 Designs by Michele Crawford
|
|
Designs by Michele Crawford
|
 |
 |
||
 July 2010: Tom and I have been vending at a wonderful quilt show in Sequim, WA on the Olympic Penninsula with the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club for the last 3 years. Sequim is a beautiful rural town with the rugged Olympic Mountains to the south and the beautiful ocean water of the Strait of San Juan de Fuca on the north. They have their quilt show the same weekend as the town's infamous lavender festival which is quite unique! This year I had 2 customers who brought in their quilts made from my designs to show me! It is such an extreme pleasure and honor to view the quilts that customers make with my designs! Loretta (on the left in the photo on the right) is on the quilt show committee, and she used a tonal collection by Nancy Crow along with my Rainbow Ribbons pattern. Very pretty!  And, Jan (photo on the left) purchased two of my "Enduring Blooms" kits 2 years ago, and sewed them together. Fabulous! (The fabric for this quilt is no longer available but my "Sweetbriar" pattern is for sale.)  Then, out of the blue, there was a customer with a tote bag (photo on the right) that looked so familiar. I asked her if she had made the bag, and she said her sister, Sharon, in White Bird, ID had made it for her for Christmas. Sharon had purchased my "Tote Bag" pattern at a show last year. A bonus day for me! It's always amazing to see how different my designs look created in other fabrics than what I used for the samples. Thank you!   Yesterday (July 22, 2010), Merridy (in the photo on the right) came up to me at our quilt guild meeting, and told me that she had purchased my Simple Elegance quilt pattern last fall and had made it as a wedding present. I asked her to send me the photo, and she did!! She wrote, "I loved making it, as a wedding gift, and would do it again. Very fast and easy to put together, but looks so elegant." - from Merridy in Spokane, WA  "Hello Michele, In March of this year (2010) you sent me my Elizabeth Anne (March 2010 issue of The Quilter) quilt kit. I loved making it, the design was so accurate everything pieced together perfectly. I sent it to be quilted to The Bramble Patch in Northampton who have quilted several of my quilts. It has been greatly admired. At the moment I am making a pictorial quilt which will be sent for the 2012 Olympic Games being held in London. Regards." - Joy in Whitstable, United Kingdom  Marianne (on the left) brought this quilt to my booth at the Tri-Cities, WA quilt show at the end of March 2010. She wanted to show me how she had taken my quilt project, Springtime Bouquet, that was on the cover of the May 2009 issue of The Quilter, and recreated it in a different colorway and fabric collection. I love it! Thank you, Marianne!  "I have finished the Serenity quilt! I actually finished it about a week ago. It came out beautifully! I have received many wonderful comments from friends and family about it. It is on its way to a new home - as it is a gift for a dear friend. You had asked me to send a photo once it was complete - so here it is! Thanks!" - Theresa in Florida  "Hi Michele, It was so nice meeting you at the Camano Island (WA) quilt show. Here is a picture of your Christmas Stocking Quilt (from Quilting for Christmas 2007)I made for my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Anniversary. I personalized each stocking for each of their 9 grandchildren. The layout worked out perfectly as they are on the quilt, in order by age. Also they have 7 boys and 2 girls so that worked out perfectly with 2 more "girlie" stockings! They LOVED it and keep it out all year. Thank you your quilts are awesome." - Jean in Mount Vernon, WA "Here is the picture of my quilt (Oh Holy Night from Quilting for Christmas 2007) that is hung on the inside of the door at my church, the Providence Presbyterian Church in Florence Township, NJ. It is a small country church situated along an old New York City - Philadelphia transit routh that was first organized in 1865 and only seats 100 people. My mother-in-law's family was part of the founders. Thank you for your wonderful kits." Ginny in New Jersey who is also the Office Manager of this church  "Yes, it's (Pumpkin Crazy from the Nov. 2008 issue of The Quilter) above the fireplace--a place of honor :-) The colors are so rich and warm. I really like it. I think I told you that I took it to school last Tuesday and everyone liked it, too. One of the secretaries at the elementary school wanted your website--and she plans to come to the Rusty Barn show. She wants to make it too." - Laurel in Olympia, WA  "Here is a photo of my "Boo" quilt (Michele writes: This is my #105 Happy Halloween pattern)which I donated to the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, MT. I have received many compliments on it." - Nancy in Whitefish, MT  "I ordered the "Dolly's House" quilt pattern (Michele writes: This is my #106 Strip to be Square pattern) from you oneline. I made a little pillow to go with it also. It was a fun pattern to do and you can do alot of different colors with it also. Thank you again." - Joyce in Carlise, Iowa  "Here is a photo of the quilt I made using your quilt pattern, Floral Arbor, that you designed using fabrics by David Textiles." - Emily in Iowa  Michele Crawford writes: I designed this quilt called Greek Isles featuring a collection by Blank Textiles. This quilt was published in the June 2006 issue of McCall's Quilting. June of Maine purchased a quilt kit from me and graciously sent me a photo of her quilt that she made for her daughter-in-law. June writes: "Finally, after lo these many months, my Greek Isles quilt is finished. It came out so lovely and I'm sure my daughter-in-law is going to love it! A friend of mine quilted it according to your suggestions, I hope you can discern that. I'm very grateful to you for the pattern and fabric....thank you so much."  "Linda (in North Dakota) asked me to forward to you pictures of the quilt she made for my grandson. Linda said that you designed this quilt. It is really beautiful - just perfect for a little boy. Thanks." - Carol in ND Note: This quilt is called "The Cow Says Moo" that was in the January 2008 issue of The Quilter.  "Thank you - Dolly's House is going to be a Christmas gift for one of my granddaughters who will be 5 this April. I have had my eye on it for a long time when I get your emails and I just could not let it go when you said you only had 2 left. In 2004 I ordered my very first quilt kit from you - a Christmas design, Holiday Table Topper (see photo) and you were so helpful to me over the phone - so patient and gave me some first hand new-quilter advice. I always remember how nice you were and I enjoy your newsletters. Since 2004, I have made quite a few quilts and had fun designing some with pictures and embroidery etc. You did a great job on your website. Thanks again for your fast service and have a wonderful day." - Janice in CT  This is one of my latest quilt kits called "Cat Tales" which is in the May 2008 issue of The Quilter. Barb in Montana purchased this quilt kit on February 25, and I shipped it to her that day. By March 2, she had already sewn the top together, taken a photo of her quilt with her cat, and emailed it to me. She is the fastest customer who has pieced a quilt kit of mine in such a short time! It's just "purr-fectly" lovely! When asked what her cat's name was, Barb wrote, "Would you believe her name is Lucky because she had been at the Humane Society a year before we got her. She has returned the love over and over. As you can see, she is a big help."  I am always amazed (and honored) when I find out that a male quilter has made one of my quilt designs! One of my newest customers is Jim who lives less than 10 minutes away from me here in Spokane. When he orders a quilt kit now, he just picks it up at my home, and saves the shipping! He liked the "Cow Says Moo" quilt that was in the January 2008 issue of The Quilter, and chose his own fabrics to create this quilt. He also was looking for a good machine quilter so he now uses Kay Kimball of The Quilted Cat who machine quilts all my quilts on her Gamill with a Statler.  On January 24, 2008, I was so very pleasantly surprised and thrilled that 2 members of my quilt guild, Washington State Quilters, showed 2 of my quilts during "show and tell". The first quilt (on the right) is Annie Saunders rendition of my Cafe au Lait quilt that was in The Quilter several years ago. She was living on the East Coast at the time she bought the magazine never thinking she'd be living in Spokane, WA some day. I felt like a "celebrity" as she asked me to sign her copy of the magazine.  The photo on the left is Catherine Anderson who had just returned from Afghanistan working as a nurse in the US Army. She is sewing the binding on my quilt, Joy's Flowers, in the photo. The interesting twist to this is that I have been shipping her quilt kits in Afghanistan not realizing that she was from Spokane. She sewed several of my Christmas quilts, raffled them off to fellow Army members, and donated the money to the hospital she was working at. Just imagine my surprise when I met her at the guild meeting that night!! "Hello Michele, Here's a progress report on two Flower Box quilts: I'm just starting the machine quilting for the Winterlude (stitch-n-the-ditch) and finishing up the binding on Autumn Interlude. The corner matches on the Winterlude quilt are pretty good -- practice certainly helps!!! I'm very pleased with the results. Next up is the Iced Sherbert kit."- Lenore in Bremerton, WA   "This Winsome quilt was created from Michele's design in the July 2007 issue of The Quilter. Michele and I are in the same quilt guild, Washington State Quilters - Spokane."- Lorraine in Spokane, WA  "Just finished the first of the 'Star Crossed' quilts and thought you'd like to have a picture. I'm cutting out the same pattern in the brown fabric now. Everyone who has seen this blue fabric really likes it and the design, as well. You always seem to come up with bright and cheery fabrics, and it is such a pleasure to see this.... Anyway, my compliments for your beautiful designs and fabric choices." - Chuck in Missouri who has a quilting business and is also the mayor of his city  The quilt shop owner that machine quilted this quilt, put it in the Allen County Fair, and it recieved a 1st Place and Best of Show in the Professional Catagory!! I have been quilting for 30 some years and have never entered a quilt! I love to applique, and it is my passion in the quilting world! I made Winsome from The Quilter magazine, July 2007 issue. I found after piecing the blocks that they did not measure the same as my appliqued blocks. Therefore I put the borders around the pieced blocks. I had to adjust for an error in the printing of the magazine, hence, why mine is different!- Lisa in Rockford, Ohio  Chuck Hitchborn of Missouri sent me these photos of the quilts he created using my design, Sweet Jasmine from the July 2006 issue of The Quilter. He named the aqua one, Blue Bayou, and the other saffron one, Salsa.  He is a married ex-Marine who not only pieces his quilts but machine quilts them as well. He also has started to sell his quilts! Way to go, Chuck!  "I have done some of your quilts--keep up the good work! I have done 'Dots & Prints" and "Crazy Christmas Quilt" and 3 of 'Cafe Au Lait.' I borrowed my neighbor's camera today and took a picture of one of them. I will include that one plus my own. My Whippet, Tolly, thought it was a good opportunity to get in the picture, also. Love your patterns... My husband got me the subscription to Quilter Magazine and I made the quilts from the patterns using my own fabric. It is wonderful that we have that choice. I am always so tempted to buy the kits--your colors are so awesome! Then I go look at my stash and feel guilty! One of these days I will break down-------I love the new one in the latest Quilter." - Mary in Elmira, New York  Hi, my name is Erica, and I am a 24 year old quilter!! My aunt quilts but I started this on my own. When I told her, she gave me her first magazine and let me pick out a pattern for my 2nd quilt. That pattern happened to be your Cafe au Lait that was featured in The Quilter in January of 2005. I love the pattern, but I thought I could bring it out more with a soft yellow. I really enjoy quilting and hope to be a pro like you in my years to come. I hope you enjoy my version of your Cafe Au Lait!! 
This quilt using fabrics from Hancock Fabrics was made for the St Jude Childrens Research Hospital 2006 Quilt of Dreams using your quilt design, Jungle Jamboree, from the March 2003 issue of The Quilter. I entered this quilt in the Best Use of Theme contest. It will be used to raise money for the hospital, but also will be given to a child that is in the hospital.- Mary Ann in Texarkana, TX  Coats & Clark exhibits at the national convention for family & consumer science (home economics) teachers and last year, I used the "Hard Candy Quilt" from the March 2003 issue of The Quilter in our booth. A teacher at the meeting, Lyndee Lombardo, asked me about the pattern and I gave her the magazine name and issue. She stopped by the booth this year to tell me she had ordered the back issue and used this quilt for a class project. The class made the quilt raise money for a scholarship fund at their high school, Yelm High School, in Yelm, WA. A local long-arm quilter donated her time to quilt it. Lynn Browne, Coats & Clark  I just finished it (Baby Brights quilt)yesterday and I thought you might enjoy knowing that I did get it done and it was a lot of fun to do. I have been quilting for less than two years and it was a perfect project for me. I am very pleased with the results. My sister's son is having his first child in a few months and this is going to be my gift to them. Thanks for the great design!!! Pat in Hawaii 
This photo is from a customer in VA who purchased and sewed my Baby Brights quilt kit, and wrapped her new 1 hour old granddaughter, and her daughter, the new mommy, in it. Amazing! I am so honored that she made my design for her new grandbaby.  "I have now finished both "Star Crossed" quilts and have had many compliments. The brown won took a 2nd place ribbon in a festival quilt show. As always, I really like your fabrics and bright color designs." - Chuck in Missouri  This is a group photo from the class I did at my daughter-in-law's mother's church. They were working on accurate piecing to make the Afternoon Slumber quilt that was on the cover of the March 2005 issue of The Quilter.  | Return Home | Quilt Kits | Quilt Patterns | Other Quilt Items to Buy | Wholesale Information | Free Quilt Patterns | Customer Gallery | Michele's Gallery | Michele's Blog | About Us | Contact Us | Links | |
|||
 |
 |