#MondaysWithMarcus: UpClose with Tracy Souza!

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 ; )

Mondays with Marcus!

While the real MONDAYS WITH MARCUS fun begins on October 5, we invite you to explore the various Marcus and Studio 37 Fabrics designers taking part in this very special FREE program! Get familiar with the projects and plan ahead…

Grab a sneak peek of the project slideshow here:

LIKE, FOLLOW and SHARE your favorite designers on their social media outlets now in preparation for the series (you’ll find their links on our main MWM page), and be sure to join the Mondays with Marcus Facebook page and share directly with the designers and other participants during the series, which runs through December 14. And wherever you share, be sure to use #MondaysWithMarcus!

Who’s Participating??

#MondaysWithMarcus

#staysafeandcreate – Designer Updates

It’s interesting how differently the current COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent shelter-in-place regulations are affecting people. As quilters, we can’t imagine how anyone could be “bored” at home. As one quilter’s social media meme said, “Bored? This the moment we (quilters) have been training for all of our lives!” Can you relate?

We asked our Marcus & Studio 37 designers how they are spending their time at home. With their travel schedules suddenly cleared for the time being, they, like many of us, are making the best of the situation quite well…

Cindy Staub of Quiltdoodle Designs has been “busy making facemasks for our local hospital and experimenting with different embroidery stitching on my Blue Ribbon and Woodland Getaway panels. (Facemask Pattern) I did do a three day quick scrappy quilt with my followers. I’m planning on blogging about some smaller projects too. I also have designed a scottie dog quilt as an additional project using the Aunt Grace Apron fabric. Need to get around to cutting and sewing…. Been spending a lot of time in my sewing room listening to audio books as I stitch.” Whew!! Impressive, Cindy ; )

Vicki McCarty of Calico Patch Designs also checked in with this update: “Here are a couple of things that I am working on. Barn Stars Runner using my Black/Tan Patch-Its and Tan/Tan Patch It’s. Just one cut using MSQs Rhombus Ruler and the stripe on the Patch-It!    Patterns and kits on my website. Also making a Periwinkle Quilt using my entire Patch-It collection!  6” squares.” Beautiful as usual, Vicki!

And Pam Bud of Heartspun Quilts celebrates today’s release of her new book, Vintage Treasures (Martingale). ” My new book is actually began shipping to shops yesterday and today.  Perhaps this is a good time to say….if you ordered one from your LQS, time to have it mailed or arrange a curbside pickup.  If you haven’t do so now to support our LQS.  If you don’t have a shop nearby, you can order it from me.” Congratulations, Pam! And of course, she’s working on a new collection, too…

How are you spending your time? Tell us in the comments… and watch for more fun designer updates soon. Until then, #staysafeandcreate !!

Quilt Market Happens Just DAYS From Now!

…and if you’re attending, we look forward to seeing you in the Marcus Brothers/Studio 37 Fabrics Booth #1801! These are just a few of the featured collections you can see up close and personal:

And there’s more…

SCHOOLHOUSE “CREATIVE BLOCK EXCHANGE with Pam Buda’s Circa 1880 Club”  Friday, Nov. 2,  Room 362F, 3:45-4:15pm

NEW BOM and CLUB PROGRAMS from your favorite designers, including Pam Buda, Sheryl Johnson, Krisann Watkins, Nancy Rink and Sarah Maxwell.

BOOK SIGNINGS with Sheryl Johnson (Sat, Nov 3 at 2pm) and Pam Buda (Sun, Nov 4 at 11am)

CREATIVE DEMOS by Sarah Maxwell, PLUS… Sarah and Nancy Rink will discuss and SNEAK-PEEK their upcoming Quilt-along, “Mix It Up”!

Safe travels, everyone — We’ll see you soon!

(Boards by Miriam Rawson)

A Year’s Worth of Creative Excitement!

A fresh year means a fresh start for our creative projects…check out just a few of the exciting things coming your way in the coming months from Marcus and Studio 37!

Sneak Peeks!  Watch for these collections online beginning February 1:

And get caught up with our most recent releases, online now:

Highlights: Marcus Makers and More

In case you missed it, check out these images from Quilt Market in Houston, TX last weekend, where we celebrated the #MarcusMakers2016.  The casual setting allowed shop owners to become more familiar with our fabric designers, the Marcus Makers, to collect their Artist Trading Card packs, enter our prize drawing, and maybe even do some hand stitching with our sew-lebrities!  Each designer created a 24-inch square “signature” piece to express their individual styles:

 

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We also took time to relax on Saturday night over a loud-but-leisurely Designers’ Dinner at Ninfa’s, a famous Tex-Mex spot in Houston.

dinner

Then, on Sunday, Karen Styles gave us a mini-demo on her beautiful fussy-cut  6-pointed stars. Personally, once she told me it really couldn’t be done by machine, I was less enthused about trying it myself, but I appreciate her skills  ; )   — lisa s

karenstitching

Did You See Victoria in Warwick, NY?

If you attended the Warwick Valley Quilt Guild’s show this past weekend, hopefully, you caught Victoria’s presentation, along with some Retail Therapy from Victoria (and lots of other great vendors!)  The bi-annual guild show takes place in Warwick, NY.  Pati (shown in the right side photo with Victoria’s assistants, Laurie and Kim) was also in attendance, and she sent along a few pix of the exciting event.  Goodies at Victoria’s booth included MEADOW STORM and MOSTLY MANOR bundles and of course, inspiring quilts…

vfw-warwickqshow

Good Morning, New York!

See, this is what we love about working in New York City…you never know what you’ll come across on the streets  ; )  Right now, we’re being treated to these very cool art installations, guaranteed to wake up even the groggiest pre-coffee commuter…

bwaypandasuse bwaybulluse bwaygiraffeuse

These unique pieces are part of the “Fancy Animal Carnival” by Taiwanese artist Hung Yi. They’re baked enamel on steel plate, presented by the Garment District Alliance and the NYC Dept. of Transportation  Art Program.  Eight pieces in total run along Broadway from 41st to 36th Streets.  Check out the Alliance’s twitter feed for pics of the opening on Sept 20.

The VFW Quilts Store Opens This Friday!

VFW-BlueHeadshotFans of Victoria Findlay Wolfe won’t want to miss the grand opening of her new shop this Friday!!  And in honor of the Quilters Take Manhattan mega-event this weekend, she’s planned special grand opening hours of 11am to 7pm this Friday, September 23, and 4pm to 7pm this Saturday, September 24.

vfwshopboltsIf you’re in NYC, stop by to say hello, and to pick up her latest collections for Studio 37 Fabrics, plus her threads, templates and more. Learn more at VFWQuilts!

Congratulations, Victoria – we all wish you a fun and successful launch!  Or, in your own words, “YAY!!”    ; )

Back to School, Grumpy Cat ; (

grumpyubndisplayWhen Grumpy Cat’s book was spotted in a local Barnes & Noble store as part of their  Back-to-School display, of course we had to share it with you!  And while the majority of parents are probably thrilled to greet another school year, some kids might relate more to Grumpy Cat.

No matter how you feel about it, we wish everyone a fun and fruitful new school year…and may we suggest that some new school gear in GRUMPY CAT prints and FLANNELS just might help to brighten a few dispositions!  Think shirts, totes, locker decor and more… Fabrics hit your local quilt shops in just a few short weeks!

grumpyflannel