Q&A Friday Week 20

Good morning and welcome to week 20 of Q&A Friday. =)  I can’t believe that we are already 20 weeks in.

First off, another (very limited) bundle is for sale in my shop.  ALL BUNDLES HAVE SOLD OUT FOR TODAY.  This one is full of beautiful light and dark grays and pops of coral.  The 15 piece bundles include a mix of quilting cottons and wovens.

I asked my 11 year old daughter Elonie for a name for this bundle and she came up with….Cloudy (the grays) With a Chance of Meatballs (the corals).  So here we have the Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs bundle. =)  I only have a few of these bundles in my shop so if you’d like one be sure to snag it right away.  If you miss out, I do plan to add bundles periodically to my shop.  I also need to list some Sugarcreek Scrap bundles so keep an eye out. =)

And now on to this week’s questions:

Robin Preston has a question about last weeks’ bundle…”Wow!  Those went fast!!  Is there any way we can get the descriptions or fabric lines that those fabrics came from?  They are delightful and my favorite color palette.”

Answer:  Of course!  Starting with that green/rosebud checkerboard fabric and working clockwise the fabrics are from the following lines:

Green/Rosebud Checkerboard: Lulu Lane

Rosebuds on Green: Strawberry Jam

Writing on Green:  Strawberry Jam

Green Checkerboard: Strawberry Jam

Red/Pink Geometric: Sunnyside Up

Larger Floral on Red: Canning Day

Small white flower on Red: Sugarcreek

Red Geometric Flowers with white dots on Pink: Flower Mill

Pink and Red Floral on White: Canning Day

Larger Floral on Pink: Sugarcreek

Small Flower/Rings on Pink: Sugarcreek

Small pink/red/yellow flowers on White: Sugarcreek

Small red/green flowers on White: Sugarcreek

Strawberries on White: Strawberry Jam

Small Flower/Rings on White: Sugarcreek

As I mentioned last week, if you are purchasing fabrics, I would encourage you to check with your local shops to see if they can help you out.  Our local quilt shops need our support right now!

Next Question from Deborah Graber: “I am curious how you come up with such unique designs for your quilts, especially the way you set the blocks.  Do you design in EQ or pencil, ruler & graph paper?  I love all your liens, but Pepper & Flax is my all time favorite.  Still have a little bit left that I am hoarding!”

Hello Friend Quilt pattern

Answer:  Thank you so much!–both for your comments on my quilt patterns as well as on Pepper & Flax. =)  I design a lot in EQ (Electric Quilt).  Sometimes, I will have a quilt that is set a little bit different or I am having trouble with in EQ, then I will work in Adobe Illustrator.  Between the two programs, I am able to do all of my design work.

Freshly Cut pattern

Susan R says: “Love your Christmas line coming out later this year!  Wow — you are soooo talented and lucky you could combine your many talents!  I’d like to know how do you balance your time, with a business, family, personal projects, instagram…the list goes on and on.  I can’t imagine and I’d love to know how to balance and get things accomplished!  Thank you!

Holliberry Grays–coming in July

Answer:  Goodness!–thank you so much!  I remember when my husband and I were first married–I was working at a job that I didn’t love and at that time, I wasn’t finding an alternative that I thought I would enjoy.  I bought a book, I don’t remember from where, about how to work from home and the jobs to look for to do so.  It wasn’t helpful at all!  It was full of full of things like “enter a bunch of sweepstakes and try to win”…and other such suggestions. =)  Needless to say, I didn’t go that route–but I did have a desire to work from home if possible.

Candy Striped Quilt

I am so fortunate that I now get to do just that…work from home, doing what I love!  For me, I prioritize…I don’t know if I think there is a balance…some things will always be more important.  You don’t have to juggle all of the balls…hold on to the most important one and let the others fall where they may.  It is when you let the other things (that are not as important) take over, that things start to feel off balance.

Gingersnap Quilt

I like to start my morning with a cup of coffee and my morning devotion.  It’s amazing how much this simple routine sets your day in place and keeps your focus where it should be.  Right now, the routine with my daughters is different than it was a month ago!  This year, my oldest daughter is home schooled while my youngest attends public school.  Next year, they will both be home schooled.  So, I usually get their days started and then am able to catch up on emails and do my shipping.

Idyllic Quilt

My youngest would normally be on the bus around 8:30 and then I could do whatever tasks I need to while my oldest is doing her schooling.  This could be making quilts, design work etc.  Even with our new routine right now with our stay at home order things still follow this same schedule for the most part.  We break for lunch…after lunch we might hang out outside, or take a walk, or the girls might play if I have something to work on.  And then when hubby gets home, it’s supper time…I don’t usually do a lot of quilt work after he gets home.

Sugarcreek prints and wovens in blue

And then, usually around 7 or 8, we gather back together, talk about what we’ve been learning in our devotions that day and have family prayer time.  As you can see, God and Family bookend my day…hang on to those and let the other things fall where they may. =)

Jelly & Jam in Sugarcreek

Thanks so much for sending in your questions for this fun column. =)  If you’d like to have me answer one of your questions, just leave it in the comments below. =)  I hope you are all staying healthy and well.  Chat soon, Corey