287: Inspired …..

287: Inspired …..

It has been a rough three weeks since I have been back from Disneyland….

Okay “rough” may not be exactly it…..Uninspired…bogged down by the “normalness” of Workville….Rained on what seems like FOREVER…..those words would be what best describe the last 3 weeks.  I don’t think I even posted anything here, did I?   When I would get home from Workville, I felt like a vegetable… like an overcooked carrot or green bean to be exact, rather lifeless and mushy.  And it’s not like I have TIME for this nonsense.  Quilt Market is coming up in a relatively VERY short amount of time, and I have a ton of projects to be working on.

So let’s get some inspiration going on here, shall we??

I have been wanting  to share some inspiration with you from my friend Bari J Ackerman for a REALLY long time now, but I just have not gotten a round to it; finally I am!!   Bari is a fabric designer extraordinaire for Lecien now and Windham in the past,  and she also has her own line of patterns aptly named “Keeping It Real” ….and well, she is just one productive lady!!  and this book of hers….wow!  Great projects, great drawings & photos, and all in all wonderful encouragement throughout!

Inspired to Sew is packed with very inspiring photos and 15 projects that span the board from Home Decor to Fashion and everything fabricy in between… even just her “ambiance” shots give decorating ideas for lovers of textiles like you and me….A nice little extra.  I have included some snaps of my book just to entice you to go out and get your own copy……as you know you need it now, right?!

I am not going to tell you all about the book because that would ruin the surprise and delight for your own discoveries….but I must tell you that Bari’s dedication to her Grandpa Danny made me cry….How many craft and art books have made you cry, huh??  Bari’s love for her grandfather and his wonderful encouragement made me think of my maternal grandmother who was SO fun from the grandkid’s point of view.  She was so just there and loving and I think she loved color and design like me, but back then it wasn’t something that  was really encouraged all that much…I always felt like other adults thought she was silly….but boy do I miss her….

Oh great, I think I am crying again….THANKS Bari!!   🙂

Here is a very ironic thing that I found in Bari’s book…..Bari is not a huge “quilter” as she is more focused on bags and embroidery and home and fashion accessories ….but she has this little tidbit on binding.  There is only one part of  my binding process that I really don’t ever like.   It is finishing it off.   I have never been quite satisfied with that part, and I have never quite liked anyone’s directions for it either….but in my “not really a quilter so much”  friend’s book,  I found something that I think I can wrap my brain around.   I have tried it once, and it didn’t quite work…but it was close,  so I am going to try it again and see if I can get it better.   THANKS Bari!!

I would have to say that Part of the reason Bari and I get along so well is that we follow the same aesthetic that MORE color and MORE prints are definitely Merrier!!  I love how she piles on the color….Very Inspiring!!

This little house pincushion is one of the things I want to make right away.  I just haven’t had the time to get to it….but someday I will….

I really love how Bari calls what she does with fabric “Fabric Mixology” and just to prove she’s not only talented in art, she’s also very smart because she trademarked that phrase to her method of mixing so many fabrics together!! I told her she was a dog because that’s what I think I do…and now I would have to pay her to use the phrase! She just laughed at me….that’s what is so nice about being friends, you can have little bantering conversations like that and it’s all in good fun!  If you get the wonderful opportunity to ever meet Bari in person, you will know what I mean.  One of the sweetest ladies I have ever met.   And in this business there are a lot of them!

To help celebrate my friend Bari’s new book (relatively new, it came out in January), I am having a little giveaway of some of her County Lane fabric and one of her fabulous patterns that she has generously donated to us today.

All you have to do is leave a little comment about what inspires you to sew…simple right?  and then if you want more chances to win, go to Twitter and find both Blue Nickel Studios and BariJ there.    Follow us there and come back and tell me.  And for a third chance to win sign up for both of our blog subscriptions.  We both have them set up as email subscriptions where you only get an email  when we post…or if you want to put us in your RSS server instead that’s fine too (I just don’t get that whole deal, so if someone doesn’t have an email subscription, I don’t hit their sites as much because I forget easily)  If you already are a blog follower of  one of us,  then sign up for the other and tell me in a comment,  or if you already follow us both let me know that too….

Did I just make that too complicated?

Once more…simply put…

three ways to win:

1. Comment here telling what inspires your sewing?

2. Follow Bari and Blue Nickel Studios on Twitter and comment letting me know you do now or already did.

3. Sign up to get Bari’s Blog post and Blue Nickel posts and comment letting me know you do now  or already did.

I will have Random Number selection next Wednesday the 20th at like 4 AM  Pacific time…(or a little later)

One almost last thing, I have to say that one of the reasons that I think this book was done well is because Bari’s publishing company was C & T’s new imprint Stash Books.   I have been very impressed with this company from one of their first books, Cherri House‘s City Quilts last May.  Stash does a great job on making sure things are very clearly instructed and they have excellent illustrations and photography going on.

And speaking of Stash Books,    I was lucky enough to get myself  a spot on Amy Adams‘ Blog Book Tour of  her new book by Stash called:

Here is the line up for this great tour!!
monday 18th april – whip up – http://whipup.net/ (kicking off with a brand new, not in the book, free pattern)
tuesday 19th april – bari j – http://www.barij.typepad.com/
wednesday 20th april – blue nickel studios – https://bluenickelstudios.com/
thursday 21st april – fat quarterly – http://fatquarterly.com/
friday 22nd april – ric-rac – http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/
saturday 23rd april – skyo – http://syko.typepad.com/
sunday 24th april – lucykate craftshttp://lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com
monday 25th april – treefall designhttp://treefalldesign.typepad.com
tuesday 26th april – i heart linen – http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com/
wednesday 27th april – sometimes crafter – http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/
thursday 28th april – plush you – http://plushyou.blogspot.com/
friday 29th april – allsorts – http://www.allsorts.typepad.com/
And even better??  You can enter at everyone of these blog stops to win a copy of Countryside Softies for your very own!!
But wait, there’s more….all of those winners are also eligible for the grand prize of an original Softie made by Ms. Adams herself!!
So make sure you stop by here on the 20th for that post and chance to win as well.
So are you still here? Thanks for not giving up on me and my unbearably long absence (at least in the bloggy sense of time)…Hopefully this post made up for some of that lack of my electronic presence in your life!
I do have some more posts lined up and actually quite a few giveaways coming up…..so maybe that will make up for my previous silence too…you may even want to wish for a little peace and quiet so you can sew something, huh?
Piece out!!
Scott

68 Comments

  • I’m inspired to sew by the fabrics, the people I love and sometimes just a little voice that says seeeew!

    April 16, 2011 at 7:32 am
  • I follow both of you guys on Twitter!

    April 16, 2011 at 7:32 am
  • Moni

    Reply

    I am inspired by everthing around me. I am also inspired by people like you. I have enjoyed your blog vey much. I already subscribe to your blog and have subscribed to Bari’s blog, which looks wonderful.

    April 16, 2011 at 8:45 am
  • robin

    Reply

    I’m inspired by seeing the work of others, and nature, and just have to be in the mood.

    April 16, 2011 at 10:13 am
  • robin

    Reply

    I follow you both on Twitter now.

    April 16, 2011 at 10:13 am
  • robin

    Reply

    I signed up both of your blogs on Google Reader, and read them there! 🙂

    April 16, 2011 at 10:16 am
  • veronica

    Reply

    I mostly am inspired by color. And just about any color.
    Looking forward to getting Bari’s book.

    April 16, 2011 at 11:56 am
  • veronica

    Reply

    I follow both you and Bari on twitter.

    April 16, 2011 at 11:58 am
  • Hey there! perhaps will see you in Salt lake! try to say hi!
    Love Bari’s stuff.. She awesome!

    April 16, 2011 at 1:51 pm
  • Probably color is the first thing I notice. However, if it has a star in the pattern; I’ll fall for it everytime…..smile.

    April 16, 2011 at 6:07 pm
  • Jansie Martin

    Reply

    I absolutely LOVE Bari J.!! I have many of her patterns and her fabric is to die for. She is so totally unique. What inspires me to sew are my nieces. I love making things for them and my sister. 🙂

    April 16, 2011 at 6:37 pm
  • Melody

    Reply

    Probably most often I’m inspired by color but often it’s a project I see that I want to put my own spin on.

    April 16, 2011 at 6:43 pm
  • Melody

    Reply

    I’m already a follower of yours but just signed up for Bari’s also. Thanks for the heads up

    April 16, 2011 at 6:44 pm
  • Jansie Martin

    Reply

    Following you and Bari on Twitter!

    April 16, 2011 at 6:46 pm
  • Jansie Martin

    Reply

    I am signed up to get blog posts from you and Bari.

    April 16, 2011 at 6:46 pm
  • My inspiration comes from the weather more then anywhere else. The many changes that occur through each season gives me plenty to think about and then work something out that puts me in the mind of what I see.

    April 16, 2011 at 7:48 pm
  • I follow both you and Barij on twitter

    April 16, 2011 at 7:48 pm
  • i’m mostly inspired by colours. the brighter the better. Recently I was inspired by a new book, Scribbling Women, and found that I just had to make a quilt to represent what I felt about this novel.

    April 16, 2011 at 7:48 pm
  • I follow both your and Barij’s blogs.

    April 16, 2011 at 7:51 pm
  • Patty

    Reply

    I am inspired by reading blogs and seeing the new fabrics and how they are used.

    April 16, 2011 at 8:02 pm
  • I LOVE Bari’s work & her book! She is one of the first sewers I started blog following. She inspires me, for sure! Different things inspire me at different times. I’m in a bright floral mode now and I think the beauty of God’s creation inspires me in that way. Our Texas wildflowers are in bloom! Well, sort of, without much rain they are so-so. I would LOVE some more Country Lane fabric & that pattern is one I’ve eyed since she first showed it!

    April 16, 2011 at 11:39 pm
  • Just signed up to follow you on Twitter & already follow Bari.

    April 16, 2011 at 11:40 pm
  • I follow both you & Bari on Google reader.

    April 16, 2011 at 11:40 pm
  • And, since I don’t have a clue how to tweet someone (I can read it but haven’t done well at learning how to post to someone), I have to say I empathize with the daughter situation. We have a 12 & 14 year old. Today was rougher than normal here. I hear it doesn’t last forever but I’d really like that parenting instruction book about now! LOL!

    April 16, 2011 at 11:42 pm
  • Jodi

    Reply

    I am inspired by my mother and my late grandmother who gave me my love of stitching; By my daughter and nephew who I love to stitch for; and by the amazing women in my fiber arts group who create the most amazing and beautiful things.

    April 17, 2011 at 5:46 am
  • I’m inspired to sew by the need to create something that would only exist if I made it. I’m not a master of any craft, but it never stops me from fulfilling my urge to create. I love how creating something places you very much in the moment, but still allows your mind to relax.

    April 17, 2011 at 7:14 am
  • I receive your updates in my email.

    April 17, 2011 at 7:14 am
  • I receive Bari’s updates in my email.

    April 17, 2011 at 7:15 am
  • Jacqueline

    Reply

    I follow you both on twitter! =)

    April 17, 2011 at 11:01 am
  • Jacqueline

    Reply

    I am inspired by… Colors. The need to be creative and the need to feel accomplished. Andddd projects that keep my ADD satisfied. =)

    April 17, 2011 at 11:06 am
  • Vicki K

    Reply

    You and your fellow bloggers inspire me! Sometimes just looking at someone else’s color choices gets me to interpret something different – but with my own twist. Thank you!

    April 17, 2011 at 12:49 pm
  • Marcia W.

    Reply

    My inspiration comes from nature and the colors and geometry that I see there makes me want to quilt. Turning inspiration into reality, a.k.a. a finished quilt, comes from my Mom. She is a great quilter and likes to finish her projects — and sweetly keeps me on the right track to finish my own. Thanks for the giveaway to you and to Bari. No blog and no twitter so this is my single entry.

    April 17, 2011 at 3:23 pm
  • Inspiration comes from the sheer joy of texture and color that surrounds us every day!

    April 17, 2011 at 6:35 pm
  • Kenda S.

    Reply

    I am inspired by pictures of other crafts I have seen done, sometimes by the fact I don’t like anything in my closet so I want to make something new and refreshing to wear and most recently inspired by the Johnny Depp “Alice in Wonderland” Movie. Iam handquilting images of the movie into a quilt that Im working on for my daughter. So far I have the Mad Hatters hat and can’t wait to get more on it.

    April 17, 2011 at 8:49 pm
  • Kenda S.

    Reply

    Oh and I am subscribed to both you and Bari’s blogs

    April 17, 2011 at 8:55 pm
  • I am inspired to sew because sewing is “in my blood!” My Mom, her sister and their Mom sewed, as did my Dad’s mom. I am also inspired by viewing all the lovelies made by my bloggy friends!

    April 18, 2011 at 9:32 am
  • I already follow your blog and Bari’s blog in my reader.

    April 18, 2011 at 9:32 am
  • Rosie

    Reply

    I am inspired by the online quilting community. Usually just meld a few ideas into one quilt. Thanks!

    April 18, 2011 at 10:58 am
  • Rosie

    Reply

    I get your blog through Google Reader.

    April 18, 2011 at 10:59 am
  • MoeWest

    Reply

    I’m inspired by the large number of beautiful cotton fabric lines available these days. When I first started sewing (clothes), I was limited to what I could find in my local fabric store. Now I am sewing for my home and quilting and there is no limit to the beautiful fabrics available over the internet and locally.

    April 18, 2011 at 11:40 am
  • MoeWest

    Reply

    I was already following Bari on Twitter, and now I’m following you too. Thanks for a fabulous giveaway.

    April 18, 2011 at 11:42 am
  • MoeWest

    Reply

    I follow both blogs.

    April 18, 2011 at 11:42 am
  • LindaSonia

    Reply

    Colors and flowers and nature inspires me to sew… just want it all around me.

    April 19, 2011 at 4:32 am
  • LindaSonia

    Reply

    I am a follower of Bari’s and would love to win her book – photos of projects from her book look scrumptious!!

    Oops, Linda just so you know I am only giving away one of Bari’s patterns and some fabric…not the book this time…but check back on the 20th Stash books will be giving away a book here!!

    April 19, 2011 at 4:33 am
  • LindaSonia

    Reply

    I’m now a follower of your blog too and happy to do so!

    April 19, 2011 at 4:34 am
  • When I think about a gift for someone I think about them. When I create a tote I examine the recipient and what they’re like. I head into the fabric stores with something in my mind, hunt around the shop waiting for the fabric to speak to me. Then while I’m there, a new sewn sample is up, new fabric has come in, a new technique – and my picture changes.

    April 19, 2011 at 8:31 pm
  • LH

    Reply

    I’m inspired by the joy my creations bring to people. My toddler is my favorite recipient-so blissfully unaware of alll the flaws in the stuff his mama makes him 🙂

    April 20, 2011 at 6:02 am
  • Chris

    Reply

    I love little stuffed creatures. I am in the middle of finishing the third Easter bunny for the baskets this Sunday. I would love a chance to win a book!

    April 20, 2011 at 6:19 am
  • Ellen Ban

    Reply

    Fabrics and color are inspiring me lately!

    April 20, 2011 at 8:18 am
  • Syd

    Reply

    All the fun fabrics and colors in them get my creative juices flowing. I love to try new ideas. I have a copy of Inspired to Sew and I love love love it. There are so many ideas and just wish there were more hours in the day. Thanks for this chance to win.

    April 20, 2011 at 9:32 am
  • Shelley C

    Reply

    The net inspires me! I see so many things I want to do; new color combos that speak to me etc. Hope this gets in under the wire?

    April 20, 2011 at 9:41 am
  • Julie in WA

    Reply

    I am most inspired by reading other quilt blogs! I lean towards bloggers that think outside the box, as I am not quite there yet, but I sure can learn alot from those who share their own creative processes!

    April 20, 2011 at 10:50 am
  • LoriJ

    Reply

    I get inspired by the colors and patterns of the fabric. Plus all of the projects and ideas I find by reading sewing/quilt, and other creative blogs that I read everyday!

    April 20, 2011 at 6:26 pm
  • Colleen

    Reply

    I am inspired by history and nature and art to sew. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!

    April 20, 2011 at 6:32 pm
  • Colleen

    Reply

    i follow in google reader! thanks!

    April 20, 2011 at 6:33 pm
  • I’m inspired to sew mostly because of all the quilting bogs on the internet! Sooo much creativity and talent. I love reading what other folks are doing and it encourages me to try new things. I’d love to win your giveaway!

    April 21, 2011 at 5:29 am
  • Laura

    Reply

    I’m inspired to sew by beautiful things.

    April 21, 2011 at 6:33 am
  • Laura

    Reply

    I follow you on google reader

    April 21, 2011 at 6:56 am
  • Indianna

    Reply

    I’m inspired by seed heads and dried flowers – usually with some sea thrown in for good measure.

    April 21, 2011 at 8:06 am
  • Indianna

    Reply

    I follow you and Bari on Google reader – love to be inspired by others too!

    April 21, 2011 at 8:07 am
  • Great blogs like yours and Bari’s inspire me to sew!

    April 21, 2011 at 7:00 pm
  • I follow both you and Bari on Twitter!

    April 21, 2011 at 7:01 pm
  • I am signed up to have both your and Bari’s blog post show up in my Google Reader!

    April 21, 2011 at 7:01 pm
  • I find inspiration in architecture and store displays. Thanks for the chance!

    April 22, 2011 at 6:20 am
  • I signed up for both newsletters.

    April 22, 2011 at 6:25 am
  • I get inspiration from my kids and grandkids, from the great outdoors which surrounds me and from fabric scraps that come my way. This book looks inspiring too. Thanks for a chance to win.

    April 22, 2011 at 12:15 pm
  • Nikki

    Reply

    Not trying to suck up but you inspire me seeing your work close up and meeting the creator of my most favorite quilt was an inspiration!

    April 25, 2011 at 8:38 pm
  • Nikki

    Reply

    I follow on twitter both of you

    April 25, 2011 at 8:39 pm

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