Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the grind after yet another awesome weekend that felt way too short! I’m always glad to get back into the studio, but as much as I love being in my happy place at Primitive Gatherings, there’s something about Mondays that makes me wish I could have squeezed a little more out of Saturday and Sunday — especially with all the hot and sunny weather we’ve been having! Summer is short, and while some people spend it chasing lazy days and sunsets, I spend it chasing just the right amount of balance between family time, stitching time, and ME time. And while I know I make getting it all done look easy on the outside, checking everything off on my daily to-do list can definitely be a challenge… I’m sure many of you can relate!

Juggling a full summer schedule and still finding time to get creative can seem impossible, but my latest addition to my “Weekend Edition Quilt Series,” Cider and Spice says otherwise! This bold and beautiful design proves that simple quilts with big shapes can also be stunning. Big, no-nonsense pieces come together fast, and whether you go full-on fall with my Pumpkin Spice Gatherings line (or raid your stash for something totally different), this pattern still plays nice. It’s quick, satisfying, and won’t hijack your entire life — just a weekend!

If you haven’t heard of Pumpkin Spice Gatherings and you love autumnal fabrics like I do, you’re in for a treat! This beautiful autumn-themed cotton collection features 40 SKUs, plus a panel. Its colorful, fall-inspired palette includes soft creams combined with a variety of blacks, purples, tans, reds, oranges, and greens. Prints like stripes, fall leaves, tone on tones, itsy ditsies, and a border print blend together just right… Simple, balanced, and exactly what you’d hope for in a fall fabric line.

As for the pattern for Cider and Spice, I’ve included instructions for two sizes: 60″ x 60″ (will require 4 yds of backing), or you can add the extra border for a finished size of 90″ x 90″, (will require 6 yds of backing) — so whether you’re after something cozy for the couch, or a bold seasonal statement for the guest room, you’ve got options. This one isn’t fussy or time-consuming, which makes it ideal if you’re squeezing in sewing between vacations, yard work, or just soaking up those last golden weeks of summer. It’s a great reminder that a quilt doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful—it just has to get finished!

Before I sign off, a quick heads-up: if you’re trying to reach us and your call goes straight to voicemail, it’s because we’re dealing with an internet outage here at Primitive Gatherings and The Gathering that is beyond our control (there are several outages reported in the area at this time). Our phone and email systems are affected, and we’re working on getting everything back up and running as soon as possible, however since the issue is not on our end there is not much we can do but wait.

If you need to get in touch, please email us at store@primitivegatherings.us with your questions or concerns, and we’ll respond as soon as we can. If you’ve already left a message or email, no need to contact us again — helping everyone efficiently means avoiding duplicates! Of course, we send you our utmost appreciation for your patience and understanding, and trust me, we’re working on getting back to you as fast as we can! In the meantime, please watch our Facebook pages and the STITCH with Lisa Bongean Facebook group for updates. Have a great night everyone! ~Lisa