It's always greener on the other side.

In this particularly white winter, I find myself longing for something green and lush. While Puerto Rico is out of the question, this whole cloth quilt made form Queen Streets "Maddie" and "Dolin" in jade and aqua is just what the doctor ordered.
"Dolin" is a whispy green and blue floral on a white background, and "Maddie" is decidedly greener on the other side- and more mod.
This quilt followed by a regimen of wheat grass shots should get me through to Ground Hogs Day. Or maybe a Mojito?

Promise kept.

I promised my friend, '70's and '80's super model Nancy Donahue, that I would make her a quilt back in March 2010. It took me way too long! However- i was aiming for a perfect interpretation of her infectious laughter, sunny disposition, resemblance to Doris Day, and faithful friendship.
This quilt, made from 2 packs of "jellyroll" strips from Kate Spains "Verna" (moda) line, holds hands a sunny, butter yellow print from Jennifer Paganellis Sis Boom "Poodle" line. Quite fitting, since these fabric designers are good buddies, too!
The jellyroll pieces were "braided" together- Hence, the "Friendship Braid Quilt". It is an over sized queen, which was a bear to quilt- but with lots of trimming and measuring i was able to square it up. This often happens when quilting long, narrow strips together. The pretty daisy quilting is a nod to Doris Days, "Please don't eat the daisies!" song. I hope she likes it as much as I liked making it for her. She's the one on the left.

Pick a color- any color. Or two or three...

Orange, pink and red. That's what my friend Sheila's daughter wanted.
I love working this way. Girls know what they want when it comes to color. I am more than happy to oblige. Give me a theme, a color scheme, or your old baby clothes and will promise to put something fabulous together for your bed to wear.
You like to make a statement when you go get dressed- now, GO MAKE YOUR BED!

For Danielle.

I was given free reign on the design of the quilt, but Danielle did request a color scheme: hot pink, lime green and brown. I just pulled from my Sis Boom scrap pile and started cutting.
I think it turned out beautifully.

He's at it again.

Whenever I go to document my completed custom ordered quilt and pillows. Ollie is always ready for a photo op. Honestly, what would I do without him?
DIY quilt design:
This twin quilt, or one like it, with a pillow case can be ordered for $300.00- you choose the fabric.

A "Little Bird" told me...

It's out! Little Birds: 26 Handmade Projects to Sew, Stitch, Quilt & Love (Design Collective) by C&T Publishing's Design Collective is now available. It features my custom quilt design that I made for Cortney and Bob Novogratz and their most recent "9 by Design"
addition, Major.
The book, "Little Birds", includes all of the instructions and templates you need to make this colorful, mid-century modern inspired baby quilt. The other 25 projects are just as adorable and this new division of C&T Publishing is really giving quilting and sewing the new spin it deserves. Other great artists, like Bari Ackerman, have had a lot of fun putting these projects together. Now it's your turn.
Last nights episode of "9 by Design" told the story of a little school friend of the Novogratz family, Jasmina Anema, who suffered from leukemia. The Novogratz clan and other school families put on a great fundraiser to help Jasmina and her mom with medical bills. Jasima was a warrior, but she succumbed to the disease in January.
For anyone who orders a book from me during the month of May, 100% of my profit will go to The ONEFORJASMINA Foundation.
Please take the time to look at the beautiful site and the pictures of this special little angel who was not with us long enough. You can make a difference.
So, forget about "Making your Bed"!
Get the book, make a bird, and maybe save a life.
Thank you.
Nancy

Bravo! The Novogratz family entertains with style!

We were so fortunate to be invited by Bob and Cortney Novogratz to the premier party for Bravo's new series "9 by Design" at The Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo. The show features the dynamic design duo and their tribe of seven amazing kids. I have to say, their taste is impeccable and unexpected, but what really had my head spinning was the amount of energy they both have! Particularly Coutney, who in fact went into labor by the end of the show. Tune in next week for the delivery and more insipiring design (and parenting) skills. Bob is tall, dark, handsome and hilarious. Cortney has movie star looks, but is truly down to earth. I want to be jealous of her, but she's too darn likable...
Tim knows the family better than I do, as he has photographed them (this pic of them all in bed was their Christmas card for 2009). I think that having seven kids helps to keep them grounded. Kids have a way of doing that, no?
Play the "design your dream room" game with Bob and Courtney. Maybe you'll come up with some ideas on how to "Go Make Your Bed!"

More in stock quilts.

$250. for in stock twins. Sorry, we are still a few weeks away from live website. Call or email me directly if you have questions.

Nautical themed bedding and home dec accents.

Get "nauti"-cal. These seafaring accents would look swell in any beach house, apartment, bachelor pad.... Really, anywhere!

Congratulations to Jamie of Remnants!

Jamie of Remnants blog has won the raffle! I absolutely love her blog, as you will too, and am including her on my blog roll here and at Dark Horse Farm Designs. I am particularly smitten by her last post picturing the "garden Loom" idea from Mary Jane's Farm magazine. I'm sending my husband out to the wood shop asap!
Now, you 13 faithful followers, thank you for your participating. I am so grateful that, if you like, I will send you some fat quarters from Make and Mingle. Shoot me an email with your address and I will send them off when I post Jamie her quilt.

RAFFLE!

To prepare for the launch of the GMYB website, I am raffling off a baby blanket. Yes! There will be baby bedding available. This whole cloth cheater quilt is 36''x 36''. It is a soft waffle weave cotton on the underside, perfect for swaddling a babe, or to protect you car when you take Fido (or Cheech) for a ride in the car. A quilt like this will be $50.00. This fabric is from the Sis Boom Dance with me line.
So, comment here, leave your info, and if you are really nice you will also go visit my Dark Horse Farm Designs blog. The winner will be chosen using the random number indicator on Sunday 3/14- so check in on Monday morning to see who the lucky winner is.
Oh, you don't have to have a baby to enter the raffle!

Surf's up!

Two boys who love to "shoot the curl", East Coast style, will be getting surf inspired bedding. Here's the first one, long board included!

Launch this line!

I am in the throws of getting ready for my new Go Make Your Bed website. The blog is still around, but has been laying dormant over the winter months. I have been so busy at Dark horse Farm Designs with my crafting and getting the Open Sky shop up and running, poor little GMYB took the back seat for a while.
I am creating a ready made line, and also a design wall where you can go to choose the fabrics of your liking. Everything to Go Make Your Bed! Everything you need to know about ordering will be clearly explained on the site, and a FAQ page. But rest assured, I am always just a phone call or email away if you have any questions or need suggestions. In fact, I prefer to speak directly about the order before I start cutting.
The quilts pictured are all made with the new Sis Boom line, So St. Croix, and I will keep posting pictures as the come off of my sewing table. The whole collection will be very varied, so be sure to check back and see what's new.
Also, I will quilt with your fabric for a fee if you get it to me.
My quilts are also available at Make and Mingle in Fairfield, CT.

Architecturally inspired.

While visiting my daughter, Genevieve, in London last fall, I was inspired by the colorful flats along Portobello Rd. More than a year has past since then and I have finally made up a quilt to capture the quaintness of that street! The quilt, "Genevieve goes to London", is 40''x 55'', is a series of 3 1/2'' strips and blocks. I used bamboo batting and I did free motion quilting to try to recreate the masonry and cobblestone roads. You can see Genevieve in the windows. My cat, Ollie likes the back almost as well as the front, and so do I. This quilt will be raffled off (details to come) as a promotion for the new C&T Publishing book, "Little Birds", in which I have a quilt pattern featured.
More good e-news, this blog will soon be a proper website where you can order ready made and custom quilts. It should be up and running by mid-March.