Designer Tidbits: Icicle Kisses

Have a cozy, rustic Christmas this year. Fill your home with quilts and decorations made with the warm colors and subtle prints of Icicle Kisses. Lynne of Kansas Troubles Quilters is here to tell us more about her latest collection for Moda Fabrics, Icicle Kisses.

Q: Where did you find your original inspiration for Icicle Kisses?
A:A poem titled Icicle Kisses was my inspiration. It is by a woman who meets different men throughout the seasons of the year and how their kisses are less than memorable in spring, summer & fall, but his icicle kisses melted her heart forever. Very sweet.

Q: What was your “aha” moment in designing this collection?
A:It’s always difficult to find a feature print for a Christmas line that isn’t strictly holiday but will read well in just 3 colors. When I found that piece, the smaller print coordinates fell into place.

Q: How do you decorate your home for Christmas?
A:Less and less every year! I have a small four foot skinny tree that is stored already decorated in case we don’t have time to put up the ten foot. tree. I add greenery and berries to my arrangements with a few seasonal, primitive items and call it good. I get out all of my Christmas quilts and hang them throughout the KT Studio and throw them on the sofa, chair & bed at the cabin. It’s the easiest and most fun way to decorate that says Christmas in a big way without a lot of work!

Holiday House Quilt Kit, available at Fat Quarter Shop

Q:How do you plan to decorate using Icicle Kisses this Christmas?
A:I enjoy decorating for the season with snowflakes, so the Icicle Kisses quilt will be perfect all winter long.

Q:What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
A:A fairly new tradition is our overnight pre-Christmas Eve gathering. The kids and grandkids all come to stay at the KT Retreat a couple nights before Christmas so we can have a “real” Christmas morning together. We play games, fix a huge brunch and laugh all night long. Then each family can still have their own Christmas morning at home, too, and not have to rush around all day and eat 3 Christmas dinners.

Image via Moda Fabrics

Q:When designing a new collection, how do your surroundings affect your direction?
A:Since my Christmas collection begins in June at Moda, I try to figure out the next group during the holidays while I’m in the mood, surrounded by holiday sights, smells and sounds.

Q:What is your favorite print in the collection?
A:The swirling snow print (available in black, red, tan and green) has been fun to work with. I computer generate the project before I have fabric in hand, but it’s always interesting to see how different the fabric looks in the real thing.

Holiday House Quilt Kit

Q:What is the most challenging aspect of the design process?
A:Naming the line, each print, the colors and the project! Whew!