Eliza's Indigo arrives

Eliza's Indigo is shipping now to quilt shops near you! My first line with Moda. Just writing that makes me smile! 

It's a beautiful collection of rich indigo blues, chocolate browns, soft blues, ocean blues and dreamy cheddary golds.  I have posted an easy pattern for you, a jelly roll project, that is fast, yet shows the fabric well. Look to the right.... A Simple Gift. Right click to save image, then once saved, you can print!

Inspiration for Eliza's Indigo began with an antique quilt, with a gorgeous wide chintz border and strikingly simple half square triangle blocks.

The prints in the triangles are wonderful, too many from which to choose! 

Pretty fragile quilt, early 1800's. The quilt with all  its indigos, made me think of Eliza Lucas Pickney a rather incredible woman of substance. Here is a condensed version of her story,

Eliza was born in Antigua in 1722 on Cabbage Tree plantation. She was educated in England, focusing largely on the study of botany. At age 16, Eliza and her family moved to South Carolina where her father had inherited three plantations. But shortly after arrival, Eliza's father, a British officer had to return to Antigua, leaving Eliza to manage the plantations and to care for her mother and younger sister. Eliza soon set about improving crops on the plantations. Her father sent indigo seeds for experimentation. It was the cultivation of indigo that captured Eliza's attention. After 3 years of crop failures, and even sabotage by an overseer, Eliza's perseverance paid off with such a successful crop that she shared seed with other plantations. The export of indigo to England was abundant, and quite profitable. 

Eliza, at age 20, married Charles Pickney. And was widowed at age 36. She continued to manage their plantations and improve crop production until the American Revolution, when British troops destroyed the crops, ending export of indigo. 

When Eliza died in 1793, George Washington served as a pallbearer. 

This is September's Song from Eliza's Indigo in this month's Quiltmania magazine. 

Here's one more thing....I'm a guest on American Patchwork and Quilting Magazines Radio/ Podcast show Monday, October 12. 

Please listen in...

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/quilting-podcast

Right after the show, it's back to sewing for Market!!!!  

Until next time,

~Betsy