Hey everyone! I hope you are having a fabulous day despite it being Monday. Amy and I made it home safe to WI from the 2022 Sauder Village Quilt Show in OH, just in time to enjoy a little bit of spring sunshine over the weekend. I really enjoy going to quilting events because not only do I usually get to teach (which I love to do), we also get the opportunity to meet and talk with a ton of new people and fellow stitchers from all over the country! Though attending big shows is definitely a lot of fun, it’s always nice to get back home after a long trip.

Today is another beautiful, but windy day as a warm front is pushing its way through the state. I hear it’s supposed to be 90 by mid-week but I won’t be around to see it since I’m headed out to NV with Nick to visit Val in Las Vegas. We’ll be out there for a week or so as Val and I wrap up the final details on our much anticipated “Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-Along,” which is a quilt Val designed based on my new Garden Gatherings fabric line. This online tutorial with Val and I will start sometime in June/July, 2022. Keep an eye on my blog for the actual date, which will depend on the arrival of Garden Gatherings to our warehouse. We will also be making a post about what you’ll need (patterns, rulers, etc) for the Stitch-A-Long in the near future. If you’d like more information on participating in “Meet Me in the Garden,“ hit the link below!

If you’re already planning to join us for the “Meet Me in the Garden Stitch-Along” you can pre-order Garden Gatherings fabric now to put yourself ahead of the game. I highly recommend pre-ordering if you have your heart set on making this gorgeous quilt because there is a good chance we may already be sold out of the fabrics you will need for “Meet Me in the Garden” by the by the time the Stitch-A-Long event starts. So in other words, if you’re able to pre-order now, please do to avoid running into potential availability issues!

With me being gone all last week, Jess and the girls stepped up and handled, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ on Thursday for me. Jess started out by talking a little bit more about my “O’ Say Can You Sew” Quilt-Along. For those of you who have been following along we are currently on Clue #2, which is available for FREE download by clicking the link below now through June 6th, 2022. Clues are FREE for one month after they are posted. When the next clue is posted, prior clues can be found by visiting the “O’ Say Can You Sew Clue Archive“ by clicking HERE. Once Clues are no longer free, they are $5.00 per download.

I have been getting a lot of questions on how many blocks you will actually need for Clue #2 so let me try to help clarify. Pretend that what is in the picture below are the pieces of ONE COMPLETE block that will be sewn together. ONE COMPLETE block is made up of 4 hourglass units that look the same. You need to make 31 COMPLETE blocks for this Clue, which means you are going to need 124 total hourglass units (31 x’s 4 = 124). Hopefully that makes sense! If you’re still having trouble, feel free to call the shop at 920-722-7233 for additional help.

Are you doing your quilt completely scrappy or are you sticking with the red, white, and blue theme I’m going with for mine? There are so many possible outcomes for this quilt, which is part of what makes it so much fun and a real scrap buster! If you’re running out of scraps and need of more fabric as we move along through this Quilt-Along, don’t worry! We still have red, white, blue, and cream/tan bundles available that are perfect for this project. You can find those along with past clues for purchase on our website!

Next up I want to thank all of you who have already mailed in your Hogs for Heroes Flag blocks already – you are amazing! To date we already have about 100 of these Flag blocks in the studio which means we still need about 500 more. If you missed my original call-out for the blocks, let me explain the details. I came up with this idea to add to our efforts in helping Hogs for Heroes. I’m calling it my “secret mission!” My goal is to produce and collect as many Flag blocks as possible by June 15th, 2022, which will then be used collectively to create a future project that will generate even more funds for Hogs for Heroes – a non-profit organization dedicated to healing the mental and physical wounds suffered by Wisconsin Veterans during the course of active duty. Obviously, I can’t do this alone so I’m asking for your help to reach my goal!

If you would like to participate by making and donating blocks to this mystery mission, please send your finished piece(s) to us no later than June 15th, 2022. We’re super excited to get started on this, so if you can get your blocks to us earlier (June 1st, 2022 would be ideal) that would be even better! All of us here at Primitive Gatherings will be helping to combine your creativity together into their final form. You can find a printable PDF of the instructions and pattern for the Hogs for Heroes flag blocks by clicking the link below!

Once you’re ready to submit your donated pieces, please package and send your blocks to:

I know we’re going to hit our goal but we have a ways to go! Feel like making two, or three? Even better! I will take all the help I can get – anything for our veterans! If you would like to know more about Hogs for Heroes follow the link for more information!

And now… Let’s talk about something that many of you have been very anxiously waiting for – the famous Pokèmon quilt! If you have kids in your life, this quilt is simply a must have. For decades, people all over the world have been enchanted by the unique and colorful characters of this popular game. Imagine how cool it would be to have such an awesome tribute proudly displayed on a bed or as a wall-hanging in the playroom – easily making any child the coolest kid on the block!

My grandson Jace and I love to look at this quilt together while he tells me about each character and which ones are his favorites. With over 100 bright, bold colors popping against a mid-gray background, this quilt really gives you a lot to think about! You can choose between a Bella or flannel backing when ordering. For mine, I chose a flannel backing to make it nice and soft for cuddling up with – perfect for Saturday morning cartoons (remember, you will receive a 20% discount on the backing if you purchase it at the same time as the kit)! Finished, this quilt is a nice size, measuring 72″ x 84″.

I know you have just the kid in mind for this super cool quilt, so what are you waiting for? Jess has put together kits for this fun project, but unfortunately supplies are limited. As of today we still have a few left, but they’re definitely going fast. Don’t risk missing out, order while you can! Feeling like you want to do this project but like you might need a little guidance? You’re in luck! My video tutorial starring myself and my official Pokèmon consultant Jace released today and can be found on my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ YouTube channel – click below to watch!

Last but not least I wanted to share one more tidbit of great news – “Starlight Gatherings“ pre-cuts are finally IN stock and ready to go to their new homes! If you haven’t already seen it you are really in for a real treat with this new line. Many of you know I live out in the country, which means that it gets pretty dark at night. The lack of city lights means much brighter stars and a dark, wide-open sky. The view of the night sky is absolutely amazing at my place, which is why it was the total inspiration behind these designs. Both the book and pre-cuts are available to purchase now in the shop or on the Primitive Gatherings website. You can also watch me go through each quilt featured in the book piece by piece, by watching the trunk show replay on “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” by clicking HERE.

Well, folks I’m off for now. I am determined to not let this trip turn into all work and no play so I’m putting my computer away for the rest of the day! Don’t worry, I’ll be checking in periodically here on my blog throughout the week… and I may or may not pop in with Val during, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ on Thursday at 1PM CST, so I hope you’ll be tuning in for that. Don’t forget to like and comment on both my blog and YouTube channel. I love to hand out prizes and you could be next just for telling me what you think! Do you have any special kids in your life that will be getting a Pokèmon quilt hot off the press? What other character themes would you like to see in upcoming projects? Let me know! I’m always curious about what you’d like to see more of. I will see you all soon but until then, do your best to stitch every day! It always makes everything better. ~Lisa