sneek peek

Finished it, just today. Now it is time to let Jacquie Pohl (of Gladstone MB) do her quilting magic! This is a quilt that will appear in a magazine...not telling which one, but you can look for it in late summer. Don't worry we will let you know ahead of time, wouldn't want you to miss it.

I can tell you this though, the fabric is from an RJR Fabrics collection "So You Sew Fun too!" In between our own collections, we get the oppertunity to design quilts using RJR collections. Using bright colors has allowed us to step out and do something different. This quilt design is fun and modern. Hope you think so too.

As 2006 comes to an end...

all I have to say is WOW, we made it! Myra and I have been designing quilts for 9 years and this year I think we have worked our very hardest. (do I dare say that!!) As I look back on 2006 I can not believe all that we accompolished and all the places we went and the really great people we have met.

We released a new fabric collection, designed approximatly 16 quilts to be published, (not to mention the quilts we just design) some of which will only be in print in the new year, went to spring market in Minniapolis, fall quilt market in Houston and CCHA in Toronto, visited quilt guilds, shops and one of my highlights was our Hometown Retreat! We have been focusing on marketing and branding over the past few months and with that brings many, many more ideas. You will see blue meadow designs, well....all over the place in 2007. (and you know we will keep you posted)

As 2006 draws to a close Myra and I find ourselves excitted about 2007. I know that we will push ourselves to new hights. We have many plans and as we have expierienced, surprises always arise. We are thankful and blessed not only with our business but blessed with health, family and friends. God has been good and only he knows what tomorrow brings!

Wishing you a very happy new year!!

Merry Christmas from Cori & Myra...


myra harder & cori derksen

otherwise known as "the Girls"
RJR refers to us as "Cora" (mostly when we are not around!!)

desk top calendars






I have made five of these desk top calendars this last week. I used Bohemian Rhapsody fabric, paper, a tin case, ribbon, EQ printables and a lot of zig zag stitching.
You never know where you will see this pattern!

the process...


This is a board I put together to show our process. From our inspiration, the drawing, the fabrics to the finished pattern. We have been custom designing quilts for some of RJR's fabric collections. This collection is called "So You Sew Fun too!" and we were asked to design a quilt for the collection. We found inspiration in a piece of furniture from a magazine clipping and turned it into a EQ5 drawing. In EQ5 we play with color until we find a combonation that we like or should I say four combinations that RJR liked! This quilt will be offered in four color ways. "So You Sew Fun too!" will be released summer '07, be sure to look in your local quilt shop for the collection and pattern! You may remember seeing the finished quilt on a previous post, the "Labyrinth" quilt was displayed in the RJR booth in Houston.

Snow ball fight?

It was a beautiful 5 degrees above 0 today!! Myra and I took advantage of the weather and took some pictures of ourselves today. Not because we like pictures of ourselves but because when we do magazine work and such, they always need a picture.

We work primarily for US companies and they ask about what winters are like in Canada. So we thought it would be fun to take some winter pictures and send them their way, hence the snow ball picture.

It was fun trudging through the snow around my yard! Not to mention the GREAT brainstorm session Myra and I had after the shoot! You know us...always thinking or as Myra said "my brain is spinning!!"

Daisy Baby

This baby quilt is so cute! This pattern had it's Canadian debut in Toronto this spring and it's international debut in Houston this fall and it was very well received. You can expect to see more baby/kids designs in the new year! I better get these patterns packaged and shipped, until next time.

Work day!

Well, like I mentioned...we had a conference call with RJR yesterday. We were presented with more oppertunities for designing! It is excitting but at the same time...making us even busier!! Busy is good right? The only problem is we still have meals to make, laundry to do and families to take care of...thank goodness they are supportive. Back to the drawing board.

What's up this week...

This week at bmd is a busy one! Last Wednesday we received art work of our next two collections and this week we have to tweek the prints and colors. RJR has had some staffing changes and we have a conference call this week to discuss up coming projects and marketing.

I am working on a project for a "Mom's Program" happening in January at a local Church. I am using Bohemian Rhapsody fabrics and the paisley motif. I have been teaching at this mom's program for the past two years. It is a great time of "crafting", fellowship and learning.

Have a great week!

Open House at Homespun, Langdon North Dakota

Myra and I have been going to Homespun in Langdon since we wrote our first book! We have taught classes on many occasions and since we started designing fabric, Barb (the owner) has always asked us to come and do an "open house" at her shop.

Last night we had the oppertunity to share our 2nd fabric collection with our friends at Homespun. We gave them a "year in review" and then we explained our concept and fabrics to them. The question and answer period is always my favorite time...great questions last night! It is always interesting to hear what customers think.

Barb has a great shop and she is a very welcoming and generous person! She has been such a great supporter of ours. She has great displays and of course because Blue meadow was coming, she had a great display of Bohemian Rhapsody. She is also very generous and gave away a bunch of great door prizes. Her Homepsun staff are wonderful too. They are excitted and enthusiastic and we always have a great time. THANKS to our Langdon friends for their hospitatly, support and encouragment. See you again soon.

A busy week.

We have a long list of things to accomplish in the next month. This week we designed and are sewing a quilt featuring "Bohemian Rhapsody" for The Quilter Magazine which will be in the March issue. Next on the list will be a design using the "So You Sew Fun too!" collection for the Quiltmaker. And...the list goes on. As our proposals get approved and slated we will let you know what to watch for and when.

This next week, Wednesday November 8th, we will be visiting Homespun in Langdon ND. We are looking forward to the visit with our Homespun friends, this group of ladies have supported us well and always are encouraging. Thanks to Barb, owner of Homespun!

International Quilt Market, Houston Texas
October 28-30 2006

Myra and I had a great time in Houston! We met with editors of various magazines, browsed the floor and admired the many really fabulous booths. Our latest fabric collection "Bohemian Rhapsody" was featured in the RJR booth as well as "Daisy Baby" and a design we did for "So You, Sew Fun too!". We have a busy few months ahead designing quilts for a number of magazines (we will keep you posted on that!) as well working on new fabric collections and partnerships.

Waiting for sample spree to open, talking with RJR distributors from Italy.

This is were we had our meetings with the magazine editiors. We designed this quilt for the RJR, "So You, Sew Fun too!" fabric collection, for the the Make it You program.

Home Sweet Home (from Houston)

This is how we were welcomed back to Manitoba...with snow!!

Two more sleeps...

until Myra and I leave for Houston! We are attending International Quilt Market in Houston TX. We will be around the RJR fabrics booth as well as browsing around all the different booths checking out what's new. The next couple of days at home will include packing and preparing for the trip. I will let you know how it goes and post picutures on Monday.

Manitoba Prairie Quilters Guild Meeting
October 21st, 2006

Thanks you to the ladies of MPQ!! Your support and encouragement was overwhelming and we thank you for it from the bottom of our hearts. It is always a priviledge to visit and like we said on Saturday...it feels like HOME.

Open House October 16th 2006

Retreat was a sucess and now it was time to move on to the next thing. Monday, October 16th we held our first open house in Winkler. This was an oppertunity for our local customers and supporters to come and see what we had been up to this past year and purchase our products. Our door prizes where valued at $350.00. We had a gift basket with Fabrics, books & notions as well as a bundle of 29 fat quarters. The winner of the gift basket was Lynda M. and the winner of the fat quarter package TBA.

3rd Annual Hometown Retreat
October 13-15th, 2006

October has been a busy month and I know that I have not been posting daily but today is the day I fill you in on what has been happening at bmd.

It started with a bang! We received our 2nd fabric collection "Bohemian Rhapsody". It was an excitting day for a number of reasons. First, we had been working on the collection for almost one year and finally we were seeing it in cloth. Second, now that the fabric had arrived we were that much closer to our 3rd annual Hometown retreat!

We have visited many guilds over the years and have met a lot of great quilter's and three years ago we decided that we would like to offer a retreat in our "Hometown" of Winkler MB. We design an exclusive project, they are the first consumers to see the new fabric collection and we make it a great time and they make new friends too.

This year we had quilter's from Red Lake, Ignace, Dryden & Kenora ON as well as quilters's from Winnnipeg, Mather & Oakbank MB and quilter's from SK as well.
Here is a picture of our group this year. Myra and I had a great time. Here are just a few comments from our 'rereater's'.

"I just wanted to let you know how much you two have helped me, how important these times have been, and how great it is to meet you two and all the other friends at your retreats! Keep up the great work, and have fun doing it."

"Thank you for the lovely weekend."

"Thanks!!! The week end was really fun. It was great to see the ‘regulars’ and meet the ‘newbies’. You were very generous during the week end. The little surprises on our sewing machines in the morning were very sweet."

"I am writing to thank you again for hosting the retreat. It is the highlight of the fall for me. Your kindness and generosity is truly appreciated."

"Thanks again, Myra & Cori, for a wonderful weekend - always fun and inspiring, and a good venue. It's nice to see all those that return every year, and you give us that opportunity by organizing this event. It's a lot of work for both of you, but it's truly appreciated. Looking forward to next years retreat - and both of you have a wonderful year to come."

Thanks to all the ladies who came, the "newbee's" and the "regulars". We are already looking forward to next year!

Welcome to blue meadow designs blogg!

I can't believe that we have a blogg. I wanted a place were I could keep our customers and friends up to date on our comings and goings, our inspirations and just stuff about us. You may be wondering who the "us" is. I will be introducing you to my business partener Myra Harder very soon. This is where we will keep you posted on our appearances and what's happening at bmd.