RedBarn Studios

Hey, look at that….my Facings Turorial that I posted last month was written up in Craftgossip.

As it says on the about page, Craft Gossip is an online review site that scours the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and reviews them for you.

They have a wide range of topics they cover–from jewelry making to knitting to recycled crafts to glass arts to quilting and many more. Each topic has its own page and an editor who canvases websites and blogs looking for all good stuff to tell us about.

I’m so pleased that Scarlet Burroughs, the quilting editor, picked my Facing Tutorial to showcase on the qulting page of the blog. What a great honor! Thanks.

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: community, tutorial by k grace howes
1 Comment »

Tried to upload my new pattern to my website but there’s a small, teeny, tiny glitch happening now. No website loads. Bummer indeed! I’ve let the tech people know and hopefully will have it back up sooner rather that later.

For now if you would like to order any of my patterns (see below), including the new “PadfOliO Notebook“, please send me an email. In order to avoid spam please copy and paste my address in your email….grace@redbarn-studios.com

Bloom Where You Are Planted (24 x 31)

ColourBlocks (63 x 63)

The Orange Escaped (67 x 78)

Coffee Blues (44 x 56)

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See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: life etc., patterns, website by k grace howes
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You ever get to a point where you just have to make something yourself to get what you want?

Well that happened with my latest pattern. I was forever taking notes in meetings on little bits of notebook paper….then I started carrying around a notepad but that got messy cause the pages get ripping out or folded in all sorted of ways just hanging around in one of my gi-normous bags.

So one Sunday I took out the notepad, sat at my cutting table and didn’t get up till I designed a cover for it.

As those who design patterns know….it can take a lot of different prototypes till you get it right but it’s such satisfaction at the end. I asked a friend to test the pattern for me and can now let you guys see the finished product.

New Pattern

I introduce to you….the PadfOliO Notebook, a stylish way to carry around paper.

I knew I wanted to have a place to tuck notes so a slip pocket is available. Also, what’s the sense of taking notes if you have no pen to write with…so a pen holder was part of the design.

I also wanted a place to put business cards (to hand out as needed) but this pocket is also a convenient way to identify the owner of this stylish piece of artwork.

I will be adding this pattern to my website where you can conveniently pay for the pattern through Paypal.

I have to tell you that making this PadfOliO Notebook is very addictive. I’ve made 6 so far…2 have been commandeered by family (okay, truth be told….1 of them by me, it’s the blue one above) and the other four, ready to start taking notes, are listed for sale in my Etsy shop.

Let me know what you think. I really like ‘um.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, artful creations, journals, mixed media, paper art, patterns by k grace howes
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My good friend Susan Brubaker Knapp has a new pattern booklet “Applique Petal Party” coming out in October 2009. She just returned form Quilt Market and got the good news that it is ready to announce to the world.

I am so very pleased for her……she has worked very hard to get everything ready for the publishers at C&T and it looks fantastic! Keep a look out for it later in the year and grab one when you can. Right now she is offering pre-orders on her website.

I am please to let you know that my one of the pieces I did to test her pattern made it onto the front cover.

That’s my piece, the coneflowers, on the right. Only for Susan would I tackle hand piecing and…..okay, okay I enjoyed it too but don”t tell her I said so. Her pattern was very easy to follow and the quilt is absolutely, positively gor-gee-ous in person.

Now how cool is that! Way to go Susan!

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, pandoras, patterns by k grace howes
1 Comment »

I had lots of small pieces (smaller than a fat 8th) of some of my older hand dyed fabrics and was in the mood for a little play. After I fused the fabrics I just started playing with shape and colour….one of my favorite things to do. When I play like this there is no end result in my head, just freely cutting, moving pieces around then carefully fusing down. 

I finished the larger piece (on the right) but had so much little bits left over that I just couldn’t stop…..so I made mini’s, 4 of then in all to go with the larger one. Whadya think…..did I get carried away?

I took it to a meeting I attended recently (more about that at another time but I’m smiling bout it) and one of the ladies popped out with its name. She said it reminded her of urban Miami with all the popping colours and structures. So there you have it “Urban Miami” and her four frolicking friends. I like!

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, fiber art, hand dyes, stash by k grace howes
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These last few months have been very busy for me. An art group I belong to has a gallery showing coming up in June and I’ve been busy making some new pieces and working on our most recent group challenge. This one is big and oh so very cool even if I say so myself.

I’m so excited! This will be my first gallery show and you betcha I’m darned excited. We are each busy finishing up loose ends and getting the news out.

If you are in the area and would like to attend (which I just know you’re aching to do). The show  entitled “The Art of Cloth” will hang at the Lincoln Cultural Center in Lincolnton, NC (403 E Main Street), Our pieces will hang from June 3rd to July 2nd.

Opening repception is  June 12th at 6:30 p.m. We’d love to have you join us then. 

Also, I have finished my first newsletter and will be sending that out within the next few days. If you are not on my email list and would like to join and have a hunkering to get my newsletter send me an email at: grace (at) redbarn-studio (dot) com. (sorry, this is not a link).

Do you know the reason most people are writing their emails like this now?. If it’s written as a link then lovely spammers, (who BTW only have our best interest at heart…yeh right!) send out feelers to store your email addy and send you loads of yucky stuff you would never have need for especially if you are female….wink, wink. 

And would you believe I have more news to come….but I have to upload some more photos for that post. Stay tuned.

See ya next time “In the Hayloft”,

Tags: Art, community, FAB, schedule by k grace howes
1 Comment »