Happy New Year friends!

I know we are all glad to see 2020 in the rearview window and are hoping that 2021 will be a better year!

I thought a fun way to start 2021 here on the blog would be to reintroduce myself, especially to my new readers, let everyone know what is coming up in 2021, such as new quilt patterns, as well as ask you what you would like to see here. 

Grab a cup of coffee, or tea; there’s a lot to chat about!

About Me

Hi! I am Kate Colleran- quilter, quilt pattern designer, author, teacher, lecturer and aspiring surface pattern designer! I have been running my quilt pattern business since 2003; first as a partnership and part-time business and then as a solo, full time business since 2015.

A little about my personal life; I am from Connecticut and lived there for 50+ years before moving to Colorado in 2012. We moved for a new job for hubby. We live with 3 fur babies- the 2 cats Luna, Lark and Kira, an Australian Shepard pup.

I have 3 grown children who are all married to wonderful people and 5 furry, 4-legged grandanimals!

Quilt Style

A question I always get asked is what is my quilt style? I am never sure how to answer that one. My quilt style is probably considered eclectic; I started firmly rooted in the world of traditional quilting but always adding my own touch and color sense. I would say that my style is modern traditional; traditional influences in a modern style.

In my patterns, my style has evolved over the years, morphing from designs created to meet the aesthetic of a partnership, to the requests of various industry partners such as magazines and fabric companies, to the influences of the modern quilting movement and modern fabric choices.

I love that quilting has so many faces and can appeal to so many of us; there is something here for everyone!

Pattern Logo

And just like my quilt style has evolved, I am updating my logo to reflect that newer look. The old Seams Like a Dream Quilt Designs logo spoke to the dream Elizabeth and I had when we started – the dream of creating our own quilt business. 

Now that dream lives on, and the dream has new goals. I want to expand the business into some other areas. I will continue to make quilt patterns  (I already have 15 patterns in the works for 2021!) but hopefully will also find ways to branch out; doing a quilt-along, maybe creating an online course myself and even dipping my toes into surface pattern design which would, fingers crossed, someday include designing fabric!

While the business evolves, the pattern side of my business should also evolve so here is the “new” Seams like a Dream logo- touches of the past with a look to the future.

Pattern Covers, PDF Patterns, Templates

As part of the evolution of the business, I am updating pattern covers with a new look as well! Here is the new pattern cover shown in one of my newest patterns, Tropical Moon.

I also have a brand new template, my Drunkard’s Path template Set 1. The instructions come with a pattern for a table runner and will work with my patterns Tropical Moon and Drinking in the Sunshine.

And I am converting many of my quilt patterns to PDF so you can have the option to purchase patterns without having to pay shipping! 

Click here to see what patterns are currently available as PDF.

International customers should click here for the PDF patterns in my ETSY shop. 

Collaborations and New Quilt Patterns

One of the really fun things that happened in 2020 (what??? there were good things?) was that I started working closely with a batik fabric company called Island Batik. I was a Brand Ambassador for them a few years ago, and then they asked me if I wanted to work more closely with them on a signature line! Of course I said yes! 

The first line, Tiki Punch was designed by Kathy Engle for me and shown to shops in May of 2020. It started arriving in stores in late fall 2020! I designed quite a few patterns to work with the line and I have been showing them off here on the blog for a while. But, you can also see them all here.

My second signature line, Painted  Blossoms, will be out in stores another month or so and I will be showing off more of the fabrics as well as the new quilt patterns I created using the line and the patterns I updated.

And, one of my quilts using that line made the cover of the fall Island Batik catalog! So exciting!

I can’t wait for you to see all the quilts!

Blog Hops and Quilt Alongs

Every year I participate in numerous Quit Alongs and Blog Hops. And I am starting off the year with one of my own!

Tiki Punch Project Hop

I am running a blog hop next week; it is a one day event where there will be things going on here on the blog and on Instagram! So mark your calendars for Jan 8th and be sure to check back here. I will be sending out a newsletter with all the information tomorrow.  And yes, there will be giveaways!

Lighthouse Steps Quilt Along

Then in March I will be hosting a quilt along! I am so excited to do this! This will be for a strip pack friendly quilt. Though you don’t have to use a strip pack. I will have a limited number of strips packs for sale and will share tips as part of the quilt along.

The pattern, Lighthouse Steps, will be updated and then for sale as both a paper pattern and a PDF. More details will follow in a couple of weeks!

QuiltCon Challenge

And then, Because Tammy and I are crazy, we decided to do a quilt challenge to start the new year! QuiltCon is coming up in February- a virtual QuiltCon this year but I can’t wait to go back in person next year.

Tammy and I are challenging each other to make a quilt by QuiltCon. I am using the Painted Blossoms fabrics and Tammy will using her batik line Kismet. She will even have kits for hers!

I can’t wait to see what she makes!

Lectures and Teaching

I love doing lectures for guilds. And while I am not as tech savvy as some quilters out there, I am doing Zoom lectures and some Zoom classes for guilds. So keep me in mind if your guild is looking for someone to present! 

During the pandemic, I was still able to film a couple of classes for Quilting Daily. We stayed really safe in the studio. One project I filmed included a couple of episodes of Love of Quilting.  They should be shown on PBS sometime soon but I will try to post on the blog when it happens!

And I hope to set up an online class to release later this year. I am starting the plan now as it will take a while to pull together!

More YouTube videos are coming! Sometimes a blog post works just fine, other times you need to see a video. I am not skilled at making my own videos, but I will work on that. My plan is to create one a month this year so… we will see what happens! The first one will be later this month on Drunkard’s Path blocks. Keep an eye out for that and I will announce when it is up and running!

Blog

Over this year I will continue to blog twice a week most weeks and occasionally 3 times a week when there are new quilt patterns to announce. Tammy and I will continue on with our two series of educational posts, Exploring Quilting Basics and A Quilter’s Alphabet. They are every week on Wednesdays on both our blogs.

OK, so that is what is going on here! New patterns in 2021, new signature fabric lines to show off and some online events for fun!

Please tell me in the comments if there are any topics you would like me to cover this year on the blog, or do in a video. I would love to hear from you!

Happy New Year and here’s hoping that life gets a little better everyday in 2021! I know just hearing from you here in the comments and seeing the likes and comments on my Instagram and Facebook posts makes my day brighter!

happy quilting!

Kate