TWO New BOMs for Summer Fun!

Do you ever take a look at your fabric stash, and discover fresh, new inspiration for something you acquired a while back?  If so, you’ll appreciate our two “second-glance”  BOM programs, just introduced at Marcus Fabrics In each case, the designers revisited the already-released collections, and came up with these exciting designs!

First, Living in the Moment features the cool blues and touches of Greenery from Laura Berringer’s IN THE MOMENT collection.  The quilt design is by our friends at the Material Girlfriends.  The little house blocks are an office favorite  ; )

And you’ll also love Laura’s  NIGHT STONES neutrals, especially in Vicki Bellino’s trio of projects, including a sampler-style BOM row quilt, appliqued 12″ decorative block. Then, there’s her gorgeous table runner – be sure to position the prints as Vicki did for that gorgeous mirrored  ombre-effect!  Visit Vicki at Bloom Creek.

Look for these programs in your local quilt shops – the Night Stones BOM is available now, and the Living in the Moment BOM appears in shops beginning July.

An Elegant Affair…and Quilting!

Next on Pati’s agenda: an appearance at In Between Stitches, a most beautiful quilt shop in Livermore, CA. She was invited to be one of the  featured presenters at a very elegant event hosted by the shop, but before the Saturday afternoon soiree, she visited the shop itself:

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The Tea Party itself took place at the Purple Orchid Resort and Spa, a lovely and relaxing setting where the attendees enjoyed formal tea, along with tips and techniques on English paper piecing and the creative use of Strip-It™ fabrics.  Pati, alon with Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek (shown below), and Lynn Wilder of Sew’n Wild Oaks, delighted the women with a variety of looks to enhance their quilting projects:

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The ALS Quilt is Done, and It Is Gorgeous…

Regular Marcus Mentions readers will recognize this as the completion of our quilt to be donated to the Hopes & Dreams Challenge, sponsored by Quilter’s Dream batting.  It all began with our Road to California event back in January, where attendees picked out their fabrics at our booth and created their Lucy Boston blocks to become a part of the project.  Then, in the talented hands of designer Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek, the pile of blocks became this…isn’t it stunning??  (Look back at the quilt in progress!)

Marcus ALS quilt-closeup

Vicki Bellino of Bloom CreekThis week it will be shipped to the Challenge to join the many others donated by quilters from all over.  We are pleased to support Quilters Dream Batting in their efforts to fight ALS / Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  Thanks again to all of our quilting friends and to Vicki Bellino (right) for making the quilt possible.Marcus-ALS quilt by Vicki Bellino

Vicki’s ALS Quilt…Almost Done!

Vicki Bellino of Bloom CreekFor those keeping track of the Lucy Boston quilt we are donating to Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS by Quilter’s Dream Batting, Vicki Bellino (left) shares this photo and progress report:

Vicki-ALSQuilt

After many days of trying a variety of block layouts, I am happy to say the blocks are all on the wall and I’ve begun sewing the rows together! I’m a very symmetrical designer, so the challenge for me was to maintain a very scrappy feel, in a pleasing, somewhat balanced way.  With the variety of fabrics and colors, and the varying numbers of blocks from each fabric, this stack of blocks did not lend itself well to a “symmetrical” layout!  I can only hope that the quilters who so graciously gave their time and effort to make a block will be pleased with the final quilt.  On Monday the quilt top will be boxed and shipped off to the quilteryippee!!

It looks beautiful, Vicki, and I think we can all relate to that “Yippee moment”   ; )  and we look forward to seeing the finished-finished quilt.  —  lisa

Check out some of Vicki’s other designs at Bloom Creek.

Take a Peek as Vicki Creates the ALS Quilt!

You might remember back in January, our Lucy Boston block challenge held at the Road to CA quilt conference?  Well, over 130 blocks pieced by our quilting friends are now in the skilled hands of Vicki Bellino, as she creates a beautiful quilt for the 6th annual Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS, sponsored by Quilters Dream Batting.

ALSQuiltVicki-SXSALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a debilitating disease that is currently affecting over 35,000 people in the U.S. alone.  The disease gradually paralyzes the patient, usually leading to death within 6-months to 5 years of diagnosis.  Those suffering from ALS are fully aware mentally, but are trapped in a non-functioning body with no hope of treatment or a cure.  Each year, the Hopes & Dreams Quilt Challenge for ALS collects hundreds of quilts to be given to patients living with ALS, to raise awareness about ALS, and to raise money with 100% of the proceeds being used to fund research toward a cure for this terrible disease.

Thanks again to everyone who stitched all those Lucy Boston blocks that weekend…Right now, Vicki is completing the quilt for the July 31 deadline, so watch for the next installment of her in-progress pics, and for the Big Reveal of the finished quilt!  And we’re not alone – check out this Quilters Dream blog post to learn more about the challenge.

 

Last Call for Lucy Boston!

A big THANK YOU to all of our quilting friends for participating in our Lucy Boston Challenge this weekend at the Road to CA event!  With over 125 blocks completed this weekend, we appreciate your talents, comments and enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to unveil the finished project.  Pati says, “Looks like we will be making a couple of quilts for the ALS donation. Thank you all that participated.  I had the best time seeing how excited you all were to hand in your blocks.” 

Check out our final collection of paper-pieced blocks below …and watch for the announcement of our ten lucky Prize Pack winners, too!

Wishing everyone safe travels home, especially those on the East Coast, in advance of the coming blizzard…including Pati!!

100winner

Amy Tangiguchi brought the 100th block to the booth, which earned her a special prize.

All stacked up - an impressive grouping!

All stacked up – an impressive grouping!

Nancy brings in the 125th and final block!

Nancy brings in the 125th and final block!

Pati and Vicki make it to the end of the show!  Congrats, girls!

Pati and Vicki make it to the end of the show! Congrats, girls!

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!

Lil’ Red Hen’s New Aunt Grace Top!

On the road with Marcus sales rep Toni Kay Steere!  Her recent visit to Li’l Red Hen Quilt Shop in Paola, Kansas turned up this beautifully sewn Aunt Grace SIMPLER SAMPLER quilt top.  Jenny, the shop owner, sewed the design, saying it was a pleasure to stitch up.  With fabrics by Judie Rothermel and the BOM quilt design by Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek, how could it not be?  We think you’ll love it, too, so look for it at your favorite quilt shop – the 6 month program begins in January!

Personally, I love the little shopping carts to the left of the quilt ; )   —–lisa

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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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Vicki Bellino Giveaways & New Book Launch

No, we’re not giving Vicki away, but you CAN win a copy of her new eBook (published by Martingale) to help celebrate its release!  Simply leave a comment below to enter.  Then visit the Martingale blog for a chance to win a Marcus bundle of Aunt Grace fabrics that are perfect for the book projects.

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