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 Returns Feb 14

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It’s true!! We’re back with our third Mondays with Marcus FREE PROJECT SERIES, The Colors of Marcus!  This time, we’re launching on Valentine’s Day, so naturally, our talented designers are focusing on projects using RED fabrics.  Watch the video below for a preview of the RED launch projects, the visit our MWM page for links to their project instructions. Then, every Monday, through April 18, each of our designers will choose a color to feature in a second free project.  Collect any or all of the free instructions, and if desired, you can even order fabric kits for the projects, where available.  

We suggest you mark your calendar now with can’t-miss dates for your favorite colors and designers — we think you’re gonna love them ALL — and share the schedule with your friends.

Be sure to follow our Facebook page and Instagram feed, and those of our designers, too!

Here’s the lineup:

February 14    RED           Valentine’s Day Launch with All Participating Designers   

February 21    ORANGE    Gennifer March / G. March Design  

February 28    YELLOW     Nancy Rink / Nancy Rink Designs    

March 7          GREEN       Paula Barnes & Mary Ellen Robison / Red Crinoline Quilts      

March 14        BLUE          Lisa Norton & Lora Zmak  / Material Girlfriends 

March 14        BLUE          Tracy Souza / Plumcute Designs     

March 21        PURPLE     Sarah Maxwell / Designs by Sarah J   

March 21        PURPLE     Cindy Staub / Quilt Doodle Designs 

March 28        BLACK        Dolores Smith / Timeworn Toolbox Designs

March 28        BLACK        Pam Buda  / Heartspun Quilts 

April 4             BROWN      Rebekah L. Smith / Rebekah L. Smith Designs  

April 4             BROWN      Deirdre Bond-Abel / Hatcreek Quilts

April 11           GREY         Sheryl Johnson  /  Temecula Quilt Co.   

April 18           PINK          Laura Berringer   / Marcus Fabrics   

Holiday Greetings…and a Winter Project!

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Featured prints from RENEWED TRADITIONS by Deirdre Bond-Abel,
and HOLIDAY FOLIAGE by Laura Berringer.

It’s Holiday Season again, and however you choose to spend your special time, we wish you a season of healthy, happiness and creativity (with at least a little quilting time squeezed in!).  We’re looking ahead to 2022 with enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to share our excitement with you in the coming year, starting with beautiful new designer collections and programs in January!

Not to mention, the launch of our third series of Mondays with Marcus – stay tuned for details on our Mondays with Marcus Facebook page (follow us there now for notifications) or follow us on Instagram. You’re gonna love the theme!!

Meanwhile, try this cheerful winter project (right).  It’s called “Simone” by Pastthyme Patterns, and it features new LANACOT WOOLS and AGED MUSLIN. Download the free project here.

New WOOLS, Coordinating Cottons by Rebekah L. Smith!

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We’re thrilled to announce our new addition to the Marcus design team, folk artist and wool applique expert Rebekah L. Smith! Her new LANACOT WOOLS (in 22 colors!) and coordinating cotton print collection, REBEKAH’S BASICS (20 prints) are perfect for experienced wool artists and beginners alike! Look for them in your local quilt shops in early 2022, both on the bolt and in convenient precut assortments.

And Rebekah already has pattern inspiration for you, too… look for her “Thistles” table runner, “Folk Hearts for Home” and other gorgeous wool applique patterns at Rebekah L. Smith

LANACOT WOOLS are premium quality, with a soft, plush hand that begs you to create!  While they’re perfect for appliqué and embroidery projects as inspired by Rebekah L. Smith, these beautiful wools lend themselves to lots of other creative uses, including rug hooking, overdyeing, home decor accessories and apparel.

New for Fall 2021!

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If you haven’t seen our new website yet, this is the perfect time! We hope you’ll enjoy its streamlined design, and for quilt shop owners, the simplified online ordering process. We’ve also just unveiled TEN gorgeous designer collections this month, including:

(Click upper right corner of the photo if the slideshow doesn’t not begin automatically, or simply click thru the images at your own pace.)

Many of these new collections also feature free projects and/or patterns available through the fabric designers (you’ll find these under the MAKE IT tab on the site), so get ready for a full season of creative inspiration!

Three Gorgeous New BOMs – Which is YOUR Favorite?

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Quilting friends, you’ll want to take a minute NOW to review what we’ve got coming for Fall 2021! Just launched: three beautiful new Block-of-the-Month programs, designed to appeal to a variety of tastes…let’s take a look:

“My inspiration for this quilt came from the collection itself, A RETURN TO ELEGANCE and what could be more elegant than a ribbon running through the blocks, tying them together in a sophisticated on-point composition,” Lynn Wilder says of her new BOM for Marcus Fabrics READ MORE

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Next comes a complete color departure in FANTASY, Sarah Maxwell’s new collection of dimensional blenders with a unique abstract motif, which she imagines as “a magic carpet to design adventures”. Fantasy Flights is a unique approach to a block-of-the-month quilt design, featuring a sampler-style variety of blocks. Choose the dramatic dark ground, the airy light ground, or both! READ MORE

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And Nancy Rink transforms her new MARCELLA group into a stunning quilt of the same name! It’s a new Marchives collection, inspired by an earlier Marcus line called Cotillion. In this design, Nancy alternating star blocks with a block that showcases the lush Hydrangea floral. Her rich yet gentle palette works all year long. READ MORE

Be sure to add one, two, or all three of these wonderful designs to your quilting plans. All programs begin January 2022. To view the full collections and further BOM info, click on the collection links above.

#MondaysWithMarcus: Laura Berringer’s “Spice Bazaar” Coasters!

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It’s May 17 already, and with today’s reveal, we complete the second series of Mondays with Marcus! Laura Berringer mixes strips of her own SPICE BAZAAR collection to create easy quilt-as-you-go coasters! You can even apply this technique to a matching table runner or placemats. DOWNLOAD the FREE PROJECT HERE.

The warm, inviting tones of this collection were inspired by Laura’s pre-pandemic travels to Singapore. In addition to the many decorative and ornate batik fabrics there, she discovered wonderful markets with rich colors and spices to excite the senses.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this latest series of free projects from the Marcus designers! Which were your favorites? If you missed any of the debuts since March 8, you can browse and find the links to download each of them here. And watch for details on how to enter to win our second Grand Prize gift basket, filled with Marcus fabrics and designer goodies!

#MondaysWithMarcus: “Spring Baskets” by Deirdre Bond Abel

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As our Mondays with Marcus Series II winds down (with just one more week to go!), it seems that each project is better than the next! We love Deirdre Bond Abel’s appliqued baskets, done in her own collection, THE MIDLANDS. Download her FREE PROJECT here.

Deirdre drew inspiration from mid-19th century Colonial homes in The Midlands of Tasmania, in a group of florals and geometrics in a beautiful range of soft, smoky tones…the palette is subtle but striking, isn’t it?

Join us again next Monday for the finale project (by Laura Berringer). This time around, some projects will also be redone by other designers, in their own signature styles, for a wider variety of creative options… You’ll find the complete line-up of projects on the Mondays with Marcus page, and our Facebook page, along with details on how to enter our MWM2 Grand Prize giveaway — Join us!

#MondaysWithMarcus: Sarah Maxwell’s “Dawn Sparkler”

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Sarah Maxwell of Designs by Sarah J brings us a perfect project to welcome Spring, in a palette that is sure to sparkle in traditional and contemporary settings alike! Follow her creative lead by using prints from her own DANCE AT DAWN collection, or customize the colors to your liking. Either way, be sure to grab the free download on her website, using the code “Sparkler” at checkout.

Come back each Monday thru May 17 (just TWO more weeks to go!!) for another fun free project from your favorite Marcus designers. This time around, some projects will also be redone by other designers, in their own signature styles, for a wider variety of creative options… You’ll find the complete line-up of projects on the Mondays with Marcus page, and our Facebook page. Join us!

Recreate “One Step at a Time” by Krisanne Watkins!

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Just look at this gorgeous quilt by Krisanne Watkins of Quail Valley Quilts! It’s featured in the current issue of American Patchwork & Quilting, and features the rich, warm tones of the INDIGO & MADDER collection by Paula Barnes. The June issue is available now, and the fabrics are available at your favorite quit shops and online outlets now!

#MondaysWithMarcus: “Make Something Sweet” with Tracy Souza!

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#MondaysWithMarcus continues today with beautifully stitched words of wisdom from Tracy Souza of Plumcute Designs!

You’ll find Tracy’s free project here. Choose your favorite Marcus low-volume background fabric to add a bit of texture, and stitch!. Follow Tracy’s lead of framing your piece in a small embroidery hoop with ric-rac trim, use a traditional frame, or even incorporate the block into a quilt. It makes a perfect gift!

Come back each Monday thru May 17 for another fun free project from your favorite Marcus designers. This time around, several projects will also be redone by other designers, in their own signature styles, for a wider variety of creative options… You’ll find the complete line-up of projects on the Mondays with Marcus page, and our Facebook page. Join us!