Welcome to England Design

Welcome to England Design!

Visit the Meet Cynthia and Cynthia's Resume pages to learn more about the recognition her quilts have received. The Contact Info page leads to more about Cynthia's Lectures and Workshops as well as her upcoming teaching schedule

Two New Patterns for Fall 2012

Cynthia introduced 2 new patterns at the Fall 2012 International Quilt Market and Festival.

Wine Country, shown below left, is a new addition to Cynthia's Small Landscape Series. This is a 19" x 17" picture pieced quilt. Sailing Away, below right, is the latest quilt in Cynthia's Scenic America Series. It is a 28" x 28" picture pieced quilt. Both quilt patterns are available now for online ordering.

What is Picture Piecing?

Many quilters assume that Picture Piecing is just another name for foundation piecing or paper piecing. But it is actually a unique technique that Cynthia developed in order to achieve detailed quilt imagery.

Picture Piecing is like paper piecing or foundation piecing in only two ways. First, it involves the use of paper. Second, it allows you to construct quilts using only straight seams.

However, there are many differences that allow quilters to achieve detailed imagery more efficiently and with less frustration and fabric waste.

• In Picture Piecing there is no fabric waste because you cut out exactly what you need. In foundation piecing, scraps of fabrics are used and the surplus is then cut away.
• In Picture Piecing, sewing is done next to the paper, rather than through it; therefore, there is no paper to remove from the seams. In foundation piecing with paper, all paper must be removed from the seams when finished.
• In Picture Piecing, pattern pieces are ironed on the right side of the fabric, rather than the wrong side. This enables you to use the fabric to the best advantage. For example, if there is a directional fabric or a striped fabric in foundation piecing, you have to guess which way to flip it. In Picture Piecing there is no guessing. What you see is what you get.
• In Picture Piecing, any two pattern pieces that make a pair can be sewn together. This enables chain stitching within a section, making construction faster. Different parts of one section can be worked on simultaneously, whereas foundation piecing requires sewing one pattern piece at a time.

American Patchwork & Quilting Radio Guest

Cynthia appeared as a guest on American Patchwork & Quilting Radio with host Pat Sloan on Monday, February 20th. Cynthia was the 4th guest, with her segment starting around 30 minutes into the show

You can listen to the recorded show. Just click the American Patchwork & Quilting Radio button to the right to get started. This will take you to the show website www.allpeoplequilt.com/radio/index.html.

Once on their page, scroll just a bit down that page to the light gray box labeled "American Patchwork and Quilting Radio". Click the "2-20-12" listing and then click the play button.  Be sure to turn the volume up on your computer.

The episodes are also available for free on iTunes. Just type "American Patchwork and Quilting" into the search bar in the iTunes store. Then either download the episode you want, or subscribe to the series. If you are having trouble, just look for the link to their convenient PDF instructions file.

England Design News

Two of Cynthia's quilts were on display in the Texas Quiltmakers Exhibit at the 2011 International Quilt Festival in Houston. The exhibit celebrated the release of Lone Stars III: Texas Quilts Today by Karey Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O'Bryant Puentes as well as the opening of the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas. The two quilts of Cynthia's which were in the exhibit include: Open Season and One Fine Day. These two quilts, as well as Cynthia's Piece and Quiet and Power of Houston are included in the book. The Texas Quilt Museum officially opened on November 13, 2011.

Cynthia's quilt One Fine Day is also pictured in the October/November 2011 issue (no. 424) of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine in an article about the new museum entitled "Texas Quilt Museum to Open in November".

The Quilt Show

Cynthia appeared on Episode 610 of The Quilt Show. The Quilt Show is an online quilting show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. Alex and Ricky came to Cynthia's studio back in November to film the segment with Cynthia. You'll need to be a member to view the online show, so be sure to check out The Quilt Show website and look for the Join Now button. Once you have joined you can watch their monthly videos at any time (and as many times as you'd like). There are many benefits to being a member beyond watching their monthly quilting shows, so be sure to look into it.

But first, take a peek at this 30 second YouTube promotion for the show...
 

Picture Piecing Book
Through England Design, Cynthia has published over 50 patterns and two books. You'll find her newest book on the Books page.

Her book Picture Piecing: Creating Dramatic Pictorial Quilts provides step-by-step details of her picture piecing design and construction technique. It has sold over 20,000 copies.The book includes full color pictures of many of Cynthia's quilts and shows numerous examples of quilts created by other quilters who have used her picture piecing techniques.