Page 12 – QuiltInk Blog

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

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?

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.

QuiltInk Challenge Jun24

The #quiltinkchallengeju24 is half way and nearly 200 mock-ups have been already published in the #quiltinkwall .

This month the palette challenge is set up with the #birdiefabric collection by @libselliott for @andoverfabrics.

Participate to win a 6FQ bundle of this amazing collection! Access to Quiltink.com, sign up for free, pick a pattern, color it with the QuiltInk Challenge Jun24 palette, and share your mock-ups in the Wall!

If you share your mock-ups on Instagram using the #quiltinkchallengeju24 hashtag you get 2 extra participations!

Pattern featured in the video is #karnakquilt by Tessellate Textiles

QuiltInk Challenge Jun24

Summer is coming, and for the June QuiltInk Challenge, I want to showcase a new fabric collection perfect for this season by Libs Elliott. You can’t miss it!

But before we dive in, let’s give a big congratulations to Pixie for being the winner of the May Challenge, which featured the Winged Garden Fabric collection by Alexandra Bordallo!

June marks the launch of the Birdie Fabric Collection by Libs Elliott, a pattern designer in QuiltInk and also a fabric designer for Andover Fabrics.

The Birdie collection takes inspiration from the vibrant and bold designs of that era. With its playful patterns and nostalgic feel, it encourages us to embrace our inner child and revel in the joy of creativity. It builds on some of Libs’ favourite colours from the Atomic collection and will bring a sense of warmth and authenticity to anything you sew. So let your imagination run wild, embrace the retro vibes, and let Birdie take you on a journey back in time. The possibilities are endless, and the memories you’ll create will be timeless.

Start planning your upcoming quilting projects with this incredible fabric collection as you participate in our monthly challenge!

Libs Elliott

Libs Elliott, a Canadian quilter in Toronto, transitioned from a childhood surrounded by antique quilts to a career in quilting, inspired by her love for textiles and a background in weaving and natural dyeing. Starting in 2009, she modernized traditional patterns and now designs for Andover Fabrics, releasing multiple collections annually. Her business also includes teaching, running the Sew Squad community, and collaborating with companies. Upcoming projects include new fabric collections in March and a sew-along for her Electric Pineapple Quilt starting January 22nd.

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, it’s the first palette in solid palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on our #quiltinkwall.

Boost your chances of winning by sharing your mock-ups on Instagram! Create a post or share in your stories, mentioning @quilt_ink and @libselliott, tagging #QuiltInkChallengeJun24. Each post/story counts as 2 entries in the giveaway.

Prize: A bundle of 6 FQ from the Birdie fabric collection by Libs Elliott.

Selection: On July 1st, we will pick 1 mock-up randomly chosen between all the mock-ups in the Wall made with the QuiltInk Challenge Jun24 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 June 24 palette by Libs Elliott! I love them all!

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

And here you can check the Jun24 Challenge fabrics. Aren’t they amazing?

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

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

QuiltInk Challenge May24 winner

What a bunch of wonderful mockups the QuiltInk users have created using the Winged Garden fabric collection by Alexandra Bordallo! We encourage you to keep exploring this beautiful palette in your quilting projects. They are sure to be a great success.

And….the winner of a “Supporter Plan” along with a pack of 3 private patterns is Pixie!!

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 June 2024, showcasing a new fabric collection from one of the designers in QuiltInk. Stay tuned!

Designer Spotlight – Rachel Gilbert

As a mother who transitioned from a career to pursue her passion for quilting, I understand the importance of finding joy and fulfillment in creative endeavors. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing Rachel, a fellow Minnesotan and talented quilt pattern designer, who shares a similar journey of balancing motherhood, professional life, and a deep love for quilting. Join us as we uncover Rachel’s inspiring path, filled with vibrant fabrics, geometric designs, and the boundless creativity that defines her quilting journey.