This week is my turn on the blog tour to showcase the new collection, Windsor Garden, by Kelly Parker Smith for Sweet Bee Fabric Company. It’s always fun to discover (or be introduced to) new-to-me fabric designers and companies. Sweet Bee is a new face in the quilting fabric crowd, and they are already producing some really beautiful collections! Kelly invited me to sew something to show off her first fabric collection called Windsor Garden.
You can purchase Sweet Bee fabrics and get the look you see in this quilt. Click Here to shop.
As soon as I saw the prints, I couldn’t resist saying “yes” to the chance to make a quilt. This collection is so pretty: part candy color sweetness, part retro geometric, all really cute prints. I will definitely be watching to see what Kelly creates next.
I admit that I was super indecisive about what to make. The fabric sat for most of June while I though about what to make and I was on my finishing streak. Then all of a sudden it dawned on me that this date was coming soon and I better get sewing…of course, I never have to be pushed too hard to start something new with pretty fabrics! I started making the orange peel blocks with the Classic Curves Ruler. There was a design planned. Then I changed my mind. Then thought a bunch more. I think I was indecisive because I wanted to make something really GOOD, so it was hard to commit to any one design. Too many ideas. (-:
In the end I settled on this pattern that lets the fabrics be the star. I try to do that in all my quilts…piecing is fun and I love the design challenge, but in the end, it feels so good to enjoy pretty fabrics in a pattern that compliments them. I did the 1 1/2″ grid quilting on my home sewing machine with a golden yellow shade of 50 wt Aurifil thread. I don’t often quilt with color thread, my go-to is the invisible thread so it creates texture but doesn’t stand out. I am really happy I went with the yellow for this one…it’s just the right amount of added color.
The fabulous texture comes from a new batting from Hobbs called Tuscany Supreme, 100% cotton. I love that it has a bit of loft so that the quilting really stands out. It’s also super soft (kind of too bad it has to be inside so you can’t snuggle it).
Here’s the good part! If you like the Windsor Garden fabrics as much as I do, you have a chance to win a fat quarter bundle. Kelly is generously giving one away to a Color Girl reader. All you have to do to enter:
- sign up to receive email from me. Click Here
- leave a comment here and tell me which color in Windsor Garden is your favorite (mine is the light seagreen-blue)
- sign up for Kelly’s email list. She has an adorable shop of print and paper goods, Click Here to sign up.
I will choose a winner next week. Feel free to share with quilting friends you think might want to enter. You can post on Instagram (I am @colorgirlquilts, Kelly is @kellyparkersmith ) or on Facebook (copy the URL link to to this page and paste it on your timeline post)
UPDATE: Giveaway is closed and the name drawn is Kandra Flavell. Wahoo! thanks so much for all the love on this quilt and the fabrics!
Happy Sewing!
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This fabric set is beautiful.
Favorite is the hot pink w/ small print of ovals on it, I think.
All the colors are great – very fresh! I like the cool minty greens, though!
I love the navy blue. A good true navy is so hard to find!
I already get your newsletter so I didn’t sign p again. I think I was able to sign up for Kelly’s mailing list, but I an not sure. 🙂
My favorite color is the navy background with small print but all colors are a perfect combination
I’m a sucker for sea-green blue, but I really like that yellow as well!
My favorite is the yellow one
I love the hot pink fabric
At first I was drawn to the navy blues, but the YELLOWS are so beautiful!
My favorite is the print with the dark yellow background. So warm and cheerful!
I love all the dark blue prints, beautiful collection!
I’m mad about the navy blue with the lemon yellow “orange peel” shapes and green stemmy designs. I just love that.
Love the navy blue!
The grays and pinks are my favorite
I’m not sure what the names of the fabrics are but I like the one that looks like has lemons on it and the dark version of that main fabric with flower designs. Your quilt looks amazing as usual. You’re a rockstar.
I was first drawn to the yellow but that navy with little yellow “lemons” won me over. Thanks for the giveaway!
I really like the yellow but the seagreen is great too.
I love the navy with the yellow leaves very much!
I’m realizing that I love blue. The blues in Windsor Garden fabrics are calling me. Especially the one with the yellow leaves and green accents.
The yellow is bright & fun!!
It’s a toss up between the yellow and the Navy prints. Love all the colors!
The fabric is stunning. Your quilt you made to showcase the fabric is beautiful. I love how your fabrics pop in all your quilt designs. I love all the fabric and how it all works together. Thank you for the opportunity to win a wonderful gift. Della
I like the yellow print and really like the quilt you made with the collection.
I love the yellow, floral prints. Which is unusual, I don’t normally gravitate to yellow. Love your quilt.
I do love all of these fabrics, but my favorite is the tone-on-tone hot pink! I am now signed up for both emails! Thanks! duchick at gmail dot com
For some reason, I’m really getting into navy prints this summer, so…navy!
I have two favourite prints. Love the orange/coral print and the sea foam green print. I also love the pale yellow solid. What colour is it?
Do I have to pick only one color? I love the whole collection! Ok, if I have to pick one, it’s the bright yellow!????
love the yellow, signed up for your emails
Dark blues, they are always my favorite color.
While I love bright colors, I’d like to make this quilt for my grandson’s wedding, and he wants white, tan and yellow green.
I love the whole line! To pick one, I would say the sea foam/teal catches my eye first.
Gorgeous quilt. All colors are vibrant, but I think the light seagreen-blue is my favorite as well.
I love the navy with the small pink flowers! I love how they all work together, though!
My favorite is the large abstract flowers with the dark grey background.
I love the navy with lemons print!!! Thank you
The whole collection is Awesome..but I looove the light teal greeny color!! Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! 🙂
I love the orange print. Thanks!
I like the pinky coral colors best.
That navy is calling my name.
All the colors are great and work soo well together ! Pick only one ?? I guess the hot pink ones !!
I love the pinks!
I like the pink prints! Signed up for the newsletter and your blog e-mail.
Posted on facebook! Love this fabric!!
https://www.facebook.com/nicole.sender2/posts/10214266133598632
All the colors in this quilt is beautiful and flo very well together. But my favorite would have to be the pinks. I love all pinks one of my favorite colors.
I like the all but those little lemons on the navy background catches my eye. The aqua stripe is awesome too – can do so much with it.
I love the navy❤️
Lovely collection! My fav colour is the cheerful yellow!
Gorgeous quilt! I love the navy!!!
I love the new fabric! I’m a blue girl so for me it’s the navy with the pretty trees and flowers ????