Patchwork and Everything Sassaman Style

I am so excited to announce that we are working on a book of patchwork ideas and recipes for quilts Jane Sassaman style!  If you follow her blog, you’ve seen these remarkable quilts that blend color and pattern to make some dazzling patterns. Sometimes you don’t even know where the seams are. The fabrics just blend. I’ve been fascinated by them for ages and am thrilled that we’ll have a book to show you how to design and make them yourself.

This book came out of the frustration. So many of Jane’s fans buy her fabric collections by Free Spirit but then are stumped about how to incorporate these bold, bright colors into quilts that show off the fabric. Her amazing, vibrant prints include larger scale patterns which have great visual impact but may be challenging for some quilters.  In Patchwork Sassaman Style, Jane clears up the mystery! She'll come right into your studio and work with you to unlock your creativity using any large scale “personality prints” as she calls them.


When I started this blog a year ago, I wanted to take my dear readers on a tour inside the world of quilt book publishing. This book is the perfect opportunity to walk everybody through book production, step by gorgeous step! We're taking you in, with lots of giveaways, polls, ideas, and detours on the way to keep your creative juices flowing.


I've known and admired Jane Sassaman since 1996, when I first saw her Willow quilt at IQA Houston. This quilt was absolutely breath-taking. The detail was incredible. Jane was standing by it with white gloves on, answering questions of passersby. I asked the stupidest question EVER: "How many hours did it take you to make it?" From then on Jane has been my favorite quilter, and that's saying something.   I followed her work in magazines and shows, and have been to her studio which is just as interesting and inspiring as she is. Her unique graphic style and unbelievable detail have to be seen to really be appreciated.

I have taken three Sassaman classes now was inspired every time. (I’ve never taken a class by the same teacher three times!) Our paths have crossed through the years, and we've gotten to know each other well through the Bernina Master Artisans group, quilt shows, classes, etc. I love Jane and her work, and can't tell you what an honor and delight it is for everybody here at Dragon Threads to work with her.

Starting now until the book is released in early 2012, Jane and I will be blogging our hearts out about the book. We've got studio tours, downloads galore, newsletter sneak peeks, and special sales coming up. Don’t miss anything! Sign up for our newsletters at Dragon Threads.com and Jane Sassaman.com. Look for us on Facebook, too. We can't wait to share Sassaman Style!

Calling Sassaman Giveaway Winners!

Last call for the Sassaman giveaway winners. Please contact me by Friday at 5pm @ linda@dragonthreads.com so that I can make arrangements to send you your prize! If I don't hear from you, I'm afraid I'll have to re-reward the prize to somebody else.

I am looking for:

Joyce (commenter #36), who said, "I am a long time fan of Jane's work and love the bag pattern, hope I win!"

and

Lynn (commenter #10), who said "Jane's work is amazing and inspiring."

Another BIG giveaway coming up tomorrow!!!

Winter Sewing

Is it cold where you are? Here in Ohio it is cold. (Can you tell from my picture that I am cold?) Cold, cold, cold. There’s snow. And cold. Did I mention the cold? Going anywhere is a chore. Will it ever be warm again?

I got so excited after our Jane Sassaman giveway that I decided to get creative Jane-style about protecting myself against the cold. A quick dig in my stash turned up some of her fabulous fabrics and some cozy polar fleece. I set to work on her Cozy Cowl Scarf pattern.

Not only does this scarf look great and keep my poor neck warm, but it took maybe only 2 hours to make. I have a beloved special Bernina foot that sews on buttons. Not only does this save time and sew on the button more securely, but it saves my cold fingers from having to touch a cold hand-sewing needle. Here are a few pictures of my work:

How about making a few of these for Christmas gifts next year? The possible fabric combinations are endless. I think I could come up with several hundred from my stash alone!

How about you? What about some ideas for gift sewing? Send me your ideas! I’ll post them in time to get started on your holiday sewing next year. Put ideas in the comment box below or email me at linda@dragonthreads.com.

Jane Sassaman Giveaway Winners

Thanks to everybody who participated! The winners are:

Joyce (commenter #36), who said, "I am a long time fan of Jane's work and love the bag pattern, hope I win!"

Lynn (commenter #10), who said "Jane's work is amazing and inspiring."

From the email sign-up participants, Suntosh won.

Joyce and Lynn, congratulations! Please email me at linda@dragonthreads.com so I can get details about address, etc.

Thanks again and stay tuned. Another BIG giveaway coming up later this week.

Jane Sassaman Giveaway

I met Jane Sassaman in 1996 her when she won Best of Show at IQA in Houston. She was standing by her huge, amazing, gorgeous "Willow" quilt with white gloves on, answering questions. My question was the stupidest: "How long did it take you to make this?" Gracious Jane answered the question. Over the years we’ve become friends.

From the second I laid eyes on her work I’ve been a fan. It’s almost impossible not to be! Her trademark design sense, distinctive applique technique and use of machine decorative stitches are inspirational. If you get a chance, take a class. They’re informative and invaluable in terms of developing and opening up your own technique. Soak up some of Jane’s spirit and creativity in person. I've taken classes from her twice and I promise you will love working with her.

Lovely Jane is helping Dragon Threads get readers off to a creative start this year. She generously donated this nifty set to one lucky reader. Here’s what’s included:

Pretty Perfect Pocket Purse Pattern

and a piece of the main purse fabric from the front cover

and a piece of the blue fabric from the back:

Now, this bag is perfect. I love it. It’s been road tested: Jane uses it every day! Look at the fun details. Note the shisha mirrors in the daffodil centers. Who can resist the fun felt ball fringe? This is a happy bag, perfect for chasing away the winter doldrums.

Jane featured fabrics from her new Garden Divas collection for Free Spirit fabrics. This line is so luscious. I want every pattern in every colorway! I'm planning to make a shirt mixing 6 different prints. Looking for your own ideas? (After you’ve made the bag, that is…) There are some beautiful FREE quilt patterns for this new fabric on Jane's blog.

I am always inspired to see what is new with Jane on her blog, which she obviously lavishes with attention. She seamlessly weaves fabrics, travel, stories about life on the prairie, and her own terrific photos in the most compelling, almost painterly way. Her posts are as exotic, colorful, creative, and interesting as she is.

But back to the giveaway!

Post a comment below by Sunday evening, January 16th about Jane's work for one chance to win. For a second chance, sign up for our newsletter and say "Jane sent me" in the “How can we help you" box. Lucky winners get the Pretty Pocket Purse pattern plus two fabric swatches directly from Jane. Two runners up are going to get something special. I’m digging into my stash for two coveted special Jane Sassaman fabric pieces. You’ll each get two samples, half of each piece. Enter now, then start planning your next project a la Jane.

PS: Jane is having a Noriko giveaway this courtesy of Dragon Threads over at her blog. Don’t miss it! If you can’t wait to get your hands on Noriko’s book yourself (here comes a plug) head on over to my shop and buy one!

Big Giveaway Next Week!

Two words:

Jane Sassaman.

Houston Quilt Market Part I

I got back early this past week from the Houston International Quilt Market. I think it’s the 18^th one for me. Market is for store owners only, not generally to the public. I had a booth there to sell our new book by Noriko Endo called, Confetti Naturescapes : Quilting Impressionist Landscapes.

It was fun to see all my old friends and make new ones as I wandered through hundreds of booths. I mean hundreds. No exaggeration! Many of the largest booths are fabric vendors. My favorite was Free Spirit and the new Jane Sassaman line called Garden Divas! I can’t wait to get my hands on some of this yardage with the bold graphics and beautiful colors. Jane is a master at fabric design. I’ve recommended it before, but her blog is always a great place to go for ideas:

Lots of people from around the globe stopped by the booth to say hello to either Noriko or me. It was terrific to see our new distributor from Barcelona. Our distributors from New Zealand spent some time telling me about their beautiful country. I was ready to get on a plane and go, but I’ll wait for another day!

Author, Susan Brubaker Knapp was by to tell us about her new DVD coming out soon called Master Machine Stitching: Thread Stitching Beyond the Basics that will be available next month. It is a follow up to her first DVD on Machine Stitching. (Watch this blog! Susan and I are doing a trade. I’ll have a copy of her DVD to give away and she’ll have a copy of the Confetti Naturescapes to give away on her blog.) Susan, by the way, has a fantastic blog, where she’s already put up a couple posts about the Quilt Market. Go take a look!

A big trend from fashion was seen at Market….zippers! Like you’ve never seen before! Lecien from Japan had invisible ones with printed tape…prints of trucks and lace and floral. Across from me was a Chinese manufacturer that had zippers with rhinestone teeth, multi-color metallic teeth on one zipper and striped grosgrain tape that was beautiful! People were wearing open zippers around their necks as badge holders!

Arach-NO-Phobia: Interlude with Jane Sassaman

How I love the internet. I was visiting virtually with my dear friend, Jane Sassaman, on her blog, Jane Sassaman’s Idea Book. It’s my idea book, too. She lives so far away, but I can hang out in her studio from my studio courtesy of the world wide web.

Jane is incredible. She’s tirelessly creative. To watch her work, to talk to her about work, is just a joy. I was “virtually visiting” with her this weekend and chanced upon two things that just delighted me.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, sit down. There are spiders involved. I’m not generally a fan, but Jane is so talented that I might NOT stomp the next spider I see crawling across my deck. Well, not immediately stomp it.

First, a picture of Jane working on an absolutely gorgeous quilt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And these. She’s gone mad with spiders!

Only Jane could make something I generally scream and run away from so artistic.

I noticed on Jane’s blog a link to one of my favorite time-wasting, wallet-emptying sites, Etsy, and a vendor named 100 Billion Stars. She makes cute things using Jane’s fabrics. Do I need this lovely bag?

I want to need this skirt, alas, I fear it is 10 years, okay 20 years too young for me, but oh, how adorable:

Does the fabric not just SCREAM summer, cold drinks in sparkly glasses at sunset?

Enough. Back to work. Post coming soon about Noriko Endo’s book, which went off to the printer last week. Thanks, as always, for stopping by!