Hey, everyone!

Well, well, look who’s turning 60 today… it’s me! I finally hit 60 years old, and I can hardly believe it! Among other things, that means my six-week birthday bash is officially coming to a close this weekend, but I’m not letting the party end without one more surprise for all of you! Before we get to that, however, let me remind you that the final ten of my favorite patterns and designs of all time are STILL AVAILABLE for 40% OFF, now through this Sunday, October 25, 2026! What’s even better is that matching kits — if available — are also 25% OFF, while supplies last!

It has been a lot of fun to revisit my older patterns and designs over the past six weeks, and let me just say, picking “favorites” wasn’t as easy as you might think! I have a lot of designs that mean something to me and that I will always hold dear to my heart, so asking me to pick a fave is like asking which child I love the most. I simply can’t — or, more like, WON’T — answer that question. Some things are best left unspoken! Either way, I hope you’ve spotted an old favorite or two that you forgot about, or maybe even discovered something new to try on for size. Still need to take a peek? Click the button above to shop (and if for some reason the link breaks again like it did earlier in the week, please visit our website at https://primitivegatherings.us/lisas-picks/ for the current picks)!

I hope you’re ready for the grand finale surprise of my six-week birthday celebration, because here we go! As always, I love celebrating my birthday by giving presents to all of YOU! This year’s gift was actually inspired by my lack thereof… let me explain. For whatever reason, I’ve been feeling especially Halloweenie lately and while decorating my house for fall a couple of weeks ago, I realized that I straight-up do NOT have enough Halloween décor. Sure, what I do have has been fine for years past, but something lit a spooky fire under my… skeleton… this year, and I decided that what I currently have simply does not do my house the justice it deserves. So what’s a girl to do??? It’s a real problem with only one natural solution — design more Halloween décor! That’s when my idea for Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee was born!

There’s nothing overly cutesy about the traditional-looking jack-o’-lanterns I used on Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee, which is why I think I like them so much! They’ve got attitude, they’re mischievous, and those big toothy grins have the same kind of sassy energy that I’m feeling as I celebrate turning 60 flippin’ years old (I still can’t believe it)! This wicked-cool table mat is a 23″ x 23″ wool appliqué project made with a combination of our Mill-Dyed Wools and our exclusive Primitive Gatherings Hand Dyed Wools. The textured black background makes the Firebird Orange jack-o’-lanterns and fall leaves really pop, while the stems and vines are stitched with my some of my favorite Valdani threads. It’s a fun combination of rich, moody black, bright orange, and just the right amount of Halloween spirit to make it the perfect birthday project — Lisa Bongean style!

Kits are available for Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee both instore and online by clicking the button under the image above! Not a huge Halloween fan? That’s OK too — not everyone is! Orange and black are a Halloween classic color combination, but nobody’s forcing you to follow any rules here. Feel free to experiment with a different color palette that better complements your fall décor, or change the background wool to give the design a more personal touch. You could also skip the jack-o’-lantern faces altogether for a more traditional autumnal look, letting the appliquéd pumpkins and leaves be the stars of the show. Do whatever floats your boat… it’s all up to you!

Did someone say cake? Well, actually… if we’re keeping it real, it’s more like cakeS! I swear, between the huge one down in the lunchroom for staff to share, several types of cake over at The Gathering (including strawberry cheesecake AND tiramisu – OMG), the beautifully decorated mini cake that was ordered especially for me from our caramel maker, Vande Walle’s (thank you to the girls for that one!), PLUS all the cake being served between several birthday parties thrown in my honor so far this week… I’ve had more cake over the last couple days than it feels like I’ve eaten in my entire 60 years combined! Ahh, what a problem to have — and now it’s Friday night and my actual birthday. All I can say is, it’s party time once again! See you all next week!

P.S. Special thanks to all of you who took the time to wish me a happy birthday, whether by sending a card or gift in the mail, messaging me online, or saying it in person — THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I am really feeling the love this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of this quilting community we’ve built together. We do so much more than share a love of fabric, wool, and thread. From supporting our veterans and Missions of Honor to coming together for other meaningful causes, you continually remind me how much good we can do when we put our hearts and hands to work — and that’s something worth celebrating at any age. I love and appreciate you all! ~Lisa …🪡🧵❤️ …