Nancy Zieman Productions' "Red Elegance" - A Carpenter's Star

A Carpenter's Star by Deonn Stott, 88" x 88" Comfortor-size quilt
featuring Red Elegance fabrics by Nancy Zieman Productions for Riley Blake Designs

Nancy Zieman began designing fabrics for Riley Blake Designs shortly before her passing in 2017.  It was her wish that Riley Blake continue creating fabric lines with her production team.  This next line features stunning reds and creams by Nancy Zieman Productions.

Beautiful fabrics!  They remind me of berry flavors!  I've been wanting to make a new quilt, and these fabrics are perfect for holiday decorating from December through February!

The "Carpenter's Star" is my favorite go-to quilt, and a cinch to make with two main colors and a background, using large, easy-to-make half-square triangle units, and no “Y” seams! 

I also toyed with making a scrappy version of the quilt.  I call it my "Carpenter's Wife" quilt, usually made with one stack of 10-inch squares and 2-1/2 yards of background, plus as many borders as you like.  In this version, I added more of my favorite prints in the star.

My favorite tool to trim the giant HSTs is a 9-1/2" Triangle Square-Up ruler (<click for tutorial) designed by Eleanor Burns for Quilt in a Day.

Trimming ensures that everything will fit together, and that my points will be pointy!  That always takes me to my happy place.

I've been reading Nancy's autobiography, Seams Unlikely, as I've been sewing with her fabrics, getting to know the lady behind Nancy's Notions and the popular sewing show, Sewing with Nancy, which aired for 30 years.  She was truly an amazing woman, one whom I admire greatly for her tenacity and generous personality.

I met Nancy a couple of times at Sewing Expo in Puyallup, WA, and again at International Quilt Market in Houston, TX.  Stricken with Bell's Palsy as an infant, Nancy did not allow any physical difficulties to define her or deter her life's ambitions and decisions.  She will always be a beloved friend to so many who watched her show and learned to sew with Nancy, myself included.  I will always think of her when I wrap up in this quilt.

Big thanks to the folks at Riley Blake for letting me play with this lovely fabric - I know I'll treasure this quilt for years to come.

Ask for Red Elegance at your local quilt shop, or from an online retailer.

Happy sewing!