Lazies, Today, Karina Hittle of Artful Offerings ^[1] shares her fabulous and fun Vibrant Spring ornaments and tree skirt with us. This is the fifth of twelve daily features in the ‘Day Z Dozen’ blog hop ^[2].

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Here’s Karina:
I was inspired to create the Vibrant Spring pattern by an invitation from Holly Holderman, design director & owner of LakeHouse Dry Goods™, to create a new design and possible showcase centerpiece for her booth at the Houston International Quilt Market last Autumn.

I wanted to create something that would be “eye catching” for the show, yet could be used as a novel home decoration to capture the bursting colors of Springtime.

Since this was a quilt show and the theme was brilliantly vibrant gerbera daisies, I wondered if this might be the perfect opportunity to design a quilted daisy ornament and reversible tree skirt. I thought that perhaps I could integrate my trademark approach to “maintenance free gardening” and to make it into a lickety-split-sew-simple “weekend gardening project!”

The Vibrant Spring pattern features easy-to-quilt {or not} double-sided ornaments that are stuffed with fiber fill and feature easy raw edge finishing.

To add a dash of sparkle, the center of each daisy can be embellished with a faceted jet-black button.

For an additional layer of texture and whimsical merriment, the leaves are tied to the top of each daisy with bright green rick rack! In an instant, these bold blooming daisies are ready to hang anywhere by clipping 1″ black drapery clips to the leaves. How fun and easy is that???

For a refreshing twist and to achieve greater contrast, hang the daisy ornaments from the limbs of a black feather tree with orange berry-tipped branches. This unique style idea will make those daisies POP!

The reversible tree skirt can be quilted {or not} and is trimmed in black rick rack and pom pom fringe, again to contrast and make the tree skirt explode in brilliant color! This design is sure to add pizzazz to your home or office decor.

At Spring Quilt Market this coming May, I look forward to introducing some more exciting patterns for sewing artists, using the newest collection of LakeHouse Dry Goods fabrics!

About Artful Offerings:
In addition, my husband Audie {Artful Offerings business manager} and I will be spreading the word about the upcoming first book by Artful Offerings, featuring Christmas designs with a delicious twist. Martingale & Company® is publishing the book and it will be available in the July/August 2007 time frame.

Finally, my goal at Artful Offerings is to create an artful experience, which evokes an element of excitement and surprise, from the moment you first see my pattern designs thru the entire creative process!

I hope you have as much fun making this pattern as I had designing it. I encourage you to explore your own creativity! However you decide to display your Vibrant Spring ornaments and reversible tree skirt, have fun with them!!! Please click here to visit our website ^[4] and view my “Fresh Ideas Notebook” ^[5] using the Vibrant Spring pattern. http://www.Artful-Offerings.com ^[4]
- Karina and Audie Hittle

Here’s all the product information for today’s feature ’Vibrant Spring’. Check quilt shops to purchase the pattern and fabrics.

Artful Offerings
Vibrant Spring Ornaments
Pattern No. 2006064 – 10 fabrics

Ornaments & Reversible Tree Skirt
Enough for about 20 Two-Sided Ornaments

Ornaments
1 Yard Flowers LH05012 DayZ Chain: Snow
1/2 Yard Leaf Top LH05028 Teeny Weeny Ticking: Chartreuse
1/2 Yard Leaf Top LH04036 Tiny Ticking: Leaf
1/2 Yard Leaf Bottom LH03035 Frosted Dots: Green

Tree Skirt
7/8 Yard Top LH05025 Party Polka: Cherry & Melon
1 Yard Lining LH04036 New Tiny Ticking: Papaya

- Click on ‘Comments’ below to read what others have to say, or leave a comment.
- See all the DayZ fabrics here ^[6].
- Are you hopping along with us ^[7]? Let us know by posting a comment and we will add your store, blog or web to our list!