Author: lisabongean

I live on a lake in beautiful Butte Des Morts, WI. I have three sons: Lance (forever 29), Luke 33, Jake 32, and two grand-babies, Little Man and O-Bug. I've been married to the love of my life Nick, since 1998 when we started our crazy adventure together! I am a quilter, rugger, and gardener. I also love to cook when I get the chance. Thanks for visiting and supporting Primitive Gathering Quilt Shop where I try to bring you the best Moda fabrics and wool projects anywhere!

O’ Say Can You Sew – Clue #7

Wow, can you believe it? We’ve made it all the way through to the final clue release for my O’ Say Can You Sew Mystery Quilt-Along! It feels like just yesterday that we started this little patriotic quilting journey of ours way back in April. If you recall, I came up with the idea for this QAL because I had so many reds, whites, and blue scraps left over from previous projects. I thought it would be a fun and creative way to get an awesome patriotic quilt out of simply recycling my salvage. And because I love to torture you, I also thought it would be entertaining to make this a mystery project – meaning participants did not know exactly what they were making until, well… today! I know many of you are eagerly waiting for the final clue and that you are more than ready to get your hands on it, so let’s get going!

I want to say thanks to everyone who kept up with this QAL all the way through! I understand that a mystery quilt isn’t necessarily everyone’s favorite, so kudos for sticking it out til the end. Clue # 7 consists of the sashings and cornerstones for the quilt, which create little star shapes between the blocks. To complete Clue # 7 you will need 142 1 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ light sashing strips, and from the dark colors you will need 80 1 1/2″ squares for the star centers (40 blue and 40 red). You will also need 640 1″ squares for the sashing points. Whether you choose to go the controlled route or decide to get scrap crazy, using the sew and flip method makes this clue a cinch to assemble! Overall it might seem like a lot of work but trust me – it’s not hard, you just have to do it. In the end you’re going to end up with a gorgeous quilt to show for it! To get your pattern and full instructions for Clue # 7 click the button below!

More of a visual learner? Don’t forget you can always tune in to my online video tutorial where I walk you through step-by-step how to cut and complete Clue # 7. Watch by simply clicking the link below! And by the way, even though we’re near the end I know some of you might be just about running out of scrap fabric in your stash, so we put together some fat quarter bundles that will be just the right amount to get you through to the end. We have blues bundles of 12 fat quarters for $30.00 per bundle (that’s two FREE! – get those by clicking HERE!), and cream bundles of 12 fat quarters for $35.00, which you can grab by clicking the button below! We are currently no longer offering reds in these special OSCYS bundles due to low stock, but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re all caught up.

Clue # 7 is available as a FREE download now through Monday November 7th, 2022. After that, it will be available to purchase on our website for $5.00. If you’re just joining me on this Quilt-Along there is still plenty of time to catch up! Links to all released clues are listed in the O’ Say Can You Sew Clue Archive, which can be found in the main menu at the top of this page, and purchased for $5.00 per download.

Alright everyone. It’s another short and sweet post today. I’m about half way through my cruise and finally starting to feel settled in. I have a feeling I’ll be feeling pretty well at home just in time for them to tell me I have to get off the boat LOL! I hope you all are finding ways to keep yourself busy while I’m away – like wrapping up your finishing touches on your Red & White Challenge quilt entry perhaps? Oh! That actually reminds me to remind everyone that is planning to send in entries for the Red & White Quilt Challenge to please remember to include all required paperwork with your quilt! We’re starting to get some quilts arriving for the contest and a couple of them came with zero info! If we don’t have your information, we can’t enter you into the challenge! Also – please be sure to read through all requirements thoroughly so you don’t miss any of the details. We want every entry to make it into the show! Talk to you all soon! ~Lisa

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Red & White Gatherings Trunk Show – Part II

Hey hey! Back again for part II of my Red & White Gatherings virtual Trunk Show! If you’re just tuning in, yesterday I kicked off a two-post virtual trunk show here on the blog showcasing all the projects included in my newest book release, Red & White Gatherings (if you missed it, you can get caught up by clicking HERE!). We managed to get through the first half of the book in yesterday’s post, so let’s get down to tackling the remaining half!

Picking up where we left off brings us to “Starry Eyed.” You’ll have stars in your eyes when you see “Starry Eyed“ – It’s like love at first sight! If you love to give quilts as gifts, this beauty is just the ticket. Perfect for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, during patriotic celebrations, or any time of the year. Whether you do it with two fabric choices or opt for scrappy style, you can’t go wrong with a quilt like “Starry Eyed“ – especially if you’re a fan of half-square triangles like I am. If you’re NOT good at them but want some practice, “Starry Eyed“ is definitely your guy! The final measurement on this fantastic specimen is 75″ x 90.”

Next up on the Red & White roster is “Love Triangle.” Nobody can blame you for getting caught up in this love triangle. Heck! I say do what makes you happy and treat yourself to some fun and adventure with this monster of a quilt project. With an extra large finished size of 114″ x 114,” “Love Triangle“ is perfect for that oversized queen or king sized mattress you can never a find large enough covering for. This massive masterpiece uses nine different fabrics, and is another great opportunity to perfect your half-square triangle skills. Despite its large stature, “Love Triangle“ is super simple and constructed of only nine total blocks. Is it lots of sewing? YES! But that’s what we love, so I guess it’s a win win!

Once you get your “Love Triangle” figured out, it’s time to put a ring on it! It don’t mean a thing, if you ain’t got that ring… That’s how the song goes, right? LOL “Diamond Ring“ is another quilt inspired by one of the many antiques in my personal collection. This “gem” of a quilt uses the stitch and flip method making it beginner friendly and easy to do, but still yielding stunning results in the end. The pattern calls for one darker red for the outer ring of each block, with a lighter red for the star shape in the center giving it visual “POP” off the background. Finished size on “Diamond Ring“ is 64″ x 80″ when complete.

Do you need a hug? How about a BEAR HUG? The paw is the law on this gorgeous piece. If you love RED, I have a feeling this bear of a quilt is going to be your favorite project in the book considering it’t the only red based design in the entire collection. Reason being, antique quilts were more often white with red accents rather than the other way around. I decided to get a little crazy and do the opposite. See? I keep telling you I’m a rebel… If you love a good bear paw quilt, “Bear Hug“ certainly does not disappoint. Finished size is 81″ x 96″.The last, but certainly not least quilt project in the Red & White Gatherings book is called “Starling.” With its petite size and large feathered star proudly displayed smack dab in the middle, you can’t deny that “Starling“ is simply darling, and a must-have for your red and white collection. Who doesn’t love stars? Who doesn’t love half-square triangles? And who doesn’t love those things combined? Of course we had to make this one stitch and flip simple as well because – why not? It’s just makes things so much easier. I’m a firm believer in working smarter, not harder and try to steer away from making more work for myself at all costs. It’s one of the secrets to conserving precious energy and staying on task! At 60″ x 60″ “Starling” is a nice size to use as a lap quilt, and would look stunning hanging on a wall or from the back of a loveseat or porch swing.

Just when you thought we were done, there’s more! Red & White Gatherings also includes two additional pillow/wall décor projects that are sure to melt your heart. If you know me, you know how I like to up-cycle salvage rather than waste it, which is why I came up with this next fun addition using the scraps left over from making a few of the quilts. “Love One Another” is a charming wall hanging design great for Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year! I mean hey, it doesn’t have to be Valentines Day to spread cheer and love, right? You can make it a wall hanging or pillow – or both!

The other additional project I came up with is a cuddly little pillow called, “Love You More” – a cute and huggable addition to your favorite chair or loveseat. Don’t you just love pillows? Nothing makes holiday decorating easier than pillows, I swear! They take next to no time to switch out, letting you go from one theme to the next in a matter of seconds. Both of these additional projects can be done as a pillow if that’s your thing, or you can do them as wall décor instead. You’re the boss! “Love One Another” is 17″ x 17″ (not counting the frame) and sweet little “Love You More” measures in at 16″ x 16.” Because these are “bonus” projects they are not currently available as individual kits. Patterns are included in the Red & White Gatherings book, available to purchase now at 15% OFF through October 2nd, 2022 by clicking HERE!

Well everybody, that brings us to the end of my Red & White Gatherings virtual Trunk Show. I hope you enjoyed my little tour of the new book all the way from the middle of the ocean! I wanted to make sure that you’ve had plenty of opportunities to explore the new collection, and to see all the new fantastic project designs that go along with it. Aren’t you excited to get started? Which project is your favorite? Have you already started one? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win a nice little prize.

Before I go I just want to throw out a last reminder – DON’T FORGET! Now through October 2nd, 2022 (oof – that’s SUNDAY already!!!) Red & White Gatherings quilt kits are 15% OFF and pre-cuts are 20% OFF! With Christmas right around the corner, there is literally no better time to stock up! This beautiful line is on sale now and won’t be again for a while, if ever. Get your order in by Sunday and SAVE!

Ok folks! I hope you have a great weekend and have a chance to get outside to enjoy the last of the nice weather before fall really hits. I’ve been paying attention to the forecast back home in WI and feel a little sad that it has been so darn perfect since I left and I’m missing it. We see some of the most beautiful days in late September/early October and I really do look forward to it every year. I’ll try super hard not to be TOO sad about not being there to enjoy it, but considering where I am – I think I’ll manage. Ok! Off I go back to cruise land. I will see you all back here Monday October 3rd for the big release of the O’ Say Can You Sew QAL! I know you’re excited – see you then! ~Lisa

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Red & White Gatherings Blog Trunk Show – Part 1

Hey gang! As I mentioned yesterday I’ve been noticing a lot of you are messaging and asking about the individual projects included in my latest quilt pattern book release, Red & White Gatherings, so I wanted to take some time to go through each project one by one for you. Because there are multiple quilts to talk about PLUS a couple of other fun projects, I decided to do a two-part post to make it a bit more manageable for everyone. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

First up we have “Red Hots.” If you need to warm things up a bit, spice up your life with this hot little number. Sew and flip corners help “Red Hots“ to be super fun, easy, and beginner friendly. The more controlled two-color version contains one red from my Red & White line paired with all ten of the light creams, while the second version is scrappy and contains all ten of the reds along with all ten of the light creams. Scrappy or 2-color, this scorcher of a quilt measures 70″ x 80″ and would look fantastic spread out over a bed or couch back.

Next in line we have “Red Hots – Bonus Project.” You read that right! We’re only a quilt into the book so far and there’s already a bonus! Thanks to all the stitch and flip involved in the full versions of “Red Hots,” we’re able to get another project out of the leftovers cutoffs. “Red Hots – Bonus Project” measures 38″ x 48 1/2″ and is the perfect size to snuggle with as a lap quilt. It would also make excellent wall hanging décor around Christmas, Valentine’s day, or any time of the year!

Have a bestie you consider your kindred spirit? We have just the quilt for that special someone! “Kindred Spirits“ is not only fat-eighth friendly, but it can be done in both a simple 2-color method or scrappy if you prefer a little chaos in your life. Inspired by one of the antique quilts in my own personal collection, this quilt is super quick and beginner friendly. So easy you could easily make two – one version for yourself and one for your kindred spirit! Finished, “Kindred Spirits“ measures 67 1/2″ x 81″ and would look fabulous on your favorite couch or guest bed.

The Nine of Hearts card is known to evoke satisfaction, joy, and happiness overall… Sounds like just what the doctor ordered! Why not treat yourself to some serious quilt therapy – stat! Measuring in at 57 1/4″ x 84 1/4″ “Nine of Hearts” is perfect for that tall drink of water who’s otherwise too tall for more “normal” sized quilts. This simple and fun quilt uses simple nine-patch blocks to create a stunning finished product. I do love a good nine-patch… I always say, nobody is too good for a nine-patch – no matter how good you get. “Nine of Hearts” keeps it simple and requires only two fabrics to complete. It’s designed to be a 2-color piece but could easily be done scrappy as well.

Rock your world with “Cherry Swirl!“ This is one of my personal favorites out of this book and I really can’t wait to display it on my bed this Christmas! With a finished size of 83 7/8″ x 92 3/8″ this beauty is a nice size quilt for a bed or table décor alike! The design might look complicated but simple stitch and flip elements make this big boy a breeze! This quilt was also inspired by one in my antique collection that is made up of hand-pieced diamonds. I did us all a favor and made my version a bit easier by implementing stitch and flip rectangles instead. Easy as cherry pie. Merry Christmas in advance!

If you like “Cherry Swirl“ but are looking for something a bit less involved, give “Simple Swirl“ a whirl (try saying that fast five times in a row – LOL)! Much like Cherry Swirl, “Simple Swirl“ was inspired by an antique that is made up of hand-pieced diamonds. I used the same idea of implementing stitch and flip rectangles instead, which makes things a lot easier. And since “Simple Swirl“ has a lot more spacing between the red “star” elements, it has an overall lighter, cleaner feel. It kind of reminds me of peppermint candy! With a finished size of 75″ x 84″, “Simple Swirl” is a bit smaller than its sister quilt Cherry Swirl, making it great for display on a couch, wall, or porch swing.

Aren’t these great??? I’m willing to bet there’s been one or two that have fallen into your, “must-have” category already, and we’re only half way through! If you LOVE what you’re seeing so far, you’re really going to love the rest of the collection which I’ll be covering in Part II of my virtual Red & White Gatherings Trunk show, scheduled to post sometime tomorrow here on my blog! Check back for five more scrumptious quilt designs PLUS two additional projects, all included in the Red & White Gatherings Project Book – which is available to purchase now!

That actually reminds me to remind YOU that now through October 2nd, 2022 (oof – that’s SUNDAY already!!!) Red & White Gatherings quilt kits are 15% OFF and pre-cuts are 20% OFF! With Christmas right around the corner, it sure sounds like a great time to stock up if you ask me…

Alright everyone, that’s it for now. I’ll be back here on the blog with the second half of my Red & White Gatherings project collection trunk show tomorrow – I’ll see  you then. In the meantime, if you’d like to see the antiques these quilts were inspired by, feel free to watch the replay of my LIVE Red & White Gatherings trunk show by clicking the link below. It’s always neat to see what drives new creativity… Plus I absolutely love to share where I get MY inspiration from with all of you! Be sure to watch! I will see you all back here tomorrow – take care! ~Lisa

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…and That’s a Wrap!

Hey gang! I hope you’re all staying out of trouble while I’m away on my cruise. I’ve been super busy as I’m sure you can imagine, but I still have been able to hop online here and there to check email and social media. It being Wednesday, I obviously had to set aside some time to make a post considering it is the last of this year’s Moda Blockheads 4 Blockhead Wednesdays! I couldn’t let being on a luxury cruise in the middle of the ocean get in the way – I mean we’ve spent every Wednesday talking about this for the last 28! I wouldn’t have missed it. That being said, let’s get started – I’ve got a cruise to get back to!

Block release #28 “Blossom“ is brought to us by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co. Influenced by her hard-working father, Joanna has had an interest in the creative arts and marketing alike from an early age. She and her sister grew up working in the family business until adulthood when she moved on to start one of her own. Through running that business and teaching in her local quilt shop, Joanna eventually recognized the need for “good patterns” which inspired her to start creating patterns and fabric designs, along with her current business, Fig Tree & Co. Joanna tells us that “Blossom“ was inspired by the summer flowers in her garden that she hasn’t managed to kill, including mums, dahlias, and peonies – basically all perennials that come back on their own every year and don’t require much help from her. LOL! I like this block because it gives you many different opportunities to showcase your favorite fabrics. You can choose to do it scrappy and make each “petal” a different fabric, or go a bit more simple with fewer fabrics if you prefer. You could also invert the colors for a completely different look – color combinations and piecing options really are endless! If you’re ready to let your creative side bloom, click the link below for the full pattern and instructions to get started!

As you can see, for my blocks I stuck with the on-going choice of a medium orange Bella Solid called “Ochre” for my background. I also continue to stick with what seems to work best for the surrounding elements, and once again went with fabric selections from my Urban Farmhouse Gatherings line. I just love this combination! If you’re looking for some dynamic grayscale fabrics for your next project I highly recommend Urban Farmhouse Gatherings. We don’t have a ton in stock so if you’re interested in grabbing some before it’s gone, hit the button below!

If you’re behind with MBH4 and have some catching up to do, don’t worry! You can visit the Moda Blockheads 4 Archive for more information, including all the previously released MBH4 blocks that I’ve done. The archive link is listed in the main menu of links at the top of my blog page.  You can also visit Moda’s Inspiration+Resources Center Page for additional resources and help, along with all released bonus blocks by clicking HERE! 

Alright! That’s basically a wrap on Moda Blockheads 4 – can you believe it!? Seems like just yesterday we were just getting started and now we’re talking finishing! Speaking of that, I mentioned in a previous post that I’m going to be using MBH4 Setting Option Number Three, “Mixed Blocks“ by Moda for my final layout of this quilt. It looks like this:

You can find that setting option along with a few others if you scroll to the very bottom of Moda Blockheads 4 Archive page – found on Moda’s website mentioned above. I will be sure to do one more post once everything is all said and done to show you my final piece. I don’t know about you but I’m super excited that 28 weeks of hard work and discipline to stay on track with this QAL are finally coming to fruition! If you’re still working on your blocks, keep at it! I know you’ll get it done eventually.

Ok Blockheads, that’s it for now. I need to get back to my – you know…cruisin’ activities. It’s very important that I don’t “rock the boat” by staying away locked in my cabin working for too long (ha-ha, see what I did there?). I DO want to give away a quick little prize to a couple of lucky readers before I go, however… After all, just because I’m not home doesn’t mean we skimp on the prizes around here! So here we go – Ann P. and Sherri G. – you each have a prize coming your way to say thank you for your comment here on my blog! 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! See how easy that is folks? If you’d like to be considered for a prize each week all you have to do is leave a comment! Easy peasy, simple as that. Tell me what you’re working on, let me know how it’s going. Heck, tell me your best quilting joke! I love to hear from you.

Alright gang, time to go but I’ll be back here on the blog sooner than you think. I’ve been getting a lot of questions regarding what projects are included in my newest book, Red & White Gatherings, so to make it easy for you I’m going to be going through each project one by one in a two-part blog trunk show starting tomorrow! Excited yet? I know I am. Especially since kits for Red & White Gatherings projects are 15% OFF, and Pre-Cuts are 20% OFF now through October 2nd, 2022, making now the perfect opportunity to get your pre-orders IN! In the meantime why not get a head start on your shopping? You can check out the Red & White Gatherings collection by clicking the link below. BEWARE! I know you’re going to want everything you see – consider yourself warned! See you soon. ~Lisa

 

 

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MBH4 Block #27 – “Threaded”

Hey blockheads! They tell me it’s Wednesday again, which means it’s time for another exciting MBH4 block release! This week we introduce Block #27, “Threaded“ by Michelle White of Moda Fabrics. If the name of the designer rings a bell, it should considering I just did one of her bonus blocks last week as an alternate to Block #26. To give you a bit of background on her, Michelle works in the Moda marketing department, doing a bit of everything from pattern design for in-house patterns, graphic design, photography, designing the Quilt Market booth, and more! She started at Moda back in April 2019, and since then has loved fabric and quilting even more than she ever did before!

Michelle considers herself a more ‘modern’ quilter, falling somewhere on the line between modern and traditional styles. She loves non-traditional quilt blocks and working with bold color and solids. Inspiration for “Threaded“ came from a somewhat unusual source. As it happened, she was in the middle of assembling a pair of bookshelves and found inspiration in the threaded anchors that were part of the included toolkit. Go figure! You just never know what’s going to spark creativity! I enjoyed this block because it allows you the option to create totally different looking results depending on how you piece the fabrics. Her intention was to design a block where you can play around with fabric placement and what direction you angle you blocks without worrying too much about how it will all come together in the end. I love it – you know how I love a block with several options! To get the full pattern and instructions for “Threaded“ hit the link below!For my version of “Threaded“ I stuck with simple yet again, and used grayscale fabric selections from my Urban Farmhouse Gatherings line. As usual I stuck with a medium orange Bella Solid called “Ochre” for my background. Looking for some dynamic grayscale fabrics for your next project? We still have Urban Farmhouse Gatherings in stock but inventory is low. Grab it while you can by visiting our website!

If you’re new to MBH4 and wondering what this QAL is all about, you can visit the Moda Blockheads 4 Archive for more information, including all the previously released MBH4 blocks that I’ve done. The archive link is listed in the main menu of links at the top of my blog page.  You can also visit Moda’s Inspiration+Resources Center Page for additional resources and help, along with all released bonus blocks by clicking HERE! 

Well everyone, it’s going to be a short and sweet post today because as you know, I’m about set foot on a cruise ship destined for Hawaii within the next 48 hours. Needless to say, I still have a lot to do before I leave the fort and head to paradise. Before I go want to give a quick shout out to Lorraine W. for her comment here on the blog last week! Thank you for keeping up with my blog posts Lorraine! I really appreciate the time you took to leave me a comment so as a way to show my gratitude, I’m going to send you something nice! As usual, I don’t post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you think you’re the 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! Thanks again! Your support means the world to us. If you’d like to be considered for a prize each week be sure to leave me a comment! I always love hearing from you. 

Just one more quick reminder before I go – there will not be any LIVE broadcasts while I’m gone unless we decide to do something fun on a whim – but no promises! I really have no idea how much connectivity I’ll have once I’m on the boat, so it’s all going to depend on that. Make sure your “STITCH with Lisa Bongean” YouTube channel notifications are ON so you don’t miss it in the case we do decide to do something impromptu… Alright gang, I’m off! I sure wish you could all join me. I’ll promise to do my best to share a picture or two as the days go by. Again – no promises! Hard to say how busy we’ll be and how much spare time I’ll have. “Maybe” will just have to do! I’ll see you all soon. Take care! ~Lisa

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Are YOU Taking the 2022 Red & White Challenge?

Hey gang! Welcome back from the weekend! I don’t know about you but I have been busy, busy like usual, and swamped all weekend long with all sorts of activities. Last Friday we wrapped up this year’s Witches Retreat and had a couple of super cute creations to show for it once it was all said and done. The focus of this retreat was on one full quilt, and one wool project, including “Cat and Hats” – a festive addition to my “Just One” quilt series – just in time for Halloween.

Isn’t it purrrrfect??? Finished, “Cat and Hats” measures 71″ x 76″ and would look excellent hanging on a wall or as table décor at your next spooky get together. This frisky kitty will be available for purchase on our website sometime in the near future, so keep an eye out for that!

The fun continued on Saturday as I hosted my annual fall, “All Things Pumpkin” workshop at The Gathering. First thing in the morning participants were greeted with pumpkin spice lattes and Erica’s made-from-scratch scones (all I can say is, YUM!). After such a delicious start, I gladly spent the day teaching as we worked on an exclusive pumpkin-themed wool Halloween wall décor project called, “Hey Pumpkin.” Half way through the day, Erica fueled our second wind by treating us all to a pumpkin-infused lunch and dessert that was absolutely fabulous! Jealous yet? Because I feel like you should be!

This retreat is one of my favorite events of the season because for me it officially kicks off the autumn decorating season – and you all know how I love to decorate! According to the calendar, the first day of autumn is September 22nd, so this event is just in time to celebrate and welcome it properly. If you weren’t able to make it this time around, don’t worry! We have a second session planned for Monday October 17th, 2022. There are still a few seats open for the October class but they are filling up fast, so if you want to get in on this popular workshop call Judy at 920.778.8031 to register. I hope to see you there!

I can’t believe it’s just about October already. Honestly, where does the time go? I was just running my A/C last week and now this week we’re not going to see much more than 70º for the high if we’re lucky. Gotta love four seasons! October not only means fall has arrived, but it also means that it’s officially time to start getting serious about the 2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge! I first started talking about this challenge way back in December so it’s pretty exciting to be able to say that the registration deadline is fast approaching!

If you haven’t heard about the 2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge, let me fill you in on the deets. I love red and white quilts so much that I wanted to celebrate them in a way that would really show their stylish designs off properly. That’s why I decided to start the 2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge here at Primitive Gatherings! My dream is to have the retreat house filled with red and white quilts by mid-November this year, just in time for the Christmas season. Red and White Quilt Challenge Rules: The object is to create a quilt of your own design or by following a commercial pattern, using only red and white fabrics and wools! You can enter your quilt into any following categories: • Original Design - 24” or Under • Commercial Quilt - 24” or Under • Original Design - Over 24” • Commercial Quilt - Over 24” • 1 Complimentary “2022 Red & White” Sticker • 1 FREE Red Fat Quarter • 1 FREE White Fat Quarter • Entry Into the 2022 Primitive Christmas Red & White Quilt Show

Imagine the sea of reds and whites such a large collection hanging all together will create! I want it to be something like when the American Folk Art Museum in New York installed 650 red and white American quilts into the historic Wade Thompson Drill Hall back in 2011. Picture that! 650 red and white quilts, all hanging in one 55,000 square foot room… Crazy! What’s even crazier is that all 650 of them were on loan from the collection of one single person by the name of Joanna S. Rose. It was the largest exhibition of quilts ever held in New York City. If you’re not familiar with this exhibit, check out these spectacular photos from the event (photo credit: American Folk Art Museum – Gavin Ashworth)!The American Folk Art Museum dramatically transformed the Park Avenue Armory’s historic 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall with the installation of 650 red and white American quilts, all of which were on loan from the collection of Joanna S. Rose. It was the largest exhibition of quilts ever held in the city. As an extraordinary gift to the public, entry to this unprecedented event was free.

Though not quite as large as the Wade Thompson Drill Hall, The Gathering is also a fabulous place to show off your work. Our 10,000 square foot retreat house features lots of wall space, a super tall ceiling, and spectacular lighting. I literally designed the entire space to hang and display quilts – no matter the size. I can’t wait to see our own exhibit once everything is hung… It’s going to be so cool! Here’s how the 2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge works…

THERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES: Original Design – 24″ and Under, Original Design – 24″ and Over, Commercial Design – 24″ and Under, and Commercial Design – 24″ and Over. It doesn’t matter if your quilt is appliqué, pieced, or a combo. Anything goes as long as it’s red and white, or close shades of those two colors (cream and dark reds are acceptable for example, purple is not). Prints, solids, and wool can all be used as well. The possibilities are endless as long as they are done in red and white!

WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDE? The registration fee includes a complimentary “Red & White 2022” sticker, a free red fat quarter, a free white fat quarter, and entry into the 2022 Primitive Gatherings Red & White Quilt Show. Note: you are not required to use your free fat quarters in your show entry, but you are certainly welcome to!Click to register for the Red and White Quilt Challenge

WHAT CAN YOU WIN? Cash and prizes of course!!! What the prizes will be exaclty, is still pending at this time. I’m working hard to get some sponsorship from the big companies I work with, like Moda, Bernina, Juki, Martingale, Riley Blake, Free Spirit, and Checker to name a few. I’m doing my best to get the best prizes that I can for this event!

WHAT ARE THE RULES? Now for all the fun stuff…

  • The show is open to all who have a confirmed show registration with Primitive Gatherings by October 1st, 2022.
  • All entrants must sign and include the insurance waiver form with their entry forms. One waiver is required per entrant (one waiver can cover multiple quilts).
  • Completed submission including photos and signed documents must be received by midnight October 31st, 2022.
  • It is the responsibility of the entrant to insure and ship their quilt to  Primitive Gatherings by October 31st, 2022 using the provided mailing label. Please do not ship your quilt sooner than October 1st, 2022 – we do not have the storage space before then.
  • Primitive Gatherings will be responsible for shipping back your quilt entry to you. Insurance on the package will be determined by the size of the quilt, up to $500. If you would like to add additional insurance on your quilt, you are responsible for any additional shipping or insurance costs.
  • A photograph of your quilt is required to enter for identification purposes. Please include this in the package with your quilt – regular copy paper is fine. Entry into the Challenge automatically grants permission for any and all images of the quilts and/or all parts of the artist’s statement regarding the quilt, to be used by Primitive Gatherings in any and all media productions for this exhibit.
  • The quilt artist retains all copyrights to the quilt and will be credited for any usage of its likeness by Primitive Gatherings. No compensation will be granted to the entrant/copyright holder for the use of the quilt, or images of the quilt in any promotional materials.
  • Quilts will be hung and displayed at The Gathering from November, 2022 through December, 2022. They will also be displayed online via our social media platforms.
  • Commercial patterns will be accepted as long as you give credit to the designer by including their name, and the name of the pattern you used.
  • If any part of your quilt was from another quilter’s design, or was inspired by another quilter’s design, please include the designer’s name, name of the pattern, and what part you sampled from the piece.
  • Each entry must have a 4″ finished sleeve on the top back of the quilt, securely stitched on both the bottom and top edges.
  • Each entry must also include a permanent identification label attached to the bottom, left-hand corner with entrant’s name, the name of the quilt, and the entrant’s address or email address.
  • Due to limited space, there is a limit of TWO entries per person.
  • Quilts of all sizes are eligible for this Challenge.
  • Primitive Gatherings reserves the right to disqualify entries if they do not meet the Challenge criteria including but not limited to size, specific category, or colors of fabrics used.
  • Please remember to complete our, “Red and White Quilt Challenge Entry Checklist” before sending your quilt to us! A printable PDF of all forms needed for the Challenge including the checklist is available by clicking the button below!

I’m SO excited for this challenge to get started. I really can’t wait to see the retreat house full of red and white designs from stitchers all over the country. After all, you all know how much I love red and white… There are so many cool designs and ideas to pull inspiration from, even I have a little trouble deciding on what to make next sometimes. For me, the problem isn’t so much finding a design I like. It’s more about narrowing it down to just one or two choices out of everything that I DO like. LOL! Either way, if you plan to join the 2022 Red & White Quilt Challenge, time is running out to get registered! Remember, in order to be accepted as an entrant into the challenge you must register by October 1st, 2022 and have your quilt shipped to Primitive Gatherings by no later than October 31st, 2022 (please do not ship your quilt sooner than October 1st, 2022 – we do not have the storage space before then).

Well everyone, that’s a wrap on today. Val and I spent some time earlier today filming the remaining “Meet Me in the Garden“ video tutorials for our SAL along with an upcoming trunk show of “Red & White Gatherings“ that will be coming out while we’re in Hawaii on our cruise. Speaking of that, don’t forget! I’ll be leaving the PG nest this Wednesday for my much anticipated Hawaii Quilt Cruise adventure, and I absolutely cannot wait!!! That means that after Shop Talk with Shelley tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. CST, there will be no more LIVE shows until I’m back on land. While I’m gone, my staff is going to be nose to the grind stone working on the finishing touches of our new and improved POS system and website (say goodbye to that search bar we all love so much!). We are so close to being able to launch it… Bear with us! It’s coming soon, I promise! I’ll also be checking in here on the blog, and with Heidi’s help should be able to continue posting while I’m on the boat. I hope you all have a wonderful couple of weeks and remember – make time to STITCH EVERY DAY! I know I will. Take care and see you soon! ~Lisa

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