Some Primitive Gatherings News… & Give Away Winner!

 
Hey….I hope you are all enjoying your stitching this summer! 
 
We are so busy getting our new store and The Gathering ready for you all!  It is SO exciting! I want to announce that we have started taking reservations and will soon be launching some planned/event retreats!  So look for those SOON as well. 
If you feel like me, you may be going through withdrawls from not enough time with your friends or those who are passionate about stitching and creating wonderful things. Too much alone time last year, so let’s have some fun together!
 
We are here to provide a place built just for you to hang out, relax and create all the beautiful things you have wanted to work on.   The Gathering will be an experience you will always remember…the inspiration, the gardens, the food, the swag and the camaraderie you can only find when you spend a lot of time together!  I look forward to making new friends at every retreat I attend…and now I can be at one every week!  Quilters are special people to be around.
 
Here is the flyer for The Gatherings…we offer several packages, 3 nights, 6 nights as well as a discounted whole house booking…but will also do single stays as well…so whether you have a large or small group we look forward to  making  your Quilting experience at The Gathering, one of the best!  Jenny our Gathering manager would love to hear from you and get you set up!
 
Summer Blocks of the Week are almost ready to ship!!!  We have two this summer.  Our hand pieced or EPP will be a BOM and will start soon as well….
 
Wildflower Garden -scrappy above
 
Wildflower Garden -contemporary— GOOD LUCK making your choice…
 
…and then pieced with two color options as well-called Front Porch Swing…
Amy’s version

I am so enjoying stitching these simple but fun blocks..

 

Click HERE to join our Blocks of the Week!

 

Thursday is LIVESTREAM day…so mark your calendar with an alert!  It’s not too late to start quilting along with us!!! We are only on block 5!

I am doing some final stitching on our projects for our special Christmas in July box!!! We may still have a few spots open!!! Great discount and a fun gift or for you to get started on Christmas 2021!  Here are the details…

You all asked for it and we have listened! You are looking for one of our awesome Wool Boxes but you would like it Holiday/Christmas Themed, well we will have that available for you and shipping to you in July!  There will be over $150 worth of product in the box for just $105 (domestic) which included shipping!  This box will be geared toward projects you can get done over the next few months in time for the Holiday Season!  Sign up today as we only have a certain amount that we are going to be making!  Once we are full, there will be no more!

THIS CAN BE THE ONLY ITEM ON YOUR ORDER AS IT DOES NOT SHIP UNTIL THE END OF JULY

Click HERE for Christmas in July Box

and the winner of the quilted flag t-shirt from last week’s blog post is….

Thanks for this block series! I am trying to carve out some time to catch up, but until then the red, white & blue are in my every thought. Great way to support our veterans!  Ruth

Thank you Ruth for reading my blog…We appreciate your support of Primitive Gatherings and we hope you love your T-shirt!  Please contact me @ lisab@primitivegatherings.us

Then… last, yes, I saved the best for last….we are over the moon at our newest additions at Primitive Gatherings!!!  We have our first two old English Babydoll Southdown sheep!  

We are working on their names…both girls…their registered names are Sundrop and Sodapop!  We can’t wait for more…but we love that we were able find these two ladies!

My best…Lisa

 

It Summer Block of the week time!!! Part 2

2021 Summer Blocks of the Week!- Wool Version

ANNOUNCEMENT-Winner of the Embellished Art Embroidery Project Planner Post…is….Kim McKinney | please DM me with your address.

It’s wool time….we are super excited to announce our 2021 summer blocks of the week!  This year we picked a smaller and easier projects for a couple reasons.   Some of you are still working on last years…(or another years)  I try to do smaller project every other year, which helps with the price…and don’t forget the FREE project…this years will be awesome too!

Wildflower Garden | Scrappy Version 

Will consist of 20 blocks and a border…there will be no finishing kit…everything you need will be in all 12 weeks…2 blocks each week…borders are weeks 11 & 12 and will finish at 60″x 70″.   You will get the background flannel all at once so that is the essential kit to start with…and it came in already!!! We did not expect it until end of July…so we will be able to start this one earlier than expected…now that is a change!!!  You will be getting about 5 yds of flannel…if we have 100 people sign up that is 500 yards…we have a limited number that we can sign up with you needing that much yardage…so don’t miss out on this one, sign up now or you may miss your chance!

The scrappy version will contain three shades of green leaves and the flowers will be all different colors…through out the 20 blocks.

Contemporary Version

Our contemporary version will contain a controlled color palette and black leaves.

Here is a pic of several of them but they are not stitched yet. 

We will also have facebook group for this project!

Here is a peak at the FREEBIE

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD- 

Collect all 12 blocks! I have a really cool setting planned for this project!

Jessica has all the details in this document click the button below  and print it out….next post will be abut the EPP version!  Thank you for joining our Summer projects…we appreciate your business and can’t wait to get this project started!!!

Remember to click on every box when ordering…and don’t forget the thread kits and backing as well!!

All the DETAILS-shipping, pricing and more!

Click HERE to order our Wool SBOW!

If you have any questions please ask them in the comment section!   Lisa

Lisa Bongean SBOW2021
 
 
 
 

It Summer Block of the week time!!! Part 1

2021 Summer Blocks of the Week!- Pieced Version

Hey…Thanks for being patient with us while we are moving…but we are now excited to announce our 2021 summer blocks of the week!  This year we picked a smaller and easier projects for a couple reasons.   Some of you are still working on last years…(or another years)  I try to do smaller project every other year, which helps with the price…and don’t forget the FREE project…this years will be awesome too!

First up….our pieced version is based on this super sweet antique quilt….Front Porch Swing is it’s name….We are making ours 90×90…if you want it bigger, add a border…or you can make two lap quilts if you don’t want a big quilt.

Antique quit from Lisa Bongean collection

We are going to replicate this quilt with two different options…the first is a nice mellow using civil war reproduction mediums with this great blue Bella for the corners/binding, Amy will be piecing this color way…

We will also have facebook group for this project!

 

Amy’s version 
Lisa’s version

I am stitching a neutral version with lights and a nice grey for the corner…this quilt will go  together fast!!!

Here is a peak at the FREEBIE-WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD-  Collect all 12 blocks! I have a really cool setting planned for this project!

Jessica has all the details in this document click the button below  and print it out….next post will be abut the wool version!  Thank you for joining our Summer projects…we appreciate your business!

All the DETAILS-shipping, pricing and more!

Click HERE to order our Pieced SBOW!

 

 
 
 
 
 

Sample Spree Summer Quilt Along! Starts today!!!

A fun summer quilt along…who’s in?  

I know you are doing the American Quilter’s SAL…but I don’t want to miss out either!!! So let’s just all do what we can and just keep stitching on…whatever we get done we get done…I did just finish my last Sewcialite Block today!!! Can’t wait to show that off!

Sampler Spree: 101+ Fresh & Fun Quilt Blocks by Susan Ache

You will need the book to quilt-along – that is the only place to find the instructions for the 101 blocks we’re making.  The book also has the information to make this quilt.

CT Susan Ache SS QAL Give & Take Flat

Click HERE to order your book!

Give & Take – it finishes at 83½” x 83½”.

Fabric.  How much do you need? 

Page 8.  All yardage is based on 42″ wide fabric. 

  • 1 yard total of assorted cream prints for large blocks
  • 3 yards total of assorted light scraps for blocks – or approx. 3 yards for a single background.
  • 3.875 yards total of assorted medium and dark scraps for blocks – referred to collectively as “dark”.
  • 1.25 yards of white solid for sashing
  • 2.375 yards of peach solid for sashing

The quilt-along starts today!!!! – Wednesday, June 16. 

New blocks will be shared every Wednesday through August 18 – ten weeks of sewing.

Wait.  Ten weeks, a hundred blocks… ten blocks a week? 

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks Design Wall

Yes.  Just remember Rule No. 1 about the Sampler Spree quilt-along – we’re doing this to have fun!  It’s not a race.  Some folks will make ten blocks in two days, others will make two blocks in ten days.  Maybe.  So don’t worry about “keeping up”.  Just enjoy the process.

Sewing by color.  We will be using a single color for the blocks each week – e.g., the first week’s blocks will be Blue. 

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks

The weekly colors are: Orange, Aqua/Teal/Turquoise, Brown & Tan, Green, Purple/Coral/Pink, Navy Blue, Yellow & Gold, Black & Gray, and Red.  And Blue – e.g., Cornflower, Delft, and so on.

And no, that’s not the order of the colors.  We have to keep a few things a surprise!

CT Susan Ache SS Color Bundles

When we discussed doing this, there were two things that convinced us to do this.  One, this is how Susan sews through her scrap bins in the summer.  One color at a time – one bin at a time.  Two, we liked the challenge of it, limitations can spark a whole lot of creativity. 

But – this is not required!  Nobody will be shunned, or voted off the island, for not sewing by color.  Adjust the colors and shades to suit you – your scraps, your color palette, what you like. 

CT Susan Ache SS Checklist Stack of Fabrics

We are stitching blocks in book order because we are stitching all blues!!!!

Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL
Lisa Bongean/Sample Spree QAL

We at Primitive Gatherings are stitching ALL blues blocks this time….the blocks are made up of Indigo Gatherings & Starlight Gatherings.  We are using 1 cream background Bella Porcelain    You also can pre- order your Starlight Gatherings HERE.  The highlighted areas are shop-able links

Do I have to make every block? 

Of course not – what’s the rule?.  There are one-hundred blocks necessary to make the Give & Take quilt, so you can skip a few.  If there are blocks you really love, and love making, then make more of those.  Playing around with the light/dark placement, and the colors, in many of the blocks will change the look of the block.  

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks 2

Will there be other setting options? 

Yes.  Susan will be sharing a couple of different options along the way, including a couple of projects made with just one block from the book.  (And so will we.)

Who is sewing along?

Quilt-along stitchers – Instagram / Facebook / Blog:

So are you ready?

CT Susan Ache SS Layer Cake Squares

This is one reason why so many of us love Layer Cakes.  They are often used for photos, and then folded to make little collection bundles.  With Susan’s book and this quilt-along, the bundles were quickly taken apart and sorted by color.  

Can I tell you a secret?  The squares look so pretty in the boxes that pulling squares out and cutting them up will be really hard. 

But not impossible. 

We’ll see you next week. 

For a PDF of this blog post – Sampler Spree: A Checklist

If you missed any of the earlier posts with Susan:

Lisa Bongean/American Quilters SAL

Hogs for Heros…American Quilter’s Stitch Along/Prep

HOGS FOR HEROES checking in here…and we are stunned, and honored, by this beautiful effort to support our healing mission! We only just learned of Lisa’s generous plan and can hardly believe quilters across the nation will unite to sew their hearts out to benefit veterans’ healing. Thank you!

A little bit about us, because knowing who benefits from your labors is important to your heart. Hogs For Heroes is a small, WI nonprofit created by four family members, none of whom served. We do this volunteer work simply out of gratitude for those who served and sacrificed much on our behalf, and from a desire to provide struggling, at-risk Veterans with a healing alternative: wind therapy, as we Bikers affectionately call it. We raise funds to buy Harley-Davidson motorcycles for Veteran riders who, injured in the course of active duty, find themselves hurting–mentally, physically, emotionally–and unable to have a Bike in their life. We help them heal by gifting them a Harley that allows them to regain peace on the road, control in their life, clarity, pride, and joy…and equally important, support from the rider community and Veteran brotherhoods.

We know motorcycling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea… but if it’s your blood its roots run deep and make up an identity, culture, and community for its riders–all things similar to the military, and deeply missed as Veterans separate from service. It is estimated that 22 Veterans a day commit suicide; another compelling reason to offer alternative therapy with a “tool” that is well established in the military community and will support them for years to come. We direct 100% of every donation straight toward the next Bike and Veteran pairing. And because we do this work voluntarily on the side of jobs, family, and life…we thought we would be successful if we could raise funds to gift one Harley a year. Instead, in just a little over 4 years of gifting bikes, we wrapped up our 2020 season by returning SIXTEEN injured Veteran riders back to the road they love on beautiful Harleys. Each Recipient will tell you that our gift has truly changed their life and, in several cases, literally saved their lives. And while our gift is only given to one individual, its positive ripple effect impacts the lives of their spouses, families, friends, employers, and community as they find new outlets, opportunities, and support systems.

Thank you for reading through our nutshell-version to learn about our unique work. And thank you, for participating in this amazing project to support our veterans’ healing needs.

Like what you heard? Be sure to LIKE US on Facebook to stay on top of our activity and announcements! You can learn more about our work and the Veterans we have supported at http://www.hogsforheroeswi.org. And, if you’re so inclined, you can donate there too, but I know Lisa is raising funds as well with this stitch along and you may want to contribute to the Quilters effort.

🙂 Peace to all…. and best wishes as you each make these beautiful quilts!  Audra Thompson

If this doesn’t touch you?  I don’t know what does, It has even more impact seeing it in person. May 2019 I watched Rob Thede receive his bike…and with tears streaming down my face that is when I decided I was going to “try” and do this for another vet.  Believing you can is 90% of completing a goal.  It is now time to make that happen.  With this American Quilters Stitch Along WE are going to accomplish it. I hope you’re along for this ride...because I need y’all to do it!  I’m counting on us Quilter’s to make this happen!  Audra left the above info as a comment on my blog but I wanted you all to read it.  She sent this to me after I called her and explained what I wished to do.  We have set up a separate bank account for our funds raised, you will be able to directly donate to it.  I will let you know when that time comes.  But while you are waiting you can start getting ready…

American Quilters SAL/Lisa Bongean

         Here is a PDF of the following info…You may want to print it and start a binder for this project!                                                                                  Click HERE to print SAL Prep

                                                                       

★    Hey Everyone…                                                                                                              

    I am so excited you are going to Stitch-Along with us on this wonderful pattern. This quilt is so much fun and everyone will want it! You now have to decide if you are only going to make one, or more than one! Hopefully, we will be starting on time, but if our fabric is delayed we will have to push it back and start when it is possible!                                       

  I do have an underlying reason for this SAL and that is to raise money for Hogs for Heroes.    

    I hope all of you can help me do this, and we can help change lives for our military veterans. I will be posting more information about this on my blog.                                     

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I THINK WILL BE HELPFUL WHEN MAKING THIS QUILT                                        

   The American Gatherings Fat Quarter fabric bundle. -Each FQ tower of American Gatherings bought at Primitive Gatherings is an automatic $10 donation for Hogs for Heros.                                                  

★    4 or 6 yards of fabric, for sashing, borders, and bindings. I made one quilt with blue and the other one with cream…I will be making several more with the blocks I will be making while doing the tutorials each week. I have two sizes here just in case you want to make your quilt bigger or add matching pillowcases. The four yards is enough to complete the quilt.                                                                                                                              

★    Starch – I strongly suggest you starch your fabrics prior to cutting them. I will be posting a video on How to Starch your fabrics.  Buy Heavy Duty Faultless starch in blue or purple cans, not gold.  You will need about 2 for this project.

★    ThreadsMy suggestions for threads are any of these three, Aurifil 2309 (cream) 2620            (light/med grey) and 2785 (navy). I personally do not like stitching dark fabrics with light thread…I used the navy for stitching the blue borders on the quilt blocks.                           

★    Small rulers like, 3×7, 6×6, 5×15 Itty Bitty Eights rulers. All of these rulers will be so helpful for cutting these blocks.                                                                                        

★    12½” x 12½’ Creative Grid rulers. This ruler is so helpful in squaring up your finished quilt blocks.                                                                                                                            ★

★    Simple Folded Corner ruler. This tool is awesome…especially if you like perfect blocks.         

★   Optional, but recommended…Single Hole throat plate on your machine. If you have an oblong hole on your machine where the needle goes up and down, you may want to put on a single hole throat plate. These are standard on machines that only stitch straight, but can be purchased for your machine if you do not have one. This prevents the little pieces of fabric from being sucked down into the oblong hole which is standard on machines         

 

I may share other ideas, tips, and thoughts along the way. I will be posting the block each week on here on my Blog along with weekly giveaways, auctions and other fun…do not miss out!            

 Here are all the places to join in-these are links and when clicked will take you there to sign up.

lisabongean.com-you are here…but are you signed up?               

If you are on a computer it is on the right-hand sidebar…if you are on a phone/tablet you will have to scroll to the bottom of this post to sign up…

You-tube channel- Stich with Lisa Bongean

Stitch with Lisa’s Facebook Group.                       

I encourage you to stitch along each week, share your blocks on my Stitch with Lisa’s           Facebook Group, and tag your blocks with #americanquilterssal on Instagram or other social platforms. I know lots of shops will also be hosting this as a Stitch-Along…I am hoping we can get some posts and comments from them as well as showing them all stitching together!                                                                                                           

★   ABBREVIATIONS: I like to use the following abbreviations in the pattern to help from repeating over and over.                                                                                                 

          SFC = Single Folded Corner                                                                                     

         SQ/SQ = Square in a Square                                                                                    

         FG = Flying Geese

         HST = Half Square Triangle                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

★ I will show a couple of different ways to make/stitch the blocks each week. However, you may have a preferred way and you are more than welcome to use your favorite method.           

★Cutting for Blocks: 

In the first week, I will give you the cutting for all the red and cream stripes. You can choose to cut one block each week OR stack and cut ALL of your blocks (20) for the whole quilt the first week.         

 When stacking your fabrics, pay attention to the direction of the stripes. You may want them to run the short way on some prints and/or the long way. This is certainly up to you. (But keep this in mind when you are stacking and cutting your strips.) These strips are also cut longer and will be trimmed down later. I find this much easier with this many strips involved.                                                                                                                        

 ★ Use a scant ¼” seam allowance and test it to make sure you are not too big or too small.                                                                      

 I just found out our FQ bundles will be delayed….there are so many on the order they need a little more time!.   This gives us a little extra time to gather our things and get ready….so no worries, we will start with the first block when the fabric is on it’s way to us from Dallas.   It’s a time of adaptability.  I will redo the 20 bock schedule so we have all the blocks by Memorial Day! Lisa     

Print this for the cover of your binder…there is a PDF  link button below.             

Lisa Bongean/American Quilters SAL           PDF Cover for American Quilters SAL                                                                                 

That is all for now…I hope you are as excited as I am to get this project started!     

I’ll be in touch….Lisa

 

2021…A New Year…a New beginning…

Happy New Year Everyone!

I know this blog post is not posting on Jan 1.  I find that you either love a new year or are not impressed with having to make new resolutions. I feel that you can make resolutions, goals, commitments, or whatever you want to call them… any time of the year can be new beginning.

In January…I do make my lists, figure out my goals and I start organizing.  This all takes a lot of time and thought.  I do not rush it. I want to feel comfortable with them and make sure they are not too big, too small, attainable, or completely out of reach.  Am I pushing myself enough?  Or am I taking the easy or simple way out?

I hope you hang out with me this year…Here on my blog, on my YouTube Channel- Stitch with Lisa Bongean, or on our Stitch with Lisa Facebook group.  We are excited about 2021.  Here is a rough list of what will be going on with me and Primitive Gatherings in 2021. Stay tuned for all the FUN!

101 Itty Bitty Stitch Along– Books are here and we will be shipping them soon!

Every day deserves to be celebrated, and with 101 Itty Bitties to choose from, it’s easy to make that happen. Use wool scraps and a bit of hand stitching to create 2″ squares with motifs and sayings for holidays, seasons, sports, gardening, pets, and more. The designs are quick to complete and make perfect take-along projects. Tuck the tiny treasures into vignettes, turn them into wearable art, add a magnet and display them on your refrigerator, tie them to a gift, or send one to a friend to brighten their day–the possibilities are endless. Make an Itty Bitty (or 101!) and make every day a celebration!

101 Itty Bitty Celebrations

American Quilter’s Stitch Along– Starts Feb 1st- Fingers crossed the fabric come in, in January.  You will need a FAT QUARTER bundle of American Gatherings fabric.  Patterns will be free downloads.  We will be raising money for veterans with each bundle sold and auctions and donationsLisa Bongean's Stitch Along

Moda Block Heads 3 is finishing up- I will be posting my layout soon.

Moda Block Heads 3 -Block 20
Lisa Bongean Moda Block Heaeds 3 Block 20- Contribution

Sewcialites with the Fat Quarter Shop- I am keeping up and doing two sizes  3″ & 9″.

Sewcialites-2-Loyal Lisa Bongean
3″Moda Bella Solids & Urban Farmhouse Gatherings I & II

Ready will be starting another monthly Wool Stitch Along?  Early Spring 2021.

We will continue to offer Video Tutorials on techniques and projects.– Let us know if you have any suggestions that are not on our list.  We are learning and buying better equipment for 2021.  Please share our videos and comment, “Like” and subscribe to our channel.  We are starting to make a little money on these videos, however, it takes lots of watched hours to make it add up.  The more who watch it, the more we can do… and it will help pay for what it takes for us to keep creating these videos!  STITCH WITH LISA BONGEAN is our YouTube Channel

Here is our latest video on Prepping, Stitching and Connecting wool pennies for wool applique.

star spangles pennie mat

Wool Box subscription– I am working on designing and completing our projects way ahead of our ship dates.  A lot of planning has to go into these with our subscription at 1300.  If I  use an FQ of flannel or wool…that is 325 total yards…just so you can understand what this means.  This subscription is closed.  We just added more spots and are filled up at this time.  Watch our group for info on when you will be able to join if we have some openings.

Photos from previous wool boxes.

We have five Moda fabric lines coming this year…American  Gatherings, Urban  Farmhouse 2, Yuletide Gatherings-Flannel, Homestead Gatherings-Wovens & Starlight Gatherings.American Gatherings- January arrival- probably February…36 SKUs

urban farmhouse gatheringws

Urban Farmhouse 2- Arriving April 2021-40-SKUS

Yuletide Gatherings

Yuletide Gatherings Flannels- Arriving July 2021-40 SKUS

Homestead Gathering Wovens- wait for more info-Arriving September- 40 SKUs

Starlight Gatherings…wait for more info…arriving October 2021

 

Primitive Gatherings is  BUILDING a new store/warehouse and retreat house…all set to be finished in May/June 2021 Visit this page to see updates on a regular basis.  Or look on my blog header for THE BUILD.

Today we have a LIVE so join us at 2pm CST…that is 3PM East Coast, 1 MST and 12 PST….see you then…We will be live on Youtube..link is above.

I know this is a lot of information…Know that you helped make this all possible..Can’t wait to share our year together…Love Lisa