Tutorials
9.1.2015Thank you to everyone who participated in this fun giveaway! Using a random number generator, we have selected our winner. Congratulations to Linda S!
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Following the success of her newest book, a wedding, and the continuing growth of her online presence, Julie Herman has been pretty busy lately, to say the least. She picked up quilting in the early 2000’s and never looked back. After starting her blog, Jaybird Quilts, in 2009, she realized the potential she had in bringing noteworthy modern quilts to those with the same passion as her. Since then, she has not only been featured in various magazines but also created many stunning patterns and tools, all while inspiring a countless number of people.
As of now, her book Gravity is one of the bestselling new titles at Connecting Threads (and for good reason). It’s an absolutely breathtaking “color burst” Block of the Month pattern that can be found here!
Keep reading as I ask Julie a few questions about Gravity, following her dreams, and her future in the quilting world.
Your wedding looked absolutely gorgeous! It looks like your husband is a huge supporter of your work. Does he quilt at all?
Thank you! Yes, my husband Lawrence is my biggest cheerleader and a huge supporter of my work. I think he’d rather play video games or listen to records in his free time rather than take up quilting. He did sew one of the first blocks made for our wedding quilt and it was his first and only time at a sewing machine. I’m also not sure that I’m ready to share my sewing machine, yet! He may need to get his own if he wants to take this up!
Your Gravity Block of the Month quilt has really taken off with modern quilters. What was your inspiration behind this beautiful pattern?
I have really come to love and enjoy designing Block of Month quilts and writing the books. It’s fun for me to create quilts with a variety of blocks to them. That variety among the blocks lends itself to creating dimension within the quilts based on the fabric selection for each block. I had made block of the month quilts with triangle and hexagon blocks, and when I set out to design Gravity I wanted to challenge myself to make a medallion quilt with diamond blocks. Once I found how well those blocks would come together using the depth and range of solids I had available to me, I was hooked & I couldn’t stop piecing the quilt top until I was done.
What obstacles did you face when creating/designing the quilt?
The Super Sidekick ruler didn’t exist when I started designing the quilt and I couldn’t make the background work with the shapes and sizes available from the existing Sidekick and Hex N More rulers. When I figured out that I could make the design work if I had larger, or super sized, Sidekick shapes, the Super Sidekick ruler was born.
We’re big fans of your Hex N More and Super Sidekick rulers, can you talk about the process for developing those? What inspired the idea for them?
I love Hexagons, quilts with hexagons and sewing with 60-degree angles. Traditionally in quilting, hexagons and other 60-degree angles are measured by the length of their sides, rather than the height of the shape, which made it challenging to find templates that could allow these shapes to play well with each other when piecing a quilt. I was using template plastic to make these templates so much, that I had to give it a shot at developing the rulers. I wanted to keep designing fun quilts with these shapes, and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for fellow quilters to make them, too.
You have said that your favorite quote is “forget regret or life is yours to miss”… How did this effect you pursuing your dreams as a quilter? What did your life look like before Jaybird Quilts came to be?
Before Jaybird Quilts, I was working full time and sewing in my free time. I started my Jaybird Quilts blog to journal my sewing and quilting projects, share them with friends and family, and find a connection to the larger sewing and quilting community that was growing online. I kept up with blogging regularly and became connected to all kinds of opportunities in the community and the industry as a result. And I’ve managed to just keep going to keep up with all that’s happening in the world of quilting ever since. It’s a craft I truly love. My sewing studio is my happy place.
What can we expect from you in the future?
More quilts! I’m still having a lot of fun figuring out all of the fun designs that can be made using the family of Jaybird Quilts rulers. I’ll keep working on designs, patterns and books to get the most fun and use out of the rulers that I can share with quilters.
At this point, of all the quilts you have made, which is your favorite?
That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child! Hahaha! Generally, it is the last quilt I have made. Currently I’m in love with the set of quilts I made with my Kona collection based off of my wedding colors. Splash, Science Fair, Night Sky, Stereo & Rock Candy. I’ve made so many Rock Candy table toppers that I’ve lost count, but it is probably 20 or so at this point! It looks good in an unlimited number of combinations.
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Since Julie is such an incredible designer, and a lot of fun to interview, we thought that we had better finish this post with something equally fun: a giveaway! Through Monday, you can enter each of the following AMAZING prizes:
- A copy of Gravity
- A Hex N More ruler
- A Super Sidekick ruler, and
- TWO stacks of:
- Quilter’s Candy Rich Solids Sampler
- Quilter’s Candy Bright Solids Sampler
- Quilter’s Candy Soft Solids Sampler
- Quilter’s Candy Muted Solids Sampler
To be entered to win, simply comment below with your favorite color in the Quilter’s Candy Solids collection!
