Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you have relaxing Thanksgiving holiday weekend filled with family, friends, and your favorite turkey day side dishes (plus pumpkin pie!). 

And...if you need turkey cooking advice, go here.

For a few turkey laughs, go here. 

For some last-minute decorating and food ideas (thank you, Pinterest!) go here. 

Vintage Shirting Scrap Lab - Day 3

Barbara J. Eikmeier's Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints 1880-1910 collection was recently used in the Scrap Lab feature of Quilts and More magazine. 

If you're not familiar with Scrap Lab, here's how it works: Three designers receive a specific set of materials (in this case, forty-two 5" squares of the Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints collection) and are challenged to make something using these fabrics. We'll be sharing all three projects here, as well as insight from the designers about what they created. Grab a copy of Quilts and More (winter 2015) issue to find directions for the projects. 

The third Scrap lab designer is Sherri Falls of This & That Pattern Co.
Sherri used the 5" squares to create a mini quilt.

"Images are used with permission of Meredith Corporation and Quilts and More magazine.

Copyright 2015."

Q. How did you choose your palette for this mini quilt?

Sherri: I was thinking of how the weather looks here in Minnesota during the winter so I chose colors that reminded me of that.

Q. What made you decide to make a mini quilt?

Sherri: I LOVE mini quilts and thought it would be fun to make one for the winter with the beautiful blue/cream fabric.

Q. Tell us about the block you chose.

Sherri: I wanted to make small blocks that look like snowflakes and this is a fun to sew block that looks like falling snow to me.

Q. Do you have a favorite print or prints from the collection?

Sherri: I love the shade of blues. They flow so nicely together and remind me of a light falling snow in the night.

Q. What do you like best about your finished project? 

Sherri: I love the size. It's small and cute. Perfect to hang on a hanger and display on the fireplace or to use as a candle mat or trivet.

Q. Any other color combination ideas?

Sherri: I think it would great in a red/white combo or even red/white/blue to look like fireworks in the summer.

See more Scrap Lab projects featuring the Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection!
Learn more about Barb Eikmeier's tote bag here.
Learn about Monique Dillard's table topper here.

See the entire Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection here.

Visit Sherri's website here.

Find Quilts and More magazine here.

Vintage Shirting Scrap Lab - Day 2

Barbara J. Eikmeier's Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints 1880-1910 collection was recently used in the Scrap Lab feature of Quilts and More magazine. 

If you're not familiar with Scrap Lab, here's how it works: Three designers receive a specific set of materials (in this case, forty-two 5" squares of the Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints collection) and are challenged to make something using these fabrics. We'll be sharing all three projects here, as well as insight from the designers about what they created. Grab a copy of Quilts and More (winter 2015) issue to find directions for the projects. 

Next up, Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts! 
Monique used the 5" squares to create a round table topper.

"Images are used with permission of Meredith Corporation and Quilts and More magazine.

Copyright 2015."

Q. What appeals to you about the Vintage Shirting collection?

Monique: What appeals to me about these fabrics are the different colors, prints and scale of the prints.

Q. How did you decide what to make?

Monique: I wanted to make something simple but different. With the splashes of red and the surrounding white shirting, I thought that a round shape would add interest.

Q. Can you talk about how your design evolved?

Monique: I started my design with a stars and stripes feel but given the limited amount of fabric in the charm patches, I decided to go with more of a simple design with squares instead of elaborate piecing. 

Q. What do you like best about your project?

Monique: I love the round shape of the project.  I thought it would be perfect on a small round table or with a feather tree perched on top.

Q. Any tips for making this table topper?

Monique: My advice in piecing the project is to lay it out before you begin sewing so you can space out your fabrics and colors. 

See more Scrap Lab projects featuring the Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection!
Learn more about Barb Eikmeier's tote bag here.

See the entire Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection here.

Visit Monique's website here.

Find Quilts and More magazine here.

Vintage Shirting Scrap Lab - Day 1

Barbara J. Eikmeier's Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints 1880-1910 collection was recently used in the Scrap Lab feature of Quilts and More magazine. 

If you're not familiar with Scrap Lab, here's how it works: Three designers receive a specific set of materials (in this case, forty-two 5" squares of the Vintage Shirting & Dress Prints collection) and are challenged to make something using these fabrics. We'll be sharing all three projects here, as well as insight from the designers about what they created. Grab a copy of Quilts and More (winter 2015) issue to find directions for the projects. 

First up, the fabric line's designer, Barb Eikmeier! 
Barb used the 5" squares to create a Log Cabin tote bag. 

"Images are used with permission of Meredith Corporation and Quilts and More magazine.

Copyright 2015."

Q. Was it exciting to find out that your fabric was being used for Scrap Lab?

Barb: It was at Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis that I was introduced to Jody Sanders, editor of Quilts And More. She was holding a stack of charm packs of Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints and told me it would be featured in the Scrap Lab. I was thrilled, not only because my fabric collection was selected but also because I love the Scrap Lap feature. It is always interesting to see how three different designers approach a project with the same materials.

Q. Why did you choose to make a bag?

Barb: Right away I had to let the editor know what type of project I would make. It was at the busiest time of my teaching schedule and I figured if I made a bag I wouldn't have to sew on a binding. Maybe that makes me lazy but I prefer to think of it as time management!

Q. Why Log Cabin blocks?

Barb: I love Log Cabin quilts. If I had to choose just one favorite traditional quilt pattern I'd choose the log cabin. I had just taught a class making coasters using Marti Michell's log cabin ruler so I knew I could make cute little log cabin blocks. The only thing I needed to figure out was if I could cut all the pieces from one charm square.

Q. How did you decide on fabric placement within each block?

Barb: I have an antique quilt made with 7" log cabin blocks where the logs finish at 1/2". It was my inspiration for making the blocks with a light/dark split and using all the same fabrics instead of making them scrappy. There are more medium and dark prints in the collection than shirtings so by assigning the light blue prints to the light side of the blocks it worked out evenly.

Barb's antique quilt

Block close-up

Q. What did you choose for the lining?

Barb: The lining is shirting print 120-11151 for no other reason than I had a fat quarter of it already cut. Time management, remember?

Q. What do you envision the bag being used for?

Barb: The bag is just the right size for a tablet, a Kindle, or an ipad. Or a sandwich and an apple!

Q. Tell us about the red centers in each block.

Barb: There were fewer red charms in the pack than blues and shirtings so by making the centers red the splash of color is spread evenly throughout the project. My antique quilt has pink centers which may have also influenced my choice of putting the red in the centers.

Q. Did you use up all of the 5” squares?

Barb: Once I decided to make log cabin blocks I challenged myself to use as many charm squares as possible although it was not a requirement to use them all. The handles are pieced from charm squares cut into strips, each block uses two charm squares and three more are used for the red centers. If only I had sewn the last two squares right sides together and put a pocket inside the bag I would have used up every charm in the pack, but I didn't think of adding a pocket until later!

Q. Can you share your impressions of the other two projects featured?

Barb: I got a little sneak peak at the other projects a few weeks before publication and was really tickled to see what Sherri and Monique came up with. Their projects capture their own creative personalities and showcase my fabric collection in ways I wouldn't have thought of myself. That made it really fun to be a part of the Scrap Lab feature.

See more Scrap Lab projects featuring the Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection!

Learn about Monique Dillard's table topper here.

See the entire Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection here.

Visit Barb's website here.

Find Quilts and More magazine here.

A Pop of Color!

As the world outside turns more brown with winter's approach, it's always nice to have a breath of fresh air--beautiful, vibrant color. It's reassuring to be offered a glimpse of spring as we slide into shorter days.

 We think our new Fantasia collection is just that--romantic, watercolor-style florals and bright tonal coordinates, all full of the promise of spring. Begin a quilt with Fantasia now and you can have that spring feel all winter long! 

Here's just the quilt to get you started! Floral Fantasy by Maria Pate of Airborne Heirlooms: A Lattice work of blooms with a large floral border.

Download the free pattern here.

See the entire Fantasia collection here.

Find the free quilt pattern here.

Looking ahead: 2016 Row by Row Experience

Did you participate in the Row by Row Experience in 2015? 

It's a fantastic shop-hop-like experience that gives you an excuse to visit as many quilt shops as you like during the summer. Participating shops create a pattern for a row based on the year's theme. Visit quilt shops and pick up a free copy of their pattern. Many shops create kits for their rows as well--one-stop shopping! Then get started on your quilt. Make a quilt using at least eight rows from eight different shops and be the first to bring it back to a quilt shop for a chance to win a prize.

The 2016 theme was recently announced:
Home Sweet Home! 

We'll be an official part of the Row by Row Experience for 2016 as well--as a Fabric Palette Program Member. We've put together a group of ten tonal fabrics from the Leather collection that we'll be offering to shops as they design their rows. We love these bright colors and can't wait to see them in Row by Row block designs! You can ask for these fabrics in your local quilt shop.

We'll keep you posted with more Row by Row Experience details between now and next summer, but you can also find more information and see images from the 2015 Experience here.