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I'm thrilled to be part of the New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop this year, hosted by Beth from Plum and June. The hop is an annual event that showcases new quilt bloggers, and I'm excited both for myself and for you to meet all the amazing quilters who are participating - so much creativity and inspiration to be found! If you're new to my blog, welcome, and for those of you whom I've had the chance to connect with before, welcome back! My name is Sarah, and I currently hail from Portland ME, where I live with with my husband and our two daughters. Of all the hats I wear - mom, milspouse, and maker - it's that last one that leaves the fewest crayon marks on the furniture, prompts the least number of moves (unless you count my husband moving out of his study to make room for my new longarm!), and in which I get to sew, quilt and create. On my blog you'll find a mix of tutorials, WIPs, finished projects, and updates for whatever current QAL I'm hosting or participating in.  My mother taught me how to quilt when I was a child, but I've only really appreciated and rediscovered my love of the craft now that I have my own children to sew for. I constantly doodle ideas for big quilts I want to tackle, but my completed work reveals a definite bent toward kids' projects, quick sewing and raw edge applique - like my latest finish pictured below, a "deer" little doll quilt for my niece! I've just recently acquired a HQ24 Fusion, though, and I'm excited to take my work in a new direction in the coming months so that I can offer longarm quilting services to my clients.  an example of what I'm best at - small and appliqued! Today I decided to highlight three of my most favorite quilted projects. The first is a baby quilt I made for a client as a shower gift. She requested a "nautical feel without nautical prints," and loved the look of this wonky star, so I created one as the focal point. Living near the coast meant the perfect photo op at our local lighthouse! (If you love the look of wonky stars, too, here's a tutorial to create your own... or sign up for my newsletter and get the FREE Starshine Baby Quilt pattern to recreate this design yourself!)  Another favorite of mine are these doll quilts with matching bedding that I made for my daughters this past Christmas. They happily joined the previous year's quilts (my kids are a bit spoiled when it comes to doll furniture - each doll has their own bunk and their own quilt : P) and have been very well loved!  Finally, some fun decor projects I whipped up this [bitterly cold] spring when an endless winter had me longing for daffodils. For my Pantone Quilt Challenge pillow, I'd been practicing Drunkard's Path blocks and got hooked on curved piecing, so I flipped them around to create a bright cheery block to bring some sunshine inside. If you like the look, you can create it for yourself following my Daffodil Days throw pillow tutorial.  I'm so glad for this chance to tell you a little about myself and my work. I'd love for you to come back and visit Berry Barn Designs again, but you can also follow what I'm up to on IG @berrybarndesigns, Facebook and Pinterest. Speaking of the latter, let me segue into a quilt blogging tip I want to share with you today... BLOGGING TIP: Labeling Your Images or Pinterest Prep Done Right! Isn't Pinterest great? But don't you hate it when you pin something fantastic from your favorite blog and the description is missing or file name gibberish? Having accurate descriptions including your name/website title on your blog photos (all of them, not just the "best" one you led with - sometimes I'm not pinning your leading photo because I want to highlight an awesome quilting motif or a pretty pieced backing : ) will pay off in spades when others pin your images, as will adding hashtags so people searching Pinterest find your content. Below are directions for labeling in both Blogger and Weebly, which I'm familiar with. If you're not sure how to do this on a different platform, you can check your site's FAQs or google it to find out. In Blogger: Under your image click "Properties." A box titled "Image Properties" will appear where you can enter your description under "title text" and click OK.  In Weebly: On "Image" menu click "Advanced." A menu will slide out where you can enter your description under "Alt Text."  Just a few final fun facts before I turn you over to the next stop on the hop... - I grew up on Cape Cod, but hate going to the beach in the summer. Too crowded! - I like dystopian novels, ice cream, Tuesdays and hiking. - I love polka dots. I know this because they seem to comprise a third of my stash and I don't even remember how they all got there! Do you have a favorite print you collect? - I will readily complain about the process, but I love moving. Maine is the 5th state we've called home in 7 years of marriage, and next year we head to Kansas! (Hopefully with one more little one along for the move, as we're a waiting family for adoption : ) Anyone here reading this from the Sunflower State? I'm eagerly starting to collect quilt store and retreat recommendations, so please share your favorites!  Be sure to check out these other great bloggers on today's hop!
Cornelia @ Pieced with Love Heather @ QA Creations Jenn @ Sew Crafty Jenn Cheryl @ Texas Quilting Gal Kate @ Thread Everywhere Lin @ Lin's Quilts Carole @ From My Carolina Home Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic Wendy @ Wendy's Quilts and More Pam @ Sewing Wilde Shauna @ Shauna's World 7/8/2014 14:36:51
Ohh! I didn't realize there was another military spouse in our blog hop. I'm glad I got to learn a bit more about you. I'm dying to own a long arm but I'm afraid it wont move well, especially with such frequent relocations. Does that worry you? Actually, Rachel, there are at least three of us because Heather at QA Creations is a veteran and milspouse! She also has a longarm business - we both like the idea of a work-from-home business that can accommodate the crazy military schedules and separations. I specifically bought the machine I have for it's weight and ease of set up... when I get to Kansas sans husband for the first five months and end up setting it up alone : P
Cornelia
7/8/2014 18:45:42
oh i love to know you a bit better, Im always so in love with your wonderful creations, and damn how I wish I had space (and money) for a long arm, such a big dream Thank you for the kind words, Cornelia! The longarm was definitely a stretch for us, but my husband has commented on how much happier I seem now delving into a business I love even if I won't be getting rich anytime soon, so I guess a happy household was worth spaghetti seven nights a week for a while ; )
DeborahGun
7/8/2014 21:47:42
Nice to meet you Sarah. I love the clean and precise look of your quilts - and Piper is one of my favourite collections so those doll quilts are gorgeous :-)
I need to move closer to a great lighthouse so I can take beautiful photos like that. Of course, I would have to try to make a gorgeous quilt like yours too ... It took me a while to learn it, too, Carla, and I still forget now and then and have to go back and edit them. I try to pick something generic to a post so I can at least cut and paste when I have a lot of pics in one upload. And the lighthouse is nice... I completely take for granted all the great scenery here, but I am going to miss it like crazy when we move inland! 7/8/2014 23:58:08
I cant wait to try your tip, I do try to insert my logo - would love a better way. Love your views of the shore i am a lighthouse fan when we travel I have to admit that I use logo watermarks infrequently, Pam. I try to use them on lead pics when creating tutorials and highlighting a finish, but I don't use them on everything. Having the descriptions filled in when people pin or tweet is helpful. If you like lighthouses, you'd love Portland - I can think of four within ten minutes of my house : P I'm so happy you've found "home," Barbara! I have at least 12 years left till that happens... really hoping it's right back here where we are now because I love it so : ) And thank you - the triangles were leftover from what I cut out for Sassy Quilter's Triangle QAL... the big one isn't finished, but the doll one went together in a snap.
Gorgeous quilt in a gorgeous location! Thank you, Jo! The "quilt ladder" is actually the ladder for their other dolls' bunk bed, which was my mom's as a child and that "Santa" brought the previous year all refinished. But it made the perfectly proportioned prop! I'll have to check out that book - sounds interesting : ) 7/9/2014 01:37:07
Welcome from another Maine-ah!! I love your quilting style. The daffodil pillow is fab and makes me want to attempt another curved quilt (I made a double wedding ring wall hanging once, years ago as a wedding gift for my sister-in-law), and I love your nautical-but-not quilt! The blue and yellow are perfect together! Great to get to know you a bit more! Hi, Kitty! Lovely weather we've been having, huh? ; ) Thank you so much for the compliment - I feel like I'm still not 100% sure what my style is, but it's definitely starting to emerge on its own little by little and I have a better sense of where I might go... we'll see! As for Sketch - love it - have it in so many colors and it is absolutely versatile. That and the diamond/circle Outfoxed by Lizzy House are staples of mine. 7/9/2014 02:18:11
Hi Sarah! It's not only military types that move a lot! I have lived in 10 states and had 29 addresses over 34 years. I think that learning to move is a great life skill because it has taught me to de-clutter! :) I hope your transition to Kansas is smooth and good luck with the adoption. That's pretty impressive, Yvonne! I agree that it helps with decluttering - we will have been here a whopping 3 years (with our first garage and basement...) when we move and I am already making mental lists for what we've managed to store up that just has to go. My mother is extremely sentimental with a huge rambling house and barn, so she cringes at how much I purge, but it's a great skill that really hones what is truly valuable : ) And hurray for polka dots! 7/9/2014 03:12:54
Hi Sarah, Beth, the Pantone pillow and then the Daffodil pillow were my first and second attempts at Drunkard's Path and it was so much easier than I expected! I hope you get a chance to try the block - there are so many great variations you can create with it : ) Thanks for stopping by! Thank you! This is an example of "newer isn't always better," France. I myself prefer the borderless look of many modern quilts, but the client wanted one. In the end, I think she was so right - it turned out nice, especially having the pop of yellow in the corner for continuity : )
Shauna
7/9/2014 04:34:34
I love your quilts, large and small. I'm not very good at applique but I just have to try those forest friends because they are so stinking cute!!!! I find myself collecting dots and paisleys for some reason, I am just drawn to them. Oh, please do, Shauna! I'd love to see them if you create a set. I'm not patient enough (or rather maybe too perfectionist-y) to try turned applique, so that's what I love about raw edge - fast and easy. Paisleys aren't my thing, but hurray for another dot collector ; ) It took me a long time to figure it out, and then a long time to get religious about remembering, Ruth. I find it's easiest when I make a more generic description that fits a set of pics in a post and do them all at once right before I click publish : ) Thanks for visiting! I'm only worried because of notoriously bad military movers, though there's a good chance we'll have to pack and move ourselves, and then I'd feel better about its safety. Glad to know it wasn't too difficult to reset up, though, Kristyn. I helped the guy who brought mine, but I know it's going to take a lot longer the second time around without an expert to lead the way! 7/9/2014 11:58:06
Hi Sarah, I also love moving. I am trying to figure out how soon my husband and I can move back west. It's nice being in new places, and getting to see new things, even if it is a pain. I love road trips, so moving is like an excuse for a long road trip. I really love your yellow drunkard's path blocks, I would love to start piecing curves. The yellow is so bright and cheery! Thanks for the blogging tip--I am not social media savvy, I hadn't even thought of that! It was nice getting to know a little bit more about you! I love road trips, too, Kate, but they've been curtailed by a child who gets carsick just running errands. Still not sure how we're going to get her 1700 miles without being drugged the whole way! I just tried curves for the first time with the Daffodil pillow and the Pantone pillow - they were much easier than I expected, and now I have a whole quilt I want to tackle : ) Hope you attempt them and enjoy the results!
Vera
7/9/2014 22:50:37
I like your work that's why I hit the follow up button and your tut projects are on my list :-) 7/10/2014 00:25:39
Your work is beautiful. Your forest friends are so cute, and the daffodil quilt is great. Good luck on your move. I am glad I stopped by to visit your blog from the hop. 7/10/2014 03:48:42
So nice to 'meet' you, Sarah. Your quilts are beautiful, and I love that ocean photography! Thanks for the blogging tip too. I'll try to remember to incorporate that into my blogging routine. I can't wait to see your intro next week, Leanne! And thank you. As for the labeling, it took me a while to get consistent about the habit, but it's worth at least remembering when you post finishes/tutorials/patterns - gotta get as much PR in for yourself as you can! ; ) 7/10/2014 09:43:32
Visiting from the New Quilt Bloggers Hop, thanks for sharing your quilts!
Leslie Schmidt
7/10/2014 12:27:12
Hi, Sarah, nice to meet you. I'm not a blogger, but I do enjoy checking out other people's genius ideas and quilting. I love your Daffodil Days pillow and the nautical baby quilt. You do beautiful work. It's a little deceiving, Jehnny, because the Ana White Farmhouse Doll Bed plans that the yellow beds were made from make a fairly large doll bed (like two AG type dolls could lay side by side in it - more like a dolly double than twin. The dolls are indeed a bit spoiled, but it's so much fun making quick small finishes for them : ) 7/11/2014 02:59:47
Hi Sarah, Nice to meet you. Your daughters are adorable, and your doll quilts look neat & lovely. I've never set the properties of images before. Thank you for sharing nice tip. Hahaha I can't lie, Daisy - the process is exhausting - my husband is already sick of me talking about it because I've spent the last month on the phone with housing, school liaisons, Drs offices (moving pre-kids and now pre-school aged kids was WAY easier). But the excitement of new places, new faces, hiking, restaurants, QUILT SHOPS!! makes it so worthwhile. Especially when we move so often and know we'll only have a little while to explore before off to the next. It gets a tad addictive. All that said, I am already - seriously a year out - getting teary as I drive around locally. The other day I cried about missing strawberry picking at the local field even though they have strawberries in Kansas!! lol 7/11/2014 14:50:42
Hi Sarah! I absolutely love those matching doll beds and quilt ladder. So stinkin' cute! Good luck with your adoption. :) Sarah, I enjoyed reading yoru post. I followed you here from the New Blogger Hop and am glad I did. Your projects are lovely and your blog has such a nice look to it. I'm glad you'll be getting some more sewing time and I look forward to seeing what you do with your longarm machine. 7/16/2014 04:57:38
Oh I love this post! All those projects are great :) I finally get to know more about you! Have you read Divergent? My students keep recommending it! It's about a dystopian society, also the Hunger Games was great :) Thanks! And I haven't, Chelsea, though I've heard good things about the title. I probably should've added a big fat asterisk and noted that I love to read, but rarely find the time anymore. My daughters are sitting downstairs pouring over books from the library, but I'm working - why does grown up life have to be so busy?! lol No worries, Wendy - this is a huge hop! And thank you. I think the past year has shown me that small projects are more my thing (at least if I want to have some finishes! ; ) Once I start longarming for others, I imagine small will definitely be it for the forseeable future. 7/17/2014 08:14:53
Great to read more about you. Thank you for the tip about image labels. It's not something I've ever thought about before. Love your nautical feel quilt and yes, you have access to a gorgeous background!
Sarah
7/20/2014 02:24:32
Nice to meet you! You live in a beautiful location there. You certainly have a positive attitude towards moving often, which is what it seems you need. It would be difficult to establish your own career when you move regularly. Have fun moving the long arm! Thank you, Sarah - we do really love it here. As for the attitude, fake it till you make it, right? It has taken a few moves for me to really be this relaxed and excited. I always love new, but learning to roll with the chaos phase of it is a bit trickier : P The career thing is true - I've lived five places in five years and I doubt I'll ever be able to go back to a career in teaching like I had, but one more great reason to buy a longarm and work wherever we go! 8/9/2014 01:08:53
Sarah I love the doll beds, ladder and all the accessories! The little fussy cut pillows are too cute. The daffodil days pillow is fantastic (as are all the projects!) and your photos really set them off nicely. It's nice to learn a bit more about you - I'm just now getting through all the blog hop posts. There's been so much to take in! :) 9/22/2014 03:20:15
Thank you Sarah, I really love it. Such a nice post by you, doll beds are my favorite ones. Your photos really show them nice and beautiful. Hope for more interesting blog posts. Comments are closed.
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Welcome! I'm Sarah. As a milmompreneur maker, wherever I go, I quilt, teach & sew! {Bio} 
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