Author Archives: Lisa Shepard Stewart

About Lisa Shepard Stewart

Hi - I'm the Marketing Manager for Marcus, and I handle the online content and general marketing communications, including our blog and most of the social media... We hope you'll enjoy the blog and we welcome your comments! - lisa

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Pam Buda!

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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…

Pam Buda’s been working on various projects from her newest collections. “The fabrics are from FOLK ART STARS and PRIMITIVE TRADITIONS, which will be in shops late March.  The quilt on the wall is the only one I have to photograph at the moment.  As you can see, I’m constructing it now.  It’s called Tiny Baskets.  It’s one of 5 new patterns using the entire Primitive Traditions collection and will be available in April. 

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Red Crinoline Quilts

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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!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Deirdre Bond Abel!

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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, we catch up with Deirdre Bond Abel of Hat Creek Quilts. She’s juggling lots of great projects, and we’ll all benefit from her hard work…

“What I have been up to –

The first two weeks of January I was madly finishing patterns for a series of quilts that will be published later this year in Today’s Quilter magazine.

Since then it has been fun, fun, fun, playing with my gorgeous “The Midlands” fabric collection that have just been shipped to US stores and to other countries soon.

I have designed a free two block quilt called “Happy Trails”. The instructions can be found on my Instagram page @hatcreekquilts, So far I have only made one of each of the blocks but I am hoping to get back to them next week.

I have started an appliqué quilt that features each of the prints from The Midlands in one block on their own so they can shine.

I have never joined in on the hexagon movement but my Midlands fabrics are so gorgeous I had to see how they would look pieced in that format. I am totally loving the subtle flow of colours through the diamond setting.

I have just made a little table runner just using the gorgeous green for the collection and truly love how it turned out.

And of course there are so many designs in my head just waiting their turn to become a quilt.”

That’s quite an update, Deirdre, thanks!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Vicki McCarty!

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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, Vicki McCarty of Calico Patch Designs shares a video all about what’s going on in her sewing room, including a new fabric collection and upcoming stitch-alongs! VIEW THE VIDEO

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Dolores Smith!

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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, Dolores Smith of Timeworn Toolbox Designs shows off an exciting new project…

CEDAR SHAKE by Dolores Smith

I love the colors of burnt orange and teal, and I’m using my new CEDAR SHAKE collection to do a Block of the Month program for Homestead Hearth.  It is from a quilt pattern of mine called “Scrappy Churn Dash”.  The BOM starts in March and is made with different sized Churn Dash blocks — it’s one of my favorite blocks to stitch!  Want to join us? You’ll find all of the details at Homestead Hearth! Oh, and remember to check out the two new colors of Toolbox Basics introduced in this line, and the coordinating wovens, too!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Sheryl Johnson!

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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 we check in with Sheryl Johnson of Temecula Quilt Co. She’s been hard at work, taking inspiration from the past, with her usual eggs-cellent results…

“I have been busy cooking up a special recipe with a rich history. Shirtings were a fashion necessity in the late 1800s,  used to make men’s shirts and Gibson Girl blouses through the turn of the century. Traditionally, these were lightweight cotton prints with small, simple black motifs on a white ground. Today, their low volume appearance makes them the  perfect pairing for your favorite dark and medium calicos. I believe the DELIGHTFUL DOZEN prints are a must for patchwork,  providing all important light contrast, and will make a great addition to your scrap basket.” 

What a great way to present your own batch of favorite fabric prints, a dozen at a time ; ) You’ll find these delightful designs in quilt shops in March!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Tracy Souza!

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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, we check in with Tracy Souza of Plumcute Designs!

“January is a “cozy” month in the studio.  Lots of doodling and working up new projects.  Hand quilting and finishing up design work for fabric lines and book proposals is all part of the New Year.  There’s also the end-of-year paperwork from 2020 (but that’s not fun).  I am excited to have my second line of fabrics in the works for release in the future and am busy stitching samples for the stitchery club projects that will accompany it when it debuts.  Be sure to stay tuned for more information on that.  There are lots of fun goodies on the website so be sure to check that out www.plumcutedesigns.com“

As you can see, the life of a designer isn’t all creative play, but a constant balance of design and business tasks…thanks, Tracy… we can’t wait to see your next collection ; )

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Cindy Staub!

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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, we’re pleased to present Cindy Staub of Quilt Doodle Designs. Like most of us, she’s remained busy throughout the holidays, creating right into the New Year, as she explains:

“I have been busy designing. I find the time just after the holidays a great time to get
back to the drawing board and work on some new projects and ideas. I usually spend a few days doodling away. It’s my way of relaxing after the flurry of the holidays.

I have also introduced “Woodland Holiday”, a new mystery block of the month project on my website. It was inspired by my trips to northern Minnesota. The mystery quilt will feature all sorts of woodland creatures. Details are available online. There is also a monthly tutorial posted on the Quilt Doodle Blog the 1st of every month.

I am also excited about my Bundle Up BOM project and the BLUE ICE flannels! I love the combination of hand embroidery and easy piecing, and I hope you will, too! Look for it at your favorite quilt shops.”

Editor’s Note: Remember, there’s still time to enter our big giveaway for the Deluxe Prize Basket! See the previous post, or visit the MWM page to enter by January 15.

WIN this Deluxe #MondaysWithMarcus Gift Basket!

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Thank You all for joining in the fun of our first #MondaysWithMarcus designer project series!

As a Thank You for your Likes, Follows and Shares throughout our first MWM series, we’re giving it away to one lucky winner! It’s filled with Marcus fabrics, treats from our designers and more… Just enter your email address on the MWM page by January 15, 2021 for a chance to win* One lucky winner will be chosen on January 18, 2021.

Did you miss any of the featured designers? Just visit the MWM page for links to the designers, their social media and project links.

(Please Note: All are welcome to enter, however, the Prize must be shipped to a US address!) GOOD LUCK!

#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with the Material Girlfriends!

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Welcome to 2021, and welcome back to our #MondaysWithMarcus series! To keep the momentum going as we prepare for a new MWM 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.

We’re pleased to begin with Lisa Norton and Lora Zmak, the twin design duo behind the Material Girlfriends brand. Let’s see what they’re up to…

“When we make quilts for our family members we give them a guarantee. If it wears out, we will happily make them a new one. Our brother, Mike and his wife Sue, used one of our quilts on their bed for 20 years. When Sue asked if we could mend it, we said it was time for a new one. They selected our Double Bear Paw design. The pattern has various sizes in it. Of course, they have a California King bed. Oi!  That’s a lot of Half Square Triangles! They loved the new PRIMO BATIKS collection, so we set out to sew a new Cal King bed quilt for them. It has really been a pleasure to sew these gorgeous batiks into a gift for our brother and sister-in-law to enjoy for years to come.” 

Thanks for sharing, ladies! We love that idea of the “family guarantee”… But inquiring minds want to know — how often have you made good on the guarantee to replace a well-loved quilt so far?

Want to create your own? You’ll find their Double Bear Paw pattern and lots of other great stuff online at Material Girlfriends.