It's Sew Emma Spotlight: Truffula Forest & Lorax Giveaway - The Jolly Jabber Quilting Blog

It’s Sew Emma Spotlight: Truffula Forest & Lorax Giveaway

Good morning!
My name is Mette Brown, designer of the Truffula Forest Quilt Pattern. I’ve been sewing since I was old enough to operate my grandmother’s hand-cranked Husqvarna sewing machine, and I began seriously quilting in 1999 (when I met Fat Quarter Shop’s Debbie Taylor). I’ve done lots of sewing, a little designing, made tons of samples for Fat Quarter Shop and I’ve never met a pattern I couldn’t tweak in order to make it my own – except, of course, when I’m testing patterns for FQS!

Last summer, Kimberly invited me to design a quilt pattern for her new endeavor, It’s Sew Emma, using a brand new line of Dr. Seuss fabrics that wouldn’t be available until January, 2012, and I jumped at the chance! I had been messing around with a layered pinwheel star block for a couple of months – these things get stuck in my head and demand to be made – and this was the perfect project. When I received the Lorax fabrics – WOW! Beautiful, super-saturated, bright and crisp colors! I couldn’t wait to get started… And can I just say that it’s a little bit intimidating cutting into this fabric? It’s SAMPLE yardage which is code for: if you mess up, there isn’t any more!

After carefully making samples with fabric from my stash, figuring amounts, double-checking my math, making another sample and thinking about it overnight, I pulled up my big girl panties and got started. And it’s so much fun to make the first block when it comes out the way you’d imagined, or even better, which was the case with these great fabrics. This pinwheel star begs for a stripe to give it some movement and the Bright Thneed Stripe with the irregular color placement is perfect. And don’t you love the Red Truffula Trees peeking out from behind? I want the Truffula Trees yardage in every color for my stash!

Now if you are looking at this quilt and wondering if you really want to tackle mitered corners, I say go for it! They aren’t hard, the instructions are really good, and it looks awesome when you are finished! But if that doesn’t float your boat, you can just cut straight borders – the quilt police won’t come looking for you, and there’s always plenty of fabric in a Fat Quarter Shop quilt kit to make those little tweaks that sometimes have to be made!

These photos are for mitering inspiration rather than specific instructions!!

And if you are wondering, like I was, what the heck is a Lorax or a Thneed or a Truffula, find a copy of the Dr. Seuss book. It was written in the early 1970s, but it’s still a timely story. I bought a copy to give to my grand-daughter along with this quilt and as soon as she finishes teething on the corners I’ll read it to her!

This is my sweet baby grand-daughter Lizzie and she asked me to mention that she’s made some progress since this photo was taken – she now has some hair and two teeth! This bundle of joy comes to my house every day which has greatly cut into my sewing time but I don’t care!

Truffula Forest was a blast to design and sew, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it too! Happy quilting from Huntsville, Alabama!

Oh wait, one last thing, let’s do a giveaway! Kimberly has two Lorax Fat Quarter Bundles she is itching to donate to some of her readers.

To enter leave a comment on this post in a Dr. Suess style poem. You must include the word “Truffula” somehow in the poem.
Good Luck!

96 comments

  1. I have heard there are Truffulas of more than one kind.
    Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
    But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see.
    Now my Truffulas are going to have troubles with me!

  2. Those truffula trees
    Are just the bees knees!
    I want some to quilt,
    It makes my speech lilt!
    So send some to me
    And happy I'll be!

  3. Hooray! A giveaway of SUNdle and FUNdle!
    No need for Thneeds
    Just Truffula seeds
    In the form of a Lorax Fat Quarter Bundle!

  4. I cannot see
    the postman came to me,
    I cannot wait
    But I've got faith.
    Oh, my God, what can I do
    to have one bundle or two?
    My mood is good – can you tell?
    When my bundle will arrive,
    I'll feel so well!!!

  5. Wow! Lovely job Grand-Ma! I am sure it helps to have that little one pour inspiration into your quilting heart!

  6. Truffulas are pretty,
    Truffulas are bright,
    Truffulas can help you see in the night.

    With just one Truffula,
    You sure will be warm.
    He'll keep you so cozy throughout any storm.

    So send a Truffula,
    So quick and so right.
    A bundle of color,
    I can see it in sight!!

  7. There once was some Trufala who wanted to play,
    But there was no one available on that day,
    So off they went in search of some tracks and it landed them up near the home of the Lorax…

    While this is not the greatest poem, Suess is safe from any competition from me.
    Thanks for hosting such a fun giveaway.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

  8. Truffulas are nice
    But not like white rice
    What should I chose?
    I want to win and not lose.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    twelve30(at)gmail(dot)com

  9. I have loved Seuss and the Lorax, since I was old enough to read…

    About the problems of the Truffula forest from making too many thneads.

    The Oncler learns his lesson and inspires a young boy…

    To plant a Truffula seed and create a new forest full of joy.

    I have been a fan of Theodore Geisel aka Dr Suess from the very start…

    I loved the Grinch and the Sneetches but the Lorax stole my heart.

    For years I have waited for fabric to immortalize this little critter…

    The empty bin in my fabric hutch left me with a saddness that was close to being bitter.

    Thank you Kaufman fabrics for bringing these terrific characters into my stash…

    I cannot wait for the Lorax line to be available and am saving up my cash!!

    I owe a lot of my humor and my love of rhyme to that man named Dr. Seuss…

    And now that he can become a part of my quilting, my love of design can be let loose.

    ************************

    AWESOME Line Kaufman Fabrics… and this news I have to blabber,

    So got spread the news from my blog, thanks Jolly Jabber!! 🙂

    Brenda aka HUGE SEUSS FAN!!!

    pumpkinhollowprimitives (at) hotmail.com

  10. Truffula,Truffula I love that word.
    It sounds like a word made up by a nerd.
    I am in science, and some would say smart.
    I would love some of this fabric to make some quilt art!

    Thanks for sharing!!

  11. I love to sew, of course you know
    and in my stash the colours flow
    but one thing that I don't have-a
    is a yard or two of Truffula

  12. I once walked a trail,
    holding a Lorax's tail.
    We went up, we went down,
    We went sideways and around,
    And found ourselves in the Truffula forest.

    There were stars of the pinwheel type,
    and the mitered corners were just right!
    Bt the Lorax soon pointed out,
    This is simple a picture, but dont shout
    If you are lucky you can win the fabric and visit anytime!

    Beautiful quilt! And I love the challenge in this giveaway 🙂

  13. I'd love to win
    These lovely fat quarters
    To make a sweet quilt
    For my daughter Truffala.
    Her name is so sad
    Yet she's done nothing bad.
    It's my dear husband's ruse
    She got stuck with this noose.

    His mother's first name
    Was Truffala, you see,
    And on our twelfth date
    He said to me,
    "Future wife, future wife,
    You must understand
    I promised my mother
    When I was a young lad,
    That my first daughter's name
    Would be just the same
    As that she had suffered
    For all of her days
    And all of the ways
    That kids teased as they played!"

    I laughed once or twice
    And said "That's not nice,
    The girls, they will tease her
    And little boys, they will flee
    When they hear this strange name
    That you've proposed to me!"

    (Okay, maybe I got carried away?!?)

  14. What's a Truffula Tree?
    Heck don't ask me
    Ask my daughter if she knows
    She'd say "its something that grows out my nose!"

    Tonight I'll go home and pull out that book
    Then give that rhyme another look
    And even if I don't win this give away
    I'll win a memory with my daughter…just the same 😀

    Nicole
    be_happy15@hotmail.com

  15. The truffula trees, they look like dust bunnies

    The Lorax and thneed, they do look quite funny

    But even though they might seem odd or maybe a bit strange

    They'd make a great quilt, the colors have wide range

    So listen you bloggers who comment right here

    You may win a sweet bundle, have I made that quite clear?

  16. One truffala, two truffala
    Red truffala, green truffala
    I prefer writing haiku, so let me confess
    This is heavily borrowed from the great Dr. Suess
    Pick me, pick me
    Will I suceed, yes indeed, yes indeed
    Ninety eight and three quarters percent guaranteed
    – Tamsyn

  17. I sat beneath a truffola
    Scenting  with a snuffola
    The sweet smell of trees 
    with a quilt about my knees
    And the smell of new books
    Each one deserves a look
    And I was thinking of you-s
    And I read dr. Seuss
    Wrapped up in my quilt
    That you and I built

  18. What a riot, reading everyone's entry! There are some talented people out there in more ways than one!!

    I love truffolas,
    Truffolas are fun!
    I LOVE truffolas,
    I can sew every one.

    Truffolas for the baby,
    Truffolas for the store,
    If I had a million truffolas,
    I'd still be wanting more!

  19. The finest fluff comes from the Truffula tree. It doesn't grow here but instead, by the sea. I desire this fine fluff to make my little man's quilt quite downy. If I don't win it, I shall be quite frowny. So please won't you consider me a winner today!?! A smile is what I will kindly pay!

    turtletotebags(at)yahoo(dot)com

  20. Truffula, Bruffula, Sruffula
    What does this mean?
    Truf Bruf Sruf
    fu-la fu-la fu-la
    Oh My! Oh My! Oh My!
    Lorax is sew my-ne
    fu-la fu-la fu-la
    Am I a poet or what?
    The Truf please Dr. Suess!
    …. A What!

  21. The Truffula Forest
    is the place to be,
    for a sweet little baby,
    to be all snugglee.

    You sure make it tough for us, brain dead quilters, lol.

    Debbie

  22. The Truffula tree is hard to find,
    A tree of a very special kind.
    These trees don’t grow just anywhere,
    Only where magic is in the air.
    If ever you see one, look closely around,
    For that’s where the Lorax will likely be found.

  23. an air force wife here,
    wanting this truffula giveaway,
    as i love to sew here and there,
    in all the colors of each day.

    my husband loves my sewing,
    especially when he deploys,
    he is always asking "what ya doing?"
    "sewing my life away…"

    a new addition arrives in our family real soon,
    a new bundle of joy would love this fabric,
    a baby blanket or two,
    this baby would love if not it would be tragic!

    So let me win,
    as i want it so bad,
    trust me it wont get tossed in the to do bin,
    I am sure it will look great wrapped around new baby and dad!

  24. The Lorax is my sons favourite book, you see.
    So this competition is just meant to be.
    A beautifu quilt could be made, i won't stop,
    with a truffula tree bundle from the fat quarter shop!

  25. Truffula Forest, did you say?
    An amazing fun place for kids to play.
    You might chance see a Lorax, maybe two
    In colors Orange, Yellow, Green and Blue.
    Whatever the case, don't you despair
    There are always the Thneed's busy knitting hair!
    Such a sight to be seen, such a sight to behold,
    In colors like vibrant Marigold.
    And many more creatures you will see,
    If you come take a walk in the forest with me.

    Thanks for a chance to win. =)

  26. From here to there
    From there to here
    Truffula trees are everywhere!

    I will not climb them in my socks.
    I will not climb them with a fox.
    I will not climb them here or there.
    I will not climb them anywhere.

  27. One truffula, two truffula three truffula four, five truffula six truffula seven truffula more.
    We shall plant truffula trees and
    We shall harvest them wherever they bees.

    Wow this is harder than it looks.

  28. I, like you, can clearly see
    That Trufullas are the BEST kind of tree.
    They don't shed their leaves all over the ground
    And by the wind, they can never be downed.
    They brighten all my days with their troll-haired tops
    And pull me right in to my local quilt shops!
    The Trulfullas will make my sewing room be
    Just as happy as a Dr. Seuss library!

    What a wonderful way to have us enter this contest!!!! May favorite EVER!!!!

  29. I once had a truffulla who loved to read
    Oh my he did indeed!
    He just loved to read!
    Now he needed to do a good deed,
    So he thought he'd
    Plant a seed!
    And it grew indeed!

    I hope I win!

  30. Truffula trees, do you say?
    Oh please send them my way.
    I will not quilt them with a frown
    I will not quilt them when I'm down
    I will not quilt less than a quarter inch
    I will not quilt when I feel like a Grinch
    I will not quilt with a crooked seam
    I will not quilt when I'm feeling mean.
    I'll quilt the fabric like it was da bomb
    If I win you can reach me at VermontPines@aol.com

  31. What's that?
    What's that I see?
    Why it's a beautiful Truffula tree.
    A stunning, most gorgeous tree that I see.
    Forever I'd like to keep this tree.
    If only someone would print it to fabric for me.
    What's that you say?
    You say, you've done that anyway?
    Give me some, please, straightaway.

  32. Oh, I thought I'd never see
    Anything as zany as a Traffula tree.
    They are wonderful in many ways:
    To sing from, and swing from
    on warm sunny days.
    But, lo on yon horizon! What do I spy?
    A swaying, braying woodsman toting a saw.
    Choose me oh random number draw,
    for a tis not pleasant to see an old woman cry!

  33. Look at me.
    Look at me.
    Look at me now.

    It's fun to have fun,
    but you have to know how.

    "Have no fear, my blog peeps",
    said the Cat in the Hat.
    Truffula's a good thing,
    No doubt about that"!

  34. Crafting is fun, just ask anyone.
    Lots of charts to stitch, but which, oh, which, one will I pick.
    The Truffula tree pattern looks nice, so I don't really have to think twice.
    I'll stitch the branches and then some leaves,
    And give it to my child, who still believes.

    Thanks,
    Peggy
    peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

  35. For some Truffula Forest,
    which I really adore,
    I wished and I wished…
    till my wisher was sore…
    How I would love
    to win this great treasure!
    To win it would make me
    thrilled beyond measure!!
    I would make something special
    for a baby girl— sweet—
    She would love all the creatures
    in the Forest, she would meet.
    There'd be Bar-ba-Loots, Swomee Swans,
    and Humming Fish too,
    and of course, there'd be the Lorax,
    she would love that quilt beucoup!!
    To win me this prize
    I wouldl try my very best
    to write up a poem
    much better than the rest…
    So I sat and I thought,
    and then I thought a little more,
    and I wrote up this poem,
    which I hope you will adore!
    Oh! Please choose me to win
    your wonderful bundle!!
    And if I do win,
    I will try to stay humble!

  36. In the Truffula Forest
    There once lived a Horest
    Who loved to eat fabric and thread.
    For my fabric and thread
    oh how I dread
    to meet the Horest from Truffula Forest

  37. Tons and tons of truffula trees
    Is a wonderful place for a Lorax like me!
    I must keep the Once-lers away, you see,
    from my tons and tons of truffula trees.

  38. Hey Y'all!!! Yay! ALABAMA!
    The Trufulla forest is a beautiful place
    With colors and threads you can almost taste
    You sew and you sew and dare not to waste
    Your hoping you'll finish and then get to baste
    You'll smile and you'll grin – it'll show on your face
    You'll say – I've been "wandering/wondering" in the Trufulla Forest space
    🙂
    I really want to win – you can tell that by readin'
    If I do – to the mail box I'll be speadin'
    😉
    Cathy Byrd
    byrd@gulftel.com

  39. I sit here thinking whilst I write my post,
    dreaming of fabrics, of colours I love the most,

    a free giveaway, must use witty words, written for fun,
    something simple catchy, wonderous quilty, but what one?

    Here I go ill try and write a poem that I know,
    Will help build my stash and see, fabulous fabrics in it grow.

    The range that Im seeking to win,not yet obtained, is called trufulla,
    and only in a true perfect suess world, can two words can describe it …. bewdiful culla!!

    thanks for the chance in the giveaway.

  40. Do fat quarters grow on truffula trees?
    On truffula trees? All covered with bees?
    No! Fat quarters grow on Fat Quarter Shop trees!
    On Fat Quarter Shop trees, they grow with ease.
    On Fat Quarter Shop trees near Fat Quarter Shop seas.
    And by the seas, is me on my knees
    Begging to win some fat quarters please!

  41. The Lorax knows where to feed.
    He finds the scrumpiest, plumpiest trees.
    These are the trees that grow to your knees.
    They are the trufulla forest trees.

  42. The Lorax, they speak for the trees
    Those tall, round Truffula trees
    Why, oh, why do they speak for the trees
    Because trees can't speak, as you can see
    But with some new fabric, I can put them in a quilt
    Made right here in the new house that I built
    Then the Lorax can have a holiday
    Where they can run and they can play
    And then the quilt can speak for the trees
    Oh what a fun and happy way you see
    To become a tree hugger
    And not a tree mugger

    Ok, it's not the greatest, but about the best I can do on short notice. LOL

  43. A Truffula a truffula whatever it is
    Should makes it's way to Michigan dear
    And live out it's days all sunny and bright
    In my stash I think would really be great
    So send me that bundle as soon as you can
    I will wait here patiently
    Eating green eggs and ham

  44. Kimberly Kimberly
    Please oh please will you give me
    Those truffula trees!
    Kimberly Kimberly
    I wont disappoint you
    With those truffula trees!

  45. Oh, how much fun!
    There is lots to be done!
    Oh, what could I sew?
    I don't even know!
    With such cute, cute truffulas,
    I could make so much stuffulas.
    A skirt or a zirt for a little girly?
    A dress or a fless would have to be twirly.
    But I think that, most likely, the thing I would do,
    is a quilt or a shmuilt for a baby nephew.

  46. The Cat in the Hat has been to my house…
    But a truffula! Never! I feel like a louse!
    How can I get one to come for a stay?
    Send me some please – oh please if you may.
    If only you would, to my room I would scurry,
    I would sew a new quilt in such a big hurry!
    My quilt would turn out like never another,
    and my grand daughter would shout,
    "You are amazing Grandmother"!

  47. Trufulla,trufulla what can you be. A cute little tree hiding from me. I need you, I need you, I need you so bad, to finish this quilt that I never had.

  48. Wonderful memories of a great book I still have, what a great giveaway. In my classroom on April 22 which is Earth Day ,I read the book. The book is a great story about the environment.

  49. Truffula. Truffula? I can't even think
    Such fabrics so cute
    Without any pink!
    Quilt for Thing 1?
    Or maybe Thing 2?
    For a girl or a boy?
    Oh, what to do?
    I thought and I thought
    Out loud to myself,
    "How is it possible
    No Truffula on my shelf?"
    That handsome little Lorax,
    Thneed stripes and Factory!
    All those cute creatures
    Are calling to me!!
    Send me some, send me some,
    Send me some PLEASE!
    Yes, I am begging!
    I'm down on my knees!
    Whoever decides
    Please hurry up!
    I can't wait to get this
    And make my first cut! 🙂

  50. I wish and I want for some Truffula you see.
    I could beg I could borrow but here its for free.
    I would be tickled not blue, not green but pink i would be.
    If the winner chosen was no one but me.

  51. Go Trufulla go!
    Go here and there
    Go everywhere
    with, greens, reds, blues so brite
    A guilt, a quilt we will make
    Oh Trufulla I can make it rite
    Make me the winner
    And you shall see Trufulla in a whole new light

  52. Dr. Seuss, a genius was he,
    creative and silly, was what he could be,
    With ABC's, Green Eggs and Ham,
    fish of all colors, and Sam I Am,
    Truffula trees, Mr. Brown who can moo,and don't forget Marvin K. Mooney,
    So many characters, magical, funny, and looney!
    Just thinking of Seuss warms my heart and makes me smile,
    thinking of my children all the while.
    Reading and giggling day after day,
    A favorite book is difficult to say.
    How the years have flown!
    I'm dreaming of Seuss fabrics to be fondled and sewn!
    I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for the best,
    I hope I've won and passed your poetry test!

  53. I love the Truffula Forest design,
    wishing, of course, that the fabric was mine!
    Will it, or won't it,I don't hardly know,
    but off to my sewing machine I go!

  54. The places you go and the things that you see
    but one that you won't is the truffla tree,
    Unless you so smart,
    and you follow FQ's blog
    Cause there it is,
    right there,right in front of your nog.
    Oh, the Lorax, he's back,and he's looking so great
    And the colors are bright, and the baby's first rate.
    And would I like some?
    What question is that?
    Just as much as I love the Cat in the Hat.
    Thanks.

  55. The Truffula trees were in really big trouble
    The people were turning their forest to rubble.
    They would all vanish – POP – just like a big bubble,
    Unless someone did something NOW, QUICK, on the double.

    The Lorax showed up and shook a big stick.
    "Wipe up that oil slick, and pick up that brick!
    You'd best do it now, and do it right quick!
    The Truffula trees are really quite sick!"

    People saw he was right, and they said "Holy cow!
    We'll pick up this mess, and we'll pick it up now!"
    The Lorax made sure that they got it all clean.
    Could they keep it that way? Could they keep it all green?

    They had to keep Truffula trees on the brain,
    Or the Lorax's words would have been all in vain.
    A quilt would be perfect to keep it in mind,
    That the Truffula trees were once in a bind.

    As they sleep underneath it, the people will dream
    Of Truffula forests so clean that they gleam.
    The Lorax sits down on his stump with a smile,
    And knows that his work is all done for a while.

  56. The glorious tufts of the truffula trees
    Are bending so beautifully in the breeze
    Please be sure to give them lots of fresh food and fresh water
    So they can be sold by the cartload from the lovely Fat Quarter!

  57. I was maid of honor at the wedding of my sis.
    So once they were married, and in wedded bliss,
    At the reception my speech I gave.
    To make myself less anxious, more brave,
    I did it all in the style of Seuss.
    Though I did not mention Thidwick the Moose.
    I did not mention a Sneetch in my speech.
    I didn't discuss a Truffula tree.
    Because I was more focused you see,
    On the life we'd shared, my sis and I,
    And the life she'd then share with her husband, great guy.

  58. I have heard there are truffula of more than one kind.
    Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
    But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see.
    Now my truffula are going to have troubles with me!

  59. OMGrief what a challenge

    My journeys take me wide and far
    I walk don't you know I have no car
    I go up, down, straight, round-a-round
    I follow a trail of odd little marks
    I knew not where it lead
    Knew not what they meant
    It drew me forward and pushed me ahead
    To a place with a tree that stood so bent
    A magical place with a Truffula Tree
    Full of fruits of reds, greens, yellows and orange
    That lit up the place like a brand new morn
    A place Lorax homes, don't call them gnomes
    "A Lorax I am-A Lorax I be
    I wish you were here, I wish you could see
    Fabric winding in – Fabric winding out
    While the Lorax give out with a mighty shout
    We make fabric for those that come to see
    The bundle is yours he smiles at me
    Truffula Forest is where Seuss fabric is made
    The Fat Quarter Bundle is to be yours I say
    Says the Lorax in his silly voice so gay
    A Lorax he is A Lorax he be

    There are some great verse here. I love them all!!!

  60. You can huffala,
    You can puffala,
    But you'll never see a Truffala
    Except on this new fabric line.
    So buy it!
    And quilt it!
    And make something out of it
    So people will say
    How divine!

  61. Oh the colors you will see
    hanging 'round the truffula trees.
    Lots of blues
    in wonderful hues.
    The greens and reds,
    fabulous for my son's bed.
    There's even white and orange
    with lorax dancing the torange.
    The fabric would be perfect to me,
    Oh the colors I wish to see.

  62. I read your blog the other day and saw the kit you plan to give away.

    Truffula was a new word to me and its beautiful pattern my eyes could see.

    I love new words like bar-ba-loots, truffula trees and fruit.

    Make believe and pretend; the use of words has no end.

    Dr Seuss and Mother Goose knew how to put new words to use.

    Quilters use cloth in much that way; stitched together with something to say.

    Sewn together in a story line that tells how one has used their time.

    Quilts have color, tint, and hue, just like words we never knew.

    Scraps of color and words that rhyme, they both reflect our space and time.

    Thanks for the chance and the opportunity to read some of the wonderful poems.

  63. I saw a Truffela the other day.
    I aked him to come out and play.
    He said my bedtime is very near,
    but visit me tomorrow dear!

  64. I was told there were trees of Truffula
    Sounds like a lot of fluffula
    Never you mind
    There are trees of this kind
    And I would love a bundle-uffula!

    Cinderelliecreations at Yahoo dot com

  65. Truffula tree, truffula tree,
    You have a truffula tree?
    And for free?! Oh bless me!
    I'll water it,
    I'll iron it,
    I'll pet it so soft,
    Truffula tree, truffula tree,
    Please come live with me!

  66. Too funny. So many creative poems.

    Truffula tree, truffula tree.
    Oh my just what kind of tree might you be?
    Please let me see a truffula tree.
    This has really piqued my curiosity!

    arobimom at gmail dot com