Favorite Baby Quilt Pattern

Storybook Star Baby Quilt

Need a quick baby gift?  Well how about this adorable Storybook Star Baby Quilt?!?  

This has not only been a store favorite but is also a personal favorite.  I've made this little sweetie up in lots of different print/fabric combos over the years and I'm usually a pretty big deal at the baby shower...just sayin'.  A few reasons I like it so much...   First, it's size is perfect for a new baby (approx. 39"x39") and works great as a car seat or stroller blanket.  Second, I only have to select 3 or 4 fabrics and last, it's a free pattern from Moda Bakeshop (the original design featured a charm pack for a scrappier version). 

If you want to create something similar to this version, we can help you select the perfect combination of fabrics for a new little one in your life and share our tips!  We'd love to know if you have a favorite go-to baby quilt pattern.
 

Old World Eggs and Projects

Sunday Stitch with Suz Litzsinger: Old World Eggs

In the upcoming Sunday Stitch 3/20, yep that's March alright - you can learn how to make these beautiful stitched eggs, inspired by Ukrainian Pysanky and lacquer from Kashmir. The color choices can make these full of old world charm or bright spring energy. All from small bits of felt and embroidered motifs, you can add some sequins, beads, or other embellishments for even more detail!

Sunday, March 20th       Class Fee:  $25.00

Noon-2 pm (optional additional hour of stitching from 2-3 pm)

We do have a new stock of wool felts in, some spring colors and of course grape jelly - so there are some new options for eggs if you want to get started filling up your Easter basket.  The pattern is available separately - or you come join us on Sunday!
  

We've been working on a few other project samples - this fun fabric bag combines a charm back and some pre-made handles for a fun finish!  The bag is soft enough to roll up and pack for an extra travel bag or just tote along all the gear to your next retreat!  I was inspired from the tutorials and sample shown on Moda's website - the links are below the photo.  This is the Purebred line from Moda, and includes the great paint by number prints.  We have a few available by the yard, you can choose a great lining for your bag.   

Summer Bag
Free Tutorial at Tilda's World
Also inspired by Moda's Version

And when you need that quick finish - perfect one-size fits all gift?!  A phone charger pocket is just perfect.  The tutorial from Flamingo Toes shows a version that is gussied up with some ribbon and trim - super sweet, see the link below the photo.  I went for a more 'fun'ctional look, featuring martini's and the jail line up...like I said, versatile and useful, no tech skills required.  You may want to compare the project measurements depending on your phone, I took a bit larger seam allowance for my 2nd version.

Easy DIY Phone Charger Holder
Free Tutorial from Flamingo Toes 

And yes, although we won't be skipping over St. Patrick's day entirely - we really do need to get a jump on our Easter decorating.  HOW cute is this combination?  This is a tiny motif size, about 1/2inch - it would be great for gift bags, featured on a table topper or the easy pillowcase.

Bunny Bites by Michael Miller

Flames by Michael Miller

This flame fabric is pretty spectacular - a single border of flames on black.  If you're thinking fab-u-lous cape or more traditional bar-b-que apron, I'm with you.  And of course to round out the empty shelves, we added in some new batiks from Island Batiks - always amazed at the new color combinations and motifs.  

New Batiks

Market and Moda

Although I worked while I was in Houston at Quilt Market, the lines do get a bit blurred between work and play....I can't say that about my prior work travels at all, but this was my 9th trip to Houston and it was a fun treat to attend the dinner party for Moda, celebrating their 40th year.

The president, Mark Dunn had some great words to share with everyone attending, employees and customers alike.  Several Moda designers were in attendance and it was a festive event.  By complete luck of timing, we were seated at a table that included 4 ladies who held a unique place of honor at the event and here is a snapshot of their story....

There are 4 sisters and one next generation niece/daughter that collaborated to make a special gift quilt for Mr. Dunn.  They combined a crazy number of hours of labor (2700+), cross-country coordination (Florida to Arizona), secret access to the Moda fabric vault (who wouldn't want that opportunity) and much goal setting and task keeping went into the creation of this quilt.  The quilt was presented the day before market opened and represents an amazing snippet of fabric history for Moda.

The hand-applique includes a small swatch of fabric from ALL the fabric collections...ALL!  The stashes were combined and that's where the Moda vault was also accessed to fill in the gaps - a 2.5 inch square of each fabric was contributed.  I don't recall the specifics, but these ladies did own an impressive amount of the Moda vault amongst them!



Apparently 2 sisters have identical stitchery skills and they had the task of stitching all the Moda designers names around the perimeter borders.  Another sister took on the challenge to stitch the names of the fabric lines - onto the BACK of the quilt.  Here are some photos - look for more online if you want to see more of this project and it's story.

The quilt back

Thanks so much for sharing dinner and your story ladies!!
Andee Andriole, Candee Ferris, Cheryl Ann Edholm and Mary Andra Holmes

New fabric

We still have a few charm packs and jelly rolls left of the Gardenvale collection - these fabrics offer a wide range of color choices and prints so you can really mix and match.  

Gardenvale by Jen Kingwell for Moda

Reel Time by Zen Chic for Moda

And just in case you're ready to add to your flannel stash in preparation for a quilt back or woodsy quilt - we've got some great new color options to add to your collection.

New Flannel from Marcus Bros. 

We are busy keeping cool and getting ready for some fun classes and summer activities - hope you find some shade and a bit of time for some stitching!

New Fabrics and then some

We are getting some fresh quilt samples hung in the shop...and lots of new fabrics for new summer projects.  And of course the anticipated spring issue of Quilt Sampler has arrived...just in case you need some ideas for where to go on your next outing!  We have a few copies left if you want to grab a little eye candy to keep you company with your morning coffee...or help put you to sleep at night lots of good inspiration to help you dream in quilts.

Bloom from Clothworks

It doesn't get any better than a princess in pink with a unicorn to call her own...or so I've been told. 

Bloom from Clothworks

We still have a couple of charm packs left from the Ladies Album collection but they have really disappeared quickly so don't wait if you are looking for some civil war style pre-cuts.

Ladies Album by Barbara Brackman for Moda

M is for Mystery from Marcus Brothers

We have toile challenge projects hung in the classroom for the rest of the month - they are amazing works of art and no two are remotely similar!  Come and see what creative ideas came about as a result of our toile fabric challenge!  Thank-you so much for participating and ...finishing your projects everyone that shared something.  We'll start a shout-out soon so watch for your name in the headlines.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Packing the shelves!

We are loading the shelves with lots of variety!  Fun and unique prints with a bit of a twist.  We have more to show off soon, and a really cute sample made from the Story Book collection - our charm packs for this group are flying out the door.  

Animal Flannel from Timeless Treasures

Oh my - what little monkey wouldn't look cute wrapped up in these prints?  Or, a shoe bag for travel, or PJ's for late night carousing?

Collections Circa 1852 by Howard Marcus for Moda

This is a gorgeous focal print, and some great carmel tans and browns.  For this group we just have a few key pieces and jelly rolls.

Farm to Fork from Windham Fabrics

Deviled eggs for Easter anyone?  I'm doing a few pot holders for grown up Easter baskets out of this egg print and a fun carrot print that we have...of course, there will be some Easter candy in the pocket of the potholder to make things right!

55/56" Paris Canvas

We had a similar print a while back - it was larger scale than this one, so if you missed out before, or want a print for a sophisticated book bag, this could be the one!

Brushed Cottons from Story Book by Kate & Birdie Paper Co. from Moda

Story Book 

We have some charm packs left - a clothesline of decorated onesies, and a simple star quilt like the one featured on Moda Bakeshop from this group.

Story Book

Farm Stand 

Perfect for a farmer's market tote, apron or picnic tablecloth!

Xanadu Digitally Printed Fabrics from P &B textiles

Lots of New Fabric!

We're in that in between stage...not quite spring, but it sure is feeling like winter is over?!   Something fresh for the stash, or a new take on a basic might be just the thing you need to add to your next project.

Modern Solids from In the Beginning

Mosaic and Palette from Marcia Derse for Windham 

Cosmopolitan from Contempo Studio

Wishes by Sweetwater for Moda

Watch for more great fabrics arriving each week and...fun new projects under development.  If only I had another 12 hours for each day of the week!

Happy stitching!

New and Exciting!

Never too early to start planning your Christmas projects, right? It's a nice thought, anyway! We've stocked up with some of the latest holidays prints and spruced up the Christmas corner...there are a LOT of gorgeous lines! This first one is called Blitzen by BasicGrey for Moda; we've carried lines from them before and they always seem to use the most in-style colors and prints. Don't you just love the grunge prints that work great as blenders? This would make a beautiful holiday throw or apron...they mix just great with lines from previous' years.

This fun print is called Christmas Kitties from Hoffman...don't you just see that as a fussy-cut stocking? Or a pillowcase-that's definitely a quick gift. We have a few more from that grouping, in an aqua colorway (snowflakes and sparkles)...come take a look!

This is our newest little quilt, and we're calling it Crimson Pinwheels...could be a really fun Christmas table topper. With that little bit of cheddar and yellow it could work any time of the year...as long as you like red and green! The pattern is called Puzzles with Nana, from Carol Hopkins Designs, and it finishes at a little over 20 inches square, and we have kits ready to go!

Speaking of new things...we've started carrying DMC Pearl Cotton in a couple different colors (great for big stitch quilting!), as well as a few more varieties of precut papers for English paper-piecing (tumblers, honeycombs, and a few sizes of hexagons, to name a few). Just in case you needed another project to take with you on your summer travels...

Happy Stitching!

Spiced Pears, Anyone?

Aren't these little pears too cute? This is our August pincushion, Spiced Pears...as you can see, it's hard to make just one! They take just scraps to make, plus a little button and a small twig for stem, if you like. We've got the pattern (from Sewn into the Fabric...Pieces of our Lives pattern designers) and some fat quarters ready for inspiration. 

I know, it's a little early...but we just moved some of our new Halloween fabrics from the back corner of the store, up to the front to feature! Only a few are pictured below...there are some pretty fabulous new lines from Michael Miller, Moda, and others. It's not a great photo, so you might have to come check it out in person! Hopefully this doesn't mean that we're jinxing fall to come early this year...

Remember, the plastic bag ban started Wednesday in Bellingham...so under the new requirements we now charge you 5 cents for paper bags as well. Of course, we encourage you to make your own and bring that for show and tell...we've got a cute pattern for a roll-up tote that's quick and easy, and a couple of other tote bag ideas if you need some encouragement.

On another note...if you are looking for something to do this weekend, there is a quilt exhibition that opens on Saturday at the Whatcom Museum - it includes an antique quilt market that is Sunday only, and some related lectures Saturday and later in September.  You'll definitely want to get this on your calendar!  You can find more information here. Normally we aren't open on Sundays during the summer, but this Sunday our hours will be 12-4 if you want to stop in!

Happy Stitching!

Sparkler Time!

It's that time again...our July pincushion is called Vintage Sparkler Posy Pot. Long name but definitely scored on the cute factor, don't you think? Start with a clay pot, add a little stitched pillow and a fabric 'sparkler posy' and you've got yourself a sweet little reminder of summer...or the summer we wish was on its way....  You could distress your pot and ticking pillow to add a bit more primitive flavor if that suits your style. We've got our kits all ready to go!

We've received some great new lines from Moda lately...including this bright group called Tradewinds from Lily Ashbury. Those colors are so radiant, and the fun, tropical-theme motifs would make an awesome tote or apron. The pictures don't do the intensity of the colors justice...you'll have to come in to see them yourself!

This is the latest group from Bonnie and Camille for Moda, called Vintage Modern...there are some FUN colors mixed in. Bright teal, red and pink and all the shades in between...and who doesn't love a good polka dot?? We have layer cakes and a fun layer-cake friendly pattern...time for a new cheerful project?

We recently received a few bolts of extra wide backings...a couple from French General and 3 Sisters, a mottled dark blue and some green leaves...perfect for a painless finish to a big quilt!

Happy Stitching!

Hats and More Hats

Remember our featured pincushion for April? We had those darling hats, one in bright red and mod grey and the other in fashionable brown and black. The pattern designers (The Quilted Fish) also came out with a quilt pattern- too cute to resist, right? Here is the full-size version done up in similar colors to the pattern. We used a solid white for the background, but you could choose a white-on-white fabric for a similar feel...or choose a different colorway entirely! The accents on the hats are made from gathered strips of fabric combined with funky buttons. It was fun to gather up a whole lot of bright fabrics to make a new display. The quilt just takes fat quarters plus some yardage for the background and borders. 

Now if we have a black and brown pincushion...don't you think we need a black and brown quilt? We downsized a bit, and mixed up the hat accents (did someone say feathers and velvet ribbon?). This one is hanging up behind the counter.

This new group comes from Moda, from the designer 3 Sisters. It's called Papillon- gorgeous color combination don't you think? We've got some layer cakes for this group as well.

Happy Stitching!

New Ideas

Now that our sale is over...time for some new projects! 

This quilt has actually been hanging in the classroom for a couple of weeks...and it's been so popular that the main fabrics are nearly gone! The fabrics are from Moda by Barbara Brackman.  The photo doesn't really do it justice...the rusty orange and chocolate brown are so striking. We do have a couple of kits left and the other color option is a beautiful silver sage and dusty blue...Mother's Day gift, anyone?

Speaking of Mother's Day gifts...books are always a good option. This new one from Michele Hill (same designer of the Arts and Crafts BOM program) features applique projects in a William Morris style. 

This new group from Michael Miller features pale blue, green and grey...with a super cute creepy-crawly motif. This is just a sample of the bolts we have in stock...you'll have to visit to see the rest! They'd be really fun in a baby quilt...or a diaper tote?

This funky new line from Moda is called A Stitch in Color...the colors are just so vibrant, they just scream springtime, don't you think? They'd be fabulous in a blocky quilt design.

Happy Stitching!