Something awesome is brewing over at Barnes & Noble for my book release. If what I am hearing is true then it’s gonna be a pretty big deal for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to pick up a copy of Quilts from the House of Tula Pink. I would like to think of it as a big sloppy kiss and a hug for everyone who is supporting this tome of pure Pinkishness! I am supplying a little sneaky peek surprise for all of you in addition to the promotion that B&N is putting together in the form of a brand spankin’ new wallpaper for your twitter pages and what not. It’s a pin-up pic of me! Just kidding, it’s even better than that. So be sure to check back in with me on March 6th to pick up your prize and see what Barnes & Noble has in store for you and to get a little taste of what I have coming up at Spring Quilt Market. Just a taste mind you, it’s still a teensy bit too early to spill the beans on that one.

So, um… I haven’t been around a whole lot the last month and for this I am almost really sorry. I wanted to say it’s because I have been writing a book but the truth is that I wrote this last year so that excuse is out the window. Hey, a book! That is a way better topic than where I have been.

So here is my book. Quilts from the House of Tula Pink. I was lobbying for the subtitle “Super Awesome Crafty Crap” but in the end everyone decided that the less offensive “20 Fabric Projects to Make, Use & Love” would go over better with the masses. So here is it: 10 amazing quilts and each with it’s own accessory project, fun for everyone!

The photography totally blew my mind. We are talking some serious quilt porn here. The photos were all taken in this crazy abandoned apartment. I like to call the style post-apocalyptic chic. It’s very cool if I do say so myself. The book should start shipping late February. You can pre-order it directly from me in my shop. All books ordered from me will be signed, I have a lovely signature I think you will like it.

GO TO SHOP

I have had a bunch of emails from people wanting to know if there were patterns to go with Prince Charming. Well, of course there are! What do you think I do over here, sit around investigating my toes? I do have lovely toes but I also make time to get some work done. I have four delicious new patterns to accompany Prince Charming just for you, my very favorite people.

Field Study is a new take on the Zig Zag quilt. The blocks on this baby are fairly large so it really shows off the bigger prints. It’s super easy to whip together. So easy in fact that I made a second one two days before I left for Quilt Market just because I could and hey, I wasn’t that busy anyway.

I adore this quilt. I love how all of the colors came together. Little octagon blocks are historically called snow balls and since these are really big it’s called Snow Globes! The cleverness never ends around here.

Crown Jewels was originally going to be called Family Jewels but everyone seemed to think that might be taking it a little too far. I thought it was funny but what do I know I am just the designer. This pattern is crazy fun to make by the way. The little “jewels” on the points of each crown are covered buttons. Fun right? Also I photographed each step for the pattern instead of diagramming so that’s an extra little perk. I hope y’all appreciate it because it was a total pain to do. If you know me at all then you know that I hate taking pictures. I keep buying more expensive cameras to compensate but I can’t seem to find a camera that will set up the shot, adjust the lighting, take the dang picture, upload and color correct for me. Maybe I should just sell them all and hire a photographer:)

It was hilarious at Quilt Market listening to people say “I just love the… uh… Love quilt” About half way through the sentence everyone realized how it was going to end and became uncomfortable. I didn’t plan it that way but I might in the future.

If you want to see any of these in person or pick up a pattern and some Prince Charming of your very own they will be at The Quilt Shoppe here in  Stewartsville. If you don’t live near us then ask your local quilt shop!

Where have I been? What have I been doing? Don’t I love you anymore? These are all valid questions. I have left the bright lights and big hair of Dallas and made my way to a quieter place. The people of this little town call it Stewartsville but I have renamed it in my honor. Welcome to Pinkerville! I moved into the little farm house down the road from my Mom. This will be the fourth state I have lived in in less than 3 years. Change is obviously not something I fear any longer, that and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

I have done the big city thing, the suburb thing, the college town thing now it’s time to tackle the small town thing. I haven’t been here long but I have learned a lot. I have learned how to drive on ice and consequently fear for my life and the life of others every time I get behind the wheel. I have learned that mice travel in herds and they really like avocados, I have bought more groceries for them than I have for myself. I have learned that there are not enough words in the English language to describe a dramatic drop in temperature, all though the ones that do exist are mostly of the four letter variety. I have learned how to make my own coffee, since the nearest Starbucks is more than 20 miles away. I didn’t even think that was possible, I stand corrected. Most importantly I have learned that two little girls with big blue eyes that call me big sister can get me to do absolutely anything (no matter how uncomfortable crawling on all fours making pony noises can be).

Aside from my on going battle with nature I have been very busy. I am working on some new fabrics and making a ton of stuff that I will be sharing in some upcoming posts including a few projects for magazines that will coincide with the release of Neptune. To keep myself busy I am helping my Mom out at her Quilt Shoppe. So if you need any fabric cut and find yourself in the Northwest Missouri area then stop by and see me, I am there almost every day.

Well kids, I am off to Quilt Market. I leave for Portland in a few hours and I will miss you all terribly. This time I will have some serious arm candy. I bought a bag from DrakaB Design’s Etsy Shop a while back and fell. in. love. She is my new favorite person. The radical pink one in front is for me, of course, and the sassy little green one in the back is a present for my Mom. She has been instructed not to read the blog until after market but I get my lack of patience from her so we’ll see. If you are going to be in Portland and you see this awesome pink bag then say hi to me (I will be the one carrying it). If you see the green bag then say hi to my mom. She will love it and most likely tell you all sorts of embarrassing tid bits about my teenage years. She loves that.

Anywhoo… See you in a week!

Hey Kids. Sorry for the tardiness but there is a really good reason…

Sigh, no there isn’t I’m just lazy. In an effort to make amends I am finally posting the whole group. Yay! Birds are fun! This flock is in the hands of Moda’s able sales reps as we speak, so if you want it you better tell your shop NOW! so they can order it and it can be in your crafty little hands by August. It’s only a couple of months, no big deal right? I knew you could handle it. I got a little ahead of myself with this one, I was excited. You have no idea how painful it is to sit on this kind of information. It’s like having a baby, naming her, dressing her up all cute then hiding her from everyone you know and pretending like she doesn’t exist. That would just be weird and maybe illegal.

The sample yardage is finally here and the Quilt Market quilt makin’ frenzy has begun. It makes all the difference in the world to see real yardage as opposed to the itty bitty swatches I see during the refining process. That pink is HOT! & I don’t mean Paris Hilton hot, I mean sizzlin’ hot, rock star pants on fire hot. It’s good stuff. So yes, you guessed it in the last post, the theme here is birds. We’ve got bird houses, eggs, nests, bird tracks, loose feathers and clouds. The coloring is like Flutterby on steroids. It’s warmer and brighter just like my bubbly personality, except for maybe in the morning or late at night or right before lunch. I would avoid me during those times unless it can’t be helped and even then I wouldn’t make any sudden moves. Enough about me, look at the new fabric! Yay!

Ok kids, since it seems that people like to see what they can’t have I will now commence with the premature posting of  far off fabrics. Think of it as a little glimpse of the future. I have always wanted to be psychic myself but lack the talent. I have a hard enough time seeing what’s going on while it’s happening.

Can anyone guess the theme? I know my wily wit and sleuth-like-clue-leaving  (I am sure there is a word that means all that) skills are unparallelled but I think I left you all with quite enough to guess where I am going with this. I plan to leave a little trail of bird crumbs that leads all the way to Quilt Market where all will be revealed in its entirety. We will see how that works out. I have heard that patience is a virtue, though it is not mine.

Diamonds are forever ladies. I don’t actually have any but I have seen some and they look like they’ve got a real will to survive. So this quilt pattern is now officially available for download. It’s really easy I promise.

Download Me!

I have been crazy busy this week although I can’t exactly remember what it was that was so furiously occupying my time. Instead of some greater insight into the magical world of Tula Pink I present you with a little bit of eye candy. I took these pictures when I first designed Full Moon Forest about a year ago with the intention of using them in some great advertising campaign that was going to shake the quilting nation to it’s core. That did not happen. The collection came and went leaving me in a cloud of pastel dust. Now, as I work through the ideas for my fourth collection while wrapping up production on the third and pour over the fabric from Flutterby, I have stumbled across this forgotten photo that held so much promise. I incurred great injury taking these photos. It was summer in North Carolina and the bugs were determined to eat me alive. I was invading their natural habitat so I really can’t hold it against them. Maybe that is where Flutterby came from…hmmm. Off topic. There is no great point here just a lovely photo that I thought I would share.