Happy Smiling Faces!

The six designers in our group live all over New England, from southern coast of Rhode Island to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, so it is not often we are all in the same place at the same time!  So we thought it would be fun to show you our smiling faces from the one and only time we actually got together as a group while vending.

This photo was taken at our booth at MQX in Manchester NH, spring 2010.

Left to right:  Terri Sontra,  Judy Damon, Kristi Parker, Barbara Chojnacki, Cary Flanagan, Beth Helfter.

Check out the links at right to go to our individual websites.  And watch for our vending schedule for the coming year.  Maybe we will be coming to a quilt guild near you!

We Are Still Here!

It has been a very busy summer and fall for all of the members of the New England Quilt Designer's Cooperative. Since we each have our own businesses to attend to it is sometimes difficult to keep this blog up to date. I (Cary Flanagan) assure you we are still very much alive and kicking!

We have vended at many quilt shows over the past year, some small and some very large (by our standards), such as Maine Quilts in July. (You can see a glimpse of our booth from that show this past summer in the photo above.)

We are now winding down for this season but will be starting up again in January with a group appearance at the Amoskeag Quilt Guild in Manchester, NH. The six of us are The Program for the January guild meeting! We will each have an opportunity to talk about how we became designers, present a group trunk show and also vend our patterns, notions and other wonderful quilty items to guild members. Starting in March our guild show vending schedule will begin once again and continue through the following fall.

We have become very popular and well known in the New England area and are looking to possibly expand our reach beyond New England. If you know of a quilt show or venue in your area (outside NE), please contact one of us and tell us about it! The concept of a group of individual designers coming together to offer our quilt patterns, kits, notions, etc as well as our expertise as speakers and workshop teachers if truly unique. We look forward to hearing from many of you soon for new opportunities for us to share what we do with a broader audience.

Stay tuned for our spring/summer/fall schedule to be posted here soon.

Cary Flanagan
Something Sew Fine Quilt Design

New Brochure for NEQDC!

Download the newly designed full color brochure for NEQDC HERE!

I have not yet conquered the problem of how to print it in its entirety but will work on that. But you can at least see the photos and read the text.

The brochure was designed and produced by NEQDC member Judy Damon.

Members Featured in The Quilt Pattern Magazine

Several of our members have been working with the folks at The Quilt Pattern Magazine and have submitted articles and patterns for publication. This month, April 2011, members Barbara Chojnacki and Kristi Parker are featured in the magazine. Barbara's pattern is called "Itzo EZ", and the name is perfect! She will have you using up all of your scraps and large scale prints in no time! This quilt lends itself well to Layer Cakes and fat quarter bundles as well. Kristi wrote an article describing how to do a method of applique that uses very fine bridal tulle as a stabilizer. It is quick and easy, and can be accomplished entirely by machine, although the end result looks as if were done by hand. The tulle does not show in the finished product, and remains soft and supple for quilting. Keep an eye out for submissions from other members of the New England Quilt Designers in the future. You can access The Quilt Pattern Magazine by going to www.TheQuiltPatternMagazine.com. It is an "E-zine" that can be downloaded to your computer, allowing you to print any of the articles and pattern templates that you choose.

NEQDC Vending Schedule 2011

We are six very talented quilt designers with more than 50 patterns and books among us to choose from!


SAVE THESE DATES!

We will be selling our patterns, books and other fun stuff at the following quilt shows throughout 2011. Our booths are always full of a variety of quilt samples of many colors and styles, including everything from place mats to full size quilts and patterns to go with each. We hope you will be able to stop by and say hello.



APRIL 16-17: Northeast CT Country Quilters, Plainfield, CT

JUNE 3-4: Thames River Quilters, Ledyard, CT

JUNE 3-5: Genesee Valley Quilt Festival, Rochester, NY

JULY 28-31: Maine Quilts, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

AUGUST 6-7: Greater Hartford Quilt Guild, Wndsor, CT

OCTOBER 14-16: Ninigret Quilt Guild, Westerly, RI

This schedule will be updated as more shows are added.

Two New Patterns!

We've been busy in Purple Moose country - we have two new patterns out.

The first is Chocolate Truffle Scarf. What could be a more decadent treat than a chocolate truffle? This scarf is a decadent treat for your wardrobe! It couldn't be any easier to make and looks like a million bucks. I get compliments every time I wear mine. Each scarf is an original work of art. Try one today and you will be the envy of all your friends tomorrow!

The second is Fish Frenzy. A super easy quilt that looks much more difficult than it really is. It would be a perfect "guy" quilt or for anyone interested in fish or fishing.

You can find both patterns on our website http://www.PurpleMooseDesigns.com - be sure and visit the gallery to see what others have done with these patterns!

News and New Directions for NEQDC

Greetings and thanks for visiting! You are in exactly the right place to learn more about the New England Quilt Designers' Cooperative and the individual designers who make up this successful group.

The first important bit of news is that we have decided to re-purpose this blog for announcements of new and exciting happenings for each of us as individuals and as a group. And we get to start off with a really awesome announcement!


The Quilter Magazine (due to reach subscribers any day now) has published a fabulous article about NEQDC called "Strength in Numbers". The article focuses on how NEQDC was formed and how we operate as a tight knit and very successful marketing cooperative. It was written by Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs but every member contributed to the piece. There are some great photos representing each of our quilt design styles, and quotes from each of us that give the reader a flavor of how we function as a group and what contributes to our success.

We are pleased and excited that the national media is taking note of what may well be a unique approach to marketing for designers. NEQDC really does have Strength in Numbers and has proved that the concept really works.

Please check out the article in The Quilter Magazine and then visit the websites of each individual member. Each of us is also active on Facebook - please follow and "Like" us there! We truly have something for every quilter!

We would love to get feedback. What did you think of the article? What are your thoughts about the group marketing concept? What kinds of quilting styles or patterns do you like best?

Stay tuned for more exciting news. We will soon be posting the schedule of quilt guild shows where we will be vending throughout the remainder of 2011 and into 2012.