Register NOW for Virtual Quilt Market!

It’s time to experience Quilt Market in a brand new way…

Attention, quilt shop owners and industry professionals: Due to the ongoing pandemic, Quilt Market as we know it, like practically everything else, was cancelled for Spring 2020. It its place is Virtual Quilt Market. It all begins TODAY, June 2! Registration is open now, with various registration levels available offering exhibitor presentations, Schoolhouse sessions, business seminars and more…

We’re pleased to be a part of this new format. When you register, be sure to visit Marcus Fabrics to review our current designer collections, and details on our upcoming Trip Around the Sun BOM program by Material Girlfriends, featuring PRIMO BATIKS!

Fall Quilt Market Wrap-Up: Part 2

We appreciate the major role our talented DESIGNERS obviously play in the twice-yearly production known as Quilt Market!  You can find them stitching on their last-minute quilt bindings, demonstrating new techniques, making presentations to shop owners or sales reps, greeting fans at book signings, and more.  In general, their schedules stay pretty packed throughout the show, both behind the scenes and on the show floor…

A Fresh Start Leads Down Memory Lane…

With the start of a new year comes the opportunity to reorganize and re-energize, so we’ve been clearing out lots of fabrics and swatch cards that have accumulated over the years as we renovate and relocate (no, there’s no need to change your contact info; we’re only moving down the hall!)  If you’ve ever relocated your office space, you know the task we’ve been facing for the past few weeks (Note that I’m sparing you the evidence of the messiest areas, but you get the idea…

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Yet, amidst the disruption, we’re also enjoying our “Trip Down Fabric Memory Lane” in the process!  Stephanie in particular was excited to uncover some of our earliest calico swatch cards, circa 1987, when Marcus first entered the quilting industry.  Stay tuned for more on these classics in a future post…

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And of course, a change like this can be subject to some type of outside reaction:  We happily shared some of the surplus fabric sample cuts that had accumulated over the years with friends from a couple of local quilt guilds.  No sooner had the fabric been picked up than we began to hear whispered rumors that “Marcus was closing its doors??!!!”  Well, be assured that nothing is further from the truth, and we’ll continue our long-standing tradition of bringing you the very best in quilting and craft fabrics for many years to come.  In fact, even in the midst of our office relocation, we’re busily prepping for upcoming events including QuiltCon next month in Savannah, and Ouilt Market in St. Louis this Spring!  See you soon!  ; )

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Sew on the Go…Literally!

Sew on the Go...LiterallyCheck out this adorable sewing machine cover, cleverly disguised as a vintage camper! Even as it was being unpacked and still on the hotel luggage cart, it quickly became one of our more eye-catching – and amusing – booth samples.  Can’t you just imagine the little quilter stitching away inside it?

If you love vacationing with your sewing machine, you pretty much have to have one of these… This one was sewn up by Miriam Rawson in GRACIE’S SCHOOLHOUSE CLASSICS by Judie Rothermel – no better choice for a vintage camper than everyone’s favorite 1930’s reproduction fabrics!  Note that Miriam made hers a bit longer than the original pattern to accommodate her Bernina machine.

<  Need pattern information? The original design for the Vintage Caravan Sewing Machine Cover is by Janine at Rainbow Hare in the UK.

 

 

#marcusatmarket #marcusfabrics #quiltmarket2015 #makeitwithmarcusfabrics #auntgrace

#MarcusAtMarket Wrap-Up

Another Spring Quilt Market concludes!  Thank you to our customers, friends, associates and designers for another successful event.  From long before booth set-up to breakdown, it takes lots of hands to make it all happen…

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There’s so much happening at Marcus, and Booth 1901 reflects it all beautifully:

1 – At left is the new Amish with a Twist III BOM by Nancy Rink, surrounded by a variety of garments and crafts in wool & cotton.

2 – l. to r.: Quilts in PAISLEY PERSUASION, PAST ENDEARMENTS and HISTORICAL STRIPES

3 – Customer service pros Indra (seated) and Regina discuss our latest with shop owners.

4 – Table tops are adorned with fusible applique – a great idea for special event decorating.  Later, you can cut away the appliqued square to repurpose as a pillow front of quilt block!

5 – ALWAYS THE SEASON quilt and holiday crafts!

6 & 7 – Two of our designers set up their booths just across from us – Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts (you can tell her booth by the red  ; ) and Paula Barnes of Red Crinoline Quilts.

Thanks for the photos, Faye Burgos!

#MarcusAtMarket – Schoolhouse Highlights I

Mother-daughter team Darci and Lacey Schipnewski of PastThyme Patterns shared lots of great tips for merchandising thru miniatures and small projects, in both wool and cotton…Thank you, ladies!

If you missed this informative Schoolhouse session, log into your Marcus account to download the accompanying handout (available June 1, 2015)

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#quiltmarket #quiltmarket2015 #marcusatmarket #marcusfabrics #pastthymepatterns

Another Quilt Market Begins!

The office is quiet today as several of our Marcus-ites are traveling to Houston for Fall Quilt Market 2014! Looking forward to their pictures!

Quilt Market is now in its 35th year (and Quilt Festival, the show for consumers, marks 40 years in 2014!)  Marcus has been attending since 1987, when we debuted with Judie Rothermel’s first collection of Aunt Grace 1930’s repros.  Here’s a peek at the Judie Rothermel collections we’ll be showing this weekend… AUNT GRACE SIMPLER SAMPLER and JUDIE’S ALBUM QUILT.  Check out the details of these gorgeous BOM programs.  No wonder she’s still the leader in 1930’s reproductions and historic fabric prints for quilters!

 

It Must Be Quilt Market Time Again

Aside from the sheer chaos that takes place here in the NY office as we prepare for Market season after season, another sure way to tell that the big show is approaching is the arrival of gorgeous quilts in the office.  Pati usually displays them for a day or two before packing them up.  Today, the view from our hallway includes the new AUNT GRACE SIMPLER SAMPLER BOM quilt (Fabrics by Judie Rothermel, Quilt & Program by Vicki Bellino).  The program begins January 2015 – visit your local quilt shop to reserve your space now!  Next to the BOM quilt is Vicki’s charming miniature design (28″ x 28″), entitled First Bloom – it’s also done with the new Aunt Grace collection.

If you’re attending Quilt Market (for the trade only), you can see these up close & personal in BOOTH 1802 – see you soon!

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The “Season” for Wools and Cotton Prints…

CrowBundlesComing soon to a quilt shop near you… two debut collections from the Quilting Crow Girls of Australia – THE SEASONS WOOL COLLECTION and POMEGRANATE LANEThe design duo combines easy pieced blocks with wool applique in Marcus’ new BOM, The Seasons on Pomegranate Lane (shown below).

If you’re new to felted woven wool applique, the Girls Crow-BOMquiltshow you how to felt the wool for a soft, luxurious feel, how to pair up prints with wools, applique with wool and more — you’ll even find free pincushion projects online to get you started! Download the PDF for tips & the Girls’ free “Birdee” Pincushion projectCrow-Faces

For even more inspiration, be sure to check out the Quilted Crow Girls’ books and patterns, including their upcoming second title, Country Elegance, available in September 2014 (Martingale).

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Hungry at Quilt Market? Carrie Recommends…

If you’re in Pittsburgh and need a break (already), take a tip from Carrie, our sales rep:

“Hi Lisa, we ate at this great place in Pittsburgh after a hot first day of set up.  It was fantastic!  And I thought the graphic was cool printed on the rough brick wall.” I agree, cool graphicsphoto4