Pati’s CA Road Trip Continues…

Moving on to Redlands, Pati checks in with the Painted Lady Quilt Shop.  It’s a true haven for Judie Rothermel fans: a customer work-in-progress featuring Pine Tree Lodge (upper left); a full wall of her prints (lower right photo),  and Kerri, who owns the shop, reports that 30 people already signed up for the Civil War: PEACE & UNITY Block of the Month (lower left).  At upper right is Faye Burgos’  LOVE & GLORY.  Judging from these pics, it’s probably safe to say that combinations of blue with red are probably popular in Redlands as well!

PV RoadTripBlog2-Jan14

On the Road with Pati!

This week, our Director of Marketing & Advertising, Pati Violick, happily escaped the unpredictable east coast weather, venturing out to sunny CA for a road trip with sales rep Norbert Kaufman.  Here’s a peek at what she found…

First, a visit with Michelle of Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, CA (shown here with Norbert).  Pretty displays incuded a hexie quilt (a Pati Violick favorite!), crocheted creatures, and fabric bolts from brights to deep darks!

Pati1Next stop: Temecula Quilt Co. in Temecula, CA, where charming miniatures (another Pati fave), a colorful Dear Jane, and one of our finalists in the Just Judie competition were beautifully displayed…Big Judie fans here at Temecula!

Pati2 If you’re in the area, stop by to see the latest Marcus collections, or visit them online! Pati, wishing you safe travels back to NY, where we’re battling brand-new snow and ice…on second thought, you might want to visit a few more shops out there first!

Think Spring with the SUBTLE SKIES Collection

Looking for the perfect project to welcome Spring?  Consider this pretty quilt designed by Homestead Hearth, featuring Faye Burgos’ beautiful SUBTLE SKIES collection.  “Gentle Dawn” is fully patterned in the McCall’s Quilting March/April 2014 issue.  It’s beginner friendly, and a kit is available.  We love it for a guest bedroom, but once you sew it up, you’ll want to treat yourself!

We’re Sorry…

Already we’ve been told by more than one shop owner that they can’t possibly decide between the two gorgeous colorways created by Faye Burgos for her M FOR MYSTERY collection!  MysteryFQStackedWe really didn’t mean to make it such a difficult decision for you…but if it helps, you could always offer BOTH the blue/rust, AND the black/pink combos!  Either way, you can’t lose with these lush floral lead patterns and their companion prints when creating our new Mystery Quilt BOM, designed by Homestead Hearth! When you start with fabrics this beautiful, you can’t help but make a great quilt!  The program begins in January, so maybe you’d better begin the color decision-making process now  ; )  Quilting friends, what do you think??

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!

It’s TIme to Quilt-Along with Nancy Rink!

Then get started now, as she shares her expertise in creating this pretty project using her own TWEET FOR TWO collection!  It’s a sophisticated folk influence you’ll love to live with all year long whether your style is traditional or contemporary, or mixed. Get all of the details on Nancy’s blog!

Visit your local quilt shop for the fabrics and pattern.

Were You at QuiltCon?

We were there, and we had a blast! We loved meeting old and new friends over the weekend at QuiltCon in Austin, TX — the creative energy was contagious, and the mood was “joyous”, as described by our president, Stephanie Dell’Olio (that’s her on the right, dwarfed by the towering QuiltCon entry sign – Pic 2)  Here are some pix from our booth…

  • Our QuiltCon booth (Pic 1) featured OMBRE HAND DYES (Pic 6) and STRIP-IT fabrics (Pic 4)
  • Visitors loved our circle garland, made of coordinating CENTENNIAL SOLIDS circles fused together, then joined by a single running straight stitch to create the desired length. (Pic 3)
  • And thanks to Paper Pieces for supplying English paper piecing sampler kits for our attendees – everyone enjoyed this fun technique! (Pic 5)
  • Download these free projects by Nancy Rink, using the Ombre Hand Dye pre-cut Strip-It bundles. (Pic 6)

Look at All of the Participating Quilt Shops…

Can you believe that “Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day” is just a week away, on January 24?  It’s the perfect time to check out your favorite Marcus collections including the Just Judie Quilt Competition, the newest Studio 37 collections and more! Take a look  at the LQS list of participating quilt shops so far.  And you can even enter their Fan Photo Contest, to win a shopping spree and a new Brother sewing machine, too! — Enjoy

Fabric Giveaway! Comment on Our New Website Look

We thought it would be fun to start the year with a fabric giveaway, and it’s easy to enter!  Just check out the new look of MarcusFabrics.com, and leave a blog comment below telling us what you think of it.  We’ll choose a winner at random from all comments posted by next Wednesday, January 16, 2013!  The lucky winner will receive a sampler pack from our FUN DAY IN THE JUNGLE collection by Studio 37!

(NOTE: Your comment will be visible upon admin approval)

Get Ready for Winter Quilting Fun…

We’re pleased to sponsor two very exciting Winter 2013 quilting events. You can view gorgeous quilts of every description, meet new quilting friends, learn techniques, and shop, shop, shop! Treat yourself to one – or both – of these special events, and start the year off creatively!

Marcus is thrilled to return as a sponsor of the 17th Annual Road to California Quilt Conference & Showcase, taking place in Ontario, CA January 24-27, 2013.

Next up:  QuiltCon, presented by the internationally active Modern Quilt Guild.  It happens in Austin, TX from February 21-24, 2013.  We are equally excited to be involved as a sponsor of QuiltCon, catering to the modern quilt movement!  If you’re a fan of our Studio 37 offerings, then QuiltCon is the perfect show for you!

So, make your travel plans and dedicate 2013 to the enjoyment of your craft!