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We got ten new bolts of batik fabrics in this afternoon's delivery - all of them in 'cool' colors. Must have been hot outside when we saw these prints! LOL From Batik Textiles:
Come in and share some of this textile cool-ness with us!
:) Linda
Patty just finished a delightful new sample for the shop using batik fabrics - a Tossed Nine-Patch. I _love_ the colors she chose to use!
This sample is about the size of a baby's play quilt and was simple to make - any beginner who has rotary cutting knowledge could do it. :) Here's a close-up for you - love these fabrics! :)
We carry Eleanor Burns' pattern for this quilt - which will make any size from wall hanging to king quilt - we would be happy to help you choose fabrics to your own theme for making your very own lovely quilt!
:) Linda
Theoretically, fall is coming to Maryland soon. :) Today we got the Annual issue of Australian Patchwork & Quilting for you:
Another cue that Autumn is approaching is my annual call from Nancy M. asking for prize donations for the State Fair quilt competition. This year our shop is sponsoring three categories:
Contemporary Large, Mixed Techniques Small and Mixed Techniques Large
For each category we are giving a $25 gift card for the winner to use in our shop. Sure would be nice if a customer won one! :)
Maryland's State Fair always has great quilts to show off. Be sure to pay attention to the submission dates and guidelines if you want to enter ... and Good Luck!
:) Linda
We got four new books in today and several bolts of lovely fabrics.
The new books run the gamut from traditional to artsy. :)
The cover quilt on this book is one I've often thought of making myself - I like this Jack's Chain design (I don't know what they call it in the book itself, but they claim to have a new assembly method that avoids Y seams:). There is also an adorable pincushion pattern in this book that made me giggle instantly - for an ANT. :) On my own personal 'two projects to buy' scale, this is a good one to own.
Aren't those puppies cute?! :) One of the patterns in this book - to be made using pre-cut strips and squares - is a Seminole style pieced row quilt. I quite like it - and the others (at least one of which set off my 'latticed nine patches' signal:).
As you might expect, based on the work Katie has done over the past decade, this book is a great text on working with 'still life' images to make quilts. There is a nifty section on playing with color sets in the beginning that I want to go back to read ... and the idea of using a sitting-still-and-not-wiggling image for inspiration for a quilt appeals to me, in general. :)
My home is decorated in what I laughingly refer to as Early Attic style - with a generous helping of dust. :P Still, there is lots of inspiration for home environments in this text along with plenty of inspiring images. Simple does not have to equate to primitive and there are quite a number of what I would call 'elegant' ideas in this book!
:) Now for the fabrics - I think the dual theme of these deliveries is 'pretty' and 'happy'. See what you think:
The weather outside is truly lovely this week (especially after the nasty high temps earlier this summer!) - do come visit us to see the pretty colors! Our fall newsletter is available and this is a GREAT time to think about holidays and gifts.
:) Linda
I forgot to share with you that the latest issue of Quilting Arts magazine came in! This is one of my personal favorites - there's always something of real interest in every copy. This month's articles are full of various painting and dyeing and embellishing techniques - I am especially drawn to the one on finger-painting monoprints and the one on ice dyeing. :)
I thought you might be interested in seeing our progress with making the Quest Star quilt for this fall's shop hop in November? I'm pleased with how this quilt is shaping up! We still have to sew the bits together, apply borders, and get it quilted, of course. :)
I hope this quilt appeals to you!!?
:) Linda
Today's deliveries brought us some new bolts of beauty for our color wall and two new magazines. Oh, and a new wide backing print that I do like (I'm a push-over for paisleys!:)
This month's issue of Fons and Porter's magazine comes with an additional insert about making scrappy quilts:
I plan to check these three pubs out tonight in my 'brain-less' down time. ;)
Now for the colors - from South Seas/M&M Fabrics come the following:
The weather is supposed to be quite pleasant this weekend. Why don't you get a jump on Saturday's busy-ness and come see us on Friday? I promise you will enjoy the visit!
:) Linda
We got an interesting set of new books in today's deliveries as well as a 'notion' and some fabrics worthy of note. :)
The 'notion' is a new style of already-made-up bag that I quite like. As part of the new book (more in a minute about that:) on using military fabrics, we picked up a very nice pre-made messenger style bag:
The front flap has a photographic print on it from the book and the insides are quite roomy, with a big pocket as well. I picked up one for my son (we are about to go on vacation and I _think_ he will enjoy having one of these to cart his 'stuff' to game sessions in - luckily I don't think he reads this blog:). I haven't actually measured the bag but I think it is about 14" or 15" square - capacious. :)
The fabrics are just plain fun! We got a selection of charm square sets of the Stonehenge prints from Northcott. I've been playing with charm square designs in my 'private' quilt making life lately - I think I'll have to pick up a couple of these sets for myself. :)
Now, in the book department, some good titles with interesting content:
Aren't those toes just killer-cute!?! :) My husband has long since worn his 'Nam era camos into rags ... but this would be a great way to use and share a service person's special cloth with family and friends. Some good ideas here!
As many of you already know, I love making crazy quilts (original and modern styles:) - this book shows all about a wonderful way to focus on family photos and memories!
These designs are as perky and bright as you would expect from those Piece o' Cake quilters. :)
I've been a reader of Sue's blog for some time and have been waiting eagerly to see this book. I've never worked from a photo like she does - but I'm looking forward to trying it for myself. :)
Yes, we have now started on the 2012 calendar period of time. Don't wait until November or December to start looking for quilter's calendars! This one is a 16 month calendar so you can start using it now, I think. I didn't actually look to see what months are featured, but I did take a quick pic of the back so you could see thumbnails of the quilts included:
I'm leaving tomorrow for a week's "vacation" (sewing retreat for me, trip to a major national convention for my son) so you probably won't see any new posts here until I get back. Don't hesitate to drop by the shop to check out the new goodies while I'm gone!! (You will know what's news in the shop before the owner, how 'bout that?LOL)
:) Linda
