It's a Mystery . . . . all of it!

Wow this title is so appropo . . .we are so happy to be back on our blog, spreading the joy and love of quilting with pretty FreeSpirit Fabrics.  First, a great big thank you to our soon-to-be owners Jaftex for keeping this brand alive and our artists and team together. For that we can all be eternally thankful!

Now onto the fun stuff . . . . if you have not heard, there is a mystery brewing.  It's sort of like the game of  Clue but instead of Professor Plum in the Library, it is none other than Kaffe Fassett with his beautiful Classic fabrics, in your local quilt shop.  

If you haven't already, visit our Kaffe Mystery Quilt Facebook Page and enter the Gallery where you can view the excitement of those participating as well as receive clues as to how this quilt will all come together.  If you are a Mystery-maker, post photos of your progress on our Kaffe Mystery Quilt Facebook page and hash tag it #KaffeMysteryQuilt. That # enters you to possibly win fabulous gifts and prizes each month!  You have to be in it to win it though, so post, post, post!

Exeter Sewing Machine Co. LTD. super excited to be a part of the Mystery!

Month One, March, is at your local retailers.  It's not too late to see if you can join in the fun. Until next time, they mystery is yours to solve!

National Sewing Month Featuring Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably, & Liza Lucy

Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably, and Liza Lucy share their sewing story for National Sewing Month!

‘When I first started stitching needlepoint, I had the cheek to send an early tapestry to the Embroiderers Guild for a show they were mounting. It was sent back to me the next day as they were horrified that it had stitches running in two different directions and I thought a good colour arrangement was what was important – a good lesson – I’ve not done it again!’ Kaffe Fassett

‘If in a rush, use your sewing machine but stitching by hand is so much more of a meditative motion. The thrill of cutting up a piece of patterned fabric, mixing it with other colours and standing back to observe your progress is like the opening of a theatrical production and it’s your own creation.’  Brandon Mably

The year is 1972. I am in college. My boyfriend has a king size waterbed. And that bed needed a cover.

 Although I was in college to study and learn, I admit that I spent quite a lot of time embroidering peace signs on my friends' denim jackets.  It was the first clue that I would not be making my living as a clinical psychologist but as a needlewoman.

I had no idea how to make a quilt but it didn't look hard so, I purchased 25 blue and white bandanas.  I hand sewed them together, 5 across and 5 down to make a large square top.  I knew I needed to get batting and backing and thought the best batting would have to be the fluffiest so I got that and a several of yards of red pinwale corduroy for the backing.   I pinned these layers together (I wouldn't have called it pin basting because I didn't know that term yet) and using  a large circular needle and a skein of Red Heart ecru knitting yarn, tied the layers together.

To finish the edge (I didn't know the term binding), I bought satin edging yardage that is normally used to edge wool blankets and hand sewed it on. 

It was the Age of Aquarius and bell bottoms, and beads and I had made my first quilt.  I thought it was a beautiful quilt and it kept us very warm! Liza Lucy

Make sure to sign up for a chance to win fabric from the Kaffe Fassett Collective along with our Coats Quilt+ thread! You will also be entered for a chance to win our Grand Prize giveaway featuring SEW many goodies including a Janome AMH-100 Machine!
ENTER TO WIN HERE!

Artisan by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit

Welcome to milestone new collection by Kaffe Fassett; something he has yearned to bring to you.  Introducing Artisan by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit, a boisterous caravan of color and exotic texture in exquisite fashion and patchwork patterns.

Artisan has been in Kaffe’s inspirational sights for quite some time.  Born from a lifetime of travel and experience in the arts of knitting, needlecrafts, patchwork and textiles, Artisan speaks to a time of simplicity, boldness and high colors which likens to when he first arrived in London in the 60s.

Composed of 100% premium print cottons, hand-dyed batiks, provocative yarn-dyed woven and classic Ikat fabric, Artisan is debuting in two color-ways inspired by Kaffe’s genius for color and specific moments in his worldly travels.

According to Kaffe, the quirky and beautiful combination of a royal blue and brown scarf in an Egyptian market was the basis of Artisan Blue.  Artisan Blue features six hand-dyed batiks including a lovely mottled stripe, modern circles and life-like fronds to name a few; three yarn-dyed woven Ikats with beautifully blended colors; and six colorfully designed premium cotton prints

Artisan Sunny, comes from Kaffe’s attraction to the Orient’s approach to the warm and uplifting tones of color that combine with yellow, reminding him of the vibrancy of an exotic fruit market. This color-way has seven hand-stamped batiks featuring turquoise and orange stamped chess, tonal flags in orange, brilliantly mixed lightening prints and more; brightly woven artisanal Ikats including two lovely traditional checkerboards; and nine vividly thoughtful cottons.

To celebrate this pinnacle new fabric range from Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit, we have sent a few of our favorite bloggers an advanced sampling of these gorgeous fabrics.  Follow along and be inspired to bring your creative dreams to life using Artisan.

Simple Simon and Co.                  9/23/16

Craft Sanity                                 9/30/16

100 Billion Stars                          10/7/16

Bijou Lovely Designs                    10/14/16

Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts              10/21/16

Confessions of a Fabric Addict       10/28/16

Sarah Fielke                                11/4/16

Artisan will be in your local quilt shops in November.  So start your plotting and planning, and make your dream come true, much like Kaffe.  Click here to learn more about Artisan by Kaffe Fassett for FreeSpirit. Enjoy!

Quilters Take Manhattan

Are you a Quilter who wants to take Manhattan?
Education, fun and some top notch talent to inspire all quilters September 23 – 25

The heart of quilting lives in Manhattan, especially the weekend of September 23 – 25 at the Quilter’s Take Manhattan event sponsored by the Quilter’s Alliance.  This weekend serves as the perfect opportunity to learn from some of the best and tour some of the mainstays that make Manhattan the hub of the world.  Who would not want to wander the Garment District with Paula Nadelstern and see fabric through her eyes?  Or take a peek behind the scenes of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned Textile Center. Or how about an After Dinner Pizza Party at Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s loft home and studio? Your friends will be pea-green with envy.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Kaffe Fassett

Best part, on Saturday you can hear from the master himself, Kaffe Fassett with Brandon Mably.  Come hear Kaffe talk of the inspirations behind his work and glean from his color and design genius.  You will hang on his every word and you could walk away with signed copies of his brand new books for purchase; Bold Blooms, a stunning guide and vibrant pattern collection of 25 new patchwork and needlepoint projects, from renowned color expert and quilt and fabric designer Kaffe Fassett, and Quilts In Italy, 20 designs from Kaffe Fassett and his team in striking color combinations including both classic and contemporary blocks.

Brandon Mably

In addition, Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi will also speak at QTM. As founder of Women of Color Quilters Network, Historian and curator, Mazloomi, is in a unique position to bring together quilts for critically successful exhibitions.  Mazloomi discusses the genesis of her latest touring exhibit, And Still We Rise. The exhibition reflects upon significant historical events from the 17th century into the 21st century which affected African American culture.

Even better, the stories continue with the Quilter’s Alliance SOS, Save Our Stories campaign.  Every quilt has a story, one to be shared and to inspire.  The documentation of these stories is paramount to creating an oral and well-archived history of what quilting means to one and all, especially the quilter.  Mark Lapinski will be interviewed by Marie Bostwick as part of Quilter’s SOS, followed by Marianne Fons, who will share one of her quilts to demonstrate another Quilt Alliance project, “Go Tell It at the Quilt Show!" Do you have a quilt story you’d like to share?

For more information and complete schedule of events, click here and for goodness sakes, get out there and take Manhattan with your love for all things quilting!

As part of our sponsorship of Quilters Take Manhattan, we are giving away a QTM Home Ticket. The Home Ticket provides a chance for those who can’t make it to the Big Apple to experience their own home slice of the event. Value of $35 ($30 for QA members). Winners of the QTM Home Ticket will receive in the mail (in late September) a QTM Goody Bag stuffed full of samples and treats from our sponsors, and email links to footage of the Sunday with Sponsors event, the Quilt Match Manhattan challenge and more (emailed in late September).  Comment below for a chance to win! 

Congrats to Havplenty for being chosen as the winner of the QTM goodie bag! Thanks to everyone who participated! 

Summer Time Stash Cleaning!

It’s Summer time and with the days getting longer it's a great time get your stash organized. . . hope that all those UFOs (unidentified finished objects) become what they were intended to be and hope that your stash of fabric, somehow miraculously may dwindle a bit! Dwindle you say? How could that possibly happen when more and more beautiful fabrics are being introduced every minute of every day!

Well our goal is to help dwindle that stash so that you can continue to take advantage of such treasures like FreeSpirit Beauty Queen by Jennifer Paginelli or Lovelorn by Jenean Morrison.  Here is a laundry list of quick ideas guaranteed to bust your stash and make room for some new fabrics!

Create a scrappy anthropology like pillow.  Inspired by an urban ready-made pillow, this uses Rowan Kaffe Collective fabric but certainly any color story would work.

 

Tea Towels are a nice hostess gift and or a nice detail to spruce up any guest bathroom. These are made from FreeSpirit Valentine Rose by Tanya Whelan but any floral, shabby chic fabric will do.

Novelty kitchen décor or a little gift for your friend who loves chickens, these Wired Chicks use a tiny bit of fabric for a whole lot of fun décor --  FreeSpirit Fowl Play by Luelle Doss is the perfect fabric for such frivolity.

 

Make this Garden-inspired Tote which can be the perfect complement to a spring shift dress using FreeSpirit Secret Garden by Nel Whatmore – a patchy tote with trendy hand stitched detail.

A modern twist on a scrappy idea can be found in the Beechwood Park Quilt featuring FreeSpirit Beechwood Park by Jenean Morrison.  Use any bright and colorful stash fabrics, big and small prints, to create this perfect picnic or veranda throw.

Create coasters customized to match your décor. A linen/cotton blend, like FreeSpirit Novella, looks classy but yet is totally machine washable and totally only requires less than half a yard of fabric to create four.  

Last Round of Pics from Houston Market

Amy Butler's booth. Vibrant colors and great items tucked in each corner.

Pictures show upcoming patterns that will be coming out next year.

This couch cover is a great way to spice up a dated piece of furniture.

Amy's 'Sexy Hexy' quilt that is a free pattern

Annette Tatums mannequin that was an artistic way to show off her new fabric collection House.

Brandon Mably, Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs booth that was a great display of all of their fabrics.

Rebel quilt by Scott Hansen from the collection Rebel by Douglas Day. This was quite the conversation piece at market!

All of the Hallmark quilts.

Scott Jarrard in his booth with wife Amanda showing off his new collection Boogie Monsters.

Hey everyone! Now that we are back from quilt market, we have lots to share! We want to hear all about your opinions, likes/dislikes as well! All of our pictures will take a few posts so make sure to stop back by for more eye candy! Also, some of the pictures are not the best quality so we apologize in advance!

Are you as obsessed with this chair as much as we are?? Let's just say we were trying to slip it in to the Westminster Fibers crates to take home but we could not get it past Kaffe.

Heather Bailey showing off her new collection, Nicey Jane. Did we mention she won best booth? More pictures of her goodies to come.

Mrs. Anna Maria Horner! A great booth with inspiring ideas and exciting new substrates.

Juliana and Allie, two of Anna's helpers. Juliana, on the left, is Anna's oldest child and Allie works for Anna. Two great girls that were an awesome help to Anna during the show.

This is Ketra who works with Art of Possibility. A great lady and sported some great outfits from the new Wise Tree collection.

Amy Butler (a little fuzzy) who had an amazing booth! She is wearing one of her newest patterns made out of her new collection Love. More to come!

The Westminster Fibers Finished Product booth with lots of new products coming out soon. If you go to the TrueUp blog here they are giving away a Finished Product kaffe bag until next Wednesday, the 28th that could be yours! So get over there and enter!