Time for Creativity

Time for Creativity

Creative arts by Sharon Holland

I hope this post finds you and your loved ones well? I and my family are all well at this time and doing our part to social distance and be smart about things. Thank goodness the internet let’s us stay connected and less isolated but for the most part my normal day-to-day life hasn’t been impacted much! I rarely went out normally, because I work from my home and am generally too busy, to get away from my desk or sewing machine.

This social slow down has allowed me to do more of what I love to do best—create! I’m hoping it also allows you to find the time to do all those artistic and crafty pursuits you alway wished you could start.

Art Gallery Fabrics Spirited prints by Sharon Holland

Right now you’ll find dozens of fabulous quilt alongs happening on Instagram and what better way to dig into that stash of fabrics than with a fun, virtual sew along with your online friends!

I’ve joined in on the Star Crossing quilt along hosted by Lisa Ruble of Love to Color My World blog and love this quilt design in my Spirited prints for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Star Crossing by Lisa Ruble

Here’s (a virtual mock up) what my quilt will look like when finished. This medallion-type quilt design is rewarding to make because you see instant results from piecing and it goes together quickly. The sew along started last Thursday and will run until mid April so it’s not to late to jump in and get started. Find all the details about the pattern and quilt along on Lisa’s week #1 blog post.

If you’re not one for sewing along with others and want to just do your own thing in your own pace, don’t forget about all the FREE and for purchase patterns available on this blog. The shear number of projects from my blog could keep you sewing for a year or more!

Prairie Flower quilt by Sharon Holland

Maybe you’d like to use this available time to start some sort of new craft or learn a new skill? I’m currently getting reacquainted with painting and purchased an online course on painting with gouache paint from Lena Rivo called Color Mastery. You can follow my painting journey on my Instagram page @sharonhollanddesigns.

Here’s just a few highlights from my recent landscape paintings. The scenes are from a trip my family made to Arizona last September where we visited Sedona and Flagstaff area. Luckily I took a bunch of photos that I’m now using as reference for these small paintings.

Red Rock by Sharon Holland

Beating the Heat by Sharon Holland

Grassland by Sharon Holland

Gallery wall by Sharon Holland

Maybe this is the time to stop saying “I can’t” and start learning how to do! I’m a huge fan of Skillshare and as an ambassador, I can offer you two free months of premium access to any Skillshare class. Yes, that’s anything and everything you’d have the desire to watch or ever wanted to learn more about! Use this affiliate link to start watching and get started doing, today!

What are your goals, dreams, and plans for your new-found time? Let’s make good use of this new type of norm by helping ourselves grow and lending a hand to others.

Keep healthy and safe. Be creative and help others if and when you can. For daily inspiration, join me on Instagram as I keep things inspirational and post about my sewing, painting, and creative endeavors.

Big, social distancing virtual hug to all!

I am an Amazon Associate site and earn from qualifying purchases on the products I’ve linked below. The helpful products selected are the same or similar to materials used to make the project(s) in this blog post or related items I think you may enjoy.

My Signature Sampler Week #9

My Signature Sampler Week #9

Welcome to week number 9 of the My Signature Sampler sew along. This week's block is called Squares in Diamond and is a block from the Art Gallery Fabrics Quit Block Collection. Be sure to click the Read More to expand the instructions text if you'd like to read the instructions along with the You Tube video. 

My blocks are made using the prints from the Signature fabric collection I designed for Art Gallery Fabrics and AGF Pure Elements solids for my blocks. For stock lists of online shops that carry my Signature and other collections I've designed for AGF, visit my Fabrics page or the Where to Buy page on the Art Gallery Fabrics site.

Watercolor by Sharon Holland

Yard work, painting, sewing, repeat. I have been enjoying this summer because basically my life has revolved around the garden wether I'm out tending my yard, painting blooms from my gardens, or sewing with Signature fabrics--it's so inspiring. 

Watercolor by Sharon Holland

I'm also in the process of designing a new fabric line for spring so much of this art work I'm creating this summer will be used in some fashion in upcoming prints! I thought you'd like to see some of the process work now and next year you can be sewing with the fabrics. 

Watercolor by Sharon Holland

I also wanted to say thank you for the love and support you always bring to the party! The sampler blocks you've all been posting to Instagram are so beautiful and I'm seeing block versions that make me want to resew mine and get that same look! These quilts will be gorgeous and we're about half way done so keep up the great work!

If you're just joining in on the fun, take a look at my first post for this sew along and pick up the quilt layout and color book page to start planning your sampler! The My Signature Sampler is based off block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (QP). If you have different favorite blocks and would rather include them in your quilt, please feel free to make this sampler with your own signature-style. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. Also, when making any Sewcial Bee or Community Sampler blocks you can access the original blog posts for each block and find additional tips and tutorials for piecing. If needed, just use the search bar at the top of the this page on the right and simply type in the block name.

Don't forget our blocks will be set on-point so if you have a fussy cut center, cut it on-point for best results. Note: I don't recommend cutting any other pieces of the blocks (other than a center square on-point for fussy cutting) because it will create bias edges along the outside of the block and increase chances of distortion. Keep any bias edges in the center of the block.

I've already been adding my setting triangles to my finished blocks as I make them. I'm using a combination of my Perennial print from Printemps Fusions and Untamed Beauty Daybreak from Signature as the background setting of my quilt. 

The setting triangles are made by cutting a 9-1/2'' square on the diagonal to make two setting triangles. Be mindful of print direction, if applicable. See Community Sampler Week #13 for block setting instructions. 

If you're interested in adding a chevron border to your sampler quilt, take a look at the week #6 blog post and pick up the border supplement PDF. I'll review the border option closer to the end of this sew along but just in case you wanted to sew or plan ahead, you have the information now.

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. This sew along is being sponsored by the most amazing companies and have generously donated incredible prizes to share with you. 

OUR SPONSORS

Art Gallery Fabrics | Hobbs Batting | The Quilter's Planner | Quilters Candy Box | Bloc_Loc | Dritz |  Omnigrid | Fat Quarter Shop

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY SPONSOR IS: Dritz

The Dritz story spans nearly 100 years, and encompasses tens of thousands of creative products. What began as a family business in 1920s New York City, is today a storied brand that is recognized by DIY enthusiasts around the world. Today, Dritz embodies a heritage of quality, value and innovation. Sewists and quilters alike turn to Dritz for top-notch quilting and sewing supplies. Dritz is conveniently sold via mass merchants, independent shops and online retailers, so it’s readily available where and when you need it. - See more at: Dritz!

Products  *  Projects & Patterns  *  Instagram  *  Blog 

For this week's My Signature Sampler Giveaway, Dritz is offering an incredible prize! Both the blog and Instagram winner will receive this super cute and useful Dritz Sewing Box Kit! 

Just look at all these goodies, all in a neat, travel-ready container! And, don't you just love the robin's egg blue color?

Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to Linda Cejnar!

Note: This giveaway is open to US address only for this prize. If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow Dritz on any of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow me via subscribing to my posts, on Pinterest, and/or Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, August 20th! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, or blocks. Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post your My Signature Sampler makes (to a public account) and you're automatically entered into the weekly IG drawings as well! See my Instagram giveaway posts @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 

Happy sewing!

Sharon

My Signature Sampler Week #5

My Signature Sampler Week #5

I've had a good and productive week, how about you? I actually finished sewing ALL the blocks for my sampler! I even got so far as to photograph all the blocks, but not so far as to get them all set in the setting triangles--next week, hopefully. That's a good feeling to have my work stockpiled for me and know I'm that much ahead--that's the beauty of this sew along, you can work at whatever pace fits your time and schedule. 

The good news is that because I've been able to sew ahead I came up with a brilliant idea for an optional border treatment I can't wait to share with you next week. You're going to love it--I sure do!

Since this event is built off past sew alongs I've co-hosted with Maureen Cracknell with the addition of other published block resources you can and are encouraged to work at a pace that feels right for you. Each week when I make a Friday post, I'll provide links to the various blocks I put into my sampler along with any variations to the original block instructions. 

Block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner 2018 magazine (QP) will be used in this sampler. If you have your favorite blocks and would rather sew different blocks than me, please feel free to make this sampler your own. 

If you're just joining in on the fun, take a look at my first post for this sew along and pick up the quilt layout and color book page to start planning your sampler!

Remember, you can always refer back to the Sewcial Bee Sampler and Community Sampler blog post tutorials the accompanied each past sew along block by using the search bar at the top of this blog. There you will get additional information on how to piece each block or technique. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. Don't forget our blocks will be set on-point so if you have a fussy cut center, cut it on-point for best results.

Note: I don't recommend cutting any other pieces of the blocks other than a center square on-point because it will create bias edges along the outside of the block and increase chances of distortion. Keep any bias edges in the center of the block.

For week #5 of the My Signature Sampler, I've chosen to sew the Broken Dishes block from the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew along I co-hosted with Maureen Cracknell last year. 

I've used prints from my Signature fabric collection from Art Gallery Fabrics and AGF Pure Elements solids for my blocks. This fabric collection and sampler quilt has me feeling like I'm in my garden when I'm sewing and I'm loving each new block more than the last.

For stock lists of online shops that carry my Signature and other AGF collections, visit my Fabrics page or the Where to Buy page on the Art Gallery Fabrics site.

For a tutorial and link to this block, follow along on the original blog post HERE. If you're wanting to sew with half-square triangle (HST) units that can be trimmed down to the desired size, then check out the SBS Extras post with HST cutting charts and tips for rounding up for larger pieces. 

To help me to remember to remind you that these blocks will be set on-point AND to get ahead on things I've decided to start adding my setting triangles to my finished blocks. I'm using a combination of my Perennial print from Printemps Fusions and Untamed Beauty Daybreak from Signature as the background setting of my quilt. 

The setting triangles are made by cutting a 9-1/2'' square on the diagonal to make two setting triangles. Be mindful of print direction, if applicable. See Community Sampler Week #13 for block setting instructions. 

Coneflower Study by Sharon Holland

The real reason I didn't get all the blocks set into the setting triangles was because I took time away from sewing to paint! I've been waiting all year to get back to painting and my schedule is finally freeing up (because I've not taken on new projects out side of my own to-do list) and want to devote my undivided attention to artwork.

Clover Study by Sharon Holland

Who knows, maybe we can all be sewing with fabrics from these botanical studies sometime next year! 

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. This sew along is being sponsored by the most amazing companies and have generously donated incredible prizes to share with you. 

OUR SPONSORS

Art Gallery Fabrics | Hobbs Batting | The Quilter's Planner | Quilters Candy Box | Bloc_Loc | Dritz |  Omnigrid | Fat Quarter Shop

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY SPONSOR IS: Bloc_Loc

Bloc_Loc was created by husband and wife team, Paul and Janna. Paul, an Australian, was an aircraft maintenance engineer and Janna, and American, is a quilt designer and author of Courtship Quilts; Inspired by the Victorian Language of Flowers, published by Martingale & Co 2005. Now based in Loveland, Colorado, Bloc_Loc manufacturers, distributes, and sells their own patent pending products which are new and innovative. Their rulers are made of the highest quality materials by the old-fashioned standard of making products and are built tough enough to last from one generation to the next!

 Shop Rulers * Follow on Facebook * Follow on Instagram 

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY VISITING BLOC_LOC RULERS

For this week's My Signature Sampler Giveaway, Bloc_Loc is offering the winner a set of two rulers that coordinate with the sizes of units used in most of our blocks. This week's prize will be a set of Half-Square Triangle rulers consisting of the useful 2-1/2" and a 4-1/4" square sizes. Be sure to visit Bloc_Loc for wonderful video tutorials on how to use all their products. 

Giveaway Now Closed. Congratulations to Denise!

Note: This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post for your first comment entry.

2. Follow Bloc_Loc on any of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow me via subscribing to my posts, on Pinterest, and/or Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or on Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post. (Separate comment-fourth entry) 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, July 23rd! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

*Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, or blocks. Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post your My Signature Sampler makes (to a public account) and you're automatically entered into the weekly IG drawings as well! See my Instagram giveaway posts @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 

Happy sewing!

Sharon