Hello Creators. I've started a newsletter. Every month, I'll published a bunch of freebies, including a quilt pattern, art printables, tips, and much more.
Each month's free quilt pattern, will allow all of us to make the quilt at the same time, together, for the month. I'll post my progress on social media. When I post, you'll have the opportunity to ask me questions about the pattern and for quilting tips to help all of us improve our skills in quiltmaking.
The quilt you make is yours to keep for yourself or gift away. You'll also have the opportunity to donate your quilt to my friends at the Mile High United Way. The United Way supports young families by providing basic essentials for their new babies helping to create stability within the home. The second most requested item behind diapers, are blankets. When I heard this, a huge light bulb went off. A lot of us here are quilters and I bet we have a fabric stash we need to use up. Let's use what we have and make a beautiful quilt for these families to help jump start their growing family. My hope is when these families snuggle into our quilts, it'll remind them they aren't alone especially in those dark times, and we do love and care for them. Now doesn't this seem like an opportunity you want to be part of?
Every month, I'll extend an offer to donate the quilt. It is totally up to you and there's no pressure. Perhaps, this month you want to keep it, but maybe next month, you're willing to give your quilt away. That's totally acceptable and exciting.
To conclude, I appreciate you. Stay with me and watch us grow.
Sandra
F R E E Q U I L T P A T T E R N
Say hi to this month's free quilt pattern, called Freshman. Let's make this quilt together for the month of May. My journey will be evenly spaced out throughout the month. I'll share about my progress on Instagram and I hope you'll share your progress too. It's important to me to hear your voices. Your voice motivates and inspires me.
I know you've got a ton of fabric, so start by downloading the pattern and going through your stash to pick out a color palette for this quilt. This quilt is a great option for beginner quilters. The experienced quilter can still enjoy making this quilt because it is quick and easy. It's the perfect kind of pattern for a graduation gift, hint hint. Come on, join me, and let's quilt together.
For the month of May, it's a free download on my website, www.sandraclemons.com. Grab the free download now.
There will be a free quilt pattern every month. Each month, the community will come together to make the quilt and share our progress together on Instagram.
Q U I L T T I P
Picking Fabrics for the Freshman Quilt
If you're having trouble deciding on a color scheme for the Freshman quilt or any quilt, I have two effective suggestions. The first suggestion is to select a main print fabric. The main print is usually the border and sashing, or backing of the quilt. Use the colors in the main print to audition fabrics for the blocks. If you choose a busy print, then the fabrics for the blocks could be simple tone on tone patterns. If the sashing and border print is a simple fabric, then have fun using up your large scale prints for the blocks and mix in some solids to add variety. The picture above is an example.
My second suggestion, select a main color and two additional highlight colors. The quilt I'm making this month uses this color strategy and is shown below. I chose a summer blue as my main color, and bright green and white as my highlighting colors. The Freshman quilt asks for 20 fat quarters for the blocks. I selected about 70% fabrics of different values of blues, another 20% of greens, and 10% of whites. Find me on Instagram to see how it turned out.
F R E E A R T P R I N T A B L E
This month, I'm giving away my Free Your Mind art printable. I was inspired by the 90's R&B band called En Vogue. En Vogue sang a song called Free Your Mind, and still to this day, I know every lyric. I felt compelled to make this art printable. In fact, I had been avoiding it's creation for some time. Nearly every morning, I take 30 minutes to write, to spell out thoughts, to ask God for creativity, and search for God's answers. This printable kept on coming up in my quiet time. Often times when I create, I feel these boundaries of how I should create, because most of the time, I seek approval from other's. To free my mind of rules will help me become the authentic artist that I aspire to be. I hope you'll print this art off too, tape it to the wall and remember, rules are meant to be broken, judgement is not our worry. Free your mind.
You'll find this printable in my shop at www.sandraclemons.com. It'll be free for the entire month of May.
F R E E C O L O R I N G P A G E
I'm giving away a free coloring page featuring the art piece above for Mother's Day. Print this piece on art paper, and have the kids color it in for a loving gift for mom. You can download this art piece at www.sandraclemons.com
Post your finished coloring page to social media and be sure to tag me. I don't want to miss it!
G I V E A W A Y
This month I'll be giving away a fat quarter bundle from my Applause fabric collection to say thank you. I am so grateful for my community and appreciative of your support. The bundle consists of 28 prints. Below is the collection description:
My daughter is a ballet dancer. She craves the opportunity to dance on stage. She spends the semester practicing and perfecting her moves. The result of all her hard work is showcased in the season’s dance recital. The performance is a success. The music stops and she releases her last pose. She searches the audience to lock her eyes to mine. I feel the transfer of pride + joy in her heart as she hears the roar of the crowd’s applause. The APPLAUSE fabric collection encapsulates this very moment. You’ll find ballerinas in position, music notes, crowns, and so much more. The colors are in whimsy pink, green, blue, and purples to bring a nice rhythm to the collection. APPLAUSE will inspire you to make beautiful things. You too will hear the applause of your hard work.
To enter, follow me on Instagram. Sometime this month, I'll post the giveaway along with instructions detailing how to enter.
If you'd like to collaborate on next month's giveaway, then shoot me an email at sandypan28@gmail.com and we can discuss next steps.
