Feels Like Fall

Are the leaves changing in your neck of the woods? 

As Mother Nature paints her brilliant autumn landscapes, we're inspired to share some of our favorite fabric lines and fabrics in those same hues. 

Enjoy!

Fall's Canvas

Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg

In addition to the fall-themed lines featured above,
you can find autumn colors in many of our other collections, too. 

We like these:

Marblehead by Ro Gregg

 Marblehead Global Brights by Ro Gregg

 Classique

Sea Turtles

Tribal Instincts by Ro Gregg

Birdsong

Ro Gregg's Butterflies Are Free

Already this week we've seen Ro Gregg's Changing Seasons and Tribal Instincts collections. Today, we're showing her latest line, Butterflies Are Free. 

Three days; three collections; three very different looks.

Butterflies Are Free has its roots in Ro's Marblehead collections. Rich colors, marble patterns, intriguing texture. (Plus a panel!) See the collection below and then read what Ro has to say about it and the magical creatures it features. 

Q. What inspired Butterflies Are Free?

Ro: Butterflies are my all time favorite creatures and my favorite motif in my fabric lines. I just love their beauty and their vibrant colors. I find them a spiritual sign, almost mystical in the way they flutter in and out of our lives. They are so delicate and beautiful, and their fleeting, fragile appearance has inspired many poets.  Some people say they are messengers for the angels.

Q. Why did you choose to feature butterflies, dragonflies and tulips?

Ro: Perfect trifecta all three are delicate and graceful.  Absolutely earthy delights of nature and perfect symbols of the newness of spring and summer. Butterflies, dragonflies and tulips are symbols of femininity, romance and friendship.

Q. How did you come up with the color palette?

Ro: Most of the motifs are designed with Marblehead and the colors are from the Global Brights and Pleasing Pastels.  These colors are pure and intense, and directly influenced by Mother Nature.

Q. Love the multicolored sunflowers! What inspired you to color them so uniquely?

Ro: Sunflowers look to the sun.....their namesake.  They lift your spirits on a sunny day.  I wanted  to do something different with them, so I took a more decorative and colorful approach using a myriad of tones from Marblehead.

Q. The marbleized prints are gorgeous! Can you talk about them?

Ro: Marblehead's newest pattern is in the border and I am calling it "Italian Marble."  This was designed from authentic marble from a photo I took on my last trip to Italy. This marble pattern comes in 3 colors: layers of serene green, lilac and dreamy blues; vibrant oranges and reds; and multi orchids, greens and blues on white.

Q. Tell us about the panel.

Ro: The panel is a 24" and showcases a myriad of butterflies flying into the light.  Each butterfly is designed from coordinating Marblehead to look pieced. They are featured on the sky Pleasing Pastel marble print. This panel is a masterpiece of color consisting of 17 screens to emulate the various shades and tones of the Marblehead line.  It is very versatile for quilts, jackets and bags.

Q. What’s your favorite print in the collection? 

Ro: The panels is hands down is my favorite due to the challenge of its design and the magnificent effect of the multicolor butterflies in flight. It was very exciting to design these magical wonders of life.

Use the panel and coordinates in this scrappy looking quilt, 

Lattice, designed by Jessica Toye.

Download the free quilt pattern here.

See the entire Butterflies Are Free collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Tribal Instincts by Ro Gregg

Color lovers, get ready! These are safari-inspired prints like you've never seen them before. Ro Gregg's Tribal Instincts collection features the classics you'd expect--elephants and zebras, but with a totally unexpected twist. 

Start with animals and add color. Lots of it! 

Coordinating geometric tonals offer restful support for these focal prints, allowing the animals to shine! Tribal Instincts comes in both a bright and an earthtone/teal colorway. Scroll down to see the prints and learn what Ro has to say about them. 

Q. What inspired Tribal Instincts?

Ro: I wanted to take quilters on safari with my new animal motifs and a twist of exotic drama. We are all members of a triple, whether cultural, religious, political, or community affiliations…even quilting classes!

Q.  Love the multicolor elephants! Can you tell us about them?

Ro:The elephants (along with the zebras) are the main focus of the collection. I think the elephants are subtle yet sophisticated; they’re realistic looking but filled with color. We need to embrace these precious animals and keep them safe. 

Q.  Can you talk about the two different types of zebra print?

Ro: I designed the focal zebras with more of a decorative novelty vibe, including filling them with color like the elephants. The zebra skin is more of an abstract pattern, and I think it will work really well as a texture. 

Q.  Can you tell us about the two color palettes you used?

Ro: These are two fantastic color palettes in 2015:

Warm earth colors of kangaroo brown, caramel, curry, cedar, gold tiger’s eye and peacock.

Global bright color ways of scarlet, emerald, tangelo, golden glow yellow and dramatic black. 

Q.  Favorite print in the collection?

Ro: My favorite pattern is the elephant. I love the current geometric background, and the vibrant colors give them personality. Elephants symbolize strength and are leaders are among the jungle animals. They are wise and have such incredible memories.

Want to get started using Tribal Instincts? 

Download the free Tribal Instincts pattern from our website, designed by Pine Tree Country Quilts. It's shown here in the earth tone colorway, but it would be equally fun in the brights! 

Download the free quilt pattern here.

See the entire Tribal Instincts pattern here and look for it in your local quilt shop.

Ready for Fall: Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg

Just in time for the first day of fall, here's Ro Gregg's Changing Seasons collection, an autumn beauty! Enjoy the fabrics and then read about Ro's inspiration for these gorgeous prints below.

Q. Tell us about your Changing Seasons collection.

Ro: I am such a nature lover and fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. You have to enjoy it because you know what’s coming next. I think it’s sort of like the last hurrah—beautiful trees and leaves, really showcasing autumn’s beauty.

Q. Tell us about the panel.

Ro: I wanted to showcase an autumn landscape and added in chrysanthemums, the classic fall flower. The panel is almost like looking out the window, or out a portico. The trees and sky are framed with a Marblehead print and accented with metallic to give it a really radiant glistening effect. I love the sunlight on the trees, and how it changes the colors.

Q. Can you show us some of your favorite coordinates?

Ro: There’s the sunset print—spectacular radiant colors with gold glitter.

The focal fabrics have leaves and chrysanthemums, along with accents of fall stamps. The layering look is a current trend. The prints also highlight many different types of leaves—oak, maple, gingko, to name a few. 

And the check; I think the check pulls this line together. It’s also showcased in the panel.

Q. What’s special about this line?

Ro: The focal prints focus on fall landscape, but the coordinates can be used all year round. It’s timeless.

Find a free quilt pattern using Ro's Changing Seasons panel and coordinates:

"Changing Seasons" by Kristi and Rebecca Ryan

See the entire Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg collection here.

Find the free quilt pattern here.

Pillowcase Party!

Happy Friday, everyone!
American Patchwork & Quilting's 24-hour Sew-a-thon kicks off this afternoon! 
You can find more information on the sew-a-thon and an abundance of pillowcase patterns here. 

But we also thought we'd share a little eye candy here--the One Million Pillowcase Challenge's two most recent band patterns, stitched in our fabric. 

Pattern 50: Bull's Eye Band

 featuring Briarcliff fabrics

Photo from Allpeoplequilt.com; download the pattern here.

Pattern 51: Square-in-a-Square band

featuring Vera Cruz fabrics

Photo from Allpeoplequilt.com; download the pattern here.

Happy pillowcase sewing! Have a fantastic Sew-a-thon, AP&Q!!
Learn more about American Patchwork & Quilting's One Million Pillowcase Challenge here.

It's Time Again: Pillowcase Sew-a-thon

You’re invited to the biggest pillowcase party of the year! Paintbrush Studio is proud to join American Patchwork & Quilting as they host the One Million Pillowcase Challenge 24 Hour Sew-a-thon on September 18-19, 2015. 

American Patchwork & Quilting is hosting in Des Moines, IA starting at 3pm on Friday, September 18^th and ending 3pm on Saturday, September 19^th. 

Various quilt shops and groups around the country are also hosting events this weekend. 

Visit www.allpeoplequilt.com/sewathon to find an event in your area.

No events in your area? Join us from home! Get social with us by visiting our website and posting photos using the hashtag #APQSewathon. 

Here are some pillowcase pictures to get you in the spirit!

And some of our favorite patterns (and fabrics!) from the One Million Pillowcase Challenge:

 #48 Triangle-Square Band; featuring Four Paws 

(this is a sneak peek--this fabric is so new, it's not quite available yet! Watch for it on the blog and in your local quilt shop soon)

Photo from AllPeopleQuilt.com; download the free pattern here

#49 Stepping Stones Band; featuring Bear Hugs

Photo from AllPeopleQuilt.com; download the free pattern here

Sawtooth Star
featuring the Who's Who collection by Ro Gregg

Photo from Allpeoplequilt.com; Download the pattern here.

Diamond in the Rough 

featuring the Tweet collection

Photo from Allpeoplequilt.com; Download the pattern here.

Find out more about the Challenge and see all 48 unique pillowcase designs here.

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas? 

Maybe. 

With back-to-school behind us, stores are filled with Halloween candy, turkey table toppers, and Christmas trees. We say, if you can't ignore them, join them! Get a head start on your holiday sewing now, and relax when December rolls around.

American Patchwork & Quilting recently published Christmas Quilts and More, chock full of fabric-related holiday ideas for decorating and gift giving. One of the projects they featured was this clever notebook cover designed by Jennifer Paganelli. The gold and red fabrics used on the second cover are from our Holiday Editions fabric line. 

Fabric notebook covers designed by Jennifer Paganelli for Christmas Quilts and More

Designed by Jennifer Paganelli. Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2015 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. For more quilt patterns, visit www.allpeoplequilt.com.

See the Holiday Editions collection here.

Find Christmas Quilts and More here or look for it in your local quilt or book shop.

p.s. If you're not quite ready to get in the holiday spirit...this notebook cover would work well in non-holiday prints too! 

Consider:

Back to School

Judy Hansen's Nite Owls

Ro Gregg's Changing Seasons

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