THE ART OF HOME {Companion}

FALL 2013

I know many people regard autumn (or fall, as we say in the

U.S.) as their favorite season. I, for one, U.S.) as their favorite season. I, for one, really enjoy the change of seasons (with fall & spring being tied for my favorite season.) I think my favorite thing about fall is the color palette- oranges, dark reds, purples, golds..... And of course as the weather turns cooler and crisper, it’s

time to settle in & cozy up! time to settle in & cozy up!

fall 2013contentstable of

All content (art, recipes, photos, projects, text, etc.) copyright Jacquelynne Steves.All Rights Reserved.Photography & Layout by Jacquelynne Steves.Jacquelynne Steves.

I am always inspired by other creative people, aren’t you? I just lovegetting a glimpse into their world & creative process. Recently, I spoke with creative process. Recently, I spoke with one my favorite people and designers, Brenda Riddle! I think you will enjoy my interview with her- even though I’ve known her for several years, there were delightful new things I learned about her! Happy Fall, Y’all! -Jacquelynne

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Fall

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Indian Summertable runner

Cut fabric into strips, 13 1/2” long by 2-3” wide (vary the widths to make it more in-teresting. You will need approximately 20 strips.

Sew the strips together until the piece is about 36” long. [Photo a]

Press the seams so that they all go the same direction. [photo b]

Trim the piece so that it is 12 1/2 x 35 1/2” (You can fold it in half so that it fits on your cutting table.) [photo c]

a

b

c

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An Indian Summer is a heat wave that occurs in

the autumn. Sometimes it’s hard

to say goodbye to summer, but the

bright colors in this project will add a cheerful touch to your autumn decoautumn decor, and are a nice complement to the darker hues of fall.

Press the long edges of the white fabric 1/4” towards wrong side of fabric. [photo d]

Pin white fabric strip to center of table runner. Top stitch in place, about 1/8” from edge. (Use a walking foot if you have one to help keep your fabric from bunching up.) [photos e, f, g]

Pin the 1” wide ribbon to the white strip (it will be a little long- that’s OK, you can trim the extra later.)Using matching thread, topstitch the ribbon to the table runner along both long edges, getting as close to the edge as you can. [photo h]

If you find that the table runner has buckled, gently smooth it from the center with your fingers and then press.

d

e f g

h

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Carefully press (test your ribbon before pressing it- depending on what material it is made of, the hot iron can make it melt! Use a press-ing cloth if necessary.)

Pin rick rack to edges of white fabric strip and topstitch in place (just one row of stitches right down the center of the rick rack will do it.) Press. [photo i]

Trim excess ribbon and rick rack as necessary.

Place table runner and backing fabric right sides together. Stitch together with a 1/4” seam allowance. Leave a 6” opening for turning. Backstitch at beginning and ending of stitching. [photo j]

Clip the corners. [photo k]

i

j

Turn right side out. Carefully push out cor-ners and seams. Press, turning the edges of the opening in toward each other. Pin the opening closed.

Topstitch around table runner, 1/8” from edge. [photo l]

k

l

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stop by today & say hello... I’d love to “meet” you!

Craft Projects...Sewing & Quilting...

Yummy Recipes...

Studio Tour...And more..............

Blog...

If you haven’t visited yet, this is what you have been missing!

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Everyone remembers that lunchtime favorite grilled cheese and tomato soup from a can, right? Don’t get me wrong- I have very fond memories of canned tomato soup! But sometimes you want something a little more “grown up.” Tomato soup may have grown up, but everyone in your family is sure to love this version, plus it’s a great way to get lots of vegetables in your family’s diet.

of Brenda Riddle Designs &

Acorn Quilt & Gift Company

Jacquelynne: Hello, Brenda! I just love chatting with you! So let’s start at the beginning- When did you get started with quilting and sewing? Who taught you?

Brenda: I started with needlework when I was in grade school, when a babysitter brought some embroidery to work on. I watched her stitch all evening and was fascinated. From there, my Mom pulled out some stitchery supplies, showed me some stitches and I was off & run-ning. (I think I embroidered anything that didn’t move. . . every pillowcase I could find, and then I moved onto clothes. . . jeans, shirts. . . even my sneakers!

I started quilting several years after col-lege. My Grandmas were quilters, & I knew I loved the quilts that they made and I was curious about the process. I took a hand piecing class (this was before rotary cutters, mats & rulers!) . . . and I was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of time it took! I of time it took! I was also very busy work-ing full time and also with the high school group at my church - so the quilt-ing took a bit of a back seat for a few years. But, my interest was still there & once I discovered the new tools (rotary cut-

ters, etc. . .) I was hooked, and I’ve never stopped. That was about 22 years ago.

J.S. How did you get started designing quilts?

BB.R. I’m one of those that rarely made a quilt exactly as the pattern stated. I was always making changes. I had been in the interior design business business for a bit - so I was used to drawing up designs. Soon, I found I was doodling & filling up sketch-books with my own quilt design ideas. I was surrounded by some wonderful friends who were quil-ters & who encouraged me to make my de-signs into patterns.

J.S. You have an art/graphic art back-ground- how has that affected your design process? Do your technical (com-puter) skills come in handy with your design process?

B.R. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Art/De-sign and I find it has been applied in what I do all the time. Although, when I was getting my degree. . . we didn’t work

on computers - we did everything by hand. (Which I am extremely thankful for!) I actually learned to design with the computer when I was teaching design & was a yearbook advisor for the school where I taught. I was introduced to Mac’s (yep, I’m a Mac girl through & through!), InDesign, and PhotoshoInDesign, and Photoshop, and they are wonderful tools that I love having.

J.S. Where do you get your ideas? Where does your color sense/color palette come from?

B.R. I am so inspired by vintage and clas-sic designs and I love to draw from those. As a designer, I actually love many color palettes, but I think I am often associated with a softer, faded, vintage color palette. That is the color palette that fills my home, as I find it comforting and casual and classic.and classic.

J.S. What is your design process? Do you sketch ideas on paper first, or design every-thing on your computer?

B.R. Even though I do appreciate using the computer & the design programs (so con-venient!), I am most comfortable starting my designs in a sketchbook, & working out the design with pencil & paper. I then move to the computer to finish & finalize the designs for print.

J.S. So you’ve been designing quilts for 10 years- have you always included hand embroidery in your quilt designs? When did you decide that you wanted to expand your product line to embroidery and cross-stich designs?

BB.R. For the first few years of designing - my designs were mostly pieced & appliqué quilts & wool designs. . . but with my love of stitchery, I just couldn’t help adding them into the mix. I’ve been adding em-broidery to several designs and doing em-broidery versions of several of my appliqué designs for the last few years. I’m so happy to find that so many out there are em-bracing stitchery & needlework and enjoy-ing the process! For many it is a return to

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what they learned when they were young-er, but I’m finding there are also many who are just now learning and jumping in with stitchery for the first time!

This year, I’ve also added counted cross-stitch designs to my design lines.It just made senseto me. In the last few years, I’ve ‘dipped my toes’ into counted cross-stitch, and ffound it was so much more than when I used to do cross-stitch 25-30 years ago! The use of linens, the choices of thchoices of threads to use (o(over-dyed floss, silk flosses, etc. . .) has completely changed (for me) the field of counted cross-stitch. Also, something that drew me into the field is the appreciation for the history of the art and the appreci-ation of vintage pieces (such as samplers) and the ability to reproduce them.

So, as I started working on my first set of designs for counted cross-stitch, I decided that it made perfect sense to create a sam-pler. A few years ago, I designed a quilt (By My Hand) based on my love of counted cross-stitch samplers. Soon after its release, I received requests for it in an embembroidery format, & I was more than happy to oblige! Then, when I decided to design for counted cross-stitch, it just made sense to create the ‘By My Hand’ sampler for real. . . I did it all a bit back-wards. . . but it was a fun journey for me!

J.S. Tell us about your recent trip to the Needlework Market trade show. Was this the first time that you exhibited there?

BB.R. I have been ‘visiting’ the TNNA (The National Needle Arts Association) Nee-dlework Market for the last few years, and I (finally) decided to participate in the latest Fall Market. It was held just outside St. Louis, in St. Charles. Missouri, and it was a wonderful experience! I have done Quilt Market (the tdone Quilt Market (the trade show for the quilting industry, which is held in large convention centers) for so many years, but these Needlework Markets (that feature counted cross-stitch & embroidery) are set up differently - where the designers set up their displays & designs in theliving room area of their hotel suites, & you open up your suite doors & the shop owners come around & visit you in your suite! It’s such a home-y & comfortable set-up.. . . I loved it!

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Brenda’s booth at Fall 2013 Needlework Market

J.S. I love, love, love your chalkboard de-signs! How did you come up with the idea?

B.R. As a designer, I have always loved fonts and letterforms, and to me chalk-board art embraces that in such a creative way! I just thought how fun it would be to adapt the look to stitchery. . . and with the great linens and flosses out there, when I found a wonderful over-dyed grey linen, I knew it linen, I knew it was meant to be. I have started with two designs (‘Believe’ and ‘Amazing Grace’) and they are the first of a collection “chalkboard” designs for stitchery.

J.S. Your blog is so warm and friendly, full of grace and encouragement. What inspires and encourages you?

BB.R. Thank you. That means so much to me, as I feel like I have had so much grace and encouragement extended to me by so many. I think that it all comes down to my faith, my family, and the blessings that surround me each and every day. I just hope that I can share that with others.that with others.

J.S. Anyone who reads your blog knows how important your “studio helper” Bailey is! How long have you had him, and is had him, and is he a good studio buddy?

BB.R. Ahh. . . my little buddy, Bailey. My little man came into my life a little over seven years ago. I got him when he was 9 weeks old, and he has always been such a little cutie patootie! He has such a funny personality and he is a great studio buddy. He usually is very quiet (r(read: sleeping in ‘his’ chair) . . .unless it is dinner-time (seriously. . . he has a timer in his tummy!), and then he comes and stares at me. If I don’t pay attention soon enough, I get a little ‘talking to’ by Bailey. (He takes his dinnertime very seriously.) (J.S.: So do I, ha ha.)

J.S. What is on the horizon for you? Do you have any hints you can share regard-ing what we may be seeing from you next?

B.R. One of the things I really dislike about the design industry is that we have to keep quiet about projects sometimes. . . so what I can say is that although I’m taking a bit of a break from designing quilt fabrics, I am continuing to design them, & am finding many other ways to use the design elements(!). I am finishing use the design elements(!). I am finishing the work on a few new quilt designs (to the ‘Farmhouse Collection’), as well as new cross-stitch designs for release in February at the Nashville Needlework Market.

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A FewFun Facts about Br

enda....

All photos & art, except photo of Brenda courtesy of Brenda Riddle. Photo of Brenda Riddle by Jacquelynne Steves.

By My Hand St

itchery

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We are so excited to introduce our very rst e-book (also available in a printed version.). This 56 page, full color book includes lots of step-by-step photos, clear instructions, and even links to informational videos to make your creative experience easy

and enjoyable

JacquelynneSteves.com

Includes: •2 quilt patterns, each with 2 different colorways•roomy tote bag pattern•2 embroidery projects•3 stuffed animal patterns- cat, dog & bunny•kid-friendly recipes••kids’ activities, coloring sheets & more!

E-book only $12.00

Beautiful full color printed book only $15.00

Black cardstock- 2 sheets (8 1/2 x 11” or 12 x 12”)

Decorative paper or scrapbook paper- 2 sheets*

2 black frames, 8 x 10”

Glue stick or double sided tape (preferably archival/acid free)

Thin cardboard or plastic for Thin cardboard or plastic for making a template

Pencil, scissors

*Gold Metallic Chevron paper sohwn can be found here at the Paper Source website(this is a large sheet and will be more than sufficent for this project)

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Trace owl shape pattern onto thin cardboard or plastic and cut out to make a template. Place template on black card-stock and trace around it with pencil; cut out owl shape.owl shape.

Repeat with decorative paper, this time flipping the template over so that you get a reverse image.

Remove backing from frame and place it on black cardstock.Trace around backing and cut out cardstock to make a background the proper size to fit in your frame. Repeat to make a decoRepeat to make a deco-rative paper background.

Tape or glue owls to paper backgrounds.

Insert into frames.

Quilted Owl Wall Hanging

Sew burlap strip to bottom of wall hanging. Place

backing fabric on table WRONG SIDE UP. Place bat-

ting on top. Place wall hanging on top of batting

RIGHT SIDE UP. Pin or baste layers together.

To quilt, stitch in the ditch (along seam lines.) Trim

away excess backing fabric and batting. Bind with

remaining orange fabric.

Use embroidery floss (3 strands) or wool thread

(2-3 strands) to make X’s on burlap.

(Tip- find center of burlap and make a Green X (Tip- find center of burlap and make a Green X

about 1 1/4” big at center point. Make green X’s at

ends of row, then make 2 more X’s in between the

center X and the end X’s. Fill in top row with 4

orange X’s. Don’t worry about making your X’s per-

fect- this should have a home-made look to it.)

Free Pattern“Hoo Loves You?”

Copyright Jacquelynne StevesMay not be reproduced or used for commercial purposes with permission.

Thank you!!

www.JacquelynneSteves.com

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a celebration of all things lovely!things we

(Click Photos & Project Names above to be taken directly to web pages)

Beth at Hungry Happenings

Inside Out Caramel Apples

Brenda at Acorn Quilt & Gift Company

From Little Acorns Quilt Pattern

By Terri Conrad of Terri Conrad Designs

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Celebrate, Encourage Art Print

Alycia at The Curious Pug- Also check out her new site Habitual Homebody

Fall Argyle Yarn Wreath

“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.” John Donne