Our Designer Sew-Along – Did You Catch WEEK #3?

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On Friday, Sarah Maxwell from Homestead Hearth unveiled the third fabulous block from Friends & Companions, our Designer Sew-Along!  Do you love it?  Get the complete instructions and learn more about Sarah and her business.

Want to join the fun?  It’s not too late!  Here’s the post with complete details, and links to the previous block posts so you can sew-along with us!

The Lowell Mill Workers… The Story Continues

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If you share Nancy Rink’s interest in the history of the Lowell mill workers,  you’ll love MILL WORKS, her new fabric line and accompanying BOM program! Her inspiration comes from swatches of the American Textile History Museum, and the colors reflect the spirit of the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. (1820-1870). Don’t you love this palette of cool tones anchored by neutrals? It’s a look to enjoy all year long!

 

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What’s New for Spring?

This month we reveal all-new AUNT GRACE MINIATURES by Judie Rothermel! As perfect as they are on their own, they’re even better when paired with her AUNT GRACE DOTS.  Mix the prints in traditional blocks, or try a more modern quilting treatment by combining the prints with linen.

There’s a lot more that’s new this month on MarcusFabrics, so enjoy your visit!

Quilt/Sew Along with Pam Buda

Have you joined Pam Buda’s latest Quilt/Sew-Along?  It’s called “Market Day” and it features her PRAIRIE STITCHES collection for Marcus.   Get the details now on Pam’s blog… and sew along!
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Have You Seen the Cover Of McCall’s Quilting?

…The first issue of 2014 (Jan/Feb) just hit my desk, and we’re thrilled to see Nancy Rink’s quilt made the cut!  It’s on the chair, third from the left, and it features PARTY OF TWELVE by Judie Rothermel, PIN MONEY by Pam Buda and PAULA BARNES COMPANIONS.  Check out this full view of the quilt, called “Clara’s Pride”...with just two block designs and a beautiful range of repro prints, we think it’s a great way to begin the quilting year!  Congratulations, Nancy!  — lisa s

Stitch Up “Sweet Adeline” with Pam Buda’s PIN MONEY Prints

We love Perkins Dry Goods’ original take on Pam’s PIN MONEY collection, in this graphic quilt design.  Stitch it up in Topper, Throw or Queen sizes, using Perkins’ scrappy or two-color approach.

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??

New from Kansas City Star Books…

There’s something about seeing our fabrics in print that still excites us every time – it never gets old!  This time, Kansas City Star Quilts announces their upcoming book, Kindred Spirits, by Jill Shaulis and Vicki Olsen, which features LOTS of Marcus prints!  their quilt shop and pattern business, Yellow Creek Quilt Designs, is known for its warm 1800s reproduction prints and wool fabrics. Now they celebrate their love of classic quilts in this diverse collection of 13 projects, including bed-size quilts, wall hangings, table runners and a wool appliqué table mat. While paying homage to the past, sisters Jill and Vicki also put their own twist on tradition, in a variety of quilt designs.  As a leader in reproduction style prints, we’re happy to be a part of KC Star’s newest release, and we hope you’ll love their interpretations of our fabrics as much as we do!  Check out an excerpt here.

Where Are the Repro Fabrics Going??

“Are reproduction fabrics going away?”

“I’ve heard that I should start hoarding my repro prints because less are being produced…is that true?”

In the past week or so, we’ve been hearing the whispers, and had these very questions from consumers.  Rest assured, and allow us to explain:  For some time, there had been many new players in the reproduction area, secondary sources who were offering the look in addition to the more established reproduction fabric manufacturers like Marcus.  We believe that what you’re seeing is a retreat from reproductions by these secondary  sources, as their attention now turns to more contemporary looks in the wake of the “modern” category.  So, while it does seem as though fewer of these prints are available, you can be assured that for those of us in the industry whose strength has always been the reproduction & historical fabrics, you’ll continue to see our finest efforts in your local quilt shops.

Speaking of fine quality repro fabrics, remember that our Just Judie quilt competition is in full swing, and entries are due by July 31, 2013…

P.S.  And yes, we do believe you should continue to collect the fabrics you love, from Judie Rothermel to Paula Barnes and more!

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)