For the past 8 or 9 years [wow, is that actually possible?] each month, usually on the 3rd friday night of that month, from dinner time until midnight, I get to do something fun, educational and inspirational... and I get paid for it. I gotta tell you... I love my job!
I teach a monthly drop in quilting/sewing class at one of my local quilt shops to a group of ladies, most of whom have by now become long time friends more than students. Each Friday we bring potluck goodies to share, stories to tell, projects to work on and anything else that needs a little help to get finished up... whether Fig Tree related or not.
Over the years, you would not believe some of the conversations we have had and the husbands that have dropped by with "something that the wife forgot" to check up & see if it was really true that their beloved was actually sewing at a quilt shop until midnight on a Friday! Many have left scratching their head in wonder and a lack of understanding!
This past Friday I met with my ladies as usual and was once again awed and inspired at the wonderful creations they had come up with made from my fabrics. Two in particular caught my eye so much because they were a PERFECT example of that 80%/20% principle that I have been going on about for years now.
I am told that every opportunity I get, I try to explain this to folks: any one given Fig Tree fabric collection is certainly a unified whole, designed to create well rounded, beautiful projects. However, no single fabric collection can contain all the colors and prints that one might need to create something truly unique, with more depth and a distinct feel and design. A collection is indeed a whole and can yield wonderful things but adding 20% from another collection can create amazing results. That different 20% might just add the different dark, light or "POP" that the project needs. It might add that needed unexpected, different tone of the same color or something with a completely different scale or feel that will really make the project shine.
We design our collections to meld into one another, one into the next. Different from one another in print and color but with enough overlap to make it simple to use the groups together to create projects with depth & breadth.
When I saw these 2 projects last Friday night, I knew I wanted to show you the results. The lighting in the shop at night wasn't the greatest so the photography could definitely be a bit better but....
Jelly Girl pattern made with a combination of Patisserie and Fig & Plum fabrics [pattern original uses just Patisserie]. Feels like a summer beach vacation to me. I am pretty sure that I will have to make one of these in the next couple of months! Quilt by Meredith Harbaugh.
Here below is the fabulous pattern, Vintage Stars, by Mr. Joe Wood, co-owner of the quilt shop where we gather, & the designer behind his own pattern company, Piece by Piece Quilts. Joe has recently started his own blog that chronicles his love of quilting, old tv shows, pop culture and exclamation marks... if you're not sure what I mean, go and see & you'll know... right away.
This version uses a combination of Fig & Plum and Gypsy Rose [pattern original used just Fig & Plum], along with scraps from several other past Fig Tree collections. I was just mesmerized by the color combinations on this one! Quilt by Wilma Lawrence.
Hope you enjoyed all that verbage & the pretty quilts.
Talk to you later.
Joanna,
Love your show 'n tell, those quilts make me feel the same way, love the color mix of both quilts. Joe's star quilt really pops with the dark fabric. You are a lucky girl, but well deserved too.
Posted by: Carrie | June 24, 2009 at 05:23 AM
I also met with a group of gals, but weekly, to sew, chat, laugh, and/or cry as we quilted
the day away. Such a fantastic group of women!! We too had husbands drop by to say
hello or bring things that their wives had forgotten as well. We didn't sew until midnight, but
met during the day each and every Wednesday. It started out with me being the instructor
but gradually we all became quite close and each of us ended up teaching so much more
than just quilting to one another. I loved that you shared what your students made! I know
that I was always amazed at what my gals made. The creativity they had was a true marvel.
Good times..... Debbie
Posted by: Deborah Hays | June 24, 2009 at 06:08 AM
thank you so much for sharing! i like the idea of 80/20 ... i tend to make things 100% or a complete mix... i just added a bunch of Gypsy Rose to my stash and i love how it blends it perfectly! i'm in the process right now of making a charm basket kit from 7 different fig collections and i think its gonna be adorable!
Posted by: jaybird | June 24, 2009 at 06:12 AM
oooh those quilts are just perfect.
i especially LOVE mr. joe's quilt.
the 80/20 concept...SO gonna have to do that.
and figgy fabrics are perfect fot it.
:)
Posted by: rachel | June 24, 2009 at 06:54 AM
Both quilts are spectacular...especially the Vintage Stars quilt...a wonderful show and tell!
Posted by: sherri | June 24, 2009 at 07:23 AM
Oh, I have just got to start coming to the class again. It's a drive, but well worth it. I'm so glad that you all have become so close after all this time. It's clearly evident in class that you care about each other.
Those quilts are beautiful. And Wilma's? I would have tried to stuff it in my purse to spirit home. Beautiful, Ladies!
Posted by: Jean | June 24, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Beautiful quilts! Your 80/20 rule is excellent! I often mix your fabric collections in my quilts with terrific results. Wish I lived close enough to attend your Friday sew ins.
Posted by: Nicole | June 24, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Amazing quilts, something for the beginner like me to aspire to!
Posted by: barbara | June 24, 2009 at 07:52 AM
Those quilts are spectacular! I love them both! Thanks for sharing! And I love your 80/20 !!! ;o)
Posted by: Jodi | June 24, 2009 at 08:56 AM
Thanks for the show and tell. It's so much fun to see what others make and how they combine fabrics. 80/20 is a great lesson.
Posted by: Gwendie | June 24, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Wish we had such a group around here. Lucky ladies. And, I loved the border and sashing in Joe's quilt!
Posted by: Sue | June 24, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Both quilts are absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: SarahB | June 24, 2009 at 05:11 PM
When your fabric is so beautiful on it's own, of course it is beautiful with any of the others. Yes, compliments to those who chose what to put together!!
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | June 24, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Those quilts are awfully pretty! Seems your fabrics can also be just the thing to go with other designers fabrics as well...quite certain I didn't use the 80/20 rule, but my latest post does show some Fig Love...
Posted by: elizabeth | June 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM
joanna-the quilts are beautiful. your fabric is perfect for the 80/20 principle. happy designing!
Posted by: april | June 25, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Wow - what a difference a change in fabrics can make, Joanna! I love both versions! Your class sounds like a hoot - maybe some of the husbands are dropping by because they want to have as much fun as their wives are having? (hee, hee)
Cheers!
Posted by: Candace | June 26, 2009 at 03:30 PM
I am crazy about those quilts, I decorate with a lot of black so the dark color just really does it for me. Delicious those figs!
Posted by: tina | June 26, 2009 at 04:16 PM
That quilt by Wilman Lawrence is a show stopper...wow. I love yout 80/20 philosophy...great direction for those of us who have a hard time knowing where to start.
Posted by: Lindsey | June 27, 2009 at 07:05 PM
Thank you for sharing these beautiful quilts. I need to remember the 80/20 philosophy. It is easy for me to stay within one line but I do like the way your collections overlap. Very nice!
Posted by: dotti white | June 28, 2009 at 05:45 PM