All Aboard...the SnowBall Express

Imagine...

Kids having cotton ball "snowball" fights on an airplane.

Fantastic, intricate balloon hats.

A holiday party in an airport terminal.

Volunteers across the country organizing an event to bring together families who have lost military family members since 9/11. 

Chartered planes, operated by employees volunteering their time, hopping from city to city to collect these families for a long weekend of fun and friendship.

Teary-eyed yet? Us too.

We at Fabri-Quilt were honored to be a part of the 7th annual SnowBall Express last week at Kansas City International Airport.

What is the SnowBall Express, you ask? 

It's an annual event that brings together children of fallen military service members for a weekend of fun in Dallas. You can learn more about it here.
American Airlines flies families from all over the country to Dallas on special charter flights, and the kids spend the weekend staying at hotels (who donate rooms), and partaking in special events and activities. SnowBall Express honors the fallen military members and give the kids the opportunity to bond with new friends facing a similar situation.

The American Airlines crew in Kansas City organizes cheery send-off for area kids--this year 22 families in all. The group brings in Santa, an amazing balloon animal company called Up, Up and Away, an Army brass band playing carols, and homemade cookies.

Setting the mood with a cozy fireplace, complete with Santa's legs!

Have you ever seen such cool balloon hats? 

Getting ready to board the plane

  We became involved through donating fabric--both the dark blue "sky" and white "snow" fabric used on the walls to create the snowy scenes, and other holiday-themed fabrics for fundraising projects. 

The brass band belts out carols, helping to set the mood.

 Rhonda, one of the American employees in Kansas City, works with her mother each year to create small quilted projects from our fabric. Last year it was aprons and hotpads; this year, stockings. She sells these items and uses the proceeds to help put on the SnowBall event. This year stockings hung for decoration were filled with small baggies of cotton balls.

Why cotton balls? The tradition is that each time the plane stops (this particular plane went from Detroit to Chicago to St. Louis to Kansas City, picking up families, before heading on to Dallas for the weekend's activities), kids on board throw cotton balls at the newcomers. With their own baggies full of cotton, the Kansas City folks were ready to dish it out!

Yep, those are kids in the overhead compartments! (Only while the plane is on the ground, of course!)

Hugs from Santa as the kids board the plane.

 KBMC, one of our local news stations, came to the event as well. You can watch the video clip here.

We can't wait for next year's event! It is such a heart-warming way to kick off the holiday season.

Sara Trail on TV!

Check it out--Fabri-Quilt designer Sara Trail was featured upcycling clothes in a Disney Channel "Make Your Mark" segment, which focuses on young people doing extraordinary things. Way to go, Sara!

Christmas Star Place Mat Tutorial

Today we have a quick and easy place mat project for you, designed by Linda Visnaw. If Linda's name sounds familiar, it's because she spearheaded the Hopi Opportunity quilt effort we blogged about a while back. (Raffle tickets are still available!)

She created these place mats using Marblehead Metallic Xmas prints. They only look like complex wonky or paper piecing; it's actually raw edge applique using 2" wide strips and fusible web. How's that for a shortcut, especially when there are still cookies to be made and presents to be stitched, not to mention wrapped?!

Click here to download the pdf instructions for making these stunning place mats.

We especially love all of the different quilting designs Linda used. Her pattern includes a great suggestion for machine quilting--try out a variety of new and familiar quilting designs in the segmented spaces in and around the stars. No two place mats are alike!

And just for fun, a view of the back of one placemat:

If you try Linda's pattern, send us a photo. We'd love to see what you make. Contact us at fabriquiltblog (at) gmail.com

To see more of Linda's work, visit lindavisnaw.com

Panda-monium!

Today, we're excited to show your our new Peter Panda fabric. These cuddly-looking, black and white creatures rate high on the cuteness scale, and we think you'll love the fabric too!

Aren't they sweet?

Paw prints--a great small coordinate

Add color with green bamboo

Another allover print

A panel, perfect for fussy cutting blocks and a border

What would you make with this collection? A quilt? Pillows? A messenger bag?

And a little bonus: For ten fun facts about pandas, click here.

What's old is new again

Ro Gregg is back, with a nod to classic style. Her latest collection, Lady in Red, features a trendy red, black and white color palette, showcased in timeless designs.

Q. What inspired you to create Lady in Red?

Ro: This line is a classic example of a very important trend: what is old is new again. I was inspired by authentic vintage swatches and updated them with architectural and botanical motifs. I  was also inspired by trips to London and beautiful English bone China, including family China that has been handed from my great aunt to my mother to me. 

Q. What are your favorite prints in the collection?

Ro: My favorite is the botanical rose and scroll. Roses are part of my signature style, and red roses symbolize love and passion.

I also love the dotted scroll in both black and red. It is much more than just a scroll texture; it holds color and adds surface texture in quilted projects. 

Q. What do you like best about these designs?

Ro: This line makes me feel romantic and a bit nostalgic, because it is a glimpse back to the past when things were much simpler, yet it has a freshness and a color palette that will always be in style. 

Q. What do you envision quilters making from the Lady in Red fabrics?

Ro: It would be perfect for an heirloom quilt, Roman shades, skirted tables layered with several prints, really any type of home dec project. 

Love this line? Head over to our website to download the free pattern for this English Gardens quilt, designed by Dawn Conery Designs. Then head to your local quilt shop to find our lovely Lady in Red waiting for you!

Tutorial: Secret Pillow

Rebecca over at Our Busy Little Bunch is starting off our Blogging Design Ring free tutorials today. We know you'll love the adorable pillow (complete with secret pocket!) that she has created. After you check out her tutorial below, head over to Rebecca's blog to see how to enter a giveaway to win a fat quarter bundle of Pretty in Pink.

Here's Rebecca!


I'm excited to show you my first project for the Fabri-Quilt design team!  A secret pillow has been on my middle daughter's wishlist for quite some time - she wants a place to hide her treasures from her little brother and sister :)  The fabric for this project is called Pretty in Pink by Ro Gregg.  This fabric line is available this month, check out the 'where to buy' page for a retailer in your area. 

• 3.5" center square (this is great for a fussy-cut or novelty fabric - I like to think that it symbolizes the 'treasure' inside)

• optional: piece of ribbon or trim - about 15" in length

• various 1.5" strips for the borders.  I cut these as I went along, perfect for scraps. You'll need to border the center square four times in 1.5" strips.  

• for the final outside border, use 2" strips.

• scrap piece of batting and scrap fabric - 13.5" square each

• backing of pillow: two pieces 13" x 10", two pieces 13" x 3", and one piece 1.5" x 13"

• lining of pocket: 13" square

• 12" zipper

• enough stuffing to fill a 12" square pillow

First, cut out your pieces:

If you want to add trim, sew with a 1/8" seam allowance around edges of center square - add top/bottom pieces first, and then side pieces.

Now, sew all your border pieces with 1/4" seam allowance. Always add two opposite strips first, press and trim. Then add next two strips, press and trim. Keep adding rows until you've done 5 borders, making sure to use the 2" borders last.  Use your ruler and rotary cutter to square it up to 13".

Next, layer your block with the batting and scrap fabric, baste and quilt it.  Then trim it back up to 13".  Put it aside and we'll work on the back now.

Take your two 13" x 10" pieces and layer them right sides together along one edge of the zipper with the zipper sandwiched between them.  Make sure that the zipper is centered.  Using your zipper foot, sew the top edge, moving the zipper out of the way as you sew.

Press both pieces of fabric away from the zipper, so your piece now looks like this:

Now, take the 1.5" x 13" strip and press it in half, wrong sides together.  Layer it on top of one of the 3" x 13" strips, raw edges together and sew together using a 1/8" seam.

Now, just like we did the other side of the zipper - layer the two 3" x 13" pieces right sides together with the zipper sandwiched between them.  Make sure to put the piece with the 1.5" strip sewn onto it on the right-side of the zipper. Again, using your zipper foot, sew the top edge, moving the zipper out of the way as you sew.

Again, press your pieces away from the zipper, but press the 1.5" strip so it covers the zipper.  Your piece should now look like this - top picture will be outside of pillow, bottom picture will be inside of pillow.  Check your measurements - this piece should measure 13" square,  but if you find it too tall - just trim a little.

Now you are down to three pieces that you are working with.  The back of the pillow, the pocket lining, and the quilted front of the pillow.

Layer the three pieces with quilted front and pillow back right-sides together, and right-side of pillow lining against wrong-side of pillow back.  Sew outer edge with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a 4" opening on bottom of pillow for stuffing. (Note: you can choose to zig-zag or serge the edges to reinforce the pillow.  If so, serge or zig-zag the bottom edges separately before you sew the outside edges of the pillow closed.  After you've sewn the outside edge, you can serge or zig-zag the sides and top seams together).

 Turn pillow right-side out.  Fill pillow with stuffing, making sure to get into all the corners. Handstitch opening closed.

And there it is, a finished Secret Pillow!  This one is going under the Christmas tree - one handmade gift done. :) 

Rebecca @ OurBusyLittleBunch


Thanks so much Rebecca! Head on over to OurBusyLittleBunch to learn how you can win a fat quarter bundle of Pretty in Pink, the collection Rebecca used to make her secret pillow. 

Q: What can 9 bags of scraps make?

A: A whole lot of feel-good warmth for people in need, from Idaho with love!

The mother-daughter team of Alice Walter and Deb Hopkins drives from Idaho to Kansas City twice a year to purchase fabric from Fabri-Quilt for quilt retreat kits.

Burley, Idaho to Kansas City: Mapquest estimates it's a 1230 mile, 17+ hour trip!

When the ladies headed home last spring, their mini van was a little extra stuffed. With nine big bags of fabric scraps for charity quilts. Since they'd already filled the vehicle with purchased bolts, they tucked scraps into cupholders, under the seats...just trying to make it all fit.

"We got home and said, what are we going to do with these scraps?" Alice says. Alice and Deb had been giving away pattern-writing test quilts from their retreats, as well as other scrap quilts, to charity organizations for several years, but felt quilts made from these scraps needed to go back to Kansas City. "The fabric came from Kansas City; I think we need to take the quilts back there," Deb says. Enter reStart, an interfaith ministry with homeless persons in Kansas City.

Q. How did you choose reStart to receive the quilts you made?
Alice: I started looking on the Internet for an organization to receive the quilts. I found an article in the Kansas City Star about a homeless shelter, called reStart, and they said that they'd like the quilts.

Q. How many quilts did you sew?
Alice: We did up 100 quilts. Not huge bed quilts; just snuggle quilts. We both pieced quilts and I did all the machine quilting and machine binding.

Alice and Deb (who also has a full-time job outside of the house)
sewed and quilted 100 quilts in less than 6 months. Wow!

Q. Tell us about your experience at reStart. 
Deb: We scoped it out, getting a tour before bringing in the quilts. I was really impressed with the program, and the steps that they take to help people. This is something different than just a handout on the corner.
Alice: One older gentlemen picked out his quilt, hugged it, and danced around. Then he said, "I just gotta do this. I just gotta give you a hug."
Deb: Most of the time when we give away quilts [to a charity], we don't get to experience the joy of seeing the end person who actually gets the benefit of the gift. It's more of an anonymous thing. When we did reStart, we got to experience the joy. We need that human interaction--to see the instant result. That's the thing that touches your heart and makes that warm fuzzy feeling.

Q. What was it like, handing out the quilts?
Alice: Instead of just handing each person a quilt, we let them pick out which one they wanted.
Deb: I would open each quilt up so they could see the whole thing, front and back. I told them, "It's okay if you don't like it. It's your quilt and you should have something you like."

Freshly unpacked from the mini van,
these quilts are ready to meet their new owners.

Q. What drives you to make so many quilts for charities?
Deb: For us it goes back to, we can make something from nothing. It's the challenge of what can we do with this that is going to make a difference in somebody's life. To me, it's the challenge of okay, I'm given a stack of pieces. What can I do with this. I might as will put my time and talents into something that will make a difference for someone. It takes so little to make a difference.

Alice, Deb and Fabri-Quilt's own Adlai Kunst outside reStart

After Deb and Alice handed out their 100 quilts at reStart, they made their purchases at Fabri-Quilt and headed back to Idaho with more sacks of scrap fabric. When they return to Kansas City in the spring, they'll bring back another load of finished quilts, ready to make a difference in the lives of the homeless people reStart helps. 

To learn more about Alice, Deb, and their Wonder Cut Ruler and retreat business, click here.

To learn more about reStart and how it helps homeless persons in Kansas City, click here.