Check Out These Just Judie Entries!

To honor some of the many beautiful quilts created for our JUST JUDIE Quilt Competition, we thought it would be fun to show them off on our blog, a few at a time.  We invited all of the entrants to submit photos of themselves with their handiwork, whether finalists or not.  And now, in no particular order, we’re proud to present the first sneak-peeks — enjoy!!

Wendy Reed

Wendy Reed of Bath. ME shows off over 600 Judie Rothermel prints! (Should we have offered a “biggest Stash” award?

Jeanie Rudich

Jeanie Rudich of Weyauwega, WI highlights 5″ blocks and 8.5″ needleturned applique blocks – we love the border, too!

Peggy McIntire

Peggy McIntire of Lawrenceville, GA makes traditional blocks from modern templates – “Old is New”!

Susan Gilbert

Susan Gilbert of Vassalboro, ME shows off her Civil War ladies in fancy settings

Deborah Borsos+Group

A gorgeous group effort by the “19th Century Women” of San Antonio, TX

Janice Kuhns

Janice Kuhns (and helper) of Acworth, GA show off her piecing skills – we love the spools in the center!

Sheryl Johnson

Sheryl Johnson of Temecula, CA can’t contain her enthusiasm! Notice the clever border treatment – it says “Rothermel”

…And the WINNER Is…

Well, while we haven’t chosen the Grand, First and Second Prize winners just yet, please join us in congratulating Little Quilts of Marietta, GA, the winner of our Sponsoring Quilt Shop contest!  As the quilt shop that sponsored the most entries, Little Quilts will be rewarded with a visit from Judie Rothermel herself!  Pictured below are Mary Ellen, owner of Little Quilts and with Stephanie Dell ‘Olio, President of Marcus Fabrics, sharing the exciting news with Mary Ellen’s staff!  Thanks to Little Quilts and to all of our sponsoring shops for their enthusiastic support of the Just Judie quilt competition.

LittleQuilts+SD-Winner

And while we’re preparing for final quilt judging, we hope you’ll enjoy the upcoming blog posts, showing off some of the beautiful entries and stories we’ve received!

 

 

Beautiful Quilts…and Tough Decisions for Us!

JudieContestLOGOWe’re having a great time reviewing the many Just Judie quilts that have been submitted! And we are inspired and excited by the variety and scope of Judie Rothermel’s many devotees ; )

For those who are checking your emails and manning your phones for Just Judie updates, you’ll be happy to learn that we have indeed selected the 25 Finalists.  Final judging will then be completed by September 30, 2013 and all winners will be notified by October 13, 2013 as stated in the official competition rules.  Thank you to all of the entrants and the sponsoring quilt shops, too!  Stay tuned for updates…

The JUST JUDIE Entries are HERE!

Today the office is buzzing with “oohs” and “aahhs” as we open up all of the JUST JUDIE contest entries! Stacks of envelopes and email entries are piled on my desk! We can’t show them off just yet, but we CAN tell you that competition will be stiff for those 25 prize packs, made possible by our generous prize sponsors… Stay tuned for the unveiling of finalists in mid-August!  –  lisa

Just EIGHT Days Away!

Judie2012FrameIf you’re working on your JUST JUDIE Quilt Competition entry (whether patiently or frantically!), you probably know that the deadline for entries is next Wednesday, July 31!  We’re inspired by the many beautiful entries received so far, and we’re ready for that inevitable last-minute flurry, so keep ’em coming!!  We’ve even got some expert submission tips to help you…

We wish we could give you a sneak peek, but that probably wouldn’t be fair, so be sure to stay tuned for updates!

Martingale Loves 1930’s Prints!

Aunt Grace fabrics by Judie Rothermel for Marcus FabricsOur friends at Martingale/ That Patchwork Place discuss their love for 1930s fabrics & quilts in today’s blogpost.  We’re proud to have Martingale as one of our generous prize sponsors of our JUST JUDIE Quilt Competition! Of course, Judie Rothermel’s AUNT GRACE collections are always near and dear to us, and even more so as we continue to receive contest entries!     As we come toward the deadline for the contest on July 31, we’d like to know:  What are some of your favorite Aunt Grace colors?

Where Are the Repro Fabrics Going??

“Are reproduction fabrics going away?”

“I’ve heard that I should start hoarding my repro prints because less are being produced…is that true?”

In the past week or so, we’ve been hearing the whispers, and had these very questions from consumers.  Rest assured, and allow us to explain:  For some time, there had been many new players in the reproduction area, secondary sources who were offering the look in addition to the more established reproduction fabric manufacturers like Marcus.  We believe that what you’re seeing is a retreat from reproductions by these secondary  sources, as their attention now turns to more contemporary looks in the wake of the “modern” category.  So, while it does seem as though fewer of these prints are available, you can be assured that for those of us in the industry whose strength has always been the reproduction & historical fabrics, you’ll continue to see our finest efforts in your local quilt shops.

Speaking of fine quality repro fabrics, remember that our Just Judie quilt competition is in full swing, and entries are due by July 31, 2013…

P.S.  And yes, we do believe you should continue to collect the fabrics you love, from Judie Rothermel to Paula Barnes and more!

From a True Judie Rothermel Fan…

We received this note from quilter & Aunt Grace aficionado, Amy DeCesare of Delmont, PA.  Like Amy, we’re amazed that ten years have passed so quickly…check out her recent blog post & great photos!  Thanks for your note, Amy!

I was just writing a new post for my blog, about a quilt I made 10 years ago using Aunt Grace Through the Year.  {Ten years ago, already???}   When I linked to the Marcus Brothers website, I discovered your 25th Anniversary celebration is underway!

 Here is one of the photos I used in the blog post.  As I mentioned in the feature, I do a lot of modern sewing, but will always love vintage quilts and fabrics.  I plan to make another quilt soon from the prints I’ve got left from this line.

Congratulations on 25 years of beloved designs, Judie!  I look forward to many more!
Regards,  Amy DeCesare
DOWNLOAD the details of our current JUST JUDIE Quilt Competition – entries are due July 31, 2013!  You can win one of 25 great prizes, and even help your favorite quilt shop to WIN a VISIT from Judie herself!!

 


A New Look for Judie’s Website!

Judie Rothermel fans, be sure to check out her new look online, and note that Schoolhouse Quilts will be at the Broward Quilt Expo this weekend as well as the Cincinnati Quilt Festival next month!  In addition to visiting your local quilt shops, these are two great opportunities to pick up what you need for your Just Judie competition entry...enjoy!

Entering the Just Judie Competition? Meet Our Prize Sponsors!

No doubt by now you’ve heard about our Just Judie Quilt Competition, and seen the great prizes on our website!  We’ve invited our sponsor friends to submit guest blog posts throughout the contest, so from time to time we’ll be sharing these with you…Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, we know you’ll benefit from the information our sponsors will share here!  We begin with a great post from Dritz/Omnigrid…enjoy!– Lisa

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For every part of the quilt-making process there are some tools you’ll need to make your project as precise and as perfect as possible. And we all need a little help achieving perfection, don’t we?

As part of the Just Judie contest, Prym Consumer is providing some of those essential tools from its Dritz® and Omnigrid® ranges. If you’re one of the competition 25 winners, here are some product details about the items you’ll find in your basket. We know they’ll come in handy on your journey to perfection!

Omnigrip by Omnigrid® 6” x 14” ruler – Not familiar with Omnigrid? Well you’re in for a treat. Omnigrid boasts precise standards, quality materials and manufacturing excellence – its accuracy has made it a coveted ruler brand amongst quilting enthusiasts.

Preparing your fabric is the first thing you’ll do, so using quality tools will yield the best results.  What’s so special about Omnigrid?

  • Double-site lines: uniquely patterned double lines, and grid lines that show up on light and dark fabrics.
  • Unmatched accuracy: they’re laser cut to within .002 inch accuracy, which is consistent ruler to ruler. Printing on the underside eliminates viewing distortion.
  • Heavy-duty acrylic: Omnigrid features durable, premium quality acrylic with smooth, laser cut edges.

The ruler in our prize package also has the non-slip feature of Omnigrip. Its 6” x 14” size is ideal for squares, rectangles and strips.

Omnigrid 5-1/2” fabric scissors – because one good pair of sharp scissors is a must. These fit the bill.

Dritz Quilting Pins – you’ve got to have pins if you’re going to quilt! Essential for piecing your fabrics together. Quilting pins are ideal for multiple layers of fabric.  Store your quilting pins in this stackable box with a snap-top lid. (Editor’s note:  These pins are my personal favorite, especially because the bright yellow heads make it easy to find – and pick up –  the pins from my sewing room carpet…Lisa / Marcus Fabrics)

Dritz Quilting Fine Point Mark-B-Gone™ Marking Pen – for the final stage of finishing your quilt, you’ll need a marking mechanism. This pen has an extra-fine point for detailed marking.

Dritz Quilting binding clips – also a part of the finishing process, binding clips hold binding in place until it is sewn.

We’ll be sharing lots of new Spring 2013 product information on our new blog, so visit us there or check out our website for basic product details.

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Thanks to our friends at Dritz for the information, and for their generous prize selections!  Remember, your JUST JUDIE entry is due July 31!  Good Luck!