Monday, October 26, 2015

The Quilter's Planner

Remember the Watermelon Summer New Block Blog Hop we hosted this summer? Guess what? 52 of those beauties have made it into print. That's right--they're featured in the new The Quilter's Planner, which was created by Stephanie Palmer, one of the hosts of the blog hop.


Here's what Stephanie has to say about her planner:
The Quilter's Planner has everything you need to organize your life, plan and track your sewing projects and be inspired to create something beautiful every day!
It is approximately 8 x 10, made in the USA, and will be shipped in time for the holidays.


What's Inside:
  • Monthly calendars
  • Weekly calendars
  • Project planning pages
  • Swatch saver
  • Graph paper
  • Free motion quilting practice pages
  • Goal-setting prompts
  • 8 full quilt patterns from amazing designers (Cheryl Brickey (Meadowmist Designs), Yvonne Fuchs (Quilting Jetgirl), Amy Garro (13 Spools), Lee Heinrich (Freshly Pieced), Mandy Leins (Mandalei Quilts), Pat Sloan (Pat Sloan), Kitty Wilkin (Night Quilter) and me).
  • 52 original quilt block designs from awesome quilt bloggers
  • Gorgeous artwork pull-outs by the talented Kelsey Boes from Lovely and Enough
  • Reference section for quilting calculations and common construction techniques
Monthly Calendar:
I love that the monthly calendar has prompts on the left to write your goals for the month, and the personal, work and quilting projects you need to tackle. I also love the space on the bottom to write notes... phone numbers, addresses, reminders, ideas.


Weekly Calendars:
Check out the awesome, original block design in the left hand margin (this example is the Whirling Plus design  by Josi Heron of Avocado Quilts.)  Each weekly spread will show a fabulous block design by a blogger in our quilting community - that's 52 block designs to inspire you throughout the year!

See the block featured on the left?

I also love that at the top of each day of the week, there is space to include your daily top three. These are the top three things you have to do during the day in order to feel that you've accomplished the big stuff (I promise - crossing these things off your list at the end of every day will make you sleep better!)
And one of my favorite parts of this whole book is the separate to-do lists for your work, personal and quilting aspects of life.

Individual Project Planning Pages:
You can track all the steps you need to take to complete the project, and list out the supplies you have, and those you need. You can even attach an inspirational picture or sketch a block design, and attach swatches of fabric with included sticky dots!

Find out more about The Quilter's Planner and pre-order yours here.
To see the Watermelon Summer block tutorials:
Find the links from Day 1 here.
Find the links from Day 2 here.
Find the links from Day 3 here.
Find the links from Day 4 here.



Friday, October 23, 2015

6 Ideas to get you in the fall mood!

With leaves changing and temperatures cooling, it's not hard to get in a fall frame of mind! But just in case you  need a little help, or if you just want to try something new and different this year, check out some of our favorite ideas from our "Feels Like Fall" Pinterest board.

1. Caramel apples in reverse!
Find the link here.


2. A simple table setting with white pumpkins
Find the link here.


3. Pumpkin bread in a jar
Find the link here.


4. A seasonal bacon recipe (yum!)
Find the link here.


5. Stuffed pumpkins (they'll last year after year!)
Find the link here.


6. A scrappy patchwork pumpkin pillow
Find the link here.

Follow us on Pinterest and check out our Feels Like Fall and Spooky Halloween Ideas pinterest boards for more autumn and Halloween ideas!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

10 Cute Halloween Ideas!

Looking for some fun Halloween ideas? Here are 10 of our favorites--decorations, costumes and treat bags, and clever snacks. Find more ideas on our Pinterest boards!

1. A candy corn button picture--one candy corn that you'll just have to resist eating!
Find the link here.


2. Dinosaur sweatshirt to keep warm in the fall or be a costume!
Find the link here.


3. Trick or treat bag with spiders that move
Find the link here.


4. Find your favorite orange print for a sweet pumpkin onesie
Find the link here.


5. Pair your favorite orange and black prints for a spooky silhouetted wall hanging.
Find the link here.


6. A new take on gingerbread cookies--skeletons!
Find the link here.


7. Witch's hat cupcakes
Find the link here.


8. Beautifully decorated spider web cookies
Find the link here.

9. You don't have to carve--try these painted pumpkins
Find the link here.

10. Spoooooky white chocolate covered ghost strawberries
Find the link here.


Follow us on Pinterest and check out our Feels Like Fall and Spooky Halloween Ideas pinterest boards for more Halloween ideas!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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 StopNite Owls by Judy Hansen; Middle row: Sea Turtles, Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg; Bottom row: Bear HugsMarblehead Global Brights

Top row: Nite OwlsMarblehead Gemstones Jewels & Quartz by Ro Gregg; Middle row: Marblehead by Ro GreggGraphix 3; Bottom row: MarimbaSea Turtles




Ask for them at your local quilt shop!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Vintage Shirting Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Rhonda D., our giveaway winner!



Rhonda, you'll be receiving a 1/2 yard cut of the Vintage Shirtings collection. We hope you enjoy it and can't wait to see what you do with it! 

Missed our Vintage Shirting giveaway? Find the fabrics in a shop near you! 
Click here to find more information the upcoming Vintage Sampler BOM quilt and the participating shops.

Vintage Sampler BOM by Barbara J. Eikmeier


Friday, October 16, 2015

They're back...!!!

If you missed Judy Hansen's Nite Owls the first time around, great news! The owls are back! That's right...the entire line is again available. Owls big and small, swirls, eyeballs, stars and tree trunks...perfect for a fall (or Halloween-y) themed project. 



Try Judy's free quilt pattern, Peek-A-Boo Nite Owl:
Download the free quilt pattern here.

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

Find additional Nite Owl projects here.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Vintage Shirtings in Action

While you're considering the Vintage Sampler BOM, here are a few more ideas for using Barbara J. Eikmeier's Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints collection:


Vintage Stars by Barbara J. Eikmeier; made using a Vintage Shirtings Snack Pack
Find the free pattern here.

The Vintage Shirting Snack Pack: 42 pre-cut strips, ready to be sewn into the Vintage Stars quilt or your favorite pre-cut strip pattern


Barb Eikmeier also designed the bonus projects below to accompany the Vintage Sampler BOM quilt. These patterns will be available from shops participating in the BOM program.

American Flag (44" x 31")


Featherweight Sewing Cover


Table runner (12" x 58")

If you missed the Vintage Sampler BOM quilt, click here to find the post and giveaway.
See the entire Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints collection here.