Getting in the Halloween Spirit: Orange & Black Prints

With Halloween around the corner, it's time to grab some orange and black prints and do a little sewing! Door banners, trick or treat bags, a table runner, or even a quilt...with the right fabrics, you can have so much holiday fun!

Here are some of our favorite orange and black prints:

Top row: Truck Stop, Nite Owls by Judy Hansen; Middle row: Sea Turtles, Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg; Bottom row: Bear Hugs, Marblehead Global Brights

Top row: Nite Owls, Marblehead Gemstones Jewels & Quartz by Ro Gregg; Middle row: Marblehead by Ro Gregg, Graphix 3; Bottom row: Marimba, Sea Turtles

Ask for them at your local quilt shop!

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

Krazy Kritters

The cute animals in our new Krazy Kritters collection are perfect for an adorable kid's quilt! We've paired them with various coordinates to offer you some bright, ready-to-go color combinations.

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Classique, Classique, and Eggcellent Adventures

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Classique, Truck Stop,  Marblehead Global Brights

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Marblehead Global Brights, Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz, Truck Stop

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Truck Stop, Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz, and Leather

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Classique, Marblehead Global Brights, Truck Stop

Clockwise from to left: Krazy Kritters, Eggcellent Adventures, Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz, and Eggcellent Adventures

See the entire Krazy Kritters collection here.

This quilt is going places!

We love seeing what quilters create using our fabric, and when we saw this beauty, we knew that we needed to share it with all of you! Mary Louise Gerek designed her Seashell quilt using Ro Gregg's Marblehead Global Brights, and she recently learned that the quilt had been accepted into the Denver National Quilt Festival. Congratulations, Mary Louise! 

Q. What attracted you to the Global Brights fabric? 
Mary Louise: I had already designed Seashell before the Global Brights were released. When I first saw them, I knew they were just what the design needed. I really like working with the bright colors and textures of the Marblehead Global Brights. The fabric is high quality and has a wonderful hand. 

Q. Can you talk about your block design? 
Mary Louise: I started the block design by just drawing lines within a square. I then started adding and subtracting lines to see how it would work. I focused on straight-line piecing and what secondary patterns appear when the blocks are rotated and/or flipped.
The block consists of two half-square triangles, each with asymmetrical patches. All of the seams are straight lines. The final seam is the one diagonally down the middle where you only have to match two seams. The block does require accurate piecing of acute angles. That is the skill building part of the pattern.

Q. Why do the Global Brights, as a mottled type of fabric, work well for your Seashell pattern?
Mary Louise: The variation in the colors within each fabric results in very similar, but not identical blocks. I really like that kind of texture added to a quilt.

Q. Can you tell us about your border and cornerstone design decisions?
Mary Louise: When I looked at the quilt as a whole, it needed some boundaries. I also wanted to make the pattern variable in size to fit different size beds. By varying the width and number of strips in the border, I was able to accomplish that easily.
I originally tried putting four small blocks in each corner, but that was too much of the same thing. The points aiming toward the center brings the eye back to the center of the quilt. The points are a challenge and some
people may prefer paper-piecing the cornerstones. I do include a paper-piecing foundation in the published pattern.

Q. What do you like best about this quilt?
Mary Louise: I like the color and the secondary patterns that appear. It is a fun block to put together, and working with bright colors on a rainy day definitely makes the day brighter.

Q. What is one surprising thing about this quilt?
Mary Louise: Most surprising to me is people's reaction to it when they see it in person. The pictures show you what the quilt looks like, but the color really comes alive in person.

Q. Can you tell us about entering the show and your reaction upon being accepted?
Mary Louise: I really entered the quilt in the Denver National Quilt Festival on a whim. It was one of those "why not?" moments. I entered it with three days left in the entry window. So, I did not have to wait long. And, I really forgot about it. When the email came on April 3, I was really surprised. This is my first acceptance into a national show.

Q.  Where is this quilt headed after the show? 
Mary Louise: Seashell will be part of the Trunk Show that goes along with my lecture "Playing with Blocks." I use it to illustrate what can happen when you start playing with lines and asymmetrical blocks. The block is part of my
class, Polish Your Piecing, where I work with students on piecing acute angles, piecing curves and working out the best order to piece your patches for any given block.

Make this quilt yourself!
You can find Mary Louise's Seashell pattern here.
Browse Ro Gregg's Marblehead Global Brights collection here.
Find out more about Mary Louise, including her lectures, classes, and patterns, here.

Pre-cut Party Blog Hop - Day 1

Welcome to the first day of our Pre-cut Party! blog hop.

This week's blog hop features four different projects using...you guessed it...pre-cuts! 

We're all busy, we love the time that pre-cut fabric saves, and we can never have enough ideas of ways to use them! Stop by each day to find a different tutorial and have a chance to win the featured pre-cut bundle. 

Hi, my name is Connie and I blog at Freemotion by the River. You'll always find tutorials, patterns and other fun things on my blog. I will be sharing a tutorial for a cute quilt made with the Marblehead Global Brights Snack Pack by Ro Gregg. Bright colors are perfect for a project and make me think of all the flowers that will be blooming soon here in Iowa. 

Head over to Connie's blog to see her tutorial for making this bright beauty and find out how you can win a Snack Pack of Marblehead Global Brights! The giveaway is now closed.

Don't miss the other pre-cut fabric tutorials this week!
Day 2: Fabri-Quilt team using a Shadows charm pack
Day 3: Dawn Stewart of Spring Water Designs using a Baby Talk snack pack
Day 4: Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis using A Walk in the Park charm pack

Marblehead Madness: Final Four (game 2)

It's the second day of our Final Four voting! Which will you choose...Ocean Azul or Her Royal Highness? Help us decide who will be in the championship!

Ocean Azul

Straight from Ro's Global Brights Marbleheads,
everything about "Ocean Azul" says beach beauty.
Who wouldn't love to dip their toes into water like this?

Her Royal Highness 

From Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection,
we're calling this multi-colored beauty "Her Royal Highness" (HRH).
Deep indigo and blue accented with pink and yellow--so gorgeous as a quilt border!

Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below.

Her Royal Highness or Ocean Azul

Voting ends Friday, April 3rd at 9 am CST.

Watch for our championship game to be posted on Monday!

Marblehead Madness: Vote for your favorite!

Happy Monday! 
It's another day of Marblehead Madness! 
Which which will you choose...Ocean Azul or Liquid Gold?
Help us narrow our Elite Eight contestants down to the Final Four!

Meet today's contestants:

Ocean Azul

Straight from Ro's Global Brights Marbleheads,
everything about "Ocean Azul" says beach beauty.
Who wouldn't love to dip their toes into water like this?

Liquid Gold

From From Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection,
"Liquid Gold" is all about high-end glamour.
Its welcoming hues are full of warmth and grandeur.

Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below.

Ocean Azul or Liquid Gold

Voting will be open until Tuesday at 9 am CST. 

Thanks! Voting is now closed.

See the full bracket here and the narrowed down Elite Eight here.

Marblehead Madness: Narrowing Down the Elite 8!

Help us narrow our Elite Eight contestants down to the Final Four!

Today's contestants:

Luscious Lime

Straight from Ro's Global Brights Marbleheads,
"Luscious Lime" has as many shades of green as a garden ready to bloom.
Perfect for some bold contrast in your next quilt.

Patina

From Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection, "Patina"
has that gorgeous pairing of copper with greenish-blue.
This unique color combination, so appealing in architecture,
can enhance a quilt with neutral or brown hues.

Vote by leaving the name of your favorite in the comments below.

Luscious Lime vs. Patina

Vote for these two competitions through Friday 3/27 @ 9 am. 
Voting is now closed.

See the full bracket here.

Marblehead Madness: Games 7 & 8

Are you ready to vote? We've selected 16 Marblehead prints for our Marblehead Madness bracket! Over the next couple weeks, these fabrics will be "competing" against each other for the title of "Favorite Marblehead Fabric."

Meet today's contestants:

Ocean Azul

Straight from Ro's Global Brights Marbleheads, everything about "Ocean Azul"
says beach beauty. Who wouldn't love to dip their toes into water like this?

Nature's Paintbox

Another from Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection,
"Nature's Paintbox" has a little bit of many colors. Its multi-color matchability
means that like a favorite pair of blue jeans, it'll work with everything. 

 Liquid Gold

From From Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection,
"Liquid Gold" is all about high-end glamour.
Its welcoming hues are full of warmth and grandeur.

Awesome Orchid

One of Ro's brand-new Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz Marbleheads,
"Awesome Orchid" is a nature-inspired combination of
pinks, purples, and everything in between!

In the comments section, please vote once for each of the competitions:

"Ocean Azul" vs. "Nature's Paintbox" (choose your favorite)

"Liquid Gold" vs. Awesome Orchid" (choose your favorite)

Vote for these two competitions through Wednesday 3/25 @ 9 am. 
This competition is now closed. Find the next vote here.

See the full bracket here.

Marblehead Madness: Games 5 & 6

Are you ready to vote? We've selected 16 Marblehead prints for our Marblehead Madness bracket! Over the next few weeks, these fabrics will be "competing" against each other for the title of "Favorite Marblehead Fabric."

Meet today's contestants:

 Ruby Red

One of the brand-new Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz Marbleheads,
"Ruby Red" is peppy and extroverted--not afraid to make her presence known! 

Sky Blue

The sky's the limit with "Sky Blue" from Ro Gregg's Pleasing Pastels Marbleheads.
In fact, this fabric would make the perfect sky in a landscape quilt!

Her Royal Highness 

From Ro Gregg's original Marblehead collection,
we're calling this multi-colored beauty "Her Royal Highness" (HRH).
Deep indigo and blue accented with pink and yellow--so gorgeous as a quilt border!

Citron

Another of Ro's Global Brights Marbleheads,
"Citron" is spring green at its best--ripe with the promise of a new season! 

In the comments section, please vote once for each of the competitions:

"Ruby Red" vs. "Sky Blue" (choose your favorite)

"Her Royal Highness" vs. "Citron" (choose your favorite)

Vote for these two competitions through Tuesday 3/24 @ 9 am. 

This competition is now closed. You can find games 7 & 8 here.

See the full bracket here.