Author: lisabongean

I live in Butte Des Morts, WI, Married to Nick, with 3 sons, Lance (forever 29) , Luke 31and Jake 30 I am a quilter, rugger, gardener and I also love to cook when I get the chance...

Tune In to, “A Quilting Life” Podcast with special guest – Me!

Hi All! I’m back in WI safe and sound and already working on what seems like a zillion upcoming projects! One of the first things I managed to tackle since being back is my guest appearance on the podcast, “A Quilting Life Podcast – Episode 47” with Sherri and Chelsi.

In this podcast, we discuss how I first got into quilting and how that led me to eventually open up my own quilt shop and retreat center. I also talk about how I became interested in quilting as a young mom, the beginnings of my business and quilt shop shop Primitive Gatherings, my quilting retreat house, “The Gathering” and my family’s participation in starting the business. I also preview of some of my upcoming fabric lines and talk all about the Stitch-A-Long I plan to have this upcoming spring/summer, so don’t miss it!

If you would like to listen in just hit the link below! I will see you later this week with more photos from my trip, an update on my most favorite patient at Anchor Point, discussion on recent fabric releases and more! See you soon everyone!

 

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Need Ideas for Valentine’s Day?

Every year I look forward to Valentine’s day just as much as I did when I was a little girl. One of my favorite memories of this holiday is that every year my dad would never fail to give me a small, heart-shaped box of chocolates. He started this tradition when I was a small child, and kept it going long after I was grown. Because of him there will always be a special place in my heart for Valentine’s Day.

These days I still find a lot of joy in celebrating Valentine’s Day by creating things by hand for the special people in my life. Over the years I have designed and collected a ton of cute things that are perfect ideas for hand-made Valentines. Some of my absolute favorites are these cute little bowl fillers that I call Valentine Sweethearts.

They are fun, easy, and quick! To make it even easier, we have kits for these ready to go! We also offer them in more neutral, earth-tone colors that work great if you want to keep them out a little bit longer.

Another fun project that I really enjoy is my, “Love is All You Need” Valentine Hangers. You can hang them on the wall, clipboard or wooden stand, making them easy to display in any room!

This pattern offers both a light or dark versions, so if you have two Valentines in your life, this dual color option is the perfect solution!

If you adore wall hangers like I do, then you’ll also love this next one. I call it, “Love Each Other.” It’s made using our hand-dyed wools and beautiful flannels. Finished size is 11 1/4″ x 11 1/4″ making it a perfect to display on a clipboard or wall.

If you don’t have the table space for standing decor, these, “Day of Love“ stuffed hearts look adorable hanging from a door knob or hook. These aren’t my design but I think they are so cute!

If you’re thinking that your Valentine deserves something a little bit more on the larger scale, consider a red and white quilt! With our Red & White Quilt Challenge in full-swing, many of you are probably trying to decide which pattern to choose for your entry. My, “Love is All We Need” quilt is the perfect choice for both!

This quilt is 54″x 63″. You will need 4 yards of fabric for the backing. If you order the backing at the same time as the kit you will get a 20% discount on the backing! The pattern is not included in our kits, but can be ordered separately.

If you love red and white but want a quilt you can display for Valentine’s day or anytime of year, be sure to check out the book, “Red & White Quilts – Volume 1.“ This book features 14 of our generation’s top designers, who share their takes on red-and-white quilts – ranging from vintage-inspired beauties to more modern styles. From patchwork to appliqué to English paper piecing, designers including myself, Sue Daley, Kim Diehl, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Carrie Nelson, Camille Roskelley, and Jen Kingwell offer a one-of-a-kind collection sure to inspire you to create your own legacies in red and white!

Already have volume 1? The eagerly anticipated sequel, “Red & White Quilts II“ is coming! This volume features 14 red-and-white quilt designs that check all the boxes! It includes antique, classic, contemporary, and many styles in between. Designers include myself, Lissa Alexander, Jessica Dayon, Nancy Martin, Sherri McConnell, Debbie Roberts, Gerri Robinson, Pat Sloan, Helen Stubbings, and Karen Styles (Pre-order only. Remember, pre-order items need to be ordered seperately and should be the only item in your cart. Anticipated shipping date at this time is May, 2022).

Red and white quilts have captured the hearts of quilters throughout the years. No matter if you choose to display them strictly at Valentine’s day, or all year-round as art pieces in your home, these red-and-white quilts are sure to be adored and loved for years to come.

Well everyone, I sure hope you’re ready for Valentine’s day since it’s only a few weeks away! If you need more inspiration or would like to see all the great Valentine’s items we have here at Primitive Gatherings, hit the link below for more great gift ideas!

If you missed, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean“ yesterday, you can watch it by hitting the link below. Jess and our new shop manager discuss new winter store hours, upcoming retreats and workshops, new fabric arrivals, shipping updates, cotton box information, and of course some more great ideas for Valentine’s day!

As much as I’d love to stay in Nevada with Val until all the snow back home is melted and gone, I will be back in wintery Wisconsin next week. Until then, stay warm and happy stitching!

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Live with Jess and Special Guests Lisa & Val!

Hi friends! It’s day three for me out in Nevada visiting with my good friend, “Vegas Val.” We have had a ton of fun so far catching up, shopping and exploring. I always look forward to seeing Val in her element at the Christmas Goose. I love watching such a talented person share her ideas and skills with others! Of course I also snuck in a bit of browsing while I was there and didn’t leave without a few purchases in hand to bring home with me.I can’t wait to get started on these patterns I found at the Christmas Goose. Isn’t this pencil holder adorable? I feel like there might just be a couple of lucky kids who might be getting one of in the very near future…

We even got a chance get outside for some fresh air and sunshine yesterday. We spent the day at Lone Mountain Trail where we hiked a couple of miles around the mountain. We didn’t go all the way to the top this time but it’s definitely on the agenda. The summit is about 600 feet above the surrounding homes making the view at the top absolutely beautiful! You can see the city below all the way out to the mountains in the distance. The scenery is definitely different than what I’m used to in WI. The weather was clear and the temperatures were comfortably in the 60’s. I can’t tell you how good it felt to be outdoors in the sun without a big, bulky coat on! I’m not letting myself get used to it, however, since I’ll be back to reality in a few days.Val’s new home is absolutely gorgeous so we’ve also spent a considerable amount of time there, catching up and brainstorming together. Sometimes all it takes to reset my mind is time well spent with a good friend and fellow stitcher. We all need to make more time for that! If you need a great place to gather with your stitching friends, consider a retreat at The Gathering! We have a variety of day classes available and several multi-day retreats coming up! You can still get into our Winter Wonderland retreat that starts on the 26th. Give Jenny a call at (920) 778-8031 to reserve your spot! You can join us for the multi-day retreat or just attend for a day.

If you don’t have the time to get away for an extended amount of time, check out our day-long Sit & Stitch monthly workshops. Classes run from 9AM until 4PM with lunch included! Bring your hand or machine projects to work on among friends! It’s the perfect way to make some progress on any projects you might have going that you need inspiration or advice on.

We also recently added, “Late Night Sit & Stitch” for those of you who’s schedules don’t allow you to attend during the day. Classes run from 5PM – 10PM with dinner included.

Check out The Gathering on Facebook or call Jenny at 920-778-8031 if you’re interested in signing up for any of our upcoming events!

Since I’m not at home, today’s YouTube Live broadcast will be hosted by Jess! We’re all really excited to finally be able to say that all of the homespun fabrics included in our Urban Homestead Gatherings collection are IN, so she’ll be talking all about that. Every designer loves working with homespun so I’m really excited to finally be able to get these books and fabrics out to everyone! If you’re interested in a copy or would like to stock up on these beautiful fabrics, hit the link below!

CLICK HERE for Urban Homestead Gatherings!

I hope you’ll all tune into my LIVE broadcast today at 1:00 CST. We’ll not only be talking about Urban Homestead Gatherings, but also our new winter store hours, our new shop manager, future trunk shows and some really great project ideas for Valentine’s Day! As always, be sure to leave a comment! Have you been to Vegas? Is it on your bucket list? Tell all about it! You can watch, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” by clicking the link below. Enjoy your day everyone, and see you soon!

 

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Winter Wonderland Workshop

As many of you know we put on some really awesome workshops here at Primitive Gatherings, and this January is no exception! The Gathering at Primitive Gatherings is proud to present our 2022 Winter Wonderland Workshop! Come stay with us during this three-day workshop, or join us just for a single day. Classes will run from Thursday January 27th through Saturday January 29th, 9 AM until 4:30 PM (check-in is Wednesday January 26th at 3PM and check-out is Sunday January 30th by 11AM for those staying for the full session).

The workshop includes project kits and classes that I will be teaching, along with a couple of additional classes and projects! Oh, and let’s not forget an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Primitive Gatherings (this tour is only available to guests of The Gathering and not open to the general public)! Dinner will be provided to those checking in on Wednesday night, along with daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch for retreaters attending the entire event! Lunch will be provided if you are attending a single day session.

The weather has been extra nasty out there lately and I’m sure many of you could use an excuse to get out of the house. Look no further, the Winter Wonderland retreat is (almost) here! Don’t wait, spots are limited and going fast so call Jenny at 920-778-8031 to claim your seat. You can also email us at thegathering@primitivegatherings.us to reserve your spot today!

I’m really hoping the sub zero temps will be gone by the time I get back from Vegas, but we all know that’s probably wishful thinking. All I can say is I’m having a great time so far and I am 100% NOT missing such cold weather! Stay tuned to my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” Youtube channel for my live presentation this Thursday. Even though I’m not in the studio this week, Jess and the girls will be sharing our new and upcoming fabric releases that have officially arrived at the warehouse! Of course, Val and I will be “popping in” to join the fun all the way from Nevada as well, so don’t miss us! Hit the link below to watch! See you soon everyone!

 

 

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Does Your Machine Have a Cover? If Not, Here’s a FREE Pattern!

Happy Winter!

I am proud to say that I’m a part of an amazing group of designers who spread the joy of stitching! All of them are listed in the above header. We have been posting on Facebook for weeks about all sorts of fun things! There is one more designer after me on the sewing room topic, so make sure you go to Wool & Cotton Sewcial to see all the stuff happening there!

I really love the sewing room theme. It sure has been fun to update my sewing machine covers, especially since I have a few more machines now than when I made the dark one back in 2004 – that feels like such a long time ago! 

Is it time to update your sewing room? Today you can download this super cute pattern for free by clicking the link below. It’s a fun and quick project that will brighten up any space without a ton of work. This is basically how it goes…You quilt your fabrics, lining, batting and top. Then you cut them apart. Adjust the pattern according to the size of your machine. Do you have smaller machine or a monster? Appliqué on the front if you desire! Round off the corners. Make bias binding and then pin together the pieces. Apply the binding to both sides and trim the bottom edge. Then bind the bottom edge – it really is quite easy! We will have a video soon on making a sewing machine cover on our Stitch with Lisa Bongean YouTube Channel so be sure to watch for that!

In addition to the free download, we are selling kits for each version! No printer? We can print the pattern for you for an additional fee if you do not have that capability. Follow the links below to print or purchase!

Click HERE for a FREE Printable PDF!

Click HERE to ORDER a Kit!

Oh…and if you like the quilt shown in the background behind the machine covers, you can get a kit and pattern for that too! Sherrie made a new sample out of cozy flannel. Check out the awesome photos Kali took of it last week after we got a few inches of fresh snow. So beautiful!

I really think this quilt captures the colors of the winter season in Wisconsin just perfectly. I love it! if you would like to purchase the pattern and/or kit for this quilt, simply hit the link below!

Layers of Fun – Flannel Version

I hope you enjoy the new machine cover addition to your sewing room. It really adds a personal touch to have nice a cover for your BFF – especially one you made yourself! Thanks for visiting our blog, store and our social media sites. We sure appreciate those likes! Take care…stay warm…stay inside, and STITCH!   ~Lisa

 

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12 Days Prize Winners

Hi everyone! I hope you all are doing well after the hustle and bustle of the holidays. They really seemed to fly by this year! Now that 12 Days of Christmas, 2021 is in the past we can finally announce our list of selected daily prize winners! I want to thank you all for your comments and kind words this holiday season, your gratitude and encouragement means the world to us. My team and I truly appreciate you!

Below you will find the list of the lucky winners selected from your comments over the course of 12 Days of Christmas, 2021.

Congratulations to all of you – and thank you everyone for participating! If you didn’t win this time make sure to keep leaving me comments here, on my facebook page and on my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube Channel for more chances to win!

As you all know, earlier this week we took a few days here at PG to organize, update our POS system and best of all, to have our holiday party! 12 Days of Christmas takes a ton of work and preparation for each and everyone of us, so it was great to be able to kick back and relax a little with my hard-working crew. First, we had an awesome lunch prepared by Chef Erica and her team. They spoiled us with home-made lasagna, garlic bread, and a huge salad bar.

For dessert there was hot chocolate cake with marshmallow cream layer, chocolate frosting and salted caramel drizzle. Along side that there was apple cider cake cookies with a whipped cider frosting and an apple blue cheese cream pie with almond topping – amongst an array of other holiday treats. I can’t even tell you how good everything was. Thank you Erica, Mic and Pam for all your extra hard work!!! After that we had a gift exchange and a fun game of Family Feud! Nick was the game host and announcer – of course!

It’s always a little sad to see all the wonderful holiday decorations come down to go back into storage for another year. I guess the good news is, that means the days are getting longer and we’re officially headed toward spring…sort of. LOL! You certainly wouldn’t know it by our weather lately. We had little bit of a snow dump yesterday – probably about three to four inches of slick and fluffy – just enough to make the drive to and from work a little hairy. The forecast is calling for even more throughout the day today, just to add to the fun. Ahh, winter in Wisconsin. 

Despite most people’s grumble-grumble about the snow, I know my outdoor winter sports enthusiast friends are tickled pink about it. I can’t deny that it’s not only beautiful, but I’m feeling super inspired to get out and enjoy it more myself! In fact, I’m proud to say that I dusted off my skis this week and headed up to Nordic Mountain in Wild Rose for some night skiing. Downhill skiing was something we always enjoyed as a family when my boys were younger. We always tried to make time for a family ski trip up to the U.P. of MI each year while they were growing up. I really miss those days! I was happy to be on the slopes and out in the fresh air. I need to take more time to destress like that, it was so much fun!

My goal is to get to continue to get outside at least once a week for some exercise and relaxation. I’m also thinking that cross country skiing and snowshoeing may just be in my future….we’ll see! Who wants to go?! I’m even thinking of starting a ski club if I can find enough people interested in making it a weekly thing! Let me know in the comments what your favorite winter activities are and how you fend off your cabin fever!

If you need a winter project, don’t forget about the free download I posted earlier in the week of my, “Streak of Lightning” quilt pattern. It’s a beautiful blue and white quilt, perfect for the frosty month of January! 

CLICK HERE for your FREE Printable PDF of the Lincoln Ladies Quilt Club “Streak of Lightning” Quilt!

Tune in today at 1:00pm on my, “Stitch with Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel to hear me talk more about our great prize give-aways and adventures on the ski hill. See you there!

 

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