Hey everyone! As most of you know I recently made a trip out west to visit friends and work on some collaboration projects. I’m excited to say that Val Krueger and I have been hard at work planning our upcoming Stitch-A-Long, featuring Moda’s new Garden Gatherings fabric line (scheduled to release this April/May)! It’s pretty hard to tell that summer is right around the corner considering it’s been below zero here in WI for the last week or so, but trust me – it’s going to be here before we know it. The time is definitely now to start thinking about starting spring and summer-themed projects that you want to get finished before then.

Need an idea for an awesome summer project? The Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-A-Long (finished size = 104″ x 104″) will start in June/July, 2022 and I can hardly wait! This event features an amazing quilt personally designed by Val. Take a look at this beauty…

Seeing Val in action this last week made me even more excited to get started on this gorgeous work of art! The amount of time, planning and preparation that goes into a quilt like this is truly remarkable. This quilt is definitely making itself at home already at Val’s, even if it is still in pieces.

For me, seeing the progress of all my hard work finally coming together is one of the best things about quilting. Each stage has a unique level of excitement as the individual steps come to completion. It’s fascinating to watch so many small elements combine together to form nothing short of a spectacular finished product. I just love it! Look at the amazing progress Val is making so far…

If you would like to participate in our, “Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-A-Long”, we’d love to have you! We will post more information on how to join once we have a better idea of when the collection is going to arrive here at Primitive Gatherings, so keep an eye on the blog for that.

Remember, the Garden Gatherings line doesn’t release until April/May, 2022, but you can pre-order what you’ll need for the Stitch-A-Long in advance! You will need the FQ Bundles of each Garden Gatherings and Garden Gatherings Shirtings, along with a Layer Cake of the shirtings as well. We will also post pattern & ruler details later in 2022 (please remember each pre-order needs to be ordered separately as an individual order – it should be the only item in your cart).

Click HERE to Pre-Order Fabrics for the Upcoming Garden Gatherings Stitch-A-Long with Lisa & Val!

Thankfully, my trip out west wasn’t all work and no play. As you saw in my last post, I managed to do some hiking earlier in the week out at Lone Mountain Trail in Utah with Val. We decided we deserved a spa day after such a journey so we also made sure to make time for that as well. We enjoyed an afternoon of pampering at Red Mountain Resort, which is in the heart of the most abundant and beautiful hiking in Utah and North America. It’s a wonderland of sandstone cliffs and canyons, and the spectacular views certainly did not disappoint. 

I really loved the, “Labyrinth” at Red Mountain – a spiral-shaped, stone-lined path in the desert. The stones that line the path are Arizona River Rock, worn smooth by hundreds of thousands of years of running water. They represent the cleansing and healing energy of water.

The spiral shape of the Labyrinth symbolizes evolution, the never-ending cycle of growth, change, and eternal life. I especially love the sign posted at the beginning. The main message reads, “Enter to let go of what limits you, exit filled with peace and inspiration.” 

After our hike we had a delicious lunch back at the resort. In the true spirit of our healthy hike and spa day, I kept it light with a fresh salad with grilled chicken. The restaurant there was excellent, complete with a menu that focuses on whole foods, local and pasture raised meats, homemade baked goods, sustainably harvested seafood, and delicious desserts all made from scratch – which is something I really appreciate as I have been trying to eat a more clean and less processed diet lately. The venue also offers spectacular desert views, outdoor patio seating and an indoor double-sided fireplace. I mean seriously, twist my arm!

Feeling the warm sun and fresh air on my skin left me wanting more, so a couple days later I got together with friends Diane, Mimi, and Roxanne for a bike ride in Snow Canyon State Park, located close by in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. The park features a canyon carved from the red and white Navajo sandstone of the Red Mountains, as well as the extinct Santa Clara Volcano, lava tubes, lava flows, and sand dunes. It’s just beautiful!I am so thankful that I was able to take the time to get away for a few days. Unfortunately the fun came to an end and I’ve been back in the frozen Tundra of WI for a few days now – of course my nose is also back to the grindstone! While I would have loved to stay on vacation forever, I have several retreats and stitching events coming up that I need to prepare for, so I had no choice but to give in and come home.

Of course, PG isn’t the only thing demanding my attention at the moment. As many of you know, my partner in crime Nick is officially on the bench until further notice! Yes, that’s right, Nick is out of commission as he heals from his total shoulder replacement surgery last Thursday.

Despite the pain, he has been in good spirits and a well-behaved patient so far. I took him to his first physical therapy appointment Monday and he reports that it, “wasn’t too bad.” Of course they sent him home with a stack of exercises to do throughout the day to keep things moving along and healing correctly. He says that the most difficult thing so far is finding a comfortable way to sleep – especially now that his nerves have started to “wake up.” All-in-all the surgery was a success and the doctors expect him to be good as new in no time. I will keep you updated as he goes through his healing process. So far, so good! 

I’m sure you noticed that I didn’t have time to do a LIVE presentation on YouTube this week. Between being out of town, Nick’s surgery and the Winter Wonderland Retreat coming up this weekend at The Gathering, there just aren’t enough hours in the day! Speaking of the Winter Wonderland Retreat, we still have a couple of spots open if you’re looking for something to do in the middle of this cold-snap! 

The retreat includes classes personally instructed by me, project kits, additional winter crafts and classes, an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Primitive Gatherings, an official swag bag, and a gift card for the quilt shop! Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner is also provided. For our daily students, lunch will be provided. Check-in is Wednesday January 26th, 2022. Classes are from 9AM until 4:30PM Thursday the 27th through Saturday the 29th. Check-out is by 11AM Sunday morning.

There’s still time to get in on this awesome retreat! If you’re interested in joining the fun, call Jenny at The Gathering at 920-778-8031 to register. You can also email thegathering@primitivegatherings.us to book your spot! 

If you missed Val and I on my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel last week, don’t worry – you can still watch by hitting the link below! Jess and the girls hosted, and Val and I popped in as special guests! We discuss a few announcements, Valentine’s Day project ideas, and of course my trip out west. Check it out!  See you soon everyone!