Personal Projects: Checking in with Eileen Fowler

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I asked my co-workers on the QM staff what they’ve been working on for personal projects lately, and got this great photo from Associate Editor Eileen Fowler. Eileen shares:

Self Mitered Log Cabin

Here is what is on my design wall at home. This is Anita’s “Self Mitered Log Cabin” design from her last book (Rotary Cutting Revolution). Still trying to use up all my batik scraps. Blocks are not completely sewn together—but enough to get them off the floor. Still working through border ideas. But I think the black batik (seen on the right right side of the photo) will be there somewhere.

You may know that Quiltmaker has a great relationship with Anita Grossman Solomon, the designer of the Super-Sized Nine Patch quilts and Anita’s Arrowhead, and the quilter behind Make It Simpler. This is the Anita whom Eileen mentions above; the book she refers to is Rotary Cutting Revolution.

10711 Personal Projects: Checking in with Eileen Fowler

It’s one we all have a copy of—we use it and we love it. Anita’s ideas are fresh and unique. I’m always thinking to myself, “How did she think of that?!”

Many, many readers have downloaded the free Super-Sized Nine Patch instructions and  we’d invite you to do the same (click “Download the pdf” at the bottom of the text).

Another great free resource (for a limited time) is the pattern for Anita’s Arrowhead. These blocks are addictive! Our entire staff made tops from these blocks in 2010. Below is the piece I made using Michael Miller fabrics.

arrowhead1 Personal Projects: Checking in with Eileen Fowler

Anita’s Arrowhead quilt top made from Michael Miller Fabrics.

Working in the quilting industry is an interesting conundrum. All but one of our seven staff members are dedicated quilters—which means that all day long we design quilts, figure yardage, draw diagrams, write pattern instructions and interact with reader-quilters and designers, among many other tasks.

Then at night or on weekends we often go home and sew on our personal projects. Those projects are regularly inspired and informed by our QM work. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where our jobs stop and our personal lives begin…which is actually a really good problem to have.

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I’ll keep asking QM staff members what they’re working on at home, so please check back often.

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