Wednesday, August 15, 2012

A Sneak Preview of New Quilt Pattern, an August Winner and Hillbilly Art from Jarbidge


A New Pattern in the Works!  I’ve been promising a preview of my newest quilt design that I plan to release this month, which is presently untitled (maybe I should run a little name contest?).  Many of you know by now that I love applique, and I made this design deliberately simple with a repeating motif for those of you who haven’t got your feet wet yet in applique.  I hand-appliqued the borders, but this can also be accomplished on your home sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch and invisible thread.  The pattern will contain instructions for both methods and also how to complete the “echo” stitching around each motif in the borders using the big-stitch quilting method. Stay tuned for details on the release of this pattern . . . .



We Have a Winner!  Diane Green of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is the August Birthday Club Winner, and she has chosen my “Slice of Pie” pattern for her prize.  Congratulations Diane, and good luck to everyone next month when another winner will be drawn.  If you want to join the American Pie Birthday Club for a chance to win free patterns, just drop me an email at melanie@americanpiedesigns.com.


How About that Art . . .   I introduced the beginning of my Hillbilly Art Collection on this blog yesterday. Last weekend, hubby and I went on a Jeep trip with friends to Jarbidge, Nevada, and we had such a hoot!  Jarbidge is an old mining town near the Nevada/Idaho border that is now becoming a tourist destination. There are at least two places in Jarbidge where you can purchase scrumptious homemade jams and jar cakes, and the town is full of unusual antiques and memorabilia. The food is generally bad and the accommodations almost fair, but the beauty of Jarbidge lies in its quaintness, history, unusual architecture and uh, Hillbilly Art.

My jaw dropped at this first example.  Yes, you're seeing right--that’s an official HANDICAPPED PARKING ONLY sign planted firmly in front of the Jarbidge Post Office. Although Jarbidge boasts only a single dirt road down it's middle, I wouldn't dream of parking in front of this sign, particularly since the town sheriff lives just two doors down . . .


I found this next shot on our way back from Jarbidge in a town called Glens Ferry.  You might have to gander for a moment to truly appreciate what you're seeing. Yes, you are correct, that's a hedge made of bowling balls!  I reflected that the nearest bowling alley was at least three hours away and the balls, each weighing 10 to 18 pounds, had probably been hauled in the back of a pickup truck to their final destination.  Now that's Hillbilly Art . . .


That's it for today.  I'm back to my worktable dreaming up some new rug hooking designs and a candle mat for fall.  Hope you are having a great summer, and Happy Stitchin'!   xoxo--Melanie

6 comments:

  1. I kinda like the bowling balls. Maybe all spray painted one color the wouldn't look so "hillbilly." :-)

    I was so excited to see your project in the magazine when I got it a few days ago. Congrats!!!

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  2. You're the second person to say they liked the balls! I'm grinning as I write this. :) Thanks for checking out my design in Primitive Quilts & Projects. It was fun seeing how this project turned out in print.

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  3. I really like your new quilt pattern - patchwork with a little applique thrown in - my favorite kind! Thanks for the heads up about Jarbidge - that's not too far from us and it might make a fun trip for us some day!

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  4. Hi Gayle, good to hear from you again. I'm glad we both like applique--I enjoy taking it with me on the weekends, etc. Yes, you should visit Jarbidge. I want to go back and visit some of the old mines and the town's "Trading Post."

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  5. What a delightful find...your work, photos, patterns alllll very inspiring... I will be visiting again...

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    1. Thank you, Madame Samm. I'm happy you like my designs, and thank you for visiting!

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