Hey gang! Now that Moda Blockheads 4 is over for the year I’m still getting used to Wednesdays without a new block on my desk to finish. After six and a half months it certainly had become part of my weekly routine, and something I usually looked forward to. Since being back from my cruise, finding my routine again is proving to take a minute – not surprising considering I was gone for almost three weeks. My crew did an excellent job of holding down the fort while I was away but of course, there are a ton of things that can’t be accomplished unless the whole team is present – including me – which means I have some catching up to do to get things back to “normal” working order. I’m not worried though, no sense in that. I’m just going to go with the flow and take it a day at a time.

Speaking of great teams, not only do I have a stellar group of people here at PG supporting me, but I also have some of the best customers and friends out there. I want to say thanks to all of you for your continued support and patronage over the years. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I really couldn’t have accomplished so much without all of you! It is such an awesome feeling knowing that my fellow stitchers appreciate my designs enough not only to spend the time and effort it takes to make a quilt, but then to display it in their homes or even gift it to someone else. We all know how special hand-made quilts can be, so the thought of one of my designs becoming someone’s family heirloom is truly humbling and a real honor.

Several weeks ago I mentioned in my STITCH facebook group that it would be cool to see some of the Primitive Gatherings quilts that are out in the world that have won a ribbon or prize in a quilt show, contest, or state fair. Thanks for the great response – and wow, such amazing work! Nothing inspires me more than seeing the creativity and accomplishments of others. I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way so I thought it would be fun to share these wonderful works of art with everyone so that you too can experience them in all their glory. Let’s take a look!

This first quilt, “Twilight Garden“ is by Terri A. from Indiana. If you recall, “Twilight Garden“ was our Summer Block of the Week back in 2019. It is wool appliqué and measures 90″ x 90″ when finished. Terry’s excellent work won her “Best of Show” at the Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show this last June. It took her 19 months to complete it and is one of her favorites to date. I don’t blame her, this is a gorgeous quilt. Excellent work Terri!What do you think, do you love it? I sure do. This quilt is by no means a beginner piece – just look at all that intricate appliqué work! Looking for a project that really shows off your skills? “Twilight Garden” could be just the quilt! If you’d like to make one of these masterpieces for yourself, great news! The pattern and full kit are available by clicking the link below!Next up we have a stunning quilt done by Sonja T. from Nebraska. Sonja took “Best of County” and “Best Block of the Month” in the Senior Division at her local fair, and “Best Overall” in the Senior Adult Division at the Nebraska State Fair with “Wildflower Garden – Scrappy Version.” I can’t say I blame the judges for their choices in the matter – just look at this fantastic work of art! Not only did Sonja put in hours upon hours piecing and sewing the quilt together, she also did the machine quilting herself on her APQS Lenni. That alone deserves an award if you ask me!

At 60″ x 70″, “Wildflower Garden“ is also most definitely not a weekend project. This beauty clearly takes a ton of skill and one heck of a commitment to complete. Then, add all the time it must have taken to quilt it… Just wow Sonja! Kudos to you on your accomplishment. You certainly earned every ribbon they gave you! If “Wildflower Garden” looks like something you’d like to tackle click the link below to order the pattern and kit for your next project!

I hope you’re enjoying these ribbon winning Primitive Gatherings designs so far. As I mentioned earlier, I got a great response when I made my initial call-out for entries, so I have several more to share with you in future posts. I think it’s super important to recognize creativity and talent and to pay homage to those who excel at what they do, so I’d really like to make this a monthly thing. Do you have an award winning PG quilt in your personal collection? I would absolutely LOVE to see it! If you’d like your quilt shown here on the blog please email a photo of it along with your name and state your from to my trusty blog manager Heidi at: heidin@primitivegatherings.us. Please include the story behind the quilt you made, why you chose it, and any bumps in the road you may have encountered throughout the process. Please also include any information you have on the contest/show that it was in so we can make sure to give you proper and accurate credit!

Ooo! I’m excited to see what you send in and can’t wait to celebrate each and every one! I really love to give credit where credit is due, so this will be fun! I’m proud of you all, and your hard work and dedication deserve to be recognized… Hey and you know what? As long as we’re on the topic of deserved recognition, I think we should give away a couple of prizes to say thanks for keeping up with my blog! Cindy J. and Patricia W., it’s your lucky day! As usual, I don’t post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you think you’re a lucky winner this week please be sure to check your email! You can also contact Heidi at heidin@primitivegatherings.us if you have not already received a prize confirmation letter from her. She will use your email address to confirm that you are in fact the winner! Want to be considered for a prize? All you have to do is leave me a comment. So easy it practically hurts…

Alright everyone! That’s it for today but I will be back tomorrow LIVE on STITCH with Lisa Bongean at 1:00 p.m. CST. Set your reminder now so you don’t forget! It’s been a while since I’ve been on so we have a lot to talk about, including upcoming events and trunk shows, the Red & White Challenge, a new quilt-along I’m getting ready to start, some buzz on our new Featherweight Club, and of course my Hawaii trip! You’re not going to want to miss it. Tune in by hitting the STITCH link below. See you all there! ~Lisa