We are thrilled to be a stop on the Photo Hop in celebration of Front Yard, Sandra Clemons’ debut collection for Michael Miller Fabrics. The collection was inspired by the landscape and movement of things in the front yard of her house. Front Yard features a lovely lineup of prints in two color ways, blueberry and blackberry. A range of purples & blues are offset by pops of green, pink and yellow. It’s a collection that is sure to inspire. Sandra’s coordinating thread collection offers a gorgeous range of colors in our 50wt thread.
THE PROJECT
Aurifil’s very own Hilary Jordan (also of Young Texan Mama) had some fun with Front Yard. We absolutely adore these stunning train cases that she whipped up using the Kismet Trinket Box pattern by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness. The blue case uses Bunny Tracks in the blueberry color way along with Aurifil 50wt thread in #1125. The pink case uses Broken Hexie in the blueberry color way along with Aurifil 50wt in #2530. We particularly love that she quilted the Broken Hexie case following the pattern of the fabric!
THE THREAD
Front Yard
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool), 100% Cotton
2630 – 2600 – 2021 – 2530 – 2423 – 2214
5017 – 2710 – 1125 – 2783 – 2540 – 2479
10 Small Spools, 50wt (220yds/spool), 100% Cotton
2630 – 2600 – 2021 – 2423 – 2214
5017 – 2710 – 1125 – 2783 – 2540
To view this info on our website, click on any of the images above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE INTERVIEW
What first drew you to the world of sewing and quilting?
Two women. My mom introduced me to sewing. She has a sewing business. In my youth she custom designed just about anything that needed to be sewn. It was mostly clothes for people, but I do remember a lot of doll clothes as well. As society shifted, people noticed that buying clothing was cheaper than making it. This change led to my mom shifting her work to tailoring and alterations. She now also does a lot of work for the military where she makes alternations and sews military patches, which is quite a meticulous process that needs the upmost attention to detail, something which she did with ease.
The other women is someone I don’t personally know, but her quilts introduced me to quilting. She is my husband’s great-grandmother. My first trip to ‘meet-the-parents’, I noticed these beautiful quilts laying around the house. I wanted to learn more about them and quickly. I purchased a quilting book for beginners and signed up for a quilting class at my local quilt shop. Now that I’ve quit my day job to take Make It Blossom (MIB) full time, I’m learning and researching our quilt history and how our history has inspired quilting in the modern era. I’m sharing my research on my blog, check it out by heading over to www.sandramakeitblossom.com.
Do you remember the process of creating your first quilt and how you felt once it was finished?
I do. It was a log cabin quilt from a discounted Debbie Mumm book for $4.95. It was sized at 120” x 120”. I made the entire thing. It has all my firsts. The first time I selected all the fabric for a quilt, the first time I cut with a rotary cutter. It was also first time I pieced, and then ripped, and pieced again, as well as the first time I spray basted and machine quilted. I meandered the entire quilt through 4-1/2” of throat space on an old PFAFF. I’m very determined and sometimes naive. In hindsight, I didn’t understand what I was getting into, but I did finish the quilt before moving on to the next project.
[Check out all quilt patterns at Michael Miller Fabrics and Make it Blossom]
Front Yard debuted at Fall Quilt Market in Houston. Can you tell us a bit more about the line and what inspired its creation?
The Front Yard collection is inspired by my small moments in the front yard of our house with my daughter. This collection is about what she sees outside, a bird in the tree, bunnies hiding in the flowers, the distant city lights. The collection is illustrated with bright colors from my flowerbeds. Front Yard invites all to enjoy the small things outside and treasure the radiant color of summer. Join me on social media by finding me on instagram (sandra.clemons) and facebook (makeitblossom) where I share my creative process and the latest news on MIB. I also publish patterns and books, many of them showcase FRONT YARD. Head over to my website to find out more.
When did you first discover Aurifil threads and what do you love most about them? Do you have a favorite color/weight?
I knew about Aurifil when I first started quilting. Aurifil was very prominent at my favorite quilt shop. I knew about lint building up in sewing machines. Lint was a concern for me because I’m lazy when it comes to cleaning out my machine. I’d rather be stitching instead of taking a timeout to clean my machine. When the lady at the shop was pitching the Aurifil thread to a group of us, one of the benefits was that it produced less lint compared to other brands. When she said that, I was sold. Ever since, I hadn’t had any desire to try any other brands of threads. Why try something new when what you have is working wonderfully. I normally use the 50wt cotton.
How did you go about selecting threads for your latest Aurifil collection?
I knew I wanted a rainbow of colors with some neutrals. I used the Aurifil 50wt color card to audition colors to match the FRONT YARD collection. Then, I decided I wanted to make sure I had a variety of lights and darks of color. Soon, I was able to narrow it down to 12 colors for the large box and 10 for the small box.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Large Front Yard Thread Collection by Sandra Clemons for Aurifil, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Monday, January 2! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Tuesday, January 3. Good luck!
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Vicki Hill!
To enter-to-win one FQ Bundle of Front Yard, make sure to follow @sandra.clemons and @michaelmillerfabrics. Repost the photo hop image at the top of this post using the following tags: #makeitblossom, #frontyardfabric, and #michaelmillerfabrics. Drawing occurs at the end of the Photo Hop. You can learn more about the hop by visiting Sandra’s blog for details.
ABOUT SANDRA
Website — Blog — Facebook — Instagram — Pinterest — Etsy
Sandra Clemons is a quilter, book author, fabric designer, quilt designer, and instructor. She began quilting in 2005 when she and her husband were dating. He took her to his family’s home and there she observed the quilts made by his grandmother and great-grandmother. She grew up understanding sewing garments and woodworking from her parents and believes that quilting is a nice mix between sewing and woodworking. Quilting is now Sandra’s passion… the thing she loves to do when she’s not with her family. She considers her quilting style to be neo-classic, where she makes use of the old to make something new. She does all her own cutting, piecing, and quilting on her BERNINA 820 sewing machine.
Sandra lives in Denver, Colorado along with her husband and daughter and when she’s not quilting, enjoys running, hybrid workouts, yoga, photography, tennis, hiking, travel and sports.
[Most images + all interview answers and biographical information courtesy of Sandra Clemons.]
I am inspired by the colors in nature.
It’s hard to say what inspires you in your daily life. It can differ from day to day. Sometimes it is something I see, and sometimes it is something I hear about.
Colours in nature, always.
Colors and shapes of anything and everything inspires me. All of the information I read from quilters’ blogs, pictures of new fabrics and threads inspire me. I would love to make a star quilt out of “Front Yard,”
I’ve got no idea what inspires me. What I see around me i guess and what I have on hand. I just like to make things up as I go along. I really like this fabric and thread collection though, the colours are fabulous!
Nature inspires me. What a lovely collection. Thank you for a fresh spring giveaway!!!
I think I find a lot of inspiration online from blogs, Instagram, FB, and Pinterest!
I live in a cabin in the woods in the mountains of North Carolina. The beauty of nature is all around me. I use more green than any other color, although I love the colors of fall the most.
I’m inspired by the plants & animals that live on our land and by the work of other quilters.
I’m in love with the fabrics in the Front Yard collection, along with the Aurifil threads to match. Oh, the things that could be made with these.
Inspiration comes from everywhere. Nature, a color, a shape. I don’t have one area where I draw from…I just try to keep an open mind all the time and inspiration finds me!
Sunshine; I love the light
I am inspired by the geometric designs in buildings, such as floor tiles motifs in churches and other public buildings. I also never tire of looking at antique quilts for inspiration.
I am inspired by nature, memories, friends and family.
Love the fabric collection and Aurifil is my favorite thread!
My phone is always in my pocket–ready for capturing colors for quilts–a cardinal on a bare limb in front of a deep green cedar, sunset over the hay meadow, hay meadow in bloom, my cows in the pasture, colored leaves in a pool left by the rain, wheat fields at all stages, the flowers in my yard, birds at my feeders in all seasons… my head spins with color. I dream in color. What a lovely collection–it could be from my own front yard! The thread colors are like jewels. Beautiful!
I get a lot of inspiration from quilting blogs and when ever I travel I look at the architecture and details of buildings.
I inspired by what’s around me. The mountains and river, the weather (fog, rain, sunshine), my animals and my beautiful gardens. Thanks, grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
I’m inspired by nature – all the sights and sounds surrounding me when I walk outside my door. All the colors and textures will brighten my day – the birds singing outside in the morning motivates me most of all.
God’s amazing colorful creation, my family, pretty fabric, and the amazing projects I see on blogs inspire me.
i love the broken hexies in the blueberry color range.
I am inspired by nature, and of course by all the amazing quilt/fabric/thread artists out there!
I am inspired by patterns I see in the world around me.
My family inspires me-from my 25 year old to my 41 year old & the grandchildren-they are my everyday life! Thank you, Susan
My husband inspires me, he is also disabled yet takes care of me!!
I’m inspired daily by the world around me. Whether it is the buildings I see while driving or the lizards and flowers in my yard, the world is full of colors and designs. You just have to be open to seeing them.
I am inspired by what I see outside my window and what I see as I travel in my city. I am inspired by photos of places afar. Skills of observation are a real gift and a source of true joy.
The internet and seeing what amazing things other quilters are doing and what beautiful fabric they use inspires me to try new things!
Nature inspires me.
I am inspired by shapes, whether it be floor tiles, picture frame textures, signage on buildings, carpet designs or street signs. So much inspiration is available, I just need to be open to new ideas.
Beautiful fabrics like Front Yard inspire me to create beautiful things!
All the things around us, nature and other peoples work
I am inspired by colour and beautiful fabrics.
love the fat quarters
I am inspired by everything around me.
Nature in my Bluegrass central Ky is my inspiration! Also, other sewists that you display for me!
Thank you.
Bright colors and interesting combinations inspire me.
I’m inspired by what I see
around me. Love from my
husband, my two Yorkies
and my Parrot! Happy
New Year.
Carla from Utah
I find a lot of inspiration from social media, instagram, facebook, pinterest and of course nature.
MY USUAL INSPIRATION IS FROM GOD’S CREATION ! THANK YOU FOR A LOVELY GIVEAWAY!
REPOSTED+SHARED THIS BEAUTIFUL GIVEAWAY WITH ALL MY QUILTY FRIENDS HERE https://www.pinterest.com/msstitcher/aurifil-threads/ THANK YOU #AURIFILTHREADS
I am inspired by my enviroment and the nature. but also the blogland is great inspiration.
I’m inspired by a wide array of things. One is nature, since we live on a lake and just like Sandra Clemmons, I spend a lot of time with my children taking in the plants and animals around us in our (back)yard. Also retro things, like all the cool lines found in MCM furniture and atomic decor. And I’m inspired a lot by the art and artists my dad shared with me while growing up. He always worked to cultivate an appreciation for it since I was young.
Nature inspires me…living in Hawaii there is so much beauty surrounding me.
Sometimes I see something in a scene on TV or a movie and think about how that would look in a quilt. Mostly I’m using someone else’s pattern.
The mountains and oceans inspire me.
I’m inspired by creative people.
I am inspired by nature, the sky above, and all around. I love the vivid colors of the Front Yard collection. Thank you, Aurifil, for sharing.
Amazing! I’m so inspired by other quilters, who teach me to push my boundaries.
Thoughts of my mom inspire me everyday & in everything I make. She has passed on, but I know she is there when I am sewing to guide me, since she was a great seamstress.
I am inspired by the fabric I am working with when it comes to quilting. It is so fun to see the thread bring to life what I am working on. In daily life I am inspired by family and friends.
I am inspired by fabrics I see on social media.
I am inspired by sunlight, fresh air and color. I love seeing clothes on a clothesline-there is something so freeing and happy about it to me. Both these fabrics and the thread are so bright and beautiful on this winter day. Like I said-color!
nature inspires me.
Everything inspires me from nature to cereal boxes. Kerry-ryan (at) att (dot) net
I find inspiration all around me but my biggest inspiration is from nature.
Nature inspires me.
What inspires me are the sights on my morning walk, and Pinterest!
Gorgeous fabrics! Inspiration comes from observations…….everywhere!
I love batiks and get inspired by all the differences in each yard.
I get lots of inspiration from seeing other quilters work on Instagram. It has become my main source for sharing my work with other quilters too!
I’m inspired by the beauty around me and to keep making beautiful things with gorgeous fabrics !
I am inspired into actual action by projects that are modern and not in the predictable mould of perfection and prescription.
I find a lot of inspiration in nature.
I’m inspired by blogs and pinterest.
Inspired by the world around us: nature and the work of humans.
Nature and the people I meet on my commute inspire me every day!
I’m inspired by all of the fabrics in my stash.
Everything seems to inspire me. Sunsets, friends, flowers and nature, and architecture. Thanks.
Beautiful fabric and thread. Love the train cases.
Bright, sunny skies inspire me daily.
I’m inspired to make some great summer tops! This winter is proving to be a cold one! Come on summer!!
Brightness, happiness, color, science, blogs, Pinterest, family, etc
Beautiful collections
I am inspired by the blogs I read, the people I work with, the nature around me.
There are many things that inspire me. Shapes and colors that I see around me. Stories that I hear or movies that I watch and books that I read. Being in nature is always a great inspiration. It really varies from day to day and from experience to experience.
Architecture inspires me the most. I always have my camera with me to take pictures to help me remember what I’ve seen.
I’d have to say looking forward to my future without regret, and looking back on the last 59 years of my life with no real regrets. We learn from our mistakes which makes our lives richer. Having a positive outlook in the worst of times always gets me through.
Many things inspire me, but my dog Phoebe helps me to stay grounded, relax, and appreciate the small things. She does these things all day long every day!
I am inspired by the color in nature. Everywhere we look it’s exciting to see how nature has no prejudice concerning color. Everything works together!
I am often inspired by things I see in nature.
I am inspired by reading blogs and seeing pictures of the many creations made by very talented people. Thanks!
Gems like turqoise, and thread. I love seeing a rainbow palette or a new collection just released and I’m dreaming of the mini quilt I’d stitch up. Thank you.
Color!
Bonjour, je ne lis malheureusement pas l’anglais, mais vous me faites quand même rêver merci pour le plaisir des yeux, peut-être qu’un jour il y aura une possibilité de choisir la langue de lecture. Très bonne fin et de nouvelle année avec autant de plaisir pour moi de voir vos créations. J’habite les Yvelines en France. Mic 78
The color jumps out and grabs me!
I am inspired by nature, by colors and color combinations, by textures, patterns, shapes…all of it!
I am inspired by the beautiful colors and shapes of nature, city shapes and music.
The colors of the seasons inspire me.
I save my quilt magazines and I can almost always find inspiration for something new. I can tell you, I browse through them quite a bit. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net
Different geometric shapes and color inspire me
Caltexgal@aol.com
Nature gives me an unending supply of inspiration with its colors, patterns and textures.
Prayer inspires me to keep moving forward and seeing the beauty that nature offers up to us each and every day….
I’m inspired by many different things, but colour is a big factor (especially ORANGE!).
I love to take colour combinations from everyday life into my quilt designs.
I’m inspired by the people for whom I’m quilting, by the memories of places I’ve loved, and by the natural or architectural elements around me.
I’m inspired a lot by ads that I see. Most of them have so much color because they are trying to get our attention. And it works.
What inspires my creativity are the patterns in sky & plant.
Inspiration comes from everywhere; it’s more a matter of focus for me. Love the new group Sandra!
Awesome giveaway! So many inspirational things around each day. It could be my grandson, nature or looking online at blogs and Pinterest.
Thanks for a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the colors
Each day, something new inspires me. Usually family, THE grandson, my job in healthcare, and the textures and colors of my quilting. Each day, as I de-grog over coffee something catches my thoughts or my eye to give me inspiration to tackle something new. I find quilting fulfills my creative side, which is a new thing for me late in life. Thanks for all your great creative ideas, and for the giveaway.
The patterns and colors in nature inspire me.
The colors in nature inspire me.
Great collection of fabrics. patterns and colours inspire me. flicking through the amazing works of talented crafters also inspires me to give new things a go
Beautiful collection! I love creating beautiful things with fabric and I get inspired by everything!
I try my best to be inspired by the people in my life and to make for them things that I believe reflects them and will make them happy.
I am inspired by my 6-year-old. He makes me see things differently every single day and it’s always so bold and vibrant through his eyes.