Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Lotus

I'm very excited to share more about Lotus with you today! I have made 3 of this quilt in the last few weeks. This is another pattern that features the Hex N More ruler.


Quilt #1 Details 
Fabric is Artisan Batiks: Lake Country by Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman
Pattern - Lotus, JBQ 128
Designed by me
Quilted by Angela Walters
Started on 9/20/12
Finished on 9/30/12
Quilt measures - 52" x 60"

The next Lotus quilt is made in Salt Water by Tula Pink. It's no secret that I am a huge Neptune fan so I'm very excited for Salt Water!!

 Quilt Details 
Fabric is Salt Water by Tula Pink for Freespirit
Pattern - Lotus, JBQ 128
Designed by me
Quilted by Angela Walters
Started on 10/12/12
Finished on 10/25/12
Quilt measures - 52" x 60"

The third Lotus is a baby size quilt made from Lucy's Crab Shack.


Quilt Details 
Fabric is Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater for Moda
Pattern - Lotus, JBQ 128
Designed by me
Quilted by Angela Walters
Started on 10/5/12
Finished on 10/24/12
Quilt measures - 35" x 45"



Here is the back of the pattern. This pattern comes in 4 size options.



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All three Quilts were on display this past weekend at Quilt Market. 

Artisan Batiks: Lake Country by Lunn Studios was on display in the Robert Kaufman booth.

Lucy's Crab Shack by Sweetwater for Moda was on display in the United Notions booth. 

Salt Water by Tula Pink was on display in the Freespirit booth.


Thank you to all of the companies who displayed my quilts & projects at Quilt Market!

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Here are many photos from the cover shoots & all the Lotus quilts.

Shoot #1... way too windy!

Detail of part of the back & the quilting.
Sometimes photos include climbing trees!
I really wanted this to work somehow. It is SO rare to see trees in San Diego that change color in the fall!!

The sun rapidly was setting.

Detail of Angela's amazing quilting.
The photos on the fence were much better.

Even though sometimes it was still quite windy.

More detail of the quilting... what would I do without Angela?

Here is a photo I took of the Salt Water Lotus as soon as I finished it. It was just an hour before I left to go to the airport for Quilt Market!

I couldn't be happier with how this quilt came out. I love it.

Here is a detail shot of one of my favorite blocks. The octopus is adorable!!
Many people have asked if Salt Water will coordinate well with Neptune. The answer is YES! I used some of my treasured Neptune stash on the back of my Salt Water quilt. This photo shows you how well they play together!

Here is a detail shot of the bindings of the Salt Water and Lucy's Crab Shack quilts. 


Since my Quilt Patterns feature size options I often try to make them in more than one size to show you the possibilities. Here is the Baby size featuring Lucy's Crab Shack.


Detail of Angela's quilting.

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So now I have a question for you...

At Quilt Market people commented that the cover sample didn't feel like me. I would love to know what you think... The current quilt is on the cover for 2 reasons. The first is that I finished it weeks ago and had time to photograph it. (I just got the Salt Water fabric the day I started the quilt!.) The second is because I've never had a pattern cover with batiks despite featuring them in my book. While I don't work with Batik fabrics as often as prints, I enjoy them and wanted to see the response.

 OR

So the big question is... Keep the current cover or shoot new photos tomorrow and use the Salt Water quilt on the cover?

I appreciate your feedback!



© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

36 comments:

Sharyn Hutchinson said...

Keep the current cover photo, Julie. I love it!

Kathryn said...

I think the current cover is just great.

Nancy Anne in the Finger Lakes said...

Stay with the batik. It is stunning!

Auntie Pami said...

I love batiks, love the colors and I like it just the way it is.

Cindy Sharp said...

Love this quilt.

I'd keep the current cover....unless you just don't like it and want to go play with the other quilt to take it's picture.

M.W. said...

I would say keep the current cover. Something different for you is not a bad thing is it? I really love all the quilts made with this pattern. If it is really bothering you by all means retake the photo. Only you know for sure.

Kelly said...

The original cover photo of the quilt in batiks, is STUNNING! I think the fabrics and pattern in combination are so different and sophisticated.
The version in prints is cute, but I love the batiks!

Judy Bentley and Ron Pagel said...

Keep the current cover and on the back put a thumbnail size picture of an alternative color way made from Salt Water.

Jayme said...

Although the current cover quilt isn't your norm, and I'm not a fan of batiks, I think it's an amazing cover quilt. I think using it as your cover opens you to a wider demographic. To show those who only use batiks that they can be used in modern designs and still look stunning.

Laura said...

Keep the cover! I love the batiks ... I know they're not loved by everyone and for some reason aren't considered to be "modern," but they look fantastic. I like the suggestion above about putting a small photo on the back with one of the other quilts.

Erica said...

I was surprised to see a batik quilt on your cover but I think you should leave it. It is beautiful but moreso, I think it will reach out to a larger audience who might not see themselves as modern but will then open their eyes to the possibilities upon seeing this quilt - how awesome is that? Love that Salt Water quilt and fabric and the baby quilt is awesome too. I think I want to add this pattern to my collection as well!

EG said...

The cover photo is my least favorite of the color schemes you showed us today, but that's because it's not ME, not because it's not YOU. Could you feature that one AND a brighter color scheme on the cover?

~Michelle~ said...

I vote for keeping the original (even though I'm firmly entrenched in the Tulatroop camp) - I bet you get some new interest in that pattern in LQS's because it will appeal to a different demographic...

VickiT said...

Julie ~ While that cover night not necessarily 'feel' like you I think it's good. There are many quilters that like using batiks and more of the darker fabrics instead of the brighter (and what some might consider to be more modern? fabrics). Some of them may not view a quilt pattern and think about making it using other fabrics.

Having a cover using batiks I think very well might get some of those quilters see your pattern with this cover and want to make it. It might catch their eye. I know there are some colors I don't really like and when scrolling through patterns I tend to miss really seeing quilts done using those colors myself so anyone that doesn't like bright colors might do the same and only be looking for batiks on a cover.

Tamie said...

Aren't we as quilters supposed to be able to imagine patterns made of different fabrics? I have quite a collection of batiks and love them for what they are. I have moved on to more modern fabrics now but feel no need to get rid of my batiks. I like that you show options.

Melanie said...

I like that you used a quilt that isn't your usual "style" on the cover. Maybe it will draw new people to your work especially those who like to use batiks.

I love, love, love your Salt Water quilt. Your patterns are always perfect with Tula's fabric!

mascanlon said...

I vote for the batik for many of the reasons above. It widens the audience and draws in a different group of quilters. Lotus looks so sophisticated in the batiks, people who might never "see" a quilt in their living room will stop and think twice.

ritainalaska said...

keep the batik quilt for the cover! it's the bigger, deeper you!

Libby said...

I just love the "Salt Water" by "Tula Pink" ~ it caught my eye and I just kept going back to it.

Penny said...

Julie~
I like the current cover(quilt) very much. Please keep it. Because it is so different from the prints that you usually use perhaps that is a very good reason to keep the cover!
I do like all 3 quilts & again enjoyed the photo shot ~ keep those pictures coming!
Penny in So CA

kitty said...

Keep the cover as it is! Your batik version of Lotus is absolutely wonderful!!
It may be different from the fabric choices you've made before, but thereby it shows the versatile talent that you are!

Lyn said...

Keep the current cover! It's a great shot color and composition-wise and, as others have pointed out, using a different fabric (batiks) has advantages. (Besides, I really like how that brown batik looks with the rest of them...my eye keeps going back to it...)

KarrieLyne said...

I agree with the majority and vote to stay with the original. You loved that shot enough to use it the first time, you should keep it. I also agree to add a thumbnail maybe on the back to show versatility. Love Love Love all of your new designs!! You are so talented Julie!!! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve! <3

Nancy in IN said...

I love the batiks and don't like the salt water one at all. The batiks is so lively.

Nancy M. said...

Keep the current cover. It looks wonderful.

Kristy said...

Lotus is my favorite of all the quilts I have seen from you in the last months. I love the batiks and I see now the way you used your ruler. I love it! Keep it! Just my 2 cents. :-) K

Dawn said...

Love the batiks! (Actually more than the colors in the other two quilts). We all need to do something different every once in awhile, right?

Kell said...

I would leave the cover as is. Unless like Cindy said if you don't like it then change it. But I think it shows people that may pick fabric like it or similar what the quilt may look like. I know that it helped me when we found out that my cousin & his fiance would want a quilt made out of neutrals for their bed. I showed my mom your Yummy pattern & the cover quilt is what made her decide that would be the design. Now I just need to pick out the fabric for it. :)

ACCENT QUILTERS said...

Love the original, It is very eye catching, more so than the others, Stay with your original choice.

Holli said...

Keep the original. Its beautiful, it shows you have greater range than those who say is your "usual" and, as a non-user/buyer of batiks, I'm inspired! I'm loving all your new patterns!

Valerie said...

I honestly LOVE that pattern in the batiks! It looks great! I usually prefer brighter colors & am a HUGE fan of Tula, but I think the batiks showcase that pattern a lot better! I just picked up my Hex & More ruler at my LQS & am starting on a hexie quilt! So far I am finding the ruler really easy & fun to use!!!

Unknown said...

Salt Water Hands Up! It just looks so much more alive... It's awesome :)

Teresa said...

I absolutely LOVE love LOVE !! Lotus. What a gorgeous pattern. I'm going to buy it for sure, and the ruler too!

Jean said...

I recently got your ruler, when will the Lotus pattern be available? I can't wait to make it!

jeifner said...

I think there's a negative knee jerk reaction to batiks in the 'modern' quilt movement. It may be because some good people over the years have done some horrible things to perfectly innocent batiks. I've seen some gorgeous batiks but they are definitely not as common in the MQG circles. If you like the cover-keep it. It's about time we saw some 'modern' interpretations of batik. Maybe someone should start a Batik-A-Long.

kittyj said...

I love this quilt for the cover. I love batiks and this quilt makes a wonderful statement.