QuiltCon 2017: See You in Savannah!

QuiltConEast-DatesLocation1So, who’s joining us at QuiltCon in sunny (hopefully!) Savannah, GA next week?  We’re proud to return again as sponsors, and we can’t wait to share all that’s new with you from Studio 37 Fabrics!! For now, here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find at BOOTH 549!

  • #MarcusMugshot Mugrug Challenge:  As if ten free mugrug projects from your favorite Marcus makers wasn’t enough, you can also visit us in Booth 549 to select a few FREE SWATCHES to get your entry started!  Have your #MarcusMugshot taken right in the booth, and share it on social media.  (Here’s Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s free design, just one of the 10 available online…)Picture6
  • And speaking of Victoria, have you heard about her QuiltCon Booth Hop?? Simply visit all of the QuiltCon booths Victoria is associated with, including her own Booth #338, have your card stamped in each booth, and you could win a $500 prize pack from Victoria herself!!  Of course, we suggest you begin your Hop at the Marcus booth…

WoolPennies

  • FREE Marcus WOOL Mini-Make-n-Take:  Visit our sewing station to stitch up a cute little multi-layered bright wool embellishment.  Inspired by penny rugs, these single “Wool Pennies” can jazz up a quilt, bag, or add a pin back for easy fabric jewelry. Thanks to our friends at Aurifil for supplying their cotton floss, and to Sizzix for their die cutting machine.
  • On Thursday and Sunday, Sarah J Maxwell will share her favorite paper piecing tips and techniques as she stitches up blocks using her new DANDY DAYS collection and supplies from Paper Pieces!

Looking forward to a fun and creative weekend — See you there!!

Hexie Fever is Spreading…

PVlucyhexie2PVlucyhexie1

I’ve been seeing hexagons absolutely Everywhere, in every size and fabric type imaginable. Modern hexies, traditional hexies. Grandmother’s Flower Garden hexies. Huge hexies, tiny hexies. Hexie jewelry…placemats…totebags — it goes on! Have you caught Hexie Fever, too?

PBKeyringHexiePati shared some of hers above, cut from black and cream  VINTAGE ONYX Strip-It fabric for easy two-toned hexies.  She loves Paper Pieces for her English paper piecing projects. At right, an adorable (but slightly insane) micro-hexie key ring Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek whipped up for Pati at Quilt Market.

SewingCaddyCherylHoistJun16Then I spotted this sewing case by my quilter friend Cheryl Hoist, at a local event I attended over the weekend — African batik & Aboriginal print hexies!

 

 

PamBuda2016Pam Buda chimes in with hexies by the bowlful…

and Victoria Findlay Wolfe goes overboard…; )

VFWHexiesDo you have Hexie Fever, too? Subscribe to our blog, then coment below about what you’re making with hexies (and your favorite sizes!) for the chance to win one of TWO Hexie-Friendly charm mini-packs of Victoria’s MOSTLY MANOR!  Comments received by Tuesday, June 21 are eligible for the drawing – good luck!

Recreate Pam Buda’s “Love Worn” Quilt

Don’t you love to hear what inspired a designer to create a particular quilt?  Using her own ANTIQUE COTTON collection, Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts has designed this gorgeous quilt, “Love Worn”, and in her recent blog post she not only gives you some of the creative backstory, but you can even pre-order the kit for a limited time – visit her blog for special offer details…Pam Buda - Love Worn Quilt

Over 75 Blocks, and Counting…

The Lucy Boston blocks just keep on coming, and over 75 have been returned to the Marcus booth at Road to CA so far!  Among them is a block made by our youngest quilting friend, Shayla Adams, 11, shown below.  Coming to the show on Sunday?  There’s still time to jion us!  Not only have each of the participants earned a chance to win one of 10 quilter’s prize packs, but all of these pretty blocks will be joined into a quilt to be donated to ALS…stay tuned for further details..

young75Blocks

A Little Bump in the Road (to California)

PatiVickiRoadCA15It’s time for Road to California, taking place this weekend in Ontario, CA.  Pati (on the left) reports a missing shipment!!

“Even though our shipment didn’t arrive me and Vickie are “making do” with what we have.  We are smiling but we’re not happy about the missing shipment”. Hopefully it will show up, and be the only bump in an otherwise smooth Road Trip.  At least the weather looks good from here, Pati…

To cheer her up, be sure to stop by the Marcus booth, and tell her Lisa sent you  ; )  Pati and Vicki Bellino (of Marcus BOM and Strip-It quilt fame) will demo creative cutting & piecing, paper piecing and more, all weekend long.  And you can create your own Lucy Boston block for the chane to win a Marcus prize pack.  Pick up your free fabric and paper piecing pack, stitch up your block, and return it to be displayed in the Marcus booth during the show.  We’ll be picking TEN winners…Good Luck!

Road to California – Who’s Going?

We’re pleased to once again sponsor Road to California  Quilters’ Conference and Showcase, taking place January 22-25, 2015 in Ontario, CA.   This year, in addition to our usual showcase sponsorship of one of the quilt prizes, we’ll be exhibiting as well!

Be sure to stop by the Marcus booth for demos on fussy cutting, English paper piecing (EPP) and more, all featuring our specialty stripe fabrics like PAULA’S BORDER COMPANIONS. Plus giveaways & handouts while supplies last!Pati-EPPsamplesIf you’ve never tried English paper piecing, Lucy Boston blocks and similar techniques, you’ll want to visit with Pati Violick as she demos her techniques using Paper Pieces, as shown in the beginnings of this gorgeous block above.  And if you have tried it, learn how Marcus specialty fabrics can give you rich and intricate results every time.  BTW, Pati is our Director of Marketing — you might remember her love for EPP from last summer’s Designer Sew-Along.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Vicki Bellino Featured in the Jolly Jabber ; )

Be sure to check out this mini-interview with Vicki Bellino, on The Jolly Jabber, Fat Quarter Shop’s blog.  It’s showing off the talents of one of our favorite designers and owner of of Bloom Creek, and her new Aunt Grace SIMPLER SAMPLER BOM for Marcus.  The fabric collection by Judie Rothermel features pre-printed panels and coordinates that Vicki combines creatively.  She’s inspired by her passion for English paper piecing, but she employs simpler techniques to achieve the same look, which is sure to appeal to a wider range of quilters!Simpler Sampler BOM - MarcusThe quilt requires two of these 24″ wide panels (below), a mix of the coordinates, and a few of Judie’s solids.

Simpler Sampler panel - Marcus

English Paper Piecing vs. Paper Piecing

One of our comments from WEEK #4 of our SewAlong asked Pati about the difference between English Paper Piecing and Paper Piecing.

“There is always a little confusion with this:

In English Paper Piecing-is a hands on sewing method –no sewing machine required.   Working with paper templates that are die cut from card stock in specific shapes and measurements like hexagons, diamonds, triangles etc…   fabric is cut little larger than the template all around –(I usually cut a generous  ¼”)   then hand stitched around the shape thru the paper  (or new glue pen method is being used a lot).   Then the fabric shapes are whip-stitched together to create you block design like Grandmother’s Flower Garden, Stars etc…  The beauty in English Paper Piecing is always the accuracy of the finished design and the hand work which is I love.  Watch out – very addicting for some.

Paper Piecing is sometimes confused with Foundation Piecing.  In Paper Piecing a design is printed or drawn on paper.   Fabric is placed on top of the paper design and stitched thru paper and fabric to create the design (usually using a sewing machine) after the blocks are sewn together the paper is torn off.  With Foundation Piecing –usually a light weight fabric is used and similar to Paper Piecing a design it can be printed or drawn on to the fabric or Crazy Quilt method where you just piece as you go but in all cases the base fabric is left in place.

Of course there are many other references for “paper piecing” –freeze paper, parchment paper etc..  This is just my spin on it.”