Taste of spring, photo style!

As yet another snowstorm is making its way across the U.S. (apparently Mother Nature didn't get the memo that March is supposed to begin leading into nicer weather!), we'd like to offer a tantalizing taste of spring.

We've taken photos of crocuses, tulips, and bleeding hearts and matched them up with swatches of some of our favorite Fabri-Quilt prints. Below each image, we've listed the selected fabrics.

1. Budding Beauties

2. Marblehead

3. Autumn Awakenings

4. Marblehead

5. A Star is Born

1. State Flowers II

2. Dancing Cranes

3. Woodblock

4. Marblehead Global Brights

5. Farmer John's Garden

1. Budding Beauties 

2. Marblehead Global Brights 

3. Silhouettes

4. Asian Garden

5. Marblehead Global Brights

How'd we do? Do you like our choices? 

Have you ever tried something like this? It's a great exercise because you work solely based on color and often mix and match collections that you wouldn't have considered putting together. 

Want to play along? Pick your own photo and match up coordinating Fabri-Quilt prints from our website. Email us your photo and selected fabric prints (you can right click and save the digital swatches from our website on a PC, or simply drag them into a folder on a Mac), and we'll share some of our favorites here on the blog. 

If we share your picture, you might win a fat quarter bundle! 

Send your photos to fabriquiltblog (at) gmail.com by Tuesday, March 12th for a chance to win. 

One more thing...you can also simply email us a photo and we'll choose a couple that are sent in and match fabrics for you. You won't be eligible to win by just sending a photo, but if you'd like to see how your favorite picture matches up with our fabric, send away!

Emerald...the new black

Well, not exactly. 

It's hard to imagine "little emerald dress" replacing the classic "little black dress."

But emerald is *the* color of 2013. 

Every year Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, announces the color of the year. In 2012, it was Tangerine Tango. In 2013, it's Emerald. 

Courtesy of Pantone

Based on the mixed response the color choice has gotten, it seems that Emerald is a color that grows on you. But search "emerald" on Google or on Pinterest and you'll find inspiration for ways to weave this color into your life--wardrobe accessories, pillows for splashes of color on your couch, even nail polish (really?). 

As for us here at Fabri-Quilt, we are already fans of Emerald thanks to a couple rich, textured prints designed by Ro Gregg. 

Here's Emerald, Marblehead style. 

And a print with extra sparkle, from A Star is Born.

If the idea of Emerald has gotten your creative juices flowing, there's even an Emerald Quilt Challenge hosted by the blog a.squared.w, open through March 17 (St. Patrick's Day; how appropriate!). 

You can read the rules here and check out some of the quilt entries here. 

Find some more emerald inspiration from the folks at Pantone here. 

(Not necessarily fabric-related, but eye candy all the same!)

And green lovers, stay tuned! Leading up to everyone's favorite leprechaun holiday, we'll be sharing some of our favorite green prints over the next couple weeks. 

A Star is Born

We know you love the Marblehead prints, but have you seen Ro Gregg's ''A Star is Born'' fabrics? They're in the Marblehead family, rich with texture and color.

"I wanted to design a Marblehead pattern with the true look of artisan-quality quilts, using bold, beautiful marbles,'' Ro says. ''I added the 'Midas Touch' metallic overprint for an updated look."

What does this effect create? Star quality that combines geometric motifs with an upscale, contemporary look.

Ro's favorite: the starburst tile, full of depth and illusion, which comes in four colorways.

Hollywood Star: Vibrant multidimensional hues of
caribbean turquoise, orange flame, sunny yellow,
lime green, and dramatic black

Sundance Star: Sensational shades kissed by the sun in
fuchsia, bright pinks, orange flame, sunshine yellow,
and jungle green

Star of Valor: A salute to our armed forces!
Red, white and blue never looked so good

Tiffany Star: Even a Tiffany window doesn't compare to
these hues of cobalt blue, palace purple, lime, caribbean
blue and mediterranean blue

If you love these prints as much as we do, check out the quilt Terry Albers made using the Sundance Star colorway. The quilt uses large squares of the starburst print--fussy cut it and it will do all the work for you!

Click here for the pdf of the FREE pattern for this quilt.

Enjoy your weekend!