Welcome back! I haven’t talked about what I’m currently working on for a while, so I thought it might be time for a little update. If you know me at all, you know I always have multiple projects going at any given time and this month is no different. Yesterday during my YouTube LIVE show, Stitch with Lisa Bongean I went through each of my active, but unfinished projects one by one to give you an idea of what my ongoing agenda has been like. If you didn’t get a chance to watch it, that’s ok. Let’s go through them again!

First up on my to-do stack is “Stars All Around.” This quilt is one of the projects we came up with for this year’s Summer Blocks of the Week. I always love a quilt with multiple options to consider, and this one does not disappoint. There are two versions of “Stars All Around“ to choose from including Contemporary and Traditional designs. Both versions will be approximately 88″ x 88″ when finished. Kits for the Traditional version are available now on our website by clicking the link below. We are just about sold out of kits for the Contemporary version so you cannot find it on the website, but we do have just enough inventory to fill about 30 more. These kits are available on a first come first serve basis, and supplies are limited. If you are interested in a Contemporary kit, please email the store at store@primitivegatherings.us to let us know. We will do our best to fill the order while supplies last.

The Contemporary version uses only 33 fabrics to create this amazing quilt, including Moda’s Ombre Fairy Dust line. These clever fabrics make the quilt appear as though there are more fabrics being used than what there really is. And for an alternative, unlike the Contemporary version of “Stars All Around,” the Traditional design uses 208 different Reproduction fabrics to create the blocks in this quilt. Pretty cool, right!?

I am also currently working on “Pumpkin Carving Contest,” which is also part of “Summer Blocks of the Week.” How cute is this darling quilt?!? This was so much fun to sketch and design, and  I am beyond happy with how it turned out. I love the different personalities of every single one of those cheeky little jack-o-lanterns! It’s the perfect size for a lap quilt or to display for holiday décor around your home. Finished, “Pumpkin Carving Contest” measures 51″ x 58″.

Want to learn more about Summer Blocks of the Week? Click the button below to read my blog post where I explain it all! You can also call the shop at 920-722-7233 if you have any questions.

Moving along, you all know how I love participating in Quilt-Alongs. Right now I’m involved in a couple that I’m really enjoying. “Heartfelt“ is an awesome fundraising project for Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop. I decided I wanted to participate in this fundraiser because I love helping kids, and Make-A-Wish is a wonderful organization who’s mission is just that. “Heartfelt” is a heart-themed quilt made up of six stunning sampler blocks, each featuring pieced hearts. It was designed by Corey Yoder based on her new Moda fabric line, “Beautiful Day.” For mine I decided to stick with the heart theme, and do my quilt with all Valentine’s Day fabrics that I had left over from last winter. I also decided to do my blocks half the size of what’s featured on the pattern (in other words I did 6″ blocks rather than the 12″ version that the pattern shows).

If you follow the pattern, “Heartfelt” measures 76.5″ x 84.5″ when finished. I’m right on track with this project and have the released blocks 1 through 4 complete. I really enjoy the way the Valentine’s Day fabrics are coming together on this one. Loving what you see? We still have Valentine’s Day fabrics bundles all set to go for this project! You can find the Valentine’s Day fabric bundles by clicking HERE

I’m also working on a fundraiser to raise money for WI Veterans that I’m sure you’ve heard about. I’ve been calling it my, “Mystery Mission.” It’s my latest great idea to generate funds for one of my favorite charities on the planet, Hogs for Heroes. 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!

If you would like to participate in raising funds for Hogs for Heroes by making and donating blocks to this charitable mission, click the link below for the pattern and instructions to get started! One is great, but if you feel like making more we’d love it!!! We only have about half of what we need for this project so far… In other words, we still need more! Please send your finished piece(s) to us no later than June 15th, 2022. We’re super excited to get started on the final project, so if you can get your blocks to us earlier (June 1st, 2022 would be ideal) that would be even better!

To those of you who have already sent in blocks, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! You all continue to amaze me with your talent and generosity every day. Keep up the great work everyone. Our veterans need us!

Since we’re talking red, white, and blue, let’s talk about my O’ Say Can You Sew Quilt-Along! Are you stitching along with me on this one? I am right on track with Clues #1 and #2, and ready for Clue #3 to release on June 6th (remember there is no set time a clue will be released, please keep an eye on my blog throughout the day).

If you’re looking for a good scrap buster project this could be just the ticket!  I’m calling this Quilt-Along O’ Say Can You Sew because I have so many reds, whites, and blues leftover from previous projects. I thought it would be a fun way to get an awesome patriotic quilt out of simply recycling my leftovers. I also thought it would be entertaining to make this a mystery project – meaning you are not going to know exactly what you’re making until it all comes together in the very end! We’re only two clues into this quilt-along so if you’re thinking of joining us you still have plenty of time! You can find all the information you need about O’ Say Can You Sew by clicking the link!

For those of you who are following along and using red, white, and blue, we have bundles made up especially for this project in case you start to run out of scraps. I know some of you decided to skip using scraps all together and have dedicated the project to new red, white, and blue fabrics. These bundles are perfect for that as well.

Are you a Moda Blockhead? Moda Blockheads is a fun annual Block of the Week Sew-Along that includes weekly exclusive blocks created by a group of Moda’s top designers. It features 28 individual designer blocks (mine included – I’m block #7!) and 8 bonus blocks, making 36 blocks in total! Moda Blockheads 4 is in full swing as we’re approaching week eleven. I decided to do both sets of blocks (9″ and 4.5″). My. color choices include “Ochre,” a bright orange Bella Solid paired up with my Urban Farmhouse Gatherings II line.

I really love this color combination – it reminds me Harley Davidson colors! If you’re still contemplating fabric choices for this quilt-along and decide you’d like to do yours like mine, you can find everything you need on our website! To purchase Urban Farmhouse Gatherings II pre-cuts and yardage, click the button below. For Orange Bella Solid “Ochre” (#9900-79) CLICK HERE

Still on the fence about quilting along with MBH4? Don’t be! It’s a lot of fun and the blocks aren’t what I would consider difficult or time consuming. You still have plenty of time to catch up and can do so by visiting the block archive. You can find the archive in the main list of links at the top of my blog page. Additional information and bonus blocks can be found on Moda’s Inspiration+Resources Center page by clicking HERE! If you’re having trouble keeping all the details straight you can also sign-up to receive Moda’s weekly Blockheads blog posts via e-mail there as well.

If you subscribe to our Quilt Box you’re probably familiar with this next beauty,”Revel.” This quilt was inspired by an antique in my collection that I really love. I wanted to pay homage to the cheerful, bright colors and stunning geometric designs that it has, and at the same time change it up a bit. In my version I included a gray background to keep a bit more on the subtle side.

I’m a bit ahead of the game and already have June’s blocks for “Revel” completed, along with the mini versions of each month so far. I think “Revel” is going to be nothing less than stunning when it’s finished and I can’t wait to see the final outcome! The bold solid colors paired with bright and cheerful designs really looks perfect together. “Revel” is not available to the public at the moment because as I mentioned, it is the ongoing, year-long project in our current Quilt Box. If you’re not a member of our Quilt Box subscription but love this quilt, don’t worry! It will be available to the public sometime next year after we’ve moved on to the next Quilt Box subscription year.

Last on the works-in-progress stack is “Dragonfly Dreams,” which is an ongoing quilt project featured in our current Wool Box subscription. “Dragonfly Dreams” is another design inspired by a vintage quilt in my personal collection. I love the combination of wool appliqué paired with different types of hand embroidery and stitching. Just look at the intricate floral design work on this beauty!

My modern version uses more earth toned colors with a color palette that includes blacks, browns creams and grays. If you like this quilt and aren’t currently subscribed to the Wool Box, hang tight! It will be available as a Block of the Month in 2023.

Whew! That’s quite the stack of projects! There is never a lack of things to do in the studio – both at work and at home. But you know what? That’s perfectly ok because I love it! I am truly living my dream every single day and I am so happy that you’re all a part of it. If you’d like to watch the LIVE presentation of my works in progress you can do so by clicking the Stitch with Lisa Bongean button below. Thanks so much for continuing to read my blog and watching me on my YouTube channel. My customers and fans are what keeps us going. My staff and I appreciate every single one of you!

As the holiday weekend approaches I just want to say I hope you have a great time with friends and family. Do you have big plans for the weekend? Let me know in the comments what you and your family will be up to this Memorial Day. I always love hearing about what everyone is doing. Enjoy yourselves and stay safe out there! See you all soon! ~Lisa