Victoria’s SIZZIX Maker Challenge Is ON!

Check out the details of the current SIZZIX Maker Challenge, featuring the dies and fabrics of our own Victoria Findlay Wolfe!

Grab your favorite Victoria Findlay Wolfe fabric from Studio 37 /Marcus Fabrics and choose at least one of Victoria’s dies, specified in the Challenge rules.  Create a quilt that is greater than 16″ but smaller than 60″ square. Post it online at Sizzix by October 8th, when she’ll choose the winner!  This lucky quilter will win not just one but TWO of Victoria’s brand new quilting dies (they’re a surprise!)  She explains it all in this video… Good Luck to All!

Check Out Our Final #MarcusMugshot Winners…Until Next Time!

We can’t believe that our first #mugrugchallenge is now completed!  And again, we THANK ALL OF YOU for your many, many original entries!  We enjoyed your creativity sew much that we decided to draw not just one, not two, but THREE lucky winners from all of the entries received as of the April 30 deadline…

So, without further delay, we congratulate the three final winners of our Spring 2017 Mugrug Challenge:

Lynda Duplissea of Oxford, FL…great colors, great mug and a great smile, too!

and Parthena Wollen of Fairfield, CT…who likes a bold shot of color with her morning tea!

and Maureen Clark of Elliot, ME…we’re coming to her house for tea, soon!

We’re sure we have created lots of new mugrug fans out there, and we encourage you to keep working on them, because our next Mugrug Challenge begins in the fall, taking on a fun and exciting Holiday theme, from gifts to home accents!  Stay tuned for details  ; )

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!!

Quilters Take Manhattan 2015 – Part II

Also appearing at QTM 2015 were quilting stars Edyta Sitar, Yvonne Porcella, keynote speaker Ricky Tims, and others.  Congrats to Edyta, who took top honors at Quilt Match Manhattan, a friendly “create-it-on-the-spot” quilt challenge –  great belt!!

QTM-Edyta

and these quilts below by Ricky Tims caught the eye of Marcus Fabrics’ own Laura Berringer…notice the very cool visual glow effect on this first one!QTM-RickyTimsQuilts

…and finally, more with Victoria and friends…

QTM-VictoriaFans

If you did miss this annual weekend of non-stop quilt inspiration, be prepared to grab your tickets early, since it has sold out several years in a row — and faster each year! Join us in 2016 when “Quilters Take Manhattan” yet again  ; )

QTM-Manhattan