food, crochet, merriment
“In my Grandma Marion’s backyard were the most stunning flowerbeds and roses. She had a wall dividing her vegetable garden from her lawn which was covered with deep red climbing roses. Every so often she would ask us to go out and cut her a bouquet for her counter. To this day, the smell of roses puts me in her kitchen with the blue and white linoleum.
Sweet Marion fabric ships February 2017–Ask your favorite shop to order it now!”
~ April
“Sweet Marion fabrics play nicely with my previous lines, all are a part of a beautiful master palette I’ve had so much fun building. Mixing and matching collections is so much fun!
One of my favorite stories about my Grandma: As a young and even middle aged woman she was afraid of and even angry toward Japanese people, as a result of WWII. When she and her family moved to Utah, she found herself in the same church congregation as a lovely couple–the wife was from Japan and spoke broken English. This woman became my Grandma’s very best friend, because despite her fear–she would always be kind to everyone. Everyone. Differences make us into a beautiful master palette–kindness makes us friends.”
~ April
“This print might be my favorite in this collection, but I’m sure I will say that more than once before this show is over! I remember my Grandma Marion had quite a few floral blouses. They were silky, and floraly, and I seem to remember at least one that tied at the neck. She wore these lovely tops to church and special occasions, and I remember thinking she was so elegant to wear such fancy material. I have no idea if they were real silk, polyester, or rayon, but in my little girl head, she was the epitome of grace and class.”
~ April
A guest post from my Smarty-pants daughter~
“Please welcome Sweet Marion, my newest collection for Moda fabrics! Tag your favorite quilt shops in the comments below and ask them to order it now!!
Here’s the story behind this collection, with more photos and stories every day on my page. I hope you’ll follow along!
In my Grandma’s backyard, she had a beautiful oasis. Lush flower beds, climbing roses, and blessed shade in the hot desert temperatures. Some of my fondest memories are of spending summer mornings in her garden, pulling the few weeds. I would barely get anything done before she would be at the back door calling to me: “It’s too hot out to weed! Come in and have a chocolate pudding!” Sweet Marion, named for my lovely, soft-spoken Grandma is a reflection of her gentle way and beautiful heart. She loved pinks, and blues, and me. I hope this collection brings you many hours of happy creating!
xoxo, April
Ships February 2017″
Learn more about Prairie Grass patterns and April’s awesome fabrics just click HERE.
Before quilt market, April and I hit on a fantastic idea.
Since she would have a booth at the Moda area, why not use that cute baby as a living mannequin–so to speak. We could dress her up in pretty little ruffly things made with the prettiest fabric on the planet. SUCH a good idea!
I scoured the internet and found just the right patterns–four to be exact–for the entire event. That baby would have a new outfit from her mama’s fabric for all three days at the conference and one special dress to wear to the fancy-schmancy black and white formal dinner.
The teensy tiny catch was that I only had 6 days to make the 4 outfits.
The race was on!
1~ The first thing was the easiest. I made the little pants to go with a sweet little red shirt. Sadly, because I made the top last, I don’t have a picture of it.
2~ Next, was this little summer dress. It was autumn weather her in Utah, but it was warmer in Texas, so this outfit would still work.
I was nervous that this one would be too wide for this tiny baby girl so I sewed a tie on the front…
that cinched it up just enough, with a little bow in the back.
Completed.
3~ This sweet flowery top…
with the double tiered, ruffly bloomers. So dang cute!!
4~ And last of all, the “formal” dress for the Black and White dinner.
I finished the last stitch on the last top–the red one–about an hour before taking April and Jacob and the baby to the airport. Yeah, that’s pushing it, I know.
But it worked…
in the nick of time!
Phew!
