Karen Gray Design featured in Spring issue of Quilt Sampler magazine

Congrats to Karen Gray Design in Winston-Salem, NC, who is featured in the Spring Issue of Better Homes & Garden's Quilt Sampler magazine. Quilt Sampler is published twice a year and is considered the ultimate shop hop, bringing you unique quilt shops to visit either through the pages of the magazines or as your travel plans permit.
Karen's shop is located in the Dairy Barn on the old R. J. Reynolds estate. Bright and trendy, the chandeliered-shop exclusively sells Rowan and FreeSpirit fabrics. It is apparent why Karen's customers find solace in the yards of fabric and open atmosphere at the shop. Creative sewing classes, from beginning quilting to apparel sewing, happen right on the sales floor and inspire her customers to create beyond their sewing comfort zones. A place for fun and fellowship, Karen's shop is a gathering place for all those who love fabric.

In addition to being a featured shop, Karen also designed projects for the issue. Here is a photo of her featured quilt.

We'd love to hear about your favorite quilt shop, whether in your home town or one you have visited as you traveled. Comment by Friday, April 30 and win one of five copies signed by Karen of the new Spring issue of Quilt Sampler magazine. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 3.

Take a look at these photos from Karen's shop and if you find yourself in the neighborhood, stop by . . . Karen will show you her fabric stash! Enjoy!

The bags have it -- One Pattern, Different Fabrics

Fabrics change the look of everything. If your den needs refreshed, simply sew up some pillows in brightly colored fabrics. Don't like that skirt in gray? Make your own out of fabric that speaks to you and add a bit of confidence to your walk.

The ladies at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, producers of high-qaulity sewing and quilting consumer shows, took the plunge and decided to dust off their sewing machines, engage with some beautiful Rowan and FreeSpirit fabrics and a fun Kwik Sew pattern, Metro bag 3805.

The results are as unique as the ladies themselves. Best part, one of the creators had not sewn in quite some time. Making the bag, she says has got her wondering. How many of us have the skill to sew, used to have mutliple projects in the works but somehow sewing has lapsed in our memories. Great fabric and nicely designed patterns are a source of inspiration . . . and a bit of comraderie sure does help.

Why not challenge yourself and your friends to take fabric, thread and a pattern or two, and compare the results. Not only will you end up with a great new bag, outfit or quilt, but you'll have great fun in the process!

The Art Quilt Gallery Opens; Exclusively focused on quilts

Next time you are in New York City, stop by The Art Quilt Gallery, a brand new gallery exclusively focused on a single art form; quilts. The premier exhibit running now through May 27 is Daphne Taylor's Line Drawin gs. The opening of the gallery and Daphne's exhibit was attended by media, potential art buyers, friends, art quilt colleauges and such well known names in the industry like Paula Nadelstern. According to Cathy Izzo, co-owner of City Quilter and gallery director, "The group in attendance was very enthusiastic and we even sold our first piece of art."

On May 3, Daphne will be giving a lecture at the gallery on the inspiration and influences behind her art. Trained as a painter, she has always drawn and sewn. For her, it was a conscious decision to leave painting and study the tradition of quilt making as her creative expression.

Next for The Art Quilt Gallery is a show of works by Noriko Endo, who Impressionist Quilts will be featured from June 16-August 6.

Click here to view photos from the Gallery opening.

On The Road, Quilt Shops for your Travel Plans

Our sales manager, Mike Roberts, has been traveling in New England to quilt shops which feature our FreeSpirit and Rowan fabrics. We thought you might like to see photos from some of the shops. As you plan your vacation, perhaps your travel plans may find you driving past one of these shops. Or, you can always detour just to visit and add to your stash. After all, you can never have too much fabric.

Pictured left is the Water Wheel House in Londonberry, Vermont.

These photos are from Stitched in Williston, VT.

One last stop. J P Knit & Stitch, Jamaica Plain, MA.

On-line Sewing Tutorial featuring Jennifer Paganelli

Rick-Rack: Thread-Therapy for Sewers kicks off its new season of affordable on-line sewing video tutorials with a class featuring the incredibly talented FreeSpirit designer Jennifer Paganelli.

The on-line class is Mary Fancy's Sash Dress featured on the cover of Jennifer's newly released book Girl's World , 21 sewing projects to make for little girls (Chronicle Books).

Register today through May 12, 2011 and join Jennifer and Girl's World pattern maker and sewing expert Dolin O'Shea on May 15, 2011 for this exciting on-line sewing video tutorial. What you will learn:

• How to make a child size dress with a sash.


• How to fold, cut and press single fold bias tape.


• How to gather a skirt into a bodice.

Register today and receive an autographed copy of Jennifer's book plus sew much more!

Cover your Kindle! Free Tutorial!

If you are a Kindle user, this is the project for you! Melissa from 100 Billion Stars has put together this great tutorial that will ensure your Kindle stays safe in a very cute way. Most people don't just sit at home reading on their Kindle, but like to take it to the airport, use it on the beach and in the park. This case makes it so easy to throw in your bag without the Kindle being damaged or scratched! It is such an easy project that you can make it in several different fabrics and colorways to match each of your bags! You can also embellish it with decorative buttons and beads which really makes it unique and an expression of your style. So check out the tutorial and enjoy!

Jenean Morrsion Featured on Sew4Home

FreeSpirit artist Jenean Morrison is featured on the daily website dedicated to stylish home decor sewing, Sew4Home. This is the first in our Artist Trio with the good people at Sew4Home. Read how Jenean's artwork is on everything from rugs to stationary to fabric. An accomplished painter, you'll learn her paintings are in over 300 rooms at the new Aria Hotel at City Center in Las Vegas as well as in numerous rooms at the Mirage Hotel.

Stay tuned because later this week she will have a guest tutorial on Sew4Home and then, at the end of the month, FreeSpirit will be giving away some goodies on the Sew4Home site including some of Jenean's new fabric Silent Cinema (due in April).

Visit, comment and just have some fun getting to know Jenean!

One Million Pillowcase Challenge - Get Involved!

At Westminster Lifestye Fabrics, we know Quilting Changes Everything. The good people at American Patchwork & Quilting know this too and have challenged quilters across the globe to help make a difference in their communities by simply making pillowcases; One Million to be exact.

Check your local quilt shop to see if it's participating in this fun, charitable cause and then get sewing. Clean out your stash, or buy some nice new FreeSpirit fabric. Designer Tula Pink decided to take her newest collection, Prince Charming (due out in May), and make one of the featured patterns on the One Million Pillowcase Challenge website.

Read Tula's story about making pillowcases at her local quilt shop and the joy kids get from cotton quilting fabric, thread and a bit of your time.