Shannon Brinkley Studio Blog

Quilt-Making Styles from Around the World Aug 09, 2018

The craft of quilting has been around for thousands of years. 

The earliest known quilted object is on a carved ivory figure of a Pharaoh of the Egyptian First Dynasty about 3400 B.C. (source

Thro...

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That Moment you Fell in Love with Quilting Jun 06, 2018

I remember it very distinctly. 

I was wandering the rows at the International Quilt Festival in Houston my junior year in college. I had made my first quilt a few months prior, on a whim, and my moth...

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American Patchwork & Quilting Interview -- my chat with Pat Sloan May 15, 2018

I had a ball chatting with Pat Sloan for The American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast! 

We chatted about applique, tools, tips, color palettes, fabric (including my new fabric collection, Mosaic!), and ...

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2 Ways to Make your Scrappy Quilt Look Lovely (and NOT like a hot mess) Apr 17, 2018
You know how some scrappy quilts can look super gorgeous and unexpected, while others look like the quilter had a tad too much wine??

Here are a couple fun effects to make your next scrappy quilt look ...
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Violet and Gray: A Cool and Eerie Palette Apr 10, 2018
I love these violets and purples alongside these cool grays. It makes for a stark, almost eerie palette. Perhaps it's only eerie since it is made into a giant octopus... who can say?
 
 
Not all ...
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How to Use Warm and Cool colors in your Quilt Apr 03, 2018
One of my favorite tools that I keep in my fabric selecting toolbox is-- temperature! 
 
A color can be described as warm or cool. Generally, yellows, oranges, and reds are considered warm, while bl...
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How to Brighten up a Dull Color Palette Mar 28, 2018
Have you ever been making a quilt, and while you're loving the fabrics you've chosen, the overall palette is looking a little dull? 
 
This happened to me while I was making this London Skyline quil...
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Choosing the Perfect Ground Fabric for MAXIMUM Impact Mar 21, 2018

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite tricks for showcasing the focal point in a quilt.

Let's say you've just made a gorgeous appliqué piece and you're trying to choose a background fabric th...

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How to add Pops of Color to your Quilt: Part 3 Jan 23, 2018
Have you ever been pulling fabric for a quilt, and thought, how can I make this look more interesting?
 
 
One of my favorite ways to make a color palette instantly more interesting is to add a P
...
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How to Add Pops of Color to your Quilt: Part 2 Jan 16, 2018
I travel all over the country teaching, and a question I get asked a lot is HOW do I add a pop of color to my quilt? How do I know which color to choose for the pop? 
 
 
 I LOVE adding a pop of
...
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Skyline Throw Pillows DIY Nov 21, 2017

I started noticing a pattern among some of my students-- many were turning their skyline quilt top into a throw pillow! So I thought I'd share a few submitted by some of my students. This project make...

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Family Placemats DIY Nov 06, 2017

The season for big family meals is approaching! How fun are these personalized family placemats?

These are quick to whip up, and instantly make any table more lovely and welcoming. We love ours ove...

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