Page 12 – QuiltInk Blog

Designer Spotlight – Taylor Krz

The July interview features Taylor from Toad and Sew, an emergent new designer that brings to life stunning quilt patterns, runs a beautiful community and has a lot of amazing projects coming. Join us as we explore her creative journey and significant contributions to the quilting community.

Taylor has all her patterns hosted in QuiltInk so you can plan your unique versions in a digital, modern and fun way!

Personal Background

Taylor, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?

I am the designer and creative mind behind Toad & Sew. I’m a former artist and graphic designer, and I’m all about modern quilt patterns that inspire today’s quilters. I’m originally from outside of Philadelphia, PA but have been calling Seattle, WA my home for the last five years. I went to Virginia Commonwealth University, where I studied Illustration and Graphic Design.

Quilting Journey

When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?

I started quilting in 2019, mainly due to mental health issues I was suffering from. I needed a way to get out of my head and use my hands productively. Working from home, I was constantly on the computer and felt like the work I was doing lacked purpose. Quilting helped me work through these mental health challenges and truly changed my life!

Pattern Designing

What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns? How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?

As a graphic designer by day, the need to design my own patterns came very naturally and quickly. I wanted to express my creativity through quilting, and it was a natural progression.

My creative process isn’t anything fancy or sophisticated. Usually, an idea pops into my head, and I start playing around on my computer to execute it. That initial idea typically evolves into five more ideas and changes drastically from the original concept. I love designing because it’s such a fun process from start to finish, and you never know what you’ll end up with!

Style and Aesthetics

How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?

I would describe my pattern style as modern, bold, and geometric. My designs are typically medallion-based or feature a secondary pattern if they’re block-based. I experiment with various styles to keep things fresh, so there’s not one consistent element that appears in all my designs.

Color

How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?

Colors play a HUGE role in my pattern designing—I would argue it’s one of the most important aspects of my design. I truly believe that color choices can make or break a design. I spend a lot of time experimenting with different color combinations to ensure the pattern works in a wide variety of color schemes. If the pattern only looks good in a few colorways, then I know it doesn’t pass the test, and some aspect of the pattern needs to be altered.

My favorite color is a vibrant red-orange; I love the warmth and energy it brings to a quilt. While I’m typically drawn to warm tones, lately I’ve been experimenting with all sorts of different combinations. I just love playing around and seeing what sparks my creativity!

Business Activities

Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?

(Membership, notions, courses, etc)

I have a quilting book club membership called Toad Circle. We host four mystery quilt SALs (sew-alongs) each year, and with each SAL, we read and discuss a book at the end! It’s a fun, vibrant community that attracts people from all over the world. The community gathers on Discord, and we have plenty of Zoom calls to connect. It’s a great way to meet like-minded quilters and try new things!

Online Presence

Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

I am @toadandsew on all socials and my website is www.toadandsew.com!

You can check my Toad Circle community at https://www.toadandsew.com/pages/toad-circle

Upcoming Projects

Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?

Toad Circle will open its doors for new members from July 23rd to July 30th, starting the new SAL on the July 30th which will be having it’s second guest designer this summer.

I will also be teaching at QuiltCon 2025! I’m super excited that I will be teaching two classes there – one is an advanced design class and the other is a color theory class!

QuiltInk Experience

How has QuiltInk contributed to your quilt pattern design business? Could you share your experience with the platform and how it has influenced your creative process and connected you with fellow quilters?

QuiltInk is a fantastic platform for my customers to see exactly what their quilt will look like! As someone who absolutely needs to visualize the final design before cutting, I’m thrilled to provide that same capability to my customers.

Mockupmonday #97

Get inspired by this new #Qink_mockupmonday with nearly 100 #mockups published in the #QquiltinkWall during the past week.

The #mockups form the #Quiltinkchallnegejul24 are excluded because I am preparing an amazing #mockupmonday for them next week.

This month, you can win a 20FQ Moondy Rainbow bundle curated by @toadandsew from the #puresolid collection from @artgalleryfabrics by participating in our monthly challenge!

Come to www.quiltink.com

Pick a pattern

Color it with the challenge palette (in the solids section)

Publish your mock-ups in the QuiltInk Wall.

And by sharing them here you obtain 2 extra entries!

Happy week full of color and stitches, quilty friends!

Cascade Bloom SAL beginning

Title: Cascade Bloom SAL

Designer: Toad and Sew

Technique: Curve Piecing

Sizes: 4

Today is the beginning of the Cascade Bloom Sew Along by Toad and Sew and we want to celebrate with this hypnotic video with the 89 #moc-ups already published in the #quiltinkwall .

If you want to sew this gorgeous pattern with Taylor, with her tips and advice along the way to make the process smooth and enjoyable, Check Toad and Sew website to know more about the SAL and color your version with #quilt_ink!

Mockupmonday #96

How is your summer going? We are entering the hottest period of the year, and all I want to do is stay in the water and think about my upcoming projects!

If you need inspiration for your projects, don’t miss this new #Qink_mockupmonday, full of amazing patterns with different styles. Remember to check all the patterns that have a SAL or upcoming release on the patterns’ main page!

You can easily plan your next quilt with QuiltInk for free! Visit www.quiltink.com, pick a pattern, choose your palette, and start coloring! By sharing your mock-ups on the QuiltInk Wall, you will help inspire others with your unique colorings!

Happy week, quilty friends!

Mockupmonday #95

Happy monday quilty friends with this new #qInk_mockupmonday, the number 95!

145 mock-ups full of color to inspire your coming project! You can enjoy them all in our #quiltinkwall !

Happy coloring and sewing!

QuiltInk Challenge Jul24

The July QuiltInk newsletter is all about partnership and collaboration in the QuiltInk world. I love collaborating with the designers in QuiltInk, and this July Challenge has been set up in collaboration with Toad and Sew!

But before we dive in, let’s give a big congratulations to Verithe for being the winner of the June Challenge. She will soon receive a 6 FQ bundle from the Birdie fabrics collection by Libs Elliott!

Taylor, aka Toad and Sew, has recently curated an amazing bundle and has so many exciting projects planned with it that we are thrilled to use it for our July Challenge. We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups with it! Keep reading to learn more and don’t miss out on the wonderful prize you won’t be able to resist!

Inspired by the cozy nostalgia of vintage 90s sweaters and the timeless appeal of dark, low-contrast quilts, Taylor set out to design something that blends retro vibes with a touch of whimsy. Envisioning a rainbow of muted tones, Taylor crafted a palette that feels both dreamy and sophisticated. Each color is carefully chosen to evoke warmth and charm, making it perfect for those who love a bit of playful elegance in their projects. This blend of influences brings a unique depth and character to every piece.

Start planning your upcoming quilting projects with this wonderful bundle as you join our monthly challenge!

Note: This bundle can be purchased from Full Moon Fabric Co

Meet Taylor and Toad and Sew

Taylor, the creative mind behind Toad & Sew, combines her artistic background with a passion for quilting. Born near Philadelphia, PA, she pursued illustration and graphic design at VCU in Richmond, VA. After moving to Houston, TX, and later to Seattle, WA, Taylor faced personal challenges, including undiagnosed OCD and ADHD, which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quilting became a therapeutic outlet for Taylor. Her first quilt, crafted on her grandmother’s 1980s Singer sewing machine, marked the beginning of a transformative journey. She quickly moved from quilting as a hobby to designing her own patterns, with her New Years Kiss Quilt gaining significant recognition at QuiltCon 2022 and the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX.

Taylor named her venture Toad & Sew after her rescue dog, Toad. Through Toad & Sew, she shares her unique designs and story, inspiring others in the quilting community.

Toad Circle, her community space, combines hobbies through a book club and mystery quilt Sew-Alongs (SALs). Every three months, members join an 8-week event filled with creative discussions, bonus projects, exclusive merchandise, and the thrill of mystery quilting. Sign-ups open quarterly, next open is July 23th!, and the newsletter keeps you informed about it.

How to participate

1. Access to www.quiltink.com, sign in or create your free account.

2. Choose a pattern from the main page.

3. Color the pattern using the challenge palette,fidnd it in the solid palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on our QuiltInk Wall.

Boost your chances of winning by sharing your mock-ups on Instagram! Create a post or share in your stories, mentioning @quilt_ink and @toadandsew, tagging #QuiltInkChallengeJul24. Each post/story counts as 2 entries in the giveaway.

Prize: A 20 FQ Moody Rainbow bundle curated by Toad and Sew from the Pure Solids fabric collection by Art Gallery Fabrics.

Selection: On August 1st, we will pick 1 mock-up randomly chosen between all the mock-ups in the Wall made with the QuiltInk Challenge Jul24 palette (the ones with the gift icon).

The more mock-ups you create, the higher your chances of winning! Start coloring now!

This giveaway is open internationally. You must be at least 18 years old. This giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Participants release Instagram of any responsibility and agree to IG terms of use.

Here are some examples of quilts hosted by QuiltInk and colored-in with the QuiltInkChallenge July 24 palette! I love them all!

We plan to share more mock-ups made by Taylor int he followings weeks. Stay tunned in our Instagrams accounts:

@quilt_ink

@toadandsew

If you are wondering where you can find the QuiltInkChallenge palette, check the following video!

And here you can check the Jul24 Challenge fabrics. Aren’t they amazing?

We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups!

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

Riley’s Star early coloring

Get started on your holiday sewing early to celebrate Christmas in July! Hexen Haus’ new pattern, Riley’s Star, is a seasonal stunner. Want a sneak peek of the design? Subscribe and join the community at https://www.hexenhaus.co. On July 7th, Erin will send subscribers an early access code to color this new pattern exclusively on Quilt Ink. Hurry and sign up!

Recently, QuiltInk has added new options to make quilt pattern coloring more fun! Here are some of them:

A “?” on the cover of a pattern means the designer has activated the coloring feature but doesn’t want to publicly reveal the pattern yet.

A “lock” icon on the cover of the pattern indicates it’s a community pattern, and you’ll need a code provided by the designer to access the coloring page. For Erin’s pattern, she will send the code to all her newsletter subscribers on July 7th.

An “R” icon means this pattern has an upcoming or ongoing event. If it’s a special event for the release, click on it to learn more!

Mockupmonday #94

New month, new week and new #qink_mockupmonday to fill your holidays with color inspiration for your next quilt project , the number 94!

214 mockups including the ones from the last week of the #quiltinkchallengejun24 featuring the Birdie fabric collection by Libs Elliott .

Happy coloring and sewing!

QuiltInk Challenge Jun24 winner

I can’t express my excitement about the June QuiltInk Challenge! It has been our most participated challenge yet, with 328 mock-ups and 348 entries, including those shared on Instagram. We can only thank all the participants, and we really hope you enjoyed it.

We encourage you to keep exploring this beautiful palette in your quilting projects. It’s so versatile, beautiful, and full of possibilities that your project is sure to be a great success.

And….the winner of a “6FQ Bundle from the Birdie collection by Libs Elliott” is Verithe!!

Congratulations! We will contact you by email. If you don’t receive our email, please reach out to us!

Be aware of the next QuiltInk Challenge for July 2024. Stay tuned, it will be announced tomorrow!

Designer Spotlight – Kiley Ferons

As a designer who has supported QuiltInk from its blog hop launch more than three years ago, I am thrilled to introduce Kiley. She resides in the historic town of Charles Town, WV, and has transitioned from a medical assisting career to pursue her passion for quilting. Kiley’s journey has led her to create modern, geometric quilt patterns and co-develop the innovative My Quilts app with her husband. Join us as we delve into Kiley’s inspiring story, exploring her creative process, the evolution of her quilting career, and her contributions to the quilting community.

Personal Background

Kiley, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?

I live in Charles Town, WV which is a historical town that is rich in history and farmlands. We moved here following my husband’s job. I went to school for Medical Assisting but didn’t enjoy working in the field and quickly left. Over the next decade I tried a lot of various entrepreneur endeavors.

Quilting Journey

When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?

I started quilting almost 14 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. My mother in law got me into it. I dabbled in quilting for many years. In 2015 I bought a longarm and hit the ground running. I became hooked! I loved creating art in a tangible way. In 2020 I began writing my own quilt patterns. In 2021 I started a digital modern quilting magazine. In 2023 my husband and I released an app called My Quilts to help quilters catalog and track their quilting projects. So it has been quite an evolving journey.

Pattern Designing

What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns? How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?

I was never very good at following quilt patterns. I would always tweak them to fit what I wanted. Finally I decided I should just write my own. I keep a Pinterest board for things that inspire a cool quilt design. When I’m ready to start a new pattern I go back to that Pinterest board and see what speaks to me. What looks achievable.

Style and Aesthetics

How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?

My pattern style is very geometric and modern. I love shaves and negative space. I have done a lot of designs with curves. I enjoy curves because it adds more interest to a quilt.

Color

How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?

When I am designing a new pattern I always think about what this design means to me and how I can represent that in color. I used to think Purple was my favorite color. But I find myself always gravitating towards greens and blues when quilting. I think because they are more calming and relaxing colors.

Business Activities

Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?

(Membership, notions, courses, etc)

My husband is a software developer and we have always tried to find ways to make our interests overlap. We decided to create an easy and accessible way for quilters to catalog, track and journal their quilting projects. It has been so much fun working together to create the My Quilts App. The app is completely free to use! You can upload old or new projects to track your progress, keep a record of your work, and get inspired by other quilters! You can now follow other quilters and save their projects to your “favorites” list. The app has really taken off and people are loving it. It’s so exciting to see our tool being used and loved. It has so much potential and we have lots of ideas and plans for adding more features and expanding the app!

Online Presence

Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

People can find me on Instagram @kileysquiltroom where I do most of my engaging with followers. You can also sign up for my newsletter from my website kileysquiltroom.com

Upcoming Projects

Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?

The My Quilts app is going to take a lot of work and promotion. I will be focusing a lot of my energy into that. But I also have been working on my digital art and have some exciting news to share later this year! But for now- it’s a secret! 🙂

QuiltInk Experience

I have been a fan of QuiltInk since the moment it started! I love all things digital and this is just one way we can modernize the quilting industry and make it easier to plan and design quilt patterns. I put all my designs on QuiltInk to give my followers an easy and fun way to envision their own preferences in my designs. It’s also a great tool for me to try out different color palettes or prints in my patterns before I make them.