pillows that they have created!  Be sure to visit Sweetwater  tomorrow to see what those talented, sweet ladies are up to. Their pillow is wonderful to say the least! 

The thaw has finally started in Ohio and everyone is talking about spring.  Is it really coming?  As the ice begins to melt, we have had 5 people stuck in our loooooooong lane in one day!  After pushing out cars, dragging out cars, and calling for help, I decided to pull out a few pictures from warmer days.
 

  
These are all photos that I took in our garden last summer.  They help me remember the beauty that is just around the corner.

Hope they remind you of sunny days to come!  Please be sure to stop by on Friday, the 18th when I share my pillow and what we are giving away in our first blog drawing!

Always,

Deb

Icy Days and Exciting Delivery

Hello Dear Friends,

Are you having crazy winter weather where you live?  We have had ice, sleet, rain, and snow.  Our front yard now looks like some of the beautiful winter scenes in Dr. Zhavargo! Our trees look like they are made out of glass or spun sugar.  It is truly breath-taking!

Before this picturesque weather came (and delivery trucks could still get down our lane!), a stack of boxes were delivered.  

Blossom Bucket Samples!  I had designed a line of Spring Birds with sayings about Friends and Family for Blossom Bucket.  In addition, this wonderful company invited me to create a collection of Quilt Barns and quilts with scripture and sentiments.  I had seen the prototypes and couldn't wait to see the final products.  I Love them!  Blossom Bucket really captured the sweetness and charm that I had hoped for. 

Some of the Quilt Group.....

Hope that you like them.  How fun to see my paintings in 3-D!  They should be available in your favorite stores this spring.

Have you been following the MODA Pillow Talk Blog Hop?  It is so much fun to visit a different Moda designer each day and see their pillows!  I've learned something new about each of these wonderful, creative ladies and appreciate their kindness and talent more than ever!  Please be sure to visit my blog on Feb. 18th to see the pillow that I created.  I'll be sending a gift to someone leaving a comment that day...maybe one of my new creations from Blossom Bucket???  Tomorrow, be sure to visit Joanna, at Fig Tree Quilts to see her lovely pillow!

Always,

Deb Strain