Watercolor Musings

The entire first half of this year I focused on meeting deadlines and fulfilling projects associated with being a textile/quilt designer. Don't get me wrong, I love everything I do but at some point it turns you into feeling more like a machine rather than a creative. To be honest I was getting a bit burned out but the carrot for me to power through it all was that the last half of the year I promised myself I would do less sewing and more painting!

I'm so enjoying my return to painting and my biggest surprise is how I've embrassed watercolors! Right now I'm infatuated with them and am painting at 2-3 times a week. I realized my paintings have exceeded my posting about them, thus the subject of this post.

If you follow me on Instagram @sharonhollanddesigns you've seen these images and more since I post regularly because of the ease and timesaving convenience of posting to IG.

Two weeks ago I flew home to visit my parents and family. It was a wonderful trip with relaxing quality time spent with everyone. I'm actually not ready to get back to work and am holding onto the memories of that visit.

The Cosmos in Vase watercolor painting was painted before I left as a gift for my mother's birthday. I'm extremely pleased with how that still life turned out.

I packed my watercolor supplies and had the best time each day painting along side my father. He's an extremely talented man and the driver behind my becoming the artist I am today. Again, these are memories that fill my heart with such joy!

Blanket Flower Process by Sharon Holland

With Labor Day weekend fast approaching it herald's the bitter sweet end of summer. There will still be flowers to paint for at least another month but I now feel the pressure to capture as much of this year's blooms as possible.

The lovely thing is that as I paint I'm also in the process of creating a new fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics for a 2019 spring collection. Many of these blooms I'm painting will be represented in those new prints.

I realize there's much easier ways to create repeat pattern designs then how I make mine but it's not about that for me. I love the process, the thought behind the design, and the art that goes into each thing I create. Wether it's taking the original photograph as a study, drawing from real life, painting or putting down marks on paper first my designs are an expression of who I am as an artist. Creative decisions are made every step of the way.

So, follow along here and on Instagram as I reconnect to being an artist while still being a quilt designer--it's all stitched together!

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.

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.

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.

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 — 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