August is here and I’m back to sewing occasionally! A year ago I was busily working on my first book. I started in July and it was released the end of February. Now I’m working on my next one, which is a Scrap Journal documenting the using up of all my overflowing scrap bins into quilts. I’ve almost reached the bottom of my scraps and so the end is in sight although it will be a few months yet before the book is ready to purchase…
I have moments of doubt on whether I should even publish this book. Will anyone be interested in all my scrap quilts? They’re not even always my favourite quilts because I’m working with what’s available. And then there’s the dilemma about how ‘real’ to be, or rather keep it pretty and within a certain aesthetic. Like a couple of the quilts didn’t turn out that great… do I include them as a ‘keeping it real’ sort of vibe? Or do I scrap them because a book is only as good as its worst photo? Yes, these are the thoughts going through my head. And because I am already overflowing with ideas for my NEXT Year of Quilts book, somedays I just want to skip ahead to that…
This photo above is me in a fabric… I came across it on the website of Sunny Day Supply. Which is a very cool shop specializing in Japanese fabrics. And even though I’m trying to seriously limit my fabric buying these days, I was very tempted. And then it was out of stock and it’s not available anywhere online. I seem to always be loving these fabrics that I can’t find anywhere! But this shade of blue is my perfect shade and the daisies are just right for me! I’m endlessly intrigued by color and am also very interested in Personal Color Analysis. If you’re not familiar with this, just google it and you’ll find plenty about it, but based on our skin undertones and overall colouring, we all have different shades of color that look best on us. I’ve had this analysis done on myself quite a few years ago and it’s been so very helpful in not buying clothes that I think are pretty in the store or looked lovely on someone else but then I never wear them. Turns out that one reason I don’t wear them is because they don’t look the best on me.
All this to say, I’ve been very intrigued by the concept that these colors might somehow flow into the colors that we decorate our homes with, or make our best quilts with… I don’t know if it applies or not. But I do know that this daisy fabric is spot on for me, both in the right color for me to wear and also a color I’d love to use on quilts. It’s also the level of contrast and the way the daisies are laid out on the design… anyways I’m a bit of a nerd about this:)
And then just a few more sneak peak photos of the scrap quilts coming up in my future Scrap Diary book… I don’t have a publisher to tell me what I can show you, so why not?!
Thanks for sharing your lovely work and love the scrappy star! being a newbie, I have never tried to sew one. I read sewing blogs and instagram feeds and my work just does not measure up to them. I need to get past that and sew more, errors and all, but I still compare my paultry work to experts that sew frequently
I think the scrap quilts book will
be embraced by everyone- love the quilts posted here
There’s no such thing as paultry work, Susie.
We all make mistakes, we all think other quilters’ work is better than ours.
But is is OURS.
Just go for it.
Anne
I love the garden photo! Is that your garden?
Your first book has been a pleasure to read, and read again, over and over. I’m looking forward to your next book and whatever is in it I’m sure it will be read many times.
The photos of your fabric and quilts are always inspiring. Thank you for sharing with us!
Love the sneak peak of scrappy basket!
I just love the sample star pattern quilt you are showing, you always have the most interesting fabrics and your quilts always look so comfortable and cuddly. Thank you for your blog and website, i purchased your 1st book and i look forward to the 2nd. I am also a scrappy quilter.
Totally random question but I love the paint color of your home. Do you recall the name? Also, loving the post with the beautiful star blocks.
I will for sure be purchasing your scrap quilt book!!! But I am worried….. you’ll use up your scraps which are my favorite of your quilts!!! Time to generate more scraps I reckon!!
I love your first book and cannot wait for the next one.
I can’t wait to order your scrap book. Maybe the quilt you love the least is the one I love the most!!!
I Absolutely Agree!
Thanks for the sneak peek. I love the way you put scraps together and have been very inspired to be bolder in my own quilting.
Oh, please, please, keep it real!! That’s what we love most in others, isn’t it?❤️
What I LOVE about your blog is how wonderful your quilts are, even using what some people might call ‘uglies’. I keep some of those in my quilts – as a homage to past quilters, because I’m frugal and in some cases I’ve reversed the fabric just to make that piece a bit more mellow in the overall picture. As in life, all our experiences aren’t wine and roses, are they? I think the same way when I’m doing a quilt. Some of those moments where you might question choices made in this or that area really makes for wonderful quilts to my eye. It adds depth, interest and sometimes just an area for the eye to ‘rest’ here and there. Don’t second guess yourself, your instincts are right on target! Your site is absolutely wonderful – a visual feast for the eyes. I learn something from studying each post you make, often as simple as “I wouldn’t have used that color, but I really love it in that quilt!”
I love your first book and can’t wait for the next one! The sneak peek of the scrappy basket quilt has me very interested! Thanks for all your inspiring quilts!
Favorites and not favorites are all part of the process. Keep it real. I love your first book and look forward to all future publications.
It would be so informative if you included quilts that you don’t consider successful, or are less than favorites.
I’m not sure if it’s your photography, or the fabrics you use Jolene, but your blog is so inspiring. You are an artist, the colors you choose in your quilts and now we see in your gardening are just spot on. I love seeing what you create and look forward to what you post.
I thoroughly enjoyed your first book and I am excited you will be offering another! Show it all, there are no bad quilts.
Love the basket and scrappy background quilt. It just looks so comfy. I think I love it because it looks like a quilt that will get used. The elaborate quilts have their place but they aren’t the ones you make memories with by using them.
I am so looking forward to your scrap quilt book! Thanks for taking the time to publish your blog—it’s such an inspiration and I look forward to each one. There are so few blogs remaining. I don’t use facebook and I don’t have the time or energy to wade through Instagram. So kudos to you for writing a really honest and thoughtful blog to share with your readers!
i loooved your first book, so i’m excited for the next one (and the next)! as for the scrap quilts you didn’t like as much:
1. someone else may love them. if you’re photographing them as nicely as you always do, i think you could make some very appealing, high-quality photos out of quilts you may not personally prefer. honestly, some of your gorgeous photos could make a plain-jane quilt look homey and special.
2. sometimes we learn from what we don’t like as much as from what we do like. seeing it helps up recognize and define it. if you include a breakdown of what didn’t work for you, what you’d do differently, that’s helpful. and real.
3. maybe include them without emphasizing each one as much as the quilts you do like. you could do a two-page spread of the all the quilts you weren’t as pleased with or one page each, and include a short commentary. no need to do a full chapter on each one. that keeps it real without overwhelming or diminishing your good quilts.
good luck deciding! can’t wait to get my hands on the next one.
(and i’m still very interested in hearing a bit about your bookmaking process – what programs you use, etc.)
Back in the 80’s when I was a university student, I had my colour analysis done. It worked – being a poor student then debt-ridden graduate, I was always very frugal but oh boy when you love pretty things that’s hard! Yet I always seemed to get complements even though I’d be wearing the same thing a 2nd or even 3rd time in a week! Choosing the correct colour seemed to be the trick. Fast forward more than 3 decades and I’ve realized a lifelong dream of becoming a quilter. Hundreds of hours (>500) of lessons have taught me a few….several….things, but it all boils down to choosing what speaks to you. Does my personal colour choices i.e. what I like to wear carry over into what I have in my house or use in my quilts….don’t think so. Yet both seems to work for me. And still I learn from quilters like you. Thank you for sharing your creativity, your journey and finally the end-product. Absolutely love the quilts you make as much as the journey you share.
I can’t believe I didn’t comment on this at the time. I love your book and I will buy any book you put out. I think you have encouraged me the most about quilting.