Recreate “One Step at a Time” by Krisanne Watkins!

Just look at this gorgeous quilt by Krisanne Watkins of Quail Valley Quilts! It’s featured in the current issue of American Patchwork & Quilting, and features the rich, warm tones of the INDIGO & MADDER collection by Paula Barnes. The June issue is available now, and the fabrics are available at your favorite quit shops and online outlets now!

#MondaysWithMarcus: “Bountiful Stars” from Red Crinoline Quilts!

Today, we feature this gorgeous 36″ square quilt by Red Crinoline Quilts, done in the BOUNTIFUL BLUES collection by Paula Barnes! You’ll love this design as a wall accent, or as an elegant table topper. Download the free pattern, or order the optional kit for maximum convenience.

Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts

Come back each Monday thru May 17 for another fun free project from your favorite Marcus designers. This time around, several projects will also be redone by other designers, in their own signature styles, for a wider variety of creative options… You’ll find the complete line-up of projects on the Mondays with Marcus page, and our Facebook page. Join us!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Red Crinoline Quilts

To keep the MWM momentum going as we prepare for the next series, we decided to give a weekly glimpse into the lives of our designers each week. No kits or supplies are needed, just sit back and get to know them better by enjoying some of their most recent creative escapades…

This week’s check in with Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts

Paula reports: “Mary Ellen has been busy piecing the blocks for our new quilt made from my Bountiful Blues line. We chose one of our favorite patterns “Hanover Stars”. It’s a quick block that everyone will enjoy making. It can be made with or without the border but we paired it with the beautiful wide Bountiful Blues border print. 

The nice thing about a wide border is it makes your quilt larger without having to piece more blocks. It’s off to the quilter and then out for it’s glamour shot this week. I can’t wait to get it back and show you the finished product! Keep checking back on our Facebook and Instagram page for it’s reveal.

Great looking blocks, ladies!

We (Heart) Batik Valentine’s Mugrugs!

If you LOVE mugrugs AND batiks like we do, then you’re sure to also LOVE our easy Valentine’s Day Mugrug design!  Not only can you make these by the dozen for all the loves of your life – you can also enter each and every one of them in our new Mugrug Challenge, for a chance to win one of our weekly prizes!  Check out the Challenge details, then read the how-to below make this design… it’s the perfect complement for a cup of tea made from fresh sage leaves and a couple of tea biscuits, as shown

HeartmugugFinished

First, I cut out a paper heart shape pattern to the desired size, plus about 1/4″ seam allowance all around.  (If you’d rather not hand-cut your pattern, you’ll find about a zillion of them online, print out your favorite ; ).

HeartMugrug

Using three tonal RADIANT REFLECTIONS batiks, I started stitching up a crazy quilt block directly onto the batting (I used Fairfield Soft & Toasty cotton batting), for an easy quilt-as-you-go construction method. I added fabrics randomly until the block was just larger than the heart pattern.  I cut both the pieced block and a backing fabric from the heart pattern, and stitched them right sides together all around with a 1/4″ seam, leaving an opening to turn. Next, just turn and press, closing the opening with hand stitches or a narrow strip of fusible tape.  Add a coordinating mug or teacup, a packet of cappuccino mix or some gourmet teabags, and a love note.  Maybe a matching batik napkin for extra credit?

Now, just take a picture, enter the Challenge on Instagram with #MarcusMugshot, and your Valentine is now ready to give!          —   lisa

“Show Us YOUR Mugshots!”

ShowMugShotGRAFHey Quilting Friends!  Ready for a FUN and EASY quilt challenge?  Well, whether you’re already a fan of the Mugrug, or aren’t even sure what one is, you’ll want to enter the Marcus Makers MUGRUG CHALLENGE!  Help us to achieve our lofty goal of “A Marcus Rug for Every Mug,”  now thru April 30, 2017 — here’s how…

Follow the various inspirations we’ve gathered from our own Marcus Makers (instructions for these mugrugs are available online!), or create your own look using at least ONE fabric print from Marcus or Studio 37, and feel free to add any solids of your choice.  In fact, it’s a great opportunity to go thru your Marcus stash for a few great coordinates to get started, then visit your local quilt shops for the newest collections, and more great mugrug ideas, patterns, tips and related activities…

DesignerMugrugsGROUP

Then, post your entry on Instagram using #MarcusMugshot, and remember to tag @marcusfabrics and/or @studio37fabrics for greater exposure! 

If you’re new to mugrugs, be warned:  mugrug making can be addictive, which is really not a problem, because they make great gifts, AND you can enter as many times as you like (one mugrug per photo, please).  Each Tuesday during the Challenge, we’ll choose random winners from the hashtagged entries to receive exciting fabric prizes and more — Join us!!

A Quick Q&A on CLARET, with Paula Barnes

claretcompWe caught up with Paula to chat about her new CLARET collection. Here’s what she shared with us:

Q. The line is inspired by quilts of the 1800s.  What made Claret such a popular color during that time??

A. Claret became popular in the 1800’s to some extent because the synthetic dye used to produce the color was a stable dye.  This made the color more available, and more affordable, which of course, contributed to its wide appeal.

Q.  And how was it commonly used at the time?PaulaBarnes-SP15

A.  You’d often find the Claret color paired with shirting in quilts. Many quilts were made with Claret, Indigo and Cadet blue (blues included in my INDIGO line).  Red and Grey were popular for the time period.

Q.  The depth of the color is striking, definitely a stashworthy choice for all red lovers.

A.  Yes, it is definitely a darker red color, similar to the French red wine from the Bordeaux region thus giving it is name.

We can only imagine the joys of stitching a Claret quilt while sipping a fine Claret wine!  Paula introduced her INDIGO line a few months ago, then followed up with CLARET.  You’ll find that they work beautifully together now, just as they did in the 1800s. Look for the collection in your favorite quilt shops beginning February 2017!

Red Crinoline Adds Some “Wow” to Your Wednesdays!

Check out the Red Crinoline Quilts blog every Wednesday for their “WOW Wednesday” features, like the gorgeous quilt they shared just last week…it shows off Red Crinoline’s “Gettysburg” quilt pattern, done in Paula Barnes’ LATIMER FARMS collection.

gettylatimergettylatimer2

Latimer’s warm browns and blues make it the perfect collection for quilts you’ll enjoy year-round, and the color combination is especially nice for “guy gifts”.  Be sure to subscribe to the Red Crinoline Quilts blog for their weekly sneak peeks, tips and inspiration!

#MarcusMarketMania – “Tributes and Treasures” Signing

Were you among the lucky recipients of a signed copy of Tributes and Treasures? The new book by Paula Barnes (seated right) and Mary Ellen Robison (seated left) has won rave reviews already, and we enjoyed hosting a book signing in their honor today at Booth 1022.  Fans stopped by the entire time to meet and greet the new Martingale authors. ..I hope Mary Ellen got a cool pen for the occasion as I suggested  ; )

3marcusmarketmania, Red Crinoline Quilts

Red Crinoline Quilts fabric and book giveaway

The Tributes and Treasures GIVEAWAY Begins NOW!

Since our last post about the new book by the ladies of Red Crinoline Quilts, an office copy has arrived, and it just as fabulous as we knew it would be!  As promised, we’ve partnered up with Martingale for a fabric-and-book double giveaway, both here and on the Martingale blog.  

Red Crinoline Quilts fabric and book giveaway

Are you already a fan of Paula Barnes fabrics, or just now discovering them?  Maybe you’ve already been collecting the patterns from this design duo.  Either way, you’ll love these designs, and the lucky winner will receive a great fabric bundle of assorted prints by Paula to get started!  Just leave a comment below, and be sure you’re subscribed to the Marcus Mentions blog (scroll down to the sign-up box on the right).  Subscriber comments received by next Wednesday, October 14 will be eligible for the Marcus drawing.

REMINDER: If you’re a quilt shop owner attending Quilt Market in a couple of weeks, Paula and Mary Ellen will sign a limited number of free copies at our book signing on Sunday, October 25 at 12:00 noon (Marcus booth # 1022).  Join us, and be sure to arrive early!

#MarcusMarketMania  #makeitwithmarcusfabrics

Paula + Mary Ellen = Newly Published Authors!

PaulaMaryEllenCongratulations to Paula Barnes and Mary Ellen Robison of Red Crinoline Quilts on the publication of their first book, TRIBUTES and TREASURES! Published by Martingale, its official release date is October 6 and of course, it’s full of projects just perfect for showcasing Paula Barnes’ gorgeous fabric prints!

And even more exciting, we’re joining in the celebration with this design duo and our friends at Martingale for a fabrics-and book blogpost giveaway on October 8, so be sure to stop by again, comment and subscribe to our blog to be eligible to win.

These are just a few of the beautiful projects included in the book.  We’re sew proud of you, ladies!!

Tributes&TreasuresCOMP