At the Halfway Mark of Marcus Fabrics Designer "Friends & Companions SEW-ALONG"

We, or should I say "you", are now at the half way mark of the Marcus Fabrics Designer Friends and Companions SEW ALONG. This week's block is brought to you by the team of Gloria Parsons, Vicky Ianuucci, and Heather Lynn at The Olde Green Cupboard Designs. These three talented ladies design some gorgeous quilts along with other great patterns for decorating items like pillows and runners. They also coordinate the Camp Blanding Retreats which I one day hope to be able to attend.
Here is a picture of their block. Aren't those little baskets cute? This is such a clever block--I am itching to stich a few up in fabrics from my stash that I've been hoarding for just the right project. If you click on the block it will take you right to the Olde Green Cupboard blog where you will find the instructions. And be eligible for a giveaway!

Of course, it's never too late to join our sew-along.  I am on deck for next Friday.  Here's the info, just in case you want to catch up and get ready for the surprise at the end!

Here is the designer and blog schedule for our Friends & Companions sew-along.   Be sure to pass this news along to all your friends!  

8/1                        Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts                                  www.HeartspunQuilts.Blogspot.com

8/8                        Paula Barnes ~ Red Crinoline Quilts                     www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

8/15                      Sarah Maxwell ~ Homestead Hearth                      www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com              

8/22                      Pati Violick ~ Marcus Fabrics                                www.MarcusMentions.com

8/29                      Gloria Parsons ~ Olde Green Cupboard               www.OldeGreenCupboard.Blogspot.com  

9/5                        Nancy Rink ~ Nancy Rink Designs                          www.NancyRinkDesigns.com/blog

9/12                      Mary Ellen Robison~Red Crinoline Quilts          www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

9/19                      Dolores Smith ~ Homestead Hearth                       www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com

9/26                      Lisa Shepard ~ Marcus Fabrics                               www.MarcusMentions.com

10/3                      Red Crinoline Quilts ~ Quilt Revealed!                www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

Mill Works Sneak Peek

It's a Sunday morning and I have to admit that I slept in late today. Last night I stayed up well past midnight, determined to finish hand sewing the binding down on my new Mill Works quilt. This morning, the first thing I did was toss the quilt in the washing machine. Yes, I always wash my quilts once they're done. It cleans off the dust and such that the fabric picks up during construction and any marking lines left behind. It also softens up the fabric and fluffs up the batting to give the quilt that soft puckers look I so love on a quilt.

So here is Mill Works laid out on my living room floor. Now I am blocking it to make sure everything is as square as possible and to make sure the quilt lays flat.

Mill Works is my newest block of the month quilt project and is designed as an 8-month program. It features my new Mill Works fabric collection from Marcus Fabrics. It should be hitting the shelves of your local quilt shops this fall and be available for re-order for about 12 months.

Color Love--The BOM Quilts

Okay, so a while back I showed off my upcoming Color Love fabric collection from Marcus Fabrics with a sneak peek at an applique block. Since we leave tomorrow for Spring Quilt Market, I thought it might be a good time to show a few images of the Color Love BOM quilts. The reason I say "quilts", plural, is because there are two versions of the same quilt: an applique version and a pieced version. The quilts finish at 87" x 93" and the program is designed as a five-part BOM, with "flex" options to make it longer if desired.
Here is my EQ rendering of the applique version.  See the eight cute applique blocks surrounding the center star?  They are made up of simple shapes, and to make things even easier, we are offering the blocks as laser cut, pre-fused blocks.



And here is the pieced version for those who do not do the "A" word.


And here is a photo of the actual applique Color Love quilt spread out on my living room floor. I had A LOT of help with this quilt from some great ladies in Albuquerque,NM. Thank you Amanda Ruden!  The pieced quilt was made by Sandy Kent who lives in Texas. I'd show you photos of it too, but it is all folded and packed in a suitcase, ready to go to Pittsburg tomorrow.


Isn't the quilting perfect? Elizabeth Anne Dawson of Albuquerque, NM worked her longarm magic on the quilt.

Ask for Color Love at your local quilt shop. The program is slated to begin September 2014. You can find additional information on the Marcus Fabrics website.

Color Love is Here

Color Love--that's the name of my newest fabric collection with Marcus Fabrics.  Here's my sample yardage all laid out on my cutting table, ready to be put to work. Oh, my pretties!

So there is already a plan for Color Love--a block-of-the-month quilt also called Color Love. It is a five part BOM with an applique' option, slated to begin shipping June 2014. Ask for it at your local There are two version of the same quilt--one pieced and one with some applique. To makes things even more fun, we have ordered up a bunch of the applique' blocks from a company that does laser cutting. Yesterday I worked on the seven applique' blocks.  It was so easy to just peel and fuse the shapes in place and then buttonhole stitch around the patches. Now, mind you, I am not the most proficient person when it comes to buttonhole stitching, but I did manage to get the job done. Here's a block and some close ups.